November 1, 2018

November 1, 2018

I FREE I

Vol. 15 Issue 44

NOV. 6, 2018

GOV. OTTER ENDORSES PROP 2 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BONNER COUNTY RACES TIMELESS STYLE: "HAT LADY" MARY FAUX TURNS 90 MAD ABOUT SCIENCE TALKS AXES, EMILY ARTICULATED COVERS WORDS, THE LATE NIGHT BUDDHIST, A TIMELY POETRY PAGE, EMILY RUSKOVICH'S NOVEL "IDAHO," AND MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR THAN YOU CAN SHAKE � STICK AT

Elect Stephen F. Howlee Idaho State Representaave District 1 Seat B

Stephen Supports: • Agriculture.

•Proposiaon 2 • Property Tax Reducaon.

• Economy that works for Idaho.

• Access to Healthcare.

• Invesang in Educaaon.

• Mulaple use of Public Lands.

• Collecave Bargaining Paid for by Howlett for the House

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Vote November 6, 2018 for Stephen F. Howlee District 1 Seat B ssowleeoridahodistrict1b.com

(wo)MAN compiled by

Susan Drinkard

on the street

“What did you want to be when you grew up?”

“I wanted to be a mom. Grandma always said, ‘You can’t have three children because it’s too hard,’ but it’s not so bad. I have a 14-yearold daughter and a 7-year-old boy and a 9-year-old boy.”

Katie Lee Server at Connie’s Sandpoint

“A movie star on a soap opera.”

Terry Tindall Retired server at The Dish and Pend Oreille Winery

DEAR READERS,

We’re on the eve of an important midterm election, and to help you make the best choices in the local races, we’ve included a candidates’ questionnaire for our commissioner and assessor candidates (pages 16-18). If you missed last week’s issue, we did the same for legislative candidates (see www.sandpointreader.com and search “questionnaire” to locate online).

I strongly believe in exercising our rights, and one of our most vital rights is voting. I believe the more eligible voters who practice this right, the more representative our system truly is, which is a goal to strive for.

Polling places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

If you aren’t sure where to vote, or if this is your first time voting, check out www.IdahoVotes.org for more information, or call us here at the Reader: (208) 265-9724 and we’ll help however we can.

Aren’t registered to vote? That’s OK, Idaho is a state that allows election day registration. Just bring a photo ID and proof of residence (such as a utility bill) and you’ll be able to register right at the polling place.

Also, every election day we hear about small issues at the polls. While many of these issues come up more during primary races than at general elections, if you feel the poll volunteers have made a mistake in any way, call the Bonner County Elections Office at (208) 255-3630, or if they aren’t available, call the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 263-8417. Make sure you speak up if you feel your voting rights have been violated in any way.

Finally, my departure for the ocean blue is rapidly approaching. Anyone who would like to submit articles for publication over the next two months is encouraged to do so. We need Christmas-themed articles, Thanksgiving themed articles, and anything else you may want to write about.

My closing thought: Don’t be one of those apathetic people who think the system is against them. Every vote counts, even if you think it doesn’t. Please don’t stay home on election day. Make your voice count. Participate.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

“A translator for the United Nations.”

Marion Cox Retired teacher Sandpoint

“I wanted to be a teacher or a lawyer. I taught social sciences at the high school level and I was also a principal.”

Karen Burnett Retired teacher Dover

The Woodward Family: Jim, Brenda, Avery and Anna, celebrating 23 years of marriage.

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 Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Brandon Mowinkle (cover), Ben Olson, Susan Drinkard, Bill Borders.

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Nick Gier, Emily Erickson, Brenden Bobby, Scott Taylor, Jim Mitsui, Amy Craven, Karen Seashore, Susan Botich, Beth Weber, Cody Lyman.

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

“I am Super Drug’s friendly witch.”

Donna Greenwood Sandpoint

Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook.

About the Cover

This week’s cover photo was taken by Brandon Mowinkle on Unsplash.

Please vote!

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NEWS

Gov. Otter endorses Prop 2 Medicaid Expansion

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Idahoans for Healthcare announced Tuesday that Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has endorsed Proposition 2 — the ballot initiative to expand Medicaid coverage in Idaho, which will appear on the ballot Nov. 6.

“Allowing the healthcare coverage gap to persist any longer is not an option. We cannot continue to let hardworking Idahoans go without healthcare.

I’m proud that the citizens of Idaho have come up with a solu-

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.

tion to solve this long-standing problem,” Otter said, according to Idahoans for Healthcare’s release. “It’s good sense and it’s

the right thing to do.”

Otter listed benefits of Prop 2 as bringing $400 million in tax dollars “back to Idaho,” and keeping rural hospitals and county clinics open.

Reclaim Idaho, a grassroots political group responsible for spearheading the Prop 2 ballot initiative, released a statement Tuesday following Otter’s endorsement.

“Governor Otter’s endorsement confirms our belief that Medicaid Expansion is supported by Idahoans of all political affiliations, and his support is a signal that we’re building in-

credible momentum in the final stretch,” the statement, signed by the entire Reclaim team, reads.

“However, we cannot afford to take a single vote for granted.”

Reclaim Idaho pointed to anti-Prop 2 mailers produced

by Idaho Freedom Action — what the statement refers to as a “dark-money group” spreading “falsehoods” — as motivation to continue educating people on why they believe Idahoans should vote in favor of the ballot initiative.

“In this final week, we must be more determined than ever to win healthcare for 62,000 Idahoans,” the group said.

BNSF to close Baldy crossing

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) will be closing the railroad crossings at the 10,000 block of Baldy Mountain Road just passed Great Northern Road starting Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 8 a.m., Bonner County Road and Bridge announced Wednesday.

The crossings will be closed through Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. for major repairs. Detour signs will be posted three days prior to the closure, but motorists are encouraged to plan other routes to avoid delays.

Jordan, Humble visit North Idaho in final campaign stretch

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

With days to go before the Nov. 6 election, Democratic candidates for state office are making a final sweep through North Idaho to energize supporters.

Idaho gubernatorial candidate Paulette Jordan is rallying supporters this week in the home turf of the Idaho Panhandle. Likewise, Idaho Secretary of State candidate Jill Humble visited Sandpoint this week to meet with voters and county employees, whose work is directly affected by the office she is pursuing.

According to Jordan, her biggest job in the final week before the election is painting a distinction between herself and her opponent. And she believes that distinction is best reflected in the way they’ve run their campaigns.

“The biggest difference is I’m here for the people and haven’t taken any corporate money,” Jordan said.

That is reflected in the candidates’ contrasting approaches to health care. While Little has 4 /

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Paulette Jordan.

Jill Humble.

declined to endorse Proposition 2, which will expand Medicaid in Idaho to cover uninsured state residents in the so-called income gap, Jordan has made the ballot initiative a centerpiece of her campaign. She argues that should Idahoans approve Medicaid expansion through Proposition 2, they’ll need a friendly administration in the governor’s office to ensure that it is properly executed.

Proposition 2 gained a surprise supporter this week when Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter endorsed the ballot initiative this week. According to Jordan,

it’s too little, too late after years of failing to address the problem.

“They’ve had nine years to do something about this … and they haven’t,” Jordan said.

The best chance of success for Jordan’s campaign lies in exciting and energizing young and first-time or infrequent voters. To that end, she’s been impressed by the number of those individuals who have expressed their intent to vote. Even kids too young to vote have pledged to recruit eligible individuals who will vote on their behalf.

“I think people are enthusiastic about our candidates

this year — I hear that a lot,” Humble said.

Increasing voter turnout is of central interest to Humble, too. She believes that her opponent, Republican incumbent Lawerence Denney, has failed to encourage voter turnout and improve ease of voting.

She believes that introducing measures like automatic voter registration upon issuance of legal IDs like driver’s licenses and automatically-renewed absentee ballots are effective first steps.

“I think this would increase voter registration and turnout— for everyone, it doesn’t matter what party you are,” Humble said.

A lack of partisanship is a key element that Humble believes is lacking under Denney. She points to instances like the 22 billboards, funded through state dollars, that advertised the Republican and Constitution Party primary elections. Humble believes she has the administrative experience to run state elections in a fairer and more hands-on manner.

In charting a path to victory, Jordan is hoping her North

Idaho roots will boost regional support for herself and Democratic candidates like Humble.

She argues that a vote for her means greater representation for North Idaho and its regional interests. For instance, Jordan wants to take a more proactive approach to prevent and control wildfires, now a regular element of North Idaho’s late summers. Jordan proposes keeping firefighters active yearround, working to clear brush and other fuels in Idaho forests when the fire danger is low.

Wildfire danger is also a key element of Jordan’s position to not sell a single acre of Idaho’s public lands.

It also means that regional issues like the proposed Newport smelter will receive greater attention in Boise, Jordan said.

An opponent of the smelter, Jordan believes it’s the Idaho governor’s responsibility to work with Washington officials and agencies to ensure Idaho’s interests are represented in the permitting process.

“I feel there’s a strong need for us (in North Idaho) to fight for our position to have a seat on the table,” Jordan said.

NEWS

Washington state lawmaker blasts critics of ‘manifesto’

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Washington state Rep. Matt Shea is pushing back against criticism of a manifesto entitled “Biblical Basis for War.” In the manifesto, Shea advocates for the killing of all enemy males who disregard biblical law and refuse to yield. While it calls for avoiding bloodshed if possible, it also mandates that war be circumvented only if a would-be enemy agrees to obey biblical law and abolish same-sex marriage, abortions, idolatry, occultism and communism.

In a Facebook Live video, Shea blasted critics for using the manifesto against him, asserting that it was in no way a secret document. He also pushed back against a recent Rolling Stone profile of him, saying that it was written with a leftist spin whenever possible. He claims it’s all a part of a “counter-state” plot

by Marxists and Islamists to stymie his conservative-Chris-

tian agenda.

“It’s election time, and like clockwork, they are going do the smears and slander and innuendo and implication,” he said in the video.

While Shea says the manifesto isn’t an extremist document, his critics are unconvinced. According to the Spokesman-Review, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich obtained the document about six weeks ago and forwarded it to the FBI. Knezovich is engaged in a longstanding public feud with Shea, which culminated in the state lawmaker claiming that a sheriff’s deputy gun is linked to a triple homicide. The deputy sued Shea for defamation in a lawsuit that is still under way.

“The document Mr. Shea wrote is not a Sunday school project or an academic study,” Knezovich told the Spokesman-Review in an email. “It is a ‘how to’ manual consistent with the ideology and operating philosophy of the Christian Identity/Aryan Nations

movement and the Redoubt movement of the 1990s.”

An ideological ally of regional politicians like District 1 Idaho Rep. Heather Scott, Shea is known for a political philosophy heavily influenced by libertarian and fundamentalist Christian thought. He has been outspoken throughout his political career against same-sex marriage and abortion. In 2014 and 2016, Shea traveled to Nevada and the Malheur Reservation in Oregon to support the Bundy standoff against the federal government.

Shea is also an advocate for the creation of a 51st state called Liberty, which would be comprised of Washington’s 20 eastern counties and rely on an agriculture- and natural resource-based economy. Shea argues that eastern Washington shares few cultural and political values with the more liberal coastal half of the state, which is largely defined by the Seattle region.

Washington state Rep. Matt Shea is a prolific speaker known to travel around the Inland Northwest advocating his libertarian-Christian views. Photo courtesy Washington State House Republicans.

DMV offers mail-in renewals LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Have a driver’s license that expires in November and December but worried about recent troubles at the DMV? No worries: An option to mail in driver’s license and ID card renewal applications could save time and effort.

Citizens with licenses expiring during the time frame should receive a form to complete the mail-in renewal. Otherwise, the forms are available at county offices that process driver’s license applications and renewals. Officials will later decide whether or not to

extend the service to additional months.

It’s the latest effort to alleviate frustrations since the botched roll-out of new DMV technology.

“This system failure has at no time been the responsibility or fault of our County Sheriffs and their staff,” wrote Idaho Sheriffs Association President Kieran Donahue in a press release. “The combination of vendor software failures and upgrades to other software have not been able to achieve what either the Sheriffs or ITD would have expected for a system which supplies such vital service to the citizens of the state.”

Schweitzer Mountain Resort reported two inches of snowfall from Tuesday night with “more falling” on Wednesday morning. Photo by SMR. November 1, 2018 /

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OPEN 11:30 am

GAME ROOM UPSTAIRS

BY THE NUMBERS

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

$400 million

The Psounbality with Per FRESH FOOD LIVE MUSIC THE BEST NW BREWS

212 Cedar Street Downtown Sandpoint

208.263.4005 A SandPint Tradition Since 1994

The estimated amount of tax dollars that will be brought back to Idaho if Prop. 2 passes.

28

The number of people in Idaho who are taking advantage of an adult scholarship program. Idaho Opportunity Scholarship for Adult Learners was signed by Gov. Otter during the 2018 session, yet it hasn’t attracted that many adults yet.

$2.5 billion

The estimated annual cost to U.S. builders that 25 percent tariffs to China imposed by the Trump Administration will cause. The National Association of Home Builders estimate the tariffs will add an additional $9,000 to the cost of a typical single-family home in the U.S.

62,000

The estimated number of people who could receive health coverage if Idaho voters approve Proposition 2 on Tuesday. The ballot initiative was recently endorsed by Republican Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.

22

States that have never had a woman governor, which includes Idaho. Arizona has had the most female governors with four.

$1,022,245,511

DEVON WADE 6:30-9:30pm SADIE SICILIA AND THE RECKONING

6:30-9:30pm

Beer Hall Bingo

6:30pm

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The total amount generated from the sale of recreational and medical marijuana from January to August in Colorado, marking the earliest it has hit $1 billion.

McDonald Should Resign...

Dear Editor, Dan McDonald has slandered a sovereign nation who has a strong record of reputable and respected business dealings in the region. Listen to Dan’s own words and you will realize he was clearly speaking about the Kalispel Tribe of Indians because the subject being discussed was the proposed smelter.

McDonald’s claims of the Tribe taking kickbacks is ironic because the Tribe’s successful and sound business dealings has seen millions of dollars donated to several charitable causes in Spokane and Pend Oreille counties. Google the Kalispel Charitable Fund and see for yourself.

They are a small tribe but employ close to 1,500 people. They continue to grow their business footprint in the region to help their people and all people.

I’ve worked with the Kalispel for more than 25 years on cultural and media projects through the Sandpoint nonprofit, The Idaho Mythweaver, as well as three years as a contractor with the Tribe, hired to write a book manuscript, and to be curator of their visitor center and rest area on Highway 20 north of Cusick. Their legal department reviews every contract with a thoroughness I’d never experienced anywhere else. McDonald isn’t the first person to disparage them, so the Tribe is impeccable in their business dealings.

McDonald should resign his post as a commissioner immediately, but instead he continues to deny what he had said, and makes unsubstantiated claims of an edited recording. It will be up to voters, like me, to elect Steve Lockwood to replace him.

Jane Fritz Sandpoint

Lockwood for Commissioner...

Dear Editor, I first got to know Steve Lockwood, the guy now running for county commissioner, about 20 years ago. We started out skiing together. We branched off in different directions since neither of us could ski worth a darn. I have been constantly amazed at his energy and involvement in a wide number of community events and projects over those years.

He gets involved because he wants to use his talents and experience to leave behind a better community for all of us and the many citizens who will follow us. He sums this up on his website when he says, “I am running for Bonner County Commissioner to promote our prosperity while protecting our rural quality of life.” Isn’t that what we all want for Bonner County?

He made me understand that the last thing you need running local governments are ideologues. Politics at that level should be minimal. What we should be looking for are experienced, trained, professional managers who have the ability to communicate and work with all the citizens, businesses and organizations within our community. These skills should be combined with a firm understanding of the law and all the institutions we need to deal with.

To me, that is really reinforced by the fact that he is endorsed by a couple of retired county commission chairmen.

Let’s put Steve in office and make him work even harder for us.

Gary Deaner Sandpoint

In Defense of Prop 2...

Dear Editor, I am responding to Jeremy Conlin’s LTE of Oct. 11 in the Reader advocating against Proposition 2. Unfortunately I could not find any actual fact references to claims referred to in www.idahofreedom.org. The arguments made against funds raised for Proposition 2 make sense for somebody who is against government expansion. However, to use the fact that some of the money came from health organizations, to argue that the proposition is primarily to feed the pockets of health care workers or organizations is quite disturbing. Wouldn’t you want to pay your doctor or nurse for their health care services? Wouldn’t you want them to speak up for your health care needs if you were in poor health?

According to a 2017 study published in “Health Affairs,” Medicaid expansion was fully funded by federal dollars and was not associated with reduced state spending on education, transportation, and corrections. According to data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey, “only 13 percent of adults covered by Medicaid Expansion were able–bodied and not working, in school, or seeking work….three-fourths of those report not working in order to care for family members and the rest report other reasons, like being laid off.” Comparatively, regular American adults are unemployed or not in the labor force at a tune of 28 percent according to 2015 census data.

“Individuals with disabilities were more likely to be employed in states that expanded Medicaid…, reducing the need to live in poverty to qualify for Medicaid coverage.” As a result of Medicaid expansion “52.1 percent of enrollees stated attaining coverage made it easier to secure and maintain employment, with that number increasing to 74.8 percent for those currently unemployed.”

I am part of a group of bipartisan women who meet monthly on the basis of principles outlined www.livingroomconversations. com. We came together with the purpose to find viable bipartisan solutions for problems that are dear to all of us – like the health of our family, friends, and patients. We found that repeating unfounded statements from biased publications like Idaho Freedom just widens the political divide and prevents solutions. As a practicing naturopathic doctor I have seen people who fall through the gap avoiding necessary testing and treatments. How many people have you actually seen, who profit from Medicaid expansion? I would be interested in seeing some actual numbers.

Gabrielle Duebendorfer, ND Sandpoint

McDonald Tax and Spend...

Dear Editor, In 2015 the Bonner County Commissioner’s salary was $56,000. Today

it is $78,000. That’s an increase of 39 percent in just three years!

The county budget for 2019 raises taxes by 3 percent. Dan McDonald wanted to raise your taxes by a total of 13 percent, using a loophole called the “forgone” that allows the county to increase taxes all at once if they had forgone the opportunity before. If he remains in office, we might see this increase happen next year.

Dan’s plan sounds like tax and spend (on his salary).

Steve Lockwood has the experience to manage budgets, on time, with cost controls, and deliver the services our county needs. I believe Steve’s right for Bonner County.

Respectfully, Trisha Miller Sagle

McDonald is Dedicated...

Dear Editor, On Steve Lockwood’s campaign FaceBook page you’ll find the excuse for why he quit both of his prior elected positions: he chose to “move on to new opportunities at the request of others,” rather than stick with the jobs to which he was elected. Does that mean he’d leave Bonner County voters high and dry when he inevitably gets bored with the job of commissioner? I think the answer is obvious, because when a candidate tells us that he’s looking for better opportunities, we should believe him.

On the other, Dan McDonald has proven to Bonner County residents that he’s dedicated to the job, and keeps the promises he makes on the campaign trail. He works hard every day on behalf of us all, and puts the residents of the county front and center in every decision he makes.

Steve Lockwood isn’t a leader; he’s a pawn who’ll abandon us “at the request of others.” So if you want a commissioner who’s looking for “new opportunities” while he’s supposed to be working for us, look no further than Steve Lockwood.

But if you want a commissioner who’s dedicated to the job, understands the roll of a county commissioner, and works tirelessly every day for every Bonner County resident, then your choice is clear: vote to re-elect Dan McDonald on Nov. 6.

Debby Trinen Nordman

Vote for McDonald...

Dear Editor, Do you support refugees flooding into Bonner County? Do you support taking the lives of the unborn at any stage of a pregnancy? Do you support having faceless bureaucrats dictating what you can and cannot do with YOUR property? And do you want a man who makes uninformed decisions that affect all county citizens without having all the facts? If you’re answer is “yes,” then by all means cast your vote for “Socialist Steve” Lockwood.

BUT if you care about maintaining the culture of Bonner County, you care about protecting the unborn, you want your property rights respected, and you want a commissioner who carefully considers all aspects of an issue before

making an informed decision that best benefits all Bonner County residents, then your choice is clear: Dan McDonald.

While Socialist Steve falsely presents himself as a conservative to manipulate people into voting for him, Dan is the true conservative who walks the talk every day.

Please join me in voting to re-elect Dan McDonald for Bonner Country Commissioner on Nov. 6.

Lisa Keseloff Sandpoint

McDonald is Only Choice...

Dear Editor, I’m a busy adult. I vote on facts, not emotions or nice candidates. I’ll take raw-honest answers over well-crafted fiction any day. I don’t want fluff from my candidates, even if we disagree. I want a candidate that stays in their lane, not an activist for causes that have nothing to do with the job he’s campaigning for. I want misunderstandings to be cleared up, not perpetuated through deceptive responses.

I want transparency, not a campaign that blocks citizens from communicating openly on social media. I want a candidate that provides clear solutions rather than leading questions. A solid track record of conservative fiscal responsibility gets my vote, not someone who campaigns on disparaging the people he will be working with if elected. I want somebody with a track record of staying in office until the end of his term rather than a quitter. I want a contender that advances the freedoms and rights afforded to us by God, as described in the Constitution and amendments. Give me a candidate who loves life at any age and doesn’t promote the murder of the innocent. I vote for candidates who don’t avoid hard hitting questions. I’ll take someone who is motivated by a love for Bonner County’s conservative history and tradition over a community organizer who has stated that he doesn’t like our values.

If you are like me, you’ll want to reelect a leader. Vote for Dan McDonald for Bonner County Commissioner.

Thomas Leo Cocolalla

Double Standards...

Dear Editor, I have noticed a profound double standard lately in the letters to the editor of several publications. I am writing in response to Anita Aurit, Mike Morgenstern and Jessi Webster’s recent letters. First, let me address the concern they have about Mr. Lockwood being a “nice” guy only. Skill, knowledge and an ability to work with others and to be a leader are not mutually exclusive traits that only nasty people possess. Nice guys are perfectly capable of getting the job done but with no need for a “MASH” unit to handle the casualties. When it comes to qualifications I will cast my vote for Steve Lockwood based on his previous job experience and also his volunteer positions he has served so well. While I am sure Mr. McDonald thoroughly enjoyed his time with Big Boy Ballet Company (Volunteer Position) I don’t really see how that experience will help him carry out his duties as Commissioner. Steven

Lockwood on the other hand has served on many boards which qualify him for Commissioner hands down. Here is a small list of the boards he has served on both elected and volunteer positions: •Volunteer government experience: •Elected chair - Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission 2004-2005 •Helped to initiate new Comprehensive Plan for Bonner County •Firefighter negotiation team member and chair •Commissioner - Sandpoint Urban Renewal 2008-2018 •Chair - Sandpoint Downtown Revitalization 2001-2002 •Chair - Oregon Noise Advisory Committee •Chair - Columbia Region Land Use Task Force •Chair - Portland Region Air Quality Committee •Portland Energy Policy Task Force •Portland Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee •Portland Airport Noise Advisory Committee Other Volunteer Experience •Idaho Conservation League Board 2004-current •Idaho Smart Growth Board 2006-2015 I sincerely hope all of you will check out Steve Lockwood’s website. He is a pretty impressive guy. We will all benefit from his experience and leadership.

Submitted by the following: Marlene Petersen, Louie Baribeau, Bill Temple, Foster Hepperly, Erik Daarstad, Jerry Luther, Phil DeBoard, Catherine Ford Sandpoint

Let’s Close the Health Care Gap...

Dear Editor, Over 60,000 hard working Idaho citizens making between $3,000 and $17,000 annually fall into a health care coverage gap. Please vote YES on Proposition 2, a common-sense and compassionate citizens’ initiative, to provide health care coverage for these Idahoans.

Voting YES on Proposition 2 will expand Medicaid coverage to Idaho’s low income citizens with desperate health or mental health issues. Adequate health care should be an essential right for all Idaho citizens.

Please vote YES on Proposition 2.

Judy Hull Retired Educator, Sandpoint

Dear America...

Dear Editor, Dear Pittsburgh, I will be your neighbor.

Dear America, is this how we make America great again?

Dear young people, 4 out of 5 American citizens between the ages of 18-30 did not vote in the last midterm elections. We value your contribution.

Please embrace the opportunity to create your world. The future belongs to you.

Danny Strauss Sandpoint November 1, 2018 /

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Bradshaw is not a Good Choice for Commissioner...

Dear Editor, Many of my Republican friends are deeply disturbed by what is happening in our county. The disrespectful and polarizing rhetoric and actions or inactions of some politicians is not indicative of who we are as Americans. I began voting as Republican and I am now a Democrat. I have not changed, but the party has moved away from me to the far right.

The party’s current candidate for county commissioner from D-1 is Steve Bradshaw, current pastor of Cocolalla Cowboy Church. Mr. Bradshaw is ideologically far right – check out the Redoubt News. Steve is not qualified to be our county commissioner.

Bonner County has a budget of $54 million, overseen by three commissioners who act as CEOs. I cannot find anything in Mr. Bradshaw’s background or campaign literature that indicates he is capable of being a CEO of a $54 million operation. Quite the contrary. I find someone who, as he said when forming the NW Freedom Fest, acts because the Lord gave him a vision.

Mr. Bradshaw has stated that he is a property-rights advocate. But he wants to dismantle land use regulation, which is not in the best interest of citizens. Zoning protects property values and us from uncontrolled growth and development.

Mr. Bradshaw points out that he is accountable to God, his son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. This will present a problem for Mr. Bradshaw. Our founding fathers wisely created a government that separates church from state. We are society of many different faiths and beliefs.

Bonner County citizens can be Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Native American or agnostic. I am a Roman Catholic but believe my county commissioner/CEO should represent all our citizens’ interests.

Ken Meyers Sagle

Scott Takes Job Seriously...

Dear Editor, Not long after moving to North Idaho, after “escaping” from that state down south that gets weirder by the day, we met Heather Scott. What a breath of fresh air to have as our state representative! She’s without a doubt the most approachable and involved elected official we’ve ever had the pleasure to know.

We were not used to that – calling or writing to a politician and actually getting a call or an email back, and within a reasonable time? Heather Scott takes her job very seriously.

In fact, you might say she lives it.

And not just during the three months when the Legislature is in session. As far as she is concerned, constituent concerns don’t end after those three months – although I understand that’s all an Idaho legislator gets paid for because they are supposedly “citizen legislators” who just go home after the 8 /

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annual session ends. Maybe some do, but not Heather Scott.

She sends us regular legislative updates, information on important meetings citizens might find helpful, and lately, she’s been the only North Idaho legislator who shows up at public PacWest smelter meetings and offers her comments on the issue.

She has followed them up with a request to the Governor and the Idaho DEQ for a full assessment of all impacts the smelter will have on our area. Her request included well over 100 questions to which residents of Bonner County need answers.

Please join me in giving this outstanding representative another term on Nov. 6.

Kandy and Bill Brumley Cocolalla

Lockwood Has the Expertise...

Dear Editor, I worry about the 911 system in our county. I don’t know if people are aware that there have been times recently when the system has been down for as long as five hours. That could mean life or death for someone!

It is a comfort to know that in an emergency you can always call 911. But what if there’s no answer?

Our current county commissioners have been looking for ways to save money on 911 services, and making plans to share the cost with other local entities.

How will rural areas with volunteer fire departments be treated? They have no tax base -- yet might have the greatest need.

The idea of regionalizing 911 is the ultimate solution; it would result in saving money and provide service across all boundaries. Our county commissioners have shown no interest in this solution.

They declined to be briefed on this AND, they let a $127,000 grant that could have been used to improve 911 go back to the State.

We need someone who understands this issue and will make it a priority.

This is one of the reasons I am voting for Steve Lockwood for county commissioner.

Steve started out as a lineman climbing poles -- and was the Operations Manager for AT&T for the state of Oregon before moving here. He has the expertise.

Steve also has the skills to build the partnerships that will be required to protect the safety of Bonner County residents.

Join me in voting for Steve Lockwood.

Brenda Hammond Sagle

Why I Vote...

Dear Editor, I don’t think I’ve missed a primary or general election vote since I was first eligible in 1964. Why have I voted for 44 years? The reasons have built on each other. I first saw it as my “duty” as an American, also as a citizen of my home town. Those are still good reasons.

Now it is more than a duty. It is both a privilege and a responsibility I take seriously. As Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben said, “With great power comes great

responsibility.” He’s right. But in recent decades, voting is also more to me than privilege and responsibility.

It has become a moral act of conscience and patience. Everywhere we turn, there are opportunities to live out this truth-piece: “The best criticism of the bad is to practice the better.” I’ve tried to live my life this way, even before I found these words. I vote to “practice the better.”

Are you 18 or older? You can vote.

I strongly encourage you to vote to practice what you consider a step toward supporting a better life -- not just for yourself, but for our community, our state, our nation, our world.

Please vote! It’s a duty for sure. But it is also a great privilege, responsibility, and an important way to declare “I am a citizen whose conscience is engaged for the long haul.” One vote may not seem like much. But it’s your vote, and you count for a great deal!

Paul Graves Sandpoint

Lockwood Means Civility, not Hostility...

Dear Editor, There’s a rumor that Steve Lockwood is not “strong” because he seems cordial and nice. That’s crazy. Yes, he’s a good guy but nobody should mistake that for weakness. He’s accomplished a lot in both the private sector and public office.

From management at AT&T to years on the our local school board and the Sandpoint City Council, he gets things done through consensus not conflict. Which, let’s face it, would be a welcome change.

I just attended the Candidates’ Forum at the library and was impressed

by Dan McDonald’s comfort at the lectern and his speaking ability. I was less impressed by what he actually said, like defending the proposed smelter by comparing it to the Rock Creek mine discharge which he said was “clean and harmless.” That’s dead wrong on many levels. First, the Rock Creek Mine is not built — so there’s obviously no discharge at all. Second, if it ever does get built — heaven forbid — there’s every probability that it will discharge massive pollutants into the Clark Fork River, which flows in our Lake Pend Oreille.

Anyway, for me it’s not about style.

It’s about issues. Like the BNSF bridge, the proposed smelter, requiring and enforcing septic approvals for all new home construction, and protecting the rural nature that makes Bonner County so special. From King County, Washington to Kooteani County, Idaho, when planning and zoning gets too lax, urban sprawl moves in.

In short, please vote for Steve Lockwood. Even though he’s a nice person.

Bill Borders Sagle

Salary Increase is Telling...

Dear Editor, In the last couple of years we have watched County Commissioner McDonald

take credit for any and all things — until the Candidate’s Forum. When asked about the big salary increases he has promoted for the commissioners, he denied responsibility and blamed the county HR director who he said insisted the commissioners should give themselves another raise.

Kind of a puzzle, isn’t it? All we hear is how Commissioner McDonald has put the county back in order by cutting budgets, staff, and saving all kinds of money.

Yet in the midst of this, another fat raise for the commissioners; an increase from $65,000 in 2017 to $72,800 in 2018 and now $78,000 in 2019. A whopping $13,000 while the rest of the county is tightening their belts. Wow! This is not good leadership!

Seven previous county commissioners (Republicans and Democrats) have endorsed Steve Lockwood. It’s time for a change. I am going to vote for Steve Lockwood.

Steve has good leadership and he is someone who will not accept a salary increase when the county troops are in the trenches tightening their belts.

Let’s vote wisely as we have to live with this commissioner for the next four years.

Remember we get to vote for all commissioners regardless of their district.

Mike Dawson Sandpoint

McDonald’s Rock Creek Comments Flat Wrong...

Dear Editor, Commissioner McDonald has voiced his support on the proposed Rock Creek Mine in Montana on several occasions.

His rationale was that he had been told by the developers of the proposed mine (Hecla) that the water from the tailings impoundment would be cleaner than the water in the Clark Fork River, and that the EPA has a full-time office there (in fact, the nearest EPA office is in Helena, 265 miles removed).

According to the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) available from the US Forest Service (https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd573773. pdf) Treated wastewater would be discharged to either the infiltration ponds or to the permitted outfall in the Clark Fork River and would change the quality of the receiving water” (p. 4.22.5.2) Water from the tailings impoundment would NOT be cleaner than the Clark Fork River. Even after treatment, Hecla still needs a permit to discharge into the river BECAUSE it will still contain significant pollution. The only remedy that the mining company has purposed for the pollution is a “mixing zone” (described in the FSEIS), where the clean water of the Clark Fork River would dilute the wastewater. The pollution doesn’t go away, it just goes downstream, ultimately to Lake Pend Oreille.

It’s very disturbing to me that this misinformation has been repeated

publicly by an elected official. I hope in the future that the Commissioners will revisit this very important issue and consider the actual facts.

Jean Gerth Sandpoint

Lockwood For Common Sense Safeguards to Planning/Zoning...

Dear Editor, Land use planning and zoning are the orderly glue that keeps our county growing in a thoughtful way and protects the interests of everyone – private property owners, taxpayers, neighbors and the larger public. Good land use planning and zoning protects our county’s rural character, our county’s budget and natural resources, such as water quality.

Two years ago, our county commissioners changed the zoning codes to allow people to get building location permits without first consulting with the Panhandle Health District or their sewer districts to make sure that they could have a working septic system or could hook up to sewer. They did this despite overwhelming opposition and valid concerns raised by the health and sewer districts. Dan McDonald did nothing to reverse this wrong-headed new policy after taking office as commissioner.

I’m voting for Steve Lockwood because he’ll try to restore vital common-sense safeguards and will listen to the experts and concerned citizens when it comes to issues such as septic systems and protecting our quality of life. Bonner County is growing fast and we need someone in office who understands the importance of good land use planning.

Vote Lockwood for commissioner.

Susan Drumheller Sagle

McDonald Stacking the Deck...

Dear Editor, Many of us living in the Selle/Samuels area purchased our property to enjoy our home and have privacy and SPACE from encroachment. I now understand Commissioner McDonald and his cohorts are trying to change our area from rural and agricultural to something of their own designs (profit motive?). It appears Commissioner McDonald is stacking the deck to get his changes pushed through by having both Realtors and developers involved in trying to change our beautiful area. You, sir, are way out of balance and your dictatorial approach is unacceptable.

Yours is a temporary job. You will not be king, or a for-life county commissioner.

If your sole purpose is to reap profits for the short time you’re in office, that is totally unacceptable. You are attempting to circumvent both public input as well as trying to control the Selle/Samuels Area Comprehensive Planning Committee. Said committee lives in the Selle/Samuels area and have a vested interest in maintaining our beautiful lands in as pristine a manner as possible.

Michael Harmelin Sandpoint

OPINION

The 100th Anniversary of the End of WWI

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist “Their minds were numbed by the shock of peace.”

—Colonel Thomas Gowenlock, U.S. intelligence officer At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918, the guns fell silent on the battlefields of Europe. Four million soldiers died, 6 million civilians were killed, and 21 million were wounded. Thousands of these lives would have been spared if the Allies had accepted Germany’s request to halt hostilities as soon as peace negotiations began on Nov. 8.

Instead, Marshall Ferdinand Foch, Supreme Allied Commander, found “the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” rhetorically irresistible. If Foch had agreed to an armistice on Nov. 8, historian Joseph Persico estimates that “6,750 lives would have been spared and nearly 15,000 maimed, crippled, burned, blinded and otherwise-injured men would instead have gone home whole.”

Captain Harry S. Truman kept his artillery pieces firing until 11 a.m. precisely, because the Germans “should be given a ‘bayonet peace’ and made to pay for what they’ve done to France.”

The all-black 366th regiment was ordered into battle—the last advance was at 10:30 a.m. against a German machine gun nest—and they lost 17 dead and 302 wounded. Some units kept firing after 11 a.m. — their officers citing revenge and using up ammunition as the main reasons.

It was said that this war was “the war to end all wars,” and people around the world were inspired by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points,” the fifth of which recognized the right of self-determination of all people, including those under colonial rule.

The Treaty of Versailles, however, rejected Wilson’s idealism and imposed humiliating conditions on Germany, which led to economic and political chaos and the rise of Hitler. The people of the Middle East were promised self-determination, but Britain and France broke a promise they made to T. H. Law-

rence (the famed Lawrence of Arabia) and carved out, using artificial borders, their own spheres of domination.

France kept its colonies in Southeast Asia, inspiring the rise of the Vietnamese Communist Party and two disastrous wars. Britain also held on tight to India, the jewel in former Empress Victoria’s crown, preventing the possibility of a united South Asia, where Hindus and Muslims could have lived in peace rather than fighting four wars between a Hindu India and a Muslim Pakistan.

After 28 states had voted to celebrate their own Veteran’s Day, Congress, in a joint resolution on June 4, 1926, voted to set aside November 11 as a day to honor those who fought in “the most destructive and far reaching war in human annals.” Members of Congress also recognized the “resumption of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed.”

They further encouraged all Americans to build “peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”

Veteran’s Day is, therefore, not only a time to honor those who have served, but it is also an opportunity for us to think about how we can bring about world peace. We should redouble our efforts to make sure that our military men and women never again have to make the ultimate sacrifice. No president should send these good people to war unless we are directly attacked; or unless, in situations of no immediate threat, the issues are thoroughly debated and a consensus to intervene militarily

Infantrymen wearing gas masks fire from trenches in WWI. WikiCommons image. is reached with as many major powers as possible.

We should support our troops no matter where they are sent, but there is no honor in having them fight battles that do not follow just war principles or violate international law.

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines a legitimate war as “having just cause, being declared by a proper authority, possessing right intention, having a reasonable chance of success and the end being proportional to the means used.” Nations that go to war are also responsible under international law to protect the lives of noncombatants, use humane interrogation techniques, and provide shelter, clothing, food and medical care for prisoners.

Our armed services contain some of the best trained and equipped men and women in the world. I’m confident they could successfully defend America against any attack on our borders, and I would drop everything and help them in any way possible. But sending our troops to the Middle East has created more terrorists than ever before.

Remember that Osama bin Laden, previously a recipient of U. S. aid in Afghanistan, turned against us after we stationed troops in Saudi Arabia, his home country.

Nick Gier of Moscow taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years.

Email him at ngier006@gmail.com.

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COMMUNITY

Holiday Farmers’ Market Library chosen as next

By Reader Staff Bouquets: GUEST SUBMISSION: • Sending a bouquet to Jay and Amber at Lincare in Sandpoint.

Thanks for helping me out. Because of them I was able to have a good night’s sleep. Always shop local whenever possible.

-Mary Sue Mayer

Barbs GUEST SUBMISSION: • To the person or people who stole our blue Eurmax pop up tent off our Mandala Pizza trailer, we forgive your idiotic act. Just please return it to where you found it. Making pizza in the rain not only sucks, it is nearly impossible. We have two more gigs to go for the season and could really use that tent!

-Mandala Pizza • A few years ago, someone presented me with a theory about how all the recycling gathered in Sandpoint actually ends up in the landfill. We try to chase down leads, no matter how far-fetched them seem, so Cameron and I decided to write a story about what happens to our recycling when it leaves the curb. We traveled to Waste Management’s S.M.A.R.T. Recycling Center in Spokane and literally watched a truck from Sandpoint dump its load of recycling. We watched as the recycling was sorted and grouped into bales of like types. We watched as these bales were stacked and prepared to be sold for the raw materials. I thought this article (and all the time we spent on it) would eliminate these strange conspiracy theories, but I recently heard from someone again requesting we “follow the trash,” and get to the bottom of this issue. Let me assure everyone who thinks their recycling goes to the landfill: it doesn’t.

Call Waste Management and ask if you can arrange a tour for yourself at the S.M.A.R.T. Facility. See it with your own eyes. It makes no financial sense for Waste Management to spend all that money on a facility to sort recycling materials and bale them for sale if they then just send the materials to the landfill.

I could say, “I think the water that goes down my shower drain is actually purchased by a cabal of sewer goblins who extract DNA from it and are making clones of humans, forming their own underground parallel universe to enslave the human race...” but without any facts or evidence to back up those claims, I’m just flapping my gums.

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The Farmers’ Market at Sandpoint is hosting their fourth annual Holiday Market on Saturday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in their new location at the Bonner Mall! It is a great time to stock up on fresh vegetables

and storage vegetables as well as any holiday food or gift items from your favorite Farmers’ Market vendors before they go into hibernation. Get yourself in a festive holiday mood with gift ideas, great local farm veggies, and live music at this annual community event.

Diabetes Day at BGH

By Reader Staff

Bonner General Health will be hosting a Diabetes Day Monday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 423 N. Third Ave. Suite 101 in Sandpoint.

This free event is for those living with or without diabetes

and free screenings are available.

The BGH Diabetes Education Team will be available to answer any questions, and vendors will have information about medications and insulin pumps.

For more information, call (208) 265-6279.

FOL Monthly Book Sale this weekend

By Reader Staff It’s getting to be the perfect time of year to curl up next to a good book.

If you’re looking for more reading material, the Friends of the Library (FOL) have got you covered.

On Saturday, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., FOL will hold their monthly book sale. Parents and teachers, this sale is for you.

They have a wide selection of beautiful non-fiction for ages 9 through teens, classroom references and lovely picture books.

Copyrights are current.

Since we are heading into the holiday season, the FOL are also featuring better books for holiday gift giving, Christmas stories, CDs, crafts and recipes.

All media is specially priced.

THE READER IN NYC

Sandpoint’s Ken and Judy Meyers brought a Reader with them to a recent trip to the New York Public Library.

location for Peace Pole

By Reader Staff

The pole is sponsored by the Sandpoint Quakers Growing up hearing and the Presbyterian stories about HiroChurch. It has the phrase shima and Nagasaki, “May Peace Prevail on Keiko Lewis became Earth” printed in four interested in the peace languages, English, Salmovement. When she ish, sign language, and saw that a peace pole animal paw prints. There had been installed at is also a braille plaque.

City Beach, she knew A brief dedication and she wanted to be a part unveiling ceremony is of an initiative to have scheduled for 11 a.m. at The Peace Pole prior the Sandpoint Library on peace poles installed throughout the commu- to installation.

Friday, November 2. Pax nity. That was 18 years Longenecker, Washingago. Since then, she, ton School third grader Barb Veranium, Lama Yonwill perform the unveiling. Born ton, and Ellen Weissman have on the International Day of Peace planted about 15 peace poles in to Jameson and Amy Longeneckthe area. Keiko has since moved er, the name Pax means peace in back to Japan, but her friends are Latin. continuing that mission.

The unveiling at The Library “It has become a passion of is part of a two-part party for mine in the last couple of years peace to be followed by a World to plant one (peace pole) someCommunity Day event at the where each year in September Presbyterian Church, 417 N. on or near the 21st, which is the Fourth Avenue. Refreshments International Day of Peace,” will be served near their 12-lanEllen said. guage peace pole.

The Sandpoint Library has Please join us next Friday to been selected as the most recent celebrate this new addition to The peace pole recipient. It is to be Library and continue the moveinstalled near the front entrance ment that started decades ago. and may be relocated to the new Library Garden in the future.

Laughing Matter

By Bill Borders

PERSPECTIVES

Emily Articulated

A column by and about Millennials

FRILUFTSLIV

By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist Have you ever considered how words make you feel?

How some words are much more than mere definitions, but rather, have power to evoke strong imagery or to nestle themselves into the cavity of your chest? Before you sluff me off as a sappy writer, consider the word frumpy.

Frumpy.

Hold it in your mouth and allow your mind to wander to the space where imagery flows freely. Be transported into the world of oversized, cat-haircovered, beige sweaters, of bland oatmeal, of overstretched, overworn pants and fanny packs and the general feeling of lethargy and indifference.

Don’t believe me yet? Try again, but this time with the word phlegm. Say it out loud, paying close attention to the way your mouth feels as you transition from the “e” to the silent “g” to the “m,” and try not to swallow the remaining saliva in your mouth or to clear your throat. See? Words have power.

Words are the building blocks of language, and are the symbols used within a society to transmit culture. They shape day-to-day interaction, facilitate human communication and connection, and depending on the types of words comprising a society’s language, can be deeply reflective of that society’s unique experiences, priorities, and values.

When a region or group of people experience something specific to them, or place unique

Emily Erickson. precedence on an aspect of their lives, there are often words for those things, and for those people, that aren’t present in other languages or situations. These words have cultural relevance.

This cultural relevance can be as simple as a group of hockey players calling long hair “lettuce” or “flow,” calling pretty girls “rockets” or bad skaters “ankle benders.” These words have new meaning within the context of hockey culture, given what that group prioritizes and experiences on a regular basis.

But cultural relevance regarding language can also be understood on a more meaningful level, extending to what a culture chooses to deem as significant or valuable. For example, nordic countries are some of the most naturally beautiful places in the world, and the people that choose live there often have a deep reverence and respect for their surroundings.

Because of the great value within nordic cultures for living in and respecting natural and beautiful spaces, there are words in the nordic languages that

reflect that profound reverence.

These are incredible words that, despite not having adequate English language counterparts, embody concepts that North Idahoans, living in equally stunning and natural spaces, can readily understand and incorporate into their daily lives.

The first of these words is my personal favorite, the Norwegian Friluftsliv. Directly translated as “free air life,” friluftsliv has deep roots within Norwegian culture, embodying a way of life that is spent exploring freely and appreciating nature. This concept is encouraged through outdoor education in Norwegian school systems, through legislation allowing anyone acting in a respectful manner to freely explore both public and private lands across the country, and through passing down a history of Norway’s symbiotic relationship with nature and the outdoors.

Similarly, the Danish word Hygge is understood as “the good life,” as it relates to the moments in our lives brimming with happiness, with loved ones, with presentness, and in the warmth of beautiful places.

It is used to describe anything from the warm glow of a fireplace inside a cozy cabin, to the feeling you get when you’re wearing thick socks, sipping hot coffee, and in the throws of deep conversation with your best of friends.

Next, the Swedish word Gökotta, or “early morning cuckoo,” is the act of waking up early enough in the day to hear the first birds singing. It’s an intentional moment of calm, set aside specifically for morn-

ing times, in which Swedish folk prioritize being outside and present in nature.

And lastly, the Icelandic word Sólarfrí, similar to the Sandpoint “powder day,” is an unexpected day off of work or school granted solely because the weather is particularly pleasant, sunny or warm. It is a designated day for appreciating the beauty of nature, understanding that there are always gloomy days ahead in which

more work can be done.

Ultimately, words hold great significance in our daily lives, can shape how we feel and how we understand the world around us. When we have words for things, it becomes easier to incorporate the ideas behind them into our everyday lives.

So, here’s to having more hygge than phlegm, and to wishing all of you a friluftsliv-filled fall.

Retroactive

By BO

ah, The annual thanksgiving tradition when aunt betty has too much chardonnay and wrestles the turkey into the oven.

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Mad about Science:

Brought to you by:

axes

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist ‘Tis the season for wood-chopping, fal-la-la-lalaaaaa.

I’m sure some sharp-eyed reader is going to call me out on having done an article on axes before. Have I? That’s okay. I’m not just going to copy-paste what I’d written before, because we’re learning new stuff all of the time! (Seriously, did I just dream that I’d written one on axes??)

Axes are one of the oldest tools in our arsenal. Their original form was called the hand axe, and it was very different than it is today. It was essentially a stone wedge that was sharpened and used your arm as the handle. Imagine chopping those four cords of wood like that. Heck, imagine GETTING those four cords of wood like that! It took over 1.5 million years for someone to figure out putting a handle on it increased your leverage and mechanical advantage, and didn’t hurt your palm so much to use. The first handled axes started appearing around 6,000BC, or 8,000 years ago.

The axe truly started to evolve with the help of metallurgy. For the first several hundred years, they were still just pointed wedges. A lot like if you put a garden trowel at the end of a stick and swung it.

But over time, metalsmiths and axe-wielders alike figured out that widening the surface area meant you could deal more damage to an object, and for longer periods of time without need for repair.

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Because of the tool’s usefulness and ease to craft in relation to something like, say, a sword or a suit of armor, axes have seen tremendous use in Neolithic and pagan rituals. People would offer up loads of finished axes to their gods for unknown reasons, as we’ve found tons of them with no use from as long as 15,000 years ago. Perhaps people were saying, “These helped us out a lot, you should have them in the aether.” I know that’s everyone’s mentality during the Super Bowl when people sacrifice their 60-inch plasma screen to the losing team at the end of the game.

If you recall from the Vikings article, axes have also had a prominent role in warfare. I mean, if it cuts a tree, it can cut a person, so why not? The axe’s prominence in early warfare stems from its simplicity to reproduce. You use a relatively small amount of metal and expendable wood to make a danger stick even an idiot knows how to use. They were lightweight enough that you could throw them and create all sorts of horrific damage, and sturdy enough that you could pull it out of your target without unnecessary effort.

While spears have a much more prominent role in warfare for the same efficient reasons, axes have the distinct advantage of waging psychological warfare. Getting murdered is never fun, but let’s be honest: getting impaled isn’t nearly as terrifying as getting axed. Why do you think they call it that when you get fired? It’s scary!

That phrase originates from

another garish use axes have had in Europe: executions.

When making a downward swing with a heavy axe, gravity gives a loving pull and adds to the speed and force of the cut, which just so happens to increase the likelihood that the executioner will relieve the condemned of their head in one stroke. The actuality of single-stroke beheadings was really pretty rare, especially in rural communities that sought to execute the king’s justice, but lacked experience executioners. The axe could only take someone so far, the rest was on the skill, accuracy and confidence of the wielder.

Working axes are flat on one side. Really good ones are also weighted there, too. The reason for this is because the wedge will only go so far, as anyone that’s ever cut pine logs knows. When your wedge or your axe gets stuck in fibrous wood, having a double-sided blade won’t do you any favors.

Instead, you can use a hammer or another axe to bang on the flat part and add more mechanical pressure and reverberation to split the wood the rest of the way. Carpenter’s axes are good for that, but they’re also good for if you’re building something and need to quickly switch between cutting a piece of wood and hammering a nail without carrying a bunch of extra tools on your belt.

A firefighter’s axe is designed similarly, though it has a point on one side. This is used for delivering precise, concentrated force to something like a metal sheet or anything else that may

be indistinguishably on fire and in the way, then prying it away. I’m sure any of our local firefighters reading would love to tell you more about all of the cool tools they carry, especially since our firefighters are equipped differently from firefighters somewhere like New York.

While it’s logical to think that chainsaws have replaced axes, this is hardly true. Chain-

saws have done a good job at replacing saws, but not axes.

You’d wear out a chainsaw trying to break down a cord of wood, not to mention probably blow out your shoulder. I just wanted to include that the first chainsaw-like device was developed in 1830, which I think is incredible. (It was designed for dentistry.)

All right, break time is up, get back to choppin’!

Random Corner ity?

Don’t know much about grav

We can help!

• Gravity’s other definition — meaning something weighty or serious — came first, originating from the Latin gravis, or “heavy.”

• “Star Wars’” Obi-Wan Kenobi said the Force “surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.” He could have been talking about gravity. Its attractive properties literally bind the galaxy together, but it also “penetrates” us, extending physically through us, keeping us bound to Earth.

• Unlike the Force, with its dark and light sides, gravity has no duality; it only attracts, never repels.

• Passengers on amusement park rides and the International Space Station experience microgravity — incorrectly known as zero gravity — because they fall at the same speed as the vehicles.

• To leave Earth’s gravitational pull behind, an object must travel 7 miles a second, our planet’s escape velocity.

• Gravity is by far the weakest of the four fundamental forces. The other three are electromagnetism; weak nuclear force, which governs how atoms decay; and strong nuclear force, which holds atomic nuclei together.

• Gravity’s inverse square law also means the reach of gravitational attraction is technically infinite. That means the most distant object in the universe technically has some type of pull on you and me.

• The “Three-Body Problem,” determining all the patterns three objects orbiting each other could take if influenced only by gravity, has puzzled physicists for 300 years. So far they’ve found only 16 types of solutions — 13 of them just discovered just recently.

• Einstein’s general theory of relativity was the first to treat gravity as a distortion of space-time, the “fabric” that physically embodies the universe.

COMMUNITY

Keeping the fire going

Annual Harvest Dinner next weekend in Hope

By Reader Staff

“Clark Fork High School math teacher Kyle Olmstead is being deployed overseas in December. Time is precious for Kyle and his family, so CFHS staff, students and families from Clark Fork and Sandpoint got together Saturday, Oct. 28, to cut and chop up some firewood at their home in Spirit Lake. Mr. Olmstead’s wife and son will be holding down the fort and needed a couple year’s worth of wood to get them through before Kyle comes back home. It was an unbelievable day of goodwill, community and appreciation. It was a small gesture to show how much we all appreciate this man and his family that have already given so much to this country.

Over 50 people showed up! They needed two years worth of wood ... they got four!” — Photos and words by KC MacDonald, CFHS teacher

Join the Memorial Community Center located at 415 Wellington Place in Hope, on Friday, Nov. 9 for their Annual Harvest Dinner.

The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a no-host bar, complimentary appetizers and fun-filled bucket raffles. A catered dinner by MCC will start at 6:30 p.m. and will feature roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls and dessert will be served.

7B Women present check to Community Cancer Services

The cost is $25 and only 100 reservations are available. Call (208) 264-5481 to reserve your seat.

This event will also kick off the annual Christmas Giving Food Drive so please bring non-perishable food items to donate. Every guest who brings food items will receive some free bucket raffle tickets.

For more information please call or visit the website at www.memorialcommunitycenter.com, or email mccmail@frontier.com.

rain or Shine we are here for you.

(208) 265-5700 320 S. Ella Ave. www.IdahoVet.com

7B Women, a Sandpoint-based nonprofit organization, recently presented Community Cancer Services with a check for $20,000 after raising the funds through their annual fundraiser Boobs n’ Beer at MickDuff’s Beer Hall. Great job, ladies!

Courtesy photo.

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Elect Stephen F. Howlee Idaho State Representaave District 1 Seat B

Stephen Supports: • Agriculture.

•Proposiaon 2 • Property Tax Reducaon.

• Economy that works for Idaho.

• Access to Healthcare.

• Invesang in Educaaon.

• Mulaple use of Public Lands.

• Collecave Bargaining Paid for by Howlett for the House

Vote November 6, 2018 for Stephen F. Howlee District 1 Seat B ssowleeoridahodistrict1b.com

event t h u r s d a y f r i d a y

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

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

Axe Throwing league 6-10pm @ Tervan Tavern

Sandpoint Film Festival (Nov. 1-3) 12, 3, 6pm @ Panida Theater Sandpoint’s own film festival, with film blocks at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. SandpointFilmFestival.com for a list of films

Prospering Business 7am-3pm @ Sandpoi Register at WhatsHa to attend. This year’s Labor: Issues & Solu

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Live Music w/ Devon Wade 9pm @ 219 Lounge 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Jazz at the Niner Celebrate First Fridays with country Live Music w/ Ben & Cadie Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority 8-10pm @ The Back Door Multi-instrumental duo Americana and blues fusion Live blues and jazz w/ Steve Neff 5:30-7:30pm @ Cedar St. Bistro Wine Bar Harold’s IGA album release party 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge Sandpoint indie rock trio Harold’s IGA is releasing their fourth album, “Uncivil War” with a party at the Niner Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip 5:30-7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority A soulful singer-songwriter

Live Music w/ Isaiah Baerd 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Progressive folk artist from Nashville Trivia night 6:45-8pm @ Tervan Tavern

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5th Annual Hiv 9pm @ The Hiv This event is a rhythmics will As always, The like no other w scariest costume

Live Music w/ Sadie Sicilia and the Reckoning 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Plus a special set from Sadie and her mom Jenai Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Great jazz by this Sandpoint group Live blues and jazz w/ Steve Neff 5:30-7:30pm @ Cedar St. Bistro Wine Bar Bella Note Musical Program 10:30am @ Bonner Co. History Museum Part of a monthly series running through December, this program features a different musical theme and is geared for families with young children

Piano Sunday CANCELLED Gardenia Sunday Servic Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Due to piano repairs.

10am @ Gardenia Center Karaoke night Meets every Sunday at 9am Featuring Jeanelle Shields 8pm @ Tervan Tavern Annual Diabetes Day at BGH • 10am-1pm @ B Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills BGH Diabetes Education Team and Pharmacist w 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub tions, vendors will provide information on medic Election Day 8am-8pm @ various polling locations Get out there and vote, North Idaho!

Let’s set a new record for the percentage of eligible voters particpating this year!

Wind Down Wednesday 5-8pm @ 219 Lounge With live music by blues man Truck Mills and guest musician Bruce Bishop

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

Magic Wednesday 6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s Enjoy close-up magic shows by Star Alexander right at your table

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Hootenanny Open Mic Night 6:30-8:30pm @ City Beach Organic If you have an instrument to play, a so poem to read, or want to hear live mus dlin’ Red and Desiree for a Hootenann

Wild Night for Wilderness 4:30-8pm @ Matchwood Brewing A free, family-friendly event supporting the Friends of Scotchman Axe Throwing league Peaks Wilderness, with a live art 6-10pm @ Tervan Tavern auction, raffle and live music

Dollar Beers!

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

Trivia Night 7-9pm @ MickDuff’s Bring your brain and show it off (please, not literally)

Pop-Up Open Mic Night 6pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Hosted by Sandpoint Literary Collective, an opportunity to showcase local literary talent.

Free and open to public

ful

November 1-8, 2018

Business Workshop @ Sandpoint Technology Center WhatsHappeningUpNorth.org his year’s theme is Housing and es & Solutions

VolunteerMatch.org event 6pm @ Spt. Comm. Rsc. Center A social community networking event to help recruit volunteers for worthy area programs. Raffle, plus refreshments provided

nnual Hive Halloween Bash @ The Hive event is always a thriller, and the Polymics will scare the funk out of everyone! ways, The Hive will have a costume contest o other with prizes for funniest costume, st costume, and best couples costume

koning

m Jenai

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

Peace Pole Dedication 11am @ Sandpoint Library A dedication and unveiling ceremony for the latest Peace Pole, which will be installed at the Sandpoint Library

ecember, heme and

Free First Saturday at the Museum 10am-2pm @ Bonner Co. History Museum Everyone is invited to enjoy the museum free

day Service nia Center lle Shields’ “Barnyard Meditations”

Sandpoint Film Festival (Nov. 1-3) 12, 3, 6pm @ Panida Theater Sandpoint’s own film festival, with film blocks at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. SandpointFilmFestival.com for a list of films

Pause for Peace 12pm @ First Presbyterian Church Casual program of poems, prayers and songs celebrating community and peace to honor God’s image in all people

Live Music w/ Kerry Leigh 8-10pm @ The Back Door Head downstairs for another night of great tunes and atmosphere Sandpoint Friends of the Library Book Sale 10am-2pm @ Sandpoint Library Free and open to the public, so come browse!

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SHS AP Art Reception 5:30-7pm @ Columbia Bank Plaza Advanced Art Students Alana Seifert and Kelda Rial will display their portfolio art work in preparation for their early graduation in December and a new journey beyond high school

A Night to Remember 5:30-11pm @ The Heartwood Center Annual fundraiser for Community Cancer Services with wine pairings and dessert auction Community Family Dance 3-5pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall Dancing for the whole family and the whole community: big circles, long lines, maybe a square or two ... all easy and big fun

Axe Throwing league 6-10pm @ Tervan Tavern

Sandpoint Direct Primary Care and Frazier King, M.D. Welcome:

m-1pm @ BGH Suite 101 armacist will provide information on diabetes management and answer quesn on medications and insulin pumps. Free screenings available

Duff’s n and ease,

Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalepeño’s Mexican Restaurant This week’s topic: “Overcoming Difficulties”

Ice Age Floods Presentation by Dr. Tony Lewis 6pm @ Sandpoint Library Dr. Lewis will tell about the Sandpoint-Clark Fork area being the ight location of a giant ice dam that blocked the Clark Fork river drainage h Organics Paint and Sip with Kem Hughes-Davis play, a song to sing, a 5:30-7:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery ar live music, join Fid- Winter-themed paint and sip using a wine bottle as the Hootenanny. 265-9919 canvas. $35/person, includes art supplies and instruction Live Music w/ Jimmy Smith Night Beer Hall Bingo le Winery 8-11pm @ 219 Lounge 6:30pm @ Mickt Literary Ex-Gourds songwriter from Smith McKay All Day Duff’s Beer Hall rtunity to Nordic Ski Fair Bring your own ary talent. 5:30-7:30pm @ The Heartwood Center markers. Free!

Support Spt. Nordic Club. Pizza, beer, raffle prizes blic

Nov. 10 SARS Ski Swap @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds Nov. 10 Forrest Harvest Bazaar @ Forrest Bird Charter School Nov. 10 Veterans Day Tap Takeover Fundraiser @ 219 Lounge

Now accepting new pediatric and adult patients Enjoy extended, relaxed visits, same day scheduling, wholesale labs and medications, and full access to your physician via technology, 24/7

C al l to d ay to m ak e an appo i n tme n

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1323 US-2 Suite 300 Sandpoint • 208-263-3091 sandpointdpc.com

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CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 2018 General Election

We believe strongly in informing the community about candidates running for public office. As part of our commitment to this effort, we present this questionnaire for candidates in Bonner County races, including the commissioner and assessor races. SandpointOnline.com is also a great resource for election information, as well as the Bonner County Elections Page. Finally, don’t forget to vote Tuesday, Nov. 6. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:

Questions for Bonner County commissioner candidates:

1. I believe the vote on Scotchman Peaks was a good idea and I will certainly abide by the result. In the future there may be more votes and I pledge to support the results.

1. The current Bonner County Board of Commissioners has taken a hard stance against the designation of wilderness in the county, per the Natural Resource Plan and discussions surrounding the Scotchman Peaks. Where do you stand on establishing wilderness areas in Bonner County?

2. The issue of wake damaging county shorelines ramped up this summer, and continues to be a hot topic. What do you think should be done to curtail wake damage?

3. When it comes to Bonner County roads and other infrastructure, what do you feel is a fair process to serve the county with prioritization of maintenance?

4. Please share some thoughts on the Bonner County budget. Where are some places you feel changes could be made?

5. Washington is beginning the scoping process for its EIS on the proposed Newport smelter. What do you think about the smelter, and what influence do you think you could have on the approval process if elected?

6. We’re beginning to learn more about BNSF’s proposed expansion to its rail system in Sandpoint. What is your opinion of this project?

commissioner district 1 Steve Johnson Democrat Age: 68 Years of residence in North Idaho: 60 years Marital status/family: Marguerite and I have 4 grown children and 8 wonderful grandchildren 16 / R / November 1, 2018

2. Citizen input is needed and I would help facilitate those discussions. There may need to be areas where the wakeboats are not allowed to go.

-Steve Johnson.

Email: sjohnsondist1@gmail Facebook: johnsonforcommissioner.com Phone: (208) 255-8055 QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Sandpoint High School Graduate 1968. University of Idaho Bachelors Degree in Education 1972.

University of Idaho Masters Degree in Administration 1982. University of Idaho Specialist Degree in Administration 1985.

Recent or pertinent employment history: 40 plus years Elementary and High School teacher, 35 of those years in Bonner County, 10 of those years as an administrator. 40 years Farming/Ranching, Homebuilding, Selective Logging.

Public offices held: Board of Directors for The East Bonner County Library District; Education Director for The Sandpoint Area Chamber of Commerce.

Nonprofit groups, service or professional organizations to which you belong: Team Member of the Bonner County Facilities and Planning Committee that proposed and won voter approval for new school buildings and major school facility upgrades throughout Bonner County.

Other experiences or skills that qualify you for office: More than 40 years working with a wide variety of groups and individuals ( public and private), supervising and evaluating staff, and balancing large budgets.

3. Input from the public is necessary and increases ownership and cooperation. The process needs to be transparent and proactive. The roundabout construction and the Sagle bicycle tunnel on Bottle Bay Road are prime examples of projects that needed more public input. Once people understand the benefits they are more likely to be supportive.

4. The county budget process needs to be explained effectively and honestly. I will look carefully at the recent raises for the commissioners and department heads. I will help facilitate a weekly radio and social media information procedure to keep the public informed. I will enforce the central accounting and auditing procedures.

5. I attended the scoping meetings in Newport and Priest River and provided testimony about my absolute opposition to this proposed smelter.

I listened to cancer survivors who moved here because of the clean air and water, listened to people with life-threatening respiratory problems, and listened to retirees who saved for 30 years so they could live here in our paradise. I remember seeing the devastation that resulted from the smelter in the Silver Valley- Kellogg, Wallace, Smelterville, etc. where no trees or greenery could survive and where the pollutants saturated the ground to the extent that the entire area wound up being an EPA Superfund Site that has cost taxpayers billions of dollars and the corporations just declared bankruptcy and walked away.

6. The railroad is vital to our county and area. We need to all have the same facts from knowledgeable and neutral authorities. I believe an Environmental Impact Statement is the best way to understand the long term effects and will be a necessary document for meaningful and productive discussions. In addition I believe any campaign donations to commissioners from the railroad or the proposed smelter are NOT appropriate.

One question that was not asked was my position on Medicaid Expansion. I totally support this grassroots Proposition 2 that will make sure all Idaho Families have health insurance.

Shawn Keough, our District 1 Republican fiscal conservative state senator for the past 22 years and the co-chairperson of the State Budget and Finance Committee has endorsed this Proposition 2. She is one of the most knowledgeable experts in the entire state and has written a comprehensive essay that urges its approval on both fiscal and human grounds (The Daily Bee Oct. 18).

Steven Bradshaw Republican

Steven Bradshaw, running as a Republican for Bonner County Commissioner District 1 did not return multiple requests for participation in this candidates’ questionnaire.

commissioner district 3

Dan McDonald.

Dan McDonald Republican Age: 59 Years of residence in North Idaho: 22 Marital status/family: Married, 3 children, 5 grandchildren Email: dmcd83864@gmail.com Facebook: dan4BonnerCounty Phone: (208) 661-0428 QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Junior College.

Recent or pertinent employment history: The Garland Company, 22 years, currently Bonner County Commissioner District #3.

Public offices held: Bonner County Commissioner District #3.

Nonprofit groups, service or professional organizations to which you belong: Past President of the Panida Theater, Big Boy Ballet Company, Bearly There in Sandpoint, Life Choices Pregnancy Center Board Member and Treasurer.

Other experiences or skills that qualify you for office: My record in office speaks for itself. However I have managed projects, set budgets and managed personnel for my previous employer. I was chairman of the Management Advisory Council, Chairman

< ELECTION, con’t from page 16 > of the IT Advisory Council, ran two large commercial roofing companies at the same time with $40 million annual sales and over 400 employees.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS: 1. The Bonner County Board of Commissioners put the Scotchman’s Peak issue up for a vote of the people.

All three Commissioners promised to listen to the people via the advisory vote. The people spoke in a democratic manner, and we acted per the vote.

I’m not a fan of establishing wilderness as we have seen the poor forest health, the failing wildlife habitat and the exclusion of citizens who wish to access these types of areas as legally allowed. I believe in keeping the public land open to all the public. That being said, Wilderness designations take an act of Congress, and this is not a decision that can be made by county commissioners.

2. We started taking steps last year with the “Avoid the Shore, Ride the Core’ program and increasing Marine Sheriff’s patrol. Additionally, we have added 10 new no-wake buoys on the river in the hot spot areas to further educate the public. When looking at the issue from a scientific standpoint and recreating the same experiment on the river this summer, we saw no difference in wake height at 125, 200, 300 and 400 feet, so it was clear that changing the distance from shore for no wake zones would not be the answer. Additionally, there is case law from the Texas Supreme Court ruling stating we cannot discriminate between different types of legal boating activity. Keep in mind, most states have only a 100-foot no-wake zone and while not all wake violators are from out of state, a high percentage are. Education and enforcement are the way to go here.

3. In 2017 in my first year in office we approved a road standards manual for all County Roads. We also established specific guidelines via daily vehicle traffic to create a fair standard for determining more extensive road improvements and maintenance, With respect to basic road maintenance, we refocused Road and Bridge to maintain culverts, ditches and roadway easements that hadn’t been maintained for some time. The lack of maintenance is detrimental to the performance life of any road but more specifically our over 400 miles of gravel roads. I am happy to say that a review of the current status of our County roads finds them to be in some of the best shape they have been in for some time. Special thanks goes to the hard working men and women in our Road and Bridge department for the great work they do every day.

4. We have been moving the budget to a more sustainable po-

sition that it has been. For the first time in Bonner County history, we cut the budget not once, but twice in the last two years and all without cutting services that our citizens rely on. We also avoided having to take foregone which would have been a 10% increase in property taxes while choosing instead to tighten our belts.

Again, were it not for the Department Heads and County employees joining us in changing the budget direction of the County, this would have been far more difficult. As it stands now, we may be close to a true balance point for next years budgeting however, it’s important to stay vigilant, to keep looking for savings through efficiency and good decisions as we are the caretakers of the taxpayers money.

5. The proposed smelter is in another county, in yet another state.

Bonner County Commissioners clearly have no authority over that project. Additionally, environmental issues such as air and water quality are under the states authority via the Idaho DEQ. We have been tracking the process and have been in contact with both Idaho DEQ and the Washington Department of Ecology. Once we receive the draft EIS, we will review it and comment. If in fact the horror stories we have heard from some citizens are found in the EIS, we will gladly stand in opposition to it, however, again, we don’t have any real authority. Personally, I have always said I thought the location south of Newport was problematic to say the least.

6. Again, Bonner County commissioners have no authority over the railroad as they are federally regulated. I do however support the second bridge.

We get a number of calls at certain times of the year from trains blocking intersections and access. BNSF has been a great partner in working to resolve these issues as quickly as possible however with the single bridge and thee track bottleneck, trains sitting and idling are our current reality. The second bridge will help resolve many of those issue and keep the trains running through Bonner County. BNSF has not only been responsive but they have also been a great partner to the County by helping us with material support with materials and equipment for our emergency management team.

We do regular training in the event of a derailment utilizing all of the emergency responders in the County.

BNSF has generously donated a large quantity of booms and other material so we can respond quickly in the event of a derailment. They are also providing the use of a hover boat for use during low water times of the year.

BNSF takes their business seriously and understands their responsibility to the citizens of Bonner County in helping us protect our natural resources.

understand all points of view in making decisions. I vote in every election.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:

Steve Lockwood.

Steve Lockwood Democrat Age: 79 Years of residence in North Idaho: 19 Marital status/family: I’m married.

My two adult sons and their wives live in Bonner County, one couple lives off the grid. Four grandkids were born here, played in the woods, played sports and went through the public school system. They all graduated from Sandpoint high school. All the grandchildren had to leave the area for jobs and college.

Email: steve@lockwood4commissioner.com Facebook: lockwood4commissioner Phone: (208) 590-7745 QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Lincoln High, Reed College, AT&T Technical and Managerial schools.

Recent or pertinent employment history: AT&T: human resources; Operations Manager for Oregon. Self Employed (developer, property management).

Public offices held: Lake Pend Oreille School Board, Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission (including being elected chairman), Sandpoint City Council, Sandpoint Urban Renewal Board.

Nonprofit groups, service or professional organizations to which you belong: Bonner County Historical Society, Idaho Walk Bike Alliance, Rock Creek Alliance, Pend Oreille Arts Council, Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Smart Growth, Native Plant Society, Pend Oreille Pedalers, Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, Panida Theater, NAMI Far North.

Other experiences or skills that qualify you for office: Chaired a variety of government committees and commissions before moving to Bonner County. For a year, Molly and I lived off the grid up Upper Gold Creek Road. We later moved into Sandpoint. Developer: Park Cottages, small, moderately priced apartments in Sandpoint. Licensed commercial and amateur (HAM) radio operator.

Skills: Working with public budgets and expenses. Listening, learning from facts, leading constructively. Working with a variety of viewpoints. Work to

1. Bonner County voters in May rejected naming Scotchman Peaks a wilderness. I respect that vote. Folks in Bonner County live close to the land. Many jobs depend on a balanced approach to managing natural resources, whether we work in the timber mills, up at Schweitzer, on the lake or for a restaurant in town. Full implementation of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest Plan is important. The county should be a major player in making sure the Forest Plan is implemented. This plan calls for increasing timber harvest, protecting water and wildlife, recreation, fishing and hunting, and for protecting the Scotchman Peaks as Wilderness. The Scotchman Peaks is a small fraction (less than 1 percent) of the 2.5 million acres in the Forest Plan. I support a balanced approach to our public lands, one that accommodates all interests. I would focus on the 17 -20 direct and indirect jobs per million board feet of timber harvested. If the Forest Service fully implements their forest plan, that’s an additional 1,200 jobs; a third or more of them would be in Bonner County. This doesn’t include the jobs that would be created by non-timber restoration improvements for water, air, wildlife, recreation, etc. We would all benefit.

2. County commissioners appointed a subcommittee of the Waterways Committee. This group worked for months to develop a set of recommendations to address the wake damage, most of which were not implemented.

A number of the recommendations were not given serious consideration but could be easily implemented on a trial basis. Recommendations on public education could be implemented with little expense. Simply increasing potential fines, which the commission did, does not significantly contribute to a solution because tickets aren’t issued. This serious issue requires a multi-pronged approach that balances the interests of shoreline property owners with the recreational interests of the wakeboarders.

3. The county has a set of criteria for maintenance and improvement based on road usage. Those criteria should be used in prioritizing maintenance. It’s important that all county residents be treated fairly and equitably. Roads and solid waste are two county services that impact all residents outside city limits. They need to be delivered as well as careful management and revenue allow. Bridges need to be scheduled for maintenance and eventual replacement. Otherwise the budget isn’t balanced and deficit spending is occurring.

4. There are many opportunities for increased efficiency, including cross training staff so periods of varying workload can be met without adding personnel. Many expenditures do not have the required prior approval. As I attended the budget meetings, it was clear that there are frivolous expenditures in some departments.

Other departments appear to do an excellent job. Central purchasing is far less effective than it could be, and cooperatively involving department heads would be far more effective than issuing mandates. Tracking the budget by department, by month, should be standardized.

Some capital projects are running way over budget. Solid Waste is roughly $1,000,000 over budget. We need to understand why and correct the problem.

5. The smelter concerns many Bonner County residents, including me. There aren’t nearly enough facts available now. We need to understand the potential impacts and react accordingly.

Bonner County does not play a central role in the approval process.

However, having the County be an active, well informed, involved player will have impact. The County can raise numerous appropriate issues, conduct independent research into the downwind impacts of similar smelters, rally the State of Idaho to action if impacts will affect the health of Bonner County residents or the natural resources we depend on, and be a visible, vocal participant. I have submitted scoping comments to the Washington Department of Ecology, which you can find on my website: lockwood4commissioner.com. The County should be submitting scoping comments as well.

6. BNSF is a powerful player nationally and locally. The bridge is almost certain to be built. BNSF would not be investing the multi-millions they are if they did not anticipate increased train traffic on this line.

Shipping by train is often preferable to more truck traffic. Bonner County needs to work with the railroad and other agencies to ensure that we gain maximum safety advantage despite this additional train traffic, one priority is that the safety at all crossings be improved.

While the approval process is underway, Bonner County should represent the public in asking that emergency supplies be supplemented so we can deal quickly with a very major spill and that a nearby yearround boat launch be constructed so we have low-water ability to launch a rapid spill response. Today, cleanup can be forced to wait for supplies from Spokane or Whitefish and distant boat launches.

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Questions for Bonner County assessor candidates: 1. What, in your view, are the most important responsibilities of the county assessor?

2. What motivated you to get into the race?

3. Explain the specifics for what goes into assessing a Fair Market Value for a home in Bonner County.

Do politics come into play when assessing this value?

4. The housing market in Bonner County has been booming lately. How does this affect the job of a county assessor?

5. Is there any specific message you want to send to voters prior to the election?

county assessor

Donna Gow. Donna Gow Republican Age: 67 Years of residence in North Idaho: We moved to Hope, ID in 1980.

Marital status/family: Married to husband George for 44 years, two grown married sons and 4 grandsons.

Email: gowdonna024@gmail.com Facebook: Donna Gow for Assessor Phone: (208) 920-0494 QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Some Jr. College classes, some online classes and over 500 hrs of appraisal classes.

Recent or pertinent employment history: 28 yrs in Bonner County Assessor’s Office.

Public offices held: No public office held.

Nonprofit groups, service or professional organizations to which you belong: Hope GOP precinct committeeman, V.P. North Idaho Federated Republican Women, member of International Association of Assessing Officers, member of Idaho Association of Assessment Personnel, volunteer for Sam Owen Fire District.

Other experiences or skills that 18 /

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qualify you for office: Realtor for 4 years for Century 21 under Val Kidd, Broker.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS: 1. Although there are many responsibilities of the assessor, such as mapping, changing names on properties, making sure exemptions are applied properly, and the Department of Motor Vehicles, the one that gets the most attention is assessments. It is up to the assessor to ensure the assessments are accurate, fair and equatable as possible using Idaho State Code, State Tax Commission Rules and Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice guide lines.

2. I have heard the concerns of property owners regarding their treatment by management and the results of some office policies on property values. I have also heard from staff members regarding policies that need to be changed.

3. The first step is the physical inspection. Notations are made regarding the age, size, quality of construction and general condition and location of the property. We then start with the cost to construct new, then after studying market sales of the most comparable properties, we apply depreciation and any other factors that apply. These factors are applied to all properties that a similar. Next is to run a ratio study comparing our assessed values to the sales prices to make sure we fall within the acceptable level range set by the state. This is a very simplified explanation. The appraisers review values of thousands of properties every year.

4. The housing market affects the Assessor’s Office whether it is booming or dropping. The boom market affects the office in that it is creating a greater work load due to the increase of properties to assess. It sometimes affects the appraisers in that they agonize over large increases to assessed values. Although whether the values go up or down the taxes are driven by the taxing districts budgets.

5. Because I have worked in the Assessor’s Office for over 28 years, I know what needs to be done and how to do it. I have good working relationships with the majority of the public, Realtors, fee appraisers, title companies, the State Tax Commission and other assessor offices. Knowledge and experience in the field you are managing is important for any job. The Assessor’s Office currently has smart, hard working employees.

Unfortunately, many in the Residential portion of the office don’t have much experience. My plan is for these employees to learn from my knowledge and experience.

Wendel Bergman.

Wendel R. Bergman Independent / Unaffiliated Age: 73 Years of residence in North Idaho: Born and raised in Sandpoint, having resided in Bonner county 42 years.

Marital status/family: Married to my wife Beverly Bergman for 27 years. I have 2 sons, 2 step children, 8 grand children and 1 great granddaughter.

Email: WendelForAssessor@WBIdaho.com Phone: (208) 290-1664 QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1963. Received education and experience in computer sciences while serving in the United States Air Force pertaining to computer controlled navigation, bombing and radar systems. 1963 – 1972 (Eight year Vietnam era Veteran). IBM Corporation, Boulder, Colorado. Continuing vocational and college education in computer sciences and program management. Performed software systems development and program management for commercial and federal complex systems achieving the position of Sr. Staff Engineer. Duties included software systems engineering, development team management, program and department budget planning and project communications. 1973-1989.

Recent or pertinent employment history: Taking early retirement from IBM in 1989, Wendel & Mrs. (Beverly) Bergman became entrepreneurs founding and managing two successful software development companies in Longmont, Colorado. Prime Solutions, Inc, founded in 1989, became a multi-million dollar storage systems company that was sold in 1992 to Storage Technology Corporation. Subsequently Pena Systems, Inc was formed specializing in the development of medical equipment analysis and control software, merging into another company in 2003. In 1992, the Bergmans turned their attention to North Idaho forming a number of companies pertaining to real estate development and management. These companies were involved with new home construction in Post Falls and are currently involved in restoration and management

of properties in Hope and development of property within the Seneacquoteen community in Sagle. The Bergmans are especially proud of the funding and successful restoration of the historic Hotel Hope in 1998 undertaken by MountainWest Ventures LLC, a Bergman real estate management company.

Public offices held: None. However, I have interacted with many public officials in the pursuit of business ventures, including extensive real estate activities in multiple jurisdictions including Bonner County. These interactions have been a valuable education in government operations, both whats good and, on the other hand, where improvements are needed in serving the public interests.

Nonprofit groups, service or professional organizations to which you belong: None.

Other experiences or skills that qualify you for office: My professional real-time management tasks performed over many years demonstrate that my qualifications are well suited to execute the responsibilities of this office.

The above accomplishments pertain directly to my ability and qualifications to establish goals, manage scores of talented people, manage funds and achieve those goals.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS: 1. To do everything possible to produce accurate, fair assessments according to the requirements of the law.

To provide access to public information in a timely and efficient manner.

Manage the motor vehicle department/functions in an efficient and customer friendly manner. Improvement are needed here to reduce customer wait times, especially during the summer months when many folks are moving into Bonner County.

Manage the many talented people in the Assessor’s office in such a way to accomplish it’s very important tasks according to state law and existing guidelines.

2. I believe I am uniquely qualified to bring this office up to date with online services and make improvements in customer interactions. I have been on the other side of the counter often, therefore, I feel I can make valuable contributions to improving operations and efficiencies in this office.

3. Last question first. Politics should absolutely not have any bearing on the assessment process. I am presently running for office as an independent nonpolitical candidate.

I have been involved with property appraisals and assessments in my personal and business activities having owned, leased and rented personal and commercial real estate over a period of 45 years. It has been my experience that fair market value is usually determined by the entity commissioning the appraisal, within certain guide-

lines. Appraisals of the same property at the same period of time by multiple appraisers can vary by hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the comparables chosen and neighborhood boundaries among many other factors. In Idaho, specific laws apply to this process that must be adhered to in order to arrive at Fair Market Value for taxation purposes.

4. This can certainly stress the system. It is the responsibility of the Assessor to insure that the increased work load does not hinder the efficient delivery of fairness and services to the public. Personnel, procedures, policies and tools need to be reviewed and updated where needed to adjust to the additional workload. Comprehensive online services directly accessible to the public could go a long way in reducing office workloads within a growth environment.

5. My opponent in this race for the office of assessor definitely has the qualifications to assess properties.

However, the office of assessor needs to be managed by an experienced manager with multiple talents. That manager should depend upon and respect the capabilities of his or her employees and specialists to insure that the team works together to accomplish the common goal of serving the public efficiently, fairly and respectfully. At this point in time, I believe the office of Bonner County assessor needs an experienced non-political goal driven manager at the helm. My professional management qualifications are uniquely suited to execute the responsibilities of this office.

Don’t forget to vote Tuesday, November 6.

Polling places are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To find your polling place, login to www.idahovotes.org

COMMUNITY

Timeless style:

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff I should have known what I was getting into when Mary Faux asked me if I was ready for “hat heaven.”

We’d already been through an upstairs closet — pink hats, felt hats, lacy hats, fur hats, black hats, one fantastically ornate gold hat — but now it was clear we’d only just scratched the surface of Faux’s collection, since downstairs housed hat heaven ... and I couldn’t wait.

There’s something infectious about the way Faux shares her hats. First, there’s finding the correct box, labeled with a description, year and where the hat was purchased — whether from Nordstrom or some of Faux’s other choice shops. Then, there’s the removing of the lid and oftentimes the protective plastic or tissue paper. Next, Faux handles the hat with care, flipping it over, revealing a stitched in label with the name of one of her favorite designers, of which there are many.

Finally, Faux places the hat on her head, flashes a smile that lights up her eyes, and recounts a story involving that specific headpiece. Then, once the hat is back in it’s box, the process starts again.

While wading through the shoulder-high stacks of hat heaven, Faux recounts how she began “seriously” collecting hats in 1963 when she moved to Sandpoint.

“But I’ve always worn hats,” she said.

“My first memory of going to school was of a red hat that I wore.”

Right now, Faux estimates that she owns somewhere around 200 hats, and wears one every day regardless of where she’s going.

“When people ask me which one is my favorite, I always say ‘the one I’m wearing at the moment,’” she said.

Faux goes by many names, one being the Hat Lady. Once, she was crowned Sandpoint’s First Diva. She’s been recognized as a Woman of Wisdom by the local Women Honoring Women committee, and has won countless awards for “Best Hat” at more events than you’d think would have such an award category.

Faux’s favorite title is the result of an inside joke that has now grown into a persona: The Queen of Ponderay. It all started thanks to her favorite checker at Yoke’s, where she regularly shops.

“Every time I go in there, she com-

Local icon and lover of hats, Mary Faux, celebrates 90th birthday next week

ments on my hat, and she’d say, ‘You remind me of the Queen of England,’” Faux said, noting this came up one day while the checker was assisting another shopper. “(The shopper) said, ‘Doesn’t she remind you of the Queen of England?’ and (the Yoke’s checker) said, ‘She’s the Queen of Ponderay.’”

With her 90th birthday next week, Nov. 6, Faux said she’s been doing some reflecting on her life.

It would be impossible to look back on Faux’s nine decades without mentioning her six children, or her survival of breast cancer in her 60s. It would also make sense to note her involvement with a number of community organizations, including time as president of the Washington Elementary PTA and her church’s altar society. In classic Mary Faux fashion, when asked “What other groups have you been a part of?” her answer is: “The ones that I haven’t been,” followed by a good-hearted laugh.

She said her highlights are many, including visiting several Major League baseball stadiums with her husband, Howard; having a brick on the Rose Kennedy memorial walk in Boston dedicated to her, thanks to her son; giving a speech at the 2017 Sandpoint Women’s March, which she recounts as a day that “touched many people”; or maybe the biggest highlight was traveling to Rome to see Pope John Paul II sometime in the ‘80s.

My morning in hat heaven exemplified the unique spunk Faux is known for, as with every hat and every story she lit up more and more. Back upstairs, as our time came to a close, she asked me to pull one last hat box from the top shelf of a closet near the front door. In it was a velvety purple hat she custom ordered from a Nordstrom sketchbook. Although it was “custom,” she said she wore her brandnew hat home only to see Dennis Rodman wearing it on TV that same day.

“Isn’t that crazy?” she said.

She put the Dennis Rodman hat on my head, adjusted it just right, then requested a selfie. I was more than happy to oblige.

Mary Faux is many things to many people, and the Queen of Ponderay said she’s grateful for those connections.

“Oh I just love it,” she said, pausing to find the right words. “I just really love people and I feel honored to be a part of this beautiful community.”

Top: Mary Faux shows off one of her more ornate hats.

Inset: The author poses with Mary Faux in a hat she custom ordered in 1972.

Photos by Lyndsie Kiebert.

SARS Ski Swap nears

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

With Schweitzer Mountain Resort receiving a few inches of snow Tuesday night, skiers and snowboarders are reminded that the ski season will be here before we know it.

For those of you seeking new gear or looking for a way to sell old gear that isn’t used anymore, the Schweitzer Alpine Racing School (SARS) is hosting their annual Ski Swap next weekend.

The Ski Swap will be Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Bonner County Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is only $2 per person or $5 per family.

Winter enthusiasts will find a little bit of everything at the Swap: skies, boards,

poles, boots, bindings, helmets, hats, goggles, gloves, jackets, pants, socks and so much more. Money generated at the Swap will benefit SARS costs such as tuition and infrastructure of the program.

For those interested in selling their own equipment, the drop off period is Friday, Nov. 9, from 12-7 p.m. Consignment fees are 50 cents per item and 20 percent off items sold.

Checks can be picked up for items sold Nov. 10 from 5-7 p.m. Any items not sold or picked up will be donated to SARS or the North Idaho Mountain Sports Education Fund.

“The swap goes beyond the buying and selling of equipment,” said SARS administrator Olivia Merithew. “It’s a fun community event where you see old friends, make new ones, and get excited about the ski season.”

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PERSPECTIVES The

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LOCAL: 208.263.2138 TOLL FREE: 800.866.2138 476751 Highway 95, Ponderay 20 /

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By Scott Taylor Reader Columnist French philosopher Rene Descartes famously said “I think, therefore I am.”

(Actually, he probably said “Je pense, donc je suis,” unless he made a habit of spitting out philosophical quotes in foreign languages) He offered this statement as his answer to the age-old human question of existence in a real world vs. an imagined one. I can remember when, in a college philosophy course exam, we were given a blue book full of blank pages and the prompt, “Prove you exist.” That was it. And of course, you couldn’t take the easy way out and simply quote Descartes, you had to develop and elaborate on your own thoughts. I also remember much gnashing of teeth, furrowing of brows and the smell of burning neurons being pushed to their limits.

So thinking and thoughts are very much a part of what makes us human.

But they can also be dangerous to our well being, a stumbling block on our path of happiness. We are our thoughts. If we genuinely think ourselves to be happy, we are. If we genuinely think life is an amazing, wondrous journey, it will be. And if we genuinely think the world is out to get us, then that becomes our reality.

In Buddhist lore, there is the story of a traveler who, after days of walking, comes upon the gates to a city. Knocking on the door, he’s greeted by a gatekeeper: “Hello. May I help you?”

“I hope so. I’ve trudged across many miles searching for a place to call home; a place where I can be happy and get along with the people around me.”

“I see. And how did you find the people in the place from which you came?”

“They were a surly lot; disagreeable, rude, and unfriendly. I didn’t stay long.”

“Ah. And what of the place before that?”

“A den of thieves, liars, and beggars.

A place of no moral fiber, where a man of my sensibilities should never have to endure.”

“Well sir, I’m afraid you’ll find this place to be the same. Probably best for you to move on.”

Later that night another traveler knocked at the gates: “Hello. May I help you?”

“I hope so. I’ve traveled many miles searching for a place to call home. I enjoy visiting different villages and meeting the people, but I’ve yet to find a place I want to stay.”

“I see. And how did you find the people in the place from which you came?”

“Wonderful! They were friendly and agreeable, and treated me nicely.”

“Ah. And what of the place before that?”

“A splendid lot of dancers, artists and acrobats! Wildly entertaining and fun!”

“Well sir, I believe you’ll find the people here to be the same. Welcome!”

We need to realize that we don’t gain happiness after or because of a positive, pleasurable experience; we have positive, pleasurable experiences because we have positive, happy thoughts. So read philosophy if you must, wander if you choose, and remember what Descartes would have said, had he studied Buddhism: “Nous sommes nos pensées!” And be happy!

Scott is an ex-teacher and current artist/writer/musician with an affinity for beauty, peacefulness and late-night Nutella on apples.

LITERATURE

raised voices in the kitchen

This open Window

Vol. 3 No.14

poetry and prose by local writers edited by Jim mitsui

Not the bowl of bread dough set to rise.

The bowl sat quiet, working on a bubble or two.

Not the pesky freezer humming ‘til it stops when there’s a luxuriant sigh of relief at sudden quiet.

that comedian’s tasteless imitation of how you changed history. Though you made it OK not to just sing but personalize what was never musically loose but strictly straight.

Raised voices but the kitchen’s no angry place.

Smell of peaches in the basket, boil of water for coffee.

The Jøtul’s crackling fire can raise a voice. But it’s summer.

The woodstove stands cold as black cast iron is good at.

None dared explore it, not even Marvin Gaye the day before. But you did, a poor blind kid from Puerto Rico, raised in Spanish Harlem, heart pounding proud at age 22 to display

Not to God, not in prayer nor in jubilation.

Not the philodendron’s clamor for some water.

Nor the cat who’s outside leaping after moths. Not the news, the radio spouting another near-disaster.

your patriotism, believing Only in America can opportunity like this happen. Detroit, ’68 after opening for Ol’ Blue Eyes, and flying the red-eye from Vegas, you stood there

No matter how long and how far you search, the voices aren’t around.

The kitchen of your mind holds the only answer.

a gladiator in center field, armed with acoustic guitar before the Tigers & Cardinals.

Silent band behind you like bodyguards. You Latin-jazzed that anthem into a bridge between

That vee of geese in last night’s sky, Full moon in the east lit up their wings like shining angel swans.

i am not a lesbian with a long history of disorientation nor am I African- American, battling the partiality of a cruel culture I’m not a poor uneducated Appalachian not a Latina, dis-enfranchised not a Native American, disregarded not an Asian-American expected to excel I am a white woman — educated of a certain age financially secure capable

Memories can sing like that. in bed at night, cupped -Karen Seashore Karen Seashore free-writes with an email group of far-flung scribes.

Every day they write to a prompt thrown their way (like “raised voices in the kitchen”) It gives her pleasure. And permission to spout nonsense. Actually I find little nonsense in this poem, rather a sophistication of language and imagery that you’d expect to find in the best literary magazines around. I always knew that Sandpoint was the home of some of the best poets around.

the art

his breath, velvet dark hums silk words bamboo flute songs

*A video of Jose Feliciano’s National Anthem sung for the World Series in 1968, is on permanent display in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY

tears bead on leaves and grass moist, freshening their soil so to grow dawn, again

Amy is a permanent transplant to Sandpoint from the East Coast. She’s a singer, retired voice teacher, lover of owls and travel - and like most writers is motivated to get her work published. I think this poem captures the recent emergence of women in all aspects of life in 2018.

Send poems to: jim3wells@aol.com

missed the touchiness of the stuffy or maybe you just weren’t ruffled because you knew land of the free means here, we’re glad to give our best expressing

your music from airplay. But you showed them.

Your record company showed them, cut your anthem on a hit single. The nation showed them, charting it five weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100.*

starlight hours, penetrate fill, fill up then spill with wonder earth gives in to weeping

-Amy Craven

and lamb chop side burns. With High Heel Sneakers, and Light My Fire, riding top of the charts and in the glow of golden gramophones you may have

switch boards lit up all over, angry war veterans throwing shoes at TVs and calling you a commie, chauvinists of course wanting to deport you, and radio stations pulling

whispering, she murmurs stream-flow over bedded rock smooth, invincible beneath

I just want someone to publish my poems to put my diluted pain in print and read all about it

two cultures dear to you. Maybe you didn’t know popular Tim McCarver, Cardinals’ all star catcher, had caught flack as a pinko for growing his hair down to his collar

respect for our nation, in our own way.

You woke people up! Ball players gaping at each other, some not knowing what to think , all the cheers and boos,

they quest horizons, reach past all edges

my score on the ACE test was only a 3 my neurosis is manageable my alcoholism is in recovery my life is on track

jose can you see

endlessly and always now their ceaseless questing flows purling through their blood, releasing universes, hidden forever this most lonely art is their most treasured piece

-Beth Weber Beth is a regular contributor to this column. She and her husband recently moved into Sandpoint from Lake Cocolalla. She is a talented violinist, a music teacher, and expert kayaker and bird watcher.

This poem encompasses the world of baseball, Latin jazz, and the essence of America.

-Susan Botich

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Smoke and Mirrors in the McDonald Campaign...

Dear Editor, Dan McDonald’s biggest re-election claim of financial savings supposedly made for the county is smoke and mirrors.

Claim: McDonald stated in the Bee, Aug. 30, that because of an “… approximately $18 million deficit Commissioner Jeff Connolly and I inherited, we needed to make some spending cuts.”

Fact: Every county budget is balanced every year. No red ink and no deficit. McDonald falsely implies that the previous board created a huge debt.

Fact: Dan and his fellow commissioners received a budget in the black with almost $14 million of money passed forward to FY 17.

Fact: Every year, the county clerk estimates revenue and commissioners approve budgets below revenues. McDonald’s claim that he saved the county money is nothing more than matching projected income with projected expenses as law requires. With this year’s big pay raises for elected officials, the budget was a challenge.

Fact: McDonald initially wanted to charge property owners for forgone taxes not levied by previous boards.

Commissioner Jeff Connolly vigorously protested that and is the real hero here.

So, McDonald’s claim that he saved the county money, got it out of debt, or for the first time balanced the budget is, as my mom would say, “hogwash.” The audited statements presented on social media (https://tinyurl.com/yd23bdb6) prove what the county spent.

The two previous boards used existing funds to make critical capital improvements (above and beyond regular operating costs) that were long overdue.

McDonald should thank them for their excellent service and business acumen.

Dan distorts the facts about budgeting, 9-1-1 issues, the taped smelter discussion, and County employee morale. He does not represent the political leadership that Bonner County deserves.

Bill Harp Sagle

McDonald and Bonner Co...

Dear Editor, Having lived many years in Bonner County, I have seen a number of approaches to county government in that time.

I am writing today in support of Dan McDonald who is currently the District 3 commissioner now running for re-election. I have seen how he interacts with fellow county residents, how he approaches problems, and how well he represents his constituents. He believes in fiscal conservatism, a small government footprint and in protecting the property rights of all Bonner County residents. I know him to be fair-minded and thoughtful, weighing options with 22 /

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whatever data is available – and not afraid to make the best decision he can for all of Bonner County.

I believe as a people, we should respect any individual running for office so I am not looking to trash anyone else nor to question anyone’s motives. But I think Dan McDonald has demonstrated his approach, credentials and commitment already and would be an excellent person to re-elect for Bonner County.

Gregory Miller Sagle

McDonald Deserves Vote...

Dear Editor, Dan McDonald proved in his first term that he’s willing to jump in feetfirst to address the inherited fiscal nightmare. He’s also been instrumental in leading the board in implementing cost-saving policies while retaining most county personnel, and maintaining services.

On the pay raises: The commissioners didn’t vote themselves pay increases. The numbers came from an outside third party, Ameriben, not from the commissioners or Human Resources. Further, Dan’s opponent would have you believe that only the commissioners received raises. That’s false. And he either doesn’t know this, or he’s purposely misleading the voters. Both are disqualifying characteristics.

Here’s the truth: All elected officials, and county employees, received pay increases at Ameriben’s recommendation.

And after budget cuts, implementing efficiency procedures, and rewarding county employees for their excellent work, why would the commissioners NOT deserve a raise for their outstanding work?

Doesn’t anyone who does an exceptional job deserve a reward? An excellent work ethic is deserving of compensation, and the small raise brings the commissioners up to about average that of other Idaho commissioners. Do we want to attract and retain competent people, or don’t we? I say yes, we do. And the current commissioners have demonstrated their competence, are fiscally responsible, and work every day to find ways to make the county even more efficient as it serves its residents.

Please join me in voting to re-elect Dan McDonald, a man unafraid to find innovative solutions to touch challenges.

C A Miller Sagle

Thank you Steve Lockwood...

Dear Editor, The proposed smelter could have a profound effect on the well-being of Bonner County. Instead of a wait-andsee attitude, Steve Lockwood wants to address this issue without delay.

Thank you, Steve!

Bob Hawn Sandpoint

Vote Yes on Prop 2...

Dear Editor, On Nov. 6, Idahoans have the chance

to cast a pivotal vote that will help our citizens in the coverage gap, bring taxpayer money back to Idaho, and create jobs. Proposition 2, the bipartisan ballot initiative to expand Medicaid in Idaho, will help Idaho’s gap population — those Idahoans who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to afford coverage through the state health insurance exchange.

As the CEO of Kaniksu Health Services, a locally-operated, nonprofit healthcare system providing high-quality primary care, we offer affordable services to everyone. In 2017, Kaniksu Health Services served 14,517 patients, and 15.5 percent were uninsured. Although we provide primary medical care, dental, mental health and pharmacy services, sometimes our patients require specialty care or hospitalization which they can’t obtain without healthcare coverage.

This was the case with a young, uninsured working man who came to our clinic for care after feeling sick for quite some time. While we were able to diagnosis him with a life-threatening condition, without insurance, he cannot afford to see the specialist he needs.

Because he has missed so much work, he has been laid off from his job. The stress of the situation has greatly impacted his wife and two young children.

As CEO, my team and I do everything possible to empower community members to lead healthy lifestyles and seek care when needed. As a business person and taxpayer, I also care deeply about what’s right for our state and our citizens. Right now, Idaho taxpayers – you and I – are not getting our money’s worth. Passage of Proposition 2 will bring $400 million a year of our tax money back to Idaho. Thirty-three other states have passed Medicaid expansion, including 17 states led by Republican governors. They are bringing their tax dollars back to help their citizens and they are creating jobs in their states while Idaho is not. However, passage of Proposition 2 would change this.

Nov. 6 will soon come and go, but voters can make a lasting impact on our state and secure a win for hard-working Idahoans, for taxpayers, and for a stronger state economy. Vote yes on Proposition 2.

Victoria McClellan, CEO Kaniksu Health Services Primary health clinics in Bonners Ferry, Ponderay, Priest River and Sandpoint.

No Smooth Talk over Truth...

Dear Editor, PacWest CEO Jayson Tymko’s recent comments to the Daily Bee, stating, “air quality here would be no worse with the smelter” and “100 percent of what the plant emits is safe”, are complete poppy-cock! His own letter to the Washington DOE, dated on June 5, 2018 and signed by him says, “The facility is expected to emit regulated air pollutants, including criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), toxic air pollutants

(TAPs), and greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere. Annual emissions of at least one criteria pollutant is expected to exceed the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) major source threshold (250 tons per year), which makes the project subject to review...”

Read the letter here, http://pocedc. org/hitest-silicon/ How possibly then are his statements anywhere close to the truth? All of humanity clearly knows that HAPs, TAPs and GHGs are not safe.

To quote Tymko from the Pend Oreille County pre-construction press release dated Oct. 3, 2017, “Our management’s approach to business is not to create false expectations.” Wow. Saying “air quality here would be no worse with the smelter” while knowing your proposed facility would emit over 250 tons per year of a major pollutant is absolutely creating false expectations.

Let’s not allow an environment degrading, corporate CEO to smooth talk over truth and take away our rights to clean air and good health, and I know there are many who stand with me.

Sincerely, Elizabeth Iha Sandpoint

Howlett knows area...

Dear Editor, Stephen Howlett , candidate for District 1, Seat B state representative, knows the people of Bonner and Boundary counties very well. He has been here for 49 years, working first in the lumber industry and then as a building contractor for the past 30 years.

He supports improving our educational system and access to health care, putting public lands and economic interests on equal grounds with protections for the environment, and a commitment to repair our crumbling highway infrastructures. He supports Proposition 2 that expands Medicaid and allows for wellness care to keep our workforce and their families healthy and productive.

He supports improving our educational system and providing a stipend to repay part of a student’s loan debt.

Howlett wants Idaho’s economy to work for all its citizens. He supports increasing the minimum wage, and keeping Idaho rural industries profitable. He supports the Second Amendment and wants gun owners to be competent and to be advocates for proper handling.

Married, with a daughter and two grandchildren, he has been a volunteer with the Boundary County Ambulance Assn. for 18 years, and served as the chairman of the Boundary County Parks and Recreation Dept. for 17 years.

“I am a working Idahoan and I will bring the values of other working Idahoans to the legislature, he says. “I am running to give a voice to District 1 voters who are not being heard by the Idaho legislature.”

Pat Ramsey Sandpoint

Lockwood Will Expand Gov’t...

Dear Editor, Tuesday night’s Reader forum at the library---which had us packed in like sardines with people standing around the room’s perimeter and sitting on the floor due to the limited seating space--was both informative and alarming.

While Steve Lockwood stumbled to answer without his prepared cards, Dan McDonald gave bold, honest answers describing the positive changes and significant budget cuts made in his first term.

While Steve Lockwood suggested that “unproductive” people should move from rural land into the city---sounds eerily like communism to me---Dan McDonald described how the building permit process has been streamlined, making it easier and quicker to attain them, a win for private property rights.

While Steve Lockwood claimed he’d “keep taxes low,” he’s also on board with Medicaid Expansion that would cost county taxpayers $2-5 million dollars, wants taxpayers to foot the bill for high-speed internet, suggested he’d consider taxing county residents for a Sandpoint “recreation district” benefiting tourists, and touted his support for the unpopular $55 million school levy, Dan McDonald is against all four tax increases, and announced further budget line-item savings as well as a reduction of the property tax levy rate.

If you’re looking for a true fiscal conservative who’s already reducing the size of government’s interference in your life, your only choice is Dan McDonald.

Please give him your vote on Nov. 6.

Dianne Houts Sandpoint

Lockwood Is Leader We Need...

Dear Editor, Steve Lockwood is a leader, who is serious about the responsibility of listening, REALLY LISTENING. He knows that a deep understanding of key issues impacting you and I as Bonner County residents every day, can only be achieved by seeking the truth with due diligence.

He knows that the best decisions in county government can only be made with complete, balanced information. Steve is ready and committed to do the hard work on our behalf, by asking the right questions, and LISTENING to the answers!

Don’t be misled. True leadership is not loud, or simply funny, or overly critical.

True leadership is courageous, diligent, responsible, and accountable. Steve Lockwood is that leader. Years of experience in public service have prepared him well for his role as our next Bonner County Commissioner. I look forward to a bright future for our county, and trust Steve as our advocate. Join me and our neighbors who insist on sound leadership on Nov. 6.

Vote for Steve Lockwood, Bonner County Commissioner.

Debbie D. Ford Sandpoint

STAGE & SCREEN

Two original plays in one night

By Reader Staff The Unknown Locals and the Panida Playhouse Players are teaming up for two heart warming comedy one-act stage productions.

Left at the altar at her Thanksgiving wedding, Chloe decides to keep her honeymoon suite and make the best of it. Or will she, if her ex-shows up thinking the same thing in “Thanks a Lot,” written by Becky Revak.

As Christmas gets closer, Sam has confidence that this coming eve just might be the night he proves why he is a “True Believer,” written by Chris Herron.

These two one act plays of mistaken identity and pure faith will be showing for one weekend only, Nov. 15-17 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. at the Panida Theater.

Tickets are $14 and are available to purchase at Eve’s Leaves or online at www.panida.org.

Saturday Night Special!

Come join us for live music Saturday evenings and enjoy a one of our stone fired pizzas and beer for only $10!

Harold’s IGA releases album

By Reader Staff Editor’s Note: Reader publisher Ben Olson plays in the band Harold’s IGA. Sandpoint indie rock trio Harold’s IGA are releasing a five-song EP called “Uncivil War” November 3.

The band has planned an album

release show at the 219 Lounge Saturday, Nov. 3, from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. where they’ll be selling new copies of the album, which was recorded by Kevin Dorin.

The album release show is free and open to the public over 21 years old.

Located on the Historic Cedar St. Bridge Sunday - Thursday 7am - 5pm Friday - Saturday 7am - 9pm 208-265-4396 • www.cedarstbistro.com

Nov. 1 & 2 @ 7:30PM | Nov. 3 block one @ 12pm, block two @ 3pm, block three @ 6pm

sandpoint film festival

Little Theater

Thursday, Nov. 8 @ 6pm

BZN film rodeo

Nov. 8 @ 7:30pm | Nov. 9 @ 5:30pm Nov. 10 @ 7:30pm (LT) | Nov. 11 @ 3:30pm (lT)

“The Guilty”

Thursday, Nov. 10 @ 7pm

Warren miller - “face of winter” Nov. 15-17 @ 7:30pm & nov. 18 @ 3:30pm

“true believer” and “Thanks a lot”

Two one-act plays to kick off the holiday season, by chris herron and becky revak

Friday, Nov. 23 @ 7pm

redhead express in concert Saturday, Nov. 24 @ 7:30pm

thanks” concert shook twins “giving featuring john craigie November 1, 2018 /

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LITERATURE

A novel that gives face to the landscape

A short and sweet interview with Emily Ruskovich, author of “Idaho”

By Cody Lyman Reader Contributor

25 miles west-southwest of dear old Sandpoint, standing 5,119 feet at the peak, to scale.

As it happens, I have spent a solid chunk of my life on that rock, as well.

From Nov. 5-8, My family has owned property there Everybody Reads since my grandmother, who farmed will be hosting ten Christmas trees there, in the seventies. separate open discusShe used to plant her trees in cracks in sions on “Idaho,” the the granite. Her crowning achievement debut novel of Emily was saving the white pine, Idaho’s Ruskovich, which state tree. While breeding it, she had became a bestseller developed a blister-rust-resistant after its release last strain. year.

My father’s mother made the Filled with beautiful prose and “Idaho” by Emily Ruskovich. mountain work for her, made herself a success story, retired. haunting passages that weave Ever since I was a kid, however, I had their way through caring, killing and other unspeakable acts, the story is set in an all too also heard stories of the other variety — stories of how the mountain (and the valley familiar, untamable place. of the same name) was somehow cursed. It Ruskovich grew up nearby, on Hoodoo was said the natives had avoided the area Mountain, the biggest rock between Schfor various reasons: clayey soil that turned weitzer and Mt. Spokane. to talcum powder in the summer and caused On a topographic map, Hoodoo Mountuberculosis, equestrian diseases from nutritain looks an awful lot like a brain — sitting

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ent deficient hay, ambushes in reeds along Hoodoo Creek, a plethora of freak accidents, random individuals choosing the mountain as the place to end it all, experienced hunters losing their sense of direction and getting lost walking upslope when they had been sure they were hiking down and other things of that nature, along with lots of bankruptcy and half-built, abandoned homes.

What is known about the mountain is by word of mouth. The Hoodoo Valley has been documented a decent amount, but the mountain, which is mostly owned by John Hancock Life Insurance Co., has not.

There are plenty of first-, second-, and third-hand accounts, but knocking on doors and asking questions in these parts wouldn’t be the smartest. The history has to come to you, instead, like fishing by sitting crosslegged in the water and waiting for a trout to swim into your lap.

As a mind will, mine always wondered if the stories I heard were folklore or fact — and not only factual, but whether they were isolated incidents or all connected. Is an evil spirit just a metaphor for plain old bad luck, or is bad luck a misinterpretation of an evil spirit? Or was that all superstition, and it was really all about dumb luck and perseverance?

Curious to see what I might find, I did a little research. And though I couldn’t confirm or debunk any stories I had heard, something new did swim into my lap.

That something was “Idaho.”

I learned the author had not only grown up on Hoodoo, but her novel was set there. I promptly bought the thing, read it right there on the fabled mountain.

Then, more curious than ever, I had the pleasure of exchanging a few words with Ms. Ruskovich. She had recently given birth, so our exchange was short and sweet.

“I am not, by any means, an expert on the history of the Hoodoo,” she said.

“That is OK,” I assured her. “It seems there is no one who is.”

I asked her what she thought about the mountain’s possibly being tinged with some kind of magic — like the wonder and fear superabundant during childhood — that fills her book, as well. And I asked what she thought of me calling her work “a piece of local mythology.”

“To me, everything that happens in the book is very, very real, and I am not sure where the feeling of magic comes from, though readers have definitely said that (about it) before,” she said. “I think perhaps because it’s so atmospheric a novel, edged

with this strange, inexplicable darkness.”

“Story of my life,” I said. “I couldn’t help but notice that a couple places in your novel were subject to name changes.” By this, I was referring to Hoodoo Mountain being fictionalized to become Mount Iris, the town of Blanchard to Ponderosa, an unspecified Mount Loeil, and a prison named Sage Hill.

“The word hoodoo was too perfect, too dark and mysterious a name,” Ruskovich said. “It means ‘something that brings bad luck,ʼ and I worried that a word with such a meaning would be heavy-handed, especially since it sits between Priest River and Spirit Lake.”

The actual names of the places had struck her as too perfect for a fiction. The truth wouldn’t have been believable, as if these places were already things of myth. Lines blurred further.

“I also wanted to name the landscape after parts of the face,” Ruskovich went on.

“Mount Iris, and Mount Loeil (French for eye), to go along with Pend O’reille (ear), and I renamed the Hoodoo Valley, the Nez (nose) Valley.”

The landscape as a face — I mulled this over. How we are born into it, of it. How the shape of the landscape defines us. How we face and reshape the landscape. How much Hoodoo Mountain topographically resembles gray matter...

In previous interviews, Ruskovich has said that she titled the book “Idaho” because she found she could not separate the characters from the land in her mind.

After our exchange, I was drawn to revisit one specific chapter in the book, a chapter dedicated to the meaning of the word “Idaho” and how the so-called Gem State got its name. Long story short, it was made-up, contrived during a miscommunication at an assembly meeting. It was supposedly a Shoshone word. That was a lie. Idaho entered statehood helped by a myth.

If Idaho the state and Idaho the novel are in fact mythical creations, I see this as a good thing, not a bad thing. In Western culture, we have a tendency to view a myth as something that needs busting. In the era of civilization and humanity and fake news calling “fake news!” on fake news, however paradoxically, we can consider ourselves lucky to have genuine storytellers and their stories (aka myth-makers and their myths) to thank for being there with steadier truths.

With “Idaho,” Emily Ruskovich gifts us locals a taste of something that is otherwise left lingering on the tips of our tongues.

READ, LISTEN, WATCH

This week’s RLW by Lyndsie Kiebert

READ

I hesitate to label favorite authors because oftentimes a writer’s work changes over time — sometimes out of my liking — but Markus Zusak is without a doubt one of my favorites. Though I originally got into Zusak thanks to WWII-themed “The Book Thief,” his lesser-known novel “I Am The Messenger” is a gem of another sort. Through a series of clues, a young, sad Australian cab driver is led on a Robin-Hood-esque journey with a plot twist ending. Zusak’s signature choppy, banter-like prose combines with a dark (but sometimes funny) mystery unlike anything I’ve ever read.

LISTEN

I didn’t get into podcasts until I found “Stuff You Should Know,” produced by How Stuff Works and hosted by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant. There are many reasons I love this long-running podcast. For one, I’m an insatiable learner about off-the-wall topics, and SYSK discusses plenty. On a recent trip to Boise, I learned about how contraceptives changed the world, how the Underground Railroad worked and everything there is to know about what happened at Pompeii. For two, the hosts are funny, knowledgeable and complement one another really well.

And for three, Josh Clark’s voice is dreamy as hell.

WATCH

When I forget to refresh my stash of rented TV shows and movies, I’m left to the DVDs I’ve collected over the years as gifts or from the $3 Walmart bin. Last week’s bottom-of-the-barrel selection was “The Princess Bride,” given to me four Christmases ago by my college roommate. The movie, which she loved and couldn’t believe I’d never seen, is obviously a classic in many people’s eyes. Though the humor hits and misses with me, the funny moments are truly funny. Plus, is it just me, or is Princess Buttercup the most beautiful human to ever live?!

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PERSPECTIVES

Let’s give all this hate a rest

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Fine Jewellers & Goldsmiths •Custom Jewelry •Repairs

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/ November 1, 2018

The past week has just been awful in America.

A man who killed two people in a Kentucky grocery store last Wednesday allegedly entered a predominantly black church just minutes earlier, but left after he found the doors locked. The murders he committed just 10 minutes later are now being investigated as possible hate crimes.

After several prominent Democrats, Trump critics and CNN received mail bombs last week, the far-right media such as Fox News was downright hysterical, pushing conspiracy theories about how the bombs were “fake” and that they were “false flag” attacks committed by “leftists” attempting to gin up sympathetic votes before the midterms. When the alleged suspect, a Florida man, turned out to be a rabid Trump supporter whose intent was to harm Trump’s opponents, those same talking heads on Fox News and other right-wing outlets simply moved onto other issues without any accountability or correction. Geraldo Rivera was the only person to publicly say that he erred, in a lame statement claiming that he “outsmarted” himself.

Finally, on Saturday morning, a 43-yearold Pittsburgh man walked into the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue and, after shouting his hatred for Jewish people, murdered 11 worshipers in a 20-minute attack.

The youngest victim in Pittsburgh was 54 years old. The oldest was 97. Just minutes before entering the synagogue, the man wrote on Gab, a social media site frequented by racists that has since been shut down, “I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered.

Screw your optics, I’m going in.”

These three atrocious acts have one factor in common: hate. We are a nation consumed by hatred right now. Something has to change.

We’ve seen an example of this hate locally through the posts and actions of Sandpoint resident Scott Rhodes, who has repeatedly called for the mass expulsion of Jews from America and the enslavement of “negroid subhumans” on his podcast, which is also listed as the sponsor of several robocalls sent throughout the nation containing racist content. While Rhodes claims he does not support violence on his podcasts, his anti-Semitic views resembled the Pittsburgh shooter’s in many ways.

The issue is not with the First Amendment,

which I believe in strongly. The problem is that racists have politicized their hate. They don’t wear white hoods and burn crosses on lawns anymore. They look just like you and me, and their attacks usually come in the form of social media smears and robocalls attempting to damage the reputation of journalists who cover their actions (such as myself). The idea is to use the First Amendment and our current political divide in the country to repackage racism into a cleaner, neater ideology that appeals to a wide variety of people, and destroy the reputation of anyone who attempts to speak up against it. Many ironically attempt to utter as many outlandish, borderline threatening statements as possible as a trolling move to test the limits of their rights.

We need to understand that none of us live in a vacuum. The tone being set from the top down right now is not a good thing for this country. Every day, President Trump denigrates somebody or something and uses fear to press his agenda. There is nothing wrong with being a conservative or a liberal or a centrist.

There is nothing wrong with agreeing with some of Trump’s policies — some of them have merit. But there is something wrong with using the power of the Oval Office to wage war on your own citizens because you don’t agree with them or they don’t agree with you.

That is un-American and flat-out wrong, and we need to recognize that. The press is not the “enemy of the American people.” Fear is.

The First Amendment will always be a strong protection that allows us all to use our voices without fear of retribution or incarceration. Or will it? Will our Constitution survive this dark period in history? Already President Trump is claiming he can negate the 14th Amendment with a simple executive order. What next? What next, America?

Your votes count, folks. Use your voice and send a message that this is not what America is.

Let’s give all this hate a rest.

Crossword Solution

I guess of all my uncles, I liked Uncle Cave Man the best. We called him Uncle Cave Man because he lived in a cave and because sometimes he’d eat one of us. Later on we found out he was a bear.

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

CROSSWORD ACROSS

quiet winter ski rental

balladmonger

/BAL-uhd-muhng-ger/

[noun] 1. an inferior poet.

2. a seller of ballads.

“Who let this balladmonger on the stage?”

Woorf tdhe Week

Correction: In the Oct. 18 issue, the header above columnist Nick Gier’s article read “NEWS” when it should have read “OPINION.” We regret the mistake, as we are always careful to separate the two. -BO While the average of all Idaho county commissioner salaries is $39,000, that figure includes commissioners of small counties who work part-time. According to Bonner County HR Director Cindy Binkerd, she uses Twin Falls, Nez Perce, Kootenai, Canyon, Bannock, Blaine, Bingham and Bonneville counties as commissioner offices comparable to Bonner County in workload and responsibility. They average to a salary just over $76,000, according to Idaho Association of Counties data from 2018. -CR

1. Not in danger 5. Food thickener 9. Vipers 13. Absent Without Leave 14. Site 16. Pearly-shelled mussel 17. No more than 18. The language of Persia 19. Big party 20. Swelling under the skin 22. A canine disease 24. Sensed 26. Deafen 27. Relating to urine 30. Ditch 33. A city in Canada 35. Brown ermine 68. Always 37. Insect 69. If not 38. Decorative jugs 70. A musical pause 41. Greatest possible 71. Marsh plant 42. S-shaped moldings 45. Sweetheart 48. Shorttail weasel 51. Sincere DOWN 52. A cry of approval 1. Alike 54. Pear variety 2. Blown away 55. Door thresholds 3. Index finger 59. A female sorcerer 4. Any simple chemical 62. Operatic solo 63. Negatively charged 5. Alien Life Form 6. Incite particle 7. Sour 65. Calamitous 8. A reddish brown 66. After-bath powder 9. Intensify 67. Slowly, in music

Solution on page 26 10. Break 11. Heap 12. Fly high 15. Indian instrument 21. Winglike 23. Nights before 25. Tall woody plant 27. Part of an ear 28. French for “Red” 29. Swerve 31. Something that connects 32. Despises 34. Directed 36. Not this 39. Regret 40. Generous slice of

the pie 43. Hug 44. Knights 46. Gloat 47. Business executive 49. Area of South Africa 50. Flatter 53. Express a thought 55. Day 56. By mouth 57. Anagram of “Silo” 58. Drunkards 60. Algonquian Indian 61. Group of cattle 64. Excluding

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The Citizens' Initiative to Ex and Medicaid in Idaho Why vote Yes? Because: •

•

We're already paying for it.

Prop 2 will bring $400 million of our tax dollars back to Idaho. That money is currently paying for Medicaid expansion in other states, such as Montana and Washington.

•

It will generate MORE money for Education.

The 2018 economics study* estimates Prop 2 will bring 5,389 new jobs to Idaho. With new tax revenues from those new jobs, education funding will INCREASE by $10- $35 million per year. "httpilwww.teamiha.org/DorumentsNvBLinks/Medicaid%20Expansion%20Study"h20FINAL.pdf

It will keep rural hospitals open.

Can you imagine if Bonners Ferry's hospital closed? How many people would face delayed care? How many people would die because of it?

•

62,000 Idahoans fall into the Coverage Gap. By expanding

Medicaid, hard-working Idahoans who cannot get insurance at work, but make too much to qualify for Medicaid, will have access to health care.

Who will it cover?

Gets health care coverage for hard-working Idahoans: • • • • •

Construction Workers Ranch Hands/Farmers Child Care Workers Restaurant Workers Small Business Owners

• Loggers • Home Health Care Workers • Hair dressers • Anyone whose employer does not offer health insurance and who falls into the g

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Who supports Prop 2?

Governor Butch Otter:

Senator Shawn Keough:

"Allowing the healthcare coverage gap to persist any longer is not an option," said Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter. "We cannot continue to let hardworking Idahoans go without healthcare.

I'm proud that the citizens of Idaho have come up with a solution to solve this long-standing problem. Proposition 2 will provide healthcare to 62,000 Idahoans and it'll bring $400 million of our tax dollars back to Idaho. In addition, Proposition 2 will keep our rural hospitals and county clinics open. I strongly support expanding healthcare to folks who need it. It's good sense and it's the right thing to do."

"My argument in favor of Medicaid Expansion beyond the humanity of it- is that we 'taxpayers' are already paying for this medical care for the 'gap population.' We pay for it through our property taxes when these folks must turn to the county indigent fund to help them pay catastrophic medical care bills." "the folks in the 'gap' are the working poor. They are working! They are working two and three jobs to keep themselves and their families going! They are in the workforce today and want to stay in the workforce."

Paid for by Reclaim Idaho, Garrett Strizich, Treasurer

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Idaho Sheriffs Association: "Sheriffs voted overwhelmingly to support Proposition 2 to save taxpayers money, to keep people out of the jails, and to keep people out of the emergency room. By expanding coverage to low­ income people with health issues or mental health issues, they're more likely to contribute to society and less likely to end up back in the system."

The Idaho Sheriffs Association represents the State's 44 elected County Sheriffs.