It’s intrinsic to the internet that it should be a source for answering questions; but, some questions seem especially geared toward many users’ mix of obsession and a glut of time on their hands. After writing a brief mention of the Saturday, May 17 screening of Cars at the Panida, I wondered aloud in the office why the titular cars had doors, since there are apparently no humans in their world. Answering that question led to an internet rabbit hole that consumed the better part of an hour and pretty much derailed my productivity for the rest of the afternoon. As the internet often shows us, someone else has already thought about whatever we’re thinking about at the moment, and such was the case with the conundrum of Cars’ doors. Writing in 2017 on the auto industry website Jalopnik.com, Jason Torchinsky unfurled a sweeping — and self-described “horrific, disturbing” — theory that went well beyond doors to encompass an evolutionary abomination worthy of Black Mirror. As Torchinsky pointed out, the cars in Cars live on an Earth that looks identical to our own, with the same vegetation, landscapes, place names, and a built environment that includes roads, towns and cities full of human-scale structures. There are apparent nationalities and, in Cars 2, there’s even a pope, which suggests a religion (and there is, with “Jesus Chrysler” as its object of veneration — I’m not making that up). Following all that, Torchinsky posits that the cars didn’t evolve independent from humans, but certain humans (whom he calls “gearheads”) chose to merge their bodies with their vehicles and, in so doing, were the only ones to survive some unidentified global apocalypse. It’s unclear how far in the past this may have occurred, but in the interim, these cyborg “cars” have repopulated the planet while perpetuating many of the cultural traditions and distinctions from their long extinct non-gearhead ancestors. That would make the doors vestigial, considering that Torchinsky provides a handy cutaway diagram of his “Homunculus Theory,” which shows a withered human fully integrated with the interior of Lightning McQueen, and it’s clear that “person” is never getting out. “There’s literally (well, fictitiously literally) a genetically-engineered, stunted, freakishly emaciated-looking human inside every car in the Cars universe,” he wrote. Why he took the time to write that is another story, but it clearly worked on me. Meanwhile, happy Lost in the ’50s to all the gearheads out there.
nuts!
I don’t know how I missed it, but Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 270 in late March, which the Idaho Capital Sun reported “updates Idaho’s indecent exposure law ... to include female breasts, male breasts altered to look like female breasts, artificial breasts, and toys or products that resemble genitals.” The upshot to that, the Sun reported, is that “the bill would allow people to call police over dangling faux scrotums hung on truck hitches, commonly called truck nuts.” So take heed, truck nutters: Neuter your trucks or face the penalty.
DEAR READERS,
Welcome to Lost in the ’50s Weekend in Sandpoint. For locals, this is a familiar scene, as the downtown streets transform into a vintage car show, street dances, festivities and, of course, the lively music of the era.
For those who are visiting, we hope you have a good time. There are a handful of events in greater Sandpoint that pull a community together. We gather en masse and celebrate. We dance. We kick back a few beers and see old friends who hibernate in the winter.
Lost in the ’50s is definitely one of them.
Special thanks to all the hard-working volunteers who make this happen every year. Have fun out there.
–Ben Olson, publisher
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368 sandpointreader.com
Editors Emeriti: Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Cameron Rasmusson John Reuter
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Contributing Artists: Rich Milliron (cover), RAD Architectural Design, Zach Hagadone, Karley Coleman, Jen Jackson Quintano, Ron Bedford, Shayna Lawson
Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Diana Dawson, TJ Redden, Marcia Pilgeram, Jennifer Shutt
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The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, bluster, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.
We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community.
The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. For back issues, contact the publisher. Free to all, limit two per person, please.
Letter to the Editor Policy:
We welcome letters to the editor on all relavant topics. Please, no more than 300 words, no excessive profanity or libelous statements and no trolls. Please elevate the discussion and stay on topic. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinons expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publisher. Send to: letters@sandpointreader.com
About the Cover:
This week’s cover... features Rich Milliron’s photos of standout entries to previous Lost in the ‘50s car shows. Thanks, Rich!
Church Street multi-family development to go before P&Z
Project formerly known as ‘Farmin Flats’ will have site plan reviewed in public after concerns over lack of parking
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
The two-phase proposed apartment development at 413 and 417 Church St., in downtown Sandpoint, is taking an unorthodox path through the application process with a public review Tuesday, May 20 before the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission.
Fronted by Lindon, Utahbased OZ Sandpoint QOZB, LLC., the first phase would include a 47-foot-tall, four-story building with 48 one-bedroom and studio units and 618 square feet of commercial space at the street level. The second phase also envisions four stories, though rising 45 feet with 41 apartments and 2,000 square feet of commercial on the ground floor.
Both projects encompass about 21,000 square feet across all four levels, but their building footprints are approximately 5,000 square feet — far below the 15,000-squarefoot limit that would require a conditional use permit. That means the projects normally wouldn’t have gone before Planning and Zoning or the City Council; rather, their site plan proposals would be addressed administratively, without any public review.
However, the initial proposals drew loud opposition from many residents, who focused on the lack of parking provided for future residents and how that could adversely affect the availability of parking for surrounding businesses and their customers.
The plans for Phase 1 included no parking — indicating in the application that residents and visitors to the commercial space would use available on-street or public parking — while Phase 2 included three dedicated spaces in the alley behind the building.
Even the project’s name
prompted pushback. Proposed as “Farmin Flats,” members of the prominent local family requested that their surname be removed from the project, as the developer had not first asked permission to use it. A representative of OZ Sandpoint told the Reader in lateApril that the company was working on a name change, though the city of Sandpoint still lists “Farmin Flats” on its “Current Projects” webpage.
Despite many observers applauding the effort to bring more rental housing onto the market, and despite that the project is within Sandpoint’s longstanding parking exempt zone, and therefore not required to provide any parking, the volume of opposition was enough to convince City Hall that the proposal should go before the public after all.
“This is the perfect opportunity for the Planning and Zoning Commission to weigh in on the site planning proposal that would normally be done administratively,” Sandpoint Planning and Community Development Director Jason Welker said at the May 7 meeting of the Sandpoint City Council.
The furor over the parking — or lack thereof — at OZ Sandpoint’s proposed developments comes amid efforts at the city to revise not only its overall parking management policy, but retooling its parking ordinance. In particular, the P&Z Commission heard a pair of presentations in April and early May on ordinance changes including reinstating the downtown parking requirement, which was lifted in 2009 in order to eliminate hurdles to future redevelopment.
One proposed change would be to stipulate one parking space per 1,000 square feet of residential development with a maximum of 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit.
If developers wish to forego providing those spaces, they could instead pay an in lieu fee of $25,000 per space to the Parking Improvement Fund. Meanwhile, discussions have included extending the parking exempt zone for non-residential development farther south of downtown.
Welker told the council on May 7 that a final parking management plan — which would include paid parking
at several city-owned lots and could reintroduce paid curbside parking in the downtown core — is expected to go before the council in mid-June.
A final draft parking ordinance could make its way to councilors in July.
Until then, written testimony on the OZ Sandpoint proposals going before P&Z on May 20 must be delivered
to City Hall (1123 Lake St.) or emailed to cityclerk@sandpointidaho.gov before 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 15.
Find the full application files and public comments at bit.ly/4mg2IzR under “Farmin Flats Building 1” and “Farmin Flats Building 2.”
BoCo Planning Commission to host workshop on land divisions
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The Bonner County Planning Commission will host a public workshop Tuesday, May 20 on land division standards under Bonner County Revised Code. The 4:30 p.m. meeting will take place at the Bonner County Administration Building (1500 Hwy. 2, in Sandpoint) and will include a detailed review of family divisions, waiver of land divisions, minor land divisions and additional proposed code changes in BCRC Title 12.
“This is a great opportunity to help residents better under-
stand how these land division processes work, what changes may be coming and how they can provide input,” said Planning Director Jake Gabell.
The current MLD process has drawn concern and criticism from the Planning Department, the Bonner County board of commissioners and members of the public for years due to an apparent loophole that allows developers to create de facto subdivisions without the necessary infrastructure required by the actual subdivision application.
At the commissioners’ March 25 business meeting, Gabell said the loophole led to some “public health and public safety concerns”
because the developments created under it presented “longterm challenges for emergency access, fire protection and stormwater management.”
According to Gabell, the infrastructure issues include a lack of fire mitigation and road width, surfacing and accessibility regulations, among other issues.
A moratorium on minor land divisions will go into effect Monday, May 19, to give officials time to review and alter the code. The moratorium will remain in place until Oct. 1.
To view the agenda and meeting packet or to attend the workshop on Zoom, visit bit.ly/BoCoPlanning.
A rendering of Phase 1 (left) and a schematic showing Phases 1 and 2 of the proposed develoment (right). Images courtesy of RAD Architectural Design.
Sandpoint City Hall formally opens new downtown parking lot
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Officials from City Hall, the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency, construction representatives and members of the public gathered May 13 to officially cut the ribbon at Sandpoint’s newly rebuilt downtown parking lot.
Located between Church and Oak streets, and now accessible through a single entrance/exit on Third Avenue, the parking lot project began in earnest in early April with the goal of completing the work before Lost in the ’50s, which begins Thursday, May 15.
The quick turnaround on the new parking lot required staff and contractors to work “tirelessly,” Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, singling out City Engineer Brandon Staglund for praise and noting that the city kept the project as in-house as possible. The work was paid for with $150,000 from the city’s 2025 budget and the remainder of the $434,085 cost funded by SURA.
“We couldn’t have done this without their support,” Grimm said of SURA, which has included rehabilitation of the city lot in its budget since 2014, though it wasn’t until this year that the project gained traction.
“[This has] been on our minds for well over 15 years,” Grimm said, going on to thank the public for its patience with upward of 120 parking spaces being eliminated during the
Bits ’n’ Pieces
From east, west and beyond
In the first quarter of 2025, President Donald Trump’s tariffs added $14 billion in extra costs to consumers, equal to 17% above a year ago, according to new research from Americans for Tax Fairness.
According to The New York Times, U.S. intelligence reports no evidence that Venezuela colludes with a criminal gang, which has been Trump’s rationale for using the Alien Enemies Act to justify deportations.
NBC reported that Trump Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said “we’re actively looking at” suspending the writ of habeas corpus to establish martial law, so the government can arrest unauthorized migrants and hold them without trial or charges.
Miller told reporters that the “privilege of the writ can be suspended at a time of invasion,” implying that unauthorized immigration is an “invasion.”
Legal analyst Steve Vladeck wrote on his website that “the near-total consensus is that only Congress can suspend habeas corpus.”
weeks of work.
“It seems like a simple thing — a new parking lot But it’s really a bigger thing,” Grimm said, adding, “This is the public realm.”
For many people, the city lot is their first stop in Sandpoint, Grimm said, while for others it’s a feature of daily life as they commute to work, shop or socialize downtown.
“The pride that we put in our public spaces speaks volumes about us,” he said.
With the ribbon cut, the parking lot is now open for public use and will remain free to access for about a year, until the city identifies, purchases and installs paid parking infrastructure. After that, users will pay a fee for either short-term use or buy a downtown business pass for long-term parking.
Meanwhile, some trees remain to be planted and the LED light poles have yet to be put in place.
In addition, the new lot includes “formal parking stalls,” stormwater infrastructure, enhanced pedestrian pathways, and upgrades to support future electric vehicle charging stations and wayfinding, City Hall stated in an announcement, describing it as a “milestone in Sandpoint’s downtown revitalization efforts.”
“[This is] representative of what I believe is important to invest in,” Grimm said at the ribbon cutting.
According to The Bulwark, the Trump administration is planning a possible mass deportation of nearly 90,000 Afghans now in the U.S. Being returned to a regime that practices public executions, floggings and government-sponsored sexual assault will mean torture and death for returnees.
At the same time, The Bulwark reported the Trump White House “appears to be improving relations with the Taliban” — against whom many of the Afghans in the U.S. fought, alongside U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan — including removed bounties on a number of Taliban officials.
Chinese-American tariffs on imports will be reduced for a 90-day period. Trump’s trade adviser said the goal is to restore U.S. manufacturing. However, according to former-U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich, more than 25% of U.S. jobs were in manufacturing in 1970, while today that figure is 8%. Trump is trying to boost jobs in coal mining while sidelining green energy jobs. Reich wrote that many workers sought manufacturing jobs because unions provided good pay and job security. But unions have gone from representing one-third of private sector workers in the 1960s to 6% today.
In addition, Reich wrote, gutting the Labor Relations Board, crippling OSHA’s worker protections and filling the Labor Department with “corporate
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Contributor
stooges” hobbles the chance of resurrecting manufacturing jobs that are valued as worthwhile. As labor secretary, he saw the downside of manufacturing jobs: lost limbs from on-site errors, black lung disease, carpal tunnel from repetitive motions, child labor violations and sweat shops with poor wages.
Reich also took aim at Trump’s $5,000-per-birth “baby bonus” proposal, noting that the administration’s policies makes it difficult to have children due to moves such as shutting down Head Start; cutting school funding; terminating child welfare investigations; proposed food benefit cuts; and dismissal of federal staff responsible for child welfare, day care, foster care and adoptions. To address the birth rate decline, Reich recommended dropping unwarranted deportations of immigrants.
According to a UC Davis study, deportation of 50% of farm workers — the percentage who are undocumented — would result in a 21% price hike for hand-picked crops. Mother Jones reported that deportation policies could increase the price of a new house by $45,000 if just a fraction of migrant laborers are deported.
In a recent interview on Meet the Press, Trump said he doesn’t know if he’s compelled to uphold the Constitution. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., stated on social media: “Following the Constitution is not a suggestion.”
According to recent headlines, Trump boasted in an interview that, “I run the country and the world”; the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump can ban transgender people from the military, which has been appealed; in order to pay for personal tax cuts, congressional Republicans propose raising Medicaid premiums and co-pays for low-income earners, while removing 8 million people from the program — a move opposed by 75% of Americans; SCOTUS will hear an argument on Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship; and Trump posted on social media that “only a FOOL would not accept” the “gift” of a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 jet being offered by Qatar, which he argued would be a gift to the U.S. for his use as a “temporary Air Force One” while a newer plane finishes construction.
Blast from the past: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” — Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm speaks at the downtown parking lot ribbon cutting.
Photo by Zach Hagadone.
Early voting in May 20 election ends Friday
Absentee
ballots due to county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
The window for early voting in the Tuesday, May 20 election closes Friday, May 16, with ballots accepted until 5 p.m. at the Bonner County Elections Office (1500 Hwy. 2, Suite 124, in Sandpoint).
Voters will also have until 8 p.m. on May 20 to get their absentee ballots to the Elections Office, though the deadline has passed for requesting an absentee ballot. In-person voting will take place 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at designated polling places.
Residents in west Bonner County will have a school district levy and cemetery district levy to decide, Ponderay residents will consider a local option tax, those living within the Lakeland Joint School
District will have a levy on the ballot and every voting precinct but Humbird, Hope and Clark Fork will have a choice to make on fire district levies — including Northside, Westside, Sagle and Spirit Lake.
The West Bonner County School District is proposing a supplemental maintenance and operation levy of $2,353,440.60 per year for two years, beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2027. Meanwhile, the West Bonner Cemetery Maintenance District is requesting voters authorize a base budget increase from property tax revenues from $68,330 to $142,545.33.
Ponderay residents will be asked to weigh in on a 10% local option tax applied to short-term rentals such as hotel/motel rooms, condo-
minium units, tourist homes, bed-and-breakfasts, and similar temporary dwellings of 30 days or fewer. The tax would be levied for 12 years from its effective date revenue put toward a wide range of public infrastructure, transportation, grant-matching and property tax relief uses, among others.
The Northside, Sagle and Westside fire districts are all seeking levy increases to pay for staffing, new hires, equipment and maintenance, and overall operations.
Northside Fire is asking for $1,898,933 from property taxpayers beginning with Fiscal Year 2026, representing a tax increase of $41 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. A portion of the revenue would be used to staff the Samuelson Fire Station.
In Sagle, the fire district is asking voters to approve a permanent levy increase to $2,623,470 from $1,873,470, amounting to $34 more per $100,000 of assessed value. Those funds would be applied toward increasing firefighters at the Careywood and Sagle stations.
Westside Fire is seeking to permanently increase its budget from the current levy amount of $577,461 to $1,387,819, totalling $71 more per $100,000 of assessed value per year.
Selkirk Fire Chief Jeff Armstrong — who leads all three districts — told attendees at the Idaho Fireplace Forum on May 3 that another goal is to establish a $150,000-peryear savings account to support the purchase of a new fire engine, which is estimated to
cost about $1 million.
In Spirit Lake, the fire district is proposing a temporary budget increase, levying property taxes amounting to $477,000 beginning in Fiscal Year 2026 and lasting for two years. That would cost $24.66 per $100,000 of assessed value.
Finally, residents in the Lakeland School District are being asked to consider a supplemental levy of $7,520,000 per year for two years beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2027, which would cost taxpayers $82.37 per $100,000 of assessed value per year.
For more information on voter registration, sample ballots, polling places and all other things election-related, go to bonnercountyid. gov/elections or voteidaho.gov.
Bipartisan Congress members plead with Trump to unfreeze FEMA grants
More than 80 lawmakers urge agency to spend money already approved for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program
By Jennifer Shutt States Newsroom
Members of Congress from both political parties are calling on the Trump administration to unfreeze funding for a grant program that helps local communities better prepare for natural disasters.
The letter from more than 80 lawmakers urges the Federal Emergency Management Agency to begin spending money already approved by Congress for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program.
“The BRIC program was established by Congress in the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act and signed into law by President [Donald] Trump with bipartisan support,” the two-page letter stated. “In the years since, this program has catalyzed community investments in
resilient infrastructure, saving federal funds by investing in community preparedness before a disaster strikes.”
The lawmakers wrote that BRIC grant funds go to a variety of projects and that the program has played “an essential role in helping Tribal Nations and rural communities strengthen their defenses against natural disasters and safeguard critical infrastructure.”
“Through BRIC, Tribes and rural communities can access dedicated funding to strengthen community resilience by investing in hazard mitigation projects — such as flood protection, fire prevention and infrastructure hardening — that are otherwise difficult to finance in rural or remote settings,” the lawmakers wrote.
While the program “has room for improvement,” the lawmakers wrote that FEMA
and Congress should work together “to improve the application review and funding distribution process to more effectively reduce the costs disasters pose to our communities, economies, and livelihoods.”
Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen, North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, Washington state Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski led the drafting of the letter in their chamber.
Reps. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C.; Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas; Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; and Ed Case, D-Hawaii, spearheaded efforts in the House.
‘Beyond reckless’ FEMA announced in early April that it would unilaterally cancel all BRIC funding approved from fiscal years 2020 through 2023, calling the
program “wasteful and ineffective” in a statement.
“Approximately $882 million of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will be returned to the U.S. Treasury or reapportioned by Congress in the next fiscal year,” a FEMA spokesperson wrote in the statement. “The 2021 law made $1 billion available for BRIC over five years, $133 million to date has been provided for about 450 applications.
FEMA estimates more than $3.6 billion will remain in the Disaster Relief Fund to assist with disaster response and recovery for communities and survivors.”
The National Association of Counties wrote in a post about the cancellation that community leaders may “need to halt work or seek new funding sources” and “delay or scale back infra-
structure investments.”
“Without access to BRIC’s federal match, counties may find it more difficult to pursue large-scale mitigation projects,” the NaCo post stated.
Association of State Floodplain Managers Executive Director Chad Berginnis wrote that dismantling the country’s “largest pre-disaster mitigation program is beyond reckless.”
“Cutting funding from projects already underway will leave states and communities scrambling, increasing disaster risk to families and businesses instead of reducing it,” Berginnis wrote. “The impact of this decision will be felt for decades to come.”
States Newsroom is the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, and parent organization of the Boise-based Idaho Capital Sun.
Bouquets:
• You can always tell someone’s character by how they treat servers in a restaurant. As we launch into the busy tourist season, don’t forget to show respect and civility to your servers and bartenders while dining out. It’s a tough job and it’s even tougher when people are jerks for no reason. Set a good example and treat our servers well, please. And don’t forget to give a nod to those working in the back of the house who prepare your food.
Barbs:
• It’s wild to realize how far we’ve fallen as a nation in just the past decade, but especially since President Donald Trump began his second term. One of the biggest losses is the obliteration of facts and truth. Case in point: Trump said recently that gas was down to $1.98 a gallon. A simple Google search shows that the lowest gas in the nation isn’t even close, at $2.86 per gallon in oil-rich Texas. The national average is closer to $3.20, if anyone cares. Those are just the small lies, though. The big ones are more concerning, like the whole “stolen election” nonsense that Trump went on about for the entire four years since leaving office in January 2021 (it wasn’t). Or claiming that Ukraine was somehow responsible for invading itself (it wasn’t). Or that Canada is responsible for America’s fentanyl problem and that they “like” his idea of becoming our “51st state” (they don’t). Or his relentless deception about who pays tariffs (U.S. importers pay the actual tariff charges, and study after study shows that domestic consumers end up bearing almost the entire cost when these importers raise prices).
Don’t even get me started on the $400 million dollar jet Qatar’s royal family is reportedly giving Trump as a gift (a.k.a. “bribe”).
Dear editor,
A couple revelations for those who haven’t thought about it: All government spending is not waste. Government workers “do stuff” (provide useful services). Some people assume that any cuts to government spending or hiring results in savings. But it also costs something.
Locally, the Springy Point Campground will not open this season due to inadequate personnel to keep it clean and sanitary. Aside from the inconvenience to those who would have camped there and enjoyed our area, local businesses will have that many fewer customers this summer.
Based on the heavy use that campground gets and the fees that users pay, I suspect that it is more than a “break-even” for the Corps of Engineers, which administers it.
Another loss to the area is that Creations, an arts education program in the Cedar St Bridge, is losing funding for an AmeriCorps teaching position. To keep functioning as planned, they will have to come up with additional funding to pay for a teacher.
These are tangible benefits we have (before DOGE) benefited from. I’m sure there are more losses, these are just two that I am personally aware of.
Government workers do useful things which we benefit from. Taxes are how we pay for them. Tax cuts and reductions to government programs are not all savings, some of them are costs.
Rupert Laumann Sandpoint
‘Yes’ vote on fire levy is worth the price…
Dear editor, I am writing to urge a “yes” vote on the May 20 fire levy election. Last year, the night of the big July 4 fire in town, we also had a terrible fire in my Bottle Bay neighborhood. That experience opened my eyes, and my neighbors’, that we have inadequate and underfunded fire services.
The North Idaho focus on low taxes is laudable, but only to a point. When it comes to our fire districts, that focus has left us with a very dangerous situation. I’m happy that Safeco has not canceled my fire insurance — as has happened to two friends — but my cost for insurance is $400/month.
In contrast, improving fire services to my home will, with the new levy, add only $176/year to my
property tax bill.
In a recent letter from the Bonner County Republican Women, they put forth wrong and inaccurate information about the cost of the proposed levy. Please, do your own calculations. The levy rate for our Sagle district is $34 per $100,000 of assessed value of a structure (i.e., your actual home, not vacant land or your lot). Compared to the cost of my fire insurance and the risk of losing it all, I am happy to vote “yes” on the levy increase. I urge you, and your neighbors, to do the same.
Judy Meyers Bottle Bay
‘Fed up citizens’...
Dear editor,
Since our federal and state governments are so hell-bent on screwing every single one of us, I suggest we help them out. How about a citizen’s initiative to strip every elected Idaho official of every single benefit that they have? No more health care, any and all housing, anything that we the taxpayers foot the bill for. We could take their salaries and instead pay them Idaho’s minimum wage. Just think how proud of us they would be for getting behind their efforts! That would sure level the field. It would be a great reminder that they work for us and not the felon in the White House. Just think how much fun we could have looking through all of their private records. Think of all the money that we could save! We would have to come up with a good slogan, like “Fed Up Citizens Kick You Out United” and shorten it up to just first letters to fit it on our hats. This would be a great way for them to prove how much they believe in all of the B.S. that they expect us to believe. Just a thought.
Thanks,
Bob McKeon
Hope
‘Gettysburg Address 2.0’...
Dear editor,
Twelve score and nine years ago, our forefathers and foremothers brought forth on the North American continent a new nation, a democratic republic, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal. We are still engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war, which has become a war of ideas and words, littered with minefields of
lies, disinformation and conspiracy theories. The armies that struggle here each have three corps: collaboration, cooperation and conservation on one side; competition, comparison and consumption on the other. These armies battle for the hearts, minds, and souls of the people and the nation itself.
We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men and women, living and dead, who struggled here and continue to struggle, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the people, rather, to be dedicated to the unfinished work, which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us, the people, to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us: That from those generations who have gone before us, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that those warriors have not lived and died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Stan Norman Sandpoint
were both impressed with how down to earth they both were and how both seemed to care about the concerns and opinions of the people who attended.
I may not agree with everything they have to offer, but I am thankful to have people in office who are genuine in their desire to serve those who live in Idaho as opposed to outside special interest groups from other states who have an agenda they wish to push.
I was also impressed with the questions those in the audience asked. They engaged with questions that were thoughtful and, for the most part, productive. Wouldn’t it be great if all of our meetings concerning political matters were as polite and productive?
I hope that North Idaho can continue in the direction of respect and decency my husband and I saw at the Town Hall on May 3.
William and Patrice Webb Sandpoint
Publishing Fulcher interview was a service… West Bonner school levy is for ‘bare-bones necessities’…
Dear editor,
The interview with Rep. Fulcher was appreciated [Feature,”Congressman Russ Fulcher sits down for a Reader interview,” May 1, 2025].
Parts were not easy to follow, and at times I was tempted to reach for my barn boots.
By conducting and printing the interview, the Reader did a service. I was able to read and to highlight what Rep. Fulcher said in his own words.
Whether we agree or disagree with an elected official, it’s essential we know their actions and their words. That knowledge is power as it is how we ensure our elected officials work for us.
Mary Ollie Bonners Ferry
Kudos to Sauter and Woodward for a productive town hall meeting…
Dear editor,
My husband and I attended the “town hall meeting” on May 3 with Sen. Jim Woodward and Rep. Mark Sauter. I just want to say that we
Dear editor,
Now we’re into May. We are less than three weeks from voting on the West Bonner County school levy. I still witness comments about the levy that are false. Again I mention going to a board meeting or visit with a trustee or the superintendent to gain knowledge that is fact. None of these people will try to pull wool over your eyes. They will prove to you that the proposed levy dollars are not frivolous — just bare-bones necessities.
The tax assessment is $43.41 per $100,000 of valuation. That is approximately half the amount asked for in the last levy, proving that they are not asking for money that is not necessary. This will save having to close more schools.
Please consider how important a quality education is. It’s good for the students, the community and everyone involved. Please vote yes.
Ernie and Helen Schoeffel Priest River
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Support fire levies and vote for prevention
By Diana Dawson Reader Staff
If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, then it is especially true with fire prevention. On Tuesday, May 20, voters in the Northside, Sagle and Westside fire districts have an opportunity to make an investment in prevention. For a good return on investment, fire prevention is at the top of the list. This is not a vote to miss.
As we all know fire destroys human and animal life, private property and the land that surrounds us. It has no mercy. This does not mean we should panic, but instead focus on prevention. We are fortunate that we have had excellent leadership in our fire districts and do not suffer from inefficient expenditures or bloated administration. In fact, our fire districts and their fire fighters have done much with little.
While growth, inflation, drought and loss of volunteers has skyrocketed, the fire districts have dealt with budgetary constraints limited to a 3% increase by Idaho code. Consider this:
• Growth in North Idaho has brought an estimated 16% increase in the last decade and with it increases in fire calls;
• Fire volunteers have decreased due to the young leaving Idaho and to a lack of support by some employers;
• Inflation has increased the cost of equipment — a fire engine that used to cost $600,000 is now over $1 million;
• Drought is an ongoing issue and the fuel on the ground continues to increase.
Chief Jeff Armstrong, who leads the Northside, Sagle and Westside districts, has maximized efficiencies — and we are fortunate to have his leadership. However, efficiencies can only do so much. To protect life and property we sometimes need to make more financial investment. Further, while voters are debating whether we want to invest more tax dollars for fire prevention, the insurance companies are conducting their own evaluations. If they determine our fire districts have fallen below their standards, our insurance ratings are in peril. That means increased rates or — even worse
— cancellations of insurance policies. The insurance industry calculates our insurance bills based on an assessment of risk. It factors in specifics like fire station distances, equipment and staffing. Many voters have already had insurance problems. Let’s stop kicking the can down the road and pass the fire levies.
If you are a voter who lives in a fire district with a levy, please educate yourself and vote. Levy information is available at any of the fire district websites or go to: northidahovoterservices.org. Links to all websites are on the fire page. Let’s be clear, we are going to pay for fire one way or another. Let’s support the fire levies and protect life and property with prevention not wait for a disaster.
Vote “yes,” on May 20 for fire levies in the Northside, Sagle and Westside fire districts.
Diana Dawson retired to North Idaho after selling her marketing company and founded North Idaho Voter Services in 2018. She holds degrees in political science and an MBA.
Nazis and nonviolence
By Timothy Braatz Reader Contributor
In 1939, Nazi officials established gas chambers and began murdering tens of thousands of German citizens they considered “unfit.” The victims of the so-called “T-4” program included elderly Germans and those suffering from physical or mental illness.
In 1941, after a few clergymen publicly protested, Adolf Hitler ordered T-4 discontinued. That’s right — Hitler, like any national ruler, worried about public opinion. But when no further protests arose, the Nazis restarted T-4, only with greater secrecy. This became the model for the mass gassings, begun in 1942, of Jews, Roma, homosexuals and others that Nazi officials deemed genetically inferior.
What if, instead of a few ministers, millions of Germans had protested Nazi mass murder policies? What if they had started organizing against Nazi cruelty in 1935, rather than waiting until 1941? Could the good Germans have restored their democracy, halted German war preparations and saved millions of lives?
What if, through the magic of time travel, you could visit Germany in the late 1930s? Would you relax in a café sipping coffee, or would you do everything you could to warn the Germans what was coming?
What if a few 1930s Germans believed your warning and asked for advice? Would you tell them to flee
to another country? Would you encourage them to gather their hunting rifles and attack the Germany Army? Or would you suggest a nonviolent campaign to prevent the coming Holocaust?
I know, I know, nonviolence would never work against Nazis. Except it did. You might tell the 1930s Germans about the Rosenstrasse protest, the Le Chambon community and nonviolent Danish resistance to German military occupation in the 1940s. You might even mention how Germans, in 1989, used mass nonviolent resistance to end the repressive communist dictatorship in East Germany.
OK, back to 2025. A U.S. president is violating the Constitution daily. A brief sampling: He has ordered destruction of a federal agency created by Congress; turned over IRS and Social Security data — your data — to the unelected billionaire Elon Musk; confiscated congressionally-ordered funds for Medicaid, child care, meals for seniors, scientific research and other critical programs; ordered deportation of U.S. citizens; ordered elimination of constitutional birthright citizenship; and ordered defunding of state governments that challenge these illegal actions.
The White House team, it appears, is trying to destroy the checks-and-balances system and put all federal power in the hands of a dictatorial president.
Do you sip coffee and pretend it isn’t happening? Do you take nonvi-
olent action, knowing it’s a lot easier to stop an assault on democracy early rather than wait until it gets even worse? Do you even know what a nonviolent campaign looks like?
I’m offering a free, four-session workshop on the power of nonviolence to defend democracy and transform society. With the gracious sponsorship of the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, this class will meet at the Sandpoint Community Hall on Saturday mornings, 9-10:30 a.m., May 17, 24, 31 and June 7.
Please come to the first session and see what you think. For more information, visit proftimothybraatz.org.
Timothy Braatz is a professor of history and nonviolence at Saddleback College in California. He spends part of the year in Bonners Ferry. See more of his work at proftimothybraatz.org.
By TJ Redden Reader Staff
I am absolutely heartbroken for Sandpoint. Our town is no longer even recognizable.
Once a peaceful place filled with kindness and neighborly care, where people minded their own business and we all could breathe free, is now a hate-mongering pit of vipers spewing judgment and exclusion, all the while claiming moral superiority.
Our schools and libraries, which are supposed to be places that enable people to increase their knowledge and gather information, are being censored in the same way Nazi Germany did prior to WWII. When somebody wants to control you, the first thing they do is to take away access to information.
I am heartbroken about the loss of wide open spaces, and about a place that cared about its people and land, but now the City Council ignores the citizens’ concerns and agents of the city are doing backflips to capitalize on their positions by permitting all kinds of development without any concern for the quality of life.
The whole thing is heart wrenching.
I’m heartbroken that I no longer feel comfortable going to the Festival at Sandpoint because someone might decide to un-alive the entire audience. Not to mention, the candidates promoting such a thing are seemingly
oblivious to the two looming economic consequences of such a possibility: the first being the huge decrease of income for local businesses, and secondly another court proceeding paid for by tax dollars to both prosecute and defend the challenge-for a second time.
The first one costs Bonner County taxpayers approximately $70,000 just in damages to the city of Sandpoint, not including the time and money of the attorneys and departments used to press those charges from Bonner County. The total sum is not transparent; however, being a resident of both the county and the city, I had the privilege of paying for both. Now, they want to try again.
Oh, and the third consequence might be if someone does commit such a heinous act, that there could be thousands of lawsuits against our city.
Being that our population is the perfect demographic for such a tragedy, such action does not seem too far-fetched.
I am heartbroken that my faith has been hijacked by Pharisees — that so many promote their allegiance to “God, Guns and Family,” which confounds me as to why not the Constitution?
I also don’t recall guns mentioned in scripture, the words used for weapons in Hebrew does not translate to guns, it translates to swords and sabers, and perhaps a cannon. It certainly doesn’t call for anything short of
forgiveness.
I am also confused whether the new Christian fundamentalists stand with Israel or are anti-semitic? From my understanding, Christ was Jew, and without his crucifixion there would be no salvation. You can’t have it both ways.
If you do stand with Israel, and claim to be a follower of Christ, how do you justify the genocide in Gaza? Or the expulsion of American citizens and foreigners? I imagine it’s the same way you justify taking away women’s health care, children’s education and our public lands: “because Jesus.” I believe Matthew 25 addresses that.
I was born and raised in church, and studied scripture at Whitworth. I know heresy and manipulation when I hear it. When someone cherry picks and jumps around trying to link their personal beliefs to Christ to justify their actions, I smell heterodoxy. Somehow masculinity got confused with anger and femininity with subservience, and the call to make disciples as a free pass to threaten people you don’t know or care about.
I used to attend church regularly here in town, but haven’t in years. I know that there are still good clergy out there that preach the Greatest Commandment, but I recently attended a community meeting within a local church, whose leader took to the pulpit for more than 30 minutes to espouse that only he — and his congregants — knew
Ribbon cutting scheduled for new Rotary welcome shelter at PSW Heartbroken in Sandpoint
By Reader Staff
The Kaniksu Land Trust and Rotary Club of Sandpoint celebrated the grand opening of the new Rotary
Welcome Shelter at Pine Street Woods with a ribbon cutting on May 14, featuring project highlights and community recognition.
The timber-framed structure, located at the main trailhead of Pine Street Woods, now stands as a centerpiece of the popular recreation and education site. According to KLT, the idea for the shelter came from Rotary, which approached the land trust with a desire to support a placemaking project that would benefit the community for generations to come.
The shelter was brought to life through a fundraising campaign led by Rotary. The club donated $15,000 in Presidential Project Award funds and received contributions from individual members.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Sandpoint Rotary for seeing the potential of this project and staying the course to
make it happen,” stated KLT Executive Director Katie Cox. “This shelter will welcome the more than 850 students who participate in our nature-based education programs each year, along with the 20,000-plus visitors who explore Pine Street Woods annually.”
The Rotary Welcome Shelter also
the truth, and again cherry picked and jumped around to make scripture for his purpose. I would like to take this opportunity to remind him, and others, to take time to revisit James 3, and then flip to Matthew 7:15-23
So, you see, I am heartbroken that what once was a peaceful, loving community has been poisoned, and that a loving God has been transformed into a hateful angry God — a far cry from the savior I knew, who attracted disciples by applying abundant grace and loving kindness to be a living example of how we ought to treat each other.
If you feel the only way to change someones opinion is a gun; if you are preoccupied with your neighbor’s genitalia; obsessed over their marriage; speak ill of those you don’t understand or agree with; want to remove food, shelter and health care; and destroy creation, you are but a “clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13).
I can tell you that if you know Christ in your heart, and have been changed by grace, that you know all these things are not what Jesus would do.
I’ve heard it said that, “You know when you’ve created God in your own image when he hates all the people you hate.”
I am heartbroken to watch Sandpoint lose what made it so special in the first place: kindness.
TJ Redden is a Sandpoint resident.
serves as a gateway to the expanding Syringa Trail Network, a system of multi-use trails made possible through partnerships with the Sandpoint Nordic Club and Pend Oreille Pedalers. Last year alone, the Nordic Club introduced 750 school children to cross-country skiing at Pine Street Woods, while POP continues to host youth mountain bike clinics on site.
“What began as a simple idea for a gathering place has become a central hub for community connection, outdoor education, and recreation,” Cox stated. “We couldn’t have predicted just how integral this shelter would become to the greater trail system and to the spirit of Pine Street Woods.”
For more info about Pine Street Woods or Kaniksu Land Trust, visit kaniksu.org. To learn more about the Rotary Club of Sandpoint, go to sandpointrotary.org.
Courtesy photo
KNPS program focuses on forest health and fire
By Reader Staff
The Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society will host a program Saturday, May 17 titled “Collaborative Approach to Restoring Forest Health and Fire Regimes,” presented by Lands Council Public Lands Program Director Adam Gebauer.
Attendees are invited to attend in-person at the East Bonner County Library main branch (1407 Cedar St., in Sandpoint), or via Zoom at 10 a.m. Coffee, tea and treats will be available starting at 9:30 a.m. The program is co-sponsored by Sandpoint Parks and Recreation, with support from the East Bonner County Library District, and is free and open to the public.
Gebauer holds a bachelor of science in wildlife management and a master’s in biology focusing on plant ecology. Prior to working with The Lands Council, he was a contract biologist for the Upper Columbia
United Tribes working on forestry and wildlife habitat projects.
The Lands Council has been active in forest conservation in the Inland Northwest for 40 years, advancing collaborative efforts to protect habitat and support rural economies
Those projects have increasingly led to focusing on wildfire — its ecological role in regional forests and impact on the human-built environment.
Gebauer will talk about how The Lands Council is endeavoring to increase the capacity and pace of prescribed fire on the landscape — particularly in the wildland-urban interface — collaborating with public land managers, tribes, private landowners and the.
View the program on Zoom by registering in advance at: https://bit. ly/TheLandsCouncil. For more info, contact Preston Andrews at KNPS. Tech@gmail.com.
Don’t get lost at Lost in the ’50s
Where to go and what to do over the weekend
By Reader Staff
Sandpoint is about to be abuzz with locals and tourists alike swarming downtown for the annual Lost in the ’50s celebrations Thursday, May 15-Saturday, May 17. See below for a breakdown of the week’s activities so you don’t get lost in the crowds.
Thursday, May 15
The trip back in time officially begins Thursday at 5 p.m. with a welcome party at Connie’s Lounge (323 Cedar St.) with celebrity guest Dennis Gage, host of the TV show My Classic Car. Gage will attend various events throughout the week, chatting, telling stories and lending his expertise to the car show.
Benny Baker of Sandpoint’s supergroup BTP will provide the tunes in the beer
garden, performing his trademark mix of classic rock hits.
The deadline to pre-register cars built on or before 1979 for the show is Thursday at noon. Sign up at lostinthe50s. com for $47.60 per entry.
Friday, May 16
The vintage car parade kicks off Day 2 at 4 p.m., beginning at Sandpoint High School (410 South Division Ave.). Participating drivers should start lining up at 4 p.m. — and not a minute earlier — to secure their spot in the parade. Joining the parade is free and doesn’t require pre-registration.
From SHS, the parade will travel north on Division to Cedar Street, east on Cedar to Florence Avenue, south on Florence to Church Street, east on Church to First Avenue, north on First to Cedar and west on Cedar to Fifth Avenue.
After the parade, head over to the intersections of Oak Street and Second and Third Avenue by Jeff Jones Town Square for an all-ages street dance with ’50s hits and Motown favorites.
Beginning at 6 p.m., the city will come alive with musical performances from new and old favorites. The tribute band Need for Creed will take the stage at Smokesmith BBQ (102 South Boyer) from 6-9 p.m., performing nostalgic ’90s rock and post-grunge that honors the source material.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the event’s main act Friday, The Modern Gentlemen, who will perform classic pop with opener Rocky and the Rollers at the Bonner County Fairgrounds (4203 North Boyer Road). For more on the 7:30 p.m. performance, see Page 21.
Finally, Sandpoint’s country-rock group Hogwire will host the Lost on County Roads Barn Dance at the Hive (207 North First Ave.) at 8:45 p.m. Tickets are $5 for the 21-and-older event, or arrive at 7:30 p.m. and take a
few line dancing lessons for an extra $10. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit livefromthehive.com.
Saturday, May 17
Get a close-up look at your favorite hot rods from the parade at the Lost in the ’50s car show Saturday in downtown Sandpoint. Participating vehicles should arrive and park between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., when the gates close.
That evening, choose between the decades and attend a
’50s concert at the Fairgrounds with Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits or the Lost in the ’80s Dance Party with Gigawatt at the Hive. Noone’s traditional pop show begins at 7:30 p.m. with opener Rocky and the Rollers. For more, see Page 21. Gigawatt’s 21-and-older concert will begin at 7 p.m., recreating the over-the-top sound of the ’80s by covering songs by Billy Idol, R.E.M., The Cars and more. Tickets are $5 at livefromthehive.com.
Art sale at Woods Wheatcroft’s Second Ave. studio gallery set for May 17
By Reader Staff
Longtime, well-known local photographer Woods Wheatcroft has shot pictures
for big corporate clients ranging from Patagonia to Kavu and Kleen Kanteen, while his work has regularly featured in publications ranging from Out-
side Magazine to Sandpoint Magazine and the Reader. He was the poster artist for the 2022 Festival at Sandpoint concert series and has hosted dozens of art shows and gatherings — including at his studio gallery at 104 S. Second Ave., which he opened in 2021.
The time has come for “shifting space,” as Wheatcroft put it, and he’s hosting an art sale Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the studio, featuring photo prints, original artwork, collage work and metal prints.
For more info on Wheatcroft’s work, go to woodswheatcroft.com.
Sandpoint during a past Lost in the ’50s weekend. Photo by Ben Olson.
COMMUNITY Erin Plue selected as Trout Unlimited’s Idaho director
By Reader Staff
Erin Plue has been chosen to lead Trout Unlimited’s Idaho program. Since 2020, Plue has led the organization’s watershed restoration work in North Idaho, including the Coeur d’Alene, Pend Oreille and Kootenai River basins.
“Building from a foundation in ecology, she brings diverse skills and experience including policy advocacy, project management and community-building to her new statewide leadership role,” the organization stated in a news release.
Prior to joining TU, Plue managed communications and partnerships for Idaho Forest Group, one of the largest wood products producers in the U.S, giving her experience in forest management strategies that support watershed health, conserve fisheries and reduce wildfire risk.
“One of Erin’s great strengths is her proven ability and commitment to approaching TU’s steelhead, salmon and trout conservation mission from
a community perspective,” stated Rob Masonis, TU’s vice president for the Pacific region. “She has worked extensively with community leaders representing diverse interests to build support for clean water and healthy watersheds, which are essential to thriving fish populations and Idaho communities.”
Plue replaces Kira Finkler, who recently retired after a distinguished conservation career.
“In my experience, effective conservation leaders have a comprehensive vision of natural resource use and management,” Plue stated. “They understand how to find common ground with a wide array of partners, including business and industry.
“I understand that healthy watersheds and economic vitality are both important to community well-being,” she added. “That perspective guides my work with our talented TU staff and volunteers to ensure that Idaho’s irreplaceable steelhead, salmon and trout are here for future generations.”
As Idaho director, Plue is part of Trout Unlimited’s Pacific Region
leadership team, which includes state programs in Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington.
Fire Prevention Co-op reminder: Permits required for burning yard waste
By Reader Staff
The Bonner County Fire Prevention Co-op is reminding residents that while the weather may still be rainy, fire season has begun and permits are required to burn yard waste.
Those wishing to burn are asked to contact their local fire department or district — or the Idaho Depart -
ment of Lands — to obtain a permit, which is free outside most area city limits and available online at burnpermits.idaho.gov.
For those who live within city limits and plan to burn, a permit from your local fire department may be required.
Visit the Sandpoint Fire Department website at sandpointidaho.gov/ fire/page/permits for more info. For
the Northside Fire District, go to northsidefire.org, or Selkirk Fire — which includes the Sagle and Westside districts — at selkirkfire.us. Contact the West Pend Oreille Fire District in Priest River at westpendoreillefire.org.
“It’s a courtesy and a help to your neighbors and firefighters,” Fire Prevention Co-op officials stated. “Smokey Bear approves this message.”
Lasagna dinner fundraiser to benefit Sandpoint Teen Center
By Reader Staff
The Sandpoint Teen Center will host a lasagna dinner fundraiser Wednesday, May 21, with teens preparing and serving the meal of lasagna, salad and dessert for their families and community members.
The dinner will take place 5:30-7 p.m., and is meant to serve as an educational activity for teens to practice cooking and learn kitchen and serving skills, while also raising money to buy food for healthy after-school snacks and hot meals at the center. The suggested donation is $20 per person,
while kids eat free.
In addition to food, the Healthy Teens After School program provides activities, homework help, community service and more, open to all Bonner County teens every day after school. The center is partnering with the Eat Together Idaho campaign for the May 21 dinner, which seeks to promote families eating daily meals with their kids, which studies show reduces substance use, supports better academic outcomes and improves confidence.
The lasagna dinner fundraiser will also feature a silent auction featuring items donated by area businesses,
including Lake Pend Oreille Cruises, Silverwood Theme Park, Elks Golf, gift cards from local restaurants, shopping vendors and more.
Reserve a seat to attend the fundraiser at sandpointteencenter@yahoo.com.
The center currently serves between 95 and 150 teens at its locations in the First Lutheran Church (526 Olive Ave.) and Portable No. 5 behind Sandpoint Middle School (310 S. Division Ave.).
To support the center directly, donate at sandpointteencenter.com or mail checks to Sandpoint Teen Center, P.O. Box 1066 Sandpoint, ID 83864.
Erin Plue.
Courtesy photo
Panida hosts two car-themed screenings for Lost in the ’50s
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Sandpoint’s car-centered civic holiday Lost in the ’50s will take over downtown from Thursday, May 15-Saturday, May 17, and the Panida Theater is also getting in on the action with screenings of Two-Lane Blacktop and Cars.
The former is a cult classic 1971 road action flick starring Dennis Wilson and James Taylor as “the mechanic” and “the driver,” respectively, who blaze across the American Southwest in their souped up ’55 Chevy 150 twodoor sedan challenging any and all comers to white-knuckle drag races.
Things get exciting when Wilson’s and Taylor’s characters pick up a young woman (Laurie Bird) while heading aimlessly east from California, sparking a jealous love triangle. Meanwhile, a hell-for-leather GTO driver (Warren Oates) accepts the challenge of a cross-country race to New York with their cars as the ultimate prize.
Though Two-Lane Blacktop was a hit with many critics, it didn’t make much money; however, in the following decades, the film earned a cult following and has been reassessed by movie aficionados as an important entry in the “New Hollywood” movement, with an entry in the National Film Registry for its cultural, historic and aesthetic significance.
The Panida will screen Two-Lane Blacktop on Friday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5, available at panida. org or the box office (300 N. First Ave.).
The next day, on Saturday, May 17, the Panida will bring the 2006 animated film Cars to the big screen at 1 p.m., also for $5 available online and at the door, which opens 30 minutes before both film showings.
Thanks to the Pixar Cars franchise, it’s hard to imagine a time when the idea of anthropomorphic vehicles was a novelty.
Since the original film came out in 2006, the wheeled residents of Radiator Springs have featured in a total of three standalone features, six short films and series, 10 video games and have an entire section devoted to them in the Disney California Adventure theme park. (None of that is to mention the various spin-offs and shorts stemming from Planes.)
For those unfamiliar with the Cars premise, the story follows a hotshot race car named Lightning McQueen whose self-centered, over-ambitious attitude is challenged after getting waylaid in sleepy Radiator Springs on his way to a big race.
BGH presents The (M) Factor documentary on unspoken effects of menopause
By Reader Staff
It’s estimated that as many as 2.2 million women in the U.S. enter menopause each year — roughly 6,000 per day, according to many sources — yet the stresses of those changes often go unaddressed.
Documentary director Coby Atlas and executive producers Tamsen Fadal, Denise Pines and Joanne LaMarca Mathisen refer to that as “a silent epidemic” that results in “billions of dollars in lost wages, upended careers, family disruptions and emotional chaos.” Talking about the neglected crisis is the focus of The (M) Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause, which will screen Thursday, May 15 at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).
Doors will open 30 minutes be-
fore the free 6 p.m. showing, which will also include a question-and-answer portion with local nurse Nichole Grimm, FNP, who specializes in family medicine, including pediatrics, adolescent health and women’s health.
Presented by Bonner General Health, the first-of-its-kind documentary is intended to shine a light on the often marginalized challenges faced by women as they navigate menopause, meanwhile exploring gaps in medical education, disparities in treatment, and the overall effects on women’s mental and physical health.
“This film is about empowering every woman to take control of her health and advocate for change,” according to Tamsen Fadal on her website, tamsenfadal.com.
Go to panida.org to reserve a seat at the screening.
With an all-star cast of voice actors including the likes of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, George Carlin, Michael Keaton, Katherine Helmond, John Ratzenberger, Jay Leno and no less than Mario Andretti, Cars is a tale of unexpected friendship and how slowing down can also lead to big wins.
A still from Cars. Courtesy photo
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com
Lost in the ’50s Welcome Party
5pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Join celebrity guest Dennis Gage and Benny Baker (BTP) live in the beer garden
Live Music w/ The Double Shot Band
6-9pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ James Burkey
5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ BTP
6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Mobius Riff
5:30-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ Miah Kohal Band
9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge
Live Music w/ Kenny James Miller Band
11:30am-3:30pm @ 219 Lounge
Live Music w/ Glizzi 8-11pm @ 219 Lounge
Live Music w/ Amber Mae
6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Justin Harris & The Pocket Aces
4:30-7:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
$5 movie: Cars 8pm @ Panida Theater
A Taste of Music
5-10pm @ The Idaho Club
Live Music w/ The Cole Show
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Jazz w/ Bright Moments
6-8pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante (outside)
Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee
Magic with Star Alexander
5-8pm @ Jalapeño’s
THURSDAY, may 15
Lost in the ’50s weekend kicks off! Car show, parade and concerts. Get more info: sandpoint.org/lostin50s/
FriDAY, may 16
Live Music w/ Hogwire
8:45pm @ The Hive
Open early at 5pm for the parade ($5); line dancing lessons at 7:30pm, show at 8:45pm; country/rock ($10)
Live Music w/ Need for Creed 6-9pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
Creed songs played live on the lawn
$5 movie: Two Lane Blacktop 8pm @ Panida Theater
SATURDAY, may 17
Live Music w/ Picked up Pieces
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Brittany Jean in concert
6pm @ Create Arts Center (Newport, WA) Folk singer, songwriter. $12/$15
Live Music w/ Gigawatt
7pm @ The Hive
A “Lost in the ’80s” dance party
Live Music w/ The Double Shot Band 1-4pm @ Connie’s Lounge
KNPS program: “Restoring Forest Health”
10am @ Sandpoint Library “Collaborative Approach to Restoring Forest Health and Fire Regimes”
Live Music w/ Brenden McCoy
5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33
Hope School Spring Fling Fundraiser
May 15 - 22, 2025
Open Mic w/ Kjetil Lund 5-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ BTP
5-8pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Lost in the ’50s: Vintage Car Parade
6pm @ Downtown Sandpoint
Cars start lining up at 4pm at SHS. All cars are 1979 or older
Lost in the ’50s: Street Dance
After parade @ Jeff Jones Town Square
A street dance for all ages
Lost in the ’50s: Rocky & the Rollers & The Modern Gentlemen
7:30pm @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds
Live Jazz w/ Bright Moments
6-8pm @ Baxter’s on Cedar
Lost in the ’50s: Vintage Car Show
6:30am @ Downtown Sandpoint
Vintage cars lined up along downtown Sandpoint until the afternoon
Lost in the ’50s: Rocky & the Rollers & Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits
7:30pm @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds
Doors open at 6:30pm for this show
Woods Wheatcroft art sale
10am-5pm @ Woods Wheatcroft Studio
Original photo prints and artwork, collage work, metal work and more
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park
Fresh produce, artisan goods, live music by Oak Street Connection
8am-1pm @ Hope Elementary (255 Hope School Rd.)
Yard sale, plant sale, BBQ lunch and bike rodeo with proceeds benefiting programs to enrich student learning. Rain or shine! 208-255-7232
SunDAY, may 18
Live Music w/ Fiddlin’ Red
1-4pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Celtic Folk Jam 3-6pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi
7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Pool tournament ($10 entry)
6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live piano w/ Carson Rhodes
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market
3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park
Music by Comin’ Home, the Band
Live Music w/ Cafe Gas Boys 5pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Open Mic w/ Kjetil Lund
5-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Bike Rodeo Ponderay
12-2pm @ McNearney Park (Ponderay)
Bring your bike or scooter and helmet. Bike safety checks, minor repairs, learn about safety and practice skills
monDAY, may 19
Outdoor Experience Group Run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome
Trivia Night
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
tuesDAY, may 20
Little Live Radio Hour: Sydney Dawn
7pm @ Panida Little Theater
A live, intimate performance. Show up before 7pm to get settled before airtime
wednesDAY, may 21
Live piano w/ Bob Beadling
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ John Firshi
5-7pm @ Matchwood Brewing
ThursDAY, may 22
Sandpoint Tennis Assoc. annual meeting 5-7pm @ James E. Russell Center
Take part in court drills and activities, learn about STA membership and meet tennis community
Fire District Town Hall 5-7pm @ Sandpoint Library
Discuss upcoming levies, fire district operations and ask questions
Sandpoint Strikers FC tryouts: Girls 4-6:30pm @ Field of Dreams, Ponderay Find specific times by age at sandpointsoccer.com
Sandpoint Strikers FC tryouts: Boys 4-6:30pm @ Field of Dreams, Ponderay Find specific times by age at sandpointsoccer.com
Paint & Sip ($45 includes materials) 5:30-8pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Little Eagle
5:30-8pm @ Matchwood Brewing
Andor concludes with a pitch-perfect Star Wars story
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Of all the Star Wars properties outside the three big trilogies, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) has always stood out as particularly superb. In my personal ranking, it’s up there with The Empire Strikes Back for best of the best and, to be honest, I revisit the former more than the latter on a regular basis.
Somehow that was a controversial opinion nine years ago; but, based on the overwhelming praise for Andor — which just concluded its two-season series finale May 13 — audiences would rather inhabit the grittier, un-Forceified timeline leading up to the events of A New Hope than, say, ruminating on whatever Boba Fett, Ahsoka Tano or those annoying kids from Skeleton Crew were getting up to after Return of the Jedi
Ostensibly centered on the initially reluctant rebel Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), the titular series covers the events immediately preceding Rogue One, which itself is about what transpired right before 1977’s A New Hope, when the plans for the Galactic Empire’s Death Star made their way into the hands of the Rebel Alliance. The final season covers just the four years prior to when Luke Skywalker destroyed the first Death Star, and its concluding episode is set only days before the opening of Rogue One
So Andor is a 24-episode prequel of a prequel, and those familiar with the tangled matrix of Star Wars media know how hard that is to pull off with any success.
Yet Andor is so shocking in its overall quality that critics and viewers alike are left stumbling over their rush of accolades and apologizing for being hyperbolic in their hossanas. I say there’s no need to apologize, and Andor deserves every decibel of applause it’s receiving.
At the risk of repeating my 2022 review of Season 1, Andor shines because it looks elsewhere for its heroes and villains — away from the Jedis and Siths and their binary fixation on the mystical, and toward the commonplace and real.
The “good guys” in Andor make morally reprehensible decisions in the
service of a greater goal that tear at their souls, put them at cross purposes with one another and involve sacrifices that damage, rather than glorify them.
The “bad guys” are likewise complicated — rather than faceless space fascists, they are revealed to be regular humans with personal ambitions, sincerely held beliefs, and families, friends and romantic relationships, though all twisted by the totalitarian system they serve. But what are they to do? Very few people are cut out to be rebels, and those who abet evil masters most often think they’re doing good.
There is struggle at the heart of every Star Wars story — they’re about “wars,” after all — but when the chief pro- and antagonists boast near-godlike powers, those struggles build to what feel like foregone conclusions. Not so in Andor, where every character in every episode makes moves that are far from guaranteed to bring success.
No one can rely on a magical savior or wise old master to guide them or win the day with the blaze of a lightsaber. People suffer and die on both sides, and not just in the comic body flops of hapless stormtroopers, but with tears in their eyes and wondering if it was all really worth it in the end.
But, as they say, “rebellions are built on hope,” and a big part of the resonance at the core of Andor is how important that message is today, with real-life forces of resistance to, com-
plicity with and complacency in the face of authoritarianism both at home and abroad.
The stellar cast communicates all these nuances with award-worthy depth. There’s Denise Gough as the career-driven Imperial security officer Dedra Meero; Kyle Soller as the brow-beaten striver whose nebbishness puts him on the wrong side of galactic history without him even really knowing why; Genevieve O’Reilly as Sen. Mon Mothma, who sacrifices her life of wealth and power to secretly aid in destroying the government she’s served for most of her life in order to save it; and Stellan Skarsgård and Elizabeth Dulau as the shadowy figures who light the spark of the rebellion.
Other noteworthy performances are given by Ben Mendelsohn and Forest Whitaker, who reprise their respective Rogue One roles as the ruthless military director overseeing the construction of the Death Star and the extremist, schismatic rebel leader at odds with everyone. Both chew up every scene they’re in.
There isn’t a wasted performance among any of the primary, secondary or even tertiary actors, and I can’t think of a narrative beat flubbed by creator/writer/showrunner Tony Gilroy in any of the show’s pitch-perfect episodes. My vote is to give him all the Star Wars stories from now on.
If that sounds hyperbolic, I’m not saying sorry. See it for yourself, with all episodes streaming on Disney+.
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor Season 2. Courtesy photo.
By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist
A few months back, while I was doing some research on Meyer lemons, I found several stories about Frank Meyer. I was intrigued and had to learn more. After some additional research, I found the most captivating book, The Food Explorer, by Daniel Stone. Not only did I learn more about Frank Meyer, but I learned of his boss, a young globetrotting adventurer and botanist named David Fairchild. Though I had previously given credit to Meyer as the first plant hunter/explorer to look for useful flora, it was his boss, Fairchild, who rightfully earned that honor.
Stone’s captivating read brings Fairchild’s daring and daunting explorations to life. Part science and history, part culinary portrait and travelogue, the book is well-researched and filled with page-turning adventures and super interesting facts.
Fairchild’s explorations were partially funded by the U.S. Office and Plant and Seed Introduction (the creation of which he led in 1898). Other monies came from a wealthy and curious trust funder, Barbour Lathrop, who funded and accompanied Fairchild on fruit and scouting expeditions worldwide.
Their first journey lasted more than two years. While Lathrop had called on exotic ports in the past, it was all new to Fairchild, whose bold mission was to seek out useful plants that he could introduce to the U.S. Once they learned of an interesting plant from a local, they sought out
The Sandpoint Eater Read all about it
the location, sampled it, took meticulous cuttings (often secured in a potato) and took copious notes before shipping the specimens back home.
Stories of their adventures have me spellbound.
More than once, Lathrop and Fairbanks met with nearly fatal maladies: yellow fever for Lathrop and typhoid for the much younger Fairchild. Besides illness, they faced other harrowing experiences. When crossing the Andes Mountains from Santiago to Buenos Aires, Fairchild’s donkey slipped on the ice and barely avoided falling off the narrow trail straight down 1,000 feet of elevation. With David clinging precariously to the animal, the donkey regained his footing moments before sliding off the trail. When they reached
Buenos Aires, Lathrop insisted they continue to Rio de Janeiro by boat.
In the South Pacific, they were met by fierce-looking locals — purportedly cannibals — who stood ready with arrows ready to fire. Once, in Italy, Fairbanks was arrested for alleged espionage, and admitted more than once that he was guilty of pilfering much sought-after plants all around the world.
Aside from the travails of their travels, this unlikely pair was responsible for introducing some of the most prolific fruits and vegetables we serve on our modern tables. Besides the edible bounties, we can count the cherry tree that magnificently blossoms annually in Washington, D.C., among the living treasures of his efforts.
Once Fairchild took a bride (Alexander Graham Bell’s daughter, Marian), his traveling days waned, and up stepped another curious plant lover, Frank Meyer, to further the quest of identifying new edible plants for U.S. farms and orchards.
Like Fairchild, Holland native Meyer had his share of frightening incidents in the field. However, as a consummate agricultural explorer, he continued his plant-finding expedition until bad health caused him to leave China. Sadly, Meyer lost his life in the waters of the Yangtze River on his journey back home. The Frank N. Meyer Medal for Plant Genetic Resources was created in his honor and is bestowed to a worthy recipient annually.
Crispy meringue nests
Talk about a farm-to-table fable. It’s a delicious and satisfying read and leaves one grateful for their fruitful efforts. Pop a plump, seedless red grape, chop up a juicy mango for a refreshing salsa, or macerate an entire thin-skinned Meyer lemon for Sunshine Pie and thank those brave individuals who risked life to bring these edible beauties to us.
Good fruit doesn’t demand a lot of special attention. A favorite, quick and lovely dessert is two or three in-season fruits served in a simple, crispy meringue cup. Dress it up or down with additions like lemon curd, ice cream, whipped cream or tea cookies. Enjoy with a steaming cup of tea or a chilled pinot grigio — and a copy of The Food Explorer
Unlike a similar dessert known as Pavlova, this simple dessert takes little time to prepare and assemble, and it’s a great way to enjoy fresh summer berries. Bake nests on a dry day. Filling options are only limited by your palate and imagination. Makes 4 desserts.
INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:
Meringues:
• 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
• ½ cup superfine sugar
Toppings:
• 1 cup freshly whipped cream
• 1 cup fresh berries or 1 cup poached rhubarb
• Or ¾ cup chocolate sauce (ganache)
• Toasted coconut
Separate the egg yolks and whites. Save the egg yolks for another use. Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer or use a bowl and hand-held electric beaters. Beat on low speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, just a tablespoon at a time, increasing the speed of the beaters. Beat constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved, the whites are thick and glossy, and the meringue holds stiff peaks. Taste a bit on a spoon — if any sugar granules are present, continue beating until dissolved.
Preheat oven to 240 F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. With a large spoon, make four mounds of meringue on the lined baking sheet. Dampen the back of a clean large spoon and make a well into each mound to form a nest.
Bake for 45 minutes or until they feel crisp, then turn off the oven. Leave the meringues to cool in the oven. They should stay white, but could brown a bit depending on your oven. The nests are ready to fill, or store in an airtight container for up to two days. Whip the cream until the cream has firm peaks. Spoon some cream (or chocolate) into each meringue case. Decorate with the berries or other fruit. Serve immediately.
MUSIC
The Modern Gentlemen and Peter Noone headline at Lost in the ’50s
By Reader Staff
Sandpoint will travel back in time once again for the annual Lost in the ’50s weekend, complete with a lineup of concerts fit for tapping your saddle shoes and twirling your poodle skirts. The Modern Gentlemen and Peter Noone will perform Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, respectively, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Bonner County Fairgrounds (4203 North Boyer Road, in Sandpoint).
Formerly of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons — one of the best-selling music groups of all time — Brian and Brandon Brigham, Todd Fournier and Landon Beard came together to form the traditional pop group The Modern Gentlemen in 2018. The quartet performs updated versions of classic hits by bands like The Beatles, Queen and the Bee Gees, as well as pieces from the Great American Songbook.
Over the course of their careers, the musicians have shared the stage with the likes of The Beach Boys and Lionel Richie and have even
performed for U.S. presidents. The Modern Gentlemen’s three full-length albums, The Modern Gentlemen: Volume 1, You Make it Feel Like Christmas and Happiest Days, incorporate original songs alongside familiar classics and showcase the band’s stellar harmonies, which make its performances such a standout.
Listen at themoderngentlemen.net.
Peter Noone — a.k.a. “Herman” of Herman’s Hermits — will close out the weekend, revisiting his 14 gold singles and seven gold albums. Known for the classics “I’m Into Something Good” and
Justin Harris and the Pocket Aces, Smokesmith BBQ, May 17
Many bands lay claim to the “rockabilly” genre by playing a passable combination of classic country and rock ’n’ roll, but few actually deserve the descriptor. Justin Harris and the Pocket Aces are one of the few groups to do the genre justice, plucking out hits by Creedence Clearwater Revival and Johnny Cash with a barefoot, backyard sound that makes performanc-
This week’s RLW by Soncirey Mitchell
“I’m Henry VIII, I Am,” among others, Noone has sold more than 60 million records throughout his 62-year career.
Noone puts his years of experience into his charismatic performances, drawing from his childhood on the soap opera Coronation Street and his numerous film, TV and stage roles.
For more information, visit peternoone.com.
The Lost in the ’50s’ favorite openers, Rocky and the Rollers, will perform both days as well. The large ensemble — made up of brass,
strings, drums, keyboards and vocals — has shared the stage with names like Chuck Berry, The Shirelles and Jerry Lee Lewis. The group has more than 40 years of experience playing off one another around the world and specialize in doo-wop and rock ’n’ roll from the 1950s through the ’70s.
Learn more at rockyandtherollers.com.
Tickets are $55 for The Modern Gentlemen and $60 for Peter Noone at bit.ly/LostInThe50s.
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
es all the more authentic. Frontman Harris has a deep, smooth voice that sounds like a combination of Cash and Elvis, meaning he could read a grocery list on stage and it would still make for quality entertainment.
— Soncirey Mitchell 4:30-7:30 p.m., FREE. Smokesmith BBQ, 102 South Boyer, 208-920-0517, smokesmithidaho. com. Listen on Justin Harris’ Facebook page.
Sydney Dawn and guests, Panida Little Theater, May 20
KRFY 88.5 FM hosts its Little Live Radio Hour, broadcast live on air from the Panida Little Theater every third Tuesday of the month, and this time is Sydney Dawn’s turn at the mic.
The singer-songwriter brings her crystalline vocals and gentle guitar work to gigs throughout the region — from Bonners Ferry to Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene — where she performs a mix of covers and originals.
Dawn and her yet-to-be-announced guests will appear on stage and be broadcast live at 88.5 FM, with in-person attendance free of charge. Live audience members are asked to arrive by 6:45 p.m. for the onehour show.
— Zach Hagadone
Doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m.; FREE. Little Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., 208-263-9191. Listen at 88.5 FM or stream at krfy.org.
READ LISTEN
Anyone who wants to further their education but doesn’t have endless free time should check out Oxford University Press’ series Very Short Introductions, which covers a range of topics from capitalism to Voltaire. I’ve been hooked on these 200-page synopses since reading The Vikings in college, and recently picked up a few new editions, including the ever-entertaining Witches. They’re a perfect jumping-off point to learn new topics and win trivia games. Find many editions at the Sandpoint library.
Up-and-com-
ing indie artist Gigi Perez just released her debut album, At The Beach, In Every Life, to the delight of everyone craving more of her moody, love-sick songs. Her raspy voice has a traditionally masculine sound that plays with expectations as she sings about sexuality and religion. Her poetic lyrics are the star of the show, combining the right amount of metaphor with rich feelings of loss and devotion. Listen on Spotify.
WATCH
Despite being more than 35 years old, The Celluloid Closet remains one of the best, most interesting documentaries on gender, sexuality and the queer experience. Narrated by Lily Tomlin, the documentary splices together interviews with clips from queer cinema going back to the 1930s, exploring the evolution of the portrayal of LGBTQIA+ characters’ and the queer actors who shaped Hollywood and bringing to light a largely suppressed side of history. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Left: (from left to right) Brian Brigham, Todd Fournier, Landon Beard and Brandon Brigham of The Modern Gentlemen. Right: Peter Noone. Courtesy photos
From Northern Idaho News, May 14, 1943
YOUTHS CONTINUE TO DEAL HAVOC
Contending that the job of bringing under control the juvenile delinquents of Sandpoint rests with the court as well as law enforcement officers. Former Police Chief Roland Parker yesterday told a News reporter that “a gang of five,” most of whom spend little time in school, did create a problem for himself and his police force.
Mr. Parker’s statement came in response to an article in a previous issue of the News which pointed to destruction of property, thefts and other crimes believed committed by juveniles.
“Some of these boys have been hauled into court and charged with serious offenses, but so far few convictions have resulted,” the former police chief said.
“These youngsters who spend their time planning devilry are to be brought under control. It is up to everybody to lend a hand in the case. My police force spent a good portion of its time watching the activities of these some five boys who spend their nights on the streets. It seems now that their work has not stopped, even with a new police force.
“As I see it, a juvenile officer who has ample authority, is the answer to solving the problem ... providing, however, the taxpayers will stand for the increased cost of law enforcement. Until something like this is done, there will always be the job of trying to steer these youngsters on the straight path,” Parker added.
BACK OF THE BOOK
The flag flap is stupid
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
According to most sources, the first flag — as we would recognize it today — was hoisted somewhere in either what we call the Indian Subcontinent or China as early as the first millennium BCE. Historians debate, but it appears that the Zhou dynasty of present-day China sported a white flag carried before its founder, which was meant to identify his personal authority and carried with it the explicit demand to be treated with likewise respect.
In other words, a flag is a symbol of power and authority over others and a signifier to its viewers that they should show proper obeisance. It’s an icon to be venerated. A construct of authority whose positive acknowledgement denotes submission, or rejection represents defiance.
That’s one reading of what flags mean — they can also be affirmations of and invitations to solidarity with a cause or collective identity, and an expression of pride of independence. In that context, to fly your flag is to assert your allegiance with whatever idea it stands for, and is therefore an exercise in freedom.
Which leads me to my premise: The pissing match between cities and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office over what flags can or should be flown in various places is being conducted in bad faith. Those who are most offended by the idea of a Pride flag flying at the city halls of places like Boise or Salt Lake City — or a Canadian flag in Bonners Ferry — purport to be the stewards of a tradition of libertarian individualism, but shrivel in horror when anyone actually telegraphs their individuality.
Their obsession with the totalizing power of their own symbolism over the
symbolism of whomever they consider “others” makes them, well, totalitarians. Piled onto that, the other profound irony is that most of these flag warriors hail from a Protestant Christian religious tradition, which famously despises iconography of any kind. The “protest” in Protestantism was against displays and actions that elevated the profane (a.k.a., human and worldly) above the sacred (a.k.a., ineffable truth accepted on faith). Yet they’re the most avid displayers of flags of all stripes, stars, bars and snakes-not-to-be-trod-upon.
If they were honest, our culture war inquisitors would call that heresy; but, seeking ideological consistency among the contemporary flag suckers is a fool’s errand. They seem allergic to honesty on every level, anyway. They view flags as cudgels of dominance, and despise them as symbols of inclusion, which is the place from which Idaho’s moronic flag ban law comes.
Heather Scott (who sponsored the flag bill) grins over a Confederate Battle Flag — a racist, serial-rapists’, oligarchic traitors’ rag — and it’s OK. It’s “heritage,” or whatever, or some addlepated nod to being a “rebel.”
Khaki-slack-clad incels armed with tiki torches and Nazi swastika banners march around chanting, “The Jews will not replace us” and they are “good people.” Right.
Your lame neighbor pins up a Gadsden Flag almost as big as their shitbox house, conveying that no one should tread on them, while submitting to a constellation of cynical ideologies that demand unthinking acquiescence to a corrupt ideology that actually treads on them.
The techno-plutocratic conservative swamp rulers are laughing up their sleeves all the way to the taxfree bank as the nation’s schools,
roads, hospitals and every other public good that even the most trenchant Know Nothings demand for their convenience is stripped away.
But they’ll “own the libs” with their bully-boy flag game in the meantime — until those China tariffs kick in and all those polyester shrouds in which they wrap their stupidity cost at least 120% more, because that’s where their pathetic mental externalizations come from: sweat shops in commie-world, which is the perfect, paradoxical expression of laissez-faire capitalism.
My theory is that the degree to which a person is obsessed with displaying their lazy allegiance to some idea or person through the petarding of their flattened ideology is directly proportional to how idiotic they are.
Symbols are, by nature, powerful; and, as Stan Lee has taught us, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Flags are the most visceral representations we have of community, and community is power, and the flag flap really pits small government against big government, with the battle lines drawn — again paradoxically — with progressives on the side of local control vs. the fanatic right-wingers on the side of centralized, state power. What a world! It’s above my pay grade, interest or inclination to tell people which flags to fly. But I’m not buying the supposed de-politicizing nature of this law, nor the argument that it’s some constitutionally brave rebalancing of power between state and local government.
The mere fact that there’s any implicit question about whether a Pride or swastika flag is more appropriate on public property goes to show how reductive and fatuous our politics have become.
