Nov - Dec Round Up 2022

From the Editor

Wonderful Winter Holiday Traditions Abound

Winter sure arrived fast and without much warning. I don’t know that I like this tactic of Mother Nature but I DID like the fact that there was no late frost either at my home in Ponderay or the Farm at Wrencoe. I harvested tomatoes well into November as well as the squash and pumpkins and even green beans. This was a first for me. It makes me wonder if the climate change we see in this area as well as others means a change in the length of the rowing season. Because our weather changes so much from year to year, it is difficult to know what to exopect moving forward. better safe than sorry, I suppose, so I will continue to watch frost dates as I always have.

With the holidays coming I have spent quite a bit of time considering just how different this year has been compared to the last two. I rarely hear anyone concerned about masks, gathering together, or being any more careful about colds and flu than we were in years past. It gives me hope that things have settled down and some semblance of normal holiday gatherings can come back to us.

So with this in mind our family will be getting back to the traditions we have had for so many years, all of which involve getting outside and enjoying the great outdoors. Because there is currently so little snow, it will be easy to get into the woods and collect wreath materials. There is still some color out there such as the deep red of Oregon Grape and still some Mountain Ash. Some Snow Berries prevail but keep in mind they are poisonous so while they add that white pop to a wreath, be careful.

The great outdoors also means going to our favorite tree farm and collecting the finest tree we can locate and afford. It also means hot chocolate by the fire, attending the Christmas Tree Lighting down town and visiting Santa at the CO-OP Gas and Supply Company with my grandchildren.

In this issue of the Round Up you will find quite a lot to do in and around north Idaho. And the weather even looks to be warming a little. So maybe this year we can visit a little more, sing a little more, worship with our fellow believers a lot more, and get back to doing all the things that make the holidays special. After all, it is the Holiday Season and we have never been short on traditions in America. They absolutely abound! Happy Holidays!

CO-OP Gas & Supply Company is your propane, farm, home, and hardware cooperative. Being locally owned and operated means the money you spend here stays here, creating jobs for our neighbors and strengthening our economy, as we have been doing for 87 years. Why not drop by and see if membership at the CO-OP is right for you?

• Please make sure trees and shrubs around your propane tank are trimmed back. Mark the location of the tank for easy access.

• The access road to your tank MUST BE PLOWED and free of obstacles

• When placing your tank remember: The tank MUST BE ACCESSIBLE so, Tanks may not be placed under a deck Tanks protection may have three ( 3) sides and a roof or four (4) sides and NO ROOF .

• When should you call to get on the fill schedule? Call at 30%.

• Keep fill is only offered during the winter months. In the summer if you wish to have service, please give us a call.

Fall/Winter 2022/23 Extension Classes

All classes will be held at the Boundary County Extension Office, unless otherwise noted.

Pre-registration required. Contact the Boundary County Extension Office to register: 208-267-3235.

Wreath Making Workshop, $15

Tuesday, December 6, 1-3pm

Learn how to make a fresh wreath while learning about the native evergreen species that grow in our region. Class size is limited. Bring your own pruners, wire cutters, scissors, and any wreath embellishments you would like to use.

Safe Gifts from the Kitchen, FREE

Thursday, December 8, 11am-Noon Via Zoom

Come learn fun and easy ways that you can prepare safe gifts from your kitchen this year. This program will include recommendations on what are NOT some safe options to give away.

Register at https://bit.ly/safegift22

Gifts in a Jar, $10 Friday, December 9, 1-2:30pm

In this class you will learn many different ways to create a unique gift in a jar. You’ll go home with some of your Christmas gifts already made, and recipes for creating more at home Class size is limited to 10 people.

QPR Suicide Prevention Class, FREE

Thursday, December 15, 2-3pm

We invite you to attend the next QPR suicide prevention gatekeeper training course offered by Amy Robertson, U of I Extension. To join the in-person training please register by emailing amrobertson@ uidaho.edu or calling the Boundary County Extension office at 208267-3235. The need for suicide prevention efforts is increasing given the challenges of the last few months. Make a difference and help prevent suicide by becoming a trained suicide prevention gatekeeper. For more information on QPR, visit qprinstitute.come. QPR training is brought to you by the Idaho FORM Project (IdahoFORMProject.com), funded by the Idaho Community Foundation North Idaho Action Fund.

Mental Health First Aid, FREE

Wednesday, January 18 & Friday, January 20, 8:30am-12:30pm

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. The training helps you identify, understand and respond to signs of addictions and mental illnesses. To join the in-person training please register by emailing amrobertson@uidaho.edu or calling the Boundary County Extension Office at 208-267-3235.

Water Bath Canning, $10 Thursday, January 26, 1-4pm

Learn how to safely make and preserve your own high-acid foods including jams, jellies, tomato products, pickled vegetables, and fruits. This hands-on class will also teach participants about canning basics as well as proper storage and handling of home canned foods. Each participant will make their own jar of product which they can pick up the day after the class. Class size is limited to 9 people.

Check our website for current classes and our newsletter: https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/county/boundary

A Tribute to My Santa Claus

by Mike Gunter

Sliding out of my top bunk, I sneaked toward the soft glow of the Christmas tree in the living room. This was my 10th Christmas morning and by now, I knew the drill. Over the past few days, I had taken a full inventory or all the brightly wrapped treasures under the tree. I knew every gift, who sent them, and who would be opening them…what kid didn’t?

I also knew that any new arrivals under the tree, by Christmas morning, came from the Big Man In the furry red suit and the flowing white beard. The same man who made me cry for my Mama when I was 2 years old…and now I revered him. As I drew nearer to the Christmas tree, I was amazed at how that scrawny little red fir that Dad had drug in and nailed a couple of extra branches on…because we had dubbed it the Charley Brown Tree, had somehow taken on a mystical transformation in the dark that morning. It looked absolutely full and radiant. Maybe it was the 10 boxes of shiny silver and gold tinsel that Mom had let us kids throw on. She knew that would give us a sense of ownership in each Christmas.

As I breathlessly took in each new gift under the tree that morning with the same familiar handwritten note….From Santa…I was suddenly struck by a thought…or maybe it was a revelation. Somehow that handwritten message looked a lot like Mom’s. I never said a word about it that Christmas Day. Instead, I chose to live in blissful denial for many years to come, even though Mom and I both knew that something had changed.

It wasn’t until several years later, when Karen and I were creating our own Spirit of Christmas Traditions for our children that I realized that there really IS a Santa Claus.

Mother passed away this past August. And as the family watched the cruelty of Alzheimer’s slowly take her away from us, one precious piece at a time, I have had plenty of time over the past 8 years to reflect on her life, as a Mother, and as a Grandmother to her Family.

I can now see how she carefully planned and choreographed that Spirit of Christmas for her children. Not only the excitement of the gifts, the tree, and the introduction to that Wonderful Santa Claus…she also taught us about the real meaning of Christmas. About the Birth of the Baby Jesus in that manger, over 2000 years ago. And the impact that one tiny Little life would have on the world…Forever!

As our family prepares to celebrate this Christmas season, without Mother, we will take comfort in knowing that she really will be with us…in Spirit. Many of her time honored traditions that she learned from her Mother and that she instilled in our Family many years ago, have been passed on to our children. And now, we have the joy of watching OUR children carefully planning and choreographing that same Spirit of Christmas with their children.

We have been blessed to share that same Joy, as surely my Mother felt. We see her kind and gentle Spirit live on through our children and now our grandchildren, as they prepare to navigate this everchanging world.

And as I look around our wonderful community, I see this same scenario, playing itself out…from Family to Family and from Generation to Generation.

Yes! Santa Claus and the Spirit of Christmas IS Alive and Well. And that gives me Hope.

Editor’s Note: Our dear friend Mike Gunter is no longer with us. For those of us here at The CO-OP, he was a cherished writer whose impact to the community remains unmatched. We hope you enjoy this reprint from Christmas 2017 as we do.

A Bit of Christmas Trivia: Christmas wasn’t always on December 25. The day of Jesus’s birth is actually not mentioned in the Bible, according to The Washington Post. It was initially believed to have taken place on January 6, but for reasons unknown, the celebration was moved to December 25 in the mid-4th century.

Heats 1700 sq. ft.

Idaho Sets Ag Export Record

By Sean Ellis Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

POCATELLO – For the second straight year, Idaho set a record for total agricultural export value in 2021.

According to recently released USDA data, a total of $2.55 billion worth of agricultural products from Idaho were exported to other countries last year.

That was a 9 percent increase over the 2020 total of $2.34 billion, which was also a record at the time.

University of Idaho Agricultural Economist Garth Taylor pointed out the increase came despite the fact Idaho and U.S. producers face a significant headwind in the form of a strong U.S. dollar, which makes domestic products less competitive in the global marketplace.

“We have a super-strong dollar against a lot of currencies and that’s a monster headwind,” he said.

Drought, supply chain disruptions, ongoing West Coast port issues and rapidly rising input costs are also major headwinds for Idaho farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses, Taylor said.

“It’s truly amazing that we’ve bucked those headwinds,” he said.

While the total value of Idaho ag exports increased by 9 percent in 2020, that increase lagged the 18 percent increase in total U.S. agricultural export value last year, pointed out Doug Robison, the Idaho president for Northwest Farm Credit Services.

The total value of U.S. agricultural exports reached a record $173 billion in 2021, up from $147 billion in 2020. The previous U.S. record was $150 billion in 2014.

A lot of the Idaho increase in total ag export value in 2021 had to do with substantially higher commodity prices. But not all of it.

“I think it largely had to do with price but we couldn’t hit that type of number without a big chunk of quantity, too,” Taylor said.

Dairy was the state’s top agricultural commodity in 2021 in terms of total export value, as a record $558 million worth of dairy products from Idaho were sold to other nations last year. That was a 17 percent increase over the previous record of $476 million set in 2020.

Idaho beef product exports totaled a record $241 million in 2021, a 26 percent increase over 2020 and 12 percent more than the previous record of $215 million set in 2018.

Idaho in 2021 exported a record $349 million worth of products in the processed vegetables category, which includes frozen potato products. That was a 21 percent increase over 2020 and 7 percent more than the previous record for that category of $325 million set in 2019.

Idaho in 2021 exported a record $173 million worth of products in the fresh vegetable category, which includes potatoes. That was up 16 percent from 2020 and 2 percent more than the previous record of $170 million set in 2019.

Idaho grain product exports were down in value in 2021, likely a result of the significantly reduced grain yields experienced in the state last year due to severe drought conditions.

Idaho wheat exports were valued at $344 million in 2021, down 11 percent from 2020 and well off the record of $563 million set in 2011.

Idaho exported $60 million worth of products in the processed grain category last year, down 23 percent from 2020.

A record $1.63 billion worth of plant products were exported from Idaho in 2021, a 3 percent increase over 2020, and a record $918 million worth of animal products were exported from the state in 2021, up 22 percent over 2020.

Idaho Ranks No. 1 in Five Ag Commodities

POCATELLO – Idaho ranked No. 1 in the nation in five different ag commodity categories last year: potatoes, barley, alfalfa hay, peppermint oil and food trout.

The state also ranked No. 2 in the United States in 2021 in sugar beets and hops, No. 3 in milk and cheese production and total milk cows, No. 4 in dry onions, spring wheat and lentils, and No. 5 in dry edible beans, corn silage and dry edible peas.

The USDA data needed to compile rankings for 2022 will be released next fall.

Idaho ranked in the top 8 nationally in 22 different ag commodity categories last year despite the fact that the total value of agricultural production in Idaho dipped by 1 percent in 2021 compared with 2020.

That decrease on total ag production value was likely a result of last year’s severe drought conditions, which decreased yields and total

production for most of the state’s major crops.

Before last year, the total value of Idaho ag production had increased for four straight years.

Idaho’s total agricultural production value in 2021 was $8.32 billion, down 1 percent from the 2020 value of $8.41 billion, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The total value of all crop production in Idaho last year was $3.3 billion, down 8 percent compared with 2020.

However, the total value of livestock production in Idaho last year was up 5 percent, to $5 billion.

Milk remained the state’s top ag commodity last year in value of production, at $3.1 billion, which was up 3 percent from 2020 and the second highest value of production on record for Idaho milk, behind the 2014 total of $3.2 billion.

Milk production continues to play an ever-increasing role in Idaho’s overall agricultural landscape and represented 37 percent of the state’s total agricultural production value in 2021. That was up from 36 percent in 2020 and 35 percent in 2019.

Cattle and calves remained in the No. 2 spot in Idaho for total value of production at $1.42 billion in 2021, up 13 percent from 2020.

Potatoes kept the No. 3 spot and remained Idaho’s top crop with a total value of production of $1.12 billion in 2021. That was a 14 percent increase over the 2020 total and a record, surpassing the previous high of $1.04 billion set in 2019.

Hay came in at No. 4 with $946 million in total production value 2021, an increase of 16 percent over 2020, and wheat ranked No. 5 in the state with a total value of production of $529 million, down 8 percent from the previous year.

The NASS value of production report differs slightly from farm cash receipt rankings because the value of production rankings include those parts of a crop that are used on the farm and not sold. For example, a lot of hay is used on the farm and does not show up in the rankings for farm cash receipts, which is the money producers receive for their product.

That’s why wheat ranks ahead of hay in the Idaho farm cash receipts rankings.

Those top 5 commodities – milk, cattle and calves, potatoes, hay and wheat – had a combined value of $7.1 billion, which accounted for 85 percent of the state’s 2021 production value for all ag commodities.

Those same five commodities accounted for 79 percent of the total value of Idaho agricultural production in 2020.

Rounding out the Top 10 Idaho ag commodities list in 2021 were sugar beets at No. 6 with $243 million, down 33 percent from 2020, barley ($239 million, down 12 percent), corn for grain ($149 million, up 20 percent), hops ($104 million, up 5 percent) and onions ($64 million, up 11 percent).

The total value of Idaho hop production topped $100 million for the first time last year and that Idaho ag commodity has increased in total value for nine straight years.

Idaho took over the No. 1 spot in the U.S. in 2020 for alfalfa hay production, which is probably no big surprise given the state’s sizable milk and cattle industries. Idaho ranked No. 3 in that category in 2019, behind Montana and California.

Idaho ranks No. 3 nationally in total number of milk cows and No. 11 in cattle and calves.

Idaho is a big cattle state and alfalfa hay plays a major role in feeding those animals, said Twin Falls County farmer Larry Hollifield. “We have a lot of animals to feed in Idaho,” he said.

The state’s cooler climate makes Idaho a great place to grow alfalfa hay, said Bannock County hay farmer Fred Burmester. And in East Idaho, the higher altitude is also favorable to growing hay, he added.

“That’s where you get your quality from, the higher altitude,” he said. Between the cooler nights and higher altitude, “that brings the relative feed value of your hay up.”

“It has a lot to do with the weather,” said Twin Falls County farmer Rick Pearson. “It’s because of our climate – warm days and cool nights.” idahofb.org

Turkey Trivia: Around 46 million turkeys are consumed in America on Thanksgiving Day.The average weight of a turkey bought for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds.A turkey egg is 50% bigger than an egg from a chicken.

A turkey can run up to 25 mph and can hit 55 mph during flight. Good Grief!

The CO-OP Gas & Supply Company, Inc. is in the process of retiring stock from the cooperative. If you see your own name on this list, or know how to reach anyone on this list, please contact the CO-OP office at 208.263.6820 Thank you!

RANDY W WINJUM

DAVID JOHN WINN

HARRY WINTER

R KEITH WINTER

ROY C WINTER SR

R EUGENE WISE

BEN WISEMAN

A F "BUSTER" WITHERS

TOM WOFFORD

ROY M WOLD

HAROLD J WOLFF

ELVIN L WOOD

JOHN H WOOD

LOREN WOOD

V H WOOD

MICHAEL A WOODBURY

ARTHUR A WOODELL

ROBERT E WOODEN

EARNEST D WOODS

LES WOODWARD

MIKE WOODWARD

LYONS D WOODY

CLAUDE WOOLAND

ED WORAZLA

RICK WORKMAN

CLAUDE WORLEY

DAVID WORLEY

WALTER WORLEY

DOREEN R WOZNIAK

CARMEN WRIGHT

LLOYD A WRIGHT

OTIS WRIGHT

ROBERT WRIGHT

VIOLET WRIGHT

GERALD OR BRENDA WYATT

PAUL WYATT

RALPH WYATT

WILLIAM M WYATT

JOHN W WYLIE

PHILLIP WYNECOOP

GERARD A WYSS

JOHN YAGER

JOHN A YANCEY

ELMER YARBER

RAY A YATES

RICHARD C YATES

KENNETH YAW

MICHAEL YEAGER

JACK YEOUMANS JR

FRED YORK

BILL YOST

ALVIN L YOUNG

ART YOUNG

ALAN YOUNKER

KEVIN YUNGER

RICKEY D ZALHALKA

RICHARD OR KATHY ZECH

ROGER ZIMMERMAN

STUART M ZINKE

JOHN M ZUK

STEVEN F ZWINGER

JERRY ZYGMUNTOWICZ

CAROLYN ABBOTT

JAMES E ADAMSON

STAN ALLEN

RICK ALONZO

JOHN B ALT

WILLIAM A OR MARY AMMAR

JAMES ANDERSON

OSCAR ANDERSON

SCOT L ANDERSON

KEN ARTHUR

BOB AVADALL

GARY AYERS

MANUEL J OR JODY AZEVEDO

SCOTT S OR JACKIE L BACON

MIKE OR LEE BADGER

G RAY BAILEY

JON F BAIR

GENE BAKER

JAY D BAKER

NICHOLAS BARAN

JAMIE D BARTON

JEROME R BAUER

RANDALL J BEAL

CLAUDE BEAN

ROBERT BECKER

WAYNE K BENNER

ELIZABETH A BENNETT

GERALD J & CAROL BENNETT

JILL M BENNETT

SHELDON J BENNETT

TOM BENNETT

JANET BENOIT

LAUREL LEE BERGER

DAVID & ANDREA BERLINER

BILLIE JO BIDDLE

BRIAN A BJERKE

MIKE BOECK

RICHARD H & SANDRA BOND

CONWAY BONDURANT

PIERRE BORDENAVE

CHUCK BOUIS

RONALD C BOURASSA

BOB G & BARBARA S BOWMAN

DANIEL JOE BOYLE

KELLEY L BRANNING

KURT BREITHAUPT

JIM H BRIMHALL

KEN BRINK

KEVIN BRISTOW

DAVID L OR SHELLEY J BROOKS

JAMES D OR GAIL BROWN

JENNY E BROWN

LYLE R OR ROBIN E BRUCE

ROGER BUCKNER

DENIS CALLAGHER

CHRIS JAY CAMPBELL

SAM CAREY

STEVE CAREY

C WAYNE CARLSON

JAMES CARTWRIGHT

MARJORIE CHAMBERLAIN ESTATE

FRANK CHAPIN

STEVE W CHEATHAM

JEFFERY J CHICKS

VICKI LYNN CIANCIOTTO

DAVID & ELIZABETH CLACK

ROBERTA CLAIRE

CLARENCE E CLAPPER

HOWARD T & LINDA M CLARK

CARL CLIZER

ERLAND A COLLIANDER

GARRY E OR MARILYN COLLIE

MEDFORD E COLLIE

SUE COLSON

KEN COMER

LARRY COPELAND

EDWARD R CORNACHIO

MICHAEL K CRAMER

TOMMY CROPPER

SID CUNNINGHAM

DOMINICK CURTO

KEVIN DANIELS

DIANE DAVIES

BEVERLY J & ROBERT DAVIS

LARRY C DAVIS

VIRGINIA DEANE

PHILLIP C DEBOARD

LARRY DECKER

HAROLD DEHLBOM

KEITH E OR GAE DENNING

VANCE DERIGO

DAN DESHON JR

WILLIAM OR NORMA DETTELBACH

JULIE OR TIM DILLIN

BERNARD N DISTELDORF

SCOTT G OR KIM DODGE

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GEORGIA EARLEY

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WILLARD EBY

RANDALL EDDY

DALE EICH

DON EICH

ADAM F ELEAZER JR

JERRY OR YVONNE ELLER

MARK ELLISTON IND

MRS JAMES TT ELSASSER

MARICELA EMERSON

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GLEN ERICKSON

GLEN ROHRICH EST

LINCOLN TODD EST

BILL MACUMBER ESTATE

BRETT A EVANS

DAVID P EVANS

RORY J EVANS

KENNETH E FINNEY

SCOTT A FINNEY

ROBERT FISCHER

JOHN FLAHERTY

CHRIS FLANIGAN

SAM OR DENIECE FODGE

DANIEL M FOGARTY

BARBARA FORMAN

TOM FOUST

JARED J FRANCE

MICHAEL W FREELAND

SUTHER FULTON SR

VERNA GABEL

3HRIS A GADDIS

STEVE OR LANA GALBRAITH

STANLEY W GALLOWAY

DAN GANNON

CHARLES C OR JUDY GARNER

BEN GARRISON

MARY GARRISON

SANDRA L GIBBS

GREG A GIBSON

RONALD L GIDDINGS

DAN GILL

DAVID E GINZTON

UNIQUE brings the quality you deserve to wherever you call home.

Refrigerators * Freezers * Ranges

Did you know: Keeping warm on the American Prairie was tough! As with their building materials, settlers used what they found at hand. If you lived by a stream, you gather wood. Hay, straw and even sunflower stalks were used. And someone discovered that “chips” - dried cow or buffalo dung that had dried in the sun — burned pretty well in the stoves. So, the chips were used for fuel. All you had to do was gather them up. Piles of chips up to 10-12 feet high might be built next to the sod house. Golly!

Weed of the Month: Bull Thistle

By Chase Youngdahl, Bonner County Weeds Manager

Nearing the end of fall comes time to check off the last remaining boxes on the list of winter prep chores. I have found that proper winterization of herbicide application equipment is a sometimes overlooked task. Whether your equipment is stored in a climate controlled shop, or in a 1920s shed where you can see daylight through the walls (ahem…like mine), it should be put to bed the same way to ensure full lifespan potential. At the conclusion of all weeds spraying activities for the season (which we’ve passed for the most part, but more on that later), the sprayer tanks should be rinsed with a baking soda solution. Baking soda is a cheap neutralizer, and it doesn’t take much to do the trick. Run this mix through the nozzle(s) after giving the tank itself a good once-over with a hose. Next, remove the filter, if applicable to your apparatus. Finally, run a little bit of RV antifreeze through the pump. This final step can be viewed as unnecessary if stored in an area that stays above freezing, but it’s still important since it also serves as a lubricant for pump parts—especially diaphragm pumps on ATV sprayers and roller pumps on PTO-driven tractor sprayers. It can be done with regular antifreeze if that’s what you have, but I prefer RV antifreeze since it can be safely put on the ground during the process. Weed of the Month is Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). It’s one of a few invasive thistles that we have around here, but has not landed on the Idaho noxious weed list since it’s well established in most of the state with little to no chance of eradication. It is an invasive of concern in Bonner County, and one that we target on our properties due to its consistently competitive nature in areas most vulnerable to our county’s growers. Bull Thistle is usually among the initial batch of weeds that populates fresh wildfire burns, as well as recently logged areas (along with Canada Thistle and Common Mullein). It can also be found in other disturbed areas, as well as pastures, turf, roadsides and natural areas. You can distinguish the mature plants by the numerous branches and gnarly, almost spear-like spiny leaves. That’s how you can tell it apart from Canada Thistle. The Canadian variety has less intense spines, and bolts in more uniform fashion, rather than in the chaotic fashion exhibited by its rival cousin. The flower heads are another identity clue. Bull Thistle produces spiny bulbs at the tips of the stems that range from 1-2 inches in diameter, and give way to magenta colored flowers. Canada Thistle seed heads are closer in resemblance as far as size, structure and color to that of Spotted Knapweed. Both produce windborne seed, but Bull Thistle seeds disburse nowhere near as far as Canada Thistle. I chose to feature this one in the November issue since turf is just about the only use site left with a weed control window for the year. Bull Thistle is more common than you might think in lawns, it just never gets a chance to really bolt and develop due to regular mowing. where the discovery often takes place when stepped on barefoot.

Check out the seedling in the accompanying photo—they’re somewhat oblong with pronounced veins and pimples (ha, yes, we are still talking about thistle). They develop out of seemingly nowhere, and are initially obscure enough to where the discovery often takes plac

It’s always tough to predict if conditions will cooperate at this point, but assuming the ground isn’t frozen solid and not completely blanketed with snow, you can still perform an herbicide treatment on your lawn with success. Weeds in turf generally stay receptive to treatments until the conditions that I just mentioned set in. Trimec® (2,4-D + dicamba) or Foundation® (2,4-D + triclopyr + dicamba + sulfentrazone) will take out Bull Thistle, along with many nuisance weeds that invade turf. Performing this treatment in conjunction with a fall blend fertilizer application helps strengthen the roots of the turf grasses. If the window is missed, applying a ready-to-use granular herbicide/fertilizer combo product (Weed’n’Feeds) helps with an initial knockdown of the weeds, and can be applied in nearly any condition, including on top of the snow.

Happy Thanksgiving and Novembrrrrr!

Mike Wolcott Lee Andrews Steve Bloedel John Ailport Bill Love

Ryan Pennick Fred Omodt Chris Terwilliger Casey Clark Elynn Reierson

What’s Happening This Holiday Season In November and December

18- Dec. 16 Ms. Sharon’s Childrens Art Classes. This Friday series for ages 7-15 years old will be held at Creations on the Bridge. $10/ class drop-in or $45 for full 5-class series (series has already begun). Reserve a spot at creationsforsandpoint@gmail.com. No class to be held on Nov. 25

19-20 Christmas Craft Fair. Head over to the Bonner County Fairgrounds and enjoy free admission to local artisans handmade gifts, food & treats, kids activities, and Daily Santa visits from noon to 2 p.m. BonnerCountyFair.com

20 Fall Serenade. The outdoors has a bit of a nip in the air, but inside the rooms will be filled with the warmth of classical music when the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint hosts its Fall Serenade from 7-9 p.m. at 110 Main St. This popular annual event will not only feature the extraordinary talent of music teachers, the proceeds will benefit the youth of our community who wish to learn to sing or play an instrument. A no-host wine bar will be available. Tickets are $25, available online soon.

24 Free Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. Head to the Hoot Owl, 30784 ID-200 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. First come, first serve. To go orders available after 1 p.m.

25 Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival Tree lighting ceremony at Jeff Jones Town Square and visit from Santa opens the holiday season in Sandpoint. DowntownSandpoint.com. 208-255-1876

December 3 Free First Saturday at the Museum. Bonner County Historical Society and Museum, 611 S. Ella, will be holding Free First Saturday, with free admission to the museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 9-11 This Christmas Night: Into the Land of the Nutcracker. The Panida Theater, 300 N. 1st Ave., hosts this magical evening of live music and dance starting at 7 p.m. Allegro Dance Studio and Suzuki String Academy are collaborating for their fourth annual production. There will be four shows, and two galas. Friday, Dec. 9 has the show at 7 p.m. with Gala from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at 113 Main St. Saturday, Dec. 10 has shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. with a Gala from 4:40 - 6:30 p.m. at 113 Main St. Sunday, December 11 show will be at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35 (Standard), $45 (Preferred), and $55 (Premium). Get tickets, and more info here.

10 A Celtic Christmas with the Gothard Sisters. The Hearthwood, 615 Oak St., hosts this celebration with an evening of Celtic Christmas music and fun for the whole family. Celtic folk music, Christmas carols, Irish dancing, drumming, stories, and holiday cheer with internationally acclaimed Celtic folk trio, The Gothard Sisters. Cost is $15-30. Get tickets and more information here.

Find more at sandpointonline.com

LOG PRICES

Note that these figures represent prices paid by competitive domestic facilities in the Inland Northwest, and are based on average-sized logs and standard log lengths—usually 16’6” and 33’. MBF = Thousand Board Feet. Please note that the higher prices may reflect prices only paid in select locations within the Inland Northwest. *Pole value varies widely depending upon length. Market information as of November 4, 2022

Log prices for most species have been fairly steady over the last few months, with the exception of ponderosa pine and western redcedar. Prices for both of these species have been trending downward. Lower ponderosa prices this time of year is fairly common as sawmill inventories generally run high in the fall due to an ample supply and limited markets. Regarding cedar, lumber prices have significantly fallen since the last report, which in turn, weakened demand and prices for logs. Most log buyers are predicting little change in the market as we move into winter - Mike Wolcott, ACF, Certified Forester

This information is provided by Inland Forest Management, Inc., a forestry consulting company. For additional information, they can be contacted at 208-263-9420, IFM@inlandforest.com or www.inlandforest.com.

The Gardener’s Corner

BCGA Membership Course Coming

By Ann Warwick

Are you a gardener or an aspiring gardener? Are you new to the area and want to learn about gardening in our climate? Do you want to meet people with similar interests? Are you interested in volunteering for projects to enhance the local community? If so, the Bonner County Gardeners Association may meet all these desires. The organization is dedicated to education, applying scientific information to gardening in North Idaho, to contributing to beautification of area communities, and to enjoying one another’s company. To become a member, one must have completed a Master Gardener course, or enroll in and complete the BCGA membership course, which closely follows the Master Gardener program, with an emphasis on all aspects of growing plants in north Idaho. The course begins in early February and meets two days a week for about seven weeks, with specific information on soils, botany, vegetable culture, berries and fruit trees, pest control, ornamental horticulture and more. Enrollment is limited, so early commitment is encouraged. For more information, visit our website at bcgardeners.org.

Save That Christmas Amaryllis

A favorite Christmas gift, to oneself or others, is the lovely Amaryllis. The flower is impressively large and colorful, so welcome during the short, dark days of winter. Amaryllis comes in a variety of colors, from bright red to pink, white and many other shades. It remains in bloom for several weeks, bringing joy to the beholder when blossoms of any kind are rare, and the view out the window is starkly white where flowers once graced the landscape. But what to do with the plant once the flowers fade?

You can enjoy your Amaryllis for years with proper care. When the blossoms have died, just allow the plant to continue to grow. It will develop strap leaves that can grow a couple of feet tall. You may want to repot the plant in a larger container, then fertilize and water occasionally during the winter. It does not need a lot of direct sunlight, and will survive nicely in a window facing any direction. When the weather warms, the plant can survive in a protected area outdoors, preferably with nighttime temperatures at least above 45 degrees, or in a greenhouse. At this point, repotting in a larger container may be necessary, as side bulbs start emerging and growing. Keep watered and fertilize occasionally.

When fall arrives, separate any side bulbs from the main plant, and pot them up in containers that are only a couple inches larger than the bulb—they like tight quarters. You may also repot the original bulb in a container that is no more than two inches wider than the bulb. In the later part of September, stop watering the plants and place them in a dark place. Let the foliage die back, or remove it by cutting. Let the plants remain dry and without light for about six weeks or so. This dormant period is essential. Check occasionally to see whether new growth is emerging.

In November, bring the plants back into the light, and water them and give them a little fertilizer to get them growing again. By the holiday season, the Amaryllis should begin producing flower stalks. The original bulb may produce as many as four flower stalks, with four blossoms per stalk, an amazing display of color to last throughout the season. The newer bulbs may also bloom, and can be gifted to special friends or relatives for their enjoyment.

Diminishing Unwanted Horse Behaviors

by Samantha Harvey

How often do you experience unwanted behaviors from your horse? Do you wonder what he will be like on any given day? If he offers undesired reactions, do you interpret his responses as being disobedient or disrespectful towards you? Do you see it as a personal challenge to “survive the ride?” Do you call your horse names, refer to him in a derogatory manner, or judge his responses that seem to keep reoccurring?

Have you ever considered the horse is doing the best he can based on his human experiences? Every interaction, whether intentional or not, teaches him something about humans. The more he is “left” or criticized for being in a state of chaos or fear, having anticipation, and carrying tension, the increasingly dramatic his behavior will become. This magnifies his defensiveness towards human interactions, even if “nothing” appears to have happened.

Behaviors like bucking, bolting, kicking, spooking frequently, “over-reacting,” biting, fixating, fleeing movement, pawing, jigging, stomping, weaving, pacing, and teeth grinding, should not be viewed as normalized horse actions.

As I say, “The Horse is always communicating, it is a matter of if the Human is listening.” The continuous feedback in his physical responses reflects his mental and emotional state. The more dramatic the behavior, the less mentally available he is to think through scenarios, offer reasonable behavior, or acknowledge the human’s input without getting more severe in his responses.

Instead of waiting and seeing, hoping he will quit, or assuming repetition will solve the issues (but are symptoms of a deeper problem,) riders need to learn to acknowledge the equine’s communication (without inserting ego-based judgment of it). They need to recognize the many subtle indicators reflecting building fear, growing concern, and increasing tension. They also need to address the horse’s focus and help dissipate the building of unwanted behaviors.

Learning to become (and stay) mentally present by proactively assessing the horse raises awareness, improves communication timing, and increases the effectiveness in influencing him. Offering him supportive interaction that addresses his concerns builds his trust, rather than criticizing him for it or trying to contain his chaos, which only increases his defensiveness.

Every session needs to be seen as an individual, as humans and horses can have massive shifts in their emotions from day to day. If equine enthusiasts learn to eliminate assumptions, they are more capable of seeing the horse in the present.

If pain has been ruled out as a potential contributor to the unwanted behavior, here is a short (initial) checklist of body language one can assess in their horse that indicates mental concern and physical tension.

Nostrils- flared, rigid, or uneven in size?

Eyes- wide, worry peaks above the eyes, infrequent blinking, closed, always looking around but not “seeing?”

Ears- angled backward most of the time, rigid, always turned in one direction? Muzzle- wrinkled, bottom lip puckered, tension?

Jaw-clenched, chewing, grinding teeth, exaggerated yawning with the upper and lower jaw moving in opposite directions?

Head- excessive or aggressive swinging, diving to the ground, or telescoping?

Breathing- heavy breathing when just standing? Tight, shallow breaths? Posture- unbalanced or splayed out? Does he ever cock a rear foot? Does he lock up his knees or hocks?

Feet- are feet aimed in four different directions? How often does he misstep or trip? Tail- clamped down, angled severely off to one side, or rigid out with an arc in it? Energy- if asked to move one hoof at a time, does he surge forward or lock up and not offer any movement?

Is there a change in his energy, emotions, or physical tension as you catch, lead, tie, groom, tack, or mount him?

Does he have heaviness or rocking back movement before stepping forward? Does he turn his head away from being haltered/bridled or step away when approached with the saddle?

Is he constantly looking/calling out for a buddy horse?

Is he anticipative in how/where/when you do things and tries to take over if unsure?

Does he crowd your personal space?

Does he have a time limit when you attempt to halter or mount up before he becomes antsy and offers excessive movement?

Does he go running off as soon as you remove the halter?

If so, prioritizing refining your foundational skills can then help improve the quality of equine interaction and how the horse experiences your presence.

Assess how, what, and why you communicate and notice the horse’s responses. Too many equines have become dull or defensive toward human aids, causing them to mentally check out and become physically heavy, creating resistant horses that lack adaptability. Are you adaptable in energy, timing, and specificity (depending on what the horse offers)? How early and often do you give the horse indicators of what you will ask of him? How often do you check in to assess that the horse is mentally present and physically balanced before you ask something of him? Do you acknowledge and address his feedback, following through with supportive communication until he is mentally present, emotionally calm, and physically soft?

Do you adapt how and what you ask based on what the horse currently reflects, or is it based on previous experiences or assumptions? Do you present segmented interactions or only focus on the big scenario?

Can you direct his thought separately from his movement (with adaptable energy,) and interrupt or redirect his focus when he is fixated, without it triggering fear or defensiveness in him?

Irrelevant of past accomplishments or activities, often revisiting the foundational basics to search for any potential holes in the human and horse’s education can improve the equine partnership. When the human intention prioritizes how to first help the horse in a manner that has value to him, the experiences together build his trust, expand his willingness to try, and increase reasonableness in his behaviors.

Serious Questions for Holiday Rides:

Can I squeeze in a Christmas Day morning ride around roasting the perfect Butterball Turkey?

How much tinsel and garland is an acceptable amount to wear on said ride?

Is a new saddle something I can put on my Father Christmas list? Or is that just greedy?

Merry Christmas Horse People!!

Long COVID Revelations

Gabrielle

Duebendorfer, NMD

After having seen my first Long-COVID patients I realized that COVID-19 was going to revolutionize health care as even conventional medicine would have to pay attention to underlying factors of chronic disease. I was not disappointed, as there were not just naturopathic physicians, but also MD’s presenting about Long -COVID and various other chronic viral illnesses associated with immune dysfunctions at a recent CASI Immuno-Challenge conference.

I have previously outlined basic symptoms, difficulty with diagnosis, and practical hands-on naturopathic treatment approaches for Long-Covid. At that time, estimates of prevalence were still compromised by including symptoms persisting up to 5 weeks. That has been rectified by a recent WHO study, which separates symptoms continuing for 4-5 weeks (25% of COVID-19 patients), from those suffering after 12 weeks (10%), i.e., Long-COVID. That aligns with a more generally accepted and realistic scenario of 7.5 % of US COVID patients contracting Long-COVID. Typical long-COVID symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, headaches and dizziness, aches and pains, insomnia, anxiety, and neuropathies can be disabling to the point of previously “healthy” people being bed bound and unable to work longterm. In fact, it can lead to profound depression and very real fears of dying. However, this whole symptom complex is not unique to long-COVID patients, which was confirmed at the conference.

I was reminded that Koch’s postulate of “one cause for one disease” is indeed outdated and can’t be applied here either. Naturopathic medicine has always looked at multiple overlapping causes of inflammation leading to immune dysfunction and chronic disease. Therefore, I was delighted to learn more about Horowitz’ questionnaire which explores 16 such overlapping causes - originally designed for Lyme disease, but now used with other chronic infections as well. This expansion of definition also applies to PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome), which originally was thought to occur mostly in children with Strep throat infections, but is now known to also occur in adults as a result of a multitude of infections. The following diagram nicely shows the general progression of viral infection leading to disability, which can be applied to many of the overlapping disease complexes, each resulting in their own symptom complex.

Dr. Horowitz’s questionnaire evaluates multiple sources of inflammation in degenerative neuro/psycho disease, including other chronic infections, allergies, environmental toxins, leaky gut, mineral deficiencies, sleep disorders amongst others. It also considers their downstream effects leading to chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, histamine reactions, mold illness, immune deficiency, and auto-immune disease being just a few. It is crucial to make a differential diagnosis with appropriate testing according to history and symptoms in order to not just alleviate symptoms, but also to be able to treat the cause. For example, a newly diagnosed Lyme patient with an immune system already in hyper reaction due to previous mold exposure, will temporarily improve with anti-Lyme disease treatment, but flare up with renewed mold exposure, stress, or a new infection. I have had several patients dramatically improve with addressing mold issues. Dr. Jill Crista has an excellent mold questionnaire and free online vision test that can help determine mold illness likelihood, which can then be confirmed with more in depth testing.

This might have your head spinning – mine sure did. The beauty here though, is that the long-COVID issue has contributed to revealing these underlying contributors to chronic disease in general. Rather than claiming new insight and understanding for a particular disease, similar to “The End of Alzheimer” by Dr. Bredesen, it bears pointing out that these principles have been the underpinning of naturopathic medicine treatment of chronic disease all along – comprising understanding of underlying physiology and contributing causes, proper innovative testing, and individualized treatment. I might illustrate that with a personal example.

After my first bout with COVID-19 I was surprised to experience quite severe heart palpitations that lasted for months. My personal GP recommended beta blockers which I refused. I recognized it as a reactivation of heart inflammation from previous breast cancer radiation (en vironmental toxin). As an echo cardiogram reassured me that they were benign, I pro-actively treated myself with meditation, breathing prac tices, herbs, and supplements so that I have them only very occasionally now – mostly due to increased stress - which I now take as a welcome messenger.

In contrast, some of my patients’ long-COVID symptoms were triggered by a reactivation of other chronic latent viruses (Lyme and its co-infections, EBV, Herpes, CMV etc). While understanding the importance of controlling either virus’s activity as part of a comprehensive protocol, I was delighted to hear during the conference, that Dr. Bump suggested caution with eliminating them entirely. He explained that we have developed a mutually beneficial relationship with viruses which needs to be honored but kept within healthy boundaries.

W E ' R E H i r i n g !

Do you have little ones who need daycare?

We now offer affordable child care for employees of KCH. Enrollment is offered year-round to meet the needs of variable working schedules. Apply today!

Good Times Are Comin’

The old man walks back from the mailbox, With the morning paper in his hand, His faithful cow dog beside him As the rising sun warms the land.

They head on out to the milk house. It all seems so quiet there now, Compared to the days of years long ago Before they sold all the cows.

He sits in an old recliner, With the dog curled up on the floor. And he tries to read the paper But he keeps looking up, out the door.

He can almost see the cows once again, Jostling to be the first in. Eagerly seeking their ration of grain And his face breaks into a grin.

He remembers how “Smokey” the cow dog Would chase all the stragglers in, As he yipped and barked; the bellowing cows Would add their voices to the din.

Then he turned his mind loose to wander, And remembered how he and his wife Had come to this farm so long, long ago And set out to start a new life.

He thought of the long days of labor, Of toiling in the cold, and the heat. Though money was scarce, they never lacked love. And they always had plenty to eat.

Then he thought about love and the strange turns of fate, That change us now and again. And he thought about love that was, and is, And love that might have been.

How things hadn’t gone the way he had planned, Then this girl came into his life, And helped set his feet back onto the ground Then soon she became his life.

They sat and drank coffee each morning, And talked over times of the day. Then off to their work they would hustle, And thus, the years flew away.

The memories fall one o’er another, The laughter, the joys, and the tears, And he treasures those mornings he shared with his love As they journeyed along through the years.

He remembers how she always told him “Good times are comin’, you’ll see. But it might take a while, she’d say with a smile, Just wait on the Lord and you’ll see.”

Then he folds up the paper and wakens the dog. Slowly, they head to the door. And he longs for the day when he’ll meet her again, Over on that bright Heavenly shore.

Joseph W. Smith 5/9/09

NOW HIRING!

- MACHINE OPERATOR -

Employment Opportunity at New Hazelnut Spreads and Nut-butter Processing Facility in Dover/Sandpoint.

We are looking to build a small and close-knit team to manufacture the highest quality new hazelnut spreads and nut-butter!

The Machine Operator is a full-time position and an integral part of the day-to-day operation of the production facility. As such, adherence to established Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and Food Safety/ Quality standards is required. High standards of professionalism are expected. This position will run the machinery in various production areas. Tasks, responsibilities, and capabilities include but are not limited to:

• Must plan ahead, analyze needs and product requirements, use complex problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, and work with limited supervision to complete tasks.

• Read, understand, and be able to follow procedures, and complete documentation necessary to meet the production and product-shipping schedule.

• Be mechanically inclined to carry out changeover of assigned equipment and assist in reliability of machinery.

• Be capable of manually lifting and transporting up to 55 pounds.

• Be capable of becoming a certified Forklift Driver.

• Able to read and understand dials, indicators, and gauges and operate machinery via operator screens, HMI’s, and mechanical means.

• Perform in-process quality checks and inspections of products or processes to evaluate quality or performance and documentation.

Starting pay is $18-20/hr based on experience. Health insurance and generous 401K matching benefits. Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@nutlicious.com or mail to Nutlicious, PO Box 310, Sandpoint, ID 83864 www.nutlicious.com

Evergreen trivia: You can thank Prince Albert for your Christmas tree Queen victoria and Prince Albert around the Christmas tree!

Brew a cup o’ tea when trimming your tree this year to pay homage to its origins. When Prince Albert of Germany got a tree for his new wife, Queen Victoria of England, the tradition really took off across the pond. A drawing of the couple in front of a Christmas first tree appeared in Illustrated London News in 1848. To use modern parlance, the idea went viral. Indeed.

Home and Hearth

Recipes

When the holiday season rolls around it just ignites something in the cook and baker at heart. Those of us who love to scour recipe books throughout the year have already landed on the ones we plan to try out on friends and family at this time of year. Below are a couple of easy recipes that will dazzle your company and make you look amazing! Enjoy!

Crunchy Nut Toffee

40 premium unsalted saltine crackers

1 cup butter (no substitutes)

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2 cups chopped, unsalted nuts of your choice

1 12 oz. package of semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Line a cookie sheet with foil. Arrange the saltines in a single layer on the cookie sheet. Make sure the sides are touching.

In a small saucepan combine the butter and sugar. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until the syrup reaches between 250 and 268 degrees, hard ball stage.

Remove from heat and stir in the nuts.

Pour syrup nut mixture over the crackers and bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the crackers. As the chocolate melts, spread it over the surface of the toffee. Refrigerate until candy hardens. Break into pieces and arrange on a pretty plate for your guests!

Christmas Mocha Mug

There are lots of holiday punch recipes out there but this one is chocolate coffee amazement in a mug. Enjoy!

5 cups whole milk

4 cups half & half

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground good quality cinnamon

1 package semisweet chocolate chips (12 or 16 oz.)

8 cups strong unflavored coffee

1 cup Kahlua (optional)

Place first four ingredients in a dutch oven and cook over medium heat until heated through. In a medium bowl, microwave chocolate chips in the microwave until melted and smooth. Slowly add one cup of the hot milk mixture to the chocolate, whisking to smooth. Then add the chocolate mixture to the remaining milk mixture. Whisk for two minutes until smooth.

Stir in the coffee and heat thoroughly. Serve in large mugs with a cinnamon stick and a dollop of real whipped cream!

Stroopwafels

This cookie is worth the effort! You will need a mini pizzelle iron to produce these little 3” delights.

2 Cups all purpose flour

1 Tbs. baking powder

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

3 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter, melted, cooled

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a small bowl blend the flour,baking powder and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs until thick and lemon colored. Beat in butter and vanilla. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed until combined.

Heat the electric pizzelle iron according to manufacturer directions. Place a full teaspoon of batter in the center of the iron and close lid. Bake. Remove the baked cookie with a spatula and cool on a paper towel. Makes about 48 cookies which can be drizzled with caramel or tucked on the side of a bowl of home made ice cream!

Enjoy!!

Thanksgiving Trivia: The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three day harvest festival. It included 50 Pilgrims, 90 Wampanoag Indians, and lasted three days. It is believed by historians that only five women were present. Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel, and fish were likely served, alongside pumpkins and cranberries but not pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce for which many today would be... Thankful!

Sacrifices and Survivors of the “War to End War”

By Helen Newton Brought to you by the Bonner County Historical Society

Many of us just observed Veterans Day because we feel a personal relationship with this national holiday, having ourselves served or having family members who have served. It honors all military personnel discharged under honorable conditions, whether they served in combat or not.

It coincides with Armistice Day, a holiday celebrated in other countries to mark the anniversary of the end of World War I, which occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States Congress acted on May 13, 1938 to make November 11th an annual legal holiday: “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”

At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, a U.S. public holiday in May which honors those who died while in military service. Another military (but not national) holiday that also occurs in May is Armed Forces Day, which honors those currently serving in the U.S. military. This holiday is observed in our neck of the woods by Spokane’s Lilac Parade.

President Wilson called World War I “the great war, a war to end war.” Sadly, that has not been the case.

Here at home 12 of our young men died in World War I. The first from Sandpoint to die was William D. Martin after whom the local American Legion post (formed Aug 25, 1919) is named. He and the other servicemen who died in WWI are memorialized on the bronze obelisk at War Memorial Field in Sandpoint.

A letter from the company chaplain dated July 30, 1918, arrived at the Martin home on S. Florence in October stating that their son had died in action on July 26th. He was 26 years old. The chaplain wrote, “He died heroically like a brave American. His last words were, ‘I am dying; take care of the other fellow’.

“We buried him on a pretty hillside overlooking a valley. All his comrades were present and officers and we placed a fence around the grave with a cross for a headpiece. William was the first boy killed in our regiment by enemy shell fire. We all extend our heartfelt sympathy in your hour of sore affliction.”

The newspaper story reported that he had come from fighting stock. His grandfathers on both sides fought in the Civil War. His mother told the paper that when war was declared, Martin asked his parents what they thought about his enlisting. They told him that if he were brave enough to volunteer that they were brave enough to let him go. He joined Company A.

My family had the privilege in the early 1960’s of living across the street on N. 4th Ave. from Ray and Gertrude Racicot. Ray suffered paralysis from a shrapnel wound at the battle of Verdun October 3, 1918. The battle lasted for 302 days, the longest and one of the costliest in human history. Sergeant Racicot spent two years in a military hospital before he could return home to Sandpoint. He was a charter member of the local American Legion Post. Both of the Racicots were an inspiration to our family.

Quoting from the monument at Memorial Field: “Dedicated by the people of Bonner County in the honor of the fallen men of the past, with the hope and prayer this field shall be for sport and games without the cloud of conflict and the threat of war.”

Evergreen Trivia:

The tradition of Christmas trees goes all the way back to the ancient Egyptians and Romans, who decorated using evergreens during the winter solstice to signify that spring would return. So if you deck your halls with a green tree, wreaths or evergreen garland, you’re honoring history.

As a member, you can get a discount at the fuel pumps and dividends on purchases in profitable years. Why not come in to the CO -OP today and see if membership can be of benefit to you? Come see us today!

Marching band of the W.D. Martin Post, No. 15 of the American Legion. The Drum and Bugle Corp., pictured here in July 1940, was comprised of local students. Photo courtesy of the Bonner County Historical Society, donated to the collection by Katherine Racicot.

Above image: Remains of a railroad bridge over the Marne River, destroyed during WWI near Chateau-Thierry, where William Martin was killed. Photo courtesy of the Bonner County Historical Society, donated to the collection by Magnus Overland.

Enlisted men at attention in Sandpoint on First Avenue in 1918, prior to shipping off to World War I. Photo courtesy of the Bonner County Historical Society, donated to the collection by the Moon family.

Viruses immortalize infected cells in order to prevent other bacterial infections, which actually saves not only themselves but also increases resistance to bacterial infections in us. However, this comes with a caveat, as in the latent, chronic state they regulate cell function in a subtle way that robs the body of nutrients and causes inflammation.

That is fine as long as there is no extra oxidative cellular stress, i.e., free radical production, that threatens its survival. With extra stress due to another infection, toxin exposure, or mental/emotional stress, viruses increase metabolic activity by 10-100-fold, eventually causing the lytic, i.e., reactivation phase, with all its symptom flares. That means that they are literally chased out of their cellular “homes” in search of another, in the process causing active infection in the body as a whole. A classic example of this is reactivation of chickenpox virus with stress, leading to shingles. That is the major reason why stress management and the use of anti-oxidants in form of unprocessed foods, lots of fruit and veggies, and supplements is so important.

For example, personal diet adjustment can facilitate proper immune function. According to Dr. Lepine, the body is actually a super organism consisting of 1012 cells in addition to 1014 microbes. We will never nor should we get rid of every single disease-causing microbe, but we can make an effort to balance our microbial friends. Healing leaky gut from unhealthy diet and lifestyle as well as providing appropriate food to increase the spectrum of healthy microbes will work towards a healthy microbiome and stronger immunity

While Long-COVID symptoms may be due to viral re-activation, previous inflammatory damage, or other above mentioned internal and environmental causes, there also is evidence supporting the theory that spike proteins are continually shed from a viral reservoir in the gut. By continually increasing inflammation they have been shown to directly contribute to symptoms as well as auto-immune diseases. For example, these spike proteins can trigger clot formation and low oxygenation of tissues, resulting in symptoms like brain fog, fatigue and pain.

Besides anti-viral treatments such as Ivermectin, functional medicine doctors recommend prescription drugs like Famotidine to reduce allergies to the spike proteins; Pravastatin to prevent micro clotting; or Maraviroc to reduce inflammation. However, all of those come with their own set of side-effects and address only one aspect of this complex problem. While oregano oil, quercitin, proteolytic enzymes, curcumin can be considered as respective natural alternatives, comprehensive treatment goes way beyond specific meds. For example, consistent individualized practice of breathing exercises designed to increase oxygenation of tissues is not only a cheap and health promoting way to address this issue, but also has been documented to reduce inflammation by reducing stress. Inquiries into what causes chronic unconscious internal stress and thus inflammation can lead to deeper understanding and commitment to lifestyle changes, whether that be limiting beliefs or poor dietary or lifestyle choices.

Reactive hypoglycemia was repeatedly referenced during the conference as a main contributor to underlying physiological dysfunction and therefore inflammation. Three regular balanced meals with fresh veggies, protein, fat and whole carbs from an anti-inflammatory diet not only keeps blood sugar steady, but also contribute to re-establishment of a healthy circadian rhythm so crucial to re-establishing resiliency and health. This can further be enhanced by healthy sleep hygiene and rhythm as evidenced by the big role sleep deficiency plays in these chronic viral syndromes.

Generally, the consensus about treatment of all of these stealth infections included reducing stress and oxidative cellular stress; supporting detoxification, cellular respiration, and immune response; reducing inflammation; and dampening viral activity. There are many approaches to accomplish this and you really need a practitioner who is knowledgeable about how to use tests judicially to differentiate multiple causes of chronic inflammation and resulting symptom complexes and then treat appropriately

Beware of practitioners who advertise expensive general cure-all programs including ozone machines, neural therapy, and IV’s, without exploring and addressing underlying causes. Otherwise, a severely sick person might temporarily feel considerably better but invariably will fall sick again with the next exposure or large stressor. Ozone therapy to increase oxygenation for example can be very effective when done via IV or dialysis methods, but even then, is only effective in conjunction with anti-viral treatment to relieve symptoms.

I would like to close with sharing the results of research cited by Dr. Bump. 182 adults were randomly assigned for 4 weeks to engage in prosocial behavior directed towards specific others, engage in self focused kindness, or perform a neutral control task. Both kindness towards others and self-increased white blood cell activity, anti-viral response, antibody production, and anti-inflammatory response, though those responses were more pronounced when directed towards others. Who would have thought that the bumper sticker “practice random acts of kindness” might improve long-COVID symptoms?

For a more in-depth version of this article exploring more aspects of this complex picture, including hyperlinks to handouts, previous articles, and references, please go to aspenwellspring.substack.com

Dr Gabrielle Duebendorfer has practiced for more than 25 years combining natural medicine with mindfulness tools. She is a licensed naturopathic physician as well as certified iRest instructor and focuses on cancer care and survivorship as well as Long-COVID and other stealth infections. She offers tele and in person consults and classes. 208-920-0583

Home, Home on the (Open) Range

by Marrion E. Newsam Banks Executive Vice President Idaho Forest Owners Association evpifoa@gmail.com www.idahoforestowners.org

In 1634, the Boston Common was purchased from William Blaxton by the Puritan founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During the 1630s, it was used by many families as a cow pasture. This may be one of the first examples of “open range” grazing in America, but the practice really took off as the United States acquired western territories of vast, undeveloped, and uncultivated grasslands where water sources were widely scattered. Land that had not yet been placed into private ownership was publicly owned and freely available for grazing cattle.

Passage of the Homestead Act in 1862 signaled the end of unrestricted grazing as farmers naturally didn’t appreciate ranchers’ cattle dining on their field crops. Fortunately, the invention of barbed wire in 1874 allowed farmers to begin to fence wandering critters out of their fields. Note I said farmers fenced to keep animals out of their fields. We’ll be circling back to this in a minute.

A newcomer to Idaho might assume that the concept of open range is a relict of the past like cattle drives and buggy whips, but that would be a mistake. Currently, Idaho and 16 other states all have or have had open-range laws. But what does “open range” really mean in today’s world? Each state’s laws will vary, but in Idaho Title 25, Chapter 21 of the state statutes declares “No person owning, or controlling the possession of, any domestic animal running on open range, shall have the duty to keep such animal off any highway on such range, and shall not be liable to any damage to any vehicle or for injury to any person riding therein, caused by a collision between the vehicle and the animal.” The same section defines “open range” as “all uninclosed lands outside of cities, villages and herd districts, upon which cattle by custom, license, lease, or permit, are grazed or permitted to roam.”

What this means is that, in Idaho, cattle or other domestic animals (sheep, goats, horses, bison, etc.) have as much right to be on the roadway as cars and wildlife. Not only are the owners of these animals not liable for damages as the result of a car/animal collision, the vehicle owner may be legally responsible for paying for the dead or injured animal if the collision was caused by negligence on the part of the driver (think speeding or impaired or inattentive driving).

In spite of open range laws, vehicle collisions with wildlife outnumber collisions with domestic animals. In 2014 there were nearly 1,100 accidents involving wildlife while only 300 involved domestic animals. But let’s get back to those farmers in the 1870’s who fenced cattle out of their fields. If you were paying attention when I quoted Idaho code, you noticed the part that define open range as “all uninclosed lands outside of cities, villages and herd districts.” That word uninclosed matters here. Idaho is what as known as a “fence out” state. That means that, in open range territory, you are required to fence out livestock if you want to keep range animals off your property. Idaho even has laws (Title 35, Chapter 1) that define what a lawful fence looks like. To be lawful, the fence must be at least four and a half feet high; the bottom board, rail, pole or wire must not be more than 20 inches above the ground; and the space between the top and bottom board, rail, pole, or wire must be well divided. In other words, the fence has to be substantial enough to actually exclude a grazing animal.

The owner of livestock doesn’t have it all his or her own way, however. Idaho law does not allow a person to intentionally drive his or her livestock onto a neighbor’s property just because the neighbor has failed to fence out the animals. Livestock can wander over there for a snack all by themselves, but the livestock owner cannot push them there. On the other hand, the outraged neighbor is well within his or her rights to push the offending critters right back where they belong. In addition, the livestock owner cannot “overstock” his or her land counting on using the neighbor’s land for extra forage under “open range.” Overstocking makes the livestock owner liable for any damage or loss caused by their animals.

Another modification of the open range philosophy is provided for by herd districts. Herd districts (Idaho Title 25, Chapter 24) provide for areas, outside of cities and towns, that are legally designated as no longer open range. When petitioned by a majority of landowners who live within a certain area of the county, the county commissioners can create a herd district in that area. Once the herd district is formed, the county can levy a property tax on all property owners within the district to pay for the necessary fencing and cattle guards to keep free range roaming livestock out of the district. Within the herd district, livestock owners are required to “fence in” their animals and keep them off highways. For more information about whether or not your property is in a herd district within your county, contact the County Assessor.

If you are a forest landowner, you might be asking yourself, “What do open range laws and herd districts have to do with me? Cows eat grass not trees!” While it’s true that we’ve been talking mostly about cattle here, keep in the mind that open range applies to all domestic animals including goats and sheep who think young trees make a tasty treat! And though cattle are grazers not browsers, an animal will eat almost anything (including young trees) if hungry enough.

A clear understanding of Idaho’s open range laws will help you better protect your forest when your neighbors have livestock. If you live in an area that has significant open range lands, you may want to put up a fence to protect young seedlings until the trees are large enough to fend off grazing animals.

If you’re looking for help with forest management issues like open range, the Idaho Forest Owners Association (IFOA) is an excellent source for both new forest landowners and ‘old-timers’ alike. Check out our website at www.idahoforestowners.org for more information.

Maybe the best way to deal with grazing animals is to incorporate them into your forest management plans. Silvopasturing is a practice the USDA defines as “…the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land.”

After all, if you can’t beat ‘em, you might as well join ‘em!