Reader february2 2017

Sandpoint • Ponderay • Bonners Ferry • Clark Fork • Hope • Sagle • Priest River • Newport

READER February 2, 2017 |

FREE

| Vol. 14 Issue 5

Cribs burn!

More dark history of Old Sandpoint

Complaints pile up for Medicaid transport drivers

Rep. Scott reinstated to committee assignments

2017

Summer Camps

Where to send your children this summer (other than the moon)

Love Blooms...

Fabulous Flowers, Unique Plants and Clever Gifts

208.265.7900 www.PetalTalk.com 120 West Cedar Street Downtown Sandpoint 2 /

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(wo)MAN compiled by

Susan Drinkard

on the street

What was something your grandparents or mother and father did or said when you were young that made you laugh?

“I was really little. One of my first memories was in Iowa when my grandfather would chase me and my sister with the flyswatter, but it was just a game and it made us laugh.”

Mara Brandner Library desk attendant Ponderay “My mom let me ride on the vacuum cleaner! My grandma never cursed--never said one curse word in her whole life, but she did say, ‘Son of a biscuit!’ or ‘Calgon, Calgon, take me home!’ when she was frustrated.

It made us laugh.”

Samantha Ford-Bridges Housekeeper Sagle “My mom used to sing a silly song—the full version of ‘I’m Late’ from ‘Alice in Wonderland’—and it made me laugh.”

DEAR READERS,

Another week, another dollar (or whatever it is I’m paying myself these days). We’re happy to report that editor Cameron Rasmusson has returned safely from his travels back east for his coverage of Inauguration Day and the subsequent Women’s March in Washington, D.C. Needless to say, it’s nice to have another writer in the office again.

On a more serious topic, we received some negative feedback from the cover that ran last week. The image in question was a piece of artwork by artist Shepard Fairey, who created the image for people to print out gratis and hold high during the inauguration to show support for equal rights.

Let me be very clear about this; we take all criticism seriously here at the Reader. We encourage people to always let us know if they like, dislike or abhor anything that we do. It’s how we get better, and it’s how we serve the community best.

When some people saw last week’s cover, they saw a Muslim, a terrorist, a threat to national security. You know what I saw when I saw that piece of art? An American. Why is it different for a Muslim-American woman to wear an American flag than for a white country singer to wear one? Aren’t we all entitled to show our patriotism for our country? Aren’t we all entitled to the same rights, or did I miss something here?

With all due respect, if showing a photo of an American woman wearing her flag on the cover of a publication offends you, that’s not my problem, it’s yours. If these issues are dividing the nation, perhaps it is because they are divisive issues. Attacking the press or anyone with another point of view—no matter what their political leanings—is un-American and not conducive to a healthy democracy.

The cover was not pro-Islam, or anti-Trump, or anti-American—it was the most patriotic symbol I could think of to grace the cover of the Reader.

That is why I chose it. Because I love and believe in the principles of our nation; a nation for all, not just some.

-Ben Olson, Publisher OPEN 11:30 am

GAME ROOM UPSTAIRS

Jennifer Hackenbruch Health educator Sandpoint

“My grandpa would take a box of See’s candy and lick the top of every candy so no one else would eat them. My mom said she was never deterred and ate them anyway, so I would sneak into them and eat them too. I thought it was hilariously funny.”

Amy Jo Ellis Singer songwriter/psychic medium Hayden

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“Never, not once have I laughed at my people parents, but they do amuse me all the time.”

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208.263.4005 A SandPint Tradition Since 1994

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Woods Wheatcroft (cover), Ben Olson, Schweitzer, Lori Reid, Nancy Cerra, Don Nelson, BCHS. Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Dick Kramer, Steve Berenson, PollyAnna, Mellisa Davlin, Brenden Bobby, Jodi Rawson, Marcia Pilgeram Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

Subscription Price: $95 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

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

The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism.

Free to all, limit two copies per person.

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

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

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

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

About the Cover This week’s cover by Sandpoint photographer Woods Wheatcroft.

Check out more photographs by Woods at Evans Brothers Coffee for his photographic slide show called ‘For the Love of It’ on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

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Letters to the Editor Earth is at Stake...

Dear Editor and sisters, grandmas, mothers, aunties, women, Let’s figure out our strategies.

Regardless of the dismantling right now, this dismantling is but a brief moment, and things, policies, programs, and committees–just everything–needs to be reflected on, fine-tuned, and/or let go of. And then created anew.

Keep considering the enormous impact of the Women’s United movement. The sheer numbers of women responding. And remember that bad-mannered confusion or ill-behaved white men and their ilk hold nothing to stop the power of women united.

Please, reckon this NOW. There is so much to be done and so much at stake. Earth is a Mother Earth planet and the impact of this knowing will guide you in understanding your role in enlightened stewardship. A path of heart.

Name your focus whether Standing Rock and the Water Protectors, Planned Parenthood, EPA gutting, S.D. working quickly to repeal ethics voted on by citizens, or GMOs, chem-trail poisoning, then, not to mention Fukushima radiation readings are increasing, tide pools are dying. Has Exxon ever even paid the fines from the Valdez spill all those years ago?

OK, my point here is there is no small focus for inspection and involvement. And healing. Allow the concepts of beauty way and grace to impact our lives and environment. Again. See what is important in your heart. Otherwise, all the damage is too much to try and wrap our head around. Time to re-consider. We have been wearied by continual bad manners. Stop all of this and re-up to codes-of-conduct, manners and heart. Our love does eventually prevail.

If you need to walk away from something that no longer reflects who you are, do it. Take a moment to reflect, breathe, center. Take a moment to be mindful and determine what is important in your heart. Everything is too much, more is not necessarily better, just more. Determine some priorities for your Life. Empowerment is key for some forward movement. This must be the time–the numbers support this conclusion and consciousness. Please let’s all 4 /

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keep the momentum.

It is true the infrastructure is broken in some cases and places beyond repair. OK, then ReDREAM it.

I know we can do this. We are women. We are creators. We are capable, powerful, and we will.

And there are some fine brothermen. Stay unified, there is power in numbers that’s why you do all that social media. Hold all your ideas, ideals and dreams to high standards. Look each other in the eye and let’s keep our hearts open.

The future could be a healed Earth and humanity. Yikes, it’s all fallen so far apart.

And think about this: If we really have to solve and heal all this with something other than heavy magic and our thunderpower wands, then we’ll need to organize and think and strategize and intend and build. We will have to buckle down and do the work.

Earth is at stake. Bless us everyone.

Michele Monetta Sandpoint

Wilderness Will Not Ban Guns...

Dear Editor, In answer to the young man who asked about carrying firearms in wilderness, yes, you did miss something. The Code of Federal Regulations is a lot like a textbook. If you only read one phrase out of context, you may misunderstand the entire chapter.

Title 36 has a lot more sections in it than 261.57, and none automatically ban firearms or hunting in wilderness areas. Also, neither the Wilderness Act of 1964 or Title 36 uses the words “no mechanical device”. The actual phrase is “mechanical transport.” Transport means a vehicle, such as a car, truck, bicycle, aircraft or mechanized boat.

It is true that “each Forest Supervisor may issue orders which close or restrict” local uses (36CFR261.50), and that includes prohibiting possession of firearms and firework (36CFR261.57) in wilderness. However, similar restrictive orders prohibiting “discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun” and “hunting or fishing” can occur on any part of the National

Forest (36CFR261.58). You should have learned in school that the word “may” does not mean the same thing as “will”. Orders such as these, like those that restrict campfires, occur only when there is a good reason (for example, wildfire danger) and are usually temporary.

Bonnie Jakubos Sagle

You Are Not Alone...

Dear Editor and Mindy Cameron, I was deeply moved by Mindy Cameron’s article in the Opinion section of the Jan. 26 Reader.

Even though I was in Idaho during the disappointing and shocking inauguration, my feelings and response leading up to Jan. 21 were very similar to Mindy’s. I remember going to bed on Nov. 8 in shock and dismay. I tossed and turned all night. I woke up on Nov. 9 misty-eyed, depressed and angry. I refused to watch the inauguration on Jan. 20 and instead I proudly marched in the streets of downtown Sandpoint, Idaho on Jan. 21.

Thank you, Mindy, for sharing your experience with the readers of the Reader. You are certainly not alone during this oppressive and unenlightened time.

Patricia Hennings Sagle

Celebrities...

Dear Editor, Just a short reply to Mr. Birnbaum’s “Irony” letter from Jan. 26.

Mr. Birnbaum, I will agree with you that President Trump is a celebrity, although I consider him more of a blue collar billionaire.

Where I disagree with you in my opinion is that President Trump won the election not because he is a celebrity but because middle class America got fed up with the politically correct, corrupt, in-your-face government, and the Dems offered a failed big government candidate that offered nothing much different from Obama’s policies. The backlash

wasn’t just against Hillary. In the last six years, Dems have lost the Senate, Congress and over 900 legislative seats.

Cliff Kattner Sandpoint

Torture is Never OK...

Dear Editor, Last Monday, on network TV news, I heard the president of the United States condoning TORTURE. I have never been so heartsick for my country.

My God, I can’t find the right words for the response demanded by this situation. Certain images keep coming up—that’s all I can put out there for now. I keep seeing the terrified face of a young NVA soldier our patrol captured after a brief, nasty firefight near the DMZ, where we lost a point Marine. I remember us all standing in interval under a tattered jungle canopy, sobered and subdued by the sight of the poncho-wrapped figure being hoisted up the medivac chopper cable. Then, here’s this NVA kid being escorted back down the line.

Here was the face of the enemy, maybe all of 14 in age! I think most of us were in a weird state of curiosity and astonishment, mixing in with a benumbed sense of grief, dread and rage. The thing is, someone was moved to give him a cigarette, which dangled loosely from his mouth, drawn back in abject (and well-founded) fear. To see a Marine make this simple, compassionate gesture to a despised enemy soldier was somehow reassuring to this overgrown, lethally-armed boy scout without a clue. It was an example in my mind that we were all basically decent Americans at heart, trying to do the right thing in this miserable conflict for a the noble cause of freedom.

I was reassured that what made Americans the good guys in the history of our foreign wars was that we did not torture or otherwise abuse prisoners of war. That’s what separated us from the “dirty Japs,” Nazis and communists we so dutifully defied!

Oh my God, what now! Are the 40 percent of us supporting this overgrown bully also buying into the idea that torture might be an

OK thing while MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!?

As an American combat veteran, I have never felt more betrayed. It is so tempting to storm down the path of cynicism and rage, but I hope the better angels of my nature keep me aligned with the balm of love, which is “the only ointment God offers to heal wounds too deep for healing” (Stewart Udall).

Seth Phalen Sandpoint

Class Act...

Editor’s Note: This letter was sent to Barack and Michelle Obama by a Sagle resident, who also wished for it to be a letter to the editor in the Reader: Dear President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, I’m 81 years old and live in Sagle, Idaho, with my husband. I just had to write you to tell you how much I appreciate all the wonderful things you have done for this country. You and the First Lady have always been so inspiring in hundreds of different ways. I have enjoyed keeping track of you for a very long time.

One of the first times I saw you was on the “Oprah Show” and knew you were something special at that time. I thank you everyday along with our younger son and his wife. They campaigned very hard for both your elections.

Thank you for ObamaCare, which our older son has the privilege of obtaining. You have saved him and we’re grateful.

I truly wish I could express my feelings more because this doesn’t do you or the First Lady justice for everything you’ve worked so hard for. You and the family are leaving the White House but you will never leave my heart. I wish you and yours all the best things life can bring.

Very sincerely, Shirley Holt Sagle Got something to say? Write a letter to the editor at letters@sandpointreader.com. Under 400 words, and please elevate the discussion.

OPINION

Be educated about misinformation involving proposed Scotchman Peaks wilderness bill

By Dick Kramer Reader Contributor

I would like to applaud Sen. Risch for his introduction of a bill to designate the Scotchman Peaks as wilderness. After being embroiled in politics for over 33 years as a public servant, 11 of that as the District Ranger at Sandpoint, I rarely have the desire to enter that fray again. However, after reading letters to the editor and opinions in the Daily Bee and Spokesman-Review for the past several months, I have decided to wade in on the issue. I was trained as a scientist and try not to influence people with emotional rhetoric or by taking a little bit of information and twisting it to fit a political agenda. Making informed decisions based on factual information today is a challenge. That said, here is how I view the facts.

The area under consideration has been considered special for its natural beauty since before the land was proclaimed a national forest by Teddy Roosevelt at the turn of the last century. It has received very little active management because of this and its remote and steep landforms. By active management, I mean things like road building, logging and mining. However, multitudes of people have enjoyed it for hiking, hunting, fishing and camping.

In 1987, the first forest plan for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest (IPNF) was finalized after extensive public involvement throughout northern Idaho and comments from all over the country. In that forest plan, the area known as Scotchman Peaks recommended wilderness was described after careful comparison of factors used in all wilderness designations from the 1964 Wilderness Act. The outline of the area closely resembles the recommended area today. You can find this map in the 1987 Forest Plan, as well as in the new 2015 Forest Plan at local district offices, local

libraries and online. You will not find this area on Forest Travel Plan Maps or Forest Visitor Maps. Travel Plan maps (given free at Forest Service offices) show restrictions of motorized vehicles that in effect protect recommended wilderness areas. Management prescriptions (how to do things) were developed to manage this area (this is important) so as not to preclude it from congressional designation. For example, logging and road building were prohibited in Scotchman Peaks because it would preclude wilderness designation.

Law requires that National Forest Land Management Plans be revised every 15 or so years.

So in 2000 the revision process started again. This time even more extensive public involvement was required than in 1987. I personally led over 35 public meetings in the Sandpoint area, some of them were field trips, from 2003 to 2004. I had many discussions with members of the public on this topic until I retired in 2011. Many scores of other meetings were held throughout the IPNF and Kootenai National Forest discussing all aspects of land management, including wilderness designation.

We attempted, with much success, to bring as many people as possible to these meetings. We utilized all types of media, such as use of newspapers, radio, posters, letters to large mailing lists, and word of mouth to ensure everyone had an opportunity to be part of the process. Reflecting back, I never saw an elected official from DC at one of my meetings; however several of our state and local elected officials, such as county commissioners and congressional staffers, attended many meetings. Meetings in our area were held at least once, sometimes twice a month, and more during the summer from 2002-2004. Some of the meetings attendance well exceeded 100 people and were attended by a diverse group of people with an array of

Photo by Don Nelson.

interests and concerns from all over Bonner County, including Clark Fork, Heron, Montana and a few from Kootenai and Boundary County. We attempted to use workgroups to build as much consensus as possible, with many of the same members of the public attending all of the meetings. I remember broad support for the Scotchman Peaks area to be managed as wilderness.

Since that time, the Forest continued to collect public comments and joined in a collaborative group aimed at building consensus on projects to be implemented on the three northern districts of the IPNF. Finally in 2016, a new Forest Plan was finalized. Thousands of public comments were analyzed and the Plan was developed, based on consensus as much as possible.

Once again the area known as Scotchman Peaks was determined to be suitable for wilderness and had public support after analyzing thousands of comments and results of literally hundreds of meetings across the Forest. Throughout this time to present, the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, a large local non-profit grass roots organization, has gone through tireless extensive collaboration with other groups and members of the public to try and build understanding, acceptance, and

support for wilderness designation for this area. They have met with snowmobile clubs in Idaho, as well as in Libby and other areas in western Montana. I admire this group since few groups come to the Forest Service with volunteers and secure grants to help extend the Forest Service’s limited dollars to maintain trails, gather research, and help with public education on issues like mountain goat conflicts.

There has been much rhetoric on what you will not be able to do when it becomes wilderness.

You will be able to do what you have been doing for the last 100 years, if you are that old, with some modifications. I will not go into detail on this but will comment on the Code of Federal Regulations, 36CFR261. These regulations give the Forest Service authority to enact restrictions throughout the lands they manage to protect resources and the public. My personal experience is not extensive as there are over 765 wilderness areas nationwide, but I have hunted, fished, and hiked in about a dozen of them, mostly out west. I am not aware of any wilderness areas closed to hunting or fishing. In fact, the only place I have seen this CFR used to prohibit shooting is in the area immediately around the Forest Service office and homes, such

as the Priest Lake Ranger Station (makes sense) and Forest Service Campgrounds (also makes sense).

A friend of mine who has worked on the Angeles National Forest gave me an example that I never see happening here. Although hunting is still allowed on most of the Angeles Forest, the proximity of 18 million local residents from metropolitan Los Angeles and presence of gang activity finally necessitated a restriction on target shooting on the Forest, not just in wilderness areas using 36CFR261.

These changes are never made casually by a bureaucrat’s stroke of a pen; generally after much analysis, discussion, and public comment.

Fortunately, the city of Sandpoint prevents the shooting of firearms in Sandpoint proper. Common sense usually prevails, not a government conspiracy theory.

The IPNF currently has 11,950 acres of designated Wilderness, the Salmo-Priest, of which all is in the state of Washington. Senator Risch’s bill for Scotchman Peaks would add 13,900 acres to wilderness on the IPNF, which would be in Idaho. The addition of the Idaho portion would raise the amount of wilderness on the IPNF in Idaho to about 0.5 percent. Please understand that the IPNF manages moderate acreages of land in Washington and Montana as well.

Sen. Risch’s bill proposes designation only in Idaho.

Be informed, be involved, make your own decisions, and give your support if that is what you decide. If you missed this expansive, well-attended public involvement process I assume it was your choice. Check your facts. Still confused? Call your local district ranger. Your buddy over coffee may not be a reliable source.

Dick Kramer served as Ranger for Idaho Panhandle National Forest - Sandpoint Ranger District from 1999 to 2011.

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Where else?

Bouquets: •A bouquet goes out to Rep. Sage Dixon for his holding of the town hall meeting last week and his intentions to make himself available to his constituents.

While I disagree with a lot of Mr. Dixon’s opinions, I applaud him for embracing his constituency in an intelligent, non-abrasive manner. We elect our repre- By Steve Berenson sentatives to serve our interests Reader Contributor and listen to our concerns, not Where else in America—or to grandstand and go rogue like the world for that matter—can Rep. Heather Scott has repeat- one live in such a beautiful, edly done. If more represen- exciting, colorful and “far out” tatives were open to listening place? to their communities—all of Where can one, in a small their communities, not just the city, see moose wandering special followers that flock to around your yard looking for Facebook pages and partisan Rocky? meetings—we might just find Where can one live where common ground on many of aggressive driving is not the these contentious issues that di- norm and part of one’s day? vide us today. Let’s not forget; Where can one catch these people work for us. live performances of such a high-caliber nature or films Barbs: from every era and genre in a •To all of those who were historic theater owned by the offended at last week’s cover, community? please read my publisher’s note Where can one feel a pride on page 3. each day one walks around •There is currently a petition town seeing so many smiles going around by CREDO, a and “hellos” from others feelleft-leaning progressive group, ing the same? that is calling for network TV Where can one swim, boat to boycott Trump by not airing or relax on the pristine waters his press conferences. While I of Lake Pend Oreille? understand the impetus for this Where can you look in petition—to stop giving an out- every direction and see such let for people like Kellyanne majesty from these mountains Conway and Sean Spicer from that surround us? lying blatantly to the American Where can one bike and people—I think this attempt by walk on so many wonderful the far left to silence the media paths that take us all over the would do more damage than community safely and with upgood. We rely on the media to dated signs to our destinations? remain impartial and cover the Where can one ride a fun, news. When the news they cov- free bus to a world class ski er is full of falsehoods, it’s up resort that’s not too crowded, to journalists to point those dis- has amazing stashes and treescrepancies out, not to simply si- yet caters to everyone interestlence the voice. Now more than ed in the sport? ever, we need to know what our Where can one listen to president is saying so that we great artists play music every may dispute it with facts. day of the week and in the 6 /

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summertime have a world class music festival with some of the best musicians in the world?

Here, silly!

The reason one lives and plays here is endless for each of us, so I wanted to remind myself and all of us never to take our place for granted and give thanks for this abundance that we have and share with our community everyday.

So raise our glasses and give thanks for this gift of Sandpoint, Idaho, and happy 2017 and beyond.

And be careful in the roundabout.

Rep. Dixon Town Hall...

Dear Editor, I was fortunate enough to attend Sage Dixon’s town hall meeting on Saturday, Jan. 28, in Ponderay. It was my first time meeting with Rep. Dixon, and I really appreciated that he takes the time to meet with his constituents.

I was at the meeting to voice my concern about global climate change. But mostly I listened as Rep. Dixon mentioned his opposition to raising the minimum wage, and I listened to the teachers and parents in the room describe their firsthand accounts of the burdens facing our public schools, many of those burdens a direct result of our public schools having to serve a growing number of children with needs rooted in the common stresses of working poor families.

It became clear to me that Rep. Dixon believes that neither business nor government are respon-

The Inoculant

by Lori Reid

‘The Inoculant’ comic sponsored by: The

law firm of Elsaesser Jarzabek Anderson Elliott Macdonald. sible in ensuring that an American citizen working 30-40 hours a week receive a living wage. My simple definition of a living wage is an income that covers the most basic human needs: food, shelter, transportation and health care.

The current minimum wage in Idaho and throughout most of this country does not come close to covering rent, utilities, groceries, car ownership and certainly not health care expenditures.

In the past, I’ve participated in campaigns to try to raise the minimum wage. Of course, the arguments against it are the burdens it will place on small businesses.

Fine, I agree, if increasing the minimum wage puts an unfair burden on small businesses then it is the job of our legislators to hash out the details and mitigate the unfair burden but in the final analysis ensure that all American citizens are earning a living wage working 30-40 hours a week.

That’s American decency!

The large corporations in this country, such as Walmart, have successfully convinced our elected leaders that any legislation that impacts their profit line is bad for the whole country. Well, I don’t buy it (literally).

If all the hardworking Walmart employees earned at least a living wage, they wouldn’t have to rely on federal and state subsidies such a food stamps and Medicaid.

Walmart has the American taxpayer in the palm of its hands. Sorry, Walmart, I don’t mean to single you out but you are any easy target in this discussion.

Can’t most us agree that Americans who work 30-40 hours a week deserve an income that covers the basics? If so, let Sage Dixon know because he needs some persuading.

Sharon Lewis Sandpoint

OPINION

By PollyAnna Reader Columnist It’s cold. And snowy. Wow, Anna, I hear you saying, your powers of observation are downright stunning. You know... I just felt like it needed saying.

In between trying to ride my commuter bike on the icy roads (surprisingly successfully), and trying to improve my skate skiing skills (largely unsuccessfully), I’m indoors a lot. I’m guessing you folks are too.

Being indoors all the time makes me start asking big questions. Especially when I’m absentmindedly chopping vegetables for a boiling pot of soup, while the wind blows white stuff about like a tempestuous kitten released in a giant litter box.

I’ve got some particular puzzles on my mind right now. For instance, how do I weed through the huge list of applicants for that one position that’s opened up at work? How do I choose between visiting my ailing grandfather versus my new nieces? And why the heck doesn’t salt come with instructions?

Huh. That one stops me. It seems like everything unimportant has instructions on it these days. Come to think of it, look, the pepper container has both instructions and mini-recipes for meat rubs. How did the salt miss out?

It’s probably because salt just feels so darn intuitive, I tell myself. I mean, what could we even write on those cardboard cylinders that might enlighten us at this point? “Instructions: Put this stuff on everything until flavor stops improving.”

I love salt. Love love love love love salt. Okay, so, not the most of anyone ever. There was this one kid named Mason that I knew in grade school, a friend of my younger brother—no joke, Mason used to wear a small pouch on his hip filled with salt, and he would

take dips of it regularly throughout the day. This being at a time and age when most first graders didn’t even wear belts, let alone cart around pouches of white granulated substances.

And Mason grew up to be a normal, everyday person, with a beautiful wife and three kids.

So. That’s scary.

Life in general is a little scary. The more I age, the truer this gets. We go from being proud of being potty-trained through this onslaught of grown-up stuff like politics, spirituality, and relationships, until, at the end of our lives, all we can do is be proud if we’re still potty-trained.

That’s why things like underpants are important. They’re kinda silly, let’s be honest. There’s few things more guaranteed to get a good laugh in slapstick than a timely reveal of some classy whitie-tighties.

And, yes, sometimes underpants have this gross element to them. But, as gross as they get sometimes, they belong on humans. Whenever you encounter another creature wearing underpants, chances are that creature is probably human. Or, possibly a circus ape that killed its cagemaster and ran away in a murderous and thieving rampage… but, let’s go with the odds on this one.

I guess on a certain level, our fetish for small clothes and long johns is something of an acronym for humanity in general, which is what Christians and Jews have been proclaiming for centuries with their sermons on fig leaves in the Garden of Eden.

We’re a funny bunch, us humans, and messy too. Some of us have really weird taste in fashion and wear things that I wouldn’t even recognize as underpants. Some of us have racing stripes in places I don’t want to know about.

Some of us love salt just a little too much. Does that make us any more or less human? Nah. So, when it comes to big questions, it’s true — there’s been days in the last few months that I’ve just wanted to flee

to Canada, because bailing on all our teetering systems seems way the heck easier than trying to be a voice of reason. And because, look at it, Canada’s right there.

We can see it from our backyard. Heck, I could chuck this handful of vegetable peels at it and hit it square in the eye.

But then, I think of underpants. All those people turning in resumés for that new position at work are wearing underwear, I hope. My PawPaw wears underpants, as do my nieces. Obama wears underpants; Trump wears underpants. (I know, I’m assuming things here – Secret Service didn’t let me close enough to either one to test my theory. It turns out just saying you’re from Idaho closes plenty of doors these days. Still, I feel pretty safe on this assumption.)

So many people, and all of them, so human. I’ve decided not to move to

Canada (yet). Instead, one day at a time, I am trying to look at the persons I meet — really look at them — and remember who they are, and why they are, and how my purpose in today’s Sandpoint might simply be to ensure that someone treats all these folks right. A smile, a hug, a laugh… We all need to give away as much love as we can on these long days without sunshine, however long this season lasts.

And when someone’s acting a little too rude for the weather, I let it slide as long as I can, and then I politely ask if they’re wearing underwear today.

Watching their response is the best way to distinguish who’s human, and who’s an escaped deranged circus ape.

PollyAnna lives, loves and writes from Sandpoint, where she bikes to work on icy days because she’s so darn incapable of walking on the dratted stuff.

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NEWS

Rep. Scott reinstated to committee assignments

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

District 1 Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, was restored to her committee assignments Wednesday morning after a punitive fourweek suspension.

The North Idaho lawmaker, who began her sophomore term this year, lost her committee positions after saying in December that female legislators only advance to leadership roles if they “spread their legs.” With the issue resolved, Scott returns to her seats on the House Commerce and Human Resources; Environment, Energy and Technology; and State Affairs committees.

Idaho House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, revoked her committee assignments after receiving complaints from several of her colleagues.

“Rep. Heather Scott has acknowledged that what she said and did, on numerous occasions, was wrong,” Bedke said in a statement. “She seems to have taken ownership and responsibility for her offensive comments. She has made efforts to apologize to those who were personally harmed or offended by her statements and actions. It’s unfortunate that it took her this long to do so, but that is all I required her to do. I expect her future actions to confirm her sincerity. I hope she has learned something from this that will make her a better legislator.”

Scott took issue with Bedke’s statement and his overall handling of the situation in a newsletter released later that day.

“The unprofessional manner in which this entire situation was handled reveals that there is room for improvement in communication, mutual respect and leadership inside the Idaho House of Representatives,” she wrote.

Scott continued: “I believe Mr. Bedke’s recent statement to the newspaper is a bit disingenuous considering that he refers to my statements ‘and actions’. To this day, he has still not completely told me why I was removed from my committees and he allowed the situation to escalate for unknown reasons.”

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According to Scott, her comments were aimed at Rep. Christy Perry, R-Nampa, who she said was “rewarded” after having an affair by being appointed chair of the House Local Government Committee. Boise journalists contended that the committee, which rarely meets, is hardly an upgrade from Perry’s previous assignments.

Perry, meanwhile, contended that Scott’s comments were the latest in a string of inappropriate behavior. In a letter to Bedke, she said that Scott had traveled to other legislators’ districts and demeaned them to their constituents.

She also said Scott damaged a Capitol building ceiling searching for listening devices she believed House leadership used to spy on her. Scott later denied this story, only to have three other legislators back the claim.

The Spokesman-Review reports that Scott was allowed to return to her committees after meeting with a half-dozen female legislators who

had specific concerns. The meeting took place Monday and was overseen by House Assistant Majority Leader Brent Crane, R-Nampa.

“My many apologies never seemed to be good enough to please Speaker Bedke, so I opted for a public apology weeks ago,” Scott wrote in her newsletter. “When that wasn’t enough, I was assured that one last apology to a small group two days ago would be the final requirement.”

Scott’s removal from her committee assignments was no light punishment. It is in committees that lawmakers introduce and shape legislation before presenting it to the broader body for consideration. Scott’s local supporters cried foul, saying that District 1’s representation had been significantly diminished. Many of Scott’s supporters flooded Bedke’s office with complaints. However, in an interview with Idaho Public Television, the speaker said that he’d received more support than

Memorial Field update: steel framework laid

Steel: After six days of work, the construction crew at Memorial Field has completed the steel skeleton of the grandstands up to this point, putting them well on target for completing the project before graduation. Photo by Cort Gifford.

criticism for his decision.

Others wondered why Scott was punished when President Donald Trump is on record making cruder comments. In reply, Bedke told Idaho Public Television’s Melissa Davlin that he expects better under his leadership.

“Not on my watch,” he told IPT’s Idaho Reports. “The search for the second wrong that excuses the first wrong—two wrongs do not make a right.”

Scott believes the punishment for her comments was an excuse to undermine her “freedom agenda,” a suite of tea party conservative goals that emphasize state sovereignty. According to Scott,

two bills under that agenda—a repeal of Common Core education standards and its Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium testing—have been delivered to the Senate and House education committees.

For his part, Bedke said the length and severity of the punishment was due to Scott apologizing for her choice of words while ignoring her impugning the character of fellow legislators.

“To say that her words were chosen improperly is to miss the mark,” he told Idaho Reports. “It was about the message, and that message was reprehensible.”

Greenprint plan approved by council

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

A packed Sandpoint City Council meeting became contentious on Wednesday as North Idaho residents debated the merits of a Greenprint plan.

Attendees spilled out into the City Hall lobby to speak for or against the document, a collection of data identifying land suitable for conservation through various methods including property easements. At times, the meeting got testy, with plan opponents booing Mayor Shelby Rognstad when he asked who supported the plan’s stated goals: maintaining water quality, providing recreation, protecting wildlife habitat and preserving working lands.

Council members ultimately voted for the report after cutting a section laying out an action plan, saying that Sandpoint residents largely supported the decision.

However, Councilman Bob Camp offered vigorous opposition, saying the document exceeded the scope of its memorandum of understanding by extending into county land.

The Greenprint sparked controversy in early January when county residents said their voices had been shut out of the data collection process despite its impact on county land. They also worried that tying up properties through

easements could create a scarcity problem and drive up property costs.

That proved the most persistent criticism this week, with Bonner County Commissioner Dan MacDonald saying the county hadn’t been included in the planning process. Rognstad clarified that former county planner Clare Marley had been a part of the team, although opponents later observed she wasn’t an elected official.

Other opponents claimed the Greenprint was dishonest in its motives. Some said it was government overreach at best, while others believed it was part of a globalist, United Nations-driven agenda to move people off rural lands and into cities. Cornel Rasor, a former county commissioner, said conservation easements are a popular method to flip land into government ownership.

City staff and many Greenprint supporters stressed that the document was only a collection of information and did not obligate the city to any action. They stressed that no landowner could be coerced into participating in conservation easements. Business owners said they appreciated the informational tools it provided for conservation and quality-of-life protection, which they said were valuable tools in attracting employees or new business into town.

FEATURE

Complaints pile up for Medicaid transport drivers

By Melissa Davlin For Idaho Reports Used by permission On a cold night in November, a state contracted service “could have led to the death of a special needs child,” according to documents obtained by Idaho Reports.

After a medical appointment, a driver with a transportation company for Medicaid clients dropped off a teenager with special needs at the wrong southern Idaho home.

No one knows what happened in the two hours between when the driver left and when the teenager’s mother found him near a busy street. The young man, a Medicaid client, is non-verbal.

The driver, an employee of a Meridian-based transportation company, claims he walked the young man to the back door of the house. That’s unlikely; there were people home at the time who didn’t see him.

“Most likely the driver let him out of the vehicle and drove away,” says a complaint filed with the state. The incident “resulted in stress and trauma for everyone involved in the incident,” and forced the client, who has a compromised immune system, to spend two hours standing outside in the cold.

The incident, confirmed via an Owyhee County Sheriff’s Office report, is one of almost 400 from around the state lodged over Idaho’s non-emergency medical transportation services in the last six months. An Idaho Reports investigation revealed issues including tardiness, poor customer service, inadequate safety measures, alleged sexual assault and life-endangering mistakes—but issues with the transportation services started well before last year.

A necessary service Some Medicaid patients are entitled to transportation to doctor visits, therapy sessions,

and other medical appointments.

The broker of those transportation services: Veyo, the California-based company that provides non-emergency transportation services (NEMT) for Idaho Medicaid patients. Veyo works with commercial transportation providers, like Freedom Shuttle, as well as hundreds of independent drivers in an Uber-like model.

Last year, Veyo won a $71 million contract to provide transportation for medical appointments, beating out AMR, the previous NEMT contractor. That contract went into effect July 1, 2016.

The complaints, which Idaho Reports obtained via public records request, started that day.

Some involve Veyo and its services, while others are aimed at the local commercial providers.

Priest River resident James Patty Earnest, at her home in Sagle, relies on non-emergency medical transportation.

Bayles said his 28-year-old Her story will appear in next week’s conclusion to this series. Photo by Ben Olson daughter, Caitlin, has cerebral is concerned for other families During one transport in late palsy, and relies on a local in the community that rely on November, a male client got into transportation company to give the independent drivers disa pill bottle and chewed up mulher rides from her care center to patched by Veyo. tiple pills of Risperdal, a drug medical appointments. His frus“We’re talking about the most taken for bipolar disorder. trations with Veyo began almost “No one saw this?” the comright away. Though the transpor- vulnerable population in the state,” Bayles said. Clients with plaint says. Staff at the facility tation service is locally owned autism, bipolar disorder, or other noticed the white powder on his and has worked with Caitlin conditions rely on consistency. face and took him to the hospiin the past, Bayles has to go “With changing the driver, tal, where he was admitted for through Veyo to schedule rides.

Any changes take 48 hours, even just whoever happens to be there supervision after a bad electrowith their Uber ready to pick cardiogram. if the change is the result of them up?

These people don’t do “The facility supervisor Veyo’s mistake—a scenario that well with change,” Bayles said. called Veyo and asked for the Bayles said played out in late Christine Pisani, executive name of the driver that transportDecember, when Veyo’s computdirector at the Idaho Council ed and they said they would talk er system automatically kicked on Developmental Disabilities, to family directly,” the complaint Caitlin off the schedule because said relationships and trust are says. “We needed the informaof a glitch. critical when working with tion for doctors at the ER but The area has only one local vulnerable populations.

Small were unable to get it.” transportation service, and that frustrations and changes can upOne complaint, also in Nocompany has only one van with set clients, sometimes resulting vember, alleges sexual assault of a wheelchair lift. If that van is in behavioral issues. an adult female passenger by the already booked or out of commisdriver. Several complaints regard sion, Bayles, a disabled veteran, A pattern of complaints children or special-needs clients must transport Caitlin himself—a being dropped off without supertask that causes him severe back Bayles isn’t alone in his vision. In a December incident, pain. He has to pick her up to concerns. Most grievances a client with Down syndrome place her in and out of the car, and was dropped off alone in front of secure her heavy motorized wheel- involve drivers who are late, far too early, or totally absent, but her home. She wandered into her chair to the back of his vehicle. some mistakes have endangered own back yard, where she was Bayles trusts the local comfound. “Family and service propany to take care of Caitlin, but clients’ lives.

viders have repeatedly told Veyo driver must, for safety reasons, walk her to the door and ensure she gets safely into the house,” the complaint says.

Numbers and context Matt Wimmer, administrator for the division of Medicaid at the Department of Health and Welfare, said the department works closely with Veyo to address concerns.

Issues with NEMT aren’t new, though. Wimmer pointed out the raw numbers of complaints against Veyo line up with complaints against AMR, the previous contractor — and if anything, are slightly fewer.

In October 2015, when AMR held the contract, the Department of Health and Welfare received 99 complaints. In October 2016, four months after Veyo took over, the state received 70 complaints.

That month alone, Veyo administered 101,697 trips in Idaho, of which 6,366 were from independent driver providers, Wimmer said. “(Seventy complaints) is actually not bad, considering the level of service,” Wimmer said.

So if this was the standard all along, are Medicaid workers comfortable with the complaints and safety issues?

Wimmer said due to the nature of transportation and all the related variables — traffic, weather, car maintenance — there will always be complaints about tardiness. He also pointed out the number of logistics involved with what seems like a basic transportation service: Getting appointment information from clients or third parties, making sure that information is entered correctly, and relaying the correct information to the driver.

But even a single complaint regarding the safety of a client, Wimmer said, “is one too many.”

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Mad about Science:

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist Whelp, this has been a fun winter. For the first time in quite a while, we’ve had normal and healthy levels of snow. On the flip side, we’ve also been getting slammed with ridiculous cold fronts that make your head hurt every time you step outside, and don’t get me started on the wind.

Ever wonder how quickly you can catch frostbite?

There are a lot of factors at play, but the two big ones are the temperature and the wind. As an example, if it’s -15F outside and you’re relatively unprotected from the elements, you could catch frostbite to some of your extremities in as little as 30 minutes.

Ramp that wind up to about 20mph and you could be catching it in 10 or fewer. Even faster if you decided to take a refreshing dip in the freezing lake.

Water makes everything worse in the cold. If you fall into water barely above the freezing temperature (32 degrees Fahrenheit.), your body can go into shock in under two minutes and seriously diminish your chances of surviving past four. Ever watch any of those Arctic fishing shows and see someone fall in the water? It’s a big deal they pull him out fast. A really big deal.

So, to make these negative temperatures feel like a warm and toasty fire, I figured I’d do what I do best and look up all of the cold stuff floating around our universe!

Mars is our neighbor and current host to the Curiosity Rover, as well as our most realistic vacation home, should we ever make it off this big blue marble.

The temperature on Mars is pretty wild. You can thank its CO2 atmosphere for that. It 10 /

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Brought to you by:

cold stuff

struggles to hold heat for long.

In summer, it can get a lovely 70 degrees Fahrenheit around the equator. That’s about a good level for an air conditioned room minus the toxic atmosphere.

Then at night it can plummet to -100F. Frostbite, even without wind, would be near-instantaneous.

It gets even colder at the poles, where it can drop to almost -200F. There are some spaces a lot colder than that, and their closeness may surprise you.

One is our own moon. Unlike Mars, the moon doesn’t have an atmosphere, so it can’t hold any heat. We’ve managed to find craters in the dark where the temperature can plummet to -413F. Much as I’d like for the following statement to be a lie: The moon is not made of frozen cheese.

There may be ice on the moon, however. It’s rare, but it’s possible!

Ice on Earth exists everywhere when it gets cold. That’s because we have so much water in the atmosphere and on the ground that it can condense, freeze, fall and/or accumulate.

Our atmosphere protects the water to a degree, and doesn’t let the sun’s radiation strip it all away, as it would have done on the moon had any water existed there before.

However, water-ice could exist on the moon in craters that never see the sun. Had any comets, or even comet fragments delivered some form of water to the moon, it’s totally possible that lunar popsicles are chilling up there somewhere.

While -413F is cold, it’s not the coldest place in the universe,

but it’s dang close.

The Boomerang Nebula, a star system 5,000 light years away, is in its death throes. It’s hurling out the last of its gas into the great dark beyond. This expansion is causing it to drop in temperature, down to a frigid -457.87F. This temperature is important to the Boomerang Nebula because that means it’s the coldest naturally occurring area in the universe that we’ve discovered. That’s a pretty “cool” title.

Ha. Ha. Shut up, Brenden.

While that’s awesome, we’ve produced a temperatures a little bit colder on Earth. We’ve achieved temperatures that, at first glance, are astonishingly close to Absolute Zero, the term we use for 0 kelvin, when it’s so cold that atoms can’t move anymore. (-459.67F, for the record.)

We use these astonishingly low temperatures to measure atomic functions we can’t normally measure (because at higher temperatures things move too fast). This has incredible importance for fields of quantum physics.

We’ve had more macabre applications for extreme cold than studying atoms or saving your soup for lunch tomorrow.

You may have even heard about it as the new trend du jour for celebrities and athletes facing their own mortality. It’s called cryonics, though you’ve probably heard it referred to mistakenly as cryogenics (That’s the study of cold temperature).

In a nutshell, cryonics is the practice of exsanguinating a body and replacing the blood with a very cold saline mixture to preserve the body at a cellular level.

If you were to just slam your

dead body into a freezer, the water in your blood would crystallize and freeze, turning your cells into vicious little icy ninja stars that shred themselves beyond viability.

The hope here is that eventually there will be a cure for the deceased’s disease (and exsanguination) in the future, where they will be pumped back up

with blood and left to laugh at the mortality of their ancestors.

Me? I’m sure I’ll turn into compost for a delicious taco tree or something awesome. But to each their own!

Random Corner amis?

Don’t know much about tsun

We can help!

• The largest recorded tsunami in the world occurred in Lituya Bay Alaska in 1958. The wave was 1,692 feet in height, and taller than the Empire State Building that stands 1454 feet tall.

• In 2011, ancient stone tablets were discovered in Japan’s tsunami struck areas having inscriptions “Do not build your homes below this point!”

• A tsunami was generated by a massive explosion caused by a collision of two ships in Halifax harbor, one of which was carrying high explosives. This resulted in 11,000 casualties. For years this explosion was the standard for which others were measured.

• Mega tsunamis up to two miles high were formed by the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, also causing volcanoes to erupt everywhere, acid rain which burned flesh and vegetation, the sulfuric gas that blocked out sunlight for years, vaporized rocks as deep as the sea floor.

• The 2011 tsunami in Japan was so powerful that it actually moved the entire island of Honshu eight feet east and tilted the Earth’s axis between 4 and 10 inches.

• A motorbike swept away by the Japan’s tsunami washed up on the shore in Canada, the owner was identified and the motorbike was later returned.

• Only one tree among 70,000 survived the 2011 tsunami in Japan. Today it is protected and restored.

• Japan used $30 million of their tsunami disaster relief funds to support whale hunting.

Rest in peace, Tilikum

In this SeaWorld photo, Tilikum jumps into the air from his pen.

By Jodi Rawson Reader Contributor Tilikum died on Jan. 6. In a kinder world he world he would be a vibrant, middle-aged dominant male, like a chief in a pod of orcas, swimming 100 miles a day. In the interest of corporate greed, however, compassion is often neglected. In 1983 Tilikum was stripped of his free life at the age of two while he was breastfeeding and learning how to be a great whale.

At nearly twice the size of the average captive whale, Tilikum spent his life cramped. A great deal of his life was spent entertaining crowds on a platform, unable to move at all. Incarcerated killer whales almost always suffer from dorsal fin collapse, sunburn and illnesses from mosquito bites, which are not issues in the wild.

His friends and advocates say that he was “liberated” upon his death, that finally he is free from the misery he lived. There was hope, from me as well, that after the stunning documentary, “Blackfish,” things would change.

They are changing, but not quickly enough for Tilikum. He died while lying on concrete, isolated from his pod, premature, with a pathetically sad dorsal fin.

Actually there were organizations and charities that wanted to sponsor a better life for this massive whale. The hope was to channel “Free Willy” as the real plan with Keiko unfolded, and get Tilikum into a an ocean pen, feeling

the rhythms of the ocean, soaking up the microbiology of that water, living as best as he could. But SeaWorld would not relinquish their “commodity.” His sperm was used to create dozens of captivity-born whales; a whole new subspecies of an otherwise majestic and social ocean creature.

Although they are called “killer whales,” there has never been a recorded incident of them being dangerous to humans in their wild habitat. Four deaths have occurred with orcas in captivity, and three of them were victims of Tilikum. One of the people he killed was a famous trainer, Dawn Brancheau.

The other was a man who snuck into Orlando’s SeaWorld to visit the great orca. Tilikum ate off the man’s genitals and drowned him. According to a trainer John Hargrove, author of “Beneath the Surface,” many of the whales do masochistic mutilations with seagulls, carving them up delicately in their boredom. Sometimes they are so bored they damage their teeth by chewing away the walls of their prison cells.

Our country is good at this sort of thing. At around 5 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of the world’s prison population, I cannot help but think about all of the “Tilikum” humans; incarcerated for nonviolent crime, but evolving in prison, into violence.

Rest in peace, Tilikum.

< MEDICAID, con’t from page 11 > Aiming to improve Josh Komenda, the San Diego-based CEO of Veyo, said his company takes every complaint seriously, especially those involving client safety.

“We’re really aware of the problems and frustrations,” Komenda said, adding he realizes tardiness can add to a client’s stress. “Honestly, our heart breaks if someone has a frustration or failure.”

Komenda said Veyo has completed more than 525,000 trips in Idaho since taking over in July. Of those, majority — 93 percent — have been carried out by local contracted companies.

He acknowledged hiccups in the transition, as well as challenges unique to Idaho. Some rural addresses, for example, don’t show up accurately on maps. The Veyo team is addressing this, Komenda said, and is working on rolling out a new GPS tracking system that will help clients and Veyo call center staff locate where drivers are in real-time.

“We’re 110 percent committed to continuing to improve the quality,” Komenda said.

The chairman’s view House Health and Welfare Chairman Fred Wood, R-Burley, said he’s heard al-

most no complaints over Veyo’s services.

While he does want to hear the concerns, he said he wasn’t going to get too excited until he’d studied the issue.

“Any time there’s change, people really seem to have a problem,” Wood said, pointing to past transition issues with Medicaid contractors Optum and Melina. Those issues were ironed out, Wood said, and he expects the same will happen with Veyo.

And if it doesn’t? That’s up to the Department of Health and Welfare to deal with, Wood said.

“The legislature is not going to interfere with a state contract,” Wood said. But, he said, his primary concern is making sure Medicaid patients get to their appointments safely.

Bayles, the Priest River father, said he has contacted his lawmakers, and is paying attention to who will help him fix the problem. He said North Idaho lawmakers Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, and Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, have been responsive and interested in helping him.

“I know it’s going to be a political process,” Bayles said. “I’ll find the ones who are on our side.” And for those who aren’t, he said, he’ll work to get them voted out of office.

Next week: The business side of medical transportation

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event t h u r s d a y

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located on the historic

CEDAR ST. BRIDGE in Sandpoint, Idaho

www.cedarstbistro.com

Teen space in the Library

...Doesn’t exist Let’s make it happen.

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

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

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Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry

Learn to dance the Country Two-Step 7pm @ Sandpoint West Athletic Club With instructor Diane Peters. 610-1770

The Eclectic Collector 12pm @ Sandpoint Library Merging literature, art and artifacts. You are invi with Paul Rawlings, librarian and creator of Bo sonal library in Bonners Ferry. This presentation collects, groups and arranges his 13,000+ titles i

Live Music w/ Devon Wade Live Music w/ Mostly Harmless 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 8pm @ Ol’ Red’s Pub Celebrate First Fridays with country Live Music w/ Marty Perron performer Devon Wade at the Beer Hall and Doug Bond Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA 5:30-7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority 9pm @ 219 Lounge Multi-instrumental trio with great mix Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante of gypsy, folk and dance

Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall The more you drink, the better they sound Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Live Music w/ Marty Perron and Doug Bond 9pm @ 219 Lounge A mandolin/guitar duo playing a wide variety of songs from the ‘60s through the ‘90s Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

Comedy for a Cause 7:30pm @ Panida Little Theater Phil’s stand-up is fun and easy to relate to, as he often dissects marriage, small town life, all while trying not to make too much fun of his kids. $14 Computer Class: Basic Computers 8:25am @ Sandpoint Library

Murder Mystery Dinner @ Talus Rock Retreat Lights! Camera! Murder! is an interactive “whodunit” murder mystery dinner and downtown scavenger hunt. As the night unfolds, lies and scandals will reveal a path to a killer, but it’s up to you to uncover the clues. $69. 208-255-8458

Sandpoint Chess Club Game Night at the Niner 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee 9pm @ 219 Lounge Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcome Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Seniors Day 7pm @ Sandpoint West Athletic Club With instructor Diane Peters. 610-1770 Night-Out Karaoke 9pm @ 219 Lounge

Infini Ga 5-8pm @ Infini tea of the Va artists’ w unavailab inson, H Kris Dills

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Learn to dance Salsa 7pm @ Sandpoint West Athletic Club With instructor Diane Peters. 610-1770

Wayne’s World: 25th Birthday Bash 7pm @ Panida Theater A N.Y. Film Critics Series event featuring an view with the actors and director. Admission

Show Your Lake Love Event • 5-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority This Valentines fundraiser for the Rock Creek Alliance is a special gathering for all to rais awareness and money to protect our big, beautiful Lake Pend Oreille. Enjoy Sierra Nevad ing Co beer on tap, live music featuring Marty Perron and Doug Bond and a Valentines raf tesy of Trinity at City Beach. Proceeds from Sierra Nevada beer sales will be donated to the Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry

The Conversation 6-8pm @ Ivano’s Ristorante Featuring Anna Largen on You Are Fabulous. Come to exper essential oils can release emotions, dissolve mental block calmness, clarity, and well-being. Bring $5 to make your ow

ful

February 2 - 9, 2017

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

Reader recommended

Alzheimer’s Support Group 1pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center ou are invited to share an hour A support group at 1 p.m. for families, caregivers and ator of Book Haven, his per- friends of those with dementia, Alzheimer’s and any related resentation illustrates how he disorder. Free respite care provided at the DayBreak Center 0+ titles into unique displays Infini Gallery Art Exhibition 5-8pm @ Infini Gallery Infini teams up with POAC for “Out of the Vault” exhibition featuring local artists’ work that has previously been unavailable to the public. Karen Robinson, Holly Walker, Kim Owens and Kris Dills. www.infinigallery.com

Family Game Night 5:30pm @ Sandpoint Library Enjoy after-hours fun at the library with a light dinner and lots of fun games. Free and open to the public!

Sandpoint Friends of the Library Book Sale 10am-2pm @ Bonner Co. History Museum as he February highlights include books about sailwhile ing, flying, fishing and animals. Also, CDs are $14 four for a dollar and DVDs are 50 cents each

hown and up 58

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Idaho Writer’s League 9-11am @ Sandpoint Library Open the door to your creative writing; critiques by your peers, writing contests and sharing of ideas with other writers

Bonner Co. Democrats Monthly Meeting 5:30pm @ Sandpoint Library Priest Lake Sled Dog Races Meetings are open to everyone 9am-2pm @ Hannah Flats Snow Park

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turing an interdmission is $10

Fit and Fall Proof Class 11am-12pm @ Cedar Hills Church Free fitness class for seniors First Tuesday at Eichardt’s 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub A monthly music event hosted by Jake Robin and featuring a special guest every month

Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas in concert 7pm @ Panida Theater POAC’s Performance Series featuring Fraser and Haas. Fraser, long regarded as Scotland’s finest fiddler, and the sizzingly-talented California cellist Haas once again unleash their dazzling teamwork and shared passion for taking the infectious melodies and grooves of Scottish music on an exe to experience how citing new journey. Tickets are $25 adults, $16 POAC memntal blocks and add bers, and $10 youth (ages 18 and under) e your own blend

all to raise beers, rra Nevada Brewntines raffle courated to the alliance

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Priest Lake Sled Dog Races 9am-2pm @ Hannah Flats Snow Park The race features sprint and mid-distance classes and skijoring. Classes include mid-distance races, dog sprint classes, advanced skijor, novice sled and novice skijor, and two classes for junior mushers based on age. 208-683-2387

Free Saturday at the Museum 10am-2pm @ Cedar St. Bridge Sponsored by Jack & Shirley Parker Fat Bike Takeover at Western Pleasure Ranch Come see “The Dark Side of Bonner County” @ Western Pleasure Guest Ranch This weekend package includes lodging in a guest Cedar St. Bridge Public Market room, breakfast, trail fee, sleigh ride and dinner. Group 10am-2pm @ Cedar St. Bridge bike ride both days, plus a sleigh ride Feb. 4 at 5 pm, Come enjoy indoor shopping on the bridge and dinner to follow at 6:30 pm. Fat bike rentals availspanning Sand Creek able. Reservations 263-9066

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Feb. 10 Paul Bannick: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls @ Little Panida Theater Feb. 10 Sadie Sicilia: In the Spotlight @ The Panida Theater

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Waldorf

inspired To submit your own pet photos, please send a photograph and a little bit of information about your special friend to ben@sandpointreader.com.

Please put “PET PHOTOS” in the subject line.

than 2 decades.

12th

-mosesMoses is a beautiful boy inside and out. He is shy, but when he warms up to you, he is very sweet and affectionate. Moses walks well on a leash and is athletic. He is 5 years old. Photo courtesy of Sheryl R. Garrison.

For more about Moses, go to pasidaho.org, and click on the “Adopt” tab. $14 adoption fees through February 14th!

Listen in Sandpoint to KPND @ 106.7 in HD 14 /

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Owner-Designer 406-690-9451

201 A. North First Ave. Sandpoint, ID 83864

Owner-Designer 208-597-3868

Dark History

The cribs on the east side of Sand Creek in Old Sandpoint

e e r h t t r a P

An elevated view looking east across Sand Creek at the early downtown days of Sandpoint, circa 1904. The houses across the creek in the top left of the frame are located on the current site of Trinity at City Beach and the Best Western Edgewater. Photo courtesy of Bonner County Historical Society.

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Editor’s Note: This is the third installment on an ongoing series highlighting the “Dark History” of Old Sandpoint. The Bonner County History Museum helped provide information for this article, and is currently hosting the “The Dark Side of Sandpoint” exhibit that takes a look at the seedy days of prostitution, gambling, bootlegging and murder in our town’s history. In this third installment, we learn about the night the cribs burned on First Ave. In the years after the turn of the century, Sandpoint was a raucous place. At one time, there was probably a saloon for every five people that lived in town. Prize fighting and gambling were common pastimes, as were visits to the “cribs” or prostitution shacks where soiled doves would entertain the rough and ready night denizens.

As Sandpoint grew, downtown began its slow relocation across to the west side of Sand Creek. Increasingly, town

residents expressed concern that the established “Red Light District” along First Avenue was detrimental to a civilized community.

One of the most notorious of Sandpoint saloons—the Stockholm Bar located at the current site of Starbucks and Spud’s Waterfront Grill—was also the home to a half a dozen cribs where ladies of the night plied their trade. On a cold, windy morning in late November, 1905, the cribs burned.

No one ever found out who set the cribs afire, but it is assumed that they were deliberately torched by an irate patron who threatened revenge when he was ejected just hours before. However, since the man was a prominent citizen of Sandpoint, the police did not investigate him.

“Cribs are Burned” read the headline of the Pend d’Oreille Review on Dec. 1, 1905.

“Two frame structures, occupied by six cribs, situated directly in read of the Stockholm saloon, were burned to the ground at an early hour Monday,” the story read. “Five inmates of the redlight houses

had to make hasty exits from the tinder boxes into the ice and snow. That none of them were burned to death is a wonder, and the roof fell before they had hardly got outside.”

Town residents first heard about the fire at 3 a.m., when four shots from a night policeman’s gun was followed by a long blast on the fire whistle at the light works. Such was enough to bring people “out of their beds to find the fire in full headway, with a howling wind carrying embers and sparks, and the fire itself threatening adjacent property.”

The news story states that though the volunteer fire brigade struggled with their hose cart in the mud, they “did good service and had two streams of water on in time to confine the fire to the cribs.”

The soiled doves who lived and worked at the cribs had no time to gather any of their valuables. A list of their losses includes: “Dixie Colton, $32 in cash, $700 in clothes and furnishings; Victoria Jefferson, colored, $695 in cash, $600 in clothes and furnishings; Grace Freeman, colored, $75 in cash,

$100 in clothes, (the Freeman woman got out one trunk containing valuables); Gertie Smith, $200 worth of goods; Maud West, $20 in cash, property loss given out by her at $1,000. Two dogs were burned to death.”

The report states that the fire started in crib No. 3. When questioned, the crib’s inmate stated that a man had been put out of her crib a short time before the fire and that he threatened vengeance, “but the man is pretty well known and the police do not believe he set it.”

The cribs were rebuilt as a larger, two-story structure by the madame, Grace Freeman, with assistance from James M. Bradley, who also owned several cribs on the east side of Sand Creek.

“Since the city council could not legitimize prostitution by passing an ordinance regarding the practice so they just let it be known in the summer of 1907 that ladies of the evening practicing their trade on the west side of the creek would be arrested for real for violating state laws against prostitution,” wrote Dale Selle in the ‘Sandpoint Historic Red

Light District’ Project.

Before, it was general practice to “arrest” the ladies of the night about once a month and collect a fine of $10 as a form of taxation. Though the new ordinance surely meant business, the city fathers continued to have trouble eradicating prostitution in Sandpoint.

The ordinance did, however, spurn the “restricted district” to take root on the east side of Sand Creek, where Bradley owned a bath house and brothel.

It was on the east side of the creek that brothels made their final stand in Sandpoint, lasting another decade before finally being stamped out for good.

Next week, town mothers go undercover as ladies of the night to uncover a prostitution ring, a sheriff who makes a special trip to Newport to tell the gaudy girls to “behave themselves,” and other ways Sandpoint tried to stamp out prostitution.

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r e m Sum p Cam

Where to send your kids for

It’s that time of year again... for summer camp? That’s right. You’d be surprised how fast some of these camps fill up. As we have done every year, here is a short compendium of some of the summer camp options for your children this summer. Weigh your options and choose the right camp for your child.

Cocolalla Bible Camp Ages 9-18 and Family July-Aug Swimming, canoeing, paddle boats, water sports, team sports, fishing, etc.

263-3912 www.clbcamp.org

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By Camero ff Reader Sta

For nearly 50 years, Cocolalla Bible Camp has been a leading local option for faith-based summer entertainment. The robust summer program includes weeks of activities for campers age 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and teenage.

Over the course of their week-long adventure, campers have access to varied activities, including canoeing, swimming, paddle boats, volleyball, horseback riding, Frisbee golf and team sports like baseball and basketball. Along with the traditional summer camp experiences comes a focus on scriptural education, with regular chapel sessions and Bible studies rounding out daily activities.

Schweitzer Adventure Camp Ages 6-11, July-Aug Hiking, crafts, swimming, village activities.

263-9555 ext. 2152 www.schweitzer.com

Illustration by Nancy Cerra.

Whether its winter or summer, Schweitzer Mountain Resort offers amenities unique to the North Idaho region. Schweitzer Adventure Camp takes full advantage of those attractions to offer kids ages 6-11 a one-of-a-kind camp experience.

Camper will enjoy chairlift rides, hiking, the mining sluice box, the monkey jumper, climbing wall and swimming, with plenty of games and structured activities adding to the fun.

Beginning in July, Schweitzer Adven-

Lake Pend Oreille WATERKEEPER partners with the Eureka Institute to host a fun-filled week of hands-on science, service and stewardship experiences for local students.

Watershed Discovery Camp is geared for kids 8-12 years of age.

If you've got a curious and creative kid in your life, they're sure to have a blast at Watershed Discovery Camp. Full and partial scholarships are available. th - 28th 2017 4 2 July

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Please visit www.LPOW.org for additional information.

ture Camp features week-long activities while still getting kids home in time for supper each night. Parents drop their children off at the Red Barn and pick them up at the same spot in the evening, a format likely to cut down on that summer camp home sickness. And if you’re a season pass holder, keep an eye out for tuition discounts.

Twin Eagles Summer Camps Ages 6-18 and family June-Aug Day and residential. Nature awareness, animal tracking, wild edible and medicinal plants education.

265-3685 www.twineagles.org In a technology-saturated world, there’s something refreshing about Twin Eagles Summer Camp’s commitment to getting kids back in the natural world.

At its summer camps for campers age 6-18, Twin Eagles gets participants into the nature for fun, skill-building activities like making fire by friction, learning about edible plants, archery, tracking wild animals and building shelters in nature.

Teens get an even more immersive outdoor experience.

Youth Horsemanship Camp Western Pleasure Guest Ranch Ages 10-16 June-Aug Hands-on experiences with horses, including maintenance and riding instruction.

263-9066 www.westernpleasureranch.com.

For horse lovers, there’s perhaps no better summer camp option than Western

< con’t on next page >

< con’t from previous page > Pleasure Guest Ranch’s Youth Horsemanship offerings.

The camp is a full-featured education in caring for and riding horses. Campers learn everything from horsemanship and riding techniques to the process of grooming, saddling and interacting with the animals.

It all culminates in a series of popular riding events like barrel racing, allowing campers to show off the skills they’ve picked up in the past few days. Best of all, all riding experience levels are welcome, so there’s no need for any wouldbe cowboy or cowgirl to feel left out.

Watershed Discovery Camp Ages 8-13 July Hands-on activities centered around understanding the science of the lake.

265-4000 www.eureka-institute.org A collaboration between Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeepers and the Eureka Institute, Watershed Discovery Camp combines lakeside fun with the science of its ecology and local stewardship.

Campers spend their time learning about water quality monitoring, shoreline cleanup, invasive species prevention and a wetland ecology field trip. There’s plenty of time to enjoy the water, too, with kayaking, water-themed arts and crafts and the Eureka Center’s challenge ropes course being just a few of the options.

Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education (SOLE) Ages 4-10; teen and up Experiential treks in the outdoors with emphasis on Leave No Trace and therapeutic value of the outdoors.

928.351.SOLE (7653) info@soleexperiences.org June, July, August - More specific information available on the website A well-known local nonprofit for its use of nature in character building, Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education camps aim to make participants better people through immersion in nature.

Combining exercises like wilderness navigation with deeper lessons on leadership and personal achievement skills, SOLE offers experiences for both boys and girls throughout Idaho and Montana locations. Participants learn to be good stewards of the environment, too, with all SOLE activities emphasizing a leave-notrace policy.

Music Conservatory of Sandpoint Summer Music & Theater Camps Grades 4 and up Music instruction, choir and theatrical based day camps.

265-4444 www.sandpointconservatory.org No matter what experience level your budding musician is at, the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint aims to help it blossom through its summer camps.

The local music education organization charted a variety of musical experiences last year, including the Summer Orchestra Camp, the Summer Choir Camp and the Summer Theater Camp.

All options offered both practical lessons to increase proficiency as well as performances for friends and loved ones to see just how much their campers have grown.

SWAC’s Summer Adventure Camp Ages 10-12 June 29-Aug. 11 Swimming, sports, arts and socialization 263-6633 www.sandpointwest.com In its 18th year, SWAC’s Summer Adventure Camp has become something of a staple for the Sandpoint community.

The camp offers a safe, fun place for kids to take part in activities like swimming, team sports, arts and crafts and other important socialization activities.

Through the unique partnership with Bonner County and the City of Sandpoint, SWAC is able to keep the costs down without sacrificing any of the fun. Each week costs $70 per camper and runs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Based out of Sandpoint West Athletic Club, Summer Adventure Camp has become something of a staple for the Sandpoint community; for the past 17 years it has served and supported the youth of our town, and given parents a safe and affordable place to send their children throughout the summer. The camp also offers a chance for the kids to meet new people, and the friendships that blossom over the weeks are a joy to witness. Through the unique partnership with Bonner County and the City of Sandpoint we are able to keep the cost down without sacrificing the fun. This 18th season will run from June 29th-Aug.11th. Each week costs $70 per camper and runs from 10am-5pm M-F at SWAC. Sign up will begin around June 1st.

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ART

‘For the Love of It’

Slideshow exhibition hopes to bring positivity and humor

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Supporting the arts in Sandpoint for 30 years

sales...................................

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Looking for an escape from the pressing issues of the day? Want to be inspired again? An upcoming slideshow art exhibit by local professional award winning photographer Woods Wheatcroft might just be the ticket.

“For the Love of It: Expressions of Optimism From Near and Far,” features a slideshow by Wheatcroft, who will be showing images from his collection that may offer inspiration during these troubling times.

“The slideshow is one of my favorite mediums to share work,” said Wheatcroft. “Visuals are a very powerful medium and I feel we need a shot of optimism and humor and some escape during this current time.”

The show takes place at Studio 524 inside the Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters on Friday, Feb. 10. The doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m. It is listed as a BYOB event, and there will also be a raffle for outdoor gear. All ages are welcome and donations accepted at the door.

“While the visual escape may only be fleeting and temporary,” said Wheatcroft.

“I feel one essential element of my photography is to create inspiration. Where you take the inspiration is another story.”

‘Out of the Vault’

Infini Gallery joins POAC for this month’s art exhibit

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

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It’s a little early for spring cleaning, but don’t tell the Infini Gallery.

Infini Gallery will be joining forces with Pend Oreille Arts Council (POAC) for this month’s art exhibition: “Out of the Vault.”

Opening night takes place Friday, Feb. 3 from 5-8 p.m. at Infini Gallery and Art Studio, 214 Cedar St. The joint effort will present viewers

with local artists’ work that has been in storage and unavailable to the public.

Prices will be adjusted to sell quickly and refreshments will be available as usual.

The exhibition will feature work from various artists, and will show inside the Infini Gallery during the month of February. For more information, check them out online at: www.infinigallery.com.

‘Share the Love’ WWW.TSCHEVY.COM

LOCAL: 208.263.2138 TOLL FREE: 800.866.2138 476751 Highway 95, Ponderay 18 /

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By Ben Olson Reader Staff The ArtWorks Gallery in downtown Sandpoint, 214 N. First Ave., is hosting an art reception called “Share the Love” on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 5-8 p.m.

The art exhibition will feature pieces created and donated by local Sandpoint artists. There will also be wine, beer and appetizers served.

Proceeds from all art sales will

benefit the Sandpoint High School Art Students Scholarship.

Pieces will be on display starting Thursday, Feb. 2, and will hang until reception night.

For more information about the event, call the ArtWorks Gallery at (208) 263-2642, or check them out online at www.SandpointArtworks.com.

STAGE & SCREEN

POAC Performance Series: Fraser & Haas

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Alasdair Fraser has long been regarded as Scotland’s premier fiddle ambassador.

Natalie Haas has been described as a “sizzlingly-talented young Californian cellist.” The two of them join forces to produce a repertoire that spans the full spectrum between intimate chamber music and ecstatic dance energy. You will certainly want to come tap your toes and sway along when Pend Oreille Arts Council brings this duo to the Panida on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.

Fraser and Haas have toured internationally for over 17 years, wowing audiences at festivals and concerts worldwide with their unique sound. They have released four critically acclaimed and award-winning albums along the way.

“They continue to thrill audiences with their virtuosic playing, their near-telepathic understanding and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of the music,” a review on their website says.

Fraser has been performing and

recording for over 30 years and sports a long list of awards, accolades, radio and television credits and performances on top film soundtracks such as “Last of the Mohicans” and “Titanic.” In 2011 he was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.

A graduate of Juilliard School of Music, Haas is one of the most sought-after cellists in traditional music today. She’s worked with a who’s who of the fiddle world, and her debut recording with Fraser, Fire & Grace, won the coveted Scots Trad Music Album of the Year award, the Scottish equivalent of a Grammy.

Cost to attend is $25 for adults, $16 for POAC

Supporters, and $10 for those 18 and under. Tickets are available at POAC Office and Gallery, Eve’s Leaves, Eichardt’s, Winter Ridge or online at www. artinsandpoint.org. For more information call 263-6139.

This performance is generously sponsored by Idaho Pour Authority, Bonner County Daily Bee, National Endowment for the Arts, Idaho Commision on the Arts and Idaho Community Foundation.

‘McManus In Love’ hits Panida Just in time for Valentine’s Day!

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Grab your significant other (or others?) and save the date, it’s about to get funny at the Panida Theater.

“McManus in Love,” a one-act comedy by renowned humor writer Patrick F. McManus, features the hilarious antics of young Pat and his pal Crazy Eddie Muldoon as they enter their teens and discover that their fear of the dark is child’s play compared to their fear of... girls.

Starring Tim Behrens, this show is billed as educational: you get to learn why your first date warps your personality forever.

“McManus in Love” plays at the Panida Theater one night only on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase in advance at www.panida.org or at Eve’s Leaves or Eichardt’s Pub. Tickets will be $17 per adult and $10 for kids 16 and under.

Attend this play and you’ll follow Pat and Eddie as they seek advice from all

Feb. 2 @ 7:30pm | Feb. 3 @ 5:30pm | Feb. 4 @ 1&3:30pm the crazy denizens of Pat’s hometown of Blight, Idaho, from Grandma Goombaw to Eddie’s beleaguered father, who developes facial ticks every time he sees Pat. Attend this play and you’ll pick up personal grooming tips from the old woodsman, Rancid Crabtree, who takes a bath once every leap year because he knows that soap and water eat holes in your protective crust.

Attend this play and you’ll witness dating moves from 16-year-old cousin Buck, who grew up to be only slightly smarter than celery. Then follow Pat into the movie theater on that first date with non other than Melba Peachbottom, the prettiest girl in the county.

Both McManus and Behrens see this play as a public service: if you bring your children or grandchildren to this show, they guarantee they will avoid their first date until they are at least 27 years old!

For more information, call 263-9191.

“Things to come” film

little theatre

Saturday, Feb. 4 @ 7:30pm

Comedy for a cause Tuesday, Feb. 7 @ 7pm NY Film Critic Series presents

“Wayne’s World” Includes an interview w/ actors and director Wednesday, Feb. 8 @ 7pm

POAC presents Fraser & Haas A 2017 poac performance series event featuring a great duo Feb. 9 @ 7:30pm | Feb. 11 @ 1pm | feb. 12 @ 1 & 3pm

“Hidden figures” film

Tickets $7 Adults, $6 Seniors, $5 Students, $4 Children

Friday, Feb. 10 @ 7:30pm

sadie sicilia in the spotlight Saturday, feb. 11 @ 7:30pm “McManus in love” play

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FOOD

The Sandpoint Eater Super Foods

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Food Columnist

My favorite part of Super Bowl Sunday is shopping, unhurriedly, in patron-free stores.

Five years ago I learned of this little known shopping secret by accident when I flew to Chicago for some pre-wedding shopping.

In anticipation of my youngest daughter Casey’s impending big-city nuptials, we planned a big-city shopping spree. The fact that I could tie Chicago Restaurant Week in with a ridiculously low airfare was all the motivation I needed to purchase my nonrefundable ticket, failing to confer with my daughter. Turned out my future son in law hosts an annual, epic Super Bowl party.

So on that given day, I whipped up a few guilt- and game-worthy appetizers for the dateless John, and the bride-to-be and I were off to the Loop.

Macy’s, formerly the flagship Marshall Fields in the heart of downtown Chicago, is a shopper’s mecca, and on that day it was our personal mecca, where the ratio of staff to shopper was ten to one. From the culinary center in the basement to the mid-level bridal salon, we shopped amongst sales associates (longing for consumer contact) without lines or competition until we grew weary. Then, with no reservation required, we finished our long day in the iconic seventh floor Walnut Room, without a television or scoreboard in sight, sipping Bordeaux and French Onion Soup. Now that’s my kind of Super Bowl Sunday.

I am not a complete stranger to the sport. Two football events have occurred in my life. The first came many years ago when I often 20 /

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catered for a small private fishing lodge in Northwest Montana where several San Francisco 49ers were frequent guests (including their coach, and my son Zane’s idol, George Seifert). A mother’s love knows no bounds, so breaking my own cardinal rule, I asked George for his autograph.

He was one of the nicest guys and most generous men I ever met. Fast forward a year and my family was smack in the middle of Candlestick Park watching the 49ers whip the Saints. Zane, who wore his autographed-team jacket, still remembers the score (and I still remember paying $12 for a hot dog and small beverage).

The second was only last year and involved the youngest generation. A grandmother’s love knows no bounds (or

budget), so I took young Zane, my Seahawk super fan, on a VIP tour of Century Link Field. Enthralled, he recited the names of every player on the poster-covered walls that loomed large before us and took in every word spoken by our well-informed guide. For entirely different reasons, it was a magical day for both of us, smack in the middle of Seahawk territory.

I feel like those events gave me all the football immersion I’ll need in this lifetime. I have nothing against the game, it’s just never held my interest. Casey’s theory is that I could never sit still through a game, and I think she may be on to something, though honestly, for many years I was so busy with the long days of catering prep leading up to the event, I

was pretty well burned out by the last pregame delivery.

Super Bowl Sunday—with living rooms full of friends, brimming with chicken wings, pizza and salty snack foods—is second only to Thanksgiving in food consumption. Thankfully, veggie trays and guacamole are also popular and offer some balance to the carb load. The most popular offerings from my past catering days were savory taco, nacho and chili bars, each accompanied with a small mountain of chicken wings and a strong lineup of toppings. A die-hard Patriot fan (and friend) is serving up lobster rolls. She says she’s splurging for the win.

An Atlanta friend has shrimp and grits on her menu (you don’t even need football to enjoy either

Tex-Mex Chili

one of those choices).

Whatever you choose to make or serve on Super Bowl Sunday, remember the basics of food safety: Keep hot foods hot by using chafing dishes or crockpots, and keep cold foods cold in an ice bath. And toss any perishable foods that have sat at room temperature for more than two hours. Not sure what’s perishable or at risk? Check out the Center for Disease Control’s Super Bowl webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/features/ superbowlplaybook/ Because a team’s potential loss is suffering enough for one day.

Put on a big pot of this great Tex-Mex Chili for a great start to a nacho or taco bar. I’m rooting for Team Chili.

Yields – a large pot to feed 8-12 guests

Put this on in the morning – the longer you simmer, the thicker the chili (don’t add beans until close to serving). If it’s too thick, add additional beef stock. Serve with a squeeze of lime, cubed avocado, grated cheddar, sour cream, onions, diced tomatoes and corn tortillas or chips.

INGREDIENTS: •4 pounds beef brisket, cut in 1-inch cubes •1/4 cup olive oil •2 cups chopped yellow onions •6 large garlic cloves, minced •1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels •2 tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened) •1 tbsp ancho chili powder •red-pepper-flakes, crushed 1 tbsp cayenne pepper 2 tbsp ground cumin 2 green peppers, seeded and diced 2 bay leaves 6 cups tomatoes, chopped with their liquid 2 cups beef stock ½ cup strong coffee (or espresso) 2 tsp salt 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper 2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans

DIRECTIONS: •Pat the brisket cubes dry with paper towels. Heat the oil in a very large heavy-bottomed pot and brown the meat, in small batches, on all sides.

•Transfer the brisket to a separate bowl and set aside. Sauté the onion, corn, green pepper and garlic in the same oil over medium heat until limp, but not brown, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Add cocoa powder, chili powder, pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and cumin and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add the bay leaf, and tomatoes with their juice, the reserved meat, salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and simmer for 3 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Add coffee, stir well, add the beans and simmer on low for half hour. Add final season with salt to taste. Transfer the chili to a large serving bowl and serve with condiments.

MUSIC

This week’s RLW by Ed Ohlweiler

A brief history of Super Bowl Halftime Show controversies

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff In these divided times, so many questions linger. What changes will Donald Trump’s first year as president bring to the country? Will the left and right wings of the United States ever find common ground again? And how many people will Lady Gaga piss off at her upcoming Super Bowl LI Halftime Show?

Ever the polarizing figure, Lady Gaga alienates some for her brand of heavily produced electropop and others for her often bizarre costumes and stage antics. What’s more, the artist is an outspoken political activist, a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter and a passionate advocate for LGBT issues. Following the election, the 30-year-old pop star famously turned out to protest at Trump Tower in New York City, a “Love Trumps Hate” sign in hand. The image was spread far and wide by both sympathetic anti-Trumpers and derisive conservative media outlets like Breitbart News Network.

Consequently, media coverage anticipating the halftime show has hinged on whether Gaga will use the largest stage in the world as a political platform. It’s a question that has even reached the multi-million dollar Super Bowl gambling business, where bookmakers have set 10-13 odds that the singer will make an anti-Trump statement.

Rumors are already swirling on whether or not the NFL is exerting creative control over Lady Gaga’s performance. On Jan. 17, Entertainment Tonight quoted an unnamed source who said the singer “was told by the NFL that she cannot say anything or bring anything up about the election, or mention

READ

Someone recommended that I read “The Power of One,” by Bryce Courtenay, before going to South Africa, and I can’t think of a better book, despite the fact that Courtenay is Australian (later I would go to Australia and someone would recommend a different Courtenay title).

It’s a story of a young white kid in apartheid South Africa and his dream of becoming welterweight champion of the world (it could complete this column because the movie and the soundtrack stand on their own!).

LISTEN

Lady Gaga. Courtesy image.

Donald Trump.” The story quickly caught fire on social media, and the next day, the league went into damage control mode, virulently denying that it put any such restrictions in place.

“This is unsourced nonsense from people trying to stir up controversy where there is none,” NFL spokesperson Natalie Ravitz said in a statement. “The Super Bowl is a time when people really come together. Lady Gaga is focused on putting together an amazing show for fans and we love working with her on it; we aren’t going to be distracted by this.”

On the whole, Super Bowl halftime shows have usually avoided charged cultural commentary. When they rankle sensibilities, it’s more frequently over perceived breaches of decency. Most recently, the NFL and performer M.I.A. got into a legal tussle after the British rapper raised her middle finger during Madonna’s 2012 halftime show. The NFL demanded $16 million in res-

titution for the incident, which became known as “fingergate,” and the parties eventually settled in arbitration.

Other controversial shows included Michael Jackson’s crotch-grabbing in 1993 and Prince’s rather suggestive use of a phallic guitar design in 2007. Then, of course, there was the infamous Janet Jackson nipple incident in 2004, in which millions of viewers caught a glimpse of the singer’s bared breast after a “wardrobe malfunction” with Justin Timberlake.

As political angst intensified over the past few years, however, controversy shifted toward the ideological. Just last year, the NFL took heat from conservative circles for Beyonce’s participation in the halftime show alongside Coldplay and Bruno Mars. As debate raged in America over police violence against minorities, Beyonce sang Black Lives Matter anthem “Formation” alongside her backup dancers, who dressed in costumes referencing the Black

Panther Party.

“I think it was outrageous,” Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and now Trump’s adviser on cyber security issues, said on Fox News talk show “Fox and Friends.”

“The halftime show I thought was ridiculous anyway. I don’t know what the heck it was.

A bunch of people bouncing around and all strange things.

It was terrible.”

With the election of Trump to the presidency and the tumult of protests that followed, it’s hard to argue that political and cultural tempers have cooled since last year.

Under the circumstances, the Super Bowl LI Halftime Show, helmed by a performer with a penchant for shock and provocation, has the potential to be one of the more volatile entertainment moments in recent memory. The world will find out this Sunday just what Lady Gaga has in store.

Watch Lady Gaga’s halftime show this Sunday, Feb. 4.

I’d always enjoyed the unique sound and solid songwriting of Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies featuring the recognizable deep baritone of Brad Roberts. But I was pleasantly surprised by their less commercially-successful fourth album, “Give Yourself a Hand,” which is an aberration—in a good way—from their formerly accomplished sound. features It Ellen Reid singing on three songs as well as Brad singing falsetto, and makes the band seem deeper and more versatile than ever before.

WATCH

If you enjoyed this week’s Banff Mountain Film Festival as much as I did—and really what’s not to like?—and also, like me, you prefer your action movies without special effects, pyrotechnics, or CGI, then I can’t recommend “Meru” heartily enough.

Available from our local library, this movie has everything a good Banff movie has: a daunting quest in this legendary unclimbed northern Indian “shark’s fin” route, superb footage, and intermingled backstories. Enjoy!

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Honoring a legacy

Priest River High School senior Avery Summers helps attach a sign on Toomey’s Trail at Schweitzer commemorating her great grandfather’s legacy with the 10th Mountain Division. Jim Toomey (who the run is named for) was a big part of the early history of Schweitzer and served in the 10th Mountain Division in World War II. “That group of solders was critical in the development of resort skiing throughout the US after the war and we are thrilled to help Avery recognize that connection and Jim’s service,” said Dig Chrismer, marketing manager at Schweitzer.

Photo courtesy of Schweitzer Mountain Resort

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If you’re a cowboy, and you’re dragging a guy behind your horse, I bet it would really make you mad if you looked back and the guy was reading a magazine. / February 2, 2017

Create • Discover • Shop • Healthy Café A 501 C3 nonprofit museum located in the

of Sandpoint!

8am - 7pm by donation Explore all mediums, technical instructions Wednesdays at 3pm, $5, 6yrs+ Thursdays with Miss Liz. 11am, by donation. Drop in OK. Ages 1-8 Technical instruction, 11x14 canvas and a smoothie, $15, Ages 8-14, RSVP 304-7384

CROSSWORD

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

Last Sat. of the month. All ages. Explore all kinds of board games and sign up to win one. 1pm.

ACROSS

1. Bushbaby 6. Small island 10. Gossip 14. Love intensely A journey through an imaginary musical land Starts March 6, all ages, 3:15pm, every Monday 15. Shower 16. Fit 17. Graven images A discussion for those who love art. 2nd Wednesdays at 6pm 18. Region 19. Operatic solo 20. Syndicate 22. Russian emperor 23. Alkaline liquid 24. Promises 26. Develop 30. Handbag 32. Eagle’s nest 33. Backlog 37. Tall woody plant 38. Flip over 39. Male cow 40. Corpulence 42. A ring-shaped surface 43. Thumps 44. Become fixed (on) 45. Young kangaroos 47. Drunkard 48. Eve’s opposite 49. Liable 56. Gumbo /at-uh-RAK-see-uh/ 57. ___ fide [noun] 58. French for “Love” 1. a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and 59. Blood vessel of the anxiety; tranquillity.

60. Coil “In March, Ben will go to Southeast Asia for travel and ataraxia.” 61. Crown 62. At one time (archaic) Corrections: Nothing to report!

63. Wanes

Last Sunday of every month, $12, Ages 8-12yrs

Buy two ads, get the third one

READER

ataraxia

Word Week

Solution on page 22 64. Relieves

DOWN 1. Nonclerical 2. Cocoyam 3. Natural satellite 4. Website addresses 5. Clear up 6. Angry 7. Indian dress 8. Place 9. Bewitched 10. Babbler 11. Abrasive 12. Assumed name 13. Rip

21. Type of whiskey 25. An Old Testament king 26. Dines 27. Green 28. Chocolate cookie 29. Officer 30. Iron 31. Coffee dispensers 33. Copied 34. Emanation 35. Oversupply 36. If not 38. Useless 41. Your (archaic) 42. Measure in a lab 44. Enemy 45. Wisecracker

46. German iris 47. Trades 48. Relocate 50. Newbie (slang) 51. Prig 52. Dogfish 53. Feathery scarves 54. Attraction 55. Historical periods

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