COMMUNITY
Task Force scholarship winners Bouquets: •Cynthia Mason deserves a bouquet this week for her unflagging determination to protect the turtles of North Idaho. Cynthia successfully lobbied the Idaho Transportation Department to install signs warning motorists on Highway 200 that turtles often crossed the roadway near the Pack River. After some douchebags stole the first two signs, Cynthia again patiently worked with ITD, who re-installed the signs just last week. Way to keep your head up and protect our native species, Cynthia.
Do For Your Country... Dear Editor, An acquaintance, a conservative Republican, has asked me how I could be an Air Force fighter pilot and also a Democrat (I pointed out that there are several of us in the area). I explained that I started voting Democratic in 1960 when John Kennedy, a war hero, was running for president. JFK said something earlier about how Republicans were only interested in themselves and their money while Democrats were actually concerned about helping those less fortunate in our society. (So true with the current health care bill). I have also wondered why, in addition to Donald Trump (medical deferments), an inordinate number of conservative leaders have never served in our armed forces. In our Idaho state legislature, there are no veterans -- George Eskridge, of Dover, apparently was the last one. Over the Fourth of July, I was thinking that today, in this divided country, there is a message from that young president (who also founded the Peace Corps) in 1961 that may resonate with the ‘America First’ and ‘Let’s Make America Great Again’ people and that is: “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Jim Ramsey Sandpoint 6 /
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/ July 6, 2017
The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force is proud to announce the 2017 recipients of the Darby and Amber Campbell Memorial Scholarship given each year by the Task Force. Shown in photo left to right: Kelly Curtis (SHS), Anthony Storro (PRLHS) and Winona Young (CFHS). All three are wonderful young people with goals, hopes and dreams. We are honored to help them on their journey. Photo courtesy Bonner County Human Rights Task Force.
Library announces groundbreaking on expansion By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Library supporters, dignitaries and local media partners are invited to witness the official groundbreaking ceremony of Your Library Transformation, the remodel and expansion of the East Bonner County Library Sandpoint Branch, at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 10. A neighborhood focus group will take place Wednesday, July 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the room 104 of The Rude Girls Room. People living nearby the library are invited to discuss the impact of the project on neighboring residences with the general contractor. “Northcon, Inc. is grateful to have this opportunity to help expand the library community here in Sandpoint,” said Brandon Spry, Northcon Inc. Regional Manager. The project will result in larger, more accessible community meeting rooms, an expanded Children’s Area, increased young adult and large print book collections, designated quiet and social areas, a teen room and maker space, among other additions. The decision to remodel and expand the library is based on public comment, usage data and community focus groups and surveys performed over the past three years. “While we will all be doing our best to mitigate inconveniences to patrons, we know that noise, dust and other disruptions are expected,” said Marcy Timblin, Public Relations Specialist for The Library. For project details, donor information and real-time updates visit www.eBonnerLibrary.org.
Reminder: Jacey’s Race this weekend By Jen Heller Reader Contributor
Here’s your friendly reminder, folks: Jacey’s Race is this Saturday, July 9, at the Sandpoint High School. You don’t want to miss it! Why? Because it’s going to be a blast! And, because every registration fee supports local kids living with severe, long-term illnesses. Register online at www. jaceys-race.com, or on-site Saturday before 8:00am. This year’s beneficiaries are Jared Kluesner (15), Oliver Bond (3), Catalina Guthrie (14), and Clara Falconer (11). We don’t have room here to feature all of them, so here’s Catalina’s story, in brief. Cat spends 10-14 hours each night on an eight-foot leash, attached to a lifesaving dialysis
machine. When she was six years old, she was diagnosed with MPGN type II -- a rare disease in which the body’s immune system attacks otherwise healthy kidneys. In over half of all MPGN type II cases, the illness progresses to end-stage renal disease within the first 10 years. Cat hit end-stage condition within two weeks of diagnosis. And dialysis is her only option -- even if she were matched with a kidney transplant, her body would likely kill her new kidneys within four months. Needless to say, Catalina’s diagnosis has affected her whole family. The Guthries have relocated multiple times to keep her close to the best medical care they can find. Their basement is stacked with cardboard boxes full of the
life-saving medical equipment she uses every night. “She’s almost never complained about any of it,” her mom, Cheryl, says. “But now, as she’s becoming a teenager, she’s realizing all the things kids her age are starting to do -- have a boyfriend, get a driver’s license. (Last week), when
Cat Guthrie stands in front of a treehouse her family is building at their home in Garfield Bay. Photo by Jen Heller.
we drove to Seattle to see her doctor, she said to me, ‘Mom, I’m just so tired.’” Cheryl shakes her head. Come help Sandpoint celebrate Catalina and the gang on Saturday!