Reader_December19_2024

2 / R / December 19, 2024

DEAR READERS,

The week in random review

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

Wasting time (and space)

On a recent Tuesday, Reader Staff Writer Soncirey Mitchell and I were in the office talking about the record number of asteroid impacts in 2024 that have been predicted ahead of time — four, as of the beginning of December. According to science-y observers, that indicates we’re getting more skilled at tracking when and where asteroids will hit us, which is a good thing... I guess. The most recent was predicted to enter (and burn up, thankfully) in the atmosphere about 12 hours before it did — the second-longest lead time ever recorded.

Also good. That led us to dork out for about an hour on NASA’s crazy cool “Eyes on Asteroids” website (found at eyes.nasa.gov), which shows the location, trajectory and details on loads of comets, probes and asteroids as they spin around or swing through the solar system. It looks and feels like a Star Trek info panel and offers the rare opportunity to avoid work while still doing something educational. Equally awesome is the “Eyes on Exoplanets” site (also at eyes.nasa.gov) that lets you take a galactic view of all the known planets outside our stellar neighborhood with an interactive interface and filters to zoom in on distance, potential habitability, composition and tons more. I’d say it’s just about the best way I’ve found to stare into space while you should be working.

rain, sleet and shush

Among the many things people need to stop saying to fill the conversational void is stuff like, “I heard we’re going to have a real hard winter” in October, only to see nothing but rain and sleet in the forecast through the end of December. I feel like I’ve heard this said by people with a knowing nod of the head every year for more than a decade, and I can’t remember the time we actually had a “real hard winter” since sometime in the early 2000s. I looked at weather.com this week and it’s telling me we’re going to have snow/rain with no high temperatures below 37 degrees through Dec. 29. Christmas Day is supposed to have a low of 35. I can deal with the fact that we just don’t have “winter” anymore — my future grandchildren, should I end up having any, might beg to differ — but I can’t even with the faux sagacity of lazy seasonal gabbers. No: We’re not going to have “a doozy of a winter this year” because it’s been 47 years since the planet had a “colder-than-average” year (according to 2024 numbers from NOAA), and 2023 was hotter than it’s been since we started keeping records of this stuff in 1850.

​​There are just a few shopping days left until Christmas, so don’t forget to check out our last-minute gift guide on Page 14. If possible, please try to purchase gifts from our local retailers. Box stores and online shopping will send your money right out of town, while supporting small businesses in your community keeps it right here where it belongs.

Also, don’t forget the deadline for our 208 Fiction writing contest is Friday, Jan. 3 at 5 p.m. Make sure stories are exactly 208 words (not including author name and title). Submissions are $5 each (you can submit as many as you like). The winning story will take home $150 in cash. Send to: stories@sandpointreader.com. Please include 208 FICTION in the subject line.

The Reader will publish on a rare Tuesday morning next week due to the Christmas holiday. If you have press releases or advertising needs, please contact us as soon as possible, because Monday, Dec. 23 will be our deadline day. Cheers.

– Ben Olson, publisher

READER 111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368 sandpointreader.com

Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Soncirey Mitchell (Staff Writer) soncirey@sandpointreader.com Editors Emeriti: Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Cameron Rasmusson John Reuter Advertising: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Cora Murray (cover), Ben Olson, Bill Borders Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Emily Erickson, Tim Henney, Sandy Compton Submit Stories To: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed Weekly At: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $185 per year Website Designed By: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, bluster, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community.

The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. For back issues, contact the publisher. Free to all, limit two per person, please.

Letter to the Editor Policy: We welcome letters to the editor on all relavant topics. Please, no more than 300 words, no excessive profanity or libelous statements and no trolls. Please elevate the discussion and stay on topic.

Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinons expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publisher. Send to: letters@sandpointreader.com About the Cover: This week’s cover art is by local Cora Murray. Great job, Cora!

December 19, 2024 / R / 3

NEWS

Sheriff Wheeler’s temporary ‘resignation’ draws ‘concerns’ from local GOP Chair Herndon

Wheeler would use 30-day resignation to draw retirement benefits before Jan. 13 swearing-in

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler voluntarily resigned his position, effective Dec. 13 — but only until he’s sworn in for a fifth term Jan. 13 — in order to file for his retirement benefits under the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho.

According to a Facebook post Dec. 15, “To be eligible to receive those benefits, I am required to be separated from county employment for 30 days,” he wrote.

Wheeler delivered his resignation notice to the Bonner County board of commissioners after consulting with County Prosecutor Louis Marshall about Idaho Code 31-2806, which stipulates that the “senior deputy sheriff” will serve during a vacancy, which means Undersheriff Ror Lakewold will be acting sheriff until Wheeler’s return to office in January.

“As always, Undersheriff Lakewold has my full faith and confidence to stand in during my absence,” Wheeler wrote. “I know he will do a great job leading the Sheriff’s Office and keeping Bonner County safe.”

The announcement drew a range of reactions from members of the public, including many on social media who characterized the move as an example of “double dipping” — with Wheeler drawing the benefits of retirement on top of his regular salary.

However, others responded that it’s not unusual for an employee to collect retirement while still employed.

Bonner County Republican Central Committee Chair Scott Herndon was among those who raised alarm bells about Wheeler’s temporary resignation in order to col4 / R / December 19, 2024

lect retirement benefits. He specifically cited I.C. 59-1356, which allows for the rehiring of PERSI-eligible employees following retirement, but only if they’ve undergone a “bona fide” separation from a PERSI employer for no less than 30 days and are reemployed with no prearranged guarantee of a position.

In Wheeler’s case, he announced his separation from the county 31 days before the start of his fifth term in office and — while his victory in the November general election does technically guarantee him reemployment — Herndon told the Reader that based on information he received from the PERSI Board on Dec. 18, the guarantee of reemployment for an elected official doesn’t come from the political subdivision they serve, but from voters who returned them to office.

“He’s probably going to be OK on that point,” Herndon said, though he reiterated that there’s still some question about whether Wheeler’s resignation is even official, considering Herndon’s interpretation of the statute, which he argued requires that the Bonner County board of commissioners accepts the vacancy by a majority vote.

Herndon further argued that since Wheeler’s notice of resignation came on the 31st day before his Jan. 13 swearing-in — and since the BOCC hadn’t acted on it as of press time — “I believe it’s technically in limbo. I actually don’t think the resignation is in effect yet.”

In a Dec. 17 email to Wheeler; Commissioners Asia Williams, Steve Bradshaw and Ron Korn; and Marshall — and shared with the Reader — Herndon thanked Wheeler for his service and stated that while the sheriff had “absolutely earned” his retirement

benefits, he pointed to “significant” concerns about the legality of the resignation and added, “my recommendation is that you rescind your resignation that you submitted last Friday.”

In an email to the Reader on Dec. 16, Wheeler wrote that PERSI retirement benefits are based on a combination of service years and age.

He has been contributing to the fund since 2001, operating on the “rule of 80,” meaning years of service and age must add up to 80 before benefits can be drawn.

“I reached my rule of 80 years ago, which means the contributions I make every month are not building up my retirement as they did prior to reaching my rule of 80,” he wrote. “My state retirement benefit check is not being paid by the Bonner County taxpayers, but by the state retirement fund. Actually, when I return on Jan. 13, I will continue to make monthly contributions to the retirement fund of over $1,000, with no benefit to me personally. I won’t be starting an additional retirement that I can collect at the end of my fifth term.”

In response to the Reader’s questions, Wheeler wrote that his monthly retirement check will be $3,994 before taxes, and will start Jan. 1.

“When I return as your elected sheriff on Jan. 13, my monthly salary will resume,” he wrote.

According to the Bonner County civil wage scale, as of 2023, the elected sheriff earns $109,505.38 per year.

“My particular situation is unique, however, many sheriffs throughout the state are collecting their full safety retirement benefit and at the same time collecting a salary from their county,” Wheeler told the Reader, though he did not respond to a follow-up

Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler. File photo

question to elaborate on what makes his situation “unique.”

Herndon told the Reader that while it’s true that many first responders, law enforcement officers and firefighters have returned to employment following retirement and maintained their benefits, the policy in Idaho Code was intended to allow those public safety employees to come back to work to help ease staffing shortages following “bona fide” separation, with no guarantee of reemployment.

“If they’ve started collecting those retirement benefits, we don’t want to make them give that up in order to get reemployed by a PERSI employer. So that’s the purpose of the bill,” said Herndon, who added that he voted for Senate Bill 1054 in the 2023 legislative session, which created that subsection of code.

“We didn’t want people separating just for the purpose of also collecting PERSI. The whole idea is they legitimately retire, and then came back because there was a genuine need. It stood out at me right away ... that’s not what the intent is. This isn’t right — this is exactly what we don’t want,” he said, later adding, “If I knew that this is how it was going to be used, I would have voted ‘no’ on that bill.

Commissioner Williams did not respond to a request for comment by press time, while Korn told the Reader that it’s

a “moot point,” considering, “The BOCC has not accepted the resignation of Sheriff Wheeler as of yet.”

However, he added, the commissioners will most likely have Wheeler’s resignation on the agenda for their next business meeting, which according to the current schedule won’t take place until after the week of Christmas.

Asked whether he was privy to any additional information regarding Wheeler’s 30-day resignation — and specifically about the process, legality and his opinion on the move — Bradshaw responded in an email, “Good questions.”

He followed up by referring the Reader to county Deputy Prosecutor Bill Wilson, ultimately stating, “If he wants to draw his retirement, it’s his money. That would be my take on it.”

Wheeler beat Bradshaw in the May GOP primary for the sheriff’s office, prevailing by the widest margin in the local election with 9,822 votes to Bradshaw’s 2,906 (or 77.17% to 22.8%).

Bradshaw declined to seek another term as District 1 Bonner County commissioner, instead throwing his hat in the ring for sheriff, and will leave office in January. Republican Brian Domke will assume the Dist. 1 seat.

Wheeler won the November election unopposed.

Wilson did not respond to a request for comment, but forwarded the request to Marshall, who stated in a Dec. 17 email to the Reader that collecting both retirement benefits and a paycheck is a process that “has been and is currently utilized throughout the state and here in Bonner County.”

“Sheriff Wheeler was duly

< see WHEELER, Page 5 >

NEWS

‘Fleecing the flock’

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff The Bonner County Republican Central Committee passed a resolution Dec. 17 to appoint Commissioner-elect Brian Domke to District 1 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw’s seat, despite Bradshaw’s insistence that he will serve the remainder of his term into January 2025. This decision comes after weeks of back and forth between government officials — mainly BCRCC Chair Scott Herndon and Bradshaw — regarding the commissioner’s status as a Bonner County resident.

“It’s not going to make a big impact one way or the other. Domke’s going to be there Jan. 13, but that doesn’t preclude us from our statutory duty, and also the principle that we are watching our elected officials,” Herndon, who authored and presented the resolution, told the Reader in a Dec. 17 phone interview.

Bradshaw did not run for reelection in the most recent cycle and will leave office in January, whereupon Domke will assume the Dist. 1 seat.

Herndon raised concerns over Bradshaw’s residency at a Nov. 19 BCRCC special meeting, alleging that Bradshaw now lives in Texas and is consequently ineligible to serve in Bonner County. He cited Idaho Code 59-901 as justification, which states

< WHEELER, con’t from Page 4 > elected in the November election, he is eligible to assume office in January even though he resigned this past week,” Marshall stated in the email.

He further cited I.C. 591356(6), which stipulates that “the retired member may elect to continue receiving benefits and not to accrue additional service. In such a situation, contributions shall be made by the member and employer

BCRCC appoints Commissioner-elect Domke to Dist. 1 BOCC seat

that an office becomes vacant when the elected official ceases “to be a resident of the state, district or county in which the duties of his office are to be exercised.”

Bradshaw sold his area home — the Cocolalla Cowboy Church — in August 2024, bought property in Texas, and has attended BOCC meetings remotely since October; however, he maintains a lease in District 1 and will continue to do so until the end of his term.

In a Dec. 2 email to the Reader, Bradshaw accused Herndon of attempting to “undermine the BOCC” adding that “he is still sore that he was trespassed from the Cowboy Church and lost his election.”

In response, Herndon told the Reader that he “never held [the trespass] against the guy.”

“I have nothing against the guy. However, I do have something against local government officials fleecing the flock. I honestly think they’re fleecing us right now. That should be offensive to every taxpayer in North Idaho,” said Herndon.

“When [elected officials are] trying to pull shenanigans, then I don’t care if they’re in my own party — I don’t have anything against them personally, but I am against shenanigans,” Herndon later added.

Following the Nov. 19 special meeting, the BCRCC

submitted three nominees to Gov. Brad Little, requesting that he appoint a replacement for Bradshaw. In accordance with I.C. 59-906A, the nominees were listed in order of preference and included Domke, BCRCC Algoma Precinct Committeeman Rick Kirschner and Edgemere Committeeman Doug Paterson.

Under ordinary circumstances, following the BCRCC’s nominations, Little would have had 15 days to appoint a replacement before the decision would be remanded to the BCRCC. Little previously chose Ron Korn from a list of three nominees to replace former Dist. 3 Commissioner Luke Omodt following his resignation in September.

In Bradshaw’s case, the nominees arrived at the Governor’s Office at the same time as a letter from BCRCC Washington Precinct Committeeman Tom Bokowy, Sagle Committeeman Andy Kee and Oldtown Committeeman Tanner Linton, which alleged improper action on Herndon’s part.

“While the Chairman provided evidence suggesting a potential vacancy, the statute’s requirement of ‘intention’ cannot be adequately determined by anyone other than Commissioner Bradshaw,” they wrote. “Chairman Herndon further claimed the residence appeared vacant based on a personal observa-

tion, which is neither sufficient evidence of intention nor residency status.”

Tamera Felter, who serves as Boards and Commissions special assistant to the governor, subsequently told Herndon in a Nov. 22 email that, “Until such time as this office can fully determine the existence of a vacancy on the commission, this office will not consider the Governor’s fifteen (15) day appointment timeline under Idaho Code section 59-906A to have been initiated.”

Felter emailed Commissioners Bradshaw, Korn and Asia Williams, as well as various elected officials, requesting written clarification from the BOCC on whether Bradshaw’s seat was vacant.

The board never submitted an official response, though both Bradshaw and Korn replied individually.

Korn did not offer an opinion on the alleged vacancy but stated that Bradshaw “does not seem to be present within the county,” whereas Brad-

during the reemployment... and any benefit payable on behalf of such member shall continue.”

However, in an email to the Reader on Dec. 18, Herndon said Marshall attended a meeting of the BCRCC the night before and stated that Herndon “may be right” about his interpretation of the code, requiring the BOCC to take official action to accept Wheeler’s resignation.

While only temporary, Wheeler’s resignation has also triggered speculation that Herndon and the BCRCC will move to replace him, as they have done with Bradshaw (for more on that story, see above).

According to Marshall, the BCRCC could wait up to 15 days “and then submit three names to the BOCC,” which could also wait 15 days to decide on Wheeler’s replace-

ment, at which point “the issue would become moot as Sheriff Wheeler would already be in office.”

Herndon told the Reader that the BCRCC would consider it a statutory responsibility to send three names to the BOCC to consider if a vacancy existed; however, he reiterated his argument that a vacancy does not exist since the commissioners haven’t officially accepted Wheeler’s

Scott Herndon. File photo

shaw declared, “I have not resigned nor do I have any intention of doing so.”

In a Dec. 4 email to the Reader, Little’s Press Secretary Joan Varsek wrote, “The Governor’s Office has no appointment to consider because our office has not received a letter of resignation from Commissioner Bradshaw and the Bonner County Commission has not taken a position on the existence of a vacancy.”

The Dec. 17 resolution of the BCRCC addressed these concerns, stating that “a confirmation from the Bonner County Commission was not statutorily required, nor was a resignation the only event by which a vacancy occurs.”

By passing the resolution, the central committee asserted that Little’s 15-day appointment timeline had indeed come and gone.

Though issues of residency are usually resolved in court, Herndon told the Reader that the BCRCC is “operating on principle” and does not expect to take the issue that far, given the proximity to the new term.

“This is how we hold our government accountable — we the people have the sovereignty, and I honestly believe the government would run us all over if we didn’t keep an eye on things.”

Additional reporting by Zach Hagadone.

resignation.

“I’m not going to act because I’m not convinced it’s vacant. I’m not going to call a meeting of the central committee [to consider replacement nominees] until I’m convinced it’s vacant,” he said.

Additional reporting by Soncirey Mitchell.

December 19, 2024 / R / 5

NEWS

LPOSD seeking applicants for Zone 4 trustee position

By Reader Staff

review via the clerk of the board until Jan. 6, 2025.

Find the necessary forms The Lake Pend Oreille at lposd.org or in person at School District is looking 365 N. Triangle Drive, in to fill a vacant position Ponderay. on the Board of Trustees Interviews will be confollowing the Nov. 12 ducted in open session at resignation of Geraldine the next regularly scheduled Lewis, who had repreboard meeting on Jan. 14, sented Zone 4, which is 2025. defined as the area south The individual selected of Highway 200 — into fill the Zone 4 position cluding Sagle — and east will serve the balance of of Highway 95.

Geraldine Lewis. File photo the unexpired term, which Announced on Dec. ends on Dec. 31, 2027.

10, the board has 90 days from the declaration of the vacancy to fill the position with a qualified individual who resides within Zone 4. If no such candidate emerges, the board is empowered to appoint a person at-large from within the boundaries of the school district. Otherwise, after 120 days, the appointment will be made by the Bonner County board of commisBy Reader Staff sioners.

Applications should be submitted for

North Idaho DUI Task Force to increase patrols over new year

6 / R / December 19, 2024

The North Idaho DUI Task Force will close out 2024 with a final impaired driving enforcement operation from New Year’s Eve through Saturday, Jan. 4 aimed at identifying and removing drunk drivers from North Idaho roadways.

Participating law enforcement agencies across the five northern counties of Idaho will have additional officers on patrol throughout the enforcement period, with a goal of increasing safety and reducing the number of lives lost to impaired driving crashes.

The efforts are supported by the Idaho Office of Highway Safety through grant funding that helps supplement agency budgets to cover additional staffing during periods of extra enforcement.

Impaired driving continues to be a serious safety issue in North Idaho — especially for young people between the ages of 21 to 24 who’ve accounted for the majority of fatalities in drunk driving crashes in 2024, according to preliminary crash statistics from OHS. According to a news release from the Idaho Transportation Department, impaired driving in Idaho resulted in 1,708 crashes and 105 fatalities in 2023.

“These tragedies serve as a sobering reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence,” the department stated.

This year, and into the next, the task force reminded drivers to “do their part by planning ahead for rideshares or designated drivers ahead of celebrations, parties, holidays or any time they intend to use impairing substances of any kind.”

Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond

Ex-FBI informant Alexander Smirnov pleaded guilty to tax evasion and lying to the FBI, falsely claiming that President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, accepted bribes from a Ukrainian company, The Guardian reported.

President-elect Donald Trump is backing off from his campaign pledge to lower grocery prices.

“It’s hard to bring prices down once they are up,” he stated in an interview with TIME magazine, adding that he believes his policies will bring down prices. According to Newsweek, those policies include 25% tariffs on the two biggest importers to the U.S.: Mexico and Canada. Economists see those tariffs as further raising grocery prices.

In the same TIME interview, Trump said he doesn’t want “to get into the bathroom issue” regarding transgender people, “because it’s a very small number of people.”

The recent shooting at a private school in Wisconsin — where a teacher, student and the shooter died and six were injured — marks the 488th mass shooting of 2024, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Education Week said there have been 38 school shootings this year, with 16 deaths.

According to a new Congressional Budget Office report, 3.4 million will lose health care coverage if Congress refuses to renew Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of 2025.

Newsweek reported that Biden is being urged to change current U.S. policy, so that authority to utilize nuclear weapons is shared between the president and Congress. Nine countries are known to have nuclear weapons, though the U.S. is the only country to have used them against humans in warfare.

South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach their President Yoon Suk Yeol weeks after his declaration of after-dark martial law. Meanwhile, his approval rating had dropped to 11%.

Numerous media said he was immediately suspended and there will be deliberations to decide if there will be another presidential election.

An estimated 64,000 rape-related pregnancies have occurred in states with abortion bans, according to research published this year by the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

Though Trump pledged in his campaign to “build American, buy American and hire American,” government data reviewed by CNN showed the president-elect’s businesses “sought to

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

hire more foreign guest workers this year than any other year on record.” Those guest workers, including cooks, housekeepers and servers, earn “modest, above-minimum wage pay.”

The Lever reported that the nation’s largest health insurers gave $120 billion to shareholders — while “denying your claim.” Whistleblower Wendell Potter, a former health insurance executive, backs up that claim; he says no other country “enables middlemen to siphon off so much money from the middle-class and working-class folks that need health care.” Stats show big insurers have taken in $371 billion in profits since 2010, while 25% of Americans have avoided health care in the past year due to cost. Half say they can’t afford a $500 medical expense and medical bills are blamed for 40% of bankruptcies.

ABC News agreed to pay $15 million after a news anchor labeled Trump as “liable for rape.” A jury found Trump liable for “sexual abuse.” The funds will go to a Trump presidential library. Trump has also sued CBS for its interview with Kamala Harris, and BBC said in 2023 his defamation suit against CNN — which likened him to Adolf Hitler — was tossed.

Other Trump lawsuits against other media outlets have been dismissed, but Trump says he has more lawsuits planned against other media.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed the Freedom to Read Act, which shields libraries from criminal liabilities when they defy efforts to restrict or ban books, an effort that has proliferated in recent years.

Blast from the past: According to the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (ratified in 1951), “No person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice.”

And another blast: President Biden this week designated the 57-acre family farm of Frances Perkins in Maine as a national monument. Perkins was the nation’s first female cabinet member, serving as Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She served 12 years and took the job on condition that Roosevelt would support her goals: unemployment insurance, health insurance, old-age insurance, a 40-hour work week, a minimum wage and abolition of child labor. The ideas startled FDR, but he agreed. All the proposals met success, with the exception of health insurance. As soon as Social Security was enacted in 1935, opponents began efforts to dismantle it.

NEWS

Though undisclosed, signs point to Amazon as future tenant of new development near Sandpoint Airport

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff A proposed industrial development at Great Northern Road and Woodland Drive has raised concerns for at least one neighbor that Amazon could be considering locating a logistics or distribution center on the almost eightacre site formerly owned by Litehouse.

According to documents filed with the city, the approximate 26,000-square-foot light-industrial facility would be located on the northwest corner of the property not far from the Sandpoint Airport, with 154 parking spaces — the majority being for a combination of 24-foot-by-11-foot vans, queuing spots and docking.

Dubbed “Great Northern Project Bulldog” on the city’s planning and development page, the applicant is Indianapolis-based construction contractor Ambrose Property Group, which has built more than $1 billion worth of projects across the country.

The company focuses on large-scale business centers, including numerous Amazon fulfillment centers and delivery stations, with the nearest to Sandpoint being the Amazon Global specialty fulfillment delivery stations in Pasco and Wenatchee, Wash., totaling 85,900 square feet and 43,700 square feet, respectively.

Amazon is only directly identified in the site plan documents’ general notes. However, those references were redacted by the applicant, but a text keyword search of the PDF returns 10 instances of “Amazon” in relation to signage on the site.

In addition, a neighbor of the proposed facility — who received a Dec. 5 notice of the comment period on the application, which ends Thursday, Dec. 19 — took the liberty of removing the black redaction bars on the Project Bulldog site plan documents

and revealed references to signage “set in Amazon Ember” font style, in addition to general “Amazon signage.”

Resident Rory O’Rorke shared the unredacted documents with the Reader, in addition to his email correspondence with city staff, in which he wrote: “This will absolutely destroy my neighbourhood’s property prices, not to mention noise/light pollution plus traffic all day everyday. This is a horrendous decision, the worst possible outcome for anyone near this area.”

Ambrose officials did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Meanwhile, Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm declined in a Dec. 16 interview with the Reader to identify Amazon as the end user of the proposed facility, saying that he had “not seen any written documentation that it’s going to be an Amazon distribution center. It appears from the plans that I’ve seen that it’s a logistics and transportation facility.”

As for the land use at the site — which is zoned for industrial use — “That wouldn’t be in conflict with a rural Amazon distribution center, but I have not seen anything that says ‘Amazon’ anywhere yet,” Grimm said.

“The applicant and the developers have not submitted any documents that are public records that disclose who the end user is,” Grimm said. “I believe they’re excited to do that, they’re just waiting for all the things to align. ...

“A person could look at the building design plans and make some assumptions,” he added.

Sandpoint Planning and Community Development Director Jason Welker told the Reader that the application materials on the city’s projects webpage are what planners received from the applicant, and that city staff hadn’t redacted any portions of those documents.

What’s more, he said, “It’s not really the city’s concern who the applicant is representing or who the tenant of that space may be in the future; we’re just simply responsible for doing the review of that site plan to make sure that it conforms to city code.

“We’re kind of agnostic as far as who the tenant’s going to be in the future,” he added.

“We’re more concerned with the use and the compatibility with that zoning designation.”

Sandpoint City Planner Bill Dean told the Reader that withholding the identity of a future tenant or end user of a property isn’t unusual.

“It really depends on the client — it’s a good question.

Some clients, for reasons that they don’t explain to city staff, desire to remain anonymous until a time of their choosing,” he said. “That’s a business decision that is really not associated with the land use permitting review process at all.”

Because the project fits under the zoning designation, and the applicant isn’t asking for any variances or other code changes, the project will move through the permitting process administratively — that is, it will not be required to go through a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council.

“This is an industrially zoned parcel and ‘warehousing and distribution center’ is an allowed use in an industrial zone in Sandpoint. There’s no special permit needed,” Welker said. “The site plan review permit, which is what we’re going through right

now, is why there’s a notice in the corner of the property and the neighbors were all mailed letters.”

Sandpoint P&Z Commission Chair John Hastings confirmed that he hadn’t heard anything about Project Bulldog from city planning staff, but that wouldn’t be out of the ordinary with a use that’s fully conforming to the zoning.

“It’s completely allowed.

People are kind of surprised, you know — they see stuff going up and say, ‘How could you let that happen?’ but it’s like, well, ‘It was already zoned to do exactly what those people are doing with it,’” he told the Reader, also adding that it’s “not unusual at all” for permit application materials to leave off the name of the potential end user of a project.

While it remains unconfirmed by the applicant that Amazon may be planning a move into the Sandpoint area, rumors have circulated in other regional communities about smaller-scale Amazon warehouses and distribution centers coming to more rural areas — including near the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport.

According to a report in August from the Spokesman-Review, Ambrose proposed “Project Cougar,” which is a 29,000-square-foot facility with expected 24-hour-perday operations and requiring a “fleet of vehicles such as trucks and trailers.”

That project, for which county officials granted a conditional use permit, did not name Amazon specifically, but

The property in question, located at the intersection of Woodland Dr. and Great Northern Rd. Photo courtesy Google Maps. news reports referred to Ambrose as the “Amazon-linked” developer, and site plans for both Project Cougar and Project Bulldog were prepared by the Bellevue, Wash. branch of Raleigh, N.C.-based consultancy firm Kimley-Horn and Associates, which is also serving Project Bulldog as its representative.

“Until there’s a building permit, I don’t know all the details,” Grimm told the Reader. “It’s my understanding that the [property] split has to occur for the end user to actually buy the property, and then this end user — it’s my understanding — moves very quickly and has tremendous resources.”

Following the closure of the comment period for adjacent property owners on Dec. 19, Dean said staff will make a decision on the site plan, after which there will be a 15day appeal period.

“Any person can appeal a project; whether or not the appeal is upheld is a different story — that has to do with the merits of the appeal, versus the facts on the table, the findings that have to be made for the denial or approval of a project,” he said, later adding that a notice of the decision will go to neighbors along with their rights to appeal.

“It’s allowed by right in the code, and that’s why it’s an administrative approval,” Dean said.

December 19, 2024 / R / 7

Establishing border security and workable immigration policy requires balance…

Bouquets: • A Bouquet goes out to Powderhound Pizza on Schweitzer. In a time when it seems like everyone is trying to squeeze every last dollar out of us locals, Powderhound is looking out for us. Though a can of “cheap” beer goes for anywhere from $6 to $10 at various spots on the mountain, you can still get a can of Miller High Life for $1.50 at Powderhound. Throw in a slice of pizza and you’ve got après ski taken care of for just over $5. The “Champagne of Beers” never tasted so good.

GUEST SUBMISSION: • “Shout out to the crossing guard that ensures the safety of all the high school students, middle school students and any other pedestrians crossing the corners of Division St. and Michigan Ave. on early and chaotic school mornings. I am unsure of this man’s name, but I admire how seriously he takes the safety of all of the children in his care.

He is methodical, firm and mindful as he directs traffic each and every school day. Thank you, Mr. Crossing Guard, for keeping the children of Bonner County safe. You are amazing. Not all superheroes wear capes, some wear a crossing guard vest.”

— By Genevieve Cook GUEST SUBMISSION: • “88.5 KRFY wants to thank the community of listeners, volunteers, local broadcasters, underwriters and supporters that keep this local, independent, commercial free ‘voice of our community’ radio station viable, strong and alive on the airwaves.

Thank you, everyone.”

— By Suzy Prez, KRFY Barbs: • It has become abundantly clear that when one party becomes a supermajority, it begins to eat itself.

You see this on the left and the right.

That’s why, in their infinite wisdom, our founders established a system of checks and balances to ensure that one entity or branch of government doesn’t wield too much power — the same checks and balances those on the fringes have attempted to eradicate time and time again. Has anyone noticed that the Idaho GOP — especially here in North Idaho — has spent more time fighting itself than fighting for the people it supposedly represents?

Munch munch munch.

8 / R / December 19, 2024

Dear editor, I was born, raised and have lived in the U.S. for 75 years. Paternal grandparents immigrated from France and Canada. Maternal lineage was from England and Wales.

Brother-in-law: Italian. Niece’s husband: British. All my immigrant ancestors and relatives entered legally and became U.S. citizens.

Other than Indigenous peoples, we’re all immigrants or descendants of immigrants. More than 200 years of intolerance have confronted immigrant populations. Africans, Asians, Germans, Indians, Irish, Italians, Mexicans, Jews, Muslims, among others, all faced persecution.

My former business — a 107-space mobile home park — was predominantly inhabited by Hispanics. Some were legal; some weren’t.

Anti-discrimination laws prevented me from denying residency if ability to pay rent was demonstrated.

However, the vast majority of my immigrant residents were family oriented, friendly, hardworking, honest people striving for better lives in America.

We need balance in securing our borders with acceptance of those already arrived. Our border problems aren’t new. They’re complex with roots beyond our borders and our control. Some immigrants broke laws to escape intolerable conditions at home. The border is porous.

Enforcement has been lax through numerous presidencies. Congress has done next to nothing.

Upgrading enforceable immigration laws and sealing borders should be undertaken. Criminals and future illegal aliens should be deported and their opportunity for future entry denied.

Law-abiding immigrants should be welcomed. Uncomplicated immigration processes would facilitate legal entry.

Immigration laws and guest worker programs should be overhauled to become welcoming, understandable, workable and not requiring attorneys to navigate the process.

Let’s accept those who are here, secure the border, deny those attempting illegal entry, revamp the immigration system and welcome legal entry. Call upon our dysfunctional Congress and prejudiced president-elect to develop a system that will actually function.

Border security shouldn’t be about ethnicity; it should be about Homeland Security.

George Loustalet Priest River

‘Is resortification what we want?’…

Dear editor, Our property tax went up 59% this year. When the assessment came back nearly doubling our property value, the county commissioners waved it off citing the 3% thing. As fixed-income retirees, this is very concerning.

They compared our house with three luxurious VRBO rentals with capacity to sleep four times the guests. Yes, businesses that generate revenue. They assessed us for more than $100,000 in outbuildings when we have only a small shed and a tarp over our barbecue. They assessed us as lakefront with beaches, even though we are in wetlands with a walkway through the cattails.

We spent hours wading through the red tape to contest the assessment only to be dismissed summarily by the commissioners who didn’t even bother to read our documentation. Then we found out that there is a high-density subdivision approved on our cul-de-sac and the Albeni Falls Dam problems may mean no “lakefront” for us for six years.

They are pricing longtime residents out of waterfront property to be converted to higher revenue generating properties. Is resortification what we want? The county can’t increase the budget by more than 3%. Yet, our taxes went up 59%. Whose property tax went down? Or is there a loophole where additional money can go to… say, trespassing lawsuits?

Kathryn Larson Sandpoint

A follow-up on rankedchoice voting…

Dear editor, Full disclosure: As a member of Veterans for Idaho Voters, I worked to promote a “yes” vote on Proposition 1.

During the campaign for Proposition 1, those of us promoting the initiative often encountered two arguments from the folks advocating a “no” vote. One of those was that Alaskan voters were unhappy with ranked-choice voting and were repealing it. The other was that in Alaska, ranked-choice voting had turned the state “blue.”

Indeed, there was an initiative on the ballot in Alaska to repeal open primaries and RCV. However, it failed by 743 votes (after a recount) out of 321,000 votes cast. This was in spite of the fact that Donald Trump carried the state by 14 percentage points.

Also, a moderate Republican — Nick Begich — defeated an incumbent moderate Democrat — Mary Peltola — by securing a majority of the votes after RCV was used.

I conclude that the majority of Alaskans, including many conservatives and independents, approve of open primaries and ranked-choice voting. And, it is obvious that RCV did not turn Alaska blue. It did, however, elect a moderate to represent it in Congress.

Gray Henderson Bonners Ferry

Supporting seniors…

Dear editor, As this holiday season is upon us, we are so happy to see that the “Toys for Tots” program is bringing joy to the community! We support it 100%. That said, please don’t forget the seniors in our community.

To avoid the isolation that so many seniors are experiencing, the Sandpoint Area Senior Center is offering more and more activities and events that seniors and all can participate in. Please lend a hand to the seniors this year. The senior center needs your help in its effort to continue to serve all of Bonner County, especially with our meal program.

If you can help, checks may be sent to the Senior Center, 820 Main St., Sandpoint.

Happy holidays, Loris Michael, SASi board pres.

Sandpoint

‘Flat’ cookies…?

Dear editor, To Marcia Pilgerman [writer of “Sandpoint Eater”]: I made the molasses crinkle cookies, but they came out looking like pancakes… i.e., flat… no cracks.

Is it because my soda is not brand new?

I enjoy your column and have cut out several recipes to try.

Susan Burrows Sandpoint

‘Is anyone tired of not being heard?’...

Countless emails and letters have been written to the governor, Idaho Department of Lands and anyone else who will listen in favor of preserving the integrity of Trestle Creek. All have turned tone-deaf and bowed to the selfish desires of the Idaho Club members and the developer, Valiant Idaho LLC. Only the bull trout and the salmon hear us.

Does it seem like a conflict of in-

terest that Valiant Idaho, LLC is represented by our esteemed mayor and developer Jeremy Grimm?

Variant’s managing member, William Haberman is a part of the Idaho Club as well. Haberman is also an Orlando-based real estate developer. Very cozy.

It seems to me that Mayor Grimm came into office in time to see his pet project to fruition.

Kim and David Wanecke Dover

Present and accounted for…

Dear editor, I’m presently serving on the BCRCC representing the Baldy District. In relation to the action being taken by Scott Herndon (chair) against Steve Bradshaw and his supposed vacancy of office, I have found these facts to be public knowledge.

Bradshaw attendance: Dec. 10, 2024 minutes not released Dec. 3, 2024 present Nov. 26, 2024 present Nov. 19, 2024 present Nov. 5, 2024 absent Oct. 29, 2024 excused Oct. 22, 2024 telephonically Oct. 15, 2024 absent Oct. 8, 2024 present Oct. 1, 2024 present Looks as if he attends business meetings to me.

Scott wields his position as chair primarily to punish those that do not conform to his views. The response from the Governor’s Office on the issue of Bradshaw’s vacancy was pretty straightforward: “We have not received a letter of resignation from Commissioner Bradshaw, and we have not received written confirmation from the Bonner County Commission that a vacancy exists.”

Butch Horton Sagle

NEWS

Emily Articulated Presentness

By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist

The holidays often prompt a lot of reflection, turning me inward as much as pulling me outward. Maybe it’s the ritual of stringing lights and pulling ornaments out of boxes — my arm at once a 3-year-old’s, hanging my popsicle stick creation on a pine bough, and also a 33-year-old’s, straightening the gold bauble I found at a Goodwill off the highway somewhere in Montana.

This year, I’ve been ruminating on the idea of presentness — those experiences that grip us, demanding our full attention, either through their sheer magnitude or by our own effort to tune in, moment by moment.

Most often, this presentness is joyful. But sometimes, we’re reluctantly present, wishing for an escape or a good daydream, but settle, instead, on surrender. Lately, the most present I’ve been was in the chair at my dentist’s office with oversized sunglasses cutting into my cheeks. I could make out a shadowy, masked face, backlit by the giant overhead light, as his too-large hands and sharp surgical tools prodded my bare gums.

“So, what are your plans for Christmas?” he asked, using his thumb and forefinger to ratchet open my mouth wider.

“Family,” I garbled out before he moved my tongue aside to make way for the large anesthesia-filled needle.

“This isn’t going to hurt,

Emily Erickson exactly,” he continued, “but you are going to feel a lot of pressure... and there will be some noise.”

Over the next four hours, he cracked bone and tooth, pulling fragments from toodeep root canals, and installed — yes, like shelving — two stumps of metal into my jawbone. And as I lay there — prone, with the sounds of a construction site pounding inside my head — I thought: “There are few experiences more vulnerable than being at the dentist’s office,” and this is coming from a person who’s endured regular PAP exams since I was a teenager. (Maybe I’m just more confident in the clamping power of my quads than my molars.)

But, in all that vulnerability, was total presentness; an acute awareness of every sound and smell and slowly ticking minute. It was a strange revelation: presentness comes in all sorts of packages.

The presentness of the dentist’s office exists in the same world as the first handful of buttery movie theater popcorn or the feeling of finishing a marathon. It sits alongside

fireside conversations, the expansion of my chest at the sound of someone playing piano and the glide of waxed skis against new snow.

Presentness is the gasp of pain at the poke of a long needle but also the deep breaths, the belly laughs and the roar at the top of my lungs at a football game. The breadth of all that human experience is nothing short of amazing.

The holidays, of course, invite their own kind of presentness. It’s in the pangs of grief as you hang a stocking for someone no longer here — how many winters will we do this, I wonder? It’s in the quiet joy of hanging the first stocking for someone newly added to the family. It’s the sweetness of sneaking a fingerful of sugar frosting from a recipe passed down for generations, each woman whispering to her daughter that “a squeeze of lemon is the secret.” And it’s the visceral cringe at an off-color joke from that uncle you only see every few years — and are perfectly fine with that.

There’s vulnerability in all that presentness — an opening up, a softening of our guard, so we can take in the fullness of what life is offering. Like the lemon in the frosting, maybe leaning into that vulnerability is the secret ingredient. It’s how we find our way back to one another, how we hold on to the moments that will live in us long after they’ve passed.

This holiday season, I hope you find reasons to lean into presentness. Whether it’s the sweetness of powdered sugar on your tongue, the crackle of logs in a fire,

or the hush of fresh snow underfoot, I hope you feel it fully. And when presentness pulls you to its uncomfortable edges — moments that ache, stretch or linger like a drill in your jaw — may you come through them with a clearer, fuller view of the beautiful, messy breadth of it all.

Here’s to your days having more snowy mornings and

plates of cookies than long, pointy needles, and may your present(nes)s come in all shapes and sizes. I wish you the happiest of holidays this year.

Emily Erickson is a writer and business owner with an affinity for black coffee and playing in the mountains. Connect with her online at www.bigbluehat.studio.

Retroactive

By BO

December 19, 2024 / R / 9

Mad about Science:

Brought to you by:

artificial intelligence, redux

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

A few years have passed since we’ve last explored artificial intelligence. The last time I wrote an article dedicated to the subject was in 2018, and the scope and reach of AI has changed considerably in that time.

Artificial intelligence in 2018 was essentially contained to advertising algorithms — limited uses of predictive text and video recommendations on streaming platforms. Many of those purposes have become greatly refined in the past six years, while a huge number of new applications have blossomed since the dark age of COVID. Let’s begin with generative AI, a tool that I, as a creative, marvel at with both disdain and bewonderment. The idea that a machine will be able to replace artists is a laughable concept to virtually any creative spirit and the ethics of using generative AI to shortcut creative purposes is a deep and convoluted topic and one we won’t dive too far into here. However, generative AI does serve some useful purposes for elevating everyone without seeking to damage creatives exclusively.

Generative AI is frequently used during the process of grantwriting and drafting mundane emails suited to particular audiences. It’s also useful for marketing purposes and other nuts and bolts topics that aren’t necessarily fun to write about and don’t require much “soul” to convey a point. It is not a surrogate for journalism, fiction writing or anything that’s trying to convey the soul or passion of the writer as the computer is essentially just reproducing 10 / R / December 19, 2024

data inputs in an attempt to replicate the way a human communicates.

Here is the problem with generative AI: It requires data inputs in order to function. The more data it is fed, the more biased it becomes — unless certain parameters are set by humans. This means that, at some point, it’s plausible to believe that generative AI may create some form of feedback loop where it’s essentially feeding itself input data from many users like a big digital ouroboros.

In many ways, generative AI can be used to elevate substandard writers to a more professional or refined level — this is a process of raising the average by elevating the lowest levels of a curve, but it will ultimately plateau in the process. It may also have the opposite effect by lowering the peaks of the quality curve and creating more demand for mediocre communication and “dumbing down” interest and taste in writing.

Generative AI has even found uses in crafting curriculums for schools and homeschool students while adhering to specific state standards when fed those parameters by the user. AI assistants can be paired in with these generated curriculums to aid the student in their educational journey, without simply giving them all the answers. Schoolai is a great example of this and is particularly useful for learning how to code independently.

A disturbing trend has been observed at a very large scale through recommendation systems, particularly in streaming services like YouTube. The algorithm behind YouTube is influenced both by user trends and inputs from Google, with the intention of selling more ads. Shorter videos means more

frequent ads, which means more ad revenue. Shorter videos are also more digestible to the viewer as one can watch five little videos during a rest break or a brief reign atop the porcelain throne. More viewers watching shorter videos skews the algorithm into recommending shorter videos to everyone, while Google turning the dial to favor this will push it even further.

This was directly observed to influence the outside world and society at large when algorithmic junk was fed to young viewers during key developmental periods in their growth. In 2017, Youtube’s Kids app was plagued by cheap nonsense-drivel videos with assets stolen from Marvel, Disney and Nickelodeon designed to be played on loop to generate cheap ad revenue. Young children left to the digital babysitter were observed to have spent hours consuming this content, feeding the algorithm into more and more disturbing nonsense videos they would then parrot to their parents and peers.

Artificial intelligence presents a number of ethical dilemmas, but it is not some omnipotent being or digital overlord with complete and total sway over our every decision. It is ultimately controlled by people with the intention of making money. It is important to be cognizant of the reasoning of why when utilizing AI. Are you utilizing AI to fast-track mundane parts of your life or a job that you already know how to do, but don’t want to waste hours accomplishing in order to get to the really meaningful stuff?

Are you using it to simply bypass things you don’t want to do, but may not necessarily know how to do?

Image created using generative AI

AI-generated digital art is a hot-button issue right now.

As an artist about to earn the ire of the entirety of Bonner County, I believe it has a place in our repertoire as artists. Certainly, it’s wildly unethical that AI companies have been stealing artwork to feed the machine without crediting or paying the artists their fair share while reaping massive profits for themselves.

However, AI-generated art can be a fantastic source of reference material when trying to mesh very specific color palettes or trying to find those perfect reference images for something you’re trying to

paint or draw.

It can also be used as a source of inspiration, to help push you to create the piece you really want to create by using that weird, nightmarish landscape it generated as a spark of inspiration or reference without directly copying it.

Like it or not, AI has permeated every aspect of our daily lives. That being said, it has never been more important to ask the question: ”Why?” at every available opportunity.

Can you identify every place AI has influence in your life?

You might be surprised to find out just how pervasive it is.

Stay curious, 7B.

Random Corner istry?

Don’t know much about dent

• Dentistry is one of the oldest medical professions, dating back to 7000 B.C.E. in the Indus Valley.

Prehistoric dentists would use drills made out of flint to remove rotting dental tissue. Researchers said the drills were “surprisingly effective.”

• The belief that “tooth worms” caused dental decay was widespread for thousands of years. The origins of the belief date to a Babylonian cuneiform tablet titled “The Legend of the Worm,” recounting how tooth worms drink blood and eat the roots of teeth, causing decay. The idea wasn’t proven false until the 18th century.

• The earliest dental fillings were discovered in Slovenia. Dating to 6,500 years ago, the fillings were made of beeswax.

• Good tooth brushing habits increased dramatically in the U.S. after World War II, when soldiers who had been stationed overseas brought the idea of good oral health back home.

We can help!

• America’s first dentist was John Baker, who trained Paul Revere to be a dentist.

• The “Father of Modern Dentistry” is considered to be Pierre Fauchard, a French surgeon who published the book The Surgeon Dentist, a Treatise on Teeth in 1723. The book introduced standard dental practices such as fillings and dental prostheses, as well as promoted the idea that acids from sugar led to tooth decay.

• Oral disease affects more than 3.5 billion people worldwide. Tooth decay is the second most prevalent disease after the common cold.

• Contrary to the popular myth, George Washington’s false teeth weren’t made from wood. They were made from animal and human teeth — the latter being taken from his slaves — as well as elephant and walrus ivory. The teeth were embedded in a base of lead and made flexible with steel springs.

PERSPECTIVES

Even ‘good dogs’ die Rest in peace, Tippy

By Tim Henney Reader Staff My son has buried my Best Friend Tippy in the backyard among the raspberry bushes.

She and I were roughly the same age: in our early ’90s (in Tippy’s case, in dog years — she was 14 to us humans).

Only fellow dogster pals like Don Douglas, Kathryn Kolberg, Charles Mortensen, Pete and Meg Larramendy, Ed Smith, Aileen and Don McCabe, Angela and Justin Henney, Bonnie Hagen, Dan and Jill Murphy, Lynn Courville, Catherine Ford, Michael Spurgin, Heidi and Peter Gatch, Brenda and Ted Pease, and Stephanie Davis will understand when I say that Tipster and I were inseparable, devoted companions — on car rides to the grocery store, on the Bay Trail and blue gate hikes, sailing a sloop to Buttonhook Bay and road trips to winters where it was warmer, before my 1957 bride and I became old and addled and patio-bound.

Of the dozen or so dear, memorable, much-loved dogs my family and I have owned, Tippy was not only the most entertaining but maybe the dearest. (I am assuming those beloved hounds of ours happily wagging and woofing about in dog heaven — Buckeye, Walter, Jezebelle, B.B., Chester, Madeline, Copper and their peers — are not clairvoyant, and innocently unaware I am writing this.)

My 1957 bride and I loved Tippy like we love our kids and grandkids.

That’s difficult to fathom by those who don’t like dogs.

Such folks simply can’t imagine how comforting it was when Tippy would see my bed lamp

on early in the morning, leave her cozy leather chair in the den, come wagging in and expertly position herself so I could effortlessly reach down from bed and stroke her head.

Or how comic it was when, at breakfast, Tippy would toss her morning bone in the air, let it bounce on the living room carpet, then snatch it, then twirl in circles — first one way, then the other — pausing to stare at us, ears up, aged dog eyes sparkling like a puppy’s to make sure we were watching.

Then, with a huge smile, she’d do it all again. And again. The quintessential “good dog.”

Illegally off leash in Lakeview Park, Tippy would suddenly become deaf if she saw kids in the play area where it says “No Dogs.” No matter how alpha I tried to sound, she failed to hear me demanding that she not dash off to join kids atop the slide. She would rush into their midst, tail moving a mile a minute, ears flat back, all smiles.

(Yeah, you non dogsters, dogs do smile; more often, it seems, than many people encountered along life’s way).

Tippy was the antithesis of “meaner than a junk yard dog,”

as the Jim Croce pop song goes. I never heard her growl in all of our many years together, except when we had obligatory early morning battles with a castoff shirt or underwear — and those were growls and grunts of comradely combat.

But wait, there was an exception! When some hairy young poodle or malamute dude would strut up and sniff without permission, Tippy would swing around snapping and snarling like a werewolf.

With kids, cats, family, friends and gentleman poodle sniffers, she brought happiness and affection.

Jackrabbits in the sagebrush around Moab, Utah,

were another story. Speedster that Tippy was, and yapping frantically, she never came close to catching one.

Tippy led a charmed dog life as a family member; but, what we gave her was a pittance compared to the companionship and joy she brought us from the morning my 1957 bride rescued her — young, pregnant, abandoned and about to attempt a cross-

Family evenings were often spent listening to Tippy’s views on politics, overpopulation, climate change, canned dog food, Taylor Swift, etc. Courtesy photo ing of truck-heavy Highway 95 in Ponderay. (Many thanks for dumping her on the highway, unknown heartless barbarian; people like you belong in prison).

Giving companionship and joy is what all good dogs do.

Then they die.

December 19, 2024 / R / 11

HOLIDAY

Gift guide 2024: last-minute treasures

By Soncirey Mitchell and Zach Hagadone Reader Staff So, it’s less than a week until Christmas and Hanukkah and you’re looking for last-minute gifts even though you swore you’d be on top of it this year. Online shopping is off the table and the stores are running out of merchandise, but don’t worry, this guide has you covered. Whether it’s a quick DIY or a trip to the local shops, these gifts can be wrapped and ready in under 48 hours.

Build a terrarium The terrarium was invented by botanist Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward in 1842 and became an instant trend in Victorian England — but we don’t have time for the long, storied history with the holidays fast approaching. Grab any available clear vessel, whether it’s a salsa jar, spice bottle or Nalgene, and give it a good wash.

Head to a garden store and pick up potting soil without added fertilizers, gravel, moss and a few small plants

that enjoy high humidity, like African violets, ferns and polka dot plants. Or, since snow showers have been few and far between, take a stroll through the yard — or even the forest — and snag anything that looks cool. Clover, grass and tiny mushrooms are still hanging around. Pick up the gravel and moss while you’re out foraging as well if you don’t want to buy them.

To assemble the terrarium, place a layer of gravel at the bottom to help with drainage.

Cover the rocks with a layer of moss to create a barrier, and bury everything in a thick layer of soil.

Leave plenty of room for the roots to grow down and the leaves to grow up.

Moisten the soil, then add the plants and lightly water so they settle into their new home. As a finishing touch, add unique decorations like cool rocks, mossy sticks or miniature versions of your friends sculpted from Babybel Cheese wax. Seal the terrarium and hand it off to its new caretaker.

Borax crystals Instead of dropping $30 on a National Geographic crystal growing kit, wander over to the detergent aisle and snag a box of 20 Mule Team Borax for about $6. You can grow Borax crystals on just about anything — pinecones, books, animal skulls — but the most common choice is colorful pipe cleaners, which can bend into various holiday shapes.

Once you’ve bent the pipe cleaners or harvested the skulls, suspend them from dowels or sticks using long, thin threads.

Next, boil as many cups of water as needed to submerge the objects, stirring in 3-4 tablespoons of borax per cup. Mix until the water can’t absorb any more borax, but if the mixture becomes cloudy, dilute it with more water to ensure clear crystals.

While the solution is still boiling hot, pour it into heat-resistant glass containers that are deep enough to fully submerge the objects. Next, place the sticks on top of the containers so the objects dangle into the water without touching the bottom or sides.

Placing fewer objects in the solution will create bigger crystals, as will positioning them closer to the bottom.

Set the solution aside somewhere it won’t be jostled and allow the crystals to grow over 24 hours.

14 / R / December 19, 2024

Cast iron cookware Considering that people have been using cast iron pots and pans since at least the third century C.E., it’s surprising that it only took about a decade or so — from the 1960s-’70s — for most Americans to give it up in favor of Teflon-coated aluminum.

We’ll spare you a synopsis of the heated (so to say) internet debates surrounding whether or not cast iron is worth it, and cut right to the chase: It is.

Sure, it’s heavy. Of course, it requires special care and handling. And naturally it’s difficult to store, but nothing works quite as well on the stovetop or in the oven as a sturdy iron cooking vessel. It conducts heat better than flimsier metals and, if treated properly, is more organically non-stick than the chemically manufactured, industrial alternatives that have taken over most U.S. kitchens since just before the turn of the 21st century.

Because of all this — and a psycho-social yearning for a return to stability and tradition — the cast iron fandom experienced a resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to simmer (sorry).

That’s good news on a number of fronts: for one thing, there are loads of resources on the internet full of tips and tricks on how to reclaim the lost ancestral wisdom of caring for cast iron; and, you can find used and new cast iron cookware all over the place — from hardware stores to big box stores to outdoor stores (all of which we have in the greater Sandpoint area). We’ve even seen big selections of cast iron at Foster’s Crossing, and you can bet that stuff is super well-seasoned.

Give the gift of the last pan anyone will ever need.

A terrarium, cast iron pan and some borax crystals on pipe cleaners, from left to right. Courtesy photo Video game gift cards The World Economic Forum tells us that the global video game industry will be worth an estimated $321 billion by 2026. So put to rest the worn-out — and frankly snobby — caricature of the “basement-dwelling gamer” living a liminal, disconnected existence on the periphery of “normal” human society. Like it or not, gaming is the mainstream.

Odds are, you have at least one person in your life who would love some financial assistance with enjoying their favorite pastime, and there are gift cards for purchasing titles on any and all platforms.

The undisputed behemoth for PC gaming is Steam, while Xbox and Playstation dominate the console market. If you know anyone between the ages of 9 and 19, it’s a safe bet that they’re into Roblox — that platform alone had 207.14 million monthly active users as of October, and 58% of those users were under the age of 16.

Anyone who’s bought birthday presents for their elementary- and middle-school-aged kids or their friends in recent years is familiar with “Robux,” which is the digital currency (paid for with real currency) that makes the Roblox world go ’round.

Do a little 11th-hour sleuthing to find out what your gamer(s) play, and stoke them out with some literal fun money that they’ll enjoy long after the wrapping paper is tossed in the bin.

Bonus: Because all of the above-mentioned platforms offer online gift cards, you won’t even need to leave the house to check this one off the “nice” list.

Every Day a Reason Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Pool League Taco Tuesday Live Trivia with Toshi Cribbage League Live Music Live Music

FAMILY STYLE DINNERS Four people | $40 (Add 2 | $20)

New!

Scan to learn more 323 Cedar St., Sandpoint, ID 83864 | www.conniescafe.com

December 19, 2024 / R / 15

16 / R / December 19, 2024

HOLIDAY

Festivus for the rest of us

The Seinfeld-themed live event that locals loved returns to the Panida in all its glory

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

help promote the show.

“I just dropped off the Festivus pole at Evans Brothers and several people came up to ask, ‘Is this still happenFor the uninitiated, Festivus is a ing?’” Keaton said. “We used to take holiday invented for an episode of the the Festivus pole around town in high sitcom Seinfeld called “The Strike,” school when we weren’t invited to. which involves the airing of grievSometimes you’d get a manager who ances; feats of strength; a celebratory enjoyed it, other times we got 86ed. dinner; and, of course, the famous We used to have a grievance box, but aluminum pole, which character that was getting full so quick, so now Frank Costanza praises for its “very high strength-to-weight ratio.” It’s just we just do the pole.”

Classic Sandpoint. ridiculous enough to be a real holiday, Keaton also wanted to thank and, ever since that episode, there Kochava, the Festival at Sandpoint, have been fans keeping Festivus alive Matchwood Brewing Co. and Evans in their own unique ways.

Brothers Coffee Roasters for hosting Enter: Kaleb Keaton and friends. the pole, which helped get the word For the past 20 years, these Sandout for the show. point locals have celebrated Festivus “This is a passion project,” he said. and their shared love of “Most of us are people Seinfeld. In 2022, they with families and jobs. decided to bring an event Festivus: It’s just a group that to the Panida stage, hop- A Seinfeld event Monday, Dec. 23; doors at really likes to get toing they wouldn’t screw 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.; $10 gether and make each up on stage and look like advance, $15 at the door. other laugh. Plus, raising fools.

Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., money for the Panida is What happened was, 208-263-9191, get tickets at a treat.” locals turned out in panida.org.

Keaton said most droves and the Panida of his group grew up being in plays or roared with the sound of laughter and attending shows at the Panida, so it feels applause.

“I was shocked how well it went,” Keaton told the Reader. “We set a high bar, so now we gotta jump even higher.”

After taking a year off, Festivus is back on the menu, with the event taking place at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23 at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint). Tickets are $10 in advance at panida. org or $15 at the door, with all proceeds donated to the Panida.

The event will feature an airing of grievances, Seinfeld trivia and feats of strength, along with a reenactment of the episode “The Strike,” by cast members Geoff and Lindsey Klein, Lonnie Williams and Leslie Spohn.

Keaton said he was heartened by the invigorated interest in Festivus while touring the aluminum pole around town to

The cast of Festivus prepare for the big show (yes, that’s “George Costanza” played by Lindsey Klein while breastfeeding). Photo by Britta Wehrle

great to make Festivus a fundraiser for the historic theater.

This year, along with the reading of “The Strike,” feats of strength and an airing of grievances (which will be collected from the audience), Festivus will feature an Elaine Benes dance competition (if you know, you know).

There are Seinfeld-themed prizes for all contests and, as always, the potential for mishaps are possible.

“That’s the beauty of Festivus,” Keaton said. “If things go awry, that’s just funny.

It adds to the show

more. ... We’re not trained actors or actresses.”

Along with the cast, Keaton wanted to thank Maylie Spohn, Chase Lowther and his wife Britta Wehrle for helping make the event happen, as well as Garrett Strizich, “for his momentous contributions to the project.”

“I also want to thank the Reader for presenting it, the Panida Theater and KRFY for doing an interview,” Keaton said. “This is a Panida fundraiser and a lot of fun.”

December 19, 2024 / R / 17

events

Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com

THURSDAY, december 19

Trucker Hat Bar w/ Brittany 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery $40 to make a hat, includes materials and instruction with a glass of wine

SHS Choir Concert ($5/person) 7pm @ Sandpoint High School Jon Brownell’s SHS Choir performance Live Music w/ Sheldon Trio 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Royale Christmas Party 7pm @ The Hive Featuring Justyn Priest. Wear your Christmas best (or worst)

Woody’s Holiday Art Sale and Calendar Release Party 5pm-later night @ Woods Wheatcroft Studio Gallery Buy the new 2025 calendar for $25 or other art. Music by DJ Mercury. Attire: Funky holiday, please. BYOB drink/snacks. Some holiday slippers will be provided

Live Music w/ Triage 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 6-9pm @ 1908 Saloon Live Music w/ Mike Wagoner Trio 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Live Music w/ Zach Simms 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Live Music w/ Hannah Meehan 6-8pm @ Baxter’s on Cedar Live Music w/ Jason Perry 5pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Devon Wade’s Christmas Party 7pm @ The Hive Local country music performer, with line dancing lessons from 7:30-8:30pm for $10. 21+. Band starts at 8:45pm Live Music w/ Zach Simms 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Right Front Burner 9pm @ 219 Lounge Live Music w/ Ian Newbill 5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33

MCS: Amahl and the Night Visitors 4-5pm @ First Lutheran Church The Music Conservatory’s Bel Canto annual Christmas concert, from Menotti, a children’s opera, at 526 S. Olive Ave. Donations are welcome Live Music w/ Headwaters 4-7pm @ Taps at Schweitzer

Paint and Sip 5:30-8pm @ Barrel 33 Learn to paint a masterpiece Game Night 6:30pm @ Tervan Tavern

FriDAY, december 20

Live Music w/ The Doghouse Boyz 6-8pm @ Smokesmith BBQ Live Music w/ Son of Brad 5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33

SATURDAY, december 21

Live Music w/ Right Front Burner 9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge Groove and funk soul brothers Live Music w/ Truck Mills 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Holiday Market 10am-4pm @ River of Life Church Vendors with holiday gifts

Luminosity & Libations 5-8pm @ Teascarlet Fine Art More info at teascarlet.com Holiday concert w/ Bridges Home 2-4pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center Holiday music, hot cocoa, cookies

SunDAY, december 22

A Christmas Carol (live play) 1 & 6pm @ Panida Theater A musical retelling of the Dickens classic, set in the 1970s Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am

monDAY, december 23

Outdoor Experience Group Run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome

Festivus: A live Seinfeld event 7pm @ Panida Theater Celebrate the show Seinfeld and the notfake-at-all holiday Festivus with this event Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s revered by locals. There’ll be feats of “Why Jesus is Worth Saving” strength, airing of grievances, the pole and hilarity all around. Be there or miss out 18 / R / December 19, 2024

Dec. 19-23, 2024

A Christmas Carol (live play) 7pm @ Panida Theater A musical retelling of the Dickens classic, set in the 1970s. Presented by LPO Repertory Theater. See Page 19 Live Music w/ John Firshi 5:30-8pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Karaoke (Fri, Sat, Sun nights) 8pm-close @ Tervan Tavern

Winter Solstice Gathering 6pm @ 1201 Larch St. An evening for a gathering of like souls in letting go of darkness. Bring food if you like, look for red porch light Lions Club Toy Drive w/ Miah Kohal Band 7pm @ Roxy’s Lounge Bring an unwrapped toy for a raffle ticket. 21+. Silent auction A Christmas Carol (live play) 2 & 7pm @ Panida Theater A musical retelling of the Dickens classic, set in the 1970s Live Music w/ Bill Corwin 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge GTN Xpress pipeline protest 11am @ Red Barn (base of Schweitzer) Protest hosted by Wild Idaho Rising Tide against the GTN Xpress pipeline slated to expand across North Idaho Magic with Star Alexander 5-8pm @ Jalepeño’s

Trivia night 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Pool Tournament ($10 entry fee) 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge

STAGE & SCREEN

A (different kind of) Christmas Carol

LPO Repertory Theatre takes on the Christmas classic

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

is known for its enthusiastic productions of Young Frankenstein, Murder on the Orient Express and, most recently, There is perhaps no other Christmas story more impactful Steel Magnolias, and is basing the Carol performance on the than Charles Dickens’ novella adaptation by Peter DeLaurier.

A Christmas Carol. The original “It’s a dramatic play, but work gave us timeless characters like Ebenezer Scrooge and we’re treating it like a musical,” said director Tim Bangle.

Bob Cratchit, and showed us Instead of setting the piece that even the hardest of hearts in Victorian England, Bangle are still capable of embracing decided to relocate the story the magic of Christmas. to the 1970s, with the “past” Lake Pend Oreille Repersequences taking place in the tory Theatre will present the 1920s-’50s and the “future” Christmas classic with five sequence set in the year 2000. performances of A Christmas “I wanted to make it more Carol, starting with opening relatable to night on Friday, A Christmas Carol younger audiDec. 20 at 7 p.m., followed Friday, Dec. 20: 7 p.m.; Saturday, ences,” Bangle Dec. 21: 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, told the Reader. by two shows Dec. 22: 1 and 6 p.m; $25.

“Setting it as Saturday, Dec. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., written back in 21 at 2 and 7 Sandpoint, 208-263-9191. p.m., and two Tickets available at lporep.com. the 1800s seems far detached shows Sunday, from where Dec. 22 at 1 and we’re at, even though the 6 p.m. at the Panida Theater themes from the play relate. ...

(300 N. First Ave.). Tickets It’s the same as Shakespeare are $25 and are available at — you can plug into any time lporep.com. period and it still relates.”

The local theater company

The ensemble cast features a collection of local actors who audiences will recognize from their past work. Cory Repass will take on the role of Scrooge, while Angel Rodgers plays the ghost of Christmas present, Kate Hill as the past, Michael Bigley as Marley and about 30 others playing various roles to fill out the production.

Bangle will take the helm as director and handle sound, departing from his usual film medium after directing the Fade films with local actors. Keely Gray will produce the show and Val Moore will take on props and build puppets. Suzann McLamb and Laurie Buck will serve as choreographers for the three major dancers peppered throughout the show.

A Christmas Carol will be the first LPO Rep performance incorporating the new LED lighting kit purchased through donations received at their local fundraisers.

“A huge shout-out goes to the community members who helped facilitate that, especial-

ly Nikki Luttmann,” Bangle said. “We raised $1,500 from intermission fundraisers and pass-the-hat fundraising, now we own this lighting package.”

The production, which features a cast made up of about 50% kids, has been in rehearsal since August because of the dancing component, and Bangle is very excited to see it all come together.

“It comes down to the magic of it all,” he said.

“We’ve really tried to focus on the spiritual and magical elements within the show while shuttling Scrooge from point

By Reader Staff

Prelude Implicit, which debuted at No. 14 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart.

Throughout 2016-’22, the band celebrated the anniversaries of multi-Platinum breakout albums Leftoverture and Point of Know Return, with anniversary tours for both albums. Both tours were commemorated with live album releases Leftoverture Live & Beyond (2017) and Point of Know Return Live and Beyond (2021).

The band’s current lineup includes original drummer Phil Ehart, vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, keyboardist/ vocalist Tom Brislin, guitarist Zak Rizvi, violinist/guitarist Joe Deninzon, bassist/vocalist Dan McGowan and original guitarist Richard Williams. Drummer Eric Holmquist is performing on drums for now, while Ehart continues to recover from a

guest appearance on The CW’s television show Walker.

The band’s songs have also been included in various television shows such as Supernatural, ReachCourtesy photo major heart attack. er, All Elite Along with constant Wrestling, South Park, The Office touring, Kansas continues and The Simpsons, as well as to remain a fixture of classic blockbuster films including rock radio and popular culOld School, The Suicide Squad, ture, reaching new audiences Anchorman, Pitch Perfect and through commercials; live Happy Gilmore. sports broadcasts; video games Tickets for Kansas go on Rock Band, Guitar Hero and sale Thursday, Dec. 19 at 10 Grand Theft Auto; the band’s a.m. at festivalatsandpoint. documentary film KANSAS: com.

Miracles Out of Nowhere; and a

Courtesy photo

A to point B, as well as how to magically introduce the Christmas Spirit. We’re going to incorporate the fly-space — flying things in and out. That’s our first time doing that with LPO Rep, and the first time anyone has seen that in a really long time at the Panida.”

Asked why this play still appeals to such a wide audience, Bangle said, “We’re all Scrooge in a way. We all have that. It’s a good reminder that we could all do better, to be grateful and not look down on people around us based on what we see or think we see.”

Festival announces Kansas for 2025 lineup Fans of the band Kansas will be treated to classics, such as “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind” when the legendary group performs at War Memorial, in the Festival of Sandpoint’s first announcement of the acts for the 2025 Summer Series.

With a career spanning five decades, Kansas has established itself as one of America’s iconic classic rock bands.

This “garage band” from Topeka, Kan., released its debut album in 1974 and has gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide.

With a catalog including 16 studio albums and five live albums, Kansas has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums, one platinum live album, one

quadruple-Platinum single and another triple-Platinum single — that being “Dust in the Wind.”

The band appeared on the Billboard charts for more than 200 weeks throughout the ’70s and ’80s, and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. “Carry On Wayward Son” continues to be one of the top five most played songs on classic rock radio, and “Dust In the Wind” has been played on the radio more than 3 million times.

The summer of 2020 marked the release of The Absence of Presence, Kansas’ 16th studio album, which debuted at No. 10 on Billboard’s Top Current Albums chart. The wide-ranging progressive rock album, released by InsideOut Music, follows up 2016’s The

December 19, 2024 / R / 19

COMMUNITY

‘We do what we can’

Food for our Children sees sharp increase in need for weekend food program

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Food insecurity is a terrible thing, but it’s especially heartbreaking when it involves children.

For the past 15 years, the nonprofit organization Food for our Children has pledged to end childhood hunger in Bonner County. Through its Weekend Food Bag program — which ensures school children receive meals to take home for non-school days — and subsidizing the free and reduced lunch programs at schools, the organization has made real progress in tackling local food insecurity. However, the nonprofit recently sounded the alarm, noting that demand for food has taken a sharp uptick just since last year.

“Well over 20% of the elementary school population is now wanting weekend food bags,” co-founder and board member Dennis Pence told the Reader. “That’s a 15% increase from the numbers we normally see. It’s way over last year. We’re seeing something

20 / R / December 19, 2024

endemic. I was hoping in the fall when we saw the increase it was just a bump or a spike, but it has maintained for the food bank as well.”

Fellow board member Jamie Schlehuber put even finer numbers on the problem.

“Right now we’re packing 560 bags every week,” said Schlehuber, a retired school teacher who began volunteering with Food for our Children after relocating to Bonner County four years ago. “This time last year we were packing 350 bags, and that number was steady for a long time, so it really has increased over this past year.”

Because of the increase in kids receiving assistance, Food for our Children is experiencing a significant shortfall in finances. Pence estimates the organization needs about $50,000 extra to handle the weekend food bags.

He isn’t certain what factors have contributed to the increase in need, but Pence speculates that higher food prices coupled with rising living and housing costs haven’t helped the situation.

“You’ve got this unusual barbell in Bonner County where you have people with real means — the ones retiring from the coast into million-dollar homes — and then you have a very large percentage of people often living outside of the city who have to make decisions like, ‘Do I pay the rent or propane bill or groceries?’” Pence said. “It’s good to give clarity: We have real estate values like Sun Valley, yet we have about a third of the population here experiencing some food insecurity, which is sure not the case in Sun Valley.”

Pence modeled Food for our Children on the original “Backpack Program,” started in 1995 by a school nurse in Arkansas who noticed students were suffering from hunger. In response to her concerns, the local food bank started providing hungry kids with groceries in backpacks.

The program caught on and spread throughout the country.

“What we do is not unique, but we think we do it better, because we add fresh fruit as well,” Pence said, noting that the local organization is the only one in the Northwest to do so.

Food for our Children purchases the food bags from Spokane-based Second Harvest, which prepacks shelf-stable food in the bags. Then, Pence and volunteers gather at the Bonner Community Food Bank to

open and inspect every bag, ensuring the food isn’t past its due date and the packaging remains intact.

At that point, Food for our Children adds two apples — one for each weekend day. Then students take the food bags home with them.

The program doesn’t require income verification and is open to anyone who wants to participate — it only requires the approval of a parent or guardian, with forms sent out at the beginning of the school year with other paperwork.

Pence said his organization rarely gets political pushback, as is sometimes the case with food assistance programs.

“We use no federal money, no state money, no county money and parental approval is required,” he said. “So many of the decisive issues go away. We’re just a conduit for people to buy food at wholesale prices to give to local kids.”

Last year, California became the first state to implement a Universal Meals Program providing breakfast and lunch not just for needy children, but all children each school day.

“We’re never going to see that in Idaho,” Schlehuber said. “It’s just not going to happen.”

She said a big part of overcoming that reality is education.

“It’s about communication with our community. They should have an understanding about what’s actually happening in the schools. Kids are not getting fed,” Schlehuber said.

“It doesn’t matter where you are politically, you’re still hungry,” she added. “[H]ungry kids can’t learn.

If they can’t learn, they don’t get an education and don’t become working members of society. It’s a core need, so in order to create a successful student and a successful member of our community, we need to address this problem. If they’re hungry, they don’t care about anything else. It’s hard to do math when you’re hungry.”

In addition to the weekend food bags, the organization helps subsidize the free and reduced lunch program with cash to help ensure the significant population that falls just outside the gap of coverage continues to get the opportunity to eat.

“During COVID, everybody got

Courtesy photo breakfast and lunch at the schools,” Schlehuber told the Reader. “When COVID funding was taken away, there was a gap between what people qualified for and what people really need, so kids that used to qualify for free and reduced lunch programs no longer qualified. That’s where our subsidy program comes in, and we cover 10% to 15% of those who really needed it but didn’t qualify.”

The subsidizing has increased Food for our Children’s already steep $50,000 shortfall by an additional $20,000, leading the organization to ask for help from local businesses and community members so that the program continues its mission to end childhood hunger.

“I love the philosophy of our program because 100% of funds go toward food,” Schlehuber said. “We don’t have overhead, we don’t have an executive director, we don’t have an office, the board is all volunteer.”

“If you give us a check for $20, $20 goes to buy food,” Pence added.

“I think it’s unique in the county and almost nationwide.”

Operating entirely on donations from the community, Food for our Children’s large Wine Gala in September serves as the main fundraiser of the year. Those wishing to help the organization’s mission can visit foodforourchildren.org or send donations to: Food for our Children, P.O. Box 1867, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

In addition, businesses that would like to help can sponsor an individual school to pay for all or some of the food assistance programs offered by Food for our Children.

“In talking to the schools, I hear over and over again about how parents truly appreciate what we’re able to do and help them out,” Schlehuber said.

“That’s awesome to hear. We do what we can.”

MUSIC

Have yourself a Royale little Christmas

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

Royale is famous for engaging crowd work and the ability to faithfully perform hit songs Get ready to dress from bands like Led your worst to celZeppelin, Fall Out Boy ebrate the holidays and the Red Hot Chili with Royale, a Pacific Peppers.

Northwest cover band Each member has that infuses pop culture into every performance. a storied career in the industry, and the band The group will return to Sandpoint — decked as a whole once opened in ugly sweaters — Fri- for the British-American rock band Forday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. eigner. Drawing on all for the Royale Christtheir experience, the mas Party at the Hive Christmas concert will (207 N. First Ave.). include rock, pop and The powerhouse lineup includes guitarist funk bangers from all the best musical eras.

Justyn Priest, singer The Hive’s doors Derik Lavers, drumopen at 7 p.m., and mer Jimi Rockin’ and the music starts at bassist Alvin Flores, who named themselves 8:30 p.m. for this free, 21+ show. Remember after the famous Pulp to wear your favorite Fiction line, “Royale festive attire — whether with cheese.” that’s an ugly sweater, “We met through wrapping paper dress mutual friends and or Santa costume. The Facebook ads. Pulp best dressed can even Fiction is my favorite walk away with cash movie, and sometimes prizes. we cover ‘Misirlou’ by For more informaDick Dale,” said Priest. tion, visit livefromtheThough the band hive.com and roymembers came from alepnw.com. separate corners of “It’s free, and we’re the U.S., they bonded going to have a great over a shared love of time. You’ve got noth“connecting with the ing to lose. We’ll see audience and having you there,” said Priest. a party,” Priest said.

Royale playing live.

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READ

The survival of a free press is in all our best interest. But, as David Remnick pointed out in his essay “Stopping the Press” in the Dec. 9 edition of The New Yorker, President-elect Donald Trump is hellbent on demonizing and destroying it. He’s already done a good job of the former; the latter is likely to come in the form of moves like weakening or overturning New York Times v. Sullivan, which put limits on public officials’ ability to sue journalists for defamation if they didn’t like what they wrote. Read Remnick’s piece at newyorker.com.

LISTEN

My 9-year-old daughter got me into listening to playlists on YouTube with names like “lofi hip hop radio beats to relax/study to” and “Rainy Lofi Songs To Make You Calm.”

They are 100% instrumental; improvisational; and focused on creating a chill, cozy ambiance.

One of the best ones is the 30song “Winter Night Jazz Piano Collection” featuring “Ghibli Jazz,” which is a reference to the legendary Studio Ghibli anime production company. Find it all on YouTube.

WATCH

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint Right Front Burner, 219 Lounge, Dec. 21 Devon Wade Band, The Hive, Dec. 21 For mere mortals, Paul, Dave and Alvah sure know how to rock. Their band Right Front Burner has been a staple in the Sandpoint music scene for as long as we can remember. For this show, they’ll add Liam McCoy and Jesse Bennett, so don’t miss this one.

Their blend of funk, synth, groove and all other aspects of rock is legendary at this point, breaking the humans

This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone

of the world into two distinct categories: those who have danced to RFB and those who haven’t. Don’t be that person.

Give these guys your time and maybe a few bucks. Just don’t give them a sweaty post-dance hug, mmkay?

—Ben Olson 9 p.m.-midnight, FREE, 21+.

219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 208-263-5673, 219.bar. Listen at Facebook.com/rightfrontburner.

The Hive is gearing up for a Christmas party full of line dancing and foot-tapping country tunes with the Devon Wade Band. Wade has been practicing his craft since the age of 14, and has since toured the nation from Sandpoint to Las Vegas, sharing the stage with household names like Kane Brown, Cody Johnson and Jon Pardi.

Whether he’s playing

originals or covers of major hits, Wade’s sound evokes the essence of modern, Budweiser-and-cowboy boots country.

— Soncirey Mitchell

I might have been a little rough on the new Star Wars spinoff Skeleton Crew on Disney+ when I called it simply “unwatchable” in my also harsh (though still justified) review of Dune: Prophecy. I gave Skeleton Crew another chance, and even watched more than two episodes. Once the show moved into the galaxy far, far away, I remembered that Star Wars is supposed to be dopey, hokey, fantastical and kid-centric — all of which Skeleton Crew accomplishes.

Doors at 7 p.m., $10 line dancing lessons 7:30-8:30 p.m., show at 8:45 p.m., 21+. FREE. The Hive, 207 N 1st Ave., 208-9209039, livefromthehive.com. Listen at devonwademusic.com.

December 19, 2024 / R / 21

BACK OF THE BOOK

On Loren Eiseley and thinking for yourself From Northern Idaho News, December 19, 1907

FOUND THE ROBBER’S CACHE It was reported in Sandpoint this week that Fritz Lang, the old watchman at the Sylvanite mines in the upper Yakt had found the pad in which the two men who held up the Great Northern train last summer had a part of their booty cached, and that in it Lang found $14,000 in currency in the original packages as shipped from the Chicago bank.

The report here is to the effect that two men stopped with Lang at the time they drove out from Bonners Ferry with a team and secured the part of the money which was found on them when arrested, and that after he heard of their arrest and of their securing a pail in which it was supposed the money was cached, that he recalled that the morning after they stayed all night with him, the two men left his cabin with a pail and were gone an hour or two and on their return did not have the pail.

Lang made up his mind to make a search for the pail and found it in less than half a day’s time, buried under some ore in the tunnel of the Chicadee mine.

Lang then came down to Leonin and informed the Great Northern officials who instructed him to go to Helena, which he did and turned over the money and received as his reward the sum of $2,000 22 / R / December 19, 2024

By Sandy Compton Reader Contributor I’ve lately confessed to enjoying the writings of Loren Eiseley. If you haven’t gotten one of his books and started reading (with a dictionary handy), I may not be doing my job.

My job — sometimes — is to encourage my audience, small as it might be, to think for themselves, as opposed to letting someone else think for them. It might be more work, but it’s a critical component of personal freedom.

Eiseley thought for himself.

Something I like about Eiseley is that he doesn’t tell his readers how it is; he tells how he sees it. He knew that not everyone sees things the same way, or even can see things the same way.

Another thing I like — love, really — is that Eiseley was a beautiful writer. His prose is some of the loveliest I’ve read; a step away from epic poetry, that step being insertion of appropriate line breaks. He was also unafraid to let his readers see him at his best and worst, his sanest and most insane. He often seems to stand on the divide between.

He was a voracious reader, and he sprinkled his writing liberally with the thoughts of others. Sometimes, it is to make the point that he doesn’t agree with them. His heroes were also thinkers: Bacon, Thoreau, Darwin.

And others less well known. Some I’ve read, some I’ve never heard of.

As a paleontologist, Eiseley spent

decades digging up reasons to believe in evolution, as well as evidence that it’s highly unlikely that the biota of Earth can be or is reproduced elsewhere. His Darwinist view went deeper than Darwin’s. He felt life as we know it on Terra is a miraculous, one-shot phenomenon.

He died in 1977, leaving a huge collection of written thoughts on the why and how of that. Many of his essays are very personal, alluding to a difficult childhood. His was a mental and emotional balancing act on the seam between Holocene reality and a scientifically informed otherworld in which humans are no more important that slime mold, song sparrows or raccoons — all descended from the same mysterious moment of alchemic transformation when the inanimate jumped to Life (capitalization his) 1 billion-plus years ago.

Sometimes, I don’t agree with him.

He staunchly defended the Vietnam War. And he felt that the 1969 moon landing — a paragon of American endeavor — was a waste of time and money. But even in his expressions of personal opinion, he allows that he may be in error; that there may be factors he doesn’t have knowledge of that might mitigate his view.

His view of the space program has merit. He points out that even if we continue past the moon to Mars — which we have, mechanically — it’s still 25 trillion miles to Proxima Centauri, the star nearest ours. P. Centauri may or may not have planets, one of

STR8TS Solution

Sudoku Solution

which may or may not be habitable by carbon-based life — you know: us. Odds are infinitely long against that coincidence. Even if a new Earth awaits there, at the top speed Apollo 11 achieved on its expedition to Luna, it will take 43,000 years — 1,700 human generations — to get there.

His point is that we are stuck in this neighborhood, so we should take better care of it. Agreed. But he also noted that perhaps there was something he didn’t know that would open an avenue by which to travel quickly to points across the galaxy. He was not completely without hope.

Until then, we need to make considered choices of what we do with our resources.

There’s something to think about.

Crossword Solution

When I saw the old bum pushing his grocery cart down the stgreet, at first I felt sorry for him.

But when I saw what was in his cart I thought, Well, no wonder you’re a bum, look at the dumb things you bought.

Solution on page 22

Solution on page 22

By Bill Borders

rime /rahym/

Woorf tdhe Week

[noun] 1. an opaque coating of ice caused by rapid freezing

“A layer of rime had formed on the street signs, making them difficult to read.”

Corrections: In the Dec. 12 article ‘Planning Commission seeks public input on proposed Comp Plan map changes,’ we wrote that the map should be finalized by May 2026 when it should be May 2025. Also, Sagle’s Comp Plan open house is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 14, not Friday, Jan. 17 as was listed. We regret the errors.

CROSSWORD

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

Laughing Matter

ACROSS 1. Uncertain 6. Footnote note 10. Mother 14. Not below 15. One less than 10 16. Fragrance 17. Adjust again 18. Cast a ballot 19. Tubular pasta 20. Disentangled 22. In Europe, they’re “Zeds” 23. Pertaining to the sun 24. Hesitate 25. Beige 29. Guest 31. Not sharpened 33. Non-metric road distance 37. Thief 38. Chatted 39. Smiled scornfully 41. Winter sport with brooms 42. National 44. Anagram of “Neat” 45. Specified days of the month 48. Floral leaf 50. Biblical garden 51. Dispense 56. Car company 57. African sheep 58. Snouted animal 59. Celtic language

Solution on page 22 60. Audition tape 61. Deadly virus 62. Marsh plant 63. Gulf port 64. Leases

34. Similar 35. Lady’s escort 36. Border 40. Wanted 41. Subtitle 43. Begin again 45. Postpone 46. Love intensely 47. Brusque 49. Metric unit of capacity 51. Baby’s first word 52. ____ Ruth, baseball legend 53. On top of 54. Pitching to one side 55. Ages December 19, 2024 / R / 23

8. Temporary 9. Exploit 10. Type of cheese 11. Farewell 12. Particles 13. Come up 21. Highly DOWN sought-after 1. Act presumptuously 24. Frigid 25. Declines 2. Wild goat 26. Extended family 3. Price 27. Ancient 4. At any point alphabetic 5. Abominable character snowmen 28. Vulnerable 6. Null and void 30. Nominal 7. Region’s local 32. Rubber wheels floral and fauna

THE PANIDA CREW SEN DS OUR LOVE TO YOU!