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It’s Annie to the Rescue
Photo by Jim Mellen
Also inside: School Levy, Revisiting Ruby Ridge, Sweetheart’s Ball and a Defense of Wilderness March 2017 • FREE
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Lake Pend Oreille School District Supplemental Levy
Vote YES March 14 Absentee ballots available now from the County Clerk
Sample home with assessed value of $211,300 (median home price in Bonner County) Current Payment for Instructional Supplemental Levy (2016-2017) $373.35
Projected Payment for Instructional Supplemental Levy (2017-2018) $380.34
Projected Payment for Instructional Supplemental Levy (2018-2019) $388.79
If you qualify for the homeowner’s tax exemption, these rates will be cut in half! In the above example, a “YES” vote on the levy would increase the property owner’s current taxes $22.43, or just $11.22 with the homeowner’s exemption.
• Approximately 300 staff members which is almost 1/3 of all current district staff (equal to 165 full time equivalent positions) • All athletic and extracurricular programs (sports, band, journalism, dance, etc) • All textbooks and instructional materials • All district technology (computers, software, internet access and staff ) • Support for all-day Kindergarten programs
If this levy fails, almost 1/3 of district staff will receive pink slips as required by law. The loss of so much staff will require the consolidation of our rural schools into the Sandpoint area, effectively closing Clark Fork Jr/Sr High School, Hope Elementary, Northside Elementary, Southside Elementary and the Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School. This advertisement provided by a donor.
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A News Magazine Worth Wading Through ~just going with the flow~ P.O. Box 2656 Sandpoint, ID 83864 www.Facebook.com/RiverJournal (Webpage under redesign) 208.255.6957 • 208.266.1112 RiverJournalIdaho@gmail.com
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Trish Gannon • trishgannon@gmail.com
Ministry of Truth & Propaganda
Jody Forest • reach him in the great beyond
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THE RIVER JOURNAL • March 2017 •
6. ANNIE TO THE RESCUE. This lovable golden lab is Schweitzer Mountain’s certified avalanche rescue dog. JIM MELLEN 7. WASHINGTON CLAIMS SASQUATCH Our neighbor state wants bigfoot as the state’s official cryptid. TRISH GANNON 8. SCHOOL LEVY After 17 years of support, district frets fate of biannual school levy. TRISH GANNON 9. DECONSOLIDATION. - About those calls for Clark Fork to become its own district. - TRISH GANNON 10. REVISITING RUBY RIDGE. A new PBS documentary reminds us of the sometimes fatal danger involved in colliding ideologies. DAVID KEYES - AS I SEE IT 12. A SWEETHEART OF AN EVENING. Pull out the whites and head down to Coeur d’Alene for an evening that helps kids with cancer. DUSTIN GANNON 13. IN DEFENSE OF WILDERNESS. Trish wants the Scotchmans to stay wild, because she believes some things need to be difficult. TRISH GANNON - POLITICALLY INCORRECT
14. THE BIRDS I’VE NEVER SEEN. As climates change, new birds appear, and some are almost becoming locals. MIKE TURNLUND - A BIRD IN HAND 16. CURING MY ANXIETY. With everything going on, granddaughters and nature have become Ernie’s drug of choice. ERNIE HAWKS - THE HAWK’S NEST 17. NORMAL PEOPLE, UNITE! Sandy says we all should take another gander at our founding documents, and then speak with the voice of sanity. SANDY COMPTON - THE SCENIC ROUTE 18. WORKING TOWARD AN OPEN DIALOGUE. With continued electoral division, it’s more important than ever we find common ground. GIL BEYER-HERE IN THE MIDDLE 20. THE STRAIGHT POOP. An intriguing correlation between gut bacteria and Parkinson’s Disease. A.C. WOOLNOUGH - ALL SHOOK UP 22. EDGAR ALLEN POO. You, too, can learn to talk with the ravens. But be careful what you say. SCOTT CLAWSON - ACRES N’ PAINS
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It’s a Dog to the Rescue at Schweitzer Mountain Anyone travelling in the backcountry during the winter is strongly encouraged to bring a tracking beacon, among other things, in case of avalanche. But in this high-tech age, if a person is buried without a beacon, the best option for rescue is still a trained dog. Time is crucial when rescuing someone after an avalanche. A welltrained dog can cover acres of avalanche debris ten times faster than an entire team of rescuers searching with probes. Avalanche victims can be saved 90 percent of the time if located within 15 minutes (assuming no life-threatening injuries). But if the rescue takes 30 minutes, the survival rate is only 30 percent, and drops to ten percent after two hours. If you get up to Schweitzer Mountain Resort frequently, chances are you will spot a small yellow Lab wearing a red ski patrol vest. Annie, a two-year-old certified avalanche dog and her handler, Jeff Thompson, are on hand four days a week to provide assistance to skiers and snowboarders. And if you should be so unlucky as to be buried under the snow, Annie might use her keen sense of smell to locate you quickly. Using dogs to rescue stranded victims in the snow has a long history. St Bernards were used for many years at St Bernard Pass, a route through the Alps between Italy and Switzerland, and saved roughly 2,000 people over a 200-year period. Sometimes, the dogs would dig down to the buried person and lay on top of them to warm them up. But the picture we have of the St Bernard with a keg of brandy is not true at all. An artist created a painting with the collar keg and the image stuck. These days, smaller breeds are used for avalanche rescue. “You want a dog who likes to find things,” says Thompson. Retrievers are especially good candidates. Plus, the dog needs to be transported in a number of ways, including riding on the shoulders of its handler while the handler skis. Try that with a 150-pound dog! But the dog must also be large enough to move quickly Page
through avalanche debris, so 40 to 50 pounds is ideal. The training and certification process for becoming an avalanche rescue dog is quite rigorous. First, you have to start with the right dog. They have to be energetic, intelligent, nimble, trainable and sociable. Thompson searched extensively for the right dog, finally finding Annie at a breeder in Ft Collins, Colorado. Training may start with finding a tennis ball or frisbee in the tall grass and gradually progresses until the dog is tasked with finding a person buried intentionally under the snow. Transport is also a big part of their training. Rescuers use whatever method is the most rapid and practical to get to the burial site. This ranges from the dog running between a skier’s legs, riding a snowmobile, toboggan, ski lift, or on the shoulders of the handler, or even in a helicopter. As I was interviewing Thompson at the Gearhouse near the top of Schweitzer’s Stella lift, a whole group of young girls showed up to visit Annie. She was tearing around playing and doling out kisses left and right. A big part of the rescue dog operation is education. A friendly, social dog is invaluable when going to meetings and classrooms to teach snow sport enthusiasts about how to be safe in the snow. But when tasked with finding someone under the snow, the dog must be focused on only two people: the victim and the handler. A potential second avalanche dog will be coming to Schweitzer soon. A cousin of Annie, this young pup will be getting used to the mountains and the ski patrol this season and will start training in earnest next season. Pups learn quickly from older dogs, so Annie will now be the mentor. The trainer often performs frustration drills where the younger dog is kept on a leash while the older dog searches for something. This has the effect of making the young dog eager to jump in and start searching. After the lead dog finds the object, the younger dog is released to join in the fun.
by Jim Mellen
Sometimes, the best way to get an avalanche dog into the backcountry is on the shoulders of its handler. Here, Jeff Thompson demonstrates the preferred technique. Photo by Jim Mellen
March 2017
Not only is Jeff Thompson a ski patroller at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, but he is the executive director of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center.
Thompson has worked with roughly one hundred dogs, doing training and certification, and was one of the founding fathers of the Colorado Rapid Avalanche Dogs. The program at Schweitzer Mountain Resort is developing as a resource for the entire Panhandle region. Eventually, these dogs could cover rescues in the Cabinet Mountains, eastern Washington and as far south as McCall. The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (idahopanhandleavalanche.org) is a tremendous resource for anyone venturing out into the backcountry on skis, splitboards, snowmobiles, snowbikes or snowshoes. They offer weekly regional advisories, avalanche awareness classes, and have developed a series of twelve instructional videos on YouTube. (Type Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center in the search bar on YouTube to see a full listing.) Selkirk Powder Company offers Level 1 avalanche courses directed towards recreational skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers (selkirkpowder. com/safety) and Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education partners with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education to offer avalanche education in the North Idaho, western Montana, and eastern Washington (soleexperiences. org/seasonal-experiences/avalancheeducation-experiences/) Schweitzer ski patrol is encouraging and offering weekly free “Transceiver Sundays” (meet at the clock tower at 10 am) to all interested public with two permanent practice areas and one more difficult challenge that is held on a less regular basis. All they ask is that the public covers up their tracks and if practicing digging techniques, please replace your divot. This is a great way to keep on your A game for those journeying out of bounds. So, when venturing outside of a patrolled ski area, get some education, safety equipment and a buddy. Bring a tracking beacon, shovel, probe and your brain. Starting out with an experienced friend is a good way to learn and stay safe. But do not be lulled by a false sense of security. Making bad decisions in the backcountry can have serious consequences.
Washington Claims Bigfoot Given the never-ending stream of political news coming out of the White House these days, it wouldn’t be surprising if many of our readers have missed the news coming out of the other Washington — our neighbor to the west — as they consider the merits of Senate Bill 5816. Senator Ann Rivers, a Republican representing the state’s 18th legislative district (serving parts of Clark County including Camas and Vancouver), introduced the bill at the urging of one of her constituents: a second-grader from Ridgefield. If it passes, Bigfoot will become our neighboring state’s official cryptid. Rivers says the bill will help to highlight Bigfoot’s “immeasurable contributions to Washington state’s cultural heritage and ecosystem,” though specific examples of those contributions are difficult to find. While the state of Washington certainly has its fair share of Sasquatch sightings, other states in the Pacific Northwest — not to mention vast swaths of Canadian provinces — could argue the same. In fact, there have been several Bigfoot sightings reported right here in Bonner County. So in the spirit of our dearlydeparted Jody Forest, let us point out that Idaho’s legislature (and Montana’s as well), may have missed out on a good opportunity — or at least a chance for more lighthearted legislative news — beaten to the draw, as it were, by a second grader in Washington. -Trish Gannon
March 2017
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School Levy Runs Into Opposition As it has done biennially for almost two decades now, Lake Pend Oreille School District is going to the voters for approval of a two-year supplemental levy, designed to bolster the educational programs of an award-winning district. This time, however, they are doing so with trepidation, as a vocal group of anti-tax residents, who helped orchestrate a resounding defeat of last fall’s plant facility levy, are again pounding the drums to urge voters to vote no. At stake, says the district, is the future of many of our rural schools: Clark Fork Jr/Sr High School (named one of America’s “best small high schools” every year since 2007, and one of only a dozen Idaho 5-star schools), Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School, and elementary schools at Southside, Northside and Hope may be consolidated, with students bussed into the Sandpoint area, if the levy fails. That’s because the district funds the equivalent of almost 300 full and part time staff members with dollars made available from the levy. Concern for their schools is both galvanizing voters in these rural communities... and making them angry. “(I’m) tired of the threats that come with every levy,” one supporter remarked online, while indicating she would vote yes. Another, who says she will vote “no,” wrote, “I’m tired of them using fear of shutting down schools to sway our judgment.” Speaking to a group of business leaders in Sandpoint, Superintendent Shawn Woodward said he’s taking a lot of heat for warning of consolidation, and possible double-shifting of students, but that it’s a reality voters need to be aware of. “They wouldn’t be happy if they found out about it afterward,” he said. In order to provide property tax relief, in 2006 the state legislature decided to eliminate the portion of school funding that had been provided via property tax revenues, and replace it with a one cent sales tax. Districts may still go to voters with both supplemental and plant facility levy Page
requests, and Lake Pend Oreille School District (along with 93 other school districts in the state this year) has done just that, finding that the monies provided by the state simply don’t stretch to cover the type of educational system the community wants to provide. An ambitious, $55.1 million plant facility levy (a type of levy used to build schools) was presented to voters last August, and rejected by 65 percent of those who went to the polls. But since 1999, when Lake Pend Oreille School District was formed out of the former Bonner County School District, voters have faithfully supported supplemental levies every other year. In the last decade, those supplemental monies have been used in
by Trish Gannon
a variety of ways. The most substantial portion of current levy dollars—almost $13 million, or close to 82 percent for 20142016—goes to salaries and benefits. This money funds teachers in order to reduce class sizes, offer additional elective classes, and provide staffing beyond what the state allocates in our small rural schools. It funds all salaries for staff in the technology departments and who work in extra curricular programs (teachers, coaches and aides). It also supplements district salaries beyond what the state provides; not just teacher salaries, but also classified (nonteaching) and district office salaries, along with the controversial bonuses paid to the Superintendent and the
March 2017
business manager. The remaining levy dollars have funded technology in the district; they have paid for academic programs including consumable materials like workbooks as well as training for staff; levy proceeds have funneled additional dollars into the maintenance department to pay for utilities, snow removal and custodial supplies; and they have provided the entirety of the district’s support for extra curricular programs— everything from sports to drama to school newspapers and yearbooks. District funding of extra curricular programs, by the way, does not pay for the entire program. The school district funds most teaching and coaching salaries, provides busing to competitions, rents facilities, and buys some coaching supplies like balls and nets. But if you’ve ever gone to a dinner to support, for example, the Model U.N. Club, or bought a cake at a Clark Fork auction to send athletes to state competitions, you already know that the community, in the form of parents, booster clubs, individuals and businesses, also provides a healthy portion of the extra curricular budgets. This sometimes becomes fodder for anti-tax proponents when they look at school budgets, because most of those outside funds have to be run through a school checking account. That happened just recently when an opponent to the levy wrote of district money being spent on New York hotels and Broadway shows. Monies raised by students and parents were deposited in a school controlled activity fund, and expenses were then paid out of that fund. To the uninformed, it looks like the school is funding the trip when in reality, those expenses were paid for with dollars raised within the community. Levy opponents, at least in local media and social media, come from several perspectives. There are those who argue that residents who live on a fixed income simply can’t afford to keep supporting property tax levies; some argue that the district mismanages funds and therefore should not be given more; and some question the need for increased continued funding amounts when enrollment numbers are stagnant, and given that the state has increased
its funding to schools in the last two years. While it’s true the state increased funding for schools in the last two fiscal years, it’s also true that in 2006, thanks to the “great recession,” funding for schools was greatly curtailed. Today’s dollars, adjusted for inflation, are still six percent less than what the state provided for education prior to the recession, a decade ago. When the state funding formula changed in the 2006-2007 school year, district enrollment was at a high of 4,073 students. Those numbers have declined since, dropping to a low of 3,588 in 2014-2015, and are slowly rising again to this year’s number of 3,632. Enrollment, however, is a misleading name as what’s actually being reported is Average Daily Attendance, which is how the state determines the amount of funding the district will receive. If, for example, a school enrolls a thousand students, but on average each day ten students are absent, the ADA for that school will be 990—that is, the state will provide funding as if only 990 students were enrolled. Idaho is
one of only 7 states in the nation that funds schools based on ADA. Last year, the legislature agreed to form a committee to “complete a study of the public school funding formula and make recommendations,” after a Governor’s Task Force on Improving Education recommended moving from ADA funding to Average Daily Enrollment. The levy asks for $17 million over a two year period; the sample ballot at left provides line items for where that funding will be used. This type of line item request, by the way, means the district can only spend those dollars on the items enumerated. The levy vote will be held on March 14, and absentee voting is available now. Should this levy fail, LPOSD Business Manager Lisa Hals said the district will try again, going to voters with a supplemental levy request in May, one of the four times during the year the district is allowed to do so. But because staff may need time to find another job, pink slips would be given out immediately after a levy failure.
Should Clark Fork Deconsolidate? In social media conversations about the upcoming school levy, some have suggested that on the east end of the county voters should say no, and work to split the Clark Fork/Hope area into a separate school district. In 2003 and 2004 residents sought to do just that (disclosure: I was one of them). The local school board allowed the proposal to move to the state board of education, which ruled against the process, in part citing a concern with what they believed was the local community’s lack of support for supplemental levies. That decision was upheld on appeal. But much has changed since 03/04—the most important change in light of a new call to deconsolidate is that the state has changed the way education is funded. At one time, local schools were funded through a combination of state support and levies on local property
tax. But in 2006, in an effort to provide property tax relief, the state legislature replaced funding provided through property taxes with a one cent increase in sales tax. Previous financial projections for a separate school district in Hope and Clark Fork relied on monies provided through the high assessed value of properties in that area; money that would not be available at this point in time to ensure adequate operation of a school district. Because funding is now tied solely to enrollment. even small losses at a smaller school could have a drastic impact on the total budget. In addition, it should be noted that deconsolidation requires the approval of the local board of education and the state board of education, as well as a vote of support from both the district as a whole, and the voters in the proposed new district. -Trish Gannon
March 2017
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I
t was hard not to get emotional as I watched the PBS “Ruby Ridge” documentary a week ago. I was there. I received death threats. I saw neighbor turn against neighbor. I bailed a reporter out of jail and I witnessed how fast things can go south when ideologies collide. The odd thing was, this is the same lump in the throat I had when news started leaking out that Donald Trump’s campaign had frequent contact with Russian leaders during the general election as well as leading up to the inauguration. How are the two connected? A deep-seated distrust of the government mixed with a suspension of belief. My guess is you probably know all too well about the armed standoff in 1992 that pitted Randy Weaver and his family, living on Ruby Ridge near Naples, against the FBI, ATF and numerous other federal and state law enforcement agencies. With this awareness, my guess is you fall into one of two distinct camps: • Weaver, who failed to appear in
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Revisiting Ruby Ridge by David Keyes • davidkeyes09@gmail.com
court on a weapons charge, drew a line in the dirt near the family home near Naples and dared federal officials to cross it while he thought he was safe hiding behind his wife and children. Or • The federal government misunderstood that the Weavers weren’t at war with the government, they just wanted to be left alone. The Weavers were hunted and law enforcement wanted to make an example of the mislabeled Aryan Nationalist who was now hiding because he missed a court date after he refused to rat out other Aryan Nation’s members. Ruby Ridge begat a standoff in Waco which led to Timothy McVeigh blowing up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995. To a lesser extent, these incidents also led to a takeover of a wildlife refuge in Oregon. Each of these instances involved violent death. The splinter groups from those tragedies have landed all around the country and while it is hard to prove that people who buy into the “all government is evil” category voted for Trump during the last election, you know darn well none of them voted for Hillary. The airing of PBS’s “Ruby Ridge” is sure to stir up some of the sentiment that bubbled up during the 11-day standoff. Randy Weaver received an honorable discharge from the Army after serving
three years. He and Vicki were married in 1971 and he enrolled in college with hopes of becoming an FBI agent. Vicki’s suspension of belief was that she thought the world was going to end and that she and her family should move to Idaho. They moved to Ruby Ridge in the early 1980s, bought property for $5,000, and built a home and outbuildings. Weaver did go to Aryan Nations gatherings but people I interviewed
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March 2017
This is the last photograph of Vicki Weaver before she was killed by an FBI sniper 22 Aug 1992 in the Ruby Ridge standoff. It was taken by USMS surveillance the morning of 21 Aug 1992 and was used as evidence at the subsequent trial.
said he was more interested in finding friends. He also ran for Boundary County sheriff. To this day I firmly believe there would have been no Ruby Ridge if federal law enforcement would have left the local sheriff to handle the Weavers. In fact, at least one member of the U.S. Marshals Service recommended the same thing. Questioning authority is nothing new. As a matter of history, it is how our country was founded. A healthy dose of skepticism is needed to keep the pendulum of our democracy swinging back and forth between conservatism and liberalism. The Trump presidency has begun with equal parts frenetic energy and cacophony. While his executive orders have acted as balm for his supporters, his choices for leadership positions in his administration have been suspect at best and his tweet-of-the-day habit scares even some of his most ardent supporters. So the man who ran as the ultimate outsider for President is now subject to the same leaks, dirty tricks and bad calls he accused the previous administration and his opponent of having.
Worse, whether you liked the Obama administration or not, the one thing “No Drama” Obama did achieve was a lack of scandal. Trump has already had more turmoil out of the starting gate than Obama had in eight years. My suspension of belief is that I think Trump and the folks who surrounded him during the campaign loved the Russia-Wikileaks connection and probably coordinated the daily, damaging leaked emails that were designed to blow a hole in the Clinton campaign. I also question why two top Trump aides have resigned mainly because of their connection with Russia. There has to be more to this story, right? So while I might mistrust the current President and most of the characters he has surrounding him, I am not taking up arms in resistance. Even though Rep. Heather Scott is the closest we have to an elected loon in Idaho, she doesn’t frighten me, just disappoints me. Toward the end of the Ruby Ridge documentary, daughter Sara Weaver said she is pleased the FBI is now using the siege at Ruby Ridge for training on how not to bring in a family holed up on a mountain in the middle of nowhere. My guess is at the end of the Trump presidency, there might be a few lessons on why a candidate should not admire Putin or expect that leaks won’t go both ways. You can watch the PBS American Experience Show “Ruby Ridge” online until March 13 at http://www.pbs.org/ video/2365956179/. Photo: By U.S. Marshal Service credited to Court Files, U.S. v Weaver in Walter “Ruby Ridge” Regan 2002, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia. org/w/index.php?curid=55772855
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The Way I See It
David Keyes is the former publisher of three North Idaho newspapers.
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March 2017
Page 11
A Sweetheart of an Evening for a Sweetheart of a Cause
Local Event Supports Kids with Cancer Sweetheart’s Ball was held at the Coeur businesses that people might not d’Alene Resort’s Convention Center. An be aware exist,” Nick said as we sat annual event, the Sweetheart Ball raises drinking coffee at one of those places, close to 60 percent of the Fine Brewed, a local place with revenues needed to fund awesome coffee, smoothies and the camp. bottomless mimosas every S a Now named Camp weekend. t urday , Inspiration can come at any time of A p Journey, this seven day Last year, the r il 8 any day. Just ask three friends—Nick a t t h retreat is held at the Sweetheart’s Ball was e Leonard, Jake Bonwell and Brandon Coeur d ’ A Ross Point Camp and able to cover the cost of lene R Bunch—about how an afternoon e s o Convention Center. It’s sending 122 kids to camp for rt hanging out turned into a way to help available to kids ranging the week — at a cost around support children with cancer. in age from 6 to 17 years old $1,200 per kid. They hope to Brandon, you see, had a spinal tumor who have been diagnosed with expand to a point where they will when he was just eight years old. He some kind of cancer. Throughout be able to fund the camp for a second lived down in the Boise area at the time a one week period they participate in a week. Each year the Ball has a dress and fondly remembered how he was myriad of events and activities like rock code and theme. Last year’s theme was able to go to Camp Rainbow Gold. This climbing, ropes courses, kayaking, and the Kentucky Derby; this year’s theme was a program for kids battling cancer, paddle boarding. There’s a swimming is Spring Soiree. Participants are asked that allowed them to enjoy some time area with a giant blob, a water slide and to wear formal white attire—all white. away from the hospital beds and the a water trampoline. Kids can take part There are prizes for the best dressed chemo, while remaining under medical and most creative as well as raffle supervision. At the camp they could run, in archery, fishing, mountain biking and outdoor cooking. The facility even has a tickets for purchase during the dinner. play and take part in events just like any 3D printer where kids get to design and This year’s ball takes place on other kids could do who weren’t in the create things like a glow-in-the-dark April 8 and features a cocktail social middle of the biggest fight of their lives, ring from the Green Lantern comics. hour, live and silent auctions, a three at a time when most of the news they Kids who attend this camp come course dinner, raffle prizes and live had gotten in their lives hadn’t been on from all over Washington, Oregon, Idaho music. Ticket prices start at $75 for a the positive side. and Montana. Their families submit an single admission, with various levels It was a special childhood memory application to get their kids involved. of VIP and sponsorship support. VIP that Brandon carries with him every There is no charge to children who tickets include overnight lodging at the day and the three friends decided it participate in the camp. Coeur d’Alene Resort. Tickets can be was time to give back to the community Nick, Jake and Brandon all purchased online at sweetheartsball. that supported them all. They contacted participate as camp counselors and com. and are on sale now. Camp Rainbow Gold to ask how they donate their entire week to helping If you can’t attend, the trio is always could help. these kids, but the costs of this camp, accepting donations of cash and Camp Rainbow Gold pointed them unfortunately, aren’t free. That’s where auction items. Call 661-2324 or email back to their current back yard. the Sweetheart’s Ball comes in. sweetheartsball@gmail.com. I know Here in North Idaho, Camp Good Each year this event generates Nick, Jake and Brandon personally Times East had lost their financial enough money to fund close to 60 and can tell you first hand that our support from the American Cancer percent of what is needed for the camp. communities and our country could use Society —$100,000 annually—and was Ross Point Camp and Conference Center a whole lot more people like these three going to be forced to shut down. covers the rest of it.But Nick, Jake and 20-somethings. I’ll be seeing you all on So Nick, Jake and Brandon stepped Brandon’s goal is to eventually fund 100 April 8 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. in. “We told (camp director) Kari percent of the camp’s cost with their To find out more about tickets Allen that we were going to create a signature event. or donation information,visit www. fundraising event to donate tens of The Sweetheart’s Ball is a dinner sweetheartsball.com. Keep up to date thousands of dollars to her camp, but and dance party with a live and with their event as well by liking she had a hard time believing us,” Nick silent auction. “We try to get as many their facebook page at facebook.com/ told me. “She was hopeful that we could auction items and donations from sweetheartsball. You can learn more help and told us our timing literally local businesses as we can. We kind about Camp Journey at rosspoint.org couldn’t have been any better.” of hope to create some awareness In 2012, they did exactly that... in our community about small, local and more. That’s when the very first Page 12 March 2017
by Dustin Gannon
On Behalf of Wilderness by Trish Gannon • trishgannon@gmail.com
150 years. If you head into the wilderness and are unable to get out again, search parties can still go in and find you. If you’re hurt bad enough, helicopters can come in to fly you out. In fact, there have been three helicopter rescues in the area in recent years — something I would have thought our local sheriff might have been aware of. In fact, if Scotchman Peaks were to receive official wilderness designation, nothing much would change, given the area has been managed as wilderness for going on 30 years now. So why not leave it like that? Why bother seeking wilderness designation at all? Henry David Thoreau, one of my favorite writers thanks to his belief in building castles in the air, said that “In the wildness is the preservation of the world.” Maybe he was right about that and maybe not, but in the wildness of Scotchman Peaks is, I believe, the preservation of our world. It reminds us that this place isn’t easy, wasn’t ever easy, and that making a home here, building the community we love, was the result of an awful lot of hard work done by men and women whose faces I will only ever know as faded, sepia toned images, frozen in time. We take a lot for granted because we don’t always have much opportunity today to understand just how hard life used to be. But out in the Scotchmans we get at least a hint. I have been privileged to be out in the Scotchmans; my children have had that privilege as well, and I hope and pray that their children, and their children’s children, will be able to follow our footsteps into wild places here at home. But we need to keep them wild. And wilderness designation is our best chance to keep the Scotchmans the way it is.
wilderness designation and should be It was almost 11 years ago when managed that way. In part, this was due I first wrote a letter in support of to the terrain. This is no “Disneyland” Wilderness designation for the wilderness, but instead will try the legs, Scotchman Peaks area. It wasn’t a lungs and boots of anyone who heads out controversial position at the time. The idea had already received wide support, into it. No one was clamoring for roads from both sides of the political aisle, and to be built into this area of our forest, particularly when there are so many was particularly popular with my home other areas that are easier to reach. in Clark Fork. In the early part of the 2000s, the The Scotchman Peaks, you see, are Forest Service revisited the plan (they our back yard in Clark Fork. It’s where generations of families have tested their have to every 15 years) and again, the endurance by hiking up to the top, and where hundreds of young men and women hiked out into the back country in order to fill the larder before a hard winter kept them home. Through the years we have seen a lot of changes in our surrounding county as more and more people “head for the hills” for various reasons. Some have become good neighbors, and essential members of our communities. Others build their fancy homes in our forests, put up their fences and no-trespassing signs, let their dogs run loose and terrorize the wildlife while piling out the overwhelming response from anyone deer corn and creating a nuisance for who bothered to show up to the everyone else in the neighborhood who is trying to bring their garden to harvest. meetings was that Scotchman Peaks is best managed as if it were already Regardless of which type of neighbor they are, each new arrival brings change declared a wilderness. It’s worth taking a minute to talk to what it is we all love about living here—our essential “wild”ness—simply about what that kind of management because every year brings more of them. looks like. Two years ago, during the summer So when a group of people got of Mordor, areas in the proposed together, hoping the power of wilderness were burning. The incident numbers would convince our elected team that fought those fires was truly representatives to keep this special staggering in size, especially given the piece of our backyard off limits to the types of changes we were seeing, many fact that most of the Northwest seemed to be on fire at the time. So yes, fires of us got on board. As Clark Fork’s Bob in wilderness areas are not allowed to Hays put it in his own letter of support, burn out of control. “It should stay as it is. It’s still like it Wildlife also continues to be was when man first came through here managed in wilderness areas. Permits and I think that’s the way it should Trish Gannon is the have been and will still be given to hunt always be.” owner/publisher of elk, deer, moose, wolves and many other The Scotchman Peaks proposed the River Journal. critters that call this area home. Traps wilderness area first came about as part Despite the can still be set. What is true, now and of the 1987 Forest Plan. It seemed there suggestion of many in the future, is that if you hunt in this were dozens of meetings back then, and friends, she will never area, you’re going to have to haul your coming out of those meetings was the knit a sweater for her catch out on your back, the same way idea that the area around the Scotchman chickens to wear. the locals have been doing it for the last Peaks was particularly suitable for March 2017 Page 13
Politically Incorrect
Making New The Birds I’ve Never Seen Friends is Easy The list of resident birds is always expanding by Mike Turnlund • mturnlund@gmail.com Spring is soon upon us and it’s time for me to get ready to tackle a new season of birding. Soon, if not already, our winter visitors will be returning north and our summer visitors have already booked their flights. For some of these soon-to-arrive species the calendar will determine when they get here. For others, it is the weather. Either way, it is time for me to review all of those species I have yet to check off of my life list. Yes, there are still birds out there that I have never seen. And I guess that is one reason why I enjoy birding, my life list is still incomplete. Even for some “local” birds. I use that term local loosely, because what really is a local species? People new to birdwatching as a hobby are often unaware of how dynamic the world of birds really is. Even here in our own bit of paradise (the Clark Fork watershed and nearby parts), there are literally hundreds of bird species coming, going, and moving about year around. Which means that the opportunities to add new species to your life list are seemingly endless. Let’s review this. There are resident
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species of birds; that is, birds that live their entire lives in our region or in one area. Sort of like the House sparrows that mob your backyard feeder. They’re here every month of every season, every year. But even then the movement of some resident species is dynamic. Some move around in the general area, such as the Red or White-winged crossbills, but in unpredictable patterns, appearing suddenly and then moving on again. Others migrate locally in elevation, while still remaining residents. These birds might move up the mountainside in the spring and spend the summer higher up, and then come back down to lower elevations again in the winter. One of my favorite local bird species, the Townsend solitaire, is an example. Some species are winter residents, coming into our region at that time of the year because it has better food supplies and less harsh weather conditions. These birds spend their breeding season on the Arctic tundra or in the vast northern boreal forests that ring those barren lands. Such species include the Common redpoll, the Bohemian waxwing, the Roughlegged hawk, and the Northern shrike. Sometimes even the spectacular
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The collared dove is just one example of a bird that used to be an uncommon visitor, and now is practically a native. Look for them in pairs.
birds, birds that have atypical plumage or coloration. Identifying these birds can be both maddening and exciting. One memorable example of this is my multidecade search to identify a ring-necked jay. Decades ago, over the course of three years ,I encountered a Steller’s jay with a near-complete white ring around its neck. It also had white flecking on its face. It was only years later that I discovered that this ring-necked jay was simply an aberrant Steller’s jay. Crazy! And I won’t even begin to broach the subject of hybrids! I have started my own list of bird species that I hope to identify this summer. Some are species that I have yet to add to my life list, such as the Lazuli bunting, the Three-toed woodpecker, the Upland sandpiper, the Mountain plover, and the Clark’s grebe. Others are ones I’ve seen here, but would like to track down again, such as the Northern waterthrush, the Black-and-gray warbler, and the Redeyed vireo, among many others. One species that is particularly compelling to me is, again, the Anna’s hummingbird. I’ve had females visit my backyard feeder multiple years in a row and two years ago in Travers Park in Sandpoint I saw a male dancing for a female. This strongly suggests that these birds are now breeding in our area, which has previously not been the case. Perhaps they’re expanding their range? Birding is an exciting sport. It gets us outside and connects us with nature. It can be enjoyed at so many different levels and can truly become a lifelong endeavor. Never done it, or at least not too seriously? It is not too late to start. All you need is a good field guide (I suggest the Sibley’s Guide) and a pair of halfway decent binoculars. But also bring a willingness to expect the unexpected. You’ll become bedazzled! Happy birding!
any time of the year. Some of these bird Snowy owl will make an appearance. species are what are called vagrants, Others are de facto winter visitors, even though they are classified in bird guides meaning that they’ve wandered in from a neighboring region and do not as local residents. In reality these birds typically frequent our area. One such are residents in only a general way. One example is the Anna’s hummingbird, example is the Golden eagle, which a species that normally resides along visits our area, but generally only in the Pacific coastal regions. But other the winter. These birds require huge species are simply lost — they are far territories as hunting grounds and in from home. This list of lost species is the winter these majestic raptors will surprisingly quite long and only goes to sweep through our area looking for a show that a serious birder must always meal. Typically, that means road kill expect the unexpected. You have to trust deer. You gotta do what you gotta do. your eyes. So keep good field notes and Of course there are the summer try to take pictures of unusual species residents too. These are the birds that if you can. The best evidence is always swarm into our region for the summer. photographic. They come for love and for the sun, as Times are a’changing and don’t well as meals aplenty. This is a long overlook the fact that some bird species list of birds, but obviously include are expanding their range. What were hummingbirds, swallows, terns, song once uncommon visitors are now birds, and so on. A delightful time of the summer residents, such as the Eastern year! kingbird. These birds used to range Other species only pass through our exclusively east of the Mississippi River, region as they seek out destinations but now range to the Pacific coast in the north. These include the great number summer. And the Blue jay might soon of migratory waterfowl. Among my be added to that list. There appears to favorites are the swans, both the Tundra be a resident population established and the Trumpeter. These birds will use near Moscow, so there is no reason the local waterways as rest stations. why these birds won’t start appearing Other species are normally only seen here, too. It will just be a matter of flying overhead, such as the Sandhill time. Another example is the Eurasian cranes. And if you don’t catch these collared-dove. I remember seeing my species on their way north, you’ll get a Do you love birds, first one about five or six years ago. Now second chance later in the year as they and want to know they’re plentiful and faithful summer reverse their journey in the late summer more? Check residents. A handful of years ago they or fall. out Mike’s bird didn’t exist here, and now they’re And then that special spice which photos, online everywhere. makes birding a particularly addictive at birdsidaho. Lastly, and often the most sport are the surprise species, birds blogspot.com. that aren’t supposed to be in our area at perplexing, are aberrant individual March 2017 Page 15
A Bird in Hand
Curing My Anxiety by Ernie Hawks • ernestmhawks@gmail.com The grand experiment appeared to be working. The child sized snowshoes we bought for our granddaughters were a hit. For some time, my anxiety level had been rather high. I was having trouble shaking some fears that were prevalent in my environment; concerns I have very little—or, more correctly, no—control over. Many leaders in our government have a desire to sell off much of our public lands to the highest bidder. I find this quite disturbing. Worry and even anger around the issue has been causing anxiety to flow through and often find a home in my psyche. But today my focus is on the two little girls tramping around our private land on their new winter gear. The snow was old but hard enough for them to stay on the top of the crust for the most part. For Grandma and I, even with quality adult equipment that fits us properly, we still “post-holed” through. It didn’t keep us from enjoying the outing as much as the girls. Watching their joy and innocence is contagious as they appreciate and learn. For them, being present and in the moment is part of the awe and excitement. The day was warm for February and some snow still hung on the tree branches as we trekked on our trails. They both looked over their shoulder to see the new tracks they created. Alice is able to identify some bird sounds and loves to call out “Chick-adee-dee-dee” when she hears one. Of course, as soon as older sis sang the song the younger chimed in with gusto. Squirrels jumped from branch to branch overhead and delighted them both. Alice, six, had taken to snowshoes like a zealot to a cause. Her little sister, three, is having a good time. Lucy isn’t as proficient but wants to be out with us. Lucy’s shoes aren’t as perfect a fit as Alice’s. The bindings on the smaller set do not adjust as well as the larger ones. That is a problem with children’s gear. Consequently Lucy’s stance on the shoe isn’t ideal, causing her toe to catch Page 16
and trip her up a bit. But it looks like the falling down is part of the fun. I wince but try to remember a three year old is more limber and doesn’t fall as far as grandparents do. After an hour and a half, hot chocolate with marshmallows drew us all back to the house. Relaxing a bit myself I noticed my frustration level seemed to be nearly non-existent. This happens a lot when I have been out in the woods, getting fresh air and exercise, and also when I am with the girls. I checked the Internet as I relaxed and the news raised my blood pressure Grandkids and nature are both a cure for a little. So I let my mind wander back to anxiety. The two together are bliss. the trek we had just finished. I had been pleased to see Alice Yes, I do want to keep up with the recognize deer prints. She doesn’t news and my entire environment, and see them often at home. I pointed out I don’t want the negative affects on my Snowshoe hare tracks and they both body. had fun finding more. Having awareness allows me to be “What is a Hare?” asked Lucy. informed and mentally healthy. One “It’s a white bunny rabbit,” said trick I can use—and there are many—is Grandma. to think about these little girls when I Lucy’s three-year-old eyes lit up as feel the anxiety meter start to peg into she said “bunny rabbit,” then she fell the red zone, and be grateful for them. down again. But now I have other things to do. Vacillating between the frustrations Alice just sat down behind me and of the news and the energy of the girls started putting on her new snowshoes. allowed me to observe my reactions. “Don’t worry Grandpa, I’ll stay where I know I control my emotions. you can see me. I won’t go into the Sometimes it doesn’t feel like that, but woods.” it is always true. With that awareness, She doesn’t realize I was six once allowing the news to frustrate me and said I’d stay close and not go into is, in reality, a choice. I can read for the woods. And since I don’t want to understanding and information without stop her from going out I better get some getting upset. gear on too. Yes I could be with the girls and not feel the joy if I chose to, but why would I do that? The feelings of joy are not only good for my mind but also my Ernie Hawks is the author of “Every Day body. The hormones I get from them is a High Holy naturally provide a feeling of pleasure, Day: Stories of which gives me peace of mind, and an Adventuring are healthy, while helping my immune Spirit,” available system. on Amazon, When I allow my emotions to run to Kindle or in the negative, I not only feel bad but I am dumping toxins into my system that your favorite work just the opposite of the pleasure bookstore. hormones.
The Hawk’s Nest
March 2017
Normal People, Unite! and read our nation’s charter!
by Sandy Compton • mrcomptonjr@hotmail.com Author’s note: It might be noted in this writing that for twenty years I have been writing whatever I want for The River Journal. Thanks for reading The Scenic Route. – Sandy Compton
and focus on those and learn to work out or accept the differences. Every step forward in human civilization, big or small, is accompanied by a new understanding of our selves, the Universe, or both. Every slide backward—of which there have been not a few—seems to have been fueled by intolerance, ignorance, dogma, greed, fear or some combination thereof. This experimental nation, the United States of America, is still relatively new compared it to the continuity of the great countries of Europe and Asia. Many of the buildings in London, Moscow, Istanbul and Beijing were already hundreds of—and some almost two thousand—years old when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The framers of that document and our Constitution undertook a relatively daring endeavor in placing so much power in the hands of ordinary people. Should those men return today—and they were all males—the evolution of their invention might surprise them. Slavery is gone and people of hundreds of different cultures and economic situations have the full privileges of citizenship. (We are still working on eradicating racism.) Women are in the national work force at all levels, voting, holding office, running for President, in fact—and sporting pussy hats in huge rallies around the entire continent. (Misogyny is still an ugly fact of life in the U.S.) A huge compendium of legal attachments—and amendments—have been made to their original idea, and
they would be highly pleased with some interpretations of their work and sorely disappointed at others. (I doubt very much that they ever foresaw that corporations would gain near human status under law.) They would recognize the original Constitution and the Bill of Rights as theirs, and probably at least appreciate most of the rest of the Amendments, even if they were astounded by them. And they would be amazed by the hundreds of state and local governments built on the basic framework they established. I doubt that they would applaud the ignorance of our national charter by the majority of citizens—even though some of them might not be surprised. Nor would they care for its misrepresentation and manipulation by the greedy and fringe elements—those both far to the left and right of that so-called norm—for personal gain or extreme ideology. One of the things that I take comfort in is the number of “normal” people I know. Their courage and commitment to justice, fair play, love, common sense, loyalty, progress for all of humanity and honest open discourse is the natural and essential antidote to the selfserving half truths, manipulations and nay-saying of those who would drag us back into a dark age for the sake of a dollar and their fear of a future world that doesn’t look exactly like the one to which they wish to cling. So, I say, “Normal people, unite! Stand up and be counted! Let your voices be heard. You are not alone.” More than ever, we need the voice of sanity speaking out, here and all across our country.
In the midst of all the folderol precipitating from President Trump’s election, I find there are still some important sources of comfort and normalcy. Whatever normal might be. It’s still possible to take a long walk in the woods where we live— n stillness with no artificial or motorized interruptions—as we did today. The only human sounds we encountered were our own laughter and our boots crunching across the heavy crust the recent cold has put on the snowpack. We entered a place where the only discernable and definable tracks besides my dog’s and our boot prints were those of moose, snowshoe hares, squirrels, mice, one spectacularly large bull elk and a top-of-the-foodchain predator that hunts with just the weapons genetics endowed it with. For me, having lived on the edge of wilderness all of my life, this is both normal and comforting, yet we who live here are lucky to have such a privilege. Many live in places where normal is an every day, every moment crush of others, but I think every person would benefit by having a place to just be quiet in, somewhere where they can hear themselves think. These days, we have plenty to think about, and some of the stuff we have to think about seems neither comforting nor normal. Maya Angelou pointed out that “normal” is a setting on the dryer, The Scenic Route is also and that’s a good thing to remember. a book collecting many In the spectrum of humanity—all of the best of Sandy of creation, really—there is no such Compton’s essays. It thing as “normal,” only a particular and his other book are phenomenon’s relationship to the available at Vanderfords statistical mean. Everyone and in Sandpoint, The Well everything has commonalities with Read Moose in Coeur and differences from everyone and d’ Alene and online at everything else. The struggle going bluecreekpress.com. forward for humans—and the ultimate Visit his Facebook page at facebook. challenge—is to find the commonalities com/sandycomptonwriter March 2017 Page 17
The Scenic Route
and
eing ater the d to n as ake ues
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It appears that winter is finally drawing to a close. The vernal equinox occurs at 3:29 am PST on March 20. It is ore time for all of us here at TRJ to awake, rvey take a look around and try and make ater some sense out of the world we see. The heir 208-266-1338 most obvious lesson to come out of the om | Vol 17 No. 18 | November 2008 | Page 5 November election is that once again we allowed a small, well-organized minority EVERGREEN REALTY to determine our state and national government. Too little time was spent reaching Sales Associate, GRI out to those who really want what is best for the majority of Idahoans. We need to remove the word ‘compromise’ from the list of dirty words no one can use. We need to come together for the betterment of the majority. We cannot continue to allow the minority to control the processes that govern us. We need to focus on having every age-eligible Idahoan registered. In 2016 we had (according to the Secretary of State’s office) a total population of age321 N. First Ave. - Sandpoint eligible residents numbering 1,203,384. 800.829.6370 There were 936,529 registered voters in November. Out of that number 710,877 208.263.6370 votes were cast. That means that over 24 EvergreenRealty.com percent of those registered did not vote. SchweitzerMountain.com What is scary is that over 40 percent of those old enough to vote chose not to register! The numbers for the primary last May are even worse. The turnout Whatever Your Event Needs was abysmal. While the age-eligible population is unchanged the number of people who went to the polls was only 227,196! A shade less than 19 percent of the total age-eligible population voted. Of that 19 percent, approximately two-thirds voted (R) statewide. That means two-thirds of those who voted determined the composition of Custom Wedding & Event Supplies government. That is not a democracy Dishes, linens, chairs, tables, tents – it is not even a republican democracy. and more. Expanded selection It is an oligarchy! If we want a truly covers any event, big or small. representative government— one that understands the interests of the majority 1201 Michigan St. • Sandpoint of people— we must get more voters www.weddingsinsandpoint.com to the polls in the primaries. To repeat a phrase, “If you don’t vote you can’t bitch!”
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Many times races at every level are won or lost in the primary. Low voter turnout benefits the most dedicated and can unduly effect the outcome. There is something to be said for requiring every citizen to vote. We cannot have a participatory democracy if over 80 percent of our citizens do not participate. I really don’t care which side of the aisle one sits on. If we want to have a truly representative democracy we must vote for candidates we can support. No candidate should ever receive a single vote simply because they have an initial in parentheses behind their name. There is a phrase that should be heard by every voter: think people over party. We need to focus on solving our many problems, not re-entrenching any particular political ideology. Especially when it appears that there is disaffection from the citizenry across the entire political spectrum. Ben Mallicote, writing North Carolina’s Asheville Progressive, believes many individuals who voted for the President were ‘conned’ by the rhetoric during the campaign. Mallicote compares what the President said during numerous campaign stops to what he is actually doing now that he sits in the Oval Office. The very composition of the President’s staff and Cabinet gives lie to a lot of that rhetoric. It appears the President told the voters what they wanted to hear with no intention of ever doing anything to support that rhetoric. In focusing on local issues (I’m trying to ignore Washington, D.C. although that’s increasingly difficult to do) two things jump out. One is the decision by the Idaho Legislature’s Education Committee to remove references to human caused climate change from K-12 science standards. (They also recommended removing information about the benefits and value of biodiversity.) While districts must teach the minimum required in the standards,
March 2017
this does not prevent a district from choosing to teach what is commonly accepted by scientists regarding both subjects. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts. If the state legislature wants to collectively stick their fingers in their ears and scream, “la-la-la-la-la-la” at the top of their lungs that’s their right, but are they truly representing Idaho’s people by ignoring a majority viewpoint? Are Idaho’s students best served by holding to a minority opinion? The second thing is the upcoming special election for the LPOSD supplemental levy. Those opposing the levy are convinced that the district is spending too much money on unnecessary items. In my view, if the state were to adequately fund public education, the requested amounts would be reduced. Remember — in 2005, our state supreme court ruled the Legislature was not meeting its duty to adequately fund education, citing “the overwhelming evidence in the record documenting serious facility and funding problems in the state’s public education system.” To date, our legislature has yet to meet the court’s mandate. Our state representatives were all excited when they passed the last budget. They managed to increase the education budget to a level slightly more than 2011 levels! Even with the supplemental levy income, school funding is still less than 2007, 2008 and 2009 (Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, page 6, March 2016). The number of school districts seeking supplemental levy monies went from 60 in 2007 to 94 in 2016 (same report, page 8). The state is still providing less funding than it did in 2007, 2008 and 2009 (same report, page 7). Without the supplemental levies
Here in the Middle
A retired Navy man, Gil Beyer has been active in local politics.
our schools would be even less capable of preparing our children to meet the challenges of the future. In trying to encourage an open dialogue I’ve asked my neighbor (a solid Republican) to give me his views on the importance of this proposed levy. The note I received confirms my opinion that we can easily agree on the importance of an appropriately funded and supported public school system. He told me that it is the most important gift we can give our children to prepare them for tomorrow’s world. I wish I had the space to present his entire message. He left me no doubt he fully supports approving the levy on Tuesday, March 14 and that he encourages everyone to get out and vote in favor of this levy. Aside from getting people out to register and vote we need some real conversations about issues that effect every Idahoan. We must have open, two-way conversations. We’ve had way too much acrimony over the past several years. That divisiveness can be seen in the courthouse, the Legislature, the U.S. Congress even in the White House. We need to stop this. It is not solving any of our problems. We must begin to have civil discourse without trying to further deepen the divides between us. Abraham Lincoln said it best when he said, “A house divided against itself
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cannot stand.” Throughout our history we have always been stronger when we stood together. Until next month I will close this with a quote from a friend: Onward through the fog. Learn more about the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy at idahocfp.org
Women of the World
Pend Oreille Arts Council’s performance series continues on March 24, at 7:30 pm. with Women of the World, an ensemble of musicians from different corners of the globe. In the spirit of friendship, they celebrate the beauty of diversity. They sing not just for tolerance, but wisdom, respect, and joy. Tickets are $20 adults/$13 supporters/$10 youth 18 & under. At the Panida Theater, 302 N 1st Ave.,Sandpoint http://artinsandpoint. org/events/performance-series (208) 263-6139
Illusio - The Tour of Magic See illusionist Isaiah Daniels at the Panida Theater March 31 • 7:30 pm
P.O. Box 118 • Hope, Idaho • 208.264.5621 March 2017
$12 youth $15 adults Page 19
If my math is correct—always a dubious assumption—a stack of 100 trillion pennies would stretch from the sun to Mars and back again. One hundred trillion grains of sand would fill about six Olympic sized swimming pools. In other words, 100 trillion of anything is a lot! So what? It just so happens that each of us has about that amount of bacteria in our gut—three pounds, give or take a few billion bacteria. Researchers are discovering new and exciting aspects of these tiny microbes and their impact on digestion… and the brain! Yes, there appears to be a strong connection between the gut and the brain. The combination of nerves that control the gastrointestinal process is called the enteric nervous system. The major nerve linking the gut and brain is the vagus nerve. An example of how science works is a study conducted in Denmark. Because everyone in Denmark has healthcare, their scientists have access to a great deal of (randomized and confidential) data collected over time. Those researchers established that patients with a severed vagus nerve had a significantly reduced risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease. A partially severed or intact vagus nerve provided no protection. Somehow, it seemed, the brain and gut were influencing each other. That’s how science works—ain’t it grand? Here comes some more science— relax, it’s not too technical. The pathology involved seems to include a protein (alpha synuclein) that misfolds and forms clumps (Lewy bodies) that are toxic to certain brain cells and may lead to PD. Many researchers believe that, by some unknown mechanism,
The Straight Poop
Gut Bacteria and Parkinson’s Disease by A.C. Woolnough • acwooly@gmail.com
these clumps may first form in the gut and migrate up the vagus nerve to the brain—specifically, to the olfactory bulb which controls our sense of smell. Isn’t it interesting that about 90 percent of folks with PD lose their ability to smell up to ten years before motor symptoms, like tremor, appear? Hmmm … If you
All Shook Up A.C. Woolnough is a member of PDF’s People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council see the connection, you might want to figure out whether there’s more than just correlation here. If so, you are now a scientist! Your next study might be to determine how these clumps move to other areas of the brain. See, I said you are now a scientist. Apparently, the gut biome (the fauna and flora living there) is different in those with PD compared to the non-PD population. That leads us to the classic chicken and egg question. Does the gut biome influence the brain (cause PD) or does having PD cause changes in the makeup of the bacteria in the gut? This question is leading researchers to study not only probiotics, but other possible associations. For example, people who drank milk (tainted with some toxins including certain pesticides) have a higher incidence of PD. Maybe environmental exposure is a cause.
Certain genes are also linked to a higher rate of PD. But, I am straying off topic. It’s time to get to the straight poop! Speaking of poop, there is another factor providing evidence of the gutbrain connection: about 80 percent of people with PD suffer from constipation. I was going to make a bad pun here but instead, decided to move things along… Upon learning of the gut-brain connection and studies of probiotics, people have asked me about fecal transplants. If you’ve never heard of a fecal transplant well... it’s exactly what it sounds like. Given it’s a potentially messy subject, so I won’t go into how the transfer is completed. It’s a good idea and apparently has had some success for certain situations. Unfortunately for people with PD, there are no reputable studies (randomized, double blind, and with healthy controls) that have shown any evidence of benefit. What’s a person to do? Do what your mother (and doctor) said: eat healthy (lots of vegetables and fiber), exercise and get good sleep. If you want to take vitamins, supplements or probiotics, go ahead. Just do so responsibly and let your doctor know so they can be on the lookout for any potential negative interactions. The great thing for people with Parkinson’s is the expectation of a positive effect, just by itself, increases dopamine levels in the brain—and it’s the lack of dopamine that is the hallmark of PD.
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March 2017
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March 2017
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by Scott Clawson I learned how to gargle at an early age. Not because of a sore throat or anything, or even pre-adolescent halitosis for that matter, but because I was simply imitating my older brother who, in my opinion, was something of a mountain man by the age of ten, if only for the simple truth that he could talk to ravens in their own language and if they weren’t too preoccupied with their current espionage, they would often reply and on occasion do a little aeronautical pirouette for punctuation! I also learned to yodel about then, but that’s a different story. Now, a gargling “purist” might complain with a gravely guffaw that this is not actually “true” gargling and they would at least be scientifically correct, but it is the closest living relative both physically and linguistically. You may not know this, but “dry” gargling, like a “dry” martini, needs only a trace of ‘wetness’ to perform all the requirements with which to echo raven calls. (Just ask my bartender.) If, by chance, you already think you know how to make dove sounds (for all good lovers are supposed to know how to coo) then simply repeat that basic
technique just as you sit down slowly on an open keg of dry-wall nails. This will add the necessary ‘bite’ needed to convert ‘dove talk’ to ‘raven speak’. Burrowing in will help you pronounce those sharper notes without actually trying. If you were paying any kind of attention as to how the sound was issuing from your throat with your tongue bouncing around it, you should be ready to attempt the same thing only without the nails (obviously, one does not always have a keg of nails handy when desiring to imitate ravens). Go ahead and try it out right now if you like! I predict most guys are on the throne reading this so it’s perfectly natural for anyone else within earshot to expect loud animal impersonations while you’re in there. Gals are probably in their PJ’s and reading this magazine backwards in front of the TV with the radio on. Don’t ask me to quantify either these statistics. I’m just stating a hunch. Tilt your head back slightly as this promotes the Adam’s Apple, waking up its ego where the Yodel lives, then let your tongue relax into that area where the ‘hangy-downy’ thing is. If
it helps to envision a raven floating serenely overhead for authenticity, go for it. For instance, if you happen to be waiting patiently at the pharmacy counter and you decide to practice a few raven calls, it helps to have an excuse such as seeing them flying somewhere overhead. Now, ‘play’ your throat like you were a little kid without any embarrassing hang-ups having to do with social acceptance (life being so short and all). Take your time and don’t give up, as there’s ‘raven’ in there somewhere. All it takes is practice and you will eventually be able to startle the crap out of almost anyone except your pharmacist whom, I am positive, has seen nearly everything by now. If you are already well versed in ‘raven speak’, you’ve undoubtedly come to the same conclusion I have – their language is indeed difficult to master! Most of the vowels are there but each one is issued as if by machine gun or possibly a Hawaiian – “A’a’a’a’a’a’a’a”, “A’o’o’o’o’o’u”, “U’u’u’o’a’a’a’a” and so forth. There are also some weird clicking sounds they make on occasion, almost as if they’ve been taking lessons from
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March 2017
African Bushmen by watching “The Gods Must Be Crazy.” You can try these out if you like but you’ll probably just hurt yourself and it’s not all that useful anyway unless you plan on visiting the Kalahari Desert and need directions to water. Also, I find it difficult to comprehend how they can make some of these sounds without running into shit as I often run into inanimate objects whenever I get too involved in one of their passing conversations. You can demonstrate this phenomenon to yourself as well as to any close neighbors paying attention on your next waltz to your mailbox by stretching out your arms (flapping is optional, as it occasionally seems to be with ravens), elongating your neck and cleaning out your windpipe with your choice of vowels (a, o, u and sometimes e) so crisply defined that your epiglottis discovers entirely new things to brag about. If there’s a rake sunbathing anywhere nearby, trust me, your nose will locate it. Now that you’ve licked the beginner phase of this exercise and hung up your rake, it’s time to interact with the masters. While you wander around outside under the premise of doing chores or something equally mundane (scoping out next years firewood or Christmas tree, studying ‘sign’ and/or looking for
‘shrooms works for me), keep one eye and an ear pointed upward for passing ravens. When one appears, try out your technique. Like most country pleasures, it’s as simple as that! The hard part is doing it in such a way that they don’t laugh, “A’a’a’ A’a’a’ A’a’a’.” I hear this all the time but only because I’m adept at tickling their funny bones. Once again, this is purely a hunch. Once you’ve perfected this (and with everlasting joy in your heart), you will eventually be able to converse in depth profound concepts of your own such as, “O’o’A’a’o’U’a’!” or, “U’U’A’a’o’O’U’a’a’E’!” If you’re bashful at first, try getting inside an outhouse or some thick brush, as nobody in their right mind would interrupt you with silly questions when you’re there. Once you get over that stage, feel free to instigate raven conversations wherever you find the opportunity (and a raven). One of these could be, say, while waiting patiently in line somewhere and you hear, “I need a price check on…”. You may not have a raven handy, but this is one of the very best times to practice anyway and sometimes shortens the line! It may be appropriate to note here that not all of your efforts may be pleasantly rewarding. There are certain
slight inflections of the tongue, cheek and lip that can apparently trigger deeper feelings in tiny sentient raven minds. This trigger is not one you want to pull just after washing, drying and waxing a vehicle, however, as I once proved to myself on a warm spring afternoon (hopefully illustrated nearby). By the way, the next time you get asked, “Sir, have you had anything to drink tonight?” I dare you to pinch your nose and repeat three times as fast as you can that simple phrase: certain slight inflections.
Acres n Pains
Scott Clawson ruminates on life somewhere in the backwoods of Careywood, and turns it all into humor. And he’s even on Pinterest now! (Facebook, too.)
AcresnPains@dishmail.net
March 2017
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