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DEAR READERS,
The week in random review By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Bleakonomics
The Idaho Department of Labor sent out a press release last month trumpeting that the average hourly wage in Idaho rose 4.7% in 2025 to $29.41 — up $1.31 per hour from 2024. Better yet, “Idaho ranked third in the country behind Kentucky and Montana in terms of percentage increase in average wage,” the department stated. That news got republished around the state, but I was skeptical (which is why you didn’t see it in the Reader). For one thing, $29.41 an hour amounts to a gross yearly wage of about $61,100. Assuming a household has two full-time average hourly wage earners, that’s about $122,300 (gross) a year. Obviously individuals’ tax situations will vary, but most sources put the average net household income in Idaho at about $102,700 a year with a median of $77,800 in 2024 dollars, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (the median in Bonner County is $66,979 and Sandpoint is $72,289, also in 2024 dollars). That sounds pretty OK, but adjusted for inflation — using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator — that $102,700 in 2026 has the same buying power as $94,856 did in 2024. Your $29.41 an hour today has the buying power of $27.16 two years ago, but average inflation was 2.9% in 2024, 2.6% in 2025 and has ranged from 4.2% in May to 3.4% in July this year (August’s numbers will be available on Sept. 11, according to usinflationcalculator.com). Sure, wages might have risen 4.7% in 2025, but how much of that “gain” has or will be wiped out just by gas that costs close to $5 a gallon and overall food prices that are predicted to increase up to 3.1% this year and a further 3.1% in 2027? That’s all according to the July 2026 forecast from the Economic Research Service and reported by the USDA, but doesn’t factor in Idaho’s 6% grocery sales tax. A year ago, the Idaho Statesman reported on a study from LendingTree that showed Idahoans spend an average of more than $10,000 a year on groceries. When measured against the average household income, it showed that Idahoans spend more at the store than anyone in the country. After all that, a 4.7% bump doesn’t look so impressive, and we’re only talking about what’s happened in the past two or so years. I made the mistake of plugging my own household income into the BLS inflation calculator, and discovered that when adjusted for inflation, my wife and I are only netting about $3,000 more in annual buying power on our paychecks than we were 10 years ago — despite essentially doubling how much we earn in that time. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s not how this is supposed to work.
Credit where it’s due
I can count on maybe three-fifths of one hand how many times I’ve even considered giving Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador props for anything, but I found myself nodding along to a statement his office issued Aug. 18 related to the multi-state lawsuit against tech giant Meta. “Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to addict young, developing minds while misleading parents about the dangers of its platforms. Meta put profits ahead of the well-being of children, and we intend to hold the company fully accountable,” he wrote and, on one digit of one hand (not even the middle one), I count that in Raúl’s favor.
I remember riding shotgun in my dad’s pickup with a lawnmower strapped down in the bed. We were headed to a neighbor’s house so I could mow the lawn for $5, an incredible amount of money for a kid back then. My dad slowed down on the dirt road, passed a neighbor checking their mailbox, waved and accelerated away. I asked him why he slowed down. “Because it’s the polite thing to do,” he said. “You don’t want to speed by and dust them out, do you? These are our neighbors.” While harvesting firewood during a rare smoke-free day last week, I was astounded by how many people drove by at 30 miles per hour or faster as I bucked logs on the side of the dirt road. By the time I drove home, I was caked in dust. I thought everyone followed those small-town rules, but last week I was reminded — yet again — that this isn’t the North Idaho in which I was born and raised. Don’t forget the old ways, folks. In a world gone crazy, they are sometimes the only thing keeping us sane.
– Ben Olson, publisher
READER 111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368 sandpointreader.com
Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Soncirey Mitchell (Senior Writer) soncirey@sandpointreader.com Editors Emeriti: Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Cameron Rasmusson John Reuter Advertising: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Christopher Rooks (cover), Ben Olson, InciWeb, Karley Coleman, Willie Wittezehler, Ron Bedford, Susan Drinkard, Nina Welp, Rich Milliron, Bill Borders Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Cynthia Dalsing, Lauren Necochea, Marcia Pilgeram, Laura Guido Submit Stories To: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed Weekly At: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $200 per year Website Designed By: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned by Ben Olson, Zach Hagadone and Soncirey Mitchell. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, bluster, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. For back issues, contact the publisher. Free to all, limit two per person, please. Letter to the Editor Policy: We welcome letters to the editor on all relevant topics. Please, no more than 200 words, no excessive profanity or libelous statements and no trolls. Please elevate the discussion and stay on topic. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinons expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publisher. Send to: letters@sandpointreader.com About the Cover: This week’s cover photo was submitted by Christopher Rooks.
August 20, 2026 / R / 3
NEWS
Averill loses appeal of sign code violation
P&Z orders ‘abandoned’ Best Western and former Trinity signs must come down
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff The Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously denied Averill Hospitality’s appeal of a sign code violation, voting Aug. 18 that the company must remove signage at the Best Western Edgewater Resort and former-Trinity at City Beach since the building has been closed for nearly a year. Under City Code 9-6-18, a sign is considered “abandoned” if it is “located on property which becomes vacant and unoccupied for a period of two (2) months or more, or any sign which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies.” Whitefish, Mont.-based Averill shut down the hotel and attached restaurant space in September 2025, anticipating demolition of the building and redevelopment of the property at 56 Bridge St., adjacent to City Beach, into an almost 300,000-squarefoot resort hotel with a mix of more than 181 rooms and condos, multiple food and beverage offerings and a range of other amenities. Prior to that, Averill had obtained a demolition permit and filed for a building permit, which P&Z approved under a conditional use permit that was twice extended. “None of that happened,” said City Planner Bill Dean. “The businesses remained shuttered, the restaurant relocated and the Averills have decided to pursue alternate ideas for their site.” Specifically, the developer has now proposed a much more scaled-down version of the project, including a renovation of the existing hotel, demolition of the current lobby and restaurant, and construction of a five-story condo tower; new lobby, bar and restaurant; and features such as an outdoor pool and 4 / R / August 20, 2026
event space. Averill has filed for a new CUP for that proposal, and in the meantime argued that the existing signs should stay because it plans to reopen the hotel, making it compatible with the former use of the property. “We recognize that based solely on the time period stated within Sandpoint City Code 9-6-18, there may be an argument that the signs fall within the ordinance because the hotel is not currently accepting overnight guests. However, the underlying premise that the business has been abandoned or closed is not accurate,” said Ben McGrann, representing Averill. “Operations have been paused as a direct result of the active redevelopment of the property,” he added. “Averill Hospitality maintains active business operations and [the property] remains a business asset. Staff regularly access the property to perform maintenance, repairs, security and improvement work.” In addition, McGrann pointed out that Averill has installed signs on the property offering free parking “as a good faith gesture to the community” and “delivered a tangible community benefit.” The sign code states that, “Permanent signs applicable to a business temporarily suspended because of a change of ownership or management of such business, shall not be deemed abandoned unless the property remains vacant for a period of six (6) months or more.” “This really is just about two signs on their site that do not conform to our ordinance,” Dean said. “They violate the size and height limitations. There is no business at the location and it has been shuttered since last September, so it’s almost a year now — well past the two months — and so it’s pretty black and white from the city of Sandpoint’s perspective
that the signs are not able to remain existing legally.” McGrann underscored that the hotel and restaurant businesses had not been “closed,” but were “paused,” with no intention by Averill to permanently discontinue use of the hotel. “I would like to clarify the testimony referenced in the notice of violation that states I, Ben McGrann, stated the hotel was closed. I did not make that statement,” McGrann said. Rather, he added, P&Z Commission Chair Mose Dunkel described the hotel and restaurant as being “closed” during deliberation on Averill’s request for an extension of its previous, though now defunct, CUP in June. Based on that, Dunkel said the company had demonstrated a “significant” commitment to pursuing the project, and voted along with fellow commissioners in favor of granting the CUP extension. “As a business owner, I know that if I closed down a business I would need something to happen,” Dunkel said at the time. However, McGrann argued on Aug. 18, “Averill Hospitality also remains under an active franchise agreement with Best Western. Ownership continues to coordinate with Best Western regarding the brand standards and design elements that may be incorporated into either the proposed redevelopment or a smaller-scale renovation.” He added that the signs “remain valuable property improvements” that are planned to be reused or repurposed, and their removal and future replacement would be costly
while conflicting with obligations under Averill’s franchise agreement. What’s more, McGrann said, “Google continues to list the hotel as an active business and not permanently closed. Best Western’s website also continues to list the hotel without describing it as permanently closed.” Commissioner Scott Torpey asked McGrann, “[C]ould I make a reservation now at the hotel?” “You could not,” McGrann responded. “How do you parse ‘paused’ versus ‘abandoned’?” Commissioner William Mitchell asked. “If I were to hear ‘abandon,’ that means that you have something and you don’t intend on coming back to it. You’ve abandoned it, right?” McGrann said. “Ideally, we’d like to redevelop based on the original submitted CUP,” he added. “We have a second option, which is a reduced project that we’re working through with city staff, and we’ll eventually come to you with a third option, which is we’re just going to do a little light interior refresh, clean up the rooms, the lobby, put some new paint on the building and open it back up. So, in one shape or form, it will open. It’s just a matter of which flavor we end up going with.” If Averill pursues that third option, work could begin as early as December with an opening anticipated in the
Top left: The former Best Western Edgewater Resort sign. Top right: The horizontal sign, which now reads, “The Point coming soon” next to the resort and Sandpoint City Beach. Photos by Ben Olson summer of 2027. The company’s arguments didn’t sway commissioners, though. “I think it is — on the face of it — obvious that the conditions described in 9-618 exist and will continue to exist at least until next spring, exceeding the periods of time that require the removal of a sign that is considered abandoned,” Torpey said. “The code, right, wrong or indifferent — that’s not my remit to say — is very unforgiving. It says two months,” Commissioner Grant Simmons said. “It seems pretty black and white to me that just even the function of those signs relative to those businesses has no longer been up and running. That’s kind of how I’m viewing this code,” said Commissioner Reid Weber, who made the motion to deny the appeal. According to the sign code, Averill has up to 20 days from the notice of violation to remove or otherwise come into compliance, or else the city will remove the signs and pass the cost onto the property owner as a debt, which can be recovered in court. “The costs of removal shall include any and all incidental expenses incurred by the city in connection with the sign’s removal,” the code states.
NEWS
Annual ITD report shows increase in Bonner County crashes Data shows rural roadways account for 66% of fatal wrecks statewide
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff If Bonner County residents feel like the area has been experiencing more frequent and severe traffic crashes in recent years, that’s because it has. The recently released 2025 crash report from the Idaho Transportation Department showed a 62.5% increase in fatality crashes in Bonner County between 2024 and 2025, rising from five to eight, respectively. Overall crashes rose nearly 5% from 639 to 670 during the same period. ITD reported that while statewide crashes declined 0.1% in 2025, fatalities went up about 5% from 219 to 231 between 2024 and 2025. “While 71% of all crashes occurred on urban roadways, 66% of fatal crashes happened on rural roads, continuing a long-standing trend in Idaho,” the department stated, citing aggressive driving as a contributing factor in 48% of all motor vehicle wrecks, with excessive speed being the most prevalent element in those crashes. The 2025 numbers in the crash report showed that Kootenai County experienced 13 fatal crashes and Bonner County contributed eight. While ITD hosts full data summaries from 2008 to 2025, it also includes preliminary figures for 2026, current through July. Based on those partial numbers, Bonner County has already exceeded its total number of fatal crashes in 2024 and is not far from meeting its 2025 year-end total. According to latest figures, there have been six fatal crashes in Bonner County so far this year, compared to seven in Kootenai County — together accounting for 13 of the 17 latest figures, experienced in ITD District 1 as of press time. Dist. 1 includes Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, with an estimated total population
of almost 271,000 people. That means Bonner County — with about 54,400 people — comprises only about 20% of the district population but has contributed just more than 35% of all fatality crashes to date in 2026. Likewise, Bonner County accounted for 23% of all suspected serious crashes in Dist. 1 so far this year. Based on population, Bonner County appears to be overrepresented with fatality and suspected serious crashes in 2026 — especially considering that neighboring Kootenai County (with an estimated 191,800 residents) totals nearly 71% of the district population but so far contributed 41% of recorded fatal crashes this year. However, ITD spokesperson Britt Rosenthal told the Reader that population metrics don’t necessarily reflect how “dangerous” it is to drive on a region’s roadways. “Crash risk is typically evaluated using vehicle miles traveled (VMT) rather than population,” she said. “Population alone doesn’t tell us how much people drive or the conditions they’re driving in. Two counties can have similar populations but very different roadway environments, which leads to different crash patterns.” In the case of Bonner County, those rural road conditions are the biggest factor in why fatality and serious crash numbers are so much higher on a population basis relative to Kootenai County. “Bonner County’s network is largely rural, with higher posted speeds, more run‑off‑the‑road crashes, less access control and longer emergency response times,” Rosenthal said. “Those conditions make severe crashes more likely. Statewide and national data consistently show higher fatality rates per mile traveled on rural roads. ... “Because of that, I wouldn’t characterize Bonner County as ‘more dangerous,’
but predominantly rural counties do carry a higher risk of severe outcomes when crashes occur,” she added. “Higher speeds, less forgiving roadway design and longer response times all contribute to that.” By comparison, Kootenai County has more lower‑speed local roads and major routes that operate at lower speeds through populated areas. “In contrast, northern counties see higher‑speed travel and more through‑traffic, including commercial and tourist travel moving between Canada and points south, which increases exposure beyond what population alone would suggest,” Rosenthal said. While agreeing with ITD’s explanation for rural-versus-urban road conditions and VMT as central factors in crash severity, Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler told the Reader that he had “not found a pattern to explain such high numbers.” He said that most crashes occur on state highways, but in different parts of the county. “Rural counties are more dangerous to drive in,” Wheeler added, also citing the area’s population growth. In 2025, three of the eight fatality crashes in Bonner County occurred in Ponderay, with two in Spirit Lake and one each in Careywood, Oldtown and Sandpoint. As of the time of publication, two of the current total fatal crashes in Bonner County have taken place in Hope, with one each in Clark Fork, Oldtown, Ponderay and Sandpoint. Idaho driver’s license-holders represented the vast majority of overall Bonner County crashes in 2025 and so far this year, while the single highest proportion of crashes by driver age was in the 20 and younger category. “Teen drivers, ages 15 to 19, also continue to be over-represented in crashes,” ITD stated. “In 2025,
teen drivers were 2.1 times as likely as all other drivers to be involved in a fatal or injury crash. Thirty-two people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers [statewide].” Wheeler also pointed to the understaffing of Idaho State Police troopers as a possible contributing factor in those rising crash numbers. “As a result, we are seeing less ISP patrols in Bonner County. ISP resources seem to be diverted from Bonner County on to the higher-populated areas south of us,” he said. “I have personally requested an additional patrol position to be added in past budget years, and was going to again ask this year during our budget workshops. “Unfortunately, there were no budget workshops to discuss enhancements during this year’s budget discussions,” he added. “I was intending to submit the ITD crash report documenting the increase in serious and fatal accidents and request a traffic
An image showing fatal crashes in ITD Dist. 1. Image courtesy of ITD enforcement officer be added to our Patrol Division.” According to the report, crashes in 2025 cost the state an estimated $6.1 billion, equivalent to almost $3,000 per person and underscoring the importance of investing in traffic safety improvements. “I am pleased with the state action taken to address the Highway 95 and Lakeshore Drive intersection. This redesign will improve the safety of that intersection,” Wheeler said. “I would like to see the state address the intersection of Highway 41 and Spirit Lake Cutoff Road. That has historically been one of the most dangerous intersections in the county and should be redesigned.” Read the full report at itd.idaho.gov/safety under Annual Crash Reports and Seatbelt Surveys. August 20, 2026 / R / 5
NEWS Sandpoint P&Z rejects draft data center ban By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Sandpoint Planning and Zoning commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 18 to deny a draft ordinance regulating data centers, referring the issue back to City Council. Members of the commission cited a lack of clarity in the definition of a “data center,” as well as potential unintended consequences for small tech firms. They also questioned whether regulating data centers based on environmental impacts such as water and power usage was prudent, considering that would introduce rules that don’t exist elsewhere in zoning code. Furthermore, concerns over the noise produced by data centers would be moot, since as City Planner Bill Dean pointed out, a data center of any size could only be located within Sandpoint’s industrial zones, which are already exempt from noise-based regulations. The Sandpoint City Council directed staff at its July 15 meeting to propose a definition of “data center” so the term could be incorporated into an ordinance that would ban them from within city limits. “I think their direction was crystal clear in one respect: Ban data centers,” Dean said. “... It wasn’t ‘evaluate methods of regulating resource consumption in a nuanced way as compared to other land uses.’ It was, ‘We don’t want data centers, let’s ban them.’” The definition that Dean presented
to P&Z on Aug. 18 stated: “A data center is a centralized physical facility that houses IT infrastructure — such as servers, storage systems and networking equipment — to process, store and distribute digital information,” and proposed a cap of 5,000 square feet. Commissioners agreed that the 5,000-square-foot limitation was too small and “arbitrary.” “It seems like a knee-jerk reaction,” said Commissioner William Mitchell. Dean recognized that the proposed definition made no distinction between a “server room” or “hyperscale” data center — the latter being the types of enormous developments that have made headlines around the country. Those facilities, which can range up to nearly 1 million square feet, simply couldn’t be built within Sandpoint city limits, considering the available land and small size of the industrial zone where they could be permitted. “You just can’t arrive at this scale and size,” he said, later adding, “The county is a different story — there are vast tracts of land [there].” “The city level seems the inappropriate forum to do this, as opposed to the county,” Simmons agreed. “No one cares about a 10,000-square-foot server room. ... It seems like what people are concerned about is the million-square-foot facilities. So this outlaws those, but where are you gonna put a million-square-foot building in the city, anyway?”
County passes 2027 EMS budget By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff The Bonner County Board of Commissioners, serving as the Ambulance Service District Board, voted unanimously Aug. 19 to pass the taxing district’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget of $5,994,937. BCASD will dedicate $242,632 to its contingency fund, making strides to overcome financial issues that began more than two decades ago. Though founded as an independent taxing district, BCASD — previously called Bonner County Emergency Medical Services — operated as a county department from 2005 to 2024, incorrectly sharing finances with the county. The yearslong error, coupled with rising costs, left the district at a deficit, which Chief Jeff Lindsey, the BOCC and Clerk’s Office have been 6 / R / August 20, 2026
working to overcome. The BCASD anticipates $3,478,937 in tax revenue for FY ’27, as well as more than $2.5 million from user billings, contract payments and other additional sources — increasing the budget by $693,150 compared to FY ’26. The district will dedicate $340,000 to ambulance and support vehicle upgrades, in addition to $163,000 for maintenance and fuel. “Our maintenance and repairs have been kind of killing us, but we hope as we start updating the fleet that number will go down,” said Lindsey. Finally, the vast majority — $4,276,684 — will go toward payroll expenses, including salaries and benefits for its 45 full- and part-time employees. Visit bonnercountyid.gov/departments/ ambulancedistrict to learn more.
Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond
According to Moody’s Analytics, America’s richest 10% (who make more than $250,000 annually, i.e. $20,833 per month or more), are driving a record 49.7% of total consumer spending. Last week marked one year since President Donald Trump declared a “crime emergency” in Washington, D.C., despite a 30-year low in violent crime in the city. NPR reported that the number of uniformed troops in D.C. went from 800 to almost 5,000. The deployment has been extended to Jan. 20, 2029. In what various media outlets have described as a “crisis” or “floating nightmare,” servicemembers on board the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier have complained of spoiled food, food shortages, water contamination, plumbing problems, safety concerns and deteriorating mental health as their deployment in the Middle East has stretched into more than eight months. Among the approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the Lincoln, some have tried to jump ship to escape conditions, according to the Military Times. Plans are to replace the ship with the USS George Washington, which is expected to weaken U.S. defenses in the Pacific. NPR reported that the U.S. supply of precision missiles is almost depleted due to months of war with Iran, according to an official source not authorized to speak. One ship a day goes through the Strait of Hormuz; the pre-war number was about 130, according to Reuters. Trump said he will declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory, though the U.S. has no jurisdiction over the area, various international media reported. In a rare interview, a top adviser to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard leader said the Iran war will continue until Trump’s term ends, PBS reported. According to the AP, the U.S. and Iran missed a deadline this week to begin peace talks. From a ProPublica investigation: Federal judges, from both parties, see Trump’s Department of Justice legal representatives engaging in “unlawful,” “unethical” and “unseemly conduct.” Judges are frustrated that cases represented by the government fail to be fair and honest. Two Republican mayors from Georgia will back a Democrat running
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Contributor
for Congress. They told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the candidate’s work for their communities outweighs partisan differences. The Associated Press reported that ICE plans to spend up to $20 million equipping officers with gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks. According to NBC News and other sources, the White House is seeking to lift a ban on development in national forests, ending a quarter century of protections and opening nearly 45 million acres to road construction and other development. A federal lawsuit is seeking to stop Trump from making money off early access to his Truth Social posts on U.S. policy, after the president’s social media platform started charging as much as $100,000 a month for users to see what he’s going to say next before anyone else, the AP reported. Blast from the past: Whether a farmer or vacationer, summers aren’t what they used to be. They’re now overshadowed by threats from wildfires, smoke, extreme heat, drought, flooding and heftier hurricanes — all once predicted by Big Oil. Climate change warnings started in the late 1890s (not a typo). Congress was alerted to the danger in the 1960s. A 1982 American Petroleum Institute report also warned of serious consequences due to upcoming aridity and rainfall changes. Big Oil was fully aware of the damage it was inflicting, even reporting in 1996 to fossil fuel companies (who were actively spreading climate denial spiels) that the “elderly, sick and very young” would be vulnerable to expected temperatures “beyond which mortality rises significantly.” In 1998, an internal Shell report stated that unrestrained fossil fuel use would disrupt ecosystems, alter agricultural patterns and lead to conflict. Shell had earlier warned of more violent storms and “more deluges.” During the past 60 years, the average U.S. heat wave season went from 23 days to 70. The first three months of 2026 in the U.S. were the driest on record. Lakes Powell and Mead, both significant Western water reservoirs, have hit record low levels. The oil industry’s predictions for upside-down summers were shoved aside in preference for continued profits — a massive, calculated fraud.
NEWS
Idaho has spent $31M on firefighting while nearly 700K acres have burned statewide By Laura Guido Idaho Capital Sun
Nearly 700,000 acres have burned across Idaho so far this year, and state officials are predicting fire risk will remain high through September. As the costs to fight fires increase, state agency staff said they plan to increase Idaho’s dedicated funding to boost firefighting resources amid tight budget conditions as staff prepare the budget request for next fiscal year. The Idaho Department of Lands has about $25 million in its fire suppression fund, but it’s unclear where that will stand by the end of fire season, IDL Director Dustin Miller told statewide officers who sit on the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners on Aug. 18. “We’re entering a more challenging period of the 2026 fire season as conditions continue to dry across the state. The significant wildland fire potential outlook indicates above average fire potential statewide through August and September,” Miller said at the meeting. Many of the blazes state firefighters have been working on include assisting other agencies, such as federal agencies, and it will take time to determine the state share of the costs and reimbursement totals. So far, the state agency has spent an estimated $31 million on fighting fires, and is expected to be reimbursed around $10.9 million, Miller said. Busy fire season in the Pacific Northwest leads to strain on firefighting resources There’s a lot of fire activ-
ity in the Pacific Northwest, which can put a strain on resources, Miller said. Across the U.S., more than 7.2 million acres have burned, which is above the 10-year average for this point in the year, he added. When rangeland fires were burning in southern Idaho, the U.S. Department of Interior Wildland Fire Service had a hard time allocating resources to them, Miller said, because there was a focus on areas such as Spokane, where people and communities were in danger. Miller said Gov. Brad Little’s activation of the Idaho National Guard to assist with firefighting was helpful because of a lack of federal resources. “The Guard helped a lot out on the Big Grass Fire in particular, by allocating their helicopters and their crews,” Miller said. “Because we were in such a dire situation, resource orders were unable to fill, having that additional support from the Guard made a big difference I think down in Owyhee County.” The Big Grass Fire is 82% contained as of Aug. 18 and so far burned nearly 580,000 acres on the border between Oregon and far-southwest Idaho, according to federal fire reporting website InciWeb. After this year’s legislative budget cuts, Idaho agency will seek boost in fire funding In its budget proposal to the Governor’s Office, the Idaho Department of Lands will seek the restoration of some fire funding and increases in other areas to mostly support firefighting at the agency. “The majority of our budget enhancements are for fire that align with our
fire strategic plan and will be supported entirely with dedicated funds,” said Rachelle Vance, IDL financial executive officer. During the 2026 legislative session, state budget writers approved cuts across nearly every state agency to avoid a projected budget shortfall. Some firefighting costs were funded at lower levels than requested or on a one-time basis. In June, the state’s fire suppression fund hit $0, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. However, the Legislature had approved a one-time transfer of interest earnings into the account of $32.8 million, which occurred at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. In its Fiscal Year 2028 request, the agency will ask for $131,800 paid annually out of the state General Fund toward fire costs to restore the 1% budget cuts the Legislature approved for FY ’27, according to the budget proposal presented Aug. 18. The agency will also request
four new full-time, fire-related employees and one new financial employee position. The request also includes one-time equipment purchases and replacements, such as fire radios, tactical service vehicles and fire detection cameras. The total request is for about $10 million. Land Board members approve surcharge increase to boost fire preparedness fund Land Board members on Aug. 18 also voted to approve an increase in the surcharge paid on property tax assessments for forested land with residential structures. The board first heard of the proposal at its meeting last month, the Sun reported. Private and state landowners on forested parcels in Idaho pay Forest Fire Protection Assessment fees on their property tax bills to cover costs associated with protecting their properties from wildfire. The money goes into the state’s “fire
A smoke column billows over rangeland near South Mountain in Idaho. Photo courtesy of InciWeb
preparedness fund,” which is one of the dedicated sources the agency would tap to fund its budget requests. The assessment is set at 60 cents per acre, charged at a minimum of 25 acres, with a $40 surcharge if a residential structure is on the parcel. The surcharge was last increased in 2009. The board approved increasing the surcharge to $90, with members wanting to look into implementing a tiered rate that would differ depending on the value of the residence on the land. There are around 68,000 parcels that will be affected by the new surcharge, said State Forester Julia Lauch. This story was produced by Boise-based nonprofit news outlet the Idaho Capital Sun, which is part of the States Newsroom nationwide reporting project. For more information, visit idahocapitalsun.com.
August 20, 2026 / R / 7
Averill made up of ‘poseurs’... Some kudos and some sadness…
Bouquets: GUEST SUBMISSION: • “A Bouquet to the generous customers who patronized our recent bake sale at the Sandpoint Farmers’ Market and helped the Quaker bakers raise $1,223 for the Food Bank. Thank you!” – By Nancy Foster Renk
• Father and son team Nando Ateho, 47 and Luca Ateho, 11, rocked the tandem riders category at the Monarch Grind and also at the Aether’s Traverse last weekend. They spent more than seven hours pedaling during each race on a bike that weighed over 300 pounds. Not only did they inspire the creation of a new tandem category for the Panhandle Gravel Series races, but they came in first place in both races. Great job, team. Barbs: • Often, after I write critical facts about our president in these pages, I’ll receive an email diagnosing me with “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Here’s the deal: Stating facts and truth does not equate to someone having a “syndrome.” If someone states an opinion that is different from yours, it’s not a medical disorder. The willful avoidance of basic truths, on the other hand? That’s a different story altogether. We live in troubling times. Don’t like what a news story says? It’s “fake news.” Don’t like someone’s opinion on the president’s words and actions? Call it “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” This happens all the time when Trump is questioned by a reporter. Instead of answering the question, he’ll spend 10 minutes attacking them, their news organization, their political affiliation, even their looks. Still, the question goes unanswered. If your answer to anything you disagree with is an accusation, you’re the problem. History will remember these years unkindly. Which side of the truth will you be on? 8 / R / August 20, 2026
Dear editor, Averill Hospitality has proven itself to be made up of poseurs. This group of “developers” has failed in so many ways, and yet, continues to pretend it wants to develop its latest iteration of a resort hotel/ condo at City Beach. After gaining from the city parking concessions and retention of existing development fees (which are now higher), this group of amateurs has submitted a new downscaled plan to the city. Apparently, Averill has indicated construction costs have gone up and that it has had difficulty retaining or developing adequate money from investors. Sounds like what rank novices say rather than experienced developers. Meanwhile, after years of working with the city, they still don’t know what is needed to provide planning and zoning, as evidenced by the many comments P&Z has provided Averill. Here’s a hint: Get your poop in a group or get off the pot. Shannon May Sandpoint
Bummed about Sauter? Vote for Matthee… Dear editor, Are you bummed out that Mark Sauter, our state representative, was defeated in the May primary? Running for his seat is Karen Matthee, who would bring us important pieces of the same. Mark represented this district first; Karen would also. Mark worked hard, year round, on policy; Karen would, too. Mark supported our public schools; Karen would, too. Mark reported regularly to this district; Karen would, too. Mark believed in local control; Karen does, too. Mark worked with all who would provide good governance; Karen has the same philosophy. I encourage you to check out Karen’s website, kmattheeforidaho.com, hear her speak and vote her into office on Nov. 3. The best government we can elect is important to us all. Molly O’Reilly Sandpoint
By BO
Dear editor, Today I want to send a huge shout out to the local businesses and their employees in the city of Sandpoint. You are all a big part of why this little town is such a great place to live. Without all of you, Sandpoint would not be what it is and I find that some of the disparaging words said by some of the people sitting on the City Council during the Aug. 12 council meeting about people who do not live within the limits of the city of Sandpoint sad. Especially since there are many of you who live outside city limits who labor every day to bring us so many of the good things we have come to love about the place we live in. Times are changing in our little town and, although there are many who don’t like these changes, one thing I think we can all agree on is that those of you who work so hard to make our lives better are cherished. As to the City Council: There are some of you who should be ashamed. Patrice Webb Selle Valley
‘Sandpoint is the seat of Bonner County’… Dear editor, Sandpoint City Council President Deb Ruehle has apparently forgotten this fact, given her comments regarding the kiosk chaos during the Aug. 12 council meeting. Saying county residents who have relatives that built houses and pay/paid taxes are taking advantage of city residents is far-fetched. I’m still trying to understand what that and who’s “paying for toilet paper” is relevant to the parking fiasco created by the council itself. Suggesting county residents should “park your car elsewhere and ride your bike into town” — how calloused is that? Who are you? Marie “let them eat cake” Antoinette? Not every county resident has the physical capability to ride a bike. And we experience inclement weather more months than not. I guess county residents would have to limit their purchases in town so they could safely ride a bike back to the aforementioned car parked “elsewhere.” Suggesting county residents are taking advantage of city residents is
ludicrous and insulting. Sandpoint is “our” town, too. We may not be paying the same taxes, but we are paying taxes that support the entire county, local libraries and the only hospital in the county, which happens to be in Sandpoint. Good luck with that recall. Mary Fitzgerald Sagle
‘Isn’t the U.S. paying attention?’… Dear editor, The Guardian newspaper recently reported on an extreme heat wave affecting South Korea, causing 31 deaths, the loss of 900,000 livestock and 1.4 million farmed fish. A farmer near Seoul lost his harvest of potatoes, reporting that the heat turned them into, “boiled potatoes” in the ground (theguardian.com/ world/2026/aug/13). Countries in Europe, including France and the United Kingdom, have also reported loss of crops. And yet the headlines in the U.S. are about Trump charging fees for early access to his social media posts, ICE giving officers electric shock gloves and, of course, fires. Isn’t the U.S. paying attention? The world is overheating due to heat-retaining gases in the atmosphere due to burning fossil fuels; overheating to the point that people are dying and crops are failing. What are we waiting for? To die like a frog in a slowly heated pot or to eventually starve as the heat builds and more crops fail? Sounds dramatic, but this #%&@ is real and happening today, not next century. It is time to speak up and demand change in the government and society. Brad Huhta Selle Valley
How to fix Idaho’s ‘fractured politics’ Dear editor, It’s August and it’s hard to come inside to write a letter about the Nov. 3 election. But this year, this election, may be a turning point. We have a real chance to change our fractured politics. What’s fractured? If you haven’t noticed, Idaho is essentially a one-party state (no Democrat has held statewide office for more than
“Jon Jackoff has to be the biggest cuck loser in politics. Instead of denigrating hard working people serving our country, Jon should look deep into his soul and ask himself why he’s a miserable person who hates this country. It’s because he’s a radical, extremist Dumocrat.”
30 years, and Republicans have had a supermajority in the Legislature since 2010). Maybe you are a Republican and think this is a good thing. But without competition there is no accountability. Decisions are made behind closed doors instead of at the voting booth. It shows up when our government works against what the majority of Idahoans support: Medicaid expansion, funding for public schools, local control over libraries, reproductive rights. We need to elect good candidates outside the Republican Party. This year we have them in a slate of Independents. Please take time to acquaint yourself with them now. Steve Johnson for Idaho Senate; Kathryn Larson, Idaho House; Fred Arn, Bonner County commissioner; Todd Achilles, U.S. Senate; John Stegner, governor. More info here: bit.ly/ Nov2026Ballot Your vote counts, use it wisely. Jean Gerth Anderson Sagle
‘I’m down to one’... Dear editor, Yup. Only one Republican out of 34 candidates in our November election that I’d vote for. This general election ballot has two federal, six state, three LD1 offices and one Bonner County commissioner on it. Every incumbent (all Republicans of one stripe or another) has at least one Independent or Democratic challenger. Are you happy with vouchers draining public school funds, a state budget in chaos with looming deficits, Idaho becoming a national nuclear waste dumping ground, taxes lowered for the rich but not for the rest of us and public lands teetering on private development? This year there are serious and thoughtful candidates. Democracy is about the voice of the people, not outside money interests. Inform yourself. Vote for the challengers. Vote against the incumbents and Republican closed primary-winning candidates. Except one Republican: Secretary of State Phil McGrane, who protected our voting rolls. Nancy Britton Ponderday
— White House Communication Director Steven Cheung, in response to Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., who said of Trump, “He doesn’t want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar.” Steven Cheung
To submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com.
Right: The Sandpoint Sailing Association Women at the Helm Race event Saturday, July 25. “Every boat had a woman driving throughout the races,” wrote photographer Karley Coleman. “Pictured are all the women who participated, at helm or as crew.” Middle left: Willie Wittezehler took this photo while picking huckleberries. No, he didn’t share any with the Reader crew. Bottom left: A bashful sunflower from photographer Ron Bedford’s garden. Bottom center: A couple of local girls paint at The Heartwood Center during the July 25 “A Night of Music, Art and Community” event sponsored by the East Bonner County Library District Sandpoint branch. Photo by Susan Drinkard. Bottom right: Marshall Monroe pulls a back flip off of a local rope swing on a smoky August day. Photograph by Nina Welp.
August 20, 2026 / R / 9
Mad about Science:
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digital addiction part i By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
My partner and I recently had a jarring revelation that spawned from an awkward situation. She and a friend of hers had silently drifted away over the course of about six months — no explanation, no fight, just a quiet separation punctuated by awkward, cut-to-the-chase interactions. Ghosting is fairly common; but, given their closeness up until that point, the distance felt off, so she decided to confront him about it. We imagined several possible explanations for the increasing lack of connection. Maybe he was moving on to new friend groups. Maybe he had feelings for her, and the fact that she was in a long-term relationship was difficult for him. Once she confronted him about it, the real reason was even more unsettling and perplexing for us. “Once you left social media, I just didn’t know how to talk to you anymore,” he said. “My friends just tell me what’s going on in their lives based on their feeds.” I haven’t used social media since 2016, and I’ve admittedly felt fairly isolated from other human beings since then. Over time, I came to enjoy the solitude (to a degree), though I admit to having felt that everyone moved on and left me in the dust. Instead, it seems that development for the largest portion of humanity has halted and I’ve moved on. Now, after about half a year, so has my partner, which has been a revelatory experience. We noticed that people seemed quick to end and/or detour around conversations that held any emotional or 10 / R / August 20, 2026
intellectual depth. Particularly difficult conversations and confrontations were quickly placated, and only after the fact — through text — did the other side want to speak their piece and end the discussion... on their terms. My partner’s friend showed us that we weren’t really the problem. Digital dependency and social media addiction were the problem, and it has been silently reshaping human psychology for almost two decades now. We live in an age of instant gratification and an endless barrage of notifications and online drama. Complex moral subjects are distilled into “good” camps and “bad” camps, with no nuance tolerated from either “side.” The simplification is intentional and designed, and studying it revealed shocking facts that few people seem to be talking about. Digital dependency is an umbrella that covers our dependency on technology into a number of forms, all of which share core design principles that feed into the others. However, subsets of addiction fall into each of these. A gamer may be heavily into watching streamers, but not really that interested in posting on social media. A seemingly well liked and influential individual living the perfect life on social media could have a critical social media addiction, but not be very invested in video gaming, streaming or other online content. In this week’s columns, we’ll be taking a brief look into a topic I’m quite familiar with: video game addiction. Video games were an integral part of my life for a very long time. I grew up playing Super Mario Bros. on my NES,
explored the fantasy world of Gielinor in RuneScape in 2001, then found myself gripped by a chronic addiction to World of Warcraft from 2009 until 2021 — that is, until my sense of moral obligation forbade me from supporting a company as morally bankrupt as Activision Blizzard in the wake of the 2021 California lawsuit, California Civil Rights Department v. Activision Blizzard. Video games were part of my identity for much of my life; but, by 2010, they had become something considerably more sinister: an addiction. Video game design during that period borrowed psychological research that casinos had used for generations: give a player shiny flashes of light, small and incremental bonuses, but keep the good stuff hidden behind one more pull of the slot machine arm. Great wealth and power could be yours, if you are willing to pay another $12.99 to get there! That predatory nature of design has now permeated the entire gaming industry, particularly with mobile games. This was highlighted by Activision Blizzard, with the release of Diablo Immortal in 2022 — a mobile action roleplaying game that would indirectly reward players with more power if they were willing to pay for a chance at it through purchasable loot box items. Experiments by streamers and analysis by longtime fans of the Diablo franchise revealed that in order to remain competitive, a player would need to spend between $21,000 and $500,000 every six months on Diablo Immortal. That range is exclusively because of the gambling nature, borrowed directly from the casino floor. The psychological effects
of video game addiction go far beyond financial ramifications — they’re designed to give quick dopamine hits, flooding your system with feel-good chemicals to chase more doses. Over time, your brain becomes desensitized to these dopamine hits, pushing the user to chase bigger and better highs. It creates a habit of dopamine deregulation that leads to a higher risk of depression, irritability and loss of focus. Additionally, longform games designed to keep players engaged with short tasks over vast periods of time, such as World of Warcraft, lead to sedentary lifestyles that can
cause weight gain, musculoskeletal strain and a heightened risk of diabetes. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with playing a video game — it can be an effective and sometimes inexpensive hobby, or a way to relieve tension after a long day. Moderation is key, as is true of most things. Next week, we will look at the effects of social media addiction including its symptoms, effects and steps individuals can take to break free of a negative habit they may not even realize they have. Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner st? Don’t know much about augu
We can help!
• August was once the sixth month of the year. In the 10-month Roman calendar it was called “Sextilis,” which meant “sixth month” in Latin. In 700 B.C.E., August was shoved back to the eighth month when January and February were added to the beginning of the year by King Numa Pompilius.
• The first-ever sandwich was created on Aug. 6, 1762. It was named after the Earl of Sandwich when he requested a dish involving meat between two pieces of bread. The story goes that he requested it because he was in the middle of a gambling game and didn’t want to interrupt it.
• The name change to “August” came in 8 B.C.E. when it became “Augustus,” after the Roman emperor, who was the great-nephew of Julius Caesar.
• The Perseid meteor shower usually peaks in mid-August, putting on a show of about 50-75 meteors per hour at a dark viewing site. This year, the shower peaked on Aug. 12-13. The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years or so. It last entered the inner solar system in 1992.
• Anglo-Saxons called the month “Weod Monath,” which translated to “weed month,” because it was the month when weeds and other plants grow the fastest in the Northern Hemisphere. • In many countries in Europe, August is treated as a holiday month. Many European cities such as Paris are often devoid of locals, who travel away from the city for their break.
• Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “Mona Lisa” wasn’t always as popular as it is today. It became famous after being stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris on Aug. 21, 1911. It went missing for more than two years before it was located, cementing its fate as a famous and mysterious painting.
PERSPECTIVES
Idaho’s latest abortion ruling adds to confusion By Cynthia Dalsing Reader Contributor Is anyone else experiencing whiplash as yet another ruling about abortion access in Idaho has been decided? I follow these rulings closely given that I’ve worked in obstetric clinics and labor and delivery for 40 years. I still have to check the latest decision to find my footing. Decisions about our health care are personal. With the Dobbs decision, the personal has become everyone else’s business. Court rulings, like the recent decision by Idaho U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill is no substitute for established standards of care. The best maternity care cannot function well when physicians and patients operate under rules that keep changing with every court decision The recent ruling by Winmill stating that the Constitution protects a pregnant woman’s life and health, can be seen as a victory — of sorts. It means that a physician can provide the medical care they were educated to provide. His decision also addresses a woman’s life and health — this is new. It states a physician can consider (without threat of criminal action by the state) a woman’s mental health when continuing a pregnancy could result in death from “self-harm.” The Maternal Mortality Review Committee that examines why women in Idaho die during pregnancy, or the year following, has consistently found that half the cause of maternal deaths in Idaho was due to mental health conditions. Allowing a physician to also consider a woman’s mental health when providing care could save Idaho women’s lives. It does not address access to mental health care, obtaining counseling and the cost. This ruling will be immediately appealed by Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, once again throwing health care for women into the mixer. Once again, women are being jerked around by Idaho’s legislative and judicial branches. Once again, physicians will be reluctant to move to Idaho. Once again, access to obstetric care is being determined by our zip code. An important aspect of Winmill’s ruling is it does not allow for a safe and personal decision to be made for a pregnancy with a nonviable diagnosis. I’ve witnessed unimaginable and heartbreaking births where a baby has
Cynthia Dalsing. Courtesy photo a fatal diagnosis and is either stillborn or dies shortly after birth. I spent 40 years watching obstetric medicine become better at identifying risks and complications during my nurse-midwifery education. When I started, we didn’t even use ultrasounds. Prenatal care relied on skilled providers; regular, accessible prenatal care; close monitoring of milestones; and an intact referral system. Much less was known about the development of the fetus. Now, however, with high-resolution ultrasounds, genetic testing and improved prenatal care we have the ability to diagnose a baby or a mom at risk of developing a serious and possibly fatal medical complication. Earlier diagnoses, while stressful, can assist the mother and her family to make an informed decision about how to safely proceed with her pregnancy. With Winmill’s decision, women still have to travel out of state to intervene in a pregnancy that has a catastrophic outcome. It’s cruel to expect a woman who receives a devastating diagnosis to learn that her trusted physician cannot provide the care she needs in her community. Frequently women are left to navigate this whole process by themselves, without aid from the health care system. Women are plucked away from their community support system and frequently juggle travel, child care and costly health care. All of this happens on a tight time schedule that dictates where she can go and what type of care she can obtain. Some women actually end up going through this horrendous experience in a hotel room or by the side of the road in a “no cell” service location — alone
and at risk. This is not “simply” a trip to Salt Lake City, Portland or Seattle. This uproots a woman and her family. She enters an unfamiliar health care system to walk her through one of the most difficult and traumatic experiences of her life. Currently Idaho has competing arguments for attention: interference with physician care, mental health treatment, fatal fetal diagnoses, out-ofstate travel, physician departures and Proposition 1. Prop. 1 (the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act) can correct legal conditions affecting maternity care. It cannot return our maternity care to a well-organized system with the goal of decreasing maternal death and morbidity. It cannot undue the harm that the Dobbs decision inflicted on Idaho’s obstetric care and the people of Idaho. It cannot return our physicians. All of that will take years. Cynthia Dalsing, MSN, is a retired certified nurse-midwife and Sandpoint resident.
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August 20, 2026 / R / 11
PERSPECTIVES
New economic data show the crunch Idaho families feel By Lauren Necochea Reader Contributor A good life should be affordable for working people. Your paycheck should allow you to put food on the table, afford a decent home and see a doctor when your family needs one. But this dream is slipping further away from families. New economic reports show what people are feeling. Although President Donald Trump claims “prices are dropping fast,” you know the truth. The truth is that prices keep rising. Inflation is higher than it was when Trump took office and shows no signs of falling. Energy and gas prices are climbing faster, and the future looks grim with the Iran war dragging on. And the Trump regime just announced new tariffs likely to push costs even higher. Meanwhile, workers can buy less with their income and jobs are disappearing. Wage growth has slowed since Trump took office and isn’t keeping
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Lauren Necochea. File photo up with inflation. The July jobs report shows that the U.S. lost 23,000 jobs. Idaho Democrats are hearing the same story as we talk to voters across the state. Our candidates, organizers and volunteers have knocked on 58,900 doors and made 52,200 calls and counting. Idahoans are telling us they need some breathing room in the
family budget. Trump promised to bring costs down. Instead, he has raked in at least $2 billion personally since returning to office through crypto schemes, stock trades and more. The same misplaced priorities are familiar in Idaho. Republicans have controlled state government for decades. They continue spending time and your tax dollars catering to the wealthy and well-connected and playing the morality police. In contrast, Idaho Democrats are focused on practical solutions to ease the financial pressure working families face. Making health care more affordable starts with restoring the Affordable Care Act tax credits Republicans ended, which helped more than 100,000 Idahoans afford coverage. Protecting Medicaid keeps rural hospitals, clinics and providers serving their communities. And we must stop the Trump regime from eliminating the successful program that lowers prescription coverage for 125,000 Idahoans. Idaho Democrats have a plan to
immediately lower the cost of groceries by repealing Idaho’s sales tax on food. Right now, Idaho families pay a higher tax rate on groceries than out-of-state corporations pay on their profits. This is backwards. It asks too much of working families while the wealthy don’t contribute what they should. Idaho also needs more homes that people can actually afford. That includes making it easier to build starter homes, townhomes and backyard cottages. Cutting unnecessary barriers can bring construction costs down, give communities more flexibility and create more paths to homeownership. Making a good life in Idaho affordable is work worth doing. Idaho Democrats are ready to roll up their sleeves. Lauren Necochea is chair of the Idaho Democratic Party and a former District 19 legislator. Necochea spent a decade leading nonprofit programs dedicated to research and advocacy in tax policy, health care and children’s issues.
COMMUNITY NIMSEF opens 2026-’27 ski scholarship applications By Reader Staff The North Idaho Mountain Sports Education Fund, Inc. is accepting applications through Thursday, Oct. 1 for its 2026-’27 ski and snowboard scholarships, giving students, disabled individuals and veterans access to the beauty of Schweitzer Mountain. The nonprofit seeks to overcome financial and physical barriers to help Bonner and Boundary County residents enjoy the area’s natural resources. In partnership with Schweitzer Mountain, NIMSEF has awarded more than 1,100 scholarships — and supported the annual Veterans Appreciation Day on the mountain — since its foundation in 2009. Each scholarship
includes a season pass with no blackout dates, eight weeks of lessons and the cost of equipment rental. Youth recipients contribute a small portion of the program’s costs and participate in fundraising activities, such as raffle ticket sales, to support the organization. “The cost of everyday living has risen so dramatically; and, in a resort area, we feel that even more,” stated NIMSEF Founder Jeff Rouleau. “It can be nearly impossible for a lot of local families to find the money to get their kids on the slopes.” Ninety-six percent of all donations to NIMSEF go directly to scholarships, with minimal expenses for storage, insurance and website management. To apply or donate, visit nimsef.com.
August 20, 2026 / R / 13
FEATURE
Longtime local nonprofit leader Phil Hough aims to share his expertise Hough Consulting & Coaching offers decades of experience to help organizations succeed By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Even if people in the community don’t know Phil Hough personally, it’s more than likely they’re familiar with his work — specifically through Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, the nonprofit he served as founding board member and executive director for 21 years. In that time, Hough took the conservation-focused organization from an all-volunteer project to one that today has three endowment funds, a blend of full- and part-time stuff, and boasts a high profile throughout the region — and nationally — with initiatives and programs that extend far beyond its central mission of securing federal wilderness designation for the Scotchman Peaks area on the Idaho-Montana border. Hough retired from FSPW and handed over the reins in late 2025, but that doesn’t mean his involvement with nonprofits has ended. Rather, he’s now offering his long experience with building and sustaining successful organizations through Hough Consulting & Coaching, which provides executive coaching and a suite of other services to nonprofits throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. “The work I see myself doing is focused on building strong nonprofit
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Phil Hough. Courtesy photo leaders, strong organizations, so that our community can thrive,” Hough told the Reader. “There is a need and value for this across all sectors of the nonprofit world. If there is a more specific niche I see myself filling, it’s with the new or smaller nonprofits who are looking to grow and/or find a pathway to sustainability, to transition beyond a small founding group into an organization with the solid structure to be sustainable.” Though he envisions mostly local and regional clients, Hough is open to working remotely or traveling to those farther afield, especially for shorter-term projects like strategic planning. “I’ve been involved with helping to found and grow a number of nonprofits: the American Long Distance Hiking Association West, Idaho Trails Association, the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society and the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness,” he said. “Along the way, my firsthand experiences, personal growth, skills and lessons learned can be applied to nonprofit work across all sectors.” Those experiences have run the gamut — from hard economic times to the global COVID-19 pandemic to navigating shifting political climates. All three affected his work with FSPW, whose “future was not always ensured.” “Our economy tanked in 2008 and 2009, creating instability in the nonprofit world. In the Pacific Northwest, foundations lost on average 20% of their market value. Cuts were made to nonprofits. The COVID
pandemic brought systemic changes to the workplace — and the world — for both for-profit and nonprofit businesses. The increasing political polarization of the last 26 years has presented extreme challenges to all advocacy groups,” he said. Just in the past 20 months, political upheaval at the federal level has resulted in “an austere landscape for the nonprofit world,” Hough said, citing a diminished and shifting federal workforce creating uncertainties about support for nonprofit partners and the loss of funding across the nonprofit sector from government grants — compounded by the ripple effects on foundations shifting support. On top of all that, continued inflation and changing tax laws have constrained individual giving. “Keeping a nonprofit moving forward is harder than ever,” Hough said. “Finding ways to not only overcome these obstacles but thrive amid the chaos is something I’m proud of.” Beyond his nonprofit career, Hough also spent two decades in leadership positions at four- and five-star hotels, during which time he planned and delivered thousands of events for Fortune 100 companies, national associations and executive leadership retreats. Taken together, those years spent in both the private and nonprofit sectors give Hough the insights and ability to offer practical services focused on strategic planning, executive coaching, leadership development, board development and governance, organizational development and interim executive director services. “Nonprofit leaders are being asked to do more than ever before. My goal is to equip leaders and organizations with the strategies, tools and confidence they need to thrive and create lasting community impact,” Hough said. “At the end of the day, this work isn’t about strategic plans or organizational charts. It’s about helping the people who make communities stronger,” he added. “When nonprofit leaders succeed, entire communities benefit.” For more information, email phil@ philiphough.com or go to philiphough.com.
BY THE NUMBERS By Ben Olson Reader Staff
$31 million The amount of money the state of Idaho has spent on firefighting in 2026, with nearly 700,000 acres burned across the state, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. Across the U.S., more than 7.2 million acres have burned, which is above the 10-year average for this point in the year.
45 million The number of acres of wild, federally managed land that could go unprotected after the Trump administration moved ahead with plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which prohibits road construction, logging and mining on about 30% of lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
-$432 billion The budget deficit posted by the U.S. government in July, making it the largest in history. Compared with July 2025, the gap expanded by $141 billion — a 48% increase. Interest on U.S. debt rose $26 billion from July 2025 levels to $118 billion for July 2026, putting the total interest expense for Fiscal Year 2026 up to $1.17 trillion. This means interest expense has officially surpassed both national defense and Medicare spending. In other words, the U.S. government now spends more money just on interest than it does to fund the entire U.S. military or to provide health care to seniors.
dumb of the week
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Oh, the irony. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Palm Beach County’s clerk of courts and comptroller — also a former close political ally — who was arrested on five felony child sexual abuse charges for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old male relative multiple times over several years. The 67-year-old Republican Michael Caruso — who DeSantis once called a “legend” — served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2018-2025. He was arrested on Election Day while also on the ballot running unopposed for the Aug. 18 Florida Republican primary. While a state legislator, Caruso supported a bill that imposed the death penalty for pedophiles, which passed into Florida law in 2023, meaning Caruso could potentially be executed for a law he once championed. The only question that remains: When will Trump pardon him?
$850,000 The settlement that a small Kansas town will pay to a former reporter at the Marion County Record newspaper to end her federal lawsuit over a police raid of the paper’s offices in 2023. This comes after Marion County agreed to pay in November 2025 more than $3 million to parties in five lawsuits to settle claims for the illegal raid. In addition to the newspaper’s offices, local police also raided the home of the publisher and the home of a former city council member. Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody claimed the raids were to investigate whether the paper had committed identity theft, but authorities who examined the raids said they were not legally justified.
August 20, 2026 / R / 15
COMMUNITY Wings Over Sandpoint Fly-in: Eat pancakes, fund pilots
Photo by Rich Milliron By Reader Staff Regional pilots will bring their aircraft to the annual Wings Over Sandpoint Fly-in breakfast Saturday, Aug. 22 at the Sandpoint Airport (1101 Airport Way). The event, sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1441, raises funds for local aviation scholarships. Volunteers will serve breakfast from 8-10:30 a.m., including staples
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like eggs, sausages and the fly-in’s famous blueberry pancakes. Breakfast is $12 for adults and $8 for children under the age of 12. During the meal, attendees can also stroll around the grounds to view the free plane exhibition, which runs from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Pilots will display all manner of aircraft, including experimental builds, seaplanes and more. For more information, call 208264-8855 or visit the Sandpoint EAA 1441 Facebook page.
COMMUNITY
Idaho Elks Rehab presents final $100K donation to BGH By Reader Staff Bonner General Health announced Idaho Elks Rehab has presented the third and final installment of a threeyear, $300,000 commitment to Performance Therapy Services. Officials stated that the latest $100,000 donation marks the completion of “an investment in rehabilitation services that has helped expand access to advanced therapy technology and improve outcomes for patients throughout the region.” “This partnership has had a tremendous impact on our patients and our community,” stated Michelle Tucker, clinic director of Performance Therapy Services. “We are incredibly grateful to Idaho Elks Rehab for their continued generosity and commitment to rehabilitation services. Their support has allowed us to invest in technology that truly changes lives.” Among the most significant pur-
chases made possible through the foundation’s support is a system that uses electrical stimulation to activate muscles while patients perform guided movements, helping to restore muscle mass in the legs, arms and core. Idaho Elks Rehab also assisted Performance Therapy Services with acquiring rehabilitation technology, including an exoskeleton that provides patients with opportunities to improve mobility and functional recovery. “We have been delighted to partner with Performance Therapy Services in support of our mission of advancing physical rehabilitation across Idaho,” Idaho Elks Rehab stated. “Seeing these investments directly benefit patients and improve rehabilitation services in northern Idaho has made this partnership especially meaningful.” For more information about Performance Therapy Services visit bonnergeneral.org or callto learn more about available rehabilitation programs.
(L-R): Grant Jones, Linda Tatlock, Dave Tatlock, John Hennessy, Skyler Twidt and Michelle Tucker. Courtesy photo
The Pro-Voice Project hosts statewide seminar By Reader Staff The Pro-Voice Project will host “Courage in the Face of Fear: Social Justice Elders on the Importance of Speaking Out,” a live seminar and Q&A session bringing together national experts on human rights and community organizing. The webinar will be livestreamed at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, with the public invited to attend at the Sandpoint United Methodist Church (711 Main St.). Participants can also watch online at bit.ly/4ypwMz2. Speakers include Loretta J. Ross, an activist, professor, MacArthur Fellow and co-founder of the National
Center for Human Rights Education and the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective; Suzanne Pharr, a queer feminist, political strategist and former director of the Highlander Center; and Shea Howell, an activist, writer, educator, professor emerita and co-founder of the Boggs Center and Riverwise Magazine. All three guests are members of the National Council of Elders and will draw from their decades of experience in social justice, grassroots activism and human rights education to discuss what it takes to speak out in a threatening environment. “In Idaho, fear often keeps us silent,” said PVP Executive Director
Jen Jackson Quintano. “We fear being ostracized or abandoned by our communities, and some of us fear violence or retaliation, so we stay quiet. But our voices can do more to connect us than divide us. When we speak up, we find others who share our values. In building courage, we also build community.” The event will stream statewide, with local watch gatherings planned in towns across Idaho. In-person attendees will have the opportunity to discuss how to apply what they’ve learned as a community. For more information, visit theprovoiceproject.com.
101 Women grant cycle opens for nonprofit organizations By Reader Staff 101 Women Sandpoint is now accepting applications for its 2026 nonprofit grant, which will award $11,000 to Bonner County nonprofits dedicated to basic community services. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 30. The nonprofit unites local women through community events and fundraising efforts, raising and redis-
tributing more than $22,000 annually through grants and scholarships. Fall grant applicants must show a commitment to providing art, education, recreation or environmental services, while spring grants reward nonprofits offering necessities like food, clothing, shelter and support for physical and mental health. Visit 101womensandpoint.com/ grant-application to learn more. August 20, 2026 / R / 17
events
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com THURSDAY, august 20
Open jam night Live Music w/ Liam McCoy and Friends 5:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live Music w/ Kerry Leigh and Bill Krutz Paint and Sip w/ Nicole Black 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 5:30-7:30pm @ Barrel 33
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks: The Merchant of Venice 5m @ Lakeview Park A free outdoor performance. This annual event is a town favorite
Live Music w/ Brad Parson, Jed Nussbaum Biddadat + RCA & The Radicals 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub 8pm @ The Hive Two great bands. $10 entry Live Jazz w/ Bright Moments Live Music w/ On-Call Cowboys 6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar 5:30-8:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ Live Music w/ Thompson Trio Live Music w/ Mobius Riff 5pm @ Connie’s Lounge 6-9pm @ Barrel 33 Live Music w/ Buckley Storms Duo Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 8-11pm @ 219 Lounge 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Angel Urrea 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Ranch Bronc Riding 7pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds Skilled riders showcase their talent Film: Dazed and Confused 7pm @ Panida Theater Karaoke 7-10pm @ Eagles, 1511 John Hudon Ln.
FriDAY, august 21
Live Music w/ Dave and Rey 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Music w/ Timeworm 9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge
Live Music w/ Oak Street Connection 6-8:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Live Music w/ Tim G. 6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Arie VanDenBerg 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live Jazz w/ Bright Moments 6-8pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante
Live Music w/ Kip McMillan 6-9pm @ Barrel 33
SATURDAY, august 22
Live Music w/ Ian Newbill 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ The Doghouse Boyz 5:30-8:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ Live Music w/ Spool Effect 6-9pm @ The Blue Heron Cafe Live Music w/ Mobius Riff 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Wings Over Sandpoint Fly-in 8-10:30am @ Sandpoint Airport Breakfast and aircraft display Film: The Great Outdoors 7pm @ Panida Theater
SunDAY, august 23
Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Magic with Star Alexander 5-8pm @ Jalapeño’s Live Music w/ Kerry Leigh 3-5pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ Haywire 6pm @ Create Art Studio, Newport, Wash. Spokane multi-instrumental band. $15 Live Music w/ Fiddlin’ Red 1-4pm @ Barrel 33
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live trivia w/ Toshi 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Outdoor Experience group run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience Trivia w/ Miranda 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live acoustic guitar w/ Sydney Dawn 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
monDAY, august 24
tuesDAY, august 25
wednesDAY, august 26
Beginner Argentine tango class 6pm @ Embody Center, 823 Main St. No partner needed. $15 Family Night, live music w/ John Firshi 5-7:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
Live Music w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live piano w/ Sean Bostrom 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ Sydney Dawn 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Summer Music Series finale: Nu Jack City 6pm @ Farmin Park Soulful Motown classics with R&B, Top 40, 1980s and classic rock hits. Free show, food and drink vendors
Live Music w/ Liam McCoy and Friends 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub 18 / R / August 20, 2026
August 20-27, 2026
ThursDAY, august 27
Movies on the Mountain (free) 8:01pm @ Crow’s Bench (Schweitzer) Free outdoor screening of a mystery film
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks: Much Ado About Nothing 5m @ Lakeview Park A free outdoor performance Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Produce, live music, artisan crafts, more Historic walking tours 11am @ Cedar Street Bridge $10/$5 for a 75-min. tour featuring a local historian sharing stories Country swing dance drop-in 6-9pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar
Live Music w/ Alexis Mahler 7pm @ Panida Little Theater Portland-based cellist, joined by Laurie Shook of Sandpoint’s Shook Twins Live Music w/ Hogwire 1-4pm @ Pearls (on the lake in Hope) Live Music w/ Kip McMillan 2-5pm @ Barrel 33 Open mic / open jam 6pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Panhandle Paw Paw Project 5-6:30pm @ Aster Garden Center Learn about North America’s custard fruit from local plant breeder Joseph Zarr Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park Benny on the Deck 5:30-8:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Jazz w/ Bright Moments 6-8pm @ The District
STAGE & SCREEN
Panida presents Nostalgic Summer Movies series
Dazed and Confused, The Great Outdoors and others highlight August offerings
By Reader Staff Alright, alright, alright, Sandpoint, are you ready for some big-screen nostalgia? The Panida Theater’s Nostalgic Summer Movies series will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21 with Richard Linklater’s iconic 1993 coming-of-age film Dazed and Confused. The film follows a group of teenagers on the last day of school in 1976. The ensemble cast includes Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich, Parker Posey and
many more. Featuring a soundtrack filled with classic rock hits and a high school vibe that many can relate to, this is one of those films that brings a warm, comfortable feeling as soon as the opening credits roll. The Great Outdoors will show next at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. With a screenplay by John Hughes, the 1988 comedy stars Dan Aykroyd, John Candy and Annette Bening in her film debut. When two very different families spend a vacation at a fictional resort in northern Wisconsin (though it was actually filmed in Bass Lake, Calif.),
Free Shakespeare performances return to Lakeview Park By Reader Staff The 54th annual season of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is returning to Sandpoint for two performances Thursday, Aug. 20 and Saturday, Aug. 22, presenting The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing at Lakeview Park (801 Ontario St.). Both performances will take place from 5-7 p.m., with The Merchant of Venice on Thursday and Much Ado About Nothing on Saturday. The first of the iconic plays is a drama wrapped in romantic comedy, with central themes of love, freedom,
mercy, prejudice and exclusion. The second is a more straightforward comedy, full of lovers and schemes, and some of the Bard’s wittiest banter. MSIP brings the works of William Shakespeare to 64 communities in five states, performing free for about 20,000 audience members each year. Attendees are invited to come to the park early, and bring chairs, blankets and a picnic. In case of rain, smoke or extreme heat, the performances will move to the auditorium at Sandpoint High School (410 S. Division Ave.). Get more info at shakespeareintheparks.org.
it’s the perfect setup for an ’80s comedy romp. While Akroyd’s character flaunts his wealth, Candy’s everyman provides comic relief with hijinks that keep hitting until the end. The series concludes with Splash playing at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28. The 1984 romantic fantasy comedy stars Tom Hanks in his early acting years, Daryl Hannah, John Candy and Eugene Levy. The plot, which could only have come out of the ’80s, involves Hanks’ characters’ unexplained childhood experience, when he jumped from a boat — even though he couldn’t swim — only to encounter a girl beneath the waves who held his hands and allowed
Courtesy photos him to breathe underwater. Twenty years later, he returns to the same area and falls into the sea again, being knocked unconscious and waking up on the beach next to a beautiful young mermaid played by Hannah. The film follows this unconventional love affair between man and fish-woman, with lots of laughs and supporting characters that keep it lively along the way. Tickets for each film are $10.50 after tax and fees for adults, and $7.50 for students and seniors. Get tickets at panida.org or at the box office (300 N. First Ave.).
Survey asks film buffs to help shape movies at the Panida By Reader Staff The Panida Theater is hoping to enlist local cinephiles in providing input on how to broaden and improve the films it brings to the big screen. Kicking off the effort, the Panida launched a survey including 20 questions asking respondents to identify their favorite film genres, their preferred days and start times for screenings, how they find out about films, whether they’d like to get involved with the theater and more. The survey is online now at bit. ly/panidamovies and will be live for about two weeks. Completing the survey takes about seven minutes. “Movies have been shown at the Panida Theater since its opening night in November 1927, when it screened the brand-new silent film Now We’re In
the Air,” stated Panida Board Member Chris Bessler. Movies and live entertainment have changed dramatically over the intervening 99 years, from the introduction of television to multiplex theaters and streaming services — all of which have changed what’s feasible for a single-screen venue like the Panida. “But all that said, we’re committed to making the Panida a wonderful place to see films that both fill a niche and bring our community together for the shared experience,” Bessler added. “And while we’re in the midst of building ways to make the Panida more community-oriented, we hope everyone will let us know all their thoughts about having movies at the theater.” For more info on the Panida, go to panida.org. Find the survey at bit.ly/ panidamovies.
August 20, 2026 / R / 19
FOOD
The Sandpoint Eater
People of paradise
By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist I’ve just returned from escorting a group aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin, a ship I’ve sailed on many times. The French Polynesian scenery is, of course, spectacular. The lagoons are impossibly blue, the islands lush and dramatic, and the sunsets so beautiful they scarcely look real. It’s no wonder these islands have inspired artists and photographers for generations. But after all these voyages, I’ve realized that what stays with me first isn’t always the paradise outside the ship. It’s the people inside it. The real continuity from one voyage to the next isn’t the view outside my window, it’s the familiar faces in the corridors, dining rooms and lounges — the crew members who quietly make the entire experience work. My years in travel and hospitality don’t always make me the best passenger. I love scenery, but what I enjoy even more is touring behind the scenes, learning how everything works and discovering where things are sourced. Perhaps that’s why I’m deeply curious about life aboard the ship, including what happens below deck. After years of managing train crews in small, dormitory-style quarters, I have an appreciation for the realities of working and living in close quarters. On a cruise ship, that life is even more demanding. Many of the crew members I’ve come to know are Filipino, and some have been aboard for years. For years my friend Alicia was the pool bartender and used to serve up a mean Dirty Monkey (like a 20 / R / August 20, 2026
boozy, banana-flavored milkshake). Today, I’m so proud to see her in her starched and pressed white manager’s uniform, serving as the assistant head housekeeper, while greeting repeat guests by name. One of the things that impresses me most about all the crew is their memory. It’s the kind of personal attention that makes it feel like a homecoming to a community at sea. Then there are the languages. I’ve been continually amazed by crew members, most who move comfortably between English, French, Tahitian and their native Filipino languages. Others can even add Italian or Spanish to their language library. On a ship that brings together travelers and cultures from around the world, that ability is more than useful. It is a remarkable skill, and every time I’m aboard, I promise myself I’m going to master another language (failing miserably, so far).
Of course, there is a sacrifice behind that polished service. Crew members can spend long stretches at sea and thousands of miles from their families before returning home for a couple of months. For many Filipino seafarers, those months away are part of a larger commitment to supporting parents, spouses, children and extended family back home. There’s another small detail I’ve noticed over the years: the names. Some Filipino crew members use English names or nicknames — sometimes on their name tags, sometimes simply because that is what everyone aboard calls them. You might meet a Michael or Grace, or encounter a name that sounds more like an American childhood friend’s nickname than a formal given name. There’s a practical side to that on the ship. A familiar name is easy for passengers from different countries to hear
Pandan bread INGREDIENTS: • ¼ cup lukewarm water • 1½ teaspoons yeast • 3 tablespoons sugar • ¾ cup whole milk, lukewarm • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted • 1 large egg • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 2 tsp pandan extract • ½ tsp salt • 2¾ cups bread flour, plus a little as needed
and pronounce. But behind that simple name is a person with a family, a history and, perhaps, a completely different name used at home. The crew tell me they all revert to their given names when they’re home and get together. A name tag becomes one small bridge between all those worlds. Then, of course, there is the food and so many dining decisions (all three restaurant choices inspire my culinary imagination on a daily basis). Passengers are treated to international buffets and menus that reflect the many cultures represented aboard the ship. But my favorite experience is when the food reflects the crew’s own traditions. There is something special about tasting a dish that isn’t simply labeled “international cuisine,” but something the Filipino staff is proud to call out as their own. This trip, I was reminded just how much I love pan-
dan. It’s an ingredient that is difficult to describe until you smell it. Its long, glossy green leaves have an intensely fragrant aroma — somewhere between jasmine, freshly cut grass, vanilla and warm rice. In the Philippines, pandan is used to perfume rice, cakes, drinks and desserts. Fresh or frozen leaves can be blended with water to make pandan juice, but bottled pandan extract is much easier to use in an American kitchen (thank you, Amazon). A little goes a long way. The goal is fragrance, not a loaf of neon-green bread. Watching paradise pass by my balcony was idyllic. But this trip left me feeling especially connected to the people below the passenger decks, who made my journey so memorable. The crew was delighted that I was going to share their recipe for pandan bread with you, and they hope you will enjoy. Kain na!
Soft, fluffy and so fragrant! The natural green color comes from the tropical leaves of the pandan plant. Lovely served with an Asian slaw. Yields 1 loaf.
DIRECTIONS: Make the dough: Proof the yeast in 1 tbs sugar and ¼ cup lukewarm water. Whisk together the warm milk, melted butter, remaining sugar, egg, vanilla and pandan extracts. Add the flour and salt, then mix until a shaggy dough forms. Knead: Knead by hand for about 8-10 minutes (or with a stand mixer for 5-7 minutes) until the dough is smooth, soft and elastic. It should feel slightly tacky but not wet. First rise: Put the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover and let rise somewhere warm for 1-1½ hours, until roughly doubled. Shape: Punch down the dough and shape it into a tight loaf. Place it seam-side down in a parchment paper-lined and greased 8½- × 4½-inch loaf pan.
Second rise: Cover and let rise for 45-60 minutes, until the dough has risen about 1 inch above the rim of the pan. Bake: Heat the oven to 350° F. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until nicely golden. If the top is browning too
quickly, tent it loosely with foil. Cool: Brush the hot loaf with a little melted butter for a soft crust. Let it cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Serve with soft cultured butter. Wrap well when cooled.
MUSIC
Ain’t no party like a Nu Jack City party
Spokane Motown soul band to play final Summer Music Series concert
By Reader Staff The final show in Mattox Farm Production’s “Odd Nights Out” free Summer Concert Series will feature Nu Jack City at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27 at Farmin Park (corner of Fourth Avenue and Oak Street, in downtown Sandpoint). The Spokane-based group plays a dynamic mix of Motown, soul, funk, R&B, top 40 and classic rock party hits — all while bringing to life legendary artists such as The Temptations, Stevie Wonder
and Marvin Gaye. Led by the charismatic Max Daniels, Nu Jack City’s captivating performances always keep audiences on their feet. With an ensemble of talented musicians and vocalists, Nu Jack City recently added three new vocalists who provide harmonies and flair to their soulful ballads and dance hits. The Summer Music Series is funded entirely by local sponsors, which makes it possible for audiences to attend the outdoor shows free. Eichardt’s Pub will sell drinks at their mobile bar and food vendors include Manda-
la Pizza and Mountain Food Co. Guests are also invited to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks, but
Nu Jack City play Pig Out in the Park in Spokane. Courtesy photo outside alcohol is not allowed past the venue gates.
Cellist Alexis Mahler to play Panida Little Theater Portland musician will be joined by Laurie Shook of Shook Twins
By Reader Staff It takes a special kind of musician to quiet a room like Alexis Mahler. Based in Portland, Ore., classically trained musician Alexis Mahler will perform a special solo show at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23 at the Panida Little Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint). Originally from Michigan, Mahler’s singular voice creates moments that are
precious and delicate, playing an intimate blend of classical, jazz and folk on her cello that has endeared her to audiences across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. “Music should be connective, accessible, expressive, expansive, often imperfect, healing — a release,” Mahler said. Opening for Mahler is her dear friend and roommate Laurie Shook, whose homegrown group Shook Twins has made Sandpoint proud for more than two decades,
Alexis Mahler, left, and Laurie Shook, right. Courtesy photos playing a spirited schedule of festival shows and collaborations with some of today’s greatest folk artists.
Tickets for the show, presented by the Panida Theater, are $24.20, available at the door or panida.org.
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
Timeworm, 219 Lounge, Aug. 22
Biddadat w/RCA & The Radicals, The Hive, Aug. 21
Timeworm defines its name as “The body of moments, from birth to death, that make up our squirmy wormy lives.” If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the Spokane-based indie rock, psychedelic pop-funk group, then just listen to its first studio album, Interplanetary Flamingo Park Reunion, and take an absurdist trip down the wormhole. Singer and drummer J.I. Gassen, guitarist Indy Heyer, bassist Cade Brown and key-
Raised in Sandpoint, Cameron Brownell and Kyle Miller have spent a decade establishing and embodying their niche as Seattle’s essential neo-funk group Biddadat. With Brownell on vocals and guitar, Miller on bass and TJ Orgovan on drums, the band whips up a one-of-a-kind combo of funk, blues, progressive rock and electronica. They’ll be joined at The Hive by another Sandpoint local, Riley Anderson, who fronts
boardist Drew Brereton combine falsetto vocals with alien sounds to create dynamic original work that feels very Pacific Northwest. After performing at Boise’s Treefort Music Festival, it’s a treat to catch them in an intimate venue. — Soncirey Mitchell 9 p.m., FREE, 21+. The 219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 208263-5673, 219lounge.com. Listen at timewormband.com.
Spokane-based RCA & The Radicals, which carries on the grand funk tradition inspired by the likes of James Brown, Michael Jackson, Lawrence and Vulfpeck. If this show doesn’t get the crowd dancing, nothing will. — Zach Hagadone Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.; $10; 21+. The Hive, 207 N. First Ave., 208-920-9039, livefromthehive.com. Listen at biddadat.com and rcatheradicals.com.
This week’s RLW by Ben Olson
READ
I’ve always enjoyed Philip K. Dick’s sci-fi novels and stories, but one hits especially hard right now: The Man in the High Castle. Published in 1962, this dystopian alternative history takes place in another version of the U.S. where we lost WWII, slavery is made legal again and Jews hide under assumed names. With the country occupied by Germany in the east and Japan in the west, it’s a harrowing, yet familiar look at what could happen. Check it out at the Sandpoint library.
LISTEN
Australian artist Angus Stone and his sister Julia have cultivated a reputation for dreamy, laid-back tunes that groove. One of his side projects, though, hits that perfect spot for me. Dope Lemon debuted in 2016 and has been rocking it ever since, with a new album releasing every year or two. It’s a chill, modern version of psychedelia that really slaps. I still like the freshman album Honey Bones the best, but they’re all worth a listen.
WATCH
With the fourth season of Ted Lasso now out on Apple TV, I reluctantly renewed my subscription. There are few shows with the heart and soul of Ted Lasso. Since my partner didn’t watch the other seasons, I’m now rewatching them with her and it reminded me how much I love this story of a big-hearted American football coach taking the job of leading a London team playing soccer in the Premier League. Get ready for feel-good goosebumps all along the way.
August 20, 2026 / R / 21
BACK OF THE BOOK
My brain is shrinking; is yours? Whether you’re reading the news, writing the news, watching the news or surviving the events that make up the news, it’s currently impossible to live a stress-free life. That’s the way of the world, and though most motivational posters will either tell you to “Hang in there” or “Let it go,” we can’t recover fast enough to enjoy some calm between the crises. Bad news: If you’re like me, and stress is the baseline of your life, that just creates more things to worry about. In particular, the long-term effect stress is having on your body. The Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center, breaks down stress into three overarching categories: acute, episodic acute and chronic. Acute or short-term stress is an immediate but brief reaction to a stimulus. If you’re driving on the highway, have a near-miss with a deer and feel your heart rate spike, that’s acute stress. If those experiences happen at fairly regular intervals — perhaps caused by daily commute difficulties or deadlines at work — then it becomes episodic acute stress. However, if you pay attention to politics or science or current events, you’re probably experiencing chronic stress, which can last weeks, months or years. This constant, nagging worry seemingly never dissipates and can be brought on by financial difficulties, abusive relationships, or emotionally or physically demanding jobs. (Or watching the world burn every summer, seeing the government strip us of our rights, living through droughts and snowless winters in the north, etc.) Since we’re animals that evolved
alongside other predators, our sympathetic nervous systems have adapted to activate when confronted with a stressor — only now it’s taxes, not giant hyenas. The body releases hormones like epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine, cortisol, dopamine and vasopressin, which elevate your heart rate, increase respiration, sharpen your focus and otherwise shift the body into fight-or-flight mode to help avoid danger. While this is a great way to escape a bear in the woods, when you live with a bear, work with a bear or bears run your country (or all three), there’s no immediate escape, so you exist in a constant state of fight-or-flight. Not only does that feel terrible, but it wears down the body. Constricting the blood vessels and forcing the heart to beat faster results in high blood pressure and damages arterial lining, leading to a buildup of cholesterol and a higher risk of heart attack or stroke. High cortisol levels prevent the production of immune cells, leading to a weaker immune system and slower healing times. Adrenaline and cortisol combined can even change the structure of the brain, weakening connections between cells, stopping the growth of new cells and impairing cognitive function. Under constant stress, the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex — which give us memory, the ability to learn and self-control — will actually shrink, making it harder to learn new skills, make decisions or focus. Conversely, the amygdala (the fear and emotion center) can grow, leading to anxiety, depression, severe mood changes and panic attacks that cause chest pain, shortness of breath and heart palpitations, just like a heart attack. But wait, there’s more! All this wear
STR8TS Solution
Sudoku Solution
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
From Pend Oreille Review, August 21, 1908
TAKE WEDDING VOWS IN BATHING SUITS There was a unique wedding on the Miller dock at Midas Sunday. Miss Opal Miller was made the wife of Sidney V. Rollins of Washington, D.C. by Justice of the Peace Myrvin Davis of Sandpoint. The bride, groom and their attendants, Mr. and Mrs. James Cummins of Spokane, were costumed in bathing suits of the one piece variety. The bride in a Persian silk suit with a helmet-shaped bath cap tied under her chin but allowing her luxuriant curling hair to form a frame for her piquant brunette beauty, was certainly a picture long to be remembered. The many pleasure seekers who were spending the weekend at Garfield Bay thronged the docks and showevered congratulations and rice over the happy pair who, thus suitably attired, started on the good ship Matrimony for the Port of Happiness.
SECURE NEW GROUND FOR TOURIST PARK At the meeting of the civic club Monday afternoon, Mrs. Wheelan reported for the park committee that the commercial club had appointed a committee to act with the civic club in the effort to provide a better tourist camping ground, and that additional grounds had been secured at the lake from between Second and Fourth avenues, where some of the men of the commercial club had been at work evenings putting the ground in shape for the use of campers. Use of this ground is secured for this season only. A motion was carried instructing the park committee to get a price on the ground at the southern extremity of Second, Third and Fourth avenues so that the availability of this site might be compared with that of other locations under consideration as permanent location for the tourist park. 22 / R / August 20, 2026
and tear on the body and mind leads to even more side effects, like exhaustion, trouble sleeping, muscle tension (especially around the jaw), digestive problems, headaches, dizziness... The list goes on. There are plenty of steps we can take to manage stress — exercising, journaling, listening to music, meditating, going to therapy — but at this point it’s all for naught. We can calm ourselves down as much as we want, but, at the end of the day, the bears still have the nuclear codes. Until we dedicate ourselves to one another and to the planet, working together toward a future where everyone has access to nature, nutritious food, equal rights, clean air and water, and a safe place to live, the chronic stress won’t go away. It’s up to us to save our brains and the world at large. Now there’s a stressful thought.
Crossword Solution
If I was being executed by injection, I’d clean up my cell real neat. Then, when they came to get me, I’d say, “Injection? I thought you said ‘inspection.’” They’d probably feel real bad, and maybe I could get out of it.
Solution on page 22
Solution on page 22
By Bill Borders
panegyrize /PAN-i-juh-rahyz/
Woorf tdhe Week
[verb] 1. to praise someone or something highly through speech or writing “The staff elected Susan to panegyrize the retiring manager at his retirement banquet.”
Corrections: Editor-in-Chief Zach Hagadone was out of town for the entirety of the Aug. 13 production cycle and, hearing of no mistakes made during his absence, he is proud of his colleagues.
Copyright www.mirroreyes.com
Laughing Matters
CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Particles 6. Play parts 10. Hearing organs 14. Gunk 15. Prison 16. Worry 17. Spooky 18. Be aware of 19. No charge 20. Harmonize 22. Amble 23. Malicious 24. Scattered 25. “Oh dear!” 29. Cheer 31. Deceives 33. 60s 37. More profound 38. You sew with this 39. Doubter 41. Get undressed 42. Pensioner 44. Anagram of “Lyme” 45. Daisylike bloom 48. On edge 50. Resorts 51. Not socialism 56. Overtake 57. Concept 58. String quartet instrument 59. Celtic language 60. Blue-green 61. Medieval sword
Solution on page 22
35. River to the 9. Blackthorn North Sea 10. Presumptuous36. Appear to be ness 40. Stronghold 11. Archer’s bolt 12. Pass through 41. Disavowals 13. Horse 43. Rescind 21. Get by a will 45. Poplar variety DOWN 24. Genders 46. Extra 1. Millisecond 25. Combines 47. Thigh armor 2. Margarine 26. Anagram of “Keel” 49. Roof overhangs 3. Novice 27. Away from the 51. Give as an example 4. Arab ruler wind 52. Itemize 5. Sows 28. Inhibited 53. Infinitesimal 6. Torments 30. Smallest amount 7. “Maple leaf” country 32. Discourage 54. Coin opening 8. Staggers 34. False god 55. Riot spray August 20, 2026 / R / 23
62. Require 63. L L L L 64. Condition