DEAR READERS,
The week in random review By Ben Olson Reader Staff
R.I.P. Phil Batt
Idaho lost one of its native sons March 4, when former Gov. Phil Batt passed away at the age of 96. Batt, an onion farmer who joined the U.S. Army and fought during WWII, was later elected to the Idaho House of Representatives where he served 18 years before serving as governor from 1995-1999. As a Republican, Batt would almost be unrecognizable by today’s party standards. Batt’s legacy is distinguished by a deep concern about human rights, pushing to form a state Human Rights Commission, which became more notable after North Idaho experienced an uptick in hate activity after white supremacist groups targeted the region during the 1980s and ’90s. Batt also supported laws guaranteeing a minimum wage for farm workers and covered Hispanic farm workers under Idaho’s workers compensation program — the latter position often putting him at odds with many in the powerful agricultural industry. Regarding Batt’s position on that matter, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke told the Idaho Statesman, “He was right, we were wrong.” When elected as governor in 1994, Batt became Idaho’s first Republican governor in 28 years, a tradition that has continued ever since. Batt’s most lasting legacy is perhaps a 1995 agreement he reached with the federal government over the planned removal of spent fuel and nuclear waste from Idaho National Laboratory, which sits atop an aquifer west of Idaho Falls that serves half the state’s population and millions of irrigated farmland. What was referred to as the Batt Agreement required spent fuel — with a few exceptions — to be removed by 2035. Though the deal has changed several times over the years, it largely is credited as preventing Idaho from becoming a high-level nuclear waste dump.
origins of a hangover
We all know what causes a hangover, but do you know where the word actually comes from? As an armchair etymologist, I’m always fascinated by the origins of words. A popular meme in recent years claimed that the term “hangover” was derived from Victorian England when the lowest-priced accommodation was to sling oneself over a taut rope and sleep with head bent over to your feet. The meme claimed it was a popular place for drunken sailors to sleep one off, even trying to pass off a funny scene from The Great Train Robbery as “proof.” A professor of historical linguistics, however, described to the website Snopes that the claim was “nonsense.” Mirriam-Webster first documented the term in 1894, referring to someone or something that remained or simply survived, but was later altered to refer to the effects of overconsumption of alcohol or drugs.
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“Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness.” — Thomas Paine, political activist, philosopher and founding father
I hope you’re all enjoying the late winter we’ve been blessed with. Schweitzer has been excellent, so don’t delay getting a few more turns in before the end of the season. I’d like to invite you all to attend an open town hall meeting on Monday, March 20 from 5-7 p.m. at the Sandpoint Library community meeting room B. The Reader is hosting this town hall to give the public a chance to discuss and hear information about the Couplet plan that has been in the news in recent weeks. We’ve invited some former city staff members to give a presentation on their experience with the Curve plan which Sandpoint City Council rejected over a decade ago, as well as detailed discussions of how the Couplet would affect Sandpoint. We’ll also distribute surveys to those in attendance so our voices will be heard. After the town hall, the Reader will compile all the information gathered and present it to the Sandpoint City Council at their next available meeting in an attempt to make sure our elected leaders have every opportunity to hear feedback from the public before making any permanent decisions.
– Ben Olson, publisher
READER 111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 946-4368
www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (News Editor) lyndsie@sandpointreader.com Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Kelsey Kizer kelsey@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: William Preuss (cover), Ben Olson, Kally Thurman, Cynthia Mason, Jon Hagadone, Denise Zembryki, Stuart Berg Concert Photography, Bill Borders, Jen Heller Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Sen. James Ruchti, Sen. Melissa Wintrow, Mike Wagoner, Marcia Pilgeram, Sandy Compton, Clark Corbin, Jen Heller Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $165 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.
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This week’s cover photo is by William Preuss of his granddaughter Faye and Molly the dog playing in freshly fallen snow. March 9, 2023 / R / 3