Reader December 14 2017

READER December 14, 2017 |

FREE | Vol. 14 Issue 50

From Ruby Ridge To Redoubt: A brief history of anti-government feelings in North Idaho Reclaim idaho launches ballot initiative this weekend in sandpoint remembering george andres

Unveiling this weekend!

the changing faces of sandpoint’s eats and drinks: Pend d’Oreille winery changes owners and fat pig restaurant opens for business unpacking the Bonner County natural resource plan

Bill collier releases second book: “CIA super pilot spills the beans”

Pain is Inevitable Suering is Optional

Showroom 315 S. Ella Ave.

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Pain doesn't need to become chronic

R o l f i n g | align.org call 208.265.8440

Holiday Gifts!

(wo)MAN compiled by

Susan Drinkard

on the street

If you could give anyone anything for Christmas, what would it be and why?

“I’d spread a couple billion dollars all over this town because there are so many kind hearts here — especially to the people who run the SPOT buses and the library. They both have helped me out so much.”

Thomas Disabled American Sandpoint

“I would give my grandma one diamond because I really love her. She’s one of the most beloved people in my family.”

Julien Age 6 Careywood

DEAR READERS,

It’s another beautiful week in North Idaho, and we’re happy to offer another installment on the American Redoubt series. This week we focus on the impact that events such as Ruby Ridge and the siege at Waco had on the body politic of America. Next week, we’ll take a closer look at the politics of North Idaho and the Redoubt movement specifically.

Christmas is approaching, so don’t forget to head downtown to our awesome retailers for your gift shopping. I always like to remind people this time of year that money spent downtown with our small businesses stays in the community and directly aids our neighbors. When you buy your gifts solely at big box stores, or online, who knows where your dollars end up? If only one of your items is purchased at a local business, that’s better than nothing.

Speaking of good will and amazing neighbors, I was completely taken by surprise on deadline night by a group of friends and loved ones and one amazing bicycle. Apparently, a coalition of sneaky bastards decided to pitch in some money and buy me an AMAZING new delivery bicycle. Seriously, this thing is like the Cadillac of bicycles. Anyone who has seen my 1950s Schwinn understands that this is like going from driving a VW Beetle to a Range Rover. It has gears, four baskets, running boards, and brakes that actually work. My old bike was like trying to pedal through frozen molasses. This one feels like I’m flying my own airplane.

Seriously, thank you to all who chipped in to make this happen: Cadie, Vicki, Samantha, Doug at Eichardt’s, Justine, Sandy Deutchman, Mike at Image Maker, Brooke and Andrew at Azalea’s, Idaho Pour Authority, Lyndsie, Cameron, Jim Ahearn, Charles Mortensen (who sold the bike at an amazing discount), Dan Shook (who included a half-rack of Pabst Blue Ribbon) and Nicole Black (who I suspect helped organize the whole thing). What an amazing gesture and such a perfect gift for a fledgling paperboy in his mid-30s.

I appreciate you all, dear readers. Happy holidays.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

“I don’t do Christmas, but if I was going to give someone something, I would give a Bible because it is filled with truths and wisdom for many matters in life.”

Lazarus Gibbons Concrete work Elmira

“I would give my specialneeds daughter the ability to walk.”

Attea Voigt Administrative assistant Aging Better In-Home Care Sandpoint

OPEN 11:30 am

LIVE MUSIC Third Fridays w/

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Imaty Lovely “5 and one-half.”

“I live in Idaho.”

Bonners Ferry

The Psounbality with Per

BROWN SALMON TRUCK 6:30-9:30pm

“Maybe give my friends and cousins a project to do... like painting.”

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BREWERY & BEER HALL 220 Cedar St. 209-6700 FAMILY FRIENDLY BREWPUB 312 First Ave.

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208.263.4005 A SandPint Tradition Since 1994

READER 111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Clay Hutchison (cover), Ben Olson, Susan Drinkard, USFS, Lyndsie Kiebert, SPLC. Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Nick Gier, Mayor Shelby Rognstad, Scarlette Quille, Brenden Bobby, Ammi Midstokke, Drake the Dog. Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

Subscription Price: $95 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, 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 massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.

Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics.

Requirements: –No more than 400 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion.

Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers.

Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook.

About the Cover

This week’s cover features a photo of one of the Carousel of Smiles horses before restoration, taken by Clay Hutchison. Check out our story on the unveiling on page 6.

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COMMENTARY

Not so fast with claims about Trump’s achievements:

It will take some time to exceed Obama’s

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist

Moscow conservative Bill Tozer has recently sung the praises of the Trump presidency.

It is always questionable for any president to make any claims solely for himself, but for the sake of argument let’s just say that Obama is responsible for his eight years just as Trump is for his 11 months.

Tozer offers the “soaring” stock market as his first brief, but under Obama the S& P 500 increased by 182 percent; the Dow Jones more than doubled its value; and the tech-heavy Nasdaq went up 250 percent. It is doubtful, especially since many experts believe that stocks are now overvalued, that Trump will ever best Obama’s record.

Tozer notes that “unemployment is at its lowest rate in 17 years,” which is now at 4.1 percent. But Obama brought it down from a high of 10 percent at the

Letters to the Editor Bored with Rock...?

Dear Editor, I often say, “Jazz is not for the musically challenged.” I will add that it is only for those who want a challenge.

The most complex forms of jazz are extremely hard and require serious effort.

Routinely jazz goes where all other music does not dare, and it has had the greatest impact on all other musical genres than all the others put together.

Since 2010 I have attended four Portland Jazz Festivals. I have been encouraged by the fact that with each successive festival I’ve attended, there have been more and more young people in attendance. What I have been hearing is many young people have finally gotten bored with rock/ pop music and have taken to listening to jazz as it challenges them like rock/pop cannot.

The commitment that is required of jazz’s musicians and fans is way beyond what all other musical genres demand. Serious jazz from the likes of John Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler, Sunny Murray and Sun Ra is very difficult. One thing 4 /

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end of 2009 to 4.7 percent at the beginning of this year. Obama was criticized for a record number of those (especially males) no longer seeking employment, but the number is even higher under Trump.

Obama also reduced the annual deficit from 10 percent to 3.2 percent. Under Trump it has risen to 3.5 percent, and it will no doubt climb higher with the new tax cuts. GOP leaders are delusional in thinking that the economy grow enough to reduce the deficit.

Tozer claims that “manufacturing is on the rise,” but the increase of 125,000 jobs is small and is due to three factors: higher oil prices, lower productivity (taking more workers to do the same work) and a weak dollar.

Trump would not want to acknowledge the last two reasons.

The growth in manufacturing jobs is not only slow, but spotty. Mike Pence loves to boast about what he did for Indiana as governor, but that state has lost 5,000 manufacturing jobs since he became vice-president.

According to Good Jobs Na-

tion, the economy has lost 93,000 jobs due to foreign competition since Trump’s election. Total manufacturing job losses during Obama’s entire term (foreign competition or not) averaged 41,250 per year. The current trend, without the excuse of a recession, is not favorable to Trump.

One year ago, at a Carrier furnace plant in Indiana, candidate Trump promised that “companies are not going to leave the United States anymore without consequences.” Carrier kept the plant in the U.S., but it still laid off 500 of its 1,400 employees there.

The loss of jobs overseas is actually occurring at a faster rate than under Obama. For example, this year 11 percent of layoffs by big federal contractors were due to foreign competition, but it was only 4 percent during Obama’s last five years.

In July Trump boasted that he has created 45,000 new coal jobs, and people were scratching their heads about where he got this figure. Fact finders did discover that at mid-year there were 41,500

new jobs in logging and mining, but only 1,000 were in mining.

By November that number had increased to 1,900. During the last 6 months of the Obama administration, 1,300 miners were added.

Tozer writes that “the welfare state, which grew by almost 20 percent during the last administration, is turning around.” One would expect that in an economy that suffered the worst recession since the Great Depression, many more people would be in legitimate need.

One would also think that it is a good thing that people were able to buy groceries rather than go hungry. Already in 2014, with declining unemployment, the number of Americans on food stamps started going down, so Trump is not necessarily responsible for the continued decline this last year.

Tozer praises Trump for “confronting North Korean and Iranian nuclear weapons ambitions.”

Now that Trump has decided not to certify the Iran nuclear deal, the danger is that the Iranians

will back out and return to producing their first weapons.

Under the Clinton administration, some progress had been made in reducing North Korea’s nuclear capacities. Bush and Cheney, however, decided that Clinton’s policy was too soft, and the result was that their hard line made North Korea double down on its nuclear program.

Obama managed to stop Iranian nukes, but it is now too late for North Korea. Thanks to Republican administrations we now have to somehow contain a new unrestrained nuclear power in Northeast Asia. Trump’s threat to destroy Kim Jung Un and his people now puts millions of South Koreans, Japanese, and possibly Americans at extreme risk. Trump is just as much a danger to the world as Kim is.

that makes their music so challenging is much of it has a spiritual component. This is especially so with Coltrane, Murray and Ayler.

Ayler created a musical language so original and bizarre that musicologists are still trying to understand it over 50 years later. A childhood friend of Ayler (who was raised a Pentecostal) stated that Ayler was often speaking in tongues on the saxophone.

Generally not recognized is that these avant garde jazz innovators were using their music as an expression of their spiritual life. I am convinced that John Coltrane’s music was a way for him to gain a spiritual state of consciousness.

When in San Francisco visit the Saint John Coltrane Church (2097 Turk Street).

From my book “A Journey into Jazz” (our library): “In 1970 a friend and I went to a typical hippie pot party at the house of someone he knew. I had with me the album, ‘Sunny Murray on ESP,’ hoping to play it to see how people would react. When put on the stereo the party immediately transforms.

‘Angels and Devils’ was the first tune played and right off this boisterous party became, except for the music, dead-quiet. Looking around I could see that everyone had gone inside themselves with all totally immersed in the music.”

Yes, jazz is not for the musically challenged, but for some mind altering substances can help.

Back in the 1970s, I was an ACLU board member who voted with the unanimous decision to support the New American Nazi Party in its constitutional right to march peacefully in Skokie, Ill. Skokie was a famous, and infamous, Supreme Court decision in part because Skokie had a large Jewish population, including many Holocaust survivors. There were a number of Jews on the board, who had to make an awful decision based on the law and not on an emotional desire to shoot the bastards.

I wish our local coward would knock on my door and ask permission to do what he did. I would deny him that privilege and then explain how he can make himself heard in a completely legal way.

Otherwise, if I were to catch him (them) again in the act, it might make him wonder if I’m just a crazy, dangerous bastard myself.

voters, it appears our honorable electeds in Congress may submit to sexual harassment training. Why? Seems like they’re pretty good at it already.

God bless America, and God bless our military.

Lee Santa Sandpoint

Love Lives Here...

Dear Editor, Friday night last, someone removed two of my front yard signs protesting oil and coal trains and deposited them flat on the yard across the street. He also removed a peace flag from the front porch and dropped it on the driveway. Let’s see: trespass, theft, destruction and littering. He didn’t show enough courtesy to leave literature or DVDs. In the past, most homes in the neighborhood received one or both of those items, except us.

I feel much better now.

Lawrence Blakey Sandpoint

Harassment Training...

Dear Editor, In a laughable attempt to mollify

Nick Gier of Moscow taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read the full version at www.nickgier. com/trumptozer.pdf. He can be reached at ngier006@gmail.com.

Steve Brixen Sandpoint

Climate Change...

Dear Editor, Please tell me exactly what you, as man-made climate change reversal believers, want everyone to do that will stop and reverse it now. What climate time do you want to return to? Do you want to go back 10 years, 20 years, 100 years or 1,000 years?

One last question: Who decides which time to go back to? Thanks for letting me ask.

Beth Syron Moyie Springs

OPINION

Ugly sweater parties Why? First of all I have to say that I have no problem with people who like to wear costumes and get drunk.

I love a theme party as much as the next person. Eighties prom? Sure.

Pimps and hos? Why not? Halloween?

Love it. I am not going to condemn a practice that allows me to participate in two of my favorite hobbies: dressing up and drinking. Dressing up and pretending to be someone else is part of the human experience. Since I was a very small child I was capable of crafting costumes for myself. I could slay the Princess Leia look with a turtleneck, belt, sheet, and a couple of rubber bands. Over the years my costuming skills have improved with access to transportations and funds. It’s a bit unfair that one of the typical expectations of being an adult is that you leave your princess costumes and imagination behind. However, please don’t assume that because I like to throw on a costume and go to a party every once in a while that I am a willing participant at any Ugly Sweater party.

Why Ugly Sweater Christmas parties are the worst.

1. Is the Ugly Sweater party correctly categorized as a dress-up party?

There is very little left for interpretation. You wear a holiday-themed sweater to a gathering. It is more like a uniform or dress-code then a costume?

The typical adult, with the exception of actors and strippers, has to create avenues for indulging their dress-up needs.

The options are few: wait for a dress-up party or become a cosplayer. Becoming

a cosplayer requires a lot of time and commitment, and I know there is some sort of kinky twist involved, which is intriguing and intimidating at the same time. The socially acceptable option of attending dress-up parties seems far less pathetic then the disturbing option wearing costumes in the privacy of your own home. However, the sweater party destroys the whole point of the dress up party. What character are we playing?

A woman over 60 who likes Christmas?

Do we assume the persona of grandmas and fourth-grade school teachers? Why are we mocking their festive wear?

What did they ever do to us to deserve this outright mockery? Bake cookies?

Read us stories?

2. Is wearing a sweater dressing up?

Basically, if I go out at night in public, I am already dressing up by putting on pants and a bra. No need to make it complicated by adding an article of clothing that has to be purchased or acquired for the sole purpose of wearing for one night. This means the hideous frock will be taking up valuable closet and storage space 363 days a year unless you go to multiple sweater parties.

3. Christmas sweater parties basically exist because holiday parties are awkward and forced. The ugly sweater was meant to break the ice, lighten up the occasion, give people something to talk about. However; if the only way that you can get people to come to your “holiday” party is to entice them with half-hearted dress-up games, alcohol, and prizes, then let’s be honest: The real fantasy that is that the guests wanted to come in the first place.

4. The point of the ugly sweater is presumably to be humorous. However,

if 30 guests at the party are all telling the same joke, is it still funny? Oh, wait, that’s where the booze comes in.

5. Judgment. If you don’t wear a sweater you are a Grinch. If your sweater isn’t ugly enough, you are chastised.

Can’t we all just get back to eggnog and kissing under the mistletoe? Isn’t there enough weird shit going on in December? Do we really need to add the overkill of hot and unflattering articles of clothing?

6. What about the single people?

Aren’t the cards stacked against them enough in December? Christmas parties in a small town give our local singles a rare chance to find love. There are more people in town, more parties and more opportunity to find love, even if it’s just one night. Now we are making everyone wear ugly clothes? Seriously, you try to find your next love match wandering the streets dressed like a Christmas tree.

7. Overkill. There is already an entire month dedicated to Christmas.

There are already decorations, food, presents, familial expectations, and forced social gatherings, hence the fact that you are throwing a party in December already means your social gathering has a theme, is there a need to add an additional layer of consumerism and pageantry?

Having said all that … yeah, I am going to go to at least one.

Tis The Season, Scarlette Quille

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COMMUNITY

‘Carousel of Smiles’ to be unveiled Saturday Bouquets: •I’m looking forward to seeing the fully restored Carousel of Smiles at its upcoming unveiling. A bouquet goes out to Clay and Reno Hutchison, as well as their small army of volunteers, who have made this project happen. Looking forward to seeing where this piece of history finds a home.

•I’m planning to be in Portugal next winter, which means I again called on our awesome Sandpoint Library for resources to learn European Portuguese.

The Library really has the whole learning-a-foreign-language thing covered.

•Last week, my girlfriend told me she was walking through Farmin Park and saw a couple of scarves that appeared to have been left by someone.

Upon closer examination, Cadie saw a note that said something to the effect of: “I’m not lost, but if you’re cold, please take me.” I love gestures of kindness that remain anonymous.

Take an example of this and try to do one of your own. Maybe buy the person’s coffee in line behind you at Evans Brothers or shovel your neighbor’s walk (if we ever get any snow). These simple acts of kindness can help turn someone’s ho-hum day into something beautiful.

Barbs: •I know it’s petty, but one of my pet peeves is when people park outside the lines. It actually drives me nuts, if you want to know the truth. This week, I’ve probably seen a half dozen instances of cars blatantly taking up more than one spot because they were in a rush, were depth perceptionally challenged, or simply didn’t give a hoot. When I park, I always give a quick look to make sure I don’t look like a jerk. It takes an extra seven seconds, but I can sacrifice.

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By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer

The mission to bring the magic of a carousel to Sandpoint is one step closer to completion this weekend as the Carousel of Smiles project reveals their assembled but unrestored carousel at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

Saturday, Dec. 16, will feature the unveiling at 2 p.m., with doors opening at 1 p.m. Attendees can see the carousel up close, browse exhibits, enjoy hot cocoa and cookies and learn more about the Carousel of Smiles project, including how to get involved. Saturday’s festivities end at 6 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 17, is an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This is the first time the 1920s carousel will be on

display since 1952, and project founder Reno Hutchison said unloading the carousel after its journey from New York to Idaho was a “thrill.”

“I expect that seeing this beautiful machine assembled,

even in its somewhat rough unrestored condition, will be pretty exciting and an even greater thrill,” she said.

Events at the fairgrounds on both Saturday and Sunday are free to attend.

Left: Sandpoint artist Gabe Gabel works on the restoration of a miniature carousel horse. Right: Monroe Kurri, who was 10 months at the time of the photo in 2016, has earned the distinction as “First Rider.” Photos courtesy Clay Hutchison.

New district ranger in Priest Lake Earn a tax credit for contributing to public libraries

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Felipe (Phil) Cano is the new Priest Lake District Ranger starting Feb. 4, 2018. Cano is currently a Forest Biologist on the El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico.

Cano grew up in Kellogg, Idaho, where hunting and fishing throughout the Panhandle instilled a scientific curiosity for land management and exploration. He holds a bachelor of science in wildlife management from the University of Arizona.

Cano began his Forest Service career fighting wildfires and building trails. After graduation, he worked on the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas as a district wildlife biologist and on the Tonto National Forest in Arizona as a Forest Planner/NEPA manager.

Cano completed a 120-day detail as the Sandpoint District Ranger in 2016. “I was significantly impressed with the quality of work that the entire forest was conducting to meet restoration targets and public collaboration,”

By Reader Staff

District Ranger Felipe Cano.

Photo courtesy USFS. said Cano. “I look forward to new challenges and utilizing my experiences in keeping forests managed for multiple use.”

Individuals and corporations that contribute to libraries are eligible for tax savings.

Idaho Code section 63-3029A allows individuals or corporations to take a tax credit for monetary charitable contributions made to public libraries, library districts, and the Idaho Commission for Libraries. An individual taxpayer’s contribution to a public library is allowed as an itemized deduction on the federal return and on the Idaho return.

In addition, the taxpayer receives an Idaho tax credit for the contribution. The credit is limited to the smallest of one-half of the amount contributed, 50 percent of the individual’s income tax, or $500 ($1,000 on a joint return).

This credit is also available to Idaho corporations that make a monetary charitable contribution to a public library or library district located in Idaho, or the Idaho Commission for Libraries. For corporations, the credit is limited to the smallest of one-half of the amount contributed, 10 percent of the corporation’s income tax, or $5,000. Donations of goods or services do not qualify.

The Sandpoint Friends of the Library is matching donations, dollar for dollar up, to $1,500 through Dec. 31. Donations made toward Your Library Transformation, the Sandpoint Library’s remodel and expansion project, may qualify for recognition benefits. For more information, visit www.ebonnerlibrary.org or call (208) 263-6930.

OPINION

Lunch with the Myor: a

By Mayor Shelby Rognstad Reader Contributor In last month’s LWTM we discussed short-term rentals, the future of the University of Idaho property, and the city’s new opengov platform for transparency and citizen involvement. Further updates will occur as these issues continue to develop over the next couple months.

We also discussed the proposed smelter in Newport and its potential impacts on our community. I met with the Kalispel Tribe last week to discuss the proposal and signed on to a letter, with the tribe and other government officials in the region, requesting Washington Department of Ecology permitting decisions be based on accurate data, particularly with respect to transboundary impacts caused by the smelter. I also requested the opportunity to review Ecology’s proposed methods of determining impacts in our jurisdictions prior to any analysis being

An open invitation to the public

Envisioning Sandpoint’s Future

performed.

Next, we will collaborate on an informational panel in Sandpoint to discuss the proposed smelter. This is a topic that I will address in greater detail next month.

This month, I want to wish all of you a happy holiday season.

I also want to thank downtown retailers and business owners who contributed their time and energy to decorate downtown with holiday lights. This is a previous benefit of the Business Improvement District that will sorely be missed. Fortunately, Sandpoint has a dedicated group of entrepreneurs that take pride in their storefronts and it shows.

Through 2018, this administration will continue to focus on public engagement, economic vitality, quality of life and affordability. The

opengov platform, live since November, is at the core of the city’s Financial Transparency Initiative. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, you can find it by clicking on “finances” on our homepage (https://operate-production-stories. s3.amazonaws.com/published/ test-financial-transparency).

I’m very excited about the open town hall platform that will soon integrate with opengov and provide the public greater opportunity to be informed and provide feedback on important issues facing the city.

Citizens will be able to log on to the city’s website from the comfort of their homes and provide comment or ask questions as if they were participating in a public meeting. I’m confident that these tools will dramatically improve public engagement and participation on all important decisions within city government.

The council recently approved a revised sub-area map of the comprehensive plan for the North Boyer area. The revision was

the result of several workshops, public hearings and an open house inviting public input to craft a 20-plus year vision to guide future zoning and development. The city has posted a request for proposal to facilitate a site specific broad-based community visioning process to consider future development at the U of I site specifically. The series of workshops will occur in January and February.

Through the comprehensive plan revision process the public clearly placed high value in parks and open space, workforce housing, education, mixed-use commercial and light industrial use. Any future request for development or rezoning of the area will reflect these community values.

It is important to recognize that the city can only regulate development of the property through zoning or purchase. For this reason, the city is pursuing two parallel paths to ensure that the public interest is protected as growth happens in this area. The sub-area

Part 6

review creates the opportunity for future revised zoning to more accurately reflect the community’s vision for highest and best use.

The city can up-zone to a more intense use, such as high-density housing or mixed-use commercial, to leverage a park, trails or land for a rec center.

Paralell to this process, the city is pursuing funding opportunities that may enable purchase of the property. More space dedicated to park, wetland and open space is possible when development is not solely market driven. Whichever path growth takes, it is essential that the city develop a good plan to guide development in the best interests of its Citizens. I invite you all to participate in planning workshops as they are announced.

I hope to see you at Lunch With The Mayor on Thursday, Dec. 21, to discuss these topics and more.

This will be the last meeting of 2017, taking place 12 p.m. at the Cedar Street Bistro.

Saturday December 16th 1:00 to 3:00 pm Vanderford's books 201 Cedar St. in Sandpoint

Buy both of Bill Collier’s books in Sandpoint at Vanderford’s Books & Office Products, the Corner Bookstore, Fiddlin’ Red’s, Di Luna’s, Home Sweet Home Consignment, Sandpoint Super Drug, and Army Surplus and online at Amazon in both print and e-book form.

For more information: Capt. Bill Collier December 14, 2017 /

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NEWS

Police seek leads in Clark Fork murder case

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is on the hunt for a suspect or suspects in the suspicious death of Clark Fork resident George Gerald Andres, 73.

Andres was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds last Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. after the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a dead male in the 1200 block of Mountain View Road in Clark Fork. Police believe that Andres interrupted a burglary in progress and was killed in the resulting chaos.

With the help of Idaho State Police and Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Bonner County Sheriff detectives collected physical evidence inside and outside the crime scene. Idaho State Police Lab will handle the ballistic evidence, while Washington State Crime Lab is examining the DNA evidence, including touch DNA

swabs containing microscopic skin cells collected from clothing, weapons or other objects.

According to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, investigators believe Andres returned home from a shopping trip around 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, and interrupted a burglary in progress. The conflict escalated, resulting in Andres sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. The burglar or burglars stole multiple items from the home, and Andres died from his wounds.

Once notified of the incident, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office sent messages to the public via Nixle, Facebook and Reverse 911 warning residents to keep clear of the crime scene, lock their doors and report any suspicious activity. In particular, they’re searching for any unusual happenings between Sunday, Dec. 3, and Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the area of Mountain View Road or any connecting road.

As of the most recent up-

date from the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, authorities have no suspect descriptions or vehicle information. Detectives are relying on locals to generate leads in the investigation. They are canvassing the nearby neighborhoods interviewing residents in the hopes of uncovering any irregular activity. In addition, they are searching for any possible video surveillance a homeowner might have from Highway 200 up to the Mountain View Road area.

Friends of Andres remember him as an avid user and supporter of local libraries.

He had a love of animals, particularly longtime library cat Pete, who was quick to return the affection. Andres also had two of his own cats and would visit the Panhandle Animal Shelter to visit the animals.

He had a love of the outdoors and enjoyed hiking, biking, shooting and navigating local waterways. Friends said he always helped them out when they needed him.

Anyone with information

Sandpoint grad named All-American

By Jerek Wolcott Carroll College Sports Staff Reader Contributor Carroll College offensive guard Todd Pays has been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America College Division Academic All-America First Team.

Pays, a Sandpoint High School graduate, was a starter on the offensive line that produced the second rushing offense in the Frontier Conference and the No. 18 ranking in the NAIA with 209.8 yards per game.

He is a civil engineering major with a 3.93 GPA. “This is an outstanding award for Todd,” head coach Mike Van Dies said. “This is great recognition for what he has done on the 8 /

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George Andres. Courtesy photo. related to the investigation should contact the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 208-255-2677, the

Bonner County Dispatch non-emergency number at 208-265-5525 or, should an emergency arise, 911.

Albeni Falls Dam fish passage project seeks public comment

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer

field and in the classroom. Civil engineering is not an easy major, and it shows that an athlete can excel on the field, excel in the classroom and be a great human being as well.”

The award is the first for a Carroll football player. To be eligible for the award, a player

Todd Pays during practice at Caroll College. Photo by Jerek Wolcott. must have been on the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. The Saints have placed more players on the all-district team than any other program at any level over the past two seasons.

Officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers met at the Sandpoint Center Wednesday evening to give a presentation on the draft integrated Post-Authorization Decision Document and Environmental Assessment for the Albeni Falls Dam fish passage project.

A few dozen attendees were treated to a presentation detailing the steps of the project, which is currently in the feasibility study phase. Albeni Falls is one of the last dams in the region in this early phase of planning for a fish passage.

To review the proposed project, which will utilize a “trap and haul” method to bring bull trout upstream, visit https:// tinyurl.com/AlbeniFishPassage.

Public comments will be accepted through Dec. 28.

Submit comments in writing to CENWS-AFDComments@ usace.army.mil or by mail to: District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWS-PMP-18-03, P.O. Box 3755, Seattle, WA, 98124-3755.

NEWS

Reclaim Idaho launches ballot initiative in Sandpoint this weekend

Luke Mayville speaks to a crowd at Farmin Park before embarking on a tour of Idaho spreading the message of Reclaim Idaho. Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert.

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer Local grassroots political movement Reclaim Idaho is going back to its roots this weekend with a number of events in Sandpoint.

The return to North Idaho will launch their initiative to get Medicaid expansion on the 2018 state ballot.

“This will be the biggest and maybe the highest-stakes petition drive in Idaho history, and it is important to us to launch this campaign in Sandpoint, the place where we’re from and where all of our organizing originally began,” said Reclaim Idaho co-founder Luke Mayville in an email.

There will be a gathering at the Pend Oreille Winery 4-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15.

Saturday features two events, with a Sandpoint Community Hall petition signing at 11 a.m. and “raffles and fun” at Pour Authority

5-8 p.m. Bring a friend to the Hope Cafe 3:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday. Each gathering promotes Reclaim Idaho’s Medicaid for Idaho campaign.

Mayville said Saturday morning’s event is particularly important, seeing as it’s the official grand kick-off for the entire statewide campaign. Political initiatives in Idaho must gather signatures from six percent of all registered voters statewide and also from six percent of voters in 18 districts.

“If we are going to build the momentum we need to win affordable healthcare for the 78,000 Idahoans who currently live without it, we need a huge turnout on Saturday,” Mayville said. “We urge everyone to come to Community Hall at Saturday at 11 a.m., even if you can only stop by for a few minutes.”

Logo contest seeking local artists

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer Florida-based design consultant and renovation specialist Tammy Provence is looking for local artists to design a logo for her latest business venture — the building at 812 Lake Street, which she has renamed the Kokanee Smoke House.

Provence is doing the logo search in the form of a contest, and will accept submissions through Dec. 31 to the email address kokaneesmokehouse@gmail. com. She said she’d prefer submissions in PDF form.

Provence said guidelines for the logo are fairly loose, though she’d like it to be able to be manipulated into a square or

rectangle shape, and if the artist could, incorporate the colors kiwi green, taupe and graphite.

There is a $200 prize for the first place submission. She said submissions will be judged early in January, with artists invited to attend the judging. Provence said more detail will come out after a date and judges are secured.

Provence said she is looking for “something hip and cool, not old fashioned.”

“There’s all this art talent here, and I thought (this contest) might be great way to get to know people in the community,” she said.

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Mad about Science:

Brought to you by:

the science of ‘star wars’

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

A long time ago, in a Reader far, far away, I chastised “Star Wars” for scientific inaccuracies.

Well, fear not, I’ve put my wagging finger away for the day to celebrate one of the most influential and entertaining science-fiction franchises in the history of humankind just in time for the new movie.

We’ve talked about TIE fighters, and know that TIE stands for Twin Ion Engine and that ion engines or ion thrusters are an actual propulsion technology we use today. Essentially, the engine takes a xenon atom and removes an electron to make it into a positively charged ion, uses electricity to accelerate it and split it out of the back to create thrust. This is the electrostatic method. There is also a more complex electromagnetic method with lots of information online.

Given the nature of the ionization, ion thrusters are only useful in a vacuum.

Our own application of ion thrusters has been primarily to turn or tilt spacecraft and satellites in orbit, or propel them for long burns over a very long period of time, where the weight of conventional fuel and oxidizers would be impractical. Think unmanned missions that are going to orbit for decades.

Everyone loves that freewheeling rapscallion, R2D2, and his more grounded partner, C3PO. Autonomous droids with seemingly limitless knowledge of all technology, easily networkable to any device and able to quickly download, store and display information, offer advice and corrections in grammar.

Sound familiar? Check your 10 /

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pocket: It’s the droid you are looking for.

Like it or not, artificial intelligence is part of our society. It’s a doozy of an explanation, so we’re going to save the bulk of that for another day.

In short, most devices you interact with now from your phone, to your Kindle and Echo, to Siri and Cortana are all the foundation of droids in our future. Unlike the droids of “Star Wars”, our own are likely going to be small and portable, with the bulk of their machinery housed in a stationary location where the company that built them can maintain and upgrade them without bothering you at home.

Just don’t get taken hostage on a gangster’s pleasure barge, because your Samsung Galaxy 25 probably won’t be able to conceal plasma weaponry for you.

Speaking of pleasure barges: Tatooine!

The desert planet most famous for its signatory blue milk, dual suns and housing a wretched hive of scum and villainy may not be such an oddity in our universe.

It turns out that as much as 50 percent of all star systems in our galaxy are binary systems, where two stars orbit a common center.

Planetary orbit in a binary system comes in two flavors: P-type and S-type. Planets orbiting just one of the stars fall under the classification of S-type, while planets that orbit both would be considered a P-type orbit.

Astrophysicists speculate that as much as 60 percent of all binary systems would be able to support life, though climate patterns are virtually impossible to predict until we actually see one for ourselves.

Blue milk for everyone!

Remember that part in “The Empire Strikes Back” when Luke got his hand cut off and they were like, “Psh, whatever.

Here’s a robotic one”?

That was pretty fantastical in 1980. Since then, we’ve seen leaps and bounds in prosthetics technology. Luke’s sweet robot hand may not be that far away, but unless Elon Musk owes you a pretty big poker debt, you probably won’t be able to afford it any time soon.

Robotic prosthetics controlled by electrodes aren’t too unusual now, but they’re not very precise. We’ve figured out how to program them so that they react based on muscle movement, or electrode readings from the brain, but these are fairly imprecise. I want to paint the next Mona Lisa after feeding my hand to a $25,000 tiger!

To get really precise signals, we have to dive deep into our brains. There are a few ways we can do this currently, but most of them involve jamming spikes into our skulls and rigging them to machines. Companies like Neuralink (founded by the guy that owes you a poker debt) are beginning research into less invasive ways to interface our own brains with machines. They want to start with nimble prosthetics capable of a full range of motion like Luke’s hand, but move on to more advanced tasks. Like driving, sending messages to other people or checking your email using ONLY your awesome brain.

“Star Wars’” influence isn’t just felt in science. It’s a unique intergenerational cultural phenomenon, one that grandparents and their grandkids can talk about with total understanding and virtually no misunderstanding of the morals and values in-

volved. It has inspired psychology studies of the characters, studies into classical literature (from which it was inspired), economics, politics, and our collective vision of what we want our species’ future to be.

Sure, it has its flaws. It’s as human as we are, but we can

overlook them when we’re looking at the big picture.

I hope you enjoy the new movie!

Just remember, the guy that spoils it on the internet will suffer a fate worse than 1,000 years of digesting in the Sarlacc’s belly.

Random Corner Don’t know much about space

travel?

We can help!

• If asked to guess what outer space smelled like, the majority of us would be tempted to say that it smelled like ozone, like nothingness. But astronauts claim that is not in fact the case. After going on space walks, most report a hot “meaty-metallic” scent, others assert that there is a fruity note of raspberry and rum, an acrid odor like welding fumes. No truly inclusive description has ever been created, and NASA’s attempts to recreate the “indescribable” scent have generally met with failure.

• The United States government failed to insure the lives of its astronauts during the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. No life insurance company in the world would sign on to what was very likely to be a suicide mission. Hoping to provide some kind of legacy to their families, the astronauts signed a series of autographs which could be sold if they indeed perished on their miracle mission. Luckily, this would not prove necessary, and the men returned safe. Some of the emergency autographs have since emerged and have sold at auction for tens of thousands of dollars.

• It’s been estimated that the total cost of the Apollo 11 mission that first put man on the moon was $25.4 billion. In today’s money, that’s around $135 billion.

• Right from the moment Apollo 11 took off, there have been conspiracy theories that the moon landings were faked, most of which have been comprehensively debunked. Yet many still believe them. One of the most well-known is that the director Stanley Kubrick shot some of the footage that was sent “from the moon.” Kubrick did, in fact, work with both equipment and staff who were involved in the first moon landing, but the idea that he helped fake the whole thing is perhaps a step too far.

• The International Space Station, launched in 1998, was a successful joint venture by the Americans and Russians. But rumor has it that after a while tensions between the two sets of astronauts began to develop over the sharing of bathrooms. Apparently the Russian diet, including staples such as jellied fish, had a tendency to clog the pipes, and the Americans banned them from using their toilet.

PERSPECTIVES

Remembrances of George Andres ly had a couple. If he had to be gone I would go to his house to feed them. He always looked up Pete when he came to the library and he took Pete home for a few weeks when the C.F. Library was being remodeled. When I needed a second kayak to take a friend paddling, George loaned me his.

I am saddened by his death, and especially the circumstances of it. May he rest in peace.

-Diane N.

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Editor’s Note: George Andres, 73, was killed during a burglary at his home in Clark Fork, according to Bonner County Sheriff’s Office. The Clark Fork Library reached out to the staff, volunteers and patrons to share stories about the type of man Andres was. You can view all the submissions in the online version of this article at www.sandpointreader.com.

I

remember George from 20plus years ago when working at C.F. Library. He would come in daily to read the paper and say his hellos to our library cat. He was a great lover of our cat. As well as we knew each other, I found it amusing that no matter how many times I would remind him, he always insisted on calling me “Linda.” The last 12 years I have just smiled and answered to Linda.

He will be missed -Lynn H.

H

e was one of our favorite patrons. I talked to Sandy today — she volunteered a lot in Sandpoint (she must have shelved

I

George Andres. Courtesy photo. thousands of book as a volunteer) when I was still there every week — and she said the same thing.

As a boy George had a pet raccoon, who, typical of a raccoon, was frequently in trouble, most often with his mom. George was the peacemaker and repairman.

He also loved cats and usual-

lost my best friend George Andres. George was 73 years old. I knew him for 22 years.

George went to school and was raised in New Jersey. After school he was drafted in the U.S. Army. He was sent to Vietnam for about two years.

After the service George went to work for the telephone company.

George worked throughout the United States and ended up in Clark Fork, Idaho, where he built his home up Spring Creek.

He loved hiking the hills and loved the animals. He had two cats he spoiled, and they were his kids.

George was a very private person,

but he would help anyone who needed his help. George loved the Clark Fork Library and used it often.

He had two close friends he went to school with in New Jersey, one moved to Florida. Every few years he visits them and they come to Idaho to see him.

George went to the animal shelter in Sandpoint to visit the animals which he enjoyed.

George will be missed by his friends in and around the Clark Fork community.

-Evelyn A.

G

eorge was my sometimes target shooting partner and a friend of mine. When I was a beginning ammunition reloader, I would go to George for advice.

George was always patient and helpful. George would spend time at the Clark Fork Library and we would sit at one of the back tables, read magazines, solve world problems and pet the library’s cat. George would always gloat over what he perceived to be the cat’s preference for him over me.

George loved the little community

of Clark Fork and will be missed by us all.

-Walt R.

I

n my interactions with George, I found him to be a pleasant, intelligent, polite, low-key and gentle man. I always enjoyed seeing and talking to George whenever he came into the library. Such a man will obviously be missed.

-David O.

I

always looked forward to seeing George. He’d always enter the same way, with a jovial smile and a wave before looking for Pete, the library cat. I’ll always remember George picking that giant cat up, rubbing his belly and hearing the thunderous purr of Pete the cat. He loved animals, and I always looked forward to showing him the new batch of chicks and ducklings on the farm.

George was a model library patron, a Vietnam veteran, a lover of animals and his community. I hope you rest in peace, George. Say “hi” to Petey for us.

-Brenden B.

FREE MEDICAL CARE Bonner Partners in Care Clinic is a FREE health care clinic providing quality health care to those in our community who are not covered by health insurance. We provide a health care safety net for those who can not afford medical care at no cost to the patient. We treat general and chronic health disorders such as Hypertension, Diabetes, Infections and other minor medical issues. We also have assistance for diagnostic testing, laboratory orders, referrals and prescriptions.

We are located in The Panhandle Health Care Building 2101 Pine Street, Sandpoint 208.255.9099 Clinic is one evening per week (either Tuesdays or Thursdays) first come first serve basis. Please visit our website for more information: www.bpicc.org Find us on Facebook December 14, 2017 /

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event t h u r s d a y

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f r i d a y

s a t u r d a y s u n d a y

Infini Gallery & Public Art Studio Invites All To Our 2 Year Anniversary Party

Friday December 22 5-9pm nd

•Live Music with The Groove Black •Refreshments & Party Treats

Donation Raffle with Christmas Gift Baskets Swing by the Gallery Dec. 15 - 2 from1-7pm and pick up your raffle tickets Baskets filled with treats from our local shops: Pend Oreille Winery, Image Maker, MickDuff’s Brewing Co., Trinity at the Beach and Eichardt’s Pub

A large canvas with paint and brushes on display for guests to contribute to a collective artwork for our community

214 Cedar St. Sandpoint ID, 83864 – infinigallery@yahoo.com – www.ifinigallery.com 12 /

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m o n d a y t u e s d a y

w e d n e s d a y t h u r s d a y

17 18 19 20 21

Holiday Open House and Fundraiser 5:30-7pm @ N. Idaho Animal Hospital Help celebrate the holiday and meet our new veterinarians during a Holiday Open House and Giving Tree Fundraiser. Bring your pet for the pet costume contest!

f

5th Annual November Party with Selkirk Fire 6-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall If you’re growing out your Movember Mushtac celebrate with the Selkirk Fire Department and M to help raise some money for Postate Cancer $2.50 of every pint paid for will be going to the c

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz Live Music w/ The Somethings 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority 9pm @ 219 Lounge Great beer and awesome jazz music Chris Lynch and Meg Turner duo Live Music w/ Sadie Sicilia (Wagoner) Live Music w/ Devon Wade 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Sadie’s back in Sandpoint with her Sandpoint country artist bandmate and pianist Desiree Live Music w/ Adrian Xaiver 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live reggae music at the Pub Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 10am-1pm @ Evans Brothers Coffee Free and open to the public Live Music w/ Browne Salmon Truck 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Blues, jazz, Latin and more Live Music w/ Like Minds 9pm @ 219 Lounge Sandpoint’s newest duo, featuring Chris O’Murchu’ and Larry Goldberg playing Latin, jazz and blues

Community S @ Schweitzer $10 lift ticket zations, Comm and Bonner Pa

The Jazzy Nutcracker Sandpoint Nordic 6:30pm @ Panida Theater 9am, 11:15am, 1:30

By Studio One Dance Academy Free nordic lessons

The Unveiling: The Carousel of Smiles Project La 1pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds All are invited to see the assembled carousel, and how to help in this incredible Carousel of Smiles Doors open at 1 p.m.; browse exhibits while enjoy cocoa and cookies, with the curtain draw at 2 p.m.

Reclaim Idaho Fundraiser 5-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority A fundraiser for Reclaim Idaho, an organization ai include Medicare expansion on the 2018 ballot. Liv with John Firshi, raffle prizes and complimentary app

Sandpoint Chess Club Game Night at the Niner 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee 9pm @ 219 Lounge

KPND Monday Night Football Party Host Bob Witte will have tons of prizes tickets, KPND new music samplers, an

The Charity Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Buy sell and trade college textbooks 4-6pm @ Forrest Bird Charter School This is a free event for the public in hopes of saving students money on expensive textbooks. (208) 265-9737 x211

Midnight Mass for Christma 2pm @ St. Joseph’s Catholic C Free concert by the Pend Oreil

Live Music w/ Beth Pederson 11am @ Sandpoint Senior Center Known for her contemporary originals and beautiful voice, Beth Pederson will play before lunch. Free to attend

Five Minutes of Fame holiday dessert potluck 6:30pm @ Cafe Bodega (Foster’s Crossing) Writers, musicians, listeners... everyone is welcome. Annual holiday dessert potluck after readings, so please bring a dessert!

N 9 J o to

Live Music w/ Brother Music 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Wind Down Wednesday • 7-10pm @ 219 With live music by blues man Truck Mills gether with friends and colleagues at the end

‘Streams of Light” Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub 6-8pm @ Embody (823 Main St.) Good until the keg’s dry A celebration and nurturing experience to honor the Winter Solstice. Led by a Healing Artist Collective; Shamanic Journey, Dance and Crystal Bowls.

Sliding Scale $10-25. moondancermoves.com

Girls Pint Nigh 5-7pm @ Idaho Cool Chicks! G Dudes! Join Vic table for an ev food with craft b

ful

December 14 - 21, 2017

A weekly entertainment guide to keep you on your toes. To list your event free, please send an email to calendar@sandpointreader.com.

Reader recommended

Live Music w/ Mobius Riff ICL Holiday Party and Art Show 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub 5-8pm @ Columbia Bank Community Plaza r Mushtache, come Idaho Conservation League’s annual holiday party. The eveent and MickDuff’s ning also features the opening exhibit for ICL artist-in-rese Cancer Research. idence Linda Lantzy. Enjoy beer, wine, appetizers, and a silent auction of beautiful Idaho photography. Free to attend ng to the cause

kirk Firefighters

Reclaim Idaho Sip & Shop 4-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery mmunity Ski Day Proceeds benefitting Reclaim chweitzer Mountain Resort lift tickets benefit local organi- Idaho, an organization working ns, Community Cancer Services to get Medicaid expansion onto Bonner Partners in Care Clinic the 2018 ballott

t Nordic and Schweitzer XC Ski Free Day 5am, 1:30pm @ the Roundabout at Schweitzer ic lessons for classic and skate styles. 208-355-3070 for rentals

roject Launch

Cedar St. Bridge Public Market 10am-2pm @ Cedar St. Bridge usel, and find out Come enjoy indoor shopping on the bridge f Smiles project. spanning Sand Creek hile enjoying hot Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair 2 p.m.

10am-2pm @ Lake Pend Oreille High School The community is invited to stop by and find some great stocking stuffers or other gifts. Free ization aiming to admission. Hosted by LPOHS in the gym ballot. Live music entary appetizers

Christmas Concert - “Midnight Mass” 7pm @ St. Joseph’s Catholic Church The Pend Oreille Chorale and Ochestra will feature the Midnight Mass for Christmas, which is based upon French Christmas carols, by an early Baroque, French composer, Marc-Antoine Charpentier. This is a FREE concert

POAC Winter Exhibit Opening 5:30-7pm @ Sandpoint Center Pend Oreille Arts Council’s Winter Exhibit features three distinct exhibits celebrating fiber arts, miniature works and innovative abstract paintings.

Sponsored by Columbia Bank with refreshments by Tango Cafe. Free and open to the public Bill Collier Book Signing 1-3pm @ Vanderford’s Books Author Bill Collier, a retired captain with the USMC, will be signing copies of his book, “CIA Super Pilot.” Free

Thursday Ladies Night $1.00 off all drinks Unique selection of Excellent Wines Local Beers On Tap

Yummy Tapas Menu

Wine $ Cheese Sampling Wine & cheese sampling Saturdays 12-3 p.m.

Saturdays 12-3 p.m.

Open 5 p.m. - Closing Thurs. - Sat.

Carousel of Smiles open house Christmas Concert 10am-4pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds Catholic Church end Oreille Chorale Orchestra Come see the assembled Carousel of Smiles free!

ball Party • 5:30pm @ 219 Lounge s of prizes to give away from area restaurants, concerts tickets, WSU football mplers, and much more. Drink specials, plus food by Edelwagen food cart

als on d

Night-Out Karaoke 9pm @ 219 Lounge Join DJ Pat for a night of singing, or just come to drink and listen

Music b pm @ 219 Lounge uck Mills. Relax tos at the end of the day

Robotics with Lego Mindstorm 3pm @ Clark Fork Library Learn to build or code during this Robotics class at 3 p.m. for boys and girls age 8-plus

Paint & Pint • 6pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall MickDuff’s Beer Hall teams up with neighbors Infini Gallery December’s theme is snowy winter mountain instep with December and the holidays. Cost is $35 and includes all the art supplies, instruction and your first drink

Pint Night Out @ Idaho Pour Authority Chicks! Great Beer! No ! Join Vicki at the back for an evening pairing with craft beer

The Sadie Sicilia and Desiree Duo: Christmas Party 6pm @ Panida Theater Christmas music, mixed with some originals, jazz, and blues by Sadie Sicilia and pianist Desiree Duo. Tickets are $10 general admission, $4 youth

Dec. 22 Men’s Shopping Night @ Downtown Sandpoint

Dec. 22 Live Reggae Music w/ Adrian Xavier @ 219 Lounge

Dec. 23 Ugly Sweater Contest @ A&P’s Tavern

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FEATURE

Unpacking Bonner County’s Natural Resource Plan

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer The final draft of the proposed Bonner County Natural Resource Plan is available for review and public comment from now until the Jan. 17 public hearing where county commissioners are meant to adopt the document.

The plan, in its current form, has been on a four-year journey through commissioners, committee members and countless drafts.

“This plan is meant to create an interface with federal government agencies to work with county officials in making certain as much as they possibly can that the federal government can coordinate and correlate plans with the county,” said Natural Resource Committee Chairman Cornel Rasor in a workshop on Oct. 25. The federal coordination clause is meant to urge federal and state agencies to consider the county’s desires when the area’s natural resources are in question.

“It’s a guide specification for what we’d love to see if there was unlimited funds and unlimited resources and the Forest Service was just super flexible,” said County Commissioner Dan McDonald.

“That being said, it is non-binding.

We can’t force (state or federal agencies) to do anything they don’t want to do.”

It’s this point specifically, that the NRP is “non-binding,” that has some community members confused about the document’s real purpose.

Shannon Williamson, executive director of Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper and Sandpoint City Council president, said she’s read the document a number of times with a special interest in the water-related portion.

“I understand the intent of (the plan), but it’s not clear to me how any of it would be enforced,” Williamson said. “The commissioners desire state and federal agencies to treat them as an equal partner when making regulatory decisions that would affect the county, but (at) the end of the day the state and federal regulations are what are actually enforceable.”

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For Williamson, it’s a question of a use of resources. While she understands every member of the NRC is a volunteer, she’s curious why the county spent four years on a document they call “non-binding.”

“The commissioners are advocates for less regulation and interference in people’s lives, but this is an extensively long document that I don’t see adds any value, so it seems counterintuitive,” Williamson said of the 96-page draft. “I try to put myself in their shoes. If they’re really trying to be advocates for their constituents and protect their private property interests, I understand that, but is this how you do it?”

Sandpoint native and private citizen Herbert Wiens believes it is. He worked for two decades in the timber industry and said he has attended nearly all of the NRC’s meetings over the past four years.

He said the argument that the meetings, held every third Friday of the month, weren’t advertised holds no weight. They were well advertised, he argues, and people of all political leanings attended to varying degrees.

“So the environmentalist side of things knew about (the meetings),” Wiens said, noting that he sat next to such community members on a number of occasions. “Usually they only came if there was a Forest Service person or something that may have piqued their interest there, but for the actual nuts and bolts stuff, some of them did show up.”

He said he has watched the committee members agonize over incredibly small details, like the uses of “shoulds” and “shalls,” throughout the document. He said that at the suggestion of meeting attendees and county commissioners, the document has seen a lot of collaborative change.

“The county’s position isn’t ‘thou shalt not do this.’ It’s kind of, ‘talk to us before you do do it and get our opinion on it because it does affect us,’” he said, adding that the main purpose of the plan is to have the county’s positions “prethought-out” ahead of time. “It’s kind of like having a fire evacuation plan for your house. Everybody needs to know where they’re going

so that we know what’s going to happen.”

Carol Jenkins is all for having a plan — though she said she has urged the commissioners to treat the plan as a reference, not an adopted piece of local policy. In a recent letter to the commissioners, she wrote: “The BCNRC has put a great deal of effort into this, it does represent the viewpoints of some members of the county, but it does not represent the perspectives of the entire county or the experts we have available to us.” The letter detailed specific parts of the plan she felt could use changes.

Jenkins, a retired nurse with a passion for land usage issues, has been involved in past natural resource issues in Bonner County due

to her involvement with Friends of Scotchman Peaks and the Native Plant Society.

She said she’s a fan of past collaboration efforts in the area, one example being the Panhandle Forest Collaborative. She’d like to see the commissioners take that approach, rather than the coordination route, which she said encourages state and federal agencies to consult with the commissioners prior to introducing projects to the public.

“I think what this (plan) is trying to do is make a statement.

It’s telling the federal and the state governments that ‘we believe in local control of federal and state lands, (and) we want a seat at the table and you better consult us,’” she said. “I think it’s also

a statement to the public and environmental agencies that (the commissioners) consider they have better expertise to make decisions on natural resources than we do. It is also speaking to the ultra-right saying ‘we got your back and we’re representing you.’”

Read the NRP, currently in its final-draft form, at bonnercounty. us/bonner-county-natural-resources-committee.

Anyone who wants to provide comments to the commissioners in regards to the plan can submit comments to the Commissioners Office at 1500 Hwy 2, Suite 308, Sandpoint, ID 83864 or email darcey. smith@bonnercountyid.gov.

EATS & DRINKS

The changing faces of Sandpoint’s eats and drinks The Pend Oreille Winery changes hands and the Belwood building features new restaurant Fat Pig

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer

Things are changing at the Pend Oreille Winery, both visually and behind the scenes.

As far as the behind-thescenes operations go, winery creators Steve and Julie Meyer are handing over the reins to Jim Bopp and Kylie Presta, who have both been making wine with the Meyers for some time.

“We’re very glad that we have somebody that we can pass it on to. They’re very qualified and we really can’t think of a better time to do it.

They’re young, they’re ready,” Steve said. “If (people who drink POW wine) like what they had, they’re going to love what they’re going to have.”

Bopp grew up in Sandpoint, and after moving away to college, getting married and ending up in Boise, he and his wife decided they wanted to come back. While she secured a job at Coldwater Creek, Bopp said he drifted from job to job until Steve called him in 2007. Bopp had helped Steve with winemaking in the past, but 2007 marked the beginning of a serious career in the craft.

“I started at the bottom and started learning what I needed to know,” Bopp said. “I felt like this could be a career job,

From left: Steve and July Meyer, Jim Bopp and Kylie Presta. Courtesy photo. and as time went on I decided this is where I ought to be.”

Presta, co-proprietor and wine chemist, is a Bonners Ferry native who moved away but came back to the area five years ago. With a chemistry background, she said she offered to help Steve and had her first winemaking experience during the 2014 harvest.

“I really just enjoyed every day and every aspect of winemaking,” Presta said. “I’ve just been trying to get more involved in the whole process — from grape to bottle.”

Bopp emphasized that because he and Presta have been so heavily involved in the winemaking process over the past several years that people

shouldn’t fear the winery will change.

“We’re the same winery that we’ve been,” he said. “We’ll continue to keep making award-winning wines like we always have.”

As far as what’s next for the Meyers, Steve said he and Julie will still be actively managing the Belwood 301 building on the corner of Cedar and Third, home to the winery’s tasting room and now a new eatery in town: the Fat Pig. Fat Pig owners Brett Mullinder and Kelley Kennedy always dreamed about opening their own restaurant.

Having worked in the food and service industry from Maine to Idaho, including several

The entrance to Sandpoint’s newest eatery, the Fat Pig. Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert. establishments on Schweitzer Mountain over the past few years, Mullinder and Kennedy decided now was the time to build something all their own.

All they needed to get started was a location.

“Thankfully we didn’t bite on anything too soon because we stumbled across this little beauty,” Kennedy said, referring to the space behind the Pend Oreille winery tasting room, now home to the Fat Pig — a pub with a classy twist.

“It’s a comfortable environment to come have a beer — we’re passionate about craft beer, we’re passionate about good wine,” Kennedy said.

“But it’s also appropriate to come have a nice date night or

special occasion celebration.”

The Fat Pig’s menu features salads, sandwiches and hearty entrees. Mullinder said the menu will rotate depending on what’s in season, seeing as they hope to utilize local vendors for making a lot of their dishes.

While Kennedy said the menu is largely meat focused, there are plenty of vegetarian options as well.

“We’re definitely looking forward to being able to do what we’ve always wanted to do, which is being able to show ourselves through our food and our love of service,” Mullinder said.

The Fat Pig is currently open Monday-Saturday starting at noon. Customers will be seated until 9 p.m.

It’s REINDEER DAYS @ Petal Talk…

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The American Redoubt Series Ruby Ridge to Redoubt:

A brief history of anti-government sentiments in North Idaho

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Editor’s note: Before delving into the political ethos of the Redoubt movement, we will first examine the politics of North Idaho from the perspective of Ruby Ridge to today. The political psyche of North Idaho was very much influenced by this event, echoes of which awoke a new level of mistrust in the federal government across the nation. To be clear, these are separate movements with distinct precepts from the Redoubt, but past ideologies in North Idaho influenced a climate that can still be felt today.

In August 1992, the powerful arm of the federal government reached for unassuming cabin owner Randy Weaver near Naples, Idaho. Categorized later as a miscalculation of federal force over a charge of selling an illegal sawed-off shotgun, the event later known as the “Standoff at Ruby Ridge” would leave a lasting impact on the way some citizens viewed their federal government.

The siege at Ruby Ridge, which led to the deaths of Vicki Weaver, 14-year-old Sammy Weaver and Deputy U.S. Marshal William Degan, would go on to influence the political complexion of North Idaho for decades to come.

With the rise of the militia movement and the formation of hundreds of patriot groups across the U.S., distrust of the federal government grew during the 1990s. While the Tea Party movement brought many disaffected Republicans under the same banner of limited government, increased controls over immigration and Second Amendment rights, others chose to opt out and joined political migrations in the interest of establishing ways of life aligned with Christian conservative principles.

A History of Dissent Mistrust of the federal government is not a new phenomenon in U.S. history.

In the “Whiskey Rebellion” of 1791, farmers opposed a federal tax placed on distilled spirits by President George Washington. Protesters 16 /

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were said to have used violence and intimidation to prevent federal officials from collecting the tax. The dispute culminated in 1794, when a federal marshal arrived in Pennsylvania to serve writs for those who had not paid the tax. Over 500 armed men later attacked the home of a tax collector, forcing President Washington himself to lead an army of 13,000 militiamen to quell the rebellion.

Sixty years later, ongoing disputes between the Union and slave-owning southern states led to secession and outbreak of the Civil War, which claimed over 600,000 American lives.

In modern times, anti-government feelings began to emerge around events like Ruby Ridge and, shortly after, the siege at Waco.

Ruby Ridge had a profound impact on the thinking of those whose beliefs aligned with Christian conservative principles. It demonstrated in many people’s eyes a federal government that had far exceeded its authority and mandate. Many viewed their response to what began as a supposed firearms violation as excessive and railed against the chance of it happening again.

“The whole complexion (of this nation’s far-right politics) was shaped to some extent by Ruby Ridge,” said Heidi Beirlich, the Director for the Intelligence Project for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization that has studied extremist groups for decades. “I think without Ruby Ridge, we wouldn’t have had McVeigh’s attack in Oklahoma City. We also probably wouldn’t have had the intensity of the militia movement as it arose in the early ‘90s and spread all the way through the 1990s.”

The modern militia movement, with strong roots in American history, was a self-help movement dusted off in response to this perceived federal overreach.

Beirlich said a gathering in Estes Park, Colo., just two months after the standoff at Ruby Ridge helped launched the movement.

Led by white supremacist and former Grand Dragon of the KKK Louis Beam, the United Citizens for Justice banded together to demand criminal indictments against the

A chart showing the rise and fall of anti-government groups across the U.S. Courtesy of SPLC. government agents involved in Ruby Ridge. Over 150 Christian Identity believers and others gathered while Beam addressed grievances against the federal government.

Followers of Christian Identity believe only Germanic, or Anglo-Saxon and Nordic people, are the true descendants of the ancient Israelites, and therefore are the only people who can achieve true salvation.

“Because the white race is God’s chosen race, only whites have immortal souls and/or all others are eternally damned and cannot obtain salvation,” reads a document entitled “Christian Identity Movement” prepared by the FBI. “The federals have by their murder of Samuel and Vicki Weaver brought all of us here together under the same roof for the same reason,” Beam told the crowd. “For the first time in the 22 years that I have been in the movement, we are all marching to the beat of the same drum.”

As the actions at Waco and later Oklahoma City transpired, the movement gained steam, laying ground for the formation of hundreds of militia groups across the U.S. “(This meeting) is viewed by

groups like SPLC and the Anti-Defamation League as having been the defining moment that launched the 1990s militia movement,” said Beirlich. “We had anti-government groups in the 1970s as well, which were broadly organized under the term posse comitatus, but the quickness for which the militia anti-government movement grew in the late 1990s, where it went from almost nothing to 858 groups as recognized by the SPLC in 1996, is astounding.”

The list grew under President Barack Obama in 2012, spiking at 1,360 groups recognized as “anti-government ‘patriot’ groups” by the SPLC. The Platform of the Patriots Central to any militia movement or patriot group is the idea of limited federal government.

Lawrence Reed of the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation sums up the argument for limited government as thus: “With regard to government, at the ‘core’ of our core principles are these unassailable truths: Government has nothing to give anybody except what it first takes from somebody, and a government that is big enough to give you

everything you want is big enough to take away everything you’ve got.”

The line of thinking is that more regulating agencies mean more regulations. More regulations lead to excessive taxes to fund social programs viewed by many on the right as unnecessary. In other words, the more they give, the more potential they have to take it away.

Another issue that unites the militias is immigration, with most patriot groups supporting secure borders and only carefully vetted legal immigration. Those who come into the U.S. illegally would not enjoy the rights of American citizens.

“The one thing about the modern-day militia movement, traditionally is, this is not a hate movement,” said Beirlich. “They say it’s not about race, it’s about issues.”

However, as Beirlich pointed out, many on the extremes show evidence of a growing anti-immigration stance centered around the Islamic faith.

“The amount of anti-Muslim rhetoric that you find now on patriot websites and forums is incredible,” said Beirlich. “It frankly doesn’t sound any different in many cases as our anti-Muslim hate groups.”

< see POLITICS, page 17 >

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Sandpoint saw an example of an anti-immigration reaction in 2015 when Bonner County Commissioners unanimously voted to oppose Syrian refugee resettlement. No program for the resettlement of any refugees had been considered in Bonner County at the time.

When the Sandpoint City Council later considered an opposite resolution welcoming Syrian refugees, over 100 people swarmed the council chambers to vigorously protest the action. The council ultimately voted to kill the motion.

Finally, strong support and application of the Second Amendment is another key issue that most often unites those on the right.

In what was viewed as a major victory for Second Amendment rights, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in any militia for traditionally lawful purposes, such as home self-defense. “(That verdict) is an outcome of (the militia) movement as well,” said Beirlich. “I would argue this movement has influenced the Republican party substantially and helped propel the NRA to the position it has today. That Second Amendment interpretation hadn’t existed before, so some would argue our entire relationship with guns in this country has been influenced by this particular movement.”

Second Amendment supporters, on the other hand, argue that the right to bear arms has always historically been a personal right, and that it is only in the polarized environment of modern times that the Supreme Court was required to rule that the Second Amendment applies to all citizens.

Bush, 9/11, Obama and the Rise of the Tea Party Beirlich contends that the party which holds the presidency often influences the rise and strength of militia groups and also affects the general mistrust of the federal government.

“These groups sort of wax and wane based on whether Democrats are in office or not,” said Beirlich.

With the election of George W. Bush in late 2000 and the subsequent terrorist attacks carried out

by Al-Qaeda on Sept. 11, 2001, the nation appeared to pull together in order to heal the wounds afflicted by a foreign terrorist group.

Beirlich said that “although the

anti-government movement went a little dormant under George (W.) Bush, it sprung right back to life with the same themes and the same grievances when Obama came into office.”

The election of President Barack Obama in 2008 was followed by an economic downturn known as the “Great Recession” in which U.S. – and ultimately world markets – were sent into a downward spiral thanks to widespread failures in financial regulation and the practice of toxic mortgages that tanked the real estate market.

As a result, the U.S. endured years of high unemployment, low consumer confidence, a decline of home values and a marked increase in foreclosures and bankruptcies that led to increased federal debt, inflation and rising food and fuel prices.

In the instability following the recession, with anti-federal government feelings rising again under a Democrat president, a new conservative populist political movement called the Tea Party emerged.

The catalyst for this movement came in early 2009 when CNBC commentator Rick Santelli referenced the Boston Tea Party in response to Obama’s mortgage plan relief, which amounted to a federal “bailout” to protect banks from failing on a large-scale basis.

The segment went viral, and within weeks, Tea Party chapters popped up across the country. They were promoted by conservative pundits like Glenn Beck, who called for a platform opposing excessive taxation and governmental intervention in the private sector while supporting strong immigration controls. Tea Party chapters also pushed back against the government-mandated health care plan Obama had been proposing.

The libertarian timbre of the movement drew many disaffected Republicans under the Tea Party banner, and the anti-government tone resonated with the swelling militia chapters across America.

“Originally, most Tea Party concerns had to do with what was going to happen with financial crisis,” said Beirlich. “But it quickly became subsumed by anti-immigrant politicking.”

Beirlich said the Minute Man Movement of 2005-2006, which saw an influx of private citizens patrolling the southern U.S. border for illegal aliens, eventually found a home within the Tea Party movement.

The Tea Party ranks were also teeming with “birthers,” or individuals who believed Obama had been born outside the U.S. and

was not eligible to serve as president.

Proponents of the conspiracy theory included dozens of members of Congress, television political pundits and future president Donald Trump.

Trump maintained his claim against Obama until just before the 2016 election when he stated that Obama was born in the U.S., although recent reports claim he may still harbor doubts as to the former president’s birthplace.

The Tea Party ranks swelled to their highest levels during 20092010, with over a third of the nation identifying with the movement.

When former vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska in 2009, many viewed her as the new unofficial Tea Party spokesperson.

In the 2010 midterm elections, the New York Times identified 138 candidates for Congress with Tea Party backing, all of whom ran as Republicans. Over half were elected to the Senate and a third to the House. Many of today’s household names in politics were elected into office with the help of the “Tea Party Express,” including Sen. Ted Cruz, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Rand Paul.

“The Tea Party took up anti-government stances and became a transfer point of anti-immigrant and anti-government thinking into the full GOP,” said Beirlich. “You didn’t see the full flourishing of that until the 2012 election when the platform for the GOP included things like Agenda 21.”

Agenda 21 is a non-binding action plan first proposed by the United Nations (UN) in 1992 to support social development issues such as poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, environment and social justice. George H.W. Bush signed the voluntary pact in 1992.

Opponents of Agenda 21 view it as a “globalist” ploy to deny private property rights, undermine U.S. sovereignty and force citizens to move from rural to urban environments. The UN has traditionally been viewed by the Tea Party and the conservative right as a threat to national sovereignty and personal rights.

A current snapshot of recognized anti-government groups in the US. Courtesy of SPLC.

One of the most outspoken critics of Agenda 21 is American Policy Center president Tom DeWeese, who in 2015 described the resolution as “a new kind of tyranny that, if not stopped, will surely lead us to a new Dark Ages of pain and misery yet unknown to mankind.”

“Agenda 21 began to be seen out of the propaganda of the anti-government world as a socialist plan to take over the country to enforce all these crazy environmental rules and take our cars away,” said Beirlich.

“Glenn Beck even wrote a novel to resist Agenda 21 ... but, that conspiracy theory ended up in the GOP platform. Mitt Romney had interactions with Kris Kobach from Kansas about putting anti-immigration stuff into the platform. The Tea Party rose up about the financial issues and very quickly started taking up these extremist ideas and eventually became like a funnel from the far right on certain policies into the GOP.” Beirlich said the Tea Party generally fell out of favor as a protest movement because it ultimately became accepted within the framework of the Republican party.

“The argument is that the Tea Party became subsumed by the GOP,” said Beirlich. “There was no need for a Tea Party chapter if the GOP is responding to your concerns.”

In “Steep: The Precipitous Rise of the Tea Party,” UC Berkeley’s Center for RightWing Studies program director Christine Trost wrote: “A key lesson of the book is to not think of the Tea Party as this separate thing, but to understand it as a core element of the Republican Party. It’s really a question of the future of the Republican Party. Is the party going to be taken over by a very conservative, very active base that’s been growing over the last 30 years, or (is it) going to leave ... and

go someplace else?”

Political Migration Movements Reacting to what a growing number of people viewed as a toxic system, various political migration movements arose around the country over the past several decades.

In the 1960s and ‘70s, tens of thousands participated in various agrarian movements across the U.S. known collectively as the “Back to the Land” movement that called for people to take up small tracts of land to grow food on a small-scale basis and live in closer harmony with the land.

The Free State Project is a libertarian movement begun in 2001 that called for at least 20,000 libertarians to move to New Hampshire in order to make the state a stronghold for libertarian ideals. Twelve “free staters” were elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2010, 11 in 2012, and another 15 in 2014.

Christian Exodus is a political-religious movement first proposed in 2003 that called for “thousands of Christian Constitutionalists” to move to South Carolina to “accelerate the return of self-governance based on Christian principles,” according to their website. The group called for “personal secession” by “disentangling from society” by promoting home schooling, going off the electric grid and instituting self-sufficient farming practices. The movement largely fell off the map in 2013.

“The Back to the Land movement was political, but it was almost like personal politics, like ‘I’ll get my life straight by going back to the land and living in a better way,’” said Beirlich. “It was a hippie kind

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HEALTH

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IN FINE FETTLE Eggnog is a superfood

By Ammi Midstokke Reader Health Columnist

For a while now, thanks to Dr. Oz and other preachers of panaceas, we’ve been hearing about these incredible wonders of the nutritional world: Superfoods. But what exactly is a superfood?

Since science has neglected to take part in the discussion (because there is no science to back up this marketing jargon), we’ll be left to break it down linguistically:

By this definition, superfoods merely need to taste good (a wholly subjective assessment) to qualify as a superfood. Which is why I am adding eggnog to the list of superfoods.

The claim of a superfood is typically inspired by a particular food’s high density in a nutrient or vitamin that correlates to a positive result in a random study by a bunch of guys in lab coats.

We know that correlation does not mean causation.

Yes, there are studies that show people who eat a ton of broccoli have lower incident of colon cancer. Does that make broccoli a superfood? It does if you’re buying an overpriced broccoli-kiwi superfood smoothie.

If we assess the actual science behind that statement, we’ll note that broccoli is high in fiber, which aids in regular bowel function, which aids in avoiding inflammation, and inflammation correlates (and is indicated as a cause in some cases) to colon cancer.

But broccoli-chomping people also belong by default in a lower-risk demographic: People who actually eat vegetables. I found no studies singling out Brussels sprouts or people who eat papyrus as a nervous tendency (also a high-fiber substance).

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Ammi Midstokke with Freya the Brown Dog.

keted have been given this prestigious sham title for particular qualities, such as “anti-oxidant” powers. In fact, wine gets that trophy all the time, but lemons and blueberries offer just as many, have additional fiber, and don’t shrink your brain or cause a hangover.

Anti-oxidants are molecules that inhibit the oxidization of other molecules. Oxidization leads to something we know as “free-radicals.” Much like their name indicates, these guys cause a sort of internal chemical revolt that leads to cellular damage.

Damaged cells that start to reproduce equal cancers.

But oxidization is also a natural cycle within our body, only high levels of it, or excessively low levels, can led to trouble.

We increase our level of oxidative stress by: fighting with our spouses, eating too much sugar, being exposed to toxins — yes, the ones even in your shampoo — and over-training. Or even just training.

Those of us who meet any or all of those criteria may want to increase our consumption of foods higher in anti-oxidants, or superfoods, or what we’ve basically always known by their more traditional name: Fruits and Vegetables And eggnog. How does eggnog qualify? Oh ye,s folks, I even have science to back this claim up. First, it’s very good, or pleasant; excellent.

Second, if it is made with real eggs, especially the farm-fresh, happy-chicken kind, it is loaded with Vitamin D. This fat-soluble vitamin will not only help you avoid rickets, but also aids in balancing the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body essential for maintaining bone health. Studies also show it supports immune health, can reduce symptoms of depression and is a key factor in weight optimization. Eggnog doesn’t help with the latter, of course.

Now that we’ve established its validity as a superfood, let’s learn how to make one from scratch so you can avoid those packaged, processed, sugar-laden varieties and serve your holiday guests with a cup of health instead.

Ammi’s Fall Down Real Soon Now Eggnog Courtesy of Jimmy Akers, who shared his recipe with me decades ago. I have since adapted it to my dairy-free ways.

•12 egg yolks (set the whites aside) •1 liter coconut milk •1 can full fat coconut cream •1/2 c sugar (or creamed honey) •Dash of vanilla •Freshly ground nutmeg •Enough bourbon to enjoy your relatives Whisk egg yolks in a bowl until creamy, add sugar and vanilla. Then coconut cream and milk (you can use whole milk and whole cream if you eat dairy) and mix. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites until stiff.

Fold into top of other mixture, grind fresh nutmeg over the top and serve.

Ammi Midstokke can be reached at ammi@twobirdsnutrition.com.

From left, Nevada Assemblyman John Moore, Idaho Rep. Heather Scott and Idaho Rep. Judy Boyle speak to reporters outside the Malheur Wildlife Refuge during the standoff. Photo by AP / Rebecca Boone.

of thing. Christian Exodus was more radically political. The whole idea ... was to get enough people to take over state politics and decide what life is like for fellow citizens. It’s more of a citizen action than Back to the Land. It’s all about reordering the political process.”

Ruby Ridge Redux A 21-year grazing dispute between Nevada cattle rancher Cliven Bundy and the Bureau of Land Management erupted in early 2016 when Cliven’s sons Ammon and Ryan Bundy led a group of armed supporters in occupying the Malheur Wildlife Refuge building in Oregon for 40 days in protest of the federal government’s court decision against Bundy.

The plight of the Bundys quickly became a rallying cry for patriot and militia groups who viewed the situation as another instance of the federal government’s overreach and regulatory practices oppressing the rights of private citizens.

The Bundys and others who follow their fringe line of thinking followed a philosophy that combines Mormon theology, apocalyptic endtimes beliefs and Constitutionalism outlined in the famed “Nay Book,” which is condemned by the Church of Latter Day Saints. Supporters of this philosophy disputed the ownership rights the federal government had in the first place on BLM grazing land.

“That’s the situation that is the most reminiscent of Ruby Ridge,” said Beirlich.

It wasn’t just militia and patriot groups that turned out to support the occupation of the federal building.

The Malheur standoff also gained support from elected officials from surrounding states, including appearances by Idaho state representatives Judy Boyle, Heather Scott and Sage Dixon, Washington state representatives Graham Hunt and Matt Shea and Nevada State Rep. Michelle Fiore via telephone.

Beirlich sees the attendance and support of elected officials at Malheur as a troubling circumstance.

“When political figures get in-

volved actively, they give credence and essentially endorse the views of these people,” said Beirlich. “That is very problematic. It makes it a much more volatile situation.”

Juries have been reluctant to convict the participants in the Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupation, although there were several guilty pleas. The actual convictions resulted in prison, fines and supervised release and probation. No prison terms exceeded 18 months.

From Ruby Ridge to Redoubt While the events that occurred at Ruby Ridge happened over 25 years ago, the anti-government feelings that rose from its ashes continue to affect the political complexion of North Idaho and the rest of the nation today.

Through the rise of the militia movement, the birth of the Tea Party and its later acceptance within mainstream GOP ideology, and the increased number of people participating in political migration movements, it showed there was a populace hungry to free themselves from what they viewed as an oppressive federal government. The end goal: to remake their vision of a harmonious society in an agreed upon location, to practice elements of self-reliance and prepare their loved ones for the possibility that the house of cards could eventually come crashing down.

In 2011, James Wesley, Rawles (sic) wrote an essay on SurvivalBlog.com that he claimed launched a movement to the American Redoubt. Eastern Washington and Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and Wyoming held promise because of its lower population density, reduced risk of natural disasters and a political environment that was growing more protective over individual freedom and liberty.

In next week’s issue, we’ll discuss the political aspects of the Redoubt movement specifically, and examine the impact it has had on North Idaho’s political environment.

STAGE & SCREEN

Animated Masterpiece ‘Loving Vincent’ comes to the Panida

By Reader Staff

The Sandpoint premiere of “Loving Vincent” comes to the Panida Theatre for a three-day limited run starting Thursday, Dec. 14.

Unreservedly hailed as a masterpiece of cinematic originality – the world’s first fully painted feature film – “Loving Vincent” unveils the mystery-shrouded death of the famed artist Vincent Van Gogh.

Critics are eloquent in their astonished admiration for this original work: “An animated masterpiece!” says Tomris Laffly, Film Journal International; “A one-of-a-kind work of art,” according to Variety; and “hypnotic and beguiling,” in the opinion of A.O. Scott of the New York Times.

Drawn from meticulous research and inspired by Van Gogh’s masterpieces, subjects, and 800 personal letters, “Loving Vincent” portrays the vivid world of Van Gogh in a cinematic experience like no other. Six years in creative development, the film features 65,000 frames painted by 125 professional artists. The artists painted the first frame as a full oil painting on canvas board, and then painted over that painting for

each frame until the last frame of the shot. The vividly fluid, expressive result is mesmerizing.

Directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, “Loving Vincent” is the heart’s work of Dorota. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Dorota’s passion for animation and film, and her direction of live action and animated shorts, culminated in “Loving Vincent,” her sixth project. At first determined to paint the entire film herself, Dorota chose to direct the artists who would paint it, frame by frame, when the project became a full-length feature film.

Presented by Oscar winners Breakthru Films and Trademark Films, “Loving Vincent” features a brilliant cast, with Polish theatre actor Robert Gulaczyk as Vincent. Asked to audition because of his remarkable resemblance to Van Gogh, Bulaczyk’s famed depth of talent made itself known as, with one day’s notice, he read movingly from a script in English – a language he had barely spoken since leaving school. The cast includes Douglas Booth, Jerome Flynn, Helen McCrory, Chris O’Dowd, Saoirse Ronan, John Sessions, Eleanor Tomlinson and Aidan Turner.

Tickets are available online at www. panida.org and at the door starting 30 minutes before each showing. Dates and times are Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. and special time on

A still frame from ‘Loving Vincent.” Courtesy photo.

Sunday, Dec. 17 matinee at 1:30 p.m to allow for the Panida staff to host a volunteer party at MickDuff’s Beer Hall at 4 p.m. This film is rated PG-13.

Schmidt joins Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Staff students outside during the winter months and deepen their sense of Nancy place, build community, and connect Schmidt joined to the outdoor world through experithe Friends of ential education.

Scotchman Schmidt grew up in Pittsburgh Peaks Wilderness Pennsylvania and earned her Bache(FSPW) staff on lors of Science in Parks and RecreNov. 29 as winter ation Administration from Slippery program coordiRock University in Pennsylvania. nator. She will She worked in community recreation lead the FSPW Nancy Schmidt. for a number a years as a YMCA 2018 Winter Tracks outdoor education prodirector, a director of parks and recreation gram. Schmidt, who has worked in education and as a manager of a health and tennis and healthcare most of her career, is happy to club. She earned her master’s degree in take her passion and love for the outdoors and health education at Penn State University utilize her skills to educate others. in 1993 and went on to work as a health “I’m excited to be leading the way for educator and adjunct faculty member at the FSPW Winter Tracks program this year,” Chatham University, and the University of Schmidt said. “I’m passionate about outdoor Pittsburgh. She went on to earn her Ph.D in education, particularly helping people to under- psychiatric epidemiology at the University stand and appreciate their local natural world.” of Pittsburgh and was employed by CarneThe Winter Tracks program is a daygie Mellon University for a number of years long field trip experience for students in before moving to Idaho. the counties surrounding the Scotchman Peaks, Sanders and Lincoln in Montana and For more information on Winter Tracks Bonner in Idaho. Several Spokane schools or other winter activities and news, visit at also participate. The purpose is to get the www.scotchmanpeaks.org.

By Reader Staff

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Third & Cedar | 208.265.8545 | POWine.com

For retreat info go to

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LITERATURE

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

‘Super pilot’ publishes new book of wartime reflections Author Bill Collier will be signing copies at Vanderford’s Books this weekend

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff As the saying goes, war is hell. But some wars are less hellish than others.

Shortly after completing his service in the Vietnam War, Cpt. Bill Collier, a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps, found himself drawn into another conflict waged by the CIA in Laos. And while the two-year experience brought its share of harrowing moments, it also offered high pay, plenty of vacation and the opportunity to go on globe-trotting adventures with a best friend. It’s all covered in Collier’s latest book, “CIA Super Pilot Spills the Beans.”

“This particular story was a lot of fun (to write),” Collier said.

No stranger to the local writers community, Collier’s first book, “The Adventures of a Helicopter Pilot,” delved into his intense rescue missions flying wounded soldiers to safety in Vietnam. Like innumerable other soldiers, Collier’s time in Vietnam left him shaken by the carnage and afflicted by post-traumatic stress disorder.

He relived those memories when it came time to write about his experiences in 2014.

By contrast, Collier said that writing “CIA Super Pilot Spills the Beans” was a much more lighthearted experience, one that reflected a far more tolerable — oftentimes even enjoyable — stint in Southeast Asia. According to Collier, the pay was amazing, the danger was far less grave compared to Vietnam and a combination of open access to airlines and generous leave time put the world’s greatest cities at his fingertips.

“I like to say it was a 50-times-better job (than serving in Vietnam) because the risk

Is anyone sick of my recommendations for seafaring literature? I hope not, because I have one more: “Morning of Fire: John Kendrick’s Daring American Odyssey in the Pacific” by Scott Ridley.

This book follows the exciting period of exploration of the late 18th century explorer John Kendrick as he journeyed for land and trade in the Pacific. From dealings with natives in the Pacific Northwest and Russian Alaska to the islands of Hawaii, Ridley’s book is a great resource for anyone wanting to know about the interesting time after our Revolution.

LISTEN

Top: Capt. Bill Collier. Right: The cover of “CIA Super Pilot Spills the Beans.”

Courtesy photos.

was one tenth and the pay was five times better,” Collier said.

The little-known story of CIA-led military activities in Laos took place between 1964 and 1973, during which time the U.S. ran 580,000 bombing missions in an effort to halt Communist insurgents and their North Vietnamese allies. The minimal journalistic coverage and historical notice have led some to call it “the secret war.”

“Most people didn’t know and still don’t know that there was another little war going on in Laos,” Collier said.

Fresh off his ordeal in Vietnam, Collier had little desire to continue flying missions overseas. He was still shaken

by PTSD and trying to find his place in the world following his military service.

“I had my fill of death and destruction and mayhem in Vietnam,” he said.

However, after hearing good reports about the working conditions in Laos and finding a relative lack of piloting jobs in the private sector, he decided to give it a try. He found the positive reports to be largely accurate. While there were moments of intense danger when

READ

If anyone is looking for an idea for a Christmas present for me, I’d love the vinyl of Robert Johnson’s “The Complete Recordings.” Last I checked on Amazon it was something like $95, so I won’t hold my breath too long.

Widely hailed as the progenitor of the modern blues and jazz in America, Johnson’s music speaks to a part of my soul I didn’t even know I had.

his H-34 helicopter was under fire, enemy engagements occurred far less frequently than in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Collier enjoyed some of the best pay he’d earned in his career.

“The problem was it spoiled me rotten, because (when I left the job,) I was used to having big bucks and lots of time off,” Collier said.

He also got used to some of the most amazing vacations of his life. Collier and his best friend took full advantage their generous leave time and open access to airlines, flying from one city to another on globe-trotting adventures.

While on their flights, they had ample opportunity to flirt with stewardesses and often had dates ready and waiting upon

reaching their destination. “(The leave time) was good enough on its own, but to do it with your best buddy was great,” Collier said.

The book’s distinctive title comes from an article written

by Anne Darling and published in Oui, an off-shoot of Playboy Magazine, entitled “CIA Super Pilots Spill the Beans.” Collier continues that tradition in his latest book, writing with humor and honesty about a unique time in his life.

Meet Collier for yourself and pick up a copy of the book when the author hosts a book signing at Vanderford’s this weekend. Catch him Saturday, Dec. 16, from 1-3 p.m.

WATCH

I’m a sucker for a film that highlights a true story of someone overcoming incredible obstacles to achieving greatness.

Last year’s biJesse Owens ographical sports film “Race,” directed by Stephen Hopkins, moved me. It tells the tale of African-American athlete Jesse Owens, who won a record-breaking four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

Set in the years leading up to World War II, when Nazi Germany was actively rounding up Jews and political dissidents, “Race” is a sports film with an incredible message – that greatness sometimes comes through, despite the disastrous political climate of the day.

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The Straight Poop:

The quest for dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho

Pend Oreille Veterinary Service

By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist Where am I taking my humans today?

After a short car ride, we are greeted as we enter at the new digs of the Pend Oreille Veterinary Services, located at 805 Kootenai Cut-Off Road.

Jordan welcomes us with her scale antics, commonly known as “The Weigh In.” Really? It’s the holidays.

Jeez, Jordan, can’t you guess my weight by looking at me? Add a little muscle, take away a bit of puff and write down a number between 45 and 50. Nice job luring me to step on the scale with a treat. Shall I remove my collar, adventure light, jewelry and leash? Read the number carefully, please, as excessive poundage is not in my wheelhouse.

As I wait in the exam room to see Dr. Shelby Johnson, DVM Associate, I notice that her diploma is from Oregon State University. Go Beavers! Wonder if they treat them here? She probably will make an exception.

The door opens, and Dr. Johnson welcomes us. She sizes me up to determine my “body score,” which is judged on talent (I’m going to rock this!) A score of one is awesome. Nine?

Not so good. The target score is four to five, and it is different for every dog, depending on what the doc discovers when she feels my spine, ribs and waist.

Rub the tummy, please, so I can show off my hourglass shape.

Yep, just what I thought. My score is right in the middle. Note to self: I must get serious about those veggie treats.

So I’m doing my best downward-facing dog (which the Missus calls my parade bow), and wagging my tail, when … whaaaaat? With no warning, in goes the thermometer. At least they could warm it up. My temp is normal and heartbeat is 90 strong!

We yap with Dr. Johnson and find out that she has friends in Sandpoint and has always wanted to move here.

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Wish come true! Her hubby landed a teaching job, and she became an associate of the clinic, which was founded by Dr. Jerry Lewis circa 1964.

The Johnsons have three huskies: Dallas, Gigi and Miller, commonly known as their “couch potatoes.”

As Dr. Johnson says, “Shoemakers’ children are the last to get shoes. Same for my dogs. I spend a lot of time with my fur patients, and my four-footed children get it. That’s why they love to ski jour with my husband.”

Couch potato skijoring four-footed children. Gotta love it!

As the wellness visit chat continues, we focus on weight and balance (dog food). Dr. Johnson cleans a small spot on the floor, takes out a tongue depressor, opens a jar of baby food — chicken flavor — and proceeds to spread it on the floor. As I lap it up my yearly shots are downloaded. Now that’s a creative distraction! I didn’t feel a thing. Nice touch, Dr. Johnson. Next time I’ll order the vegetarian baby food. I love green beans, squash and sweet potatoes.

The staff here includes seven DVMs, or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. They specialize in orthopedics, acupuncture, internal medicine, pain management, nutrition, oncology, hematology, dentistry, behavior, geriatric and preventative care.

The docs are all dog parents and enjoy horsing around outdoors. Other pack members include the techs, reception, pet lodge, caregiving, grooming and training teams.

At your leisure, you’ve got to take a tour of the Pet Lodge. These guys pledge “to provide a safe, loving and a fun home away from home.” The Pet Lodge offers boarding services for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and small animals. Check out the spacious indoor accommodations, condos and the “fetch” track. The pet boutique has toys, food, training tools and leashes and more.

Goofy’s hands indicate that it’s time to get out of here. With a shaka-paw, one swipe of the card, a treat and an

Right: Dr. Shelby Johnson listens to Drake’s heartbeat during his visit to Pend Oreille Veterinary Service on Kootenai Cut-Off Road.

Crossword Solution updated rabies doc in hand, we are outta here. The Mister knows I need a bush, as vet visits tend to move things along.

Hugs and slobbery holiday kisses.

Visit the Pend Oreille Veterinary Service at 805 Kootenai Cut-Off Road, or call them at (208) 263-2145. Check them out online at www.sandpointvets. com.

If you get invited to your first orgy, don’t just show up nude. That’s a common mistake. You have to let nudity “happen.”

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deontology /dee-on-TOL-uh-jee/

Woorf tdhe Week

[noun] 1. ethics, especially that branch dealing with duty, moral obligation, and right action.

“There’s a serious lapse of deontology in national politics.”

Corrections: No, you didn’t travel a year into the future last week, we just screwed up our dateline on the cover. It isn’t 2018 yet. Sorry about the mistake, time travelers. Back to business as usual. -BO

1. Portent 5. A dice game 10. 50% 14. Certain 15. Vagabonds 16. Dogfish 17. Indecisive 19. Short skirt 20. Before, poetically 21. Foals 22. Birch relative 23. Remedy 25. Spells 27. One or more 28. Charity TV show 31. Emergency signal 34. Dull stupid fatuous people 35. Nigerian tribesman 36. Shoestring 37. Territories 38. Expectoration 39. And so forth 40. Concerns 41. Sew together loosely 42. Greeter 44. To make a fool of (archaic) 45. First 46. Rupture 50. Overgrown with ivy 52. Ancient Roman magistrate 54. Arrive (abbrev.)

55. 10 cent coin 56. Emptying out of a building 58. Lascivious look

Solution on page 22 59. Stayed 60. Found in some lotions 61. Countercurrent 62. Sword 63. Sounds of disapproval

DOWN 1. Willow 2. Black-and-white diving bird 3. Made a mistake 4. Born as 5. Difficult to please 6. Buns 7. Border 8. Shards 9. South southeast

10. Tiny village 11. Near the center of a ship 12. Connects two points 13. Reasonable 18. Display 22. Chopping tools 24. Unusual 26. Large N. Amer. deer (plural) 28. Laser printer powder 29. Death notice 30. Memo 31. Took flight 32. Tardy 33. Praised

34. Presumptuously daring 37. Tibetan monk 38. Indian dress 40. College girl 41. An inferior black tea 43. Chipper 44. Deceive 46. Cut into cubes 47. Travels on water 48. Criminal 49. Sea eagles 50. Doing nothing 51. Competed 53. 20th-century art movement 56. Diminish 57. Make lace

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