Voter turnout for the most recent midterm election in 2018 — a modern record, according to the United States Elections Project. The 2020 presidential election also set a modern record, with 66.8% of eligible voters going to the polls, and politics watchers are anticipating the 2022 midterms will set yet another record. Where’s the enthusiasm coming from? According to rollcall.com, mostly from the right: “Whether sending a message to President Joe Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi [whose husband recently suffered a hammer attack at the hands of an intruder to the Pelosi home yelling “Where is Nancy?”] or the threat of socialism, Marxism, communism, critical race theory, urban crime, undocumented immigrants, Anthony Fauci, vaccine mandates, ‘woke’ school boards or transgender athletes, there are plenty of things energizing Republicans.”
71.4%
Voter turnout for the 1866 midterm election — the highest midterm turnout in United States history, according to the U.S. Elections Project, even though women wouldn’t have access to the franchise for another 54 years. What was going on in 1866? The enactment of the Civil Rights Act, which President Andrew Johnson vetoed and Congress overrode; the Panic of 1866, which resulted from the collapse of an important London bank and Italy going off the silver standard, causing a global economic crash; the Memphis race riots, during which Southern whites attacked newly freed Blacks and their property amid the early days of Reconstruction (coupled with the New Orleans Massacre); Red Cloud’s War, which began when Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Northern Arapaho tribes joined together to fight the U.S. military in the Wyoming and Montana territories; and, finally, Johnson’s home state of Tennessee reentered the Union, marking it as the first former-Confederate state to be repatriated and prompting the president to declare the Civil War officially ended. And we think we have it bad.
$47,728,592
Amount of money given to 1,105 candidates and 249 political action committees in Idaho during this election cycle (as of Oct. 31). The number of donors: 56,743. PACs received $17,953,657 and spent $15,697,743. Candidates received $29,774,934 and spent $26,000,341, according to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office.
quotable
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
— Plato
“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”
— Thomas Jefferson
“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”
— Abraham Lincoln
DEAR READERS,
This is our last edition before Election Day, so this is my final chance to remind you all to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polling places will be open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. If you need any assistance finding your polling place, log into voteidaho.gov
I’m hoping for a high voter turnout this year, as I do every election. Voting is the easiest way to participate in government. It’s your time to support the candidates and issues that represent you. If you don’t vote, your voice goes unheard, so please participate. It only takes a few minutes and it feels good to have a say in who represents us.
Emotions run high prior to an election. While a very vocal minority of the population has taken to calling any election result they don’t agree with “fraudulant,” the rest of us must remain respectful, civil and accept the results, whether we like them or not. Don’t ever forget to keep taking the high road. I firmly believe that we must always lead by example, even when so many seem to only want to watch the world burn.
I’ll see you all at the ballot box on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
–Ben Olson, publisher
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About the Cover
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City Council gives green light to University Place Phase 4 plans
City Hall OK’s multi-family rezone, PUD development plan and amended prelim plat
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
The Sandpoint City Council at its regular meeting Nov. 2 unanimously approved a trio of requests from Derek Mulgrew, who is developing Phase 4 of the University Place housing project as a planned unit development containing 227 dwellings comprising duplexes, townhomes and apartment buildings.
Mulgrew went before the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission in late September with his request for a rezone of the 14.5-acre property from single-family to multi-family residential, a combined PUD preliminary and final development plan, and amended preliminary plat.
The commission voted Sept. 20 to recommend approval of the requests with 16 conditions — most of which the developer agreed were reasonable, including requirements for additional open space, which Mulgrew and his team addressed with a revised site map presented Nov. 2 to council.
Among the conditions was that exterior walls — or at least portions of them — on the southern-facing facades of the four apartment complexes proposed for the southern part of the development be soundproofed due to their proximity to the railroad tracks that cross North Boyer Avenue. “Product that feels like a single family home but is still attached.”
Also, the commission recommended that a “linear park” pathway along the northern stretch of the property be extended to connect with North Boyer, as well as expand a proposed 8,000-squarefoot open space planned for the corner of East Ebbett Way and Herring Avenue in order to create “a focal point neighborhood park.”
Mulgrew’s revised site plan “somewhat incorporated” those elements in the final plan, said City Planner Amy Tweeten,
including a newly identified “tot lot” — a.k.a., children’s playground — the elimination of a previously fronted neighborhood commercial structure in favor of a paved “pump track” for use by bicyclists and other wheeled-recreation users, and the extension of the northern linear path to North Boyer Avenue.
Tweeten in her presentation to the council said, “It appears some of the open space conditions have been addressed with the revised open space plan, but additional information is needed.”
Councilor Jason Welker agreed that the open space plan needed more work, and also that the conditions should be amended to put in place more detailed descriptions of “just what we’re getting” for the code waivers sought by the developer.
Specifically, Welker moved to strike two conditions and roll them into another related to open spaces, spelling out that the plan shall include a children’s playground with structures approved by city staff, the asphalt pump track to be approved by Parks and Rec. staff, a paved bikeway connection to North Boyer on the south end of the property and a dog waste plan to cover the entire site.
Council members unanimously approved Welker’s amendment.
“I am hoping to include some more robust language about the investment in those open spaces,” Welker said, earlier stating that, “I’m personally really excited about this development.”
One of the variances that both P&Z commissioners and councilors approved was allowing building heights to exceed the residential multi-family limit of 40 feet — townhomes would be allowed to rise to 45 feet and multi-family buildings would be cleared to rise up to 48 feet.
The developer also sought a reduction in the minimum lot size for the townhomes, as the current minimum is 3,500 square feet,
though he said “there’s no way to really build an efficient multi-family attached product” on that size of parcel.
“This isn’t a condo,” he said, adding that building higher on a smaller footprint makes the way for lower building costs, and by offering the units as fee simple, it “allows for a diverse range of financing options that would otherwise not be achieved if it was a condo.”
“This opens up, and I think hits, a different price point,” Mulgrew said.
As has become the norm when City Hall considers any housing development, the notion of “affordability” came up as a critical component of the deliberations.
Mulgrew said that apartments are targeted for what some might describe as “affordable housing,” though he admitted that he disfavors that term because “it’s way overused.”
Rather, he said the development as a whole is intended to be a master-planned, cohesive project unlike anything that has yet been
built in Sandpoint, with options directed at first-time homebuyers, empty-nesters, down-sizers and individuals who may have relocated to the area for work but not yet ready to commit to buying a home.
Mulgrew characterized the duplexes and townhomes as a “product that feels like a single-family home but is still attached.”
Williams Homes Chief Operating Officer David Little also spoke to the council, representing the company that is partnering with Mulgrew to build the housing units. He said University Place Phase 4 offers “niche property.”
“We really don’t have a new, fresh product [in Sandpoint] that’s got the architectural styling and movement that these units all have .. at a price point that will allow us to attract that first-time buyer on the townhome side and perhaps a rental occupant in the rest of the community,” he said.
Council members were overwhelmingly positive toward the Phase 4 project.
Councilor Andy Groat told
Mulgrew, “I genuinely believe that you’re here humbly asking for a good product.”
Councilor Justin Dick also lauded the project: “I truly like the variety of housing that’s going up, as well as the amount of inventory,” he said.
Council President Kate McAlister, who said that while she’s “conflicted by this because I really am an advocate for the low-wage earners,” said that she’s “very excited about this project.”
Still, echoing previous comments she’s made before council, McAlister added that, “We really need something for people making $45,000 and below. … I’m hoping these will be an answer, because we are losing our young people.”
With the unanimous approval of the requests, Mayor Shelby Rognstad congratulated the developers.
“It’s an excellent project,” he said.
A screenshot of the proposed University Place Phase 4 development. Courtesy image.
About the people on your ballot: Idaho candidates, debate coverage
Where to find details on candidates for Idaho governor, lt. gov., attorney general and more
By Audrey Dutton Idaho Capital Sun
The 2022 election year brought its share of surprises, from changes in candidacy to candidates turning down debate invitations.
The Idaho Capital Sun has interviewed candidates who are on the ballot in every statewide race. Below are brief profiles of the people who want to represent you in Boise or Washington, D.C. (Find more in-depth coverage at idahocapitalsun.com.)
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. statewide, and voters can register at the polls on Election Day with a valid ID and proof of residence. To find more information on voter registration, polling locations and more, go to voteidaho.gov or your county’s election office website.
Idaho governor: Bundy (I), Heidt (D), Little (R), and more Republican Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a rancher and longtime Idaho Republican politician, seeks a second term as governor. Little previously served as the lieutenant governor for 10 years and, before that, in the Idaho Legislature.
Stephen Heidt is an Englishas-a-second-language teacher who worked for the Idaho Department of Correction for more than a decade before retiring this year to devote time to his campaign as the Democratic nominee for governor.
Now on the ballot as an independent candidate, Ammon Bundy pledged to repeal Idaho’s personal property tax and personal income tax, eliminate exceptions to Idaho’s abortion ban and bring all federal lands in Idaho under state control.
The race for Idaho governor includes Little, Heidt, Bundy, Libertarian Paul Sand, Constitution Party nominee Chantyrose Davison and write-in candidate Lisa Marie.
Idaho lieutenant governor: Bedke (R), Pickens Manweiler (D) Terri Pickens Manweiler is a trial attorney and founding partner of Pickens Law in Boise. Her top priorities as a candidate are to support LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, reproductive health care rights, public education, Idaho’s public lands, and to push back against extremism and the far right.
Scott Bedke is a rancher and a longtime member of the Idaho Legislature, including several terms as speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives. He is running on his record in state government; during his tenure, Idaho had a record budget surplus, issued multiple income tax cuts and rebates, and increased education funding.
Idaho attorney general: Arkoosh (D), Labrador (R)
After the Republican primary, Boise attorney Tom Arkoosh decided to accept an invitation from the Idaho Democratic Party to run. Arkoosh believes the role of the attorney general is to follow the law as written and advise legislators on how best to comply with the law, but not to get involved in the process of lawmaking or policy itself.
Raúl Labrador is an attorney and lobbyist. He served in the U.S. House of Representative and in the Idaho Legislature. He has pledged to be a more aggressive attorney general than current Attorney General Lawrence Wasden. He would have Idaho join more lawsuits against the federal government and create a solicitor general’s division in the office.
U.S. Senate: Cleveland (I), Crapo (R), Roth (D)
U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, is seeking his fifth term in the U.S. Senate. Democrat David Roth is the executive director of the Bonneville Youth Development Council in Idaho Falls. Inde-
pendent candidate Scott Cleveland is the owner of an investment and brokerage firm in Eagle.
Crapo has defended his record against criticisms from both opponents. Cleveland attacked his vote for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and Roth attacked his votes against the CHIPS Act and the Pact Act.
U.S. House of Representatives, District 1: Drake (L), Fulcher (R), Peterson (D)
U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher is running for his third term. Before entering Congress, Fulcher was a businessman and member of the Idaho Legislature. He has voted in Congress against federal spending and was among more than 100 House Republicans to vote against certifying the 2020 presidential election results.
Kaylee Peterson is a full-time parent and recently was a fulltime student at College of Western Idaho. She is running largely in opposition to Fulcher’s congressional voting record and platform; for example, she wants to keep Idaho’s public lands under federal control.
Darian Drake entered the race late as a Libertarian candidate and “never had any aspirations to run for Congress” because he does not enjoy politics, but in Congress, he would defend individual rights, he said.
Idaho treasurer: Ellsworth (R), Silver (D)
Idaho Treasurer Julie Ellsworth spent many years in Idaho politics before she was elected to the treasurer’s office in 2018. Before that, she used her bachelor’s degree in education to teach elementary school in Boise and earned a certification as a conflict resolution mediator through the University of Idaho.
Deborah Silver is a certified public accountant who worked in the Magic Valley for more than four decades before moving to a
condo in Sun Valley. Silver taught accounting at the College of Southern Idaho for five years and co-owned an accounting practice in Twin Falls with her husband for 30 years.
Idaho superintendent of public instruction: Critchfield (R), Gilbert (D)
Debbie Critchfield is a former president of the Idaho State Board of Education. Terry Gilbert is a former teacher.
Critchfield has said she’d be willing to consider a voucher system, to allow parents to put public school funds toward non-public education. Gilbert opposes vouchers. They disagree on how to spend over $300 million in funds for K-12. Gilbert would spend the money on educator salaries, and on English and math literacy. Critchfield would spend the funds on career-technical training, workforce readiness, public-private partnerships and school facilities issues.
Idaho secretary of state: Keenan (D), McGrane (R) Shawn Keenan, who lives in
Coeur d’Alene, decided to make his first foray into running for public office after witnessing primary candidates repeat debunked claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. As secretary, Keenan said he would prioritize voter access, after several pieces of legislation that he thought would disenfranchise voters nearly passed the Idaho Legislature this year.
Phil McGrane became Ada County’s chief deputy clerk in 2011 and served in that role until he was elected clerk in 2018. As secretary, McGrane would introduce election integrity bills, seek to reform campaign finance laws to make them clearer and easier to follow, and bring back training for candidates and campaign treasurers. He also wants to create a standardized voter guide.
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
City recaps housing and neighborhood workshops
Residents support accessory dwelling units, dislike big multi-family developments
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Members of the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission took in a presentation Nov. 1 from City Planner Amy Tweeten, who recapped a pair of workshops hosted Oct. 20-21 focused on providing information and collecting public input on housing and neighborhoods.
The workshops — held at City Hall and the Sandpoint Center — were intended to inform the ongoing update to the Comprehensive Plan, with a particular emphasis on identifying what types of housing residents would like to see and how they want their neighborhoods to look over the next 20 years.
Tweeten said attendance was sparse, with about 35 citizens turning out for the drop-in workshops, though those who participated were actively engaged.
Overall, attendees expressed strong support for accessory dwelling units as a means to ease Sandpoint’s affordable housing crunch and “some support” for allowing two story homes in all residential districts.
Specifically, residents were asked if they supported incentives to encourage ADU construction and conversion of existing structures into ADUs, and whether code changes should make townhouse lot construction more viable.
The city also asked whether residents supported increasing the number of multi-family units allowed without a conditional use permit — currently developers can build up to seven such units without a CUP — with the consensus being “little support” for the idea.
Workshop attendees also weighed in on what they like about their neighborhood and what they think could be changed to improve it, with the most common response centered on sidewalks — whether lauding their existing pedestrian infrastructure or stating that it needs to be improved.
Tweeten said “walkability” was far and away the biggest priority for residents when considering “what does a livable neighborhood look like to you?”
Among the other topics addressed at the workshops were zoning maps, including the future land use map under the current Comp Plan.
“This conversation is really rooted in when we talk about infill, what does that look like and where,” Sandpoint Infrastructure and Development Services Manager Amanda Wilson told the Reader at the Oct. 26. “Getting that pulse will help us inform how we get into the weeds on the future land use map and regulations.”
Yet, there was some disappointment among city officials that more Sandpointians didn’t participate in the workshops.
“Engagement can be a challenge, but it takes a lot of effort,” Tweeten said. “It was probably worthwhile, even given the limited feedback we got at the workshops.”
As the Comp Plan update continues, Tweeten said City Hall may roll out the workshop information and questions again in the form of an online survey, then return to the plan chapter on housing and neighborhoods with more robust citizen input.
The goal for having drafts of all Comp Plan chapters is early December.
Meanwhile, Tweeten said the consistency with which workshop participants expressed support for accessory dwelling units was sufficient to bring to council, and the trend was definitely clear that residents felt multi-family buildings next to single-family homes should be held to a different height requirement. Currently structures can rise to 35 feet in all residential zones, and up 45 feet of height is allowed in residential-multifamily zones, which actually cover much of the residential area between Division and Fifth avenues.
“There might be other ways to deal with the issue that people have with infill with bigger structures,” she said.
Bits ’n’ Pieces
From east, west and beyond
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling:
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has warned banks that surprise overdraft and customer depositor fees are “likely unfair and unlawful under existing law.” President Joe Biden has asked agencies to find ways to cut junk fees, which can save consumers more than $1 billion annually.
Pennsylvania children who’ve grown up within about a mile of fracking wells are twice as likely as others to develop juvenile leukemia, a study from Yale School of Public Health found.
Voting into office election denial candidates could bring the demise of U.S. democracy, The WEEK reported. More than half of Republican candidates for congressional or key state offices this year are on record as supporting the claim that their party actually won the presidency in 2020. The New Republic: “it’s getting harder to see how democracy can survive” amid Republicans’ rush to “fascism.”
A bigger threat to democracy, The Guardian pointed out, could be the upcoming far right-dominated Supreme Court’s decision on the widely debunked “independent state legislature” theory. The theory claims that partisan majorities in state legislatures can toss a popular vote outcome in favor of their own party, thereby putting the U.S. “squarely on the path to authoritarianism,” the news source reported.
Supreme Court watchers will be surprised if a decision dominated by the right repudiates the independent state legislature theory.
Hope for retaining democracy: The House bipartisan Electoral Count Reform Act has passed, and shows promise for passing in the Senate, according to CBS. It would safeguard the electoral process and preserve the will of voters via greater clarity than that of the original 1887 Electoral Count Act.
Facebook’s parent company has been fined $25 million for multiple violations of Washington state’s campaign finance laws, according to The Seattle Times.
In order to dodge supply line shortages, a coalition of 322 business groups sent a letter to Biden asking him to make sure the railroad deal he helped broker last month gets approved, the AP reported. The Stand, which reports on union issues, says Class A railroads are experiencing record profits, and should cover a top employee contract
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist
concern: lack of sick leave.
Winter snow crab season in Alaska was canceled, The WEEK reported. Their population dropped from 8 billion in 2018 to 1 billion last year due to warmer waters that cause lethal starvation.
Political violence in the U.S. has gone up nearly 50% since former-President Donald Trump’s election in 2020, according to The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. That was highlighted when, early Oct. 28, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, 82, was attacked with a hammer by a 42-year-old assailant. The FBI affidavit about the incident stated Paul was sleeping at their San Francisco home when the intruder broke a glass door, announced he was looking for Nancy and said he would bind Paul with zip ties until she arrived. Paul called 9-1-1 from his bathroom and police arrived six minutes later, finding Paul and the assailant both holding onto a single hammer, with Paul in the grip of the man’s other hand. When the FBI demanded the hammer be dropped, they said the attacker gained control of the weapon and used it to fracture Paul’s skull. In custody, the assailant said he planned to hold Nancy hostage. He said he intended to break her kneecaps for lying — an act intended to serve as a warning to others in Congress when she would enter the House in a wheelchair.
More than 9,600 threats against elected officials, by Trump followers, have been recorded in the past year, according to the Carnegie Endowment and Vox. Action is typically taken based on disinformation perpetuated by marginally regulated social media, or a favored bias-based news source. Various media reports state that Paul Pelosi’s attacker had a history of posting 2020 election conspiracy theories.
Politico reported that one in five Republican men feel that violence is “justifiable” at this political time. Ironically, new Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted (and later removed) info on the Pelosi attack based on a disreputable news source, after assuring advertisers that “Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape.”
Blast from the past: “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Elie Wiesel, survivor of Nazi death camps, and Nobel Prize Laureate, 1928-2016.
And another blast: In 1988 all lawn dart sales in the U.S. were prohibited after the deaths of three children.
Losing hope is the death of democracy
We are defined by our diversity but not our differences
By Nishelle Gonzales Reader Contributor
I want to begin by celebrating and acknowledging how amazing the United States is. I know that “We’re Number One!” rhetoric is an instant eye roll-inducing reflex for the entire world, as our consumerist, elitist culture has in many ways negatively affected the entire solar system. I want to point out what it is we are doing well.
There is no other country on Earth that is attempting to build a society in which diversity and inclusion are celebrated and mashed together, creating the “land of the free.” We started our journey looking for a place to be free, regardless of religious beliefs, heritage or family name. When you travel is when you really see the magic in what we have accomplished in our attempt to create a free and equal democratic republic. Still, it is unfortunate that there are some of us who would prefer to burn down the miracle rather than share it with everyone, but I would have to assume that the reason they have that view is because they have yet to venture beyond this country to see what a fleeting and rare thing we have been striving toward.
It is very easy to be critical of ourselves and each other, and we have a lot of issues to solve. We’re in a melting pot of people, ideas and experiences that can come together to make something better that transcends one group alone. Our diversity is our superpower, and is at the heart of belonging here — a place where we are free to be different and united.
What a great vision to achieve. Although we are not yet at our full potential, it is imperative that we do not lose hope. The real enemy of our free democracy isn’t socialism, communism, oligarchies or theocracy — it’s despair, hopelessness and disgust toward each other. It’s holding onto the belief that your fellow Americans who may be on a different political spectrum than you are not worthy of your breath. It is in the dehumanization
of the “others” that you feel are your political enemy.
Your very conservative neighbor may be a nuisance with their “F$@# Biden” flag waving for all to see, but what is most important, is that they are for democracy and respect the fact that they are able to exercise this act of free speech.
Your very liberal coworker who keeps talking about transgender rights is actually seeing a way that we can all be more free by rooting for a marginalized community in this fight for liberty and justice for all — as we are only as free as the most marginalized.
I have a habit of seeing all of us as the same, regardless of outward differences. The most telling proof of this lies in the answers to a couple of simple questions: “What do you love about America?” and, “What are the circumstances you need to thrive here?”
Time and time again, no matter what political party you identify with, the answers are almost always the same. It is imperative to see that just because not everyone has bought into actual equal human rights policies, it doesn’t mean that we should discount them and that they never will. There is hope. We need to acknowledge that not everyone can accept these policies as fast as some of us deem necessary.
The superhighway of progress on which some of us are traveling at 100 miles per hour needs better onramps for those who are afraid and not sure how these changes will affect them in the long run. It is the reason that former coal mine workers in West Virginia suffering from black lung are still not bought into solar energy options, voting for the same politicians that tricked them into thinking coal was the best way to energize our nation, despite literally dying from that belief. They are not emotionally ready to get on the bandwagon of progress when there are forces driving them to question the motives and tactics that have been used to dupe them in the past. When the pandemic was in full swing, and vaccinations arrived from the medical com-
munity to save us from the new plague, there were many who resisted this free and accessible miracle — especially when it was mandated. If you are living in poverty, and have been actively ignored and dismissed by the medical community, even victimized by doctors, why now would you trust what they were saying? Wouldn’t your lived experience teach you that medicine and doctors can’t be trusted when going bankrupt over hospital bills?
Of course many people hesitated and questioned the mandates for this reason.
On a different side, people who had faith and a positive experience within the pharmaceutical-industrial complex were jumping onto the vaccine mandates as a cure-all and an answer to all the disruptions of our old normal. The people with that lived experience naively believed the other side was not getting vaccinated because they were that selfish and uncaring of their own neighbors — they didn’t see that trauma and distrust were at the root of their decisions.
We can see with some hindsight that both sides were afraid and uncertain; but, instead of finding common ground and acknowledging this shared fear, we went at each other like rabid dogs. Our differences were weaponized and “both sides” employed the language of dehumanization on social media, creating the biggest threat to our democracy.
This concept has been captured in the book The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds and Democracy, by Anand Giridharadas. There is a deep dive on how Russian internet trolls and bots were used to divide and conquer us in past elections. What the anti-democratic Russian oligarchs saw as a useful tool to dismantle our democracy was the fact that Americans have always struggled with fear — the engine that drives consumerism. They understood our zest for cancel culture. They played on and poked at our default toward disgust with one another.
There are individuals and groups who are doing this work well, and Giridharadas shares what he learns from them. A key lesson he discusses in his book is not trying to replace someone’s belief with yours; rather, use their own beliefs and values to displace and question what it is you’re persuading them to see.
For instance, the fact that someone is in favor of protecting women’s reproductive rights can be used to dislodge their belief that someone who is afraid of vaccine mandates is a selfish know-nothing. It is critical to understand that both sides want the medical freedom to make decisions about their own bodies.
Conceptually, what we value on one hand can be questioned on the other hand in respectful and hopeful conversation. Losing hope and empathy is the enemy of our democracy. Losing the concept of giving others the most generous assumptions about their intentions is the enemy of democracy. We did not get here because we devalued equality and diversity, we are here because we are defined by it.
The most patriotic thing you can do is hope, not write off your neighbor.
Nishelle Gonzales is a local business owner who contributes occasional essays on social issues.
Bouquets:
•One of the many things I love about living in Sandpoint is the amount of good people and organizations that are tasked with helping those in need. Often, our pride gets in the way when we are in need of assistance. That’s a shame, because many people truly enjoy being asked for help. Some might need a shoulder to cry on, a sympathetic ear or a strong back to help lift something heavy. Just ask. There are countless situations in which a simple request for help will not only be met with a smile, but you might end up making someone’s day. I once stopped for a woman who broke down with her hood up by the Bonner Mall. Her car wouldn’t start. I remembered this happened to my old truck one time, so I banged on the starter with a wrench and, like magic, the engine started. Despite knowing very little about mechanics, I somehow helped her get back on the road and felt like a million bucks afterward. Don’t be afraid to reach out when you need someone to lean on, Sandpoint. There are so many good people out there who would be happy to catch you.
Barbs:
• It’s appalling how cruel some Republicans have become. When a deranged man hopped up on far-right conspiracy theories and lies broke into Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home last week and beat her 82-year-old husband with a hammer, you’d think everyone would come together to condemn the violence. You’d think that, but you’d be wrong. The response from the right has been, let’s say, troublesome. Donald Trump, Jr. retweeted a picture of a pair of underwear with a hammer and the message, “Got my Paul Pelosi Halloween costume ready.” GOP Rep. Clay Higgins repeated an unfounded conspiracy theory calling the attacker a “male nudist hippie prostitute.” Conservative media has largely shrugged off the attack, either minimizing it, laughing about it or issuing vague homophobic statements that “something doesn’t add up.” This summer, conservatives lost their minds when protestors gathered outside of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home, but when someone breaks into the speaker of the House’s home to bust her kneecaps, and almost murders her husband, all they can do is snicker and chuckle? I’ve grown so tired of the heartlessness.
Johnson is a better choice than ‘elitist’ Herndon…
Dear editor,
As a veteran (USCG 1966-’70), I am flabbergasted that Scott Herndon wants to do away with all federal funding for the state of Idaho. Is he unaware or just callous to the needs of veterans and their families?
Federal money provides significant support for veteran services, technical education and vocational rehabilitation, all of which help veterans and their families stay afloat. Federal money supports the Idaho National Guard, which funds disaster preparedness and assistance, and other emergency needs.
According to 2022 Idaho Fiscal Facts, 42% of Idaho’s budget comes from federal funds. How does Scott Herndon expect to make up for this lost revenue? Does he expect to make it up through increased taxes and user fees, or drastically reduced services to Idahoans? Does he plan to sell off federal land to investors and corporations, depriving Idahoans access to the abundant public lands we enjoy hunting and hiking on?
Steve Johnson is a much better choice than the elitist Scott Herndon. Steve Johnson will represent and support all Idahoans, including veterans and their families. So please write-in Steve Johnson for District 1 Senate seat to ensure integrity and common sense.
Preston Andrews Sandpoint
‘Freedom to read’…
Dear editor,
My son had to read Ceremony, by Leslie Marmon Silko, in high school. While appreciating portrayals of documented abuse of Native Americans by white males, I took offense at explicit descriptions of sexual abuse and voyeurism. The teacher maintained that if somebody is taking a college-level class, they should be able to critically read any kind of book.
As it was primarily the sex scenes that were remembered in this group of friends, I was not convinced that — literary value notwithstanding — the potential impact of sexual abuse had been adequately discussed. We had a lively conversation about healthy sex and impacts of sexual abuse. I am sure this would not have taken place had this book not been on the reading list.
Scott Herndon is an ardent proponent of banning books in schools and libraries that don’t fit
his personal worldview. I would like to be assured that my grandchildren will be exposed to a wide variety of books of their choice, while learning to critically evaluate on their own what they read. That is empowering our future generations! Steve Johnson will guarantee that freedom of choice. Please consider voting for him by using the write-in option.
Gabrielle Duebendorfer Sandpoint
Steve Johnson will represent Dist. 1, not special interests…
Dear editor,
We have known Steve Johnson for 35 years as an educator in Bonner County. We have known him to be a trustworthy person. Steve represents the urban and rural character of Bonner and Boundary counties. He has contributed much to the county as a citizen and farmer, as well as a teacher and principal. We feel he would represent citizens of District 1, not special interests.
As a second-generation Idaho family, public lands are important to us. Hiking, camping, hunting and huckleberry picking are activities we enjoy. It would be a shame if those lands became private and not accessible.
Of course public education is important to us. Since we are longtime teachers at Sandpoint High School, we have seen the importance of the public school system to the children in our area. Many students come from homes that depend on the school to help their children become productive adults. It is very gratifying to see our past students be successful in life. Public education needs the support of the Legislature to continue.
Steve Johnson is the person who will give that support. Please write in Steve Johnson for District 1 senator and color in the bubble.
Yours sincerely,
Terry and Edna Iverson Sandpoint
‘The people have spoken’…
Dear editor,
Any time elections roll around, at least one letter writer trots out some version of the worn-out mantra, “I don’t wish to impose my beliefs on others, nor do I want them to impose their beliefs on me.” How noble. Be still my beating heart. Newsflash: Imposing your beliefs on others is called law, and if you don’t impose your beliefs on others they will impose their beliefs on you.
Paradoxically, these same letter writers have no problem exhorting us to vote for a candidate who
shares their beliefs, and who will by proxy impose their beliefs on those with different views. Just don’t try to impose your beliefs on them. No law satisfies everyone, but we are a nation of laws and need to abide by those laws, even those we don’t like, if we are to live in a civilized society. Furthermore, laws can be changed, although it is a cumbersome process. Losing an election is a hard pill to swallow for those convinced they occupy the high ground, but if they lose they should pour a drink and recall what Huey Long said after losing an election: “The people have spoken, damn ’em.”
Dave Mundell Sandpoint
of children is nonpartisan…
Dear editor,
This note is in regards to the “Dumb of the Week” column in the Oct. 20 edition [in which Reader Publisher Ben Olson vowed to dress in his “best taffeta gown and dance for anyone who wants to watch” if the Idaho Legislature passes a talked-about ban on drag performances in public places].
It seems to me that there are issues which rise above politics, above party loyalty and to which Americans can agree are fundamental to the stability of our nation.
One of these is the protection of children.
As adults, we must nurture and train them, guard their innocence and not place upon them things too weighty, too adult for them to handle.
This is neither a Democratic nor a Republican policy or agenda. It is truth which has been apparent to all peoples of all nations of all times. If we do not care for our children, the family unit suffers and the fabric of our society (any society) will unravel.
There is no caring for children where drag shows are encouraged/ allowed in their presence.
Susan Burrows Sandpoint
Write in Steve Johnson for ‘real representation’…
Dear editor,
Driving through Sagle and across Long Bridge I am reminded daily of another reason to write in Steve Johnson for Idaho Senate. The road work on the south end of Long Bridge making the road safer for all and finally giving safe access to the highway from Lakehore Drive is going on because of our present Sen.
Jim Woodward. Our senator saw a problem, found a solution and funding to implement it. In the last election Jim received more votes than any other person running in District 1.The reason for that is that people knew he worked for all of us. Like Jim, Steve is ready to work on real ways to help North Idaho, like safer roads and lower property taxes.
Anyone who knows Scott Herndon, knows that he will bring to Boise things like his costly lawsuits in pursuit of guns at our Festival and his in-your-face anti-abortion rants he brought to middle school students. Yes, there are folks who will vote for Scott because he is a Republican, but if you want real representation on real issues that we all care about, check the box and write in Steve Johnson for Idaho Senate.
Rick Price
Sandpoint
Dear editor,
I am writing in response to Dean Cannon’s letter from last week’s paper [Letters, “Don’t be fooled by Indie-crat Steve Johnson,” Oct. 27, 2022] where it was said they are a “one-question voter.” It startles me that somebody is willing to cast a vote on candidates and issues based on the answer to a single question. What is more startling is the lack of education around the single question being asked. Perhaps it is from the poor funding our schools have, as a result of individuals such as Scott Herndon being voted into office, that there is ignorance on this subject.
I believe the question you may be intending to ask is, “How many sexes are there?” as sex is the biological makeup of an individual, and gender is the socially constructed roles we assign to those sexes. And to answer your question, there are two sexes, although there are many people born intersex (not falling into the parameters of female or male) and multiple genders.
On another note of correction, Herndon is not going to be an “advocate for self-government, the rule of law and fiscal responsibility,” as he doesn’t support the bodily autonomy of women and spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on failed lawsuits. Write in Steve Johnson!
Emily Golphenee Sandpoint
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If Herndon lied about Woodward, what will he lie about in Boise?…
Dear editor,
When you vote, please write in Steve Johnson for Idaho Senate. He is a longtime resident of Bonner County who spent much of his working life as a teacher and principal in Bonner County schools. He is an honorable man.
His opponent is not. He ran the most despicable primary campaign I have seen in my 40-plus years in Bonner County, sending out campaign cards containing outright lies and misrepresentations about his primary opponent, Jim Woodward. For instance, he stated that Woodward voted to spend $6 million on teaching critical race theory. In actuality, the bill cited, SB 1193, provides $6 million for early childhood education. The content of that education isn’t decided by state bureaucrats, but by local collaboratives consisting of “parents/families, early childhood educators, a representative from the K-12 school district and at least three community participants from public, private, nonprofit, faith-based, government, health care and civic organizations.” Nothing about CRT.
Herndon is supposed to be a good family man. Is telling lies a good example for one’s family? Should he be elected, what other lies would he tell about legislation?
Please write in Steve Johnson for Idaho Senate and fill in the oval.
John Harbuck Sandpoint
Herndon is no ‘run-of-themill’ conservative…
Dear editor,
Scott Herndon, the Republican candidate for state senator District 1A, is the most dangerous person to ever be on the Idaho ballot. He’s worse than Ammon Bundy. He’s not your run-of-the-mill Wall Street Journal conservative. He is a Christian militant extremist. Herndon endorses the execution of both a woman and her doctor for performing an abortion. He regards those of us who don’t maraud around town with automatic weapons threatening bystanders and librarians as weak “snowflakes” or “sheep.” He tried to shut down our 38-year-running Festival at Sandpoint twice because the Festival’s gun policy conflicted with his and his militia buddies’ nascent alt-right ideology.
Our Constitution is set up so that our rights are guaranteed regardless of the outcome of an election. No one should ever have to watch their back
based on who gets elected!
I’ve met Steve Johnson. He is local, sincere, kind and of high integrity. So write him in Nov. 8.
Jack Green Sandpoint
‘Spending means leaving’…
Dear editor, Improving schools and other infrastructure sounds tempting but... it doesn’t help those who live here. This is even more the case when we use outside money to do it, like federal dollars. When we use money we didn’t (proportionally) earn, we build things we can’t afford. If we make Sandpoint fancy and expensive, it appeals to wealthy newcomers. Locals can’t compete. The Sandpoint area is charming as it is. Don’t be sold on “improvements.” Don’t vote for spending that will push yourself right out.
North Idaho will benefit from having Mark Sauter in the Statehouse…
Dear editor,
We have known Mark for the past 10 years. He is a solid, dependable man who will fairly represent all constituents in Bonner and Boundary counties.
He is very personable and one of his character traits is being a good listener. He has spent much time over the past nine months visiting our North Idaho communities, meeting with many groups and organizations to learn about the local issues and concerns.
fiscal principles that made our country strong in the first place.
I know Scott Herndon, and I know that he is a highly principled man who understands that wasteful government deficit spending is what leads to high gas prices. I know that Scott will represent rural Idahoans down in Boise in the fight for our conservative values and principles.
Sincerely,
Kim Carlson South Bonner County
Herndon will ‘bolster our state government’…
replaced by “anything goes to win,” and Scott Herndon has led the charge, making a mockery of the election process. Herndon conducted a scorched-earth primary campaign of lies, distortions and name calling against Sen. Jim Woodward. These lies dishonored Jim and confused voters. Herndon’s campaign was financed extensively by out-ofstate money.
Jenn McKnight Sandpoint Dear editor,
Mark is a normal, rational individual who has no planned agenda. You can be assured that he will research each issue and will legislate to the best of his ability to produce a good outcome for our North Idaho communities. Mark is known for his hard work ethic and his good common sense. We will all benefit from Mark being our representative in Boise.
Unlike Herndon, Steve Johnson hasn’t ‘menaced the public’…
If you appreciate the guy who stalked junior-high students with graphic posters, menaced our community Farmers’ Market with his bullhorn and you’re happy with your tax dollars being used to defend a political stunt against the Festival, then vote for Scott Herndon. He’s the same guy who made false claims against Republican incumbent Jim Woodard, completely perverting Woodward’s voting record.
Informed voters ought to know the number of times law enforcement has been called to Herndon’s residence. Makes you wonder exactly why Herndon wrote five bills to the Idaho House of Representatives in an attempt to erode Child Protective Services. Is that who you want making decisions that impact our lives?
I’ve already sent in my absentee ballot, writing in Steve Johnson underneath Herndon’s name. Steve hasn’t menaced the public; he hasn’t wasted taxpayer’s money on publicity stunts or used fear tactics toward our youth. Instead, Steve is a respected former educator, local farmer, and understands that our public lands can’t be replaced and are a part of what makes Idaho such an incredible place to live.
Please vote for Steve Johnson and fill in the circle next to his name so your vote and voice will be counted.
Cindy Aase
Sagle
Please support Mark Sauter for our Idaho House Seat 1A.
Kennon and Jody McClintock Moyie Springs
Scott
Herndon will provide good governance…
Dear editor,
There is one Republican candidate for the D1 Idaho Senate seat. This May, the Republican voters in Boundary and Bonner counties chose Scott Herndon to represent us in Boise. And we did that because he was the best candidate to uphold the values that are important to us in North Idaho. And guess what? He still is. It’s important that those of us who want to see good governance based on reverence for Our Creator, integrity, and respect for the lives and liberty of others, get out and vote for Scott Herndon as the D1 senator in the election on Nov. 8.
Pastor Josh Jones Laclede
‘I know Scott Herndon’…
Dear editor,
Most of us here in North Idaho live and work in a rural environment. That means we do a lot of driving and a doubling of gas prices really hurts our budgets. It seems like the liberal politicians in Washington D.C. and Boise couldn’t care less about that when they pass legislation that spends billions and trillions of borrowed money (federal handouts) and refuse to mind the conservative
Dear editor,
Our nation is in a state of disarray due to the policies of the current progressive administration and an apathetic Congress. I know you’ve noticed; we all have. Our standard of living is being stolen through rampant inflation and the Democrat response is to lower the value of the dollar even more by inflating the money supply with more spending! And that’s not all, in the last month POTUS made a potentially illegal effort to convince Saudi Arabia to delay their plan to cut oil production until after the election, the IRS budget has been quintupled and it’s being used to double its workforce and intensify its armament, and now we’re hearing about a massive diesel shortage! This is fifth-generation warfare, and we better wake up before it’s too late. In North Idaho, most of us already know how dangerous and destructive these progressive policies are to our nation. That’s why we need to bolster our state government with strong individuals that will fight for our conservative principles in Boise. If you want to see our state government protect our rights from the out-of-control federal government, then vote for Scott Herndon for state senator of District 1.
Natalie Feuerstein
Naples
‘Herndon’s dirty tricks as the BCRCC chair’…
Dear editor,
Are you a Republican who wonders what the Bonner County Republican Central Committee is doing to our party? I am a lifelong Republican with 28 years of military service, served multiple governors and am a past precinct chair of this organization. I’m appalled with the current direction of the BCRCC. Republican values have been
Instead of resigning as chair of the BCRCC when he became a primary candidate, Herndon used his position to modify the rules and endorse himself and his choice of candidates. His justification? Voters can’t be trusted. Only the BCRCC has the wisdom to determine “true Republicans.”
As a result, many reputable Republicans were MIA from BCRCC endorsements.
The BRCC lacks credibility. I am asking all sane Republicans, Democrats and independents to join me and write in Steve Johnson for LD1 Senate. He is a man of integrity who will provide sound leadership and workable solutions.
Tony McDermott Sagle
‘Appalled’ by Herndon…
Dear editor,
While it may seem that all the signs for Steve Johnson have been put up by Democrats, I’m sure many have been placed by people like me — Republicans who were appalled at the campaign run against Jim Woodward and dismayed at the prospect of being represented by Scott Herndon. I urge everyone to do as I have and write in Steve Johnson for state senator for District 1, and be sure to fill in the bubble next to his name.
Thank you,
Liz Tollbom Sandpoint
‘Steve
Johnson needs your vote’...
Dear editor,
In May, Scott Herndon won the primary election for the state Senate in District 1 by spreading lies and falsehoods about his opponent, incumbent Jim Woodward — an honest, decent man with deep roots in this community.
Steve Johnson, another candidate with deep roots in this community, stepped up to the plate and decided to run as a write-in candidate in November’s general election.
< see LTE, Page 11 >
Science: Mad about
weird magical math
By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
Galileo once wrote: “Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe.”
Take that as literally or figuratively as you want, your decision is based on a number of converging mathematical factors across a span of 13.7 billion years.
Let’s start with what is essentially the foundation of everything: Pi. A mysterious number you might recognize from high school Geometry as 3.14. Perhaps if you’re reading that number in a mirror, you might see it as “PI.E” — fitting, as pies are circular.
Pi is a curious number. In relation to circles, the circumference is always 3.14 times its diameter, regardless of the size of the circle. However, 3.14 is an approximation, because beyond the decimal point, Pi goes on for infinity. There is no repeating pattern in this limitless chain of numbers, which also means there’s no easy way to account for the numbers that make up Pi. This is wild to think about when you consider that a circle has a beginning and an end, and if you were to use a device to roll a circle into a straight line, it would stop at exactly 3.14 times its diameter.
The sheer magical majesty of Pi is lost on our tiny mortal minds.
If you want a cool party trick to impress your friends, memorize the first 30 digits of Pi. They’ll think you’re some kind of savant.
The magic of math is everywhere, not just in delicious pies. Nature is kind of obsessed with
circles and spirals. Planets and stars are spherical, galaxies tend to spiral once they reach a great enough mass. Even small things like snail shells and sunflowers express a unique spirality. Much of this can be expressed by the Fibonacci sequence, whereby adding up the two preceding numbers in the sequence gives you the next number: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and so on.
When you consider how everything is formed and connected by atoms — which as far as we can tell are tiny spheres — it makes sense that nature loves spirals. A single sphere spinning around will have rounded edges and a bloated center due to centrifugal force, which is the same force that makes you feel like your stomach is inching up your gullet when you’re on a spinning ride at an amusement park. When you have two spheres orbiting each other, they spin around a shared center. Add a third sphere farther out, and you’ll start to see a spiraling effect. Don’t believe me? Take a look at any spiral galaxy where hundreds of millions of stars are being whipped around space by the gravitational force of a supermassive black hole. Nature loves spirals.
Infinity is a human concept, and it’s a concept that’s easier to account for than one of the largest numbers ever conceived by humans. A googol is more than the namesake-inspiration of your favorite search engine. It’s 10 to the 100th power, or a 1 with 100 zeros behind it. That’s a pretty big number, but a googolplex is a one with a googol zeros behind it. There is not enough space in the entire universe to write that number on paper. It’s a number so large that every single computer in existence working
together wouldn’t be able to display the figure in its entirety. You would need 1052 solar system-sized hard drives to store a googolplex represented by individual bytes of data. That’s far beyond the amount of all mass in the known universe, thus making a googolplex a completely theoretical number.
Humans have been doing math for a very long time. It’s likely that animals have had some rudimentary sense of counting for potentially tens of millions of years. Domesticated fowl have been observed counting their number of babies, and even wild animals are capable of tracking the number of young they care for and figuring out just how much food they need to eat. However, counting in your head and figuring out the golden ratio are completely different principles. The first examples of written mathematics date back to around 3,000 BCE and were produced by the ancient Sumerians. However, there is historical evidence of humans using counting sticks and marking bones as far back as 30,000 years ago. I wonder what they were counting?
Are you a fan of math and hoping to share the magic of mathematics with others in your community? The library is actively searching for more math tutors to help people of all ages better understand math for school, their careers and their personal curiosity. The library already has a great roster of phenomenal tutors, but as the area’s population grows, so too does the demand for tutors. Our tutors are superheroes, but even a caped crusader needs the help of a strong team.
Do you want to become an
Avenger in your community?
Apply today to become a volunteer tutor on the library’s website ebonnerlibrary.org/volunteer.
The library provides all of the training and support needed to be the best tutor you can be. All we need from you is a couple of hours a week and an eagerness to learn and help.
Being a volunteer tutor comes
with a ton of perks. You get to meet all sorts of new people and forge lifelong friendships, you get to make a permanent impact in the lives of those around you, and you get showered with praise and the occasional volunteer appreciation party where the library gives you food and awards for being awesome.
Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner
Don’t know much about political tweets? We can help!
*Information in this column was gathered from a Pew Research Center study conducted after the 2020 election.
•Of all tweets on Twitter, about 33% involve politics in some form or fashion. Of those about politics, about 62% from U.S. adults are retweets, with no additional text from the user. Pew Research Center claims political retweets received on average three times more engagement across the platform than retweets of nonpolitical content.
•In the wake of major events, politics makes up a larger share of what U.S. adults tweet about than normal. Some of the most notable increases in posts and engagement coincided with major political and social events. For example, the share of political tweets was especially large in the weeks following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers in 2020, as well as during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
•Political tweets from Republicans and Democrats alike are more
likely to mention the opposite party than their own. One in 10 political tweets posted by Democrats during a study period mentioned the Republican Party, while 7% of political tweets posted by Republicans mentioned the Democratic Party. In comparison, both Democrats and Republicans mentioned their own parties in about 4% of their political tweets.
•During the year studied, references to former-President Donald Trump were more uniquely associated with political content on Twitter than any other term. While political content on Twitter touches on a wide array of issues, individuals and institutions of government, Donald Trump was a “distinctive term,” which appeared in 28% of political tweets from U.S. adults during the study period. Other “distinctive terms” in descending order of popularity included: “presidency,” “Joe Biden,” “voting,” “Congress,” “America,” “Republican Party,” “election,” “Democratic Party” and “democracy.”
What you need to know about Idaho abortion laws
Doctors in Sandpoint and across the state are facing an impossible situation
By Drs. Amelia and Vince Huntsberger Reader Contributors
The Idaho Legislature has enacted some of the strictest abortion laws in the country. The “total abortion ban” went into effect on Aug. 25, 2022 and bans all abortions. There are no exceptions. None. No exception for the life of the mother. No exception for rape or incest. No exception for a pregnancy complicated by a lethal fetal diagnosis.
The ban does allow a doctor to bring an affirmative defense in court. The affirmative defense can be that the doctor acted to save the life of the mom or that the pregnancy was the result of an incident of rape or incest that was reported to the police, and the doctor was given a copy of the police report. Legally, this is extremely different from an exception. An affirmative defense means the doctor faces a felony charge in court and has to provide convincing evidence that will negate criminal liability.
In other words, the burden of proof is on the doctor to prove their innocence.
There is another law in effect that allows family members to sue a doctor who provides an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is present. This law incentivizes vigilante legal threats for any pregnancy terminated after a heartbeat is present.
Consider a clinical situation that occurs not uncommonly at our local hospital: a woman with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy with a heartbeat presents to the ER for care. She may initially appear stable with normal vital signs, and yet may have more than a liter of blood in her abdomen with ongoing active bleeding found at the time of surgery.
According to the Idaho Legislature, treating the ectopic pregnancy is an abortion. That abortion also saves her life. If all of her family members don’t understand the life threatening situation she faced, each of them could choose to sue the doctor for a minimum of $20,000.
To be clear: An ectopic pregnancy implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube, and
represents a potentially life threatening diagnosis that will not result in a living baby. It is the leading cause of death of pregnant women in the first trimester.
Maybe you think, like many, that abortion should be restricted to some degree. Please understand the language of the laws in Idaho. The law defines abortion as “the use of any means to intentionally terminate the clinically diagnosable pregnancy of a woman with knowledge that the termination by those means will, with reasonable likelihood, cause the death of the unborn child.”
That definition is much more broad than the definition that most people would assume. That definition includes clinical situations that most would not consider abortion. That definition could include miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy or a pregnancy complicated by a fetus with a diagnosis that will be fatal after birth, just to name a few examples. That definition means that doctors like us could face potential felony charges, suspension and/or loss of our medical license, and spend a minimum of two years in jail for providing treatment of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
None of those clinical situations have anything to do with a mother’s intention or choice, but will affect a mother’s ability to get high-quality, evidence-based, potentially life-saving care in Idaho. Can you imagine the government forcing a woman to continue a pregnancy with a grim prognosis that threatens her future fertility and her very life? That’s what is happening now in Idaho.
As you may know, termination of pregnancy without a medical indication has not been available in Sandpoint — or in most of Idaho — for more than a decade. Yet, with these laws in place, we worry about how to practice medicine that safely treats patients while avoiding legal prosecution.
Legislators in Idaho have codified a broad definition of abortion, encompassing care that most would not think applied. Doctors in Sandpoint and across the state are facing an impossible
situation. One of the frightening aspects of the laws in Idaho is the ambiguity. When can a doctor intervene with evidence-based medical treatment without facing legal action? Does a patient have to be at the brink of death? Who decides what level of risk to a pregnant patient’s health and life is enough?
One of the impacts of these extreme bans is the delay in care that results from doctors navigating what the conflicting laws allow. Meanwhile, a patient is experiencing a medical emergency. In addition to facing felony charges, doctors in Idaho will be forced by the state government to ignore their medical training and defer care until it is necessary to prevent the death of the patient.
Withholding evidence-based treatment options until a patient deteriorates and death is imminent is cruel, inhumane and it is bad medicine. Patients may experience serious complications, have negative impact on future fertility, require additional hospital resources including blood transfusion and some patients may die as a result of delays in care.
Promoting health is the mission of our work in medicine. We cannot stand by while our patients and our health care teams face the criminalization of evidence-based, life-saving reproductive health care. This assault on the patient-doctor relationship must be stopped. Do you want the government making your medical decisions? We must block government interference in health care. These laws give the government power over your privacy and your personal medical decisions. Don’t let politicians take away your freedoms.
With all of this at play in Idaho, voting becomes essential. Vote as if the lives of the women you care about depend on it. They do.
Amelia Huntsberger, M.D., is an obstetrician/gynecologist with Sandpoint Women’s Health and Vince Huntsberger, M.D., is an emergency medicine expert at Lake Pend Oreille Emergency Medicine.
<LTE,con’tfromPage9>
Steve is a proponent for excellence in public education, preserving our rural nature and public lands and lowering property taxes. He is a man of honesty and integrity running to support the citizens of this district, rejecting the extreme views of somebody like Herndon, who wants to destroy public education, prohibit a woman’s right to choose, reject federal funding and who sued the city for not being allowed to bring a gun into the Festival.
Your write-in vote for Steve Johnson can help prevent our political process being hijacked by extreme elements who want to destroy our lifestyle and values.
Please write in Steve Johnson’s name on the dotted line under “Scott Herndon REP” and don’t forget to fill in the box next to Steve Johnson.
Erik Daarstad Sandpoint
‘City of Sandpoint should rethink the local option tax’…
Dear editor,
I want to start by giving credit where credit is due. The city has done a pretty good job with their Multimodal Transportation Plan, and a great job with the interactive page on their website detailing the proposed local option tax, including projects to be tackled if it passes.
I don’t disagree with the concept of a short-term lodging tax to fund street and sidewalk projects — but doubling any type of tax is significant. I might be in favor if it came with ballot language suspending certain provisions in Title 7, Chapter 3 of Sandpoint Code relating to property owner responsibilities for sidewalk installation/ repair until the LOT sunsets.
Although, what’s seemingly more important is the looming need for overhauling critical infrastructure (water mains, service connectors and the sewage treatment facility). Are we going to sink funding into improvements on streets that need to be torn apart in a few years for water/sewer updates? The cost is going to be unpleasant for the full battery of upgrades and will likely require use of every tool in the toolbox — fee increases, some variety of LOT and possibly financing. Let’s keep options open right now and oppose the Sandpoint ballot measure.
Chase Youngdahl Sandpoint
Thank you to everyone who wrote a letter to the editor before Election Day. Unfortunately, we didn’t have room for many letters, which arrived late in our production cycle. Remember, it’s always best to send your letters at least a week in advance before an election. Space fills up quickly. Starting Nov. 10, we will revert back to the 300-word limit for letters to the editor.
A general overview of the general election
Don’t forget to vote on — or before — Tuesday, Nov. 8
By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff
Early voting is open at the Bonner County Administration Building from now through Friday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m., after which those participating in local democracy must wait until polling places open at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Voting locations haven’t changed since the May primary, and all polling places will close at 8 p.m. Voters can register at their polling place on Election Day.
Unlike the May primary, during which every Idaho party but the Democrats held a closed election, voters in the general election will see candidates from every party on the ballot. For statewide races, voters will have the chance to elect a United States senator and representative, as well as a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, state treasurer, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction.
Statewide, voters will also be able to decide whether to approve an amendment to the Idaho constitution — SJR 102 — that would enable the Legislature to call itself into session. Currently, only the governor holds that power.
creasing education funding by $410 million.
Voters in Boundary and Bonner counties reside primarily in Idaho Legislative District 1, where both state representative seats are up for election.
Republican Mark Sauter is running unopposed for Seat A, while incumbent Republican Rep. Sage Dixon is running unopposed for Seat B.
On the ballot, the District 1 state senator contest will feature only the name of Republican nominee Scott Herndon, while independent Steve Johnson has filed as a write-in candidate for that race.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8
Only a couple of southern Bonner County precincts will vote for District 2 legislators. The races for state senator and representative Seat A are sought unopposed by Republican nominees Phil Hart and Heather Scott, respectively, while voters have a choice of either libertarian Jennifer Ann Luoma, Democrat Tim Stroschein or Republican Dale Hawkins for the state representative Seat B position.
Voters in both Districts 1 and 2 will be asked whether District Court
Judge Lori Meulenberg should be retained in office.
Robert Beers for coroner.
Also on every Idahoan’s ballot will be an advisory question asking voters to approve or disapprove of “refund[ing]” $500 million of budget surplus to taxpayers, cutting income taxes by $150 million and in-
Bonner County voters will see a straight ticket of unopposed Republican candidates for county offices, including Asia Williams and Luke Omodt running for District 2 and 3 commissioners, respectively; Michael Rosedale for clerk; Clorrisa Koster for treasurer; Grant Dorman for assessor; and
Voters in the city of Sandpoint will also have the chance to vote in favor or against a ballot measure increasing the city’s local option non-property tax — targeted at tourist lodging — from 7% to 14% and extending it through the year 2035. Income from the tax currently funds public safety, parks and other capital improvements, while the proposed increase would also be intended for roadways, pedestrian safety and stormwater infrastructure projects, to name a few.
While the May primary saw considerable partisan buzz and reports of alleged
electioneering on Election Day, the number of unopposed local races could signal a quieter environment during the general election. Still, Bonner County Clerk Mike Rosedale told the Reader that people should remember that state statute dictates that campaigning activities cease 100 feet from the polling location.
“Please remember, we are neighbors the day after
the election,” Rosedale said. “They’re your neighbors, they’re your co-workers. You can get your message out, but please do it in a civil way.”
To see sample ballots, a list of polling places and more information regarding the Tuesday, Nov. 8 election, head to bonnercountyid.gov/elections.
Photo by Cameron Barnes.
COMMUNITY BY THE NUMBERS
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
500%
The percentage increase of the use of the N-word on Twitter on Oct. 28, the day Elon Musk took over as private owner of the site, according to the Network Contagion Research Insitute. Twitter confirmed that a small number of accounts tweeted that particular racial slur 50,000 times. Since his takeover of the social media site, Musk has courted controversy, especially after tweeting (and later deleting) a link to a fringe website with a history of publishing false stories without evidence. The story made unfounded, homophobic allegations in relation to the brutal attack on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 82-year-old husband Paul, where a conspiracy theorist bludgeoned him with a hammer.
20
The number of U.S. states — including Idaho — which allow same-day voter registration on Election Day. In Idaho, same-day voter registration is permitted if you bring proof of residence. According to Idaho Statute on Elections, proof of residence must be an Idaho driver’s license or ID card issued through the department of transportation with a current physical address printed on the ID. If address isn’t current, you must show a document which contains a valid address in the district together with a photo ID. Also, student IDs from post-secondary educational institutions are allowed as long as they are accompanied with a current student fee statement that contains the student’s valid address in the district.
100 feet
The minimum distance one must be away from a polling place on the day of any primary, general or special election while conducting any type of electioneering, which includes: circulating cards or handbills of any kind; soliciting signatures to any type of petition; engaging in any practice which interferes with the freedom of voters to exercise their franchise or disrupts the administration of the polling place. No person may obstruct the doors or entries to a building in which a polling place is located or prevent free access to and from any polling place. Any election officer, sheriff, constable or other peace officer is authorized to arrest any person violating the provisions listed above.
Panida Century Fund sees strong support in second week
By Reader Staff
The Panida Century Fund pulled in $8,105 in the past week, concluding only the second week of its campaign to raise funds for restoration of the historic theater.
That amount, when matched by a pledge from Ting Internet, doubled to $16,210 — money that will go to the urgent first-year need to replace the theater roof, said board member and fundraising chair Foster Cline.
“This is the magic of the Ting match,” said Cline. “I think donors can see when they contribute, their donation gets doubled. What a great way to contribute to the Panida’s future.”
But, he noted, there’s a long way to go. With this week’s donations, a total $183,985.77 has been raised toward the goal so far.
The Century Fund has a five-year goal to raise $1.9 million to address long-deferred maintenance leading up to the Panida’s 100th anniversary in November 2027. The focus and goal in the Phase I year is $273,000, the bulk to be used to replace the theater roof, which is experiencing leaks that could damage the interior plaster.
The campaign has enjoyed a huge boost from Ting, which has pledged to match individual donations of up to $5,000 for a total of $200,000 over the five-year campaign.
“Again, our profound thanks to Ting,” said Cline, adding a special thanks to Kari Saccomanno, Ting’s area manager, who facilitated the company’s commitment.
“I hope we can keep this wonderful momentum going this next week,” said Cline. “For all who are considering a donation, of any amount, this is the right time to contribute. And it will get doubled.”
Donate, and see the detailed plans for the campaign including how funds will be expended, at panida.org.
Award-winning program helps families plan for their land’s future
By Reader Staff
Kaniksu Land Trust will host a workshop Saturday, Nov. 5 geared toward area landowners who are concerned about what will happen to their family property in the future.
With support from the Forest Stewardship Foundation, KLT is offering the award-winning “Ties to the Land” succession planning workshop 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the University of Idaho Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center (10881 N. Boyer Road).
“Succession planning is the human side of estate planning, and is a way for families to maintain their ties to the land across multiple generations, building awareness of the key challenges facing family businesses and motivating families to address those challenges,” KLT stated in an announcement for the workshop.
Led by veteran facilitators Kirk and Madeline David, the live, interactive presentation will provide tools that families can use to decide the future of their land, drawing on the Davids’ wealth of experience with forest management and family succession planning. They have offered the workshop in multiple states.
“Families usually attribute a high level of importance to succession planning but
concede that they have not done enough to prepare,” according to KLT. “Sometimes this is due to unresolved issues, passive communication styles or uncertainty in people’s lives. Including younger generations in key discussions about the future of the family farm or forestland enhances the successful transfer of beliefs and values, compared to a ‘wait-and-see’ approach.”
The format of the workshop includes a mix of presentations and practical exercises that help families address the key challenges of succession planning. Participants will learn about the legal and economic aspects of transferring a farm, forest or ranch from one generation to the next. Participants will also receive a “Ties to the Land” workbook and companion DVD — tools designed to help families continue to improve and direct communication and planning at home. “Ties to the Land” is an award-winning curriculum developed by leading estate planning experts at Oregon State University Extension and the Austin Family Business Program.
Registration for the workshop is $25 per family, and includes one workbook, a DVD, lunch and refreshments.
Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, visit kaniksu.org/events/ties-to-the-land or call 208-263-9471.
Outdoor ed. to focus on autumn ecology, fall birding and animal tracks
By Reader Staff
Libby Hostel Base Camp is sponsoring an outdoor educa tional class on Saturday, Oct. 29, titled “Autumn Ecology, Fall Birding and Animal Tracks,” which will focus on seasonal changes, resident and migratory birds, and the basics of animal tracking.
The medium-paced educational program will be taught by qualified instructors, with participants meeting at 9 a.m. (Mountain Time) in the Viking Room at the Venture Inn in Libby, Mont., located at 1015 West Highway 2.
After a short classroom session covering the basics and handout materials, the group will head to the field to visit several types of habitats. Participants will convoy with their own vehicles on a road tour to selected observation points and undertake short hikes of less than a quarter mile on private property.
The class is intended to teach participants how to use their own powers of
observation to increase their knowledge and enjoyment of the outdoors without relying on computers, and instructors underscored that the program is not a casual walk in the park, but an instructional class.
“It also is not a contest to see who can yell out the species of bird first or how many species can be identified and tallied,” organizers stated.
Attendees should come with full gas tanks, proper clothing layers, good footwear, water, lunch, binoculars, bird field guide books, cameras and a good sense of humor. Of special importance, participants are asked to bring along orange safety vests, as well.
The program will wrap up at approximately 3 p.m. (MST). The class is reserved for those 18 and older and no pets are allowed. The group size is limited to no more than 10 people, and registration is required to attend. For more information and to register, call 406-291-2154 or email b_baxter53@yahoo.com.
So I’m workin’ the other day on a little shop I’m building on my place… that autumn afternoon sun feedin’ my soul, when something occurred that gave me pause. I had an open beer sittin’ nearby and, since I was busy getting some rafters up, the can would get a little lonely. But no worries, I had one of those little foam things (I forget what you call ’em) around it.
I came down off the ladder to sit back a bit and stare at what I’d been doin’. I took a long drink and felt something in my mouth other than beer. A couple little rolly-polly
By Mike Wagoner Reader Contributor
A little too hammered
things… I flashed on a party I was at years ago when I picked up the wrong beer bottle that I thought was mine… took a swig and discovered I’d chosen poorly. It belonged to a dude that chewed and I had grabbed his spit bottle. Yeah.
Anyway, back to the present. I spit the beer out and there at my feet in the little puddle of Pabst were two slow movin’ yellow jackets. Yeah.
I gained a whole new respect for alcohol that day, my friends. It protected me from myself. How ironic.
Flowers from Uvalde vigil
By Michelle O’Conner Reader Contributor
This past spring I went to a vigil at Evans Brothers Coffee for the massacred souls of the Uvalde, Texas school shooting. There was reflection, prayers and honor for the 19 children and two teachers who lost their lives in an unthinkable, unfaceable way. Attendees lit 21 candles and, at the end of the vigil, blew out their flames with solemn reverence.
Upon leaving, the compassionate women who organized the event to honor these 21 beautiful souls had sunflower starts for all of us to take home. Since I blew out the flame for Ellie and Maranda, I took home two starts, planted them by my back porch, and named them Ellie and Maranda. I was able to reflect and honor these children all summer.
Initially, these two small starts bloomed into two tall, magnificent sunflowers: Ellie and Maranda. Before long, these two young starts consistently became 19 to 21 beautiful sunflowers gracing my backyard all summer long.
This fall, as the sunflowers turn to birdseed, a stray cat has found our back porch and a welcome bowl of food. We have noticed that this cat always approaches through the sunflower garden and stops to rub against that stately sunflower shrine.
We cannot forget what happened. We can-
not disregard the need for common-sense gun regulation. We cannot close our eyes to inhumanity by placing our gun fetish over living, breathing babies — and no one has the right to pretend to care about fetuses if they don’t care about living, breathing, loved children’s lives being ended so violently.
The sunflowers planted after the Uvalde vigil in spring are thriving. Photo by Michelle O’Conner.
Bonner County Human Rights Task Force to host presentation ‘Building Community in Difficult Times’
By Reader Staff
Travis McAdam will give a presentation on “Building Community in Difficult Times,” on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church (417 N. Fourth Ave. in Sandpoint).
The nonpartisan event is being offered free of charge by the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force.
McAdams serves as project director of the Montana Human Rights Network and is an expert on the challenges facing communities throughout the region, as well as strategies that have helped them choose discourse over discord and unity over dissension. The theme of his talk will be
exploring how to engage in calm, productive dialogues about difficult questions.
“We face a situation where many of our communities are divided right now. We need to understand the challenges we face and come together to address real problems,” McAdam said. “We should never underestimate the power of people coming together to do good work.”
For more than 20 years, McAdam has sought to understand what drives extremism, what pulls people apart and what brings them together. His theory is that to know their community, citizens must first know their goals, focus on what’s working, build on strengths and work together to sustain stability.
Utara to show Brewers Assoc. film
By Reader Staff
Utara Brewing Co. will host two screenings of the Brewers Association film, For the Love of Craft, at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the brewery (214 Pine St.) in Sandpoint.
The 25-minute film is a documentary short produced by the Brewers Association, Studio C3 and Charlie Papazian, which peels back the label of what it
means to be a craft brewer and reveals the true heart of craft by introducing the people behind it.
From the luminaries and icons of the craft beer world to the industry’s newest players, For the Love of Craft takes a deep dive and exposes the desires, dreams, wisdom and sometimes naivety of people pursuing their passions through independence.
Bonner Title, Chris Bessler honored by Sandpoint Chamber
By Reader Staff
The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce awarded Bonner Title as its October “business of the month” and Chris Bessler as “volunteer of the month,” noting their contributions to the local community.
Bonner Title opened its Sandpoint branch in the spring of 2022, and has been doing business as Kootenai Title in Coeur d’Alene for nearly 50 years. It is the only locally owned title and escrow company in North Idaho, according to the chamber.
The company has four dedicated employees in the Sandpoint branch, which is located on the bottom floor of the Sand Creek lofts at 115 E. Lake St, including owner JT Jacobson, Title Officer Kim Mehlhaff, Escrow Closer Rhonda Harvitz and Marketing Director Carrie Bertrand.
“Many businesses come to the Sandpoint area, open shop and hope things work without ever getting involved with the community,” the chamber stated. “Bonner Title has done a great job of getting involved in the community right off the bat.”
For example, Bertrand joined the Sandpoint Rotary Club with her focus on the youth exchange program, as well as Food
For Our Children. An active member of the chamber, Bertrand is also involved in the Selkirk Association of Realtors.
Chris Bessler is president and founder of Keokee Media and Marketing in Sandpoint, which provides website design, development and digital marketing services for companies locally and around the U.S. Keokee also publishes Sandpoint Magazine, Schweitzer Magazine, regional books and is co-owner of the Sandpoint Reader.
Bessler grew up in the small logging town of Glide, Ore., graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism in 1978. Bessler landed his first journalism job in North Idaho that same year, first as a reporter and editor at the Bonners Ferry Herald, and later as a reporter and editor for the Bonner County Daily Bee. He left the area for a few years to work as an editor for magazines in the Bay Area before returning in 1990 to launch Keokee and Sandpoint Magazine.
He and his wife Sandy have a son, Nate, who attended Sandpoint Waldorf School, Sandpoint High School and graduated from the University of Idaho in 2011.
Bessler is currently on the board of directors for 88.5 KRFY community radio, as well as a volunteer broadcaster each Wednesday on
the KRFY “Morning Show.” He also serves as chairperson of the Panida Theater committee that has launched the new Century Fund capital campaign, which has a five-year goal to raise $1.9 million for essential restoration and maintenance on the theater, as well as renovation of the Little Theater.
What’s more, Bessler has a seat on the emeritus board of the Panhandle Alliance for Education after a 13-year run on its board of directors. He’s been on the cham-
ber tourism council for Visit Sandpoint for 20-plus years, is a member of the Bonner General Health Advisory Council and the Innova Foundation Leadership Council for the Bonner-Boundary counties region.
OBITUARY
CHARLOTTE PENNINGTON TELGENER (PENNY)
Charlotte Pennington Telgener (Penny), of Savannah, Ga., passed away peacefully the morning of Oct. 29 after a fight with cancer. Charlotte was born in 1932 and spent most of her youthful years in Sandpoint, a small town in the northern panhandle of that state. While attending high school she met John Telgener, who she married following their graduation from the University of Idaho.
Penny is a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and obtained a bachelor of science degree in home economics. Following graduation, she and her husband relocated to Connecticut, where they began 68 years of happy married life. Penny remained active in her sorority, church and community affairs; is a PEO member; became a proficient downhill skier; and loved golf and playing bridge with her dear friends.
Charlotte, following her husband’s retirement from Pratt and Whitney, later relocated to the Landings in Savannah and, more recently, they had become residents of
the Marshes of Skidaway. She always loved to travel and was fortunate to visit many parts of the world together with her husband, and loved the many memorable years spent at the family’s New Hampshire lake home. Her most cherished role was being grandmother to her four loving grandchildren. She was a longtime member of the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, Charles A. and Dora Bruns Pennington, of Sandpoint. She is survived by her spouse, John Telgener, their two loving sons and their spouses Richard John (Deborah) and Steven Charles (Patty), all of Golden, Colo.; grandchildren Christopher, of Yarmouth, Maine; Jonathan of Evergreen, Colo.; and Liam and Anna of Golden, Colo.
A memorial service will be held at Skidaway Island United Methodist Church on Monday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the church.
Above left: Chris Bessler, left, accepts his volunteer of the month certificate from the Chamber’s Bob Witte. Above right: Kim Mehlaff, left, and Carrie Bertrand, center, accept the business of the month certificate for Bonner Title from Bob Witte, right. Courtesy photos.
Where she’s meant to be
Local
artist
Maria
Larson
showcases colorful, nature-inspired paintings at Pend d’Oreille Winery in November
By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff
Maria Larson’s art — and by proxy, her entire life — is a love letter to North Idaho.
In an attempt to explain the connection she feels to this area, which she first visited at 9 years old, Larson’s voice quivered with emotion.
“I don’t know how to express it to you,” she said. “My life changed the minute I got here. I suddenly knew where I was supposed to be.”
Born and raised in southern California, Larson’s family owned property at Sunnyside and visited often.
“I just never wanted to be any place else,” she said. “My dad and I would take the dogs for a walk after dinner [in California] and we’d look up at the moon and we’d say, ‘Do you think that’s over Warren Island or Anderson Point?’ We were always thinking about it — we always wanted to be here. My husband fell in love with it as much as I did when he started coming up here with me.”
Larson has since found her way back to her favorite place, and brought a lifetime of painting with her, at various times specializing in large-scale murals, window painting and set design. Her works color various parts of Sandpoint, and her well-known map paintings — which feature bright outdoor scenery depicted on top of maps of Lake Pend Oreille, Priest Lake and Lake Coeur d’Alene — continue to gain popularity. While many artists will find a niche and
stick to it, Larson is not one to conform to a single style. Still, her brand is made cohesive by deep textures, bright colors and, more often than not, loving depictions of the animals and landscapes of the Idaho Panhandle. A selection of those works are currently on display at the Pend d’Oreille Winery for the month of November, with a reception there on Thursday, Nov. 3 from 5-7 p.m.
“I just love an excuse to riot with color,” Larson said, also noting the importance of light in her paintings — “the lack of it or the movement of it or the brilliance of it.”
Larson’s nature-inspired paintings are just that: inspired, but ultimately, odes to their subjects. The moose are realistic but soft and the blue herons are majestic but whimsical, poised to spread their wings and fly straight from the canvas to the Clark Fork River Delta. These creations are drawn from reference photos, lived experiences and, sometimes, from Laron’s own restless mind.
“I paint in my sleep a lot,” she said. “I get an idea and it won’t go away.”
Larson said she isn’t slowing down any time soon, and is open to commissioned, custom paintings on top of the dreamed creations she still strives to bring to life.
“I have a feeling that when [my] time comes, I’m going to still be thinking, ‘Oh, I would still like to paint that. I still have things I would like to express,’” she said. “You never know how long you have. You never know how short time is. It keeps me getting up every morning, getting down to the studio and starting again.”
With the support of her husband, Lars — “I couldn’t do it without him,” she said
— and a lifetime of love left to express for the mountains and waters she first saw at 9 years old, Larson remains steadfast in her mission to pay tribute to her greatest muse.
“My father and I would go to Hawaii and we’d go, ‘Meh. Let’s go back to the lake,’” she said with a laugh. “I mean, seriously. There was just no place that had our hearts like this place.”
View Maria Larson’s work at the Pend d’Oreille Winery during the month of November, or all of the time at Northwest Handmade Furniture in Sandpoint or the Angel Gallery in Coeur d’Alene. Learn more about the artist or contact her at marialarsonart.com.
Top: A landscape painting by Maria Larson. Above right: Local artist Maria Larson. Courtesy photos.
events
November 3-10, 2022
THURSDAY, november 3
Live Music w/ Aaron Golay and the Original Sin 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Artist Reception: Maria Larson
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ Larry Mooney 6pm @ Blue Room
FriDAY, november 4
Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz
4:30-7pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Ron Kieper Duo 6pm @ Blue Room
Selkirk Pend Oreille Food Summit
9am-4pm @ Spt. Organic Ag. Center
A one-day event focused on growing connections between farmers, restaurants and retailers. Happy hour 4-6pm
Live Music w/ Scott Taylor and the Endless Switchbacks
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Sam Leyde Band in concert
7pm @ The Heartwood Center
CDA-based band which has gained a lot of recognition in the PNW for their style blending Americana, country and rock. $15/advanced, $20/door. mattoxfarm.com
MCS Concert Series
7-9pm @ MCS Little Carnegie Hall
Matthew Goodrich plays a dazzling selection of Spanish piano music, with special guest Melody Puller. $30 / $15 (students)
Live Music w/ Devon Wade 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
SATURDAY, november 5
Live Music w/ B Radicals
9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge Rock, jam, rhythm and funk
Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz
7-9pm @ The Back Door
Sam Leyde Band in concert
7pm @ The Pearl Theater (Bonners)
See listing above. mattoxfarm.com
Live Music w/ Doug & Marty 6pm @ Blue Room
Live Music w/ General Mojo and Biddadat
7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes
5:30-8pm @ Drift (Hope)
Live Music w/ Brad Keeler
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Thanksgiving Bingo Fundraiser
12:30pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center Turkey/ham, raffle prizes, silent auction
Friends of the Library book sale
10am-2pm @ Sandpoint Library
Half off all books and media except from the children’s section. Great place to stock up for Christmas presents.
Sandpoint Nordic Club Winter Welcome
1-4pm @ Pine Street Woods
Ring in the 2022-2023 winter season with food and beverages, a raffle and family fun
Learn to make a book
11am-1pm @ Hope Mem. Comm. Center $5/students, $10/adults. Learn folding book and pamphlet journal bound book
Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
SunDAY, november 6
Sandpoint Chess Club • 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee
monDAY, november 7
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Group Run @ Outdoor Experience
6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome, beer after
Live Music w/ Jonathan Foster • 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub (see Page 25 for more info)
wednesDAY, november 9
Vintage Second Wednesday: Phantom of the Opera • 7pm @ Panida Theater
A vintage showing of the 1925 classic, featuring Lon Chaney. $5. Doors at 6:30pm
Live Piano w/ Dwayne Parsons • 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Live Music w/ Samantha Carston • 6-8pm @ The Back Door
ThursDAY, november 10
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] play
7:30pm @ Panida Theater
See all 37 of the Bard’s plays in just 90 minutes! Free to attend. It’s going to be wild
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
If a person embarked on a mission to watch all of William Shakespeare’s plays from start to finish, the exercise would take just shy of five days — a marathon session that makes watching the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings trilogy seem like a TikTok video.
There is one other option, however — check out Montana Shakespeare in the Park’s production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Panida Theater.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised]
This is a free show and open to all. Spending roughly two minutes on each of his 37 plays, The Complete Works has been hailed as an irreverent romp reminiscent of the Monty Python films. This fast-paced play features three actors — Calvin Adams, Charlotte Mae Ellison and Riley O’Toole with Mikey Gray working as a development/outreach associate — weaving their merry way through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies at a slapdash pace, covering the entire canon in just 90 minutes.
Thursday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.; doors open 30 minutes before the show, FREE. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., 208-2639191. Panida.org for more info.
“It’s slightly loose in structure,” said Dan Meulenberg, the local host for Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. “It’s a little
Curiously strong The Bard in Brief
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
When future cultural excavators opine on the finest films of the early 21st century, it is certain that Pan’s Labyrinth, from Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, will be near the top of the list. The 2006 horror-fantasy, set amid the insanity of Fascist Spain in the 1940s, earned three Oscars in 2007, including Best Direction, Cinematography and Makeup, as well as nominations for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Music and Best Writing/Original Screenplay.
All of these accolades were well earned — Pan’s Labyrinth being a warlock’s-brew of woozy otherworldliness, populated by side-eyed grotesqueries that make Alice in Wonderland look like a spin around Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.
The film also cemented del Toro as one of the truly great auteurs of his age, though his work has also wowed audiences from The Devil’s Backbone (2001) to the Hellboy films (2004 and 2008) to The Shape of Water (2017) and Nightmare Alley (2021). As a producer/writer he had a hand in The Orphanage (2007), Mama (2013) and The Book of Life (2014) — we won’t dwell on his involvement with the underwhelming Hobbit trilogy from 2012-’14.
bit of audience participation, almost like a little bit of improv.”
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is a wild romp through the Bard’s entire catalog
Meulenberg said the Pend Oreille Arts Council is a “major underwriter,” helping make this production happen in Sandpoint, along with Refined Aesthetics, which lent a hand to subsidize the rental of the Panida Theater. Eichardt’s Pub will provide dinner for the actors before the show, and Family Health Center is underwriting advertising and marketing.
“Attending live theater can be a very moving and powerful experience,” Meulenberg told the Reader “Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists in all of literature based on his plays and poetry. The themes he tackles in his plays are universal and, in many cases, his plays such as Hamlet, King Lear and Macbeth are still considered the defining examples
of blind power, family betrayal and delayed decision-making leading to incomprehensible tragedy. … Plus, he knew how to have fun and even in his hilarious comedies we experience the depths of human experience.”
The upcoming performance of The Complete Works comes after a successful summer production of Twelfth Night by Montana Shakespeare in the Parks at Lakeview Park, with Meulenberg estimating a crowd two times larger than the previous year.
“It was amazing to me, as always, to see young kids on the edge of their seats, so to speak, leaning forward and hanging on every word of dialogue in the play,” he said. “In a world flooded with electronic media, to see these kids mesmerized by a play written over 400 years ago actually makes me a bit emotional.”
This production is 100% free, which is part of Montana Shakespeare in the Park’s mission that no one is to charge any admission for any of their performances.
“The fact that this is free is amazing on so many levels,” Muelenberg added.
Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix series Cabinet of Curiosities is many layers of macabre delight
All this is to say that del Toro possesses a vision of horror that is singular for his time, penetrating to deeper terrors than the semi-sympathetic (all-too-human) true-crimey psychopaths that far lazier filmmakers serve up to even lazier film viewers.
It’s no coincidence that any documentary on the life and works of early-20th century horror writer H.P. Lovecraft features del Toro’s grinning roly-poly face — complete with super-thick spectacles — waxing eloquent in his even thicker accent about the length and breadth of “cosmic horror.” He’s in that club of artistic necromancers, which has been reaffirmed with the limited Netflix series Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, which slid onto the streaming service two onehour episodes at a time during the week before Halloween.
For those of us who aren’t of the proper vintage to have seen Alfred Hitchcock Presents or The Twilight Zone in their respective heydays, Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities provides a taste of what we missed. (And, no, Tales from the Crypt doesn’t compare.)
This anthology of eight short pieces serves to showcase the talents of a number of directors: Guillermo Navarro, Vincenzo Natali, David Prior, Ana Lily Amirpour, Keith Thomas, Catherine Hardwicke, Panos Cosmatos and
Jennifer Kent — some of whom wrote their own material, adapted their stories from del Toro’s writing or took inspiration from short stories by writers like Henry Kuttner, Michael Shea, Emily Carroll and (of course) Lovecraft.
Del Toro could have easily made the series all about himself — he introduces each episode, a la Hitchcock, walking out onto a black soundstage with his own prodigious rotundity draped in a black suit as he fiddles with the knobs and latches of a real-life “cabinet of curiosities.” He opens little doors and drawers to reveal an object specific to each story, queing up the given episode with a brief poetic preface before producing a small carved statue of each creator, and away we go.
spoiling it. Suffice it to say, it stars no less than F. Murray Abraham. Enough said. (It’s also probably my favorite of the pieces.)
It’s a quaint structural nod to those horror series of old, and situates del Toro as the master of ceremonies, rather than the prime mover, which he is. This is his freak show, but he’s stepping back to give the other creators their space to shine, however darkly. And, frankly, the darker they shine, the better.
The first episode introduces us to a damaged war veteran sometime in the 1980s who makes his living reselling the contents of people’s
storage units. He’s been radicalized by right-wing radio, and is the kind of asshole who has become all too common (played to perfection by Tim Blake Nelson), but even his pissy bigotries pale to what he finds in “Lot 36.”
Then we have “Graveyard Rats,” in which a corrupt cemetery caretaker gets much more than he bargains for when trying to pay off his gambling debts by robbing his subterranean clients of their worldly goods. This is easily one of the most stress-inducing episodes of the series.
“The Autopsy” is a wise rumination on mortality that I don’t want to write much more about for fear of
“The Outside” is a masterful black-humor morality tale about the wages of sin — specifically, vanity — starring Kate Micucci, who can summarize the entire DSM-5 with the motion of her eyelids. There are two episodes based on Lovecraft stories — “Pickman’s Model,” featuring Crispin Glover as the titular doom-struck artist — and “Dreams in the Witch House,” with no less than Rupert “Ron Weasley” Grint as the grotty, bereaved paranormal researcher. Peter Weller takes centerstage in “The Viewing,” which is both the most visually weird and flattest of the episodes, followed by “The Murmuring,” a del Toro story that burns slow but picks up with some serious Hitchcock homages (semi-spoiler: birds).
All in all, Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is grisly-gory (emphasis on this); thinky; and impeccably written, directed, cast, acted, organized and set designed. It’s exactly what we should expect from a real master of his craft. All episodes now streaming on Netflix.
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is available to stream on Netflix. Courtesy photo.
By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist
The Sandpoint Eater The recipe project
For an upcoming project, I’ve begun organizing my Reader recipes and other written recipes, as well as committing several “still-in-my-head” recipes to paper. Some people measure their lives and relive their memories through photos and other ephemera. Likewise, my life is measured in recipes.
Over the years, I’ve written recipe ideas in the margins of cookbooks, penciled them onto cocktail napkins, jotted edible ideas on railroad timetables, and added my adaptations to my ancient collection of mimeographed (remember those?) and carbon-smudged recipes from long-departed relatives. But, for some reason, my mother chose to record her recipes in pencil, and though the memories will live with me, sadly, the recipes continue to fade from the worn paper.
Every time I dig through these paper treasures, I am transported to distant times. For example, I came across Aunt Joan’s recipe for spaghetti pie. I can recall the aroma of the rich tomato sauce that permeated her kitchen and the copper handles on her maplewood cupboards.
Aunt Joan was my mother’s younger sister, a fabulous cook and a quintessential hostess. As if raising seven children wasn’t enough, she was married to a prominent pediatrician in Billings, Mont., and her duties included hosting elaborate dinner parties. My collection of her recipes is mainly written on the yellow lined paper of legal pads, because she never took a shortcut when committing her detailed recipes to paper.
Another recipe I just rediscovered came from my early days on the ranch. During the annual turkey shoot at the grange hall in Gold Creek, Mont., my neighbor sliced up her homemade salami for the hardworking kitchen staff to enjoy. The spicy sausage was delicious, and I complimented her offering as I stood beside her, scraping mounds of dirty dishes. Lo and behold, just a few days later, she showed up at my house with a whole length of the savory sausage and a hand-written copy of the recipe that included 25 pounds each of ground pork and ground elk. Though I’ve yet to make it, it’s high on my list of foods I intend to prepare before I perish.
Believe it or not, many of the”forever” dishes in my reper-
toire have yet to be committed to paper. I am a taste-and-proceed sort of cook, which is subjective, to say the least, but I endeavor to end up with results pleasing to most of the crowd.
Last week, I hosted a small gathering for Sunday dinner and took the time to carefully measure each ingredient in every single dish I was preparing. Once the guests were seated and the wine was poured, I announced that it was to be a “working dinner,” which came with a caveat: I needed them to carefully taste and critique every dish. And so, they did. It was a lively and fun dinner, and now I have five recipes (including the much-requested recipe for my deviled eggs) that will be added to my compilation of Reader
recipes.
My recipes come from the adage, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Our Montana ranch was 25 miles from the nearest grocery store, and there was rarely a food item essential enough to drive me to load up two small children for the trip to Deer Lodge. So a trip to town was never wasted; had I made an effort, it would have necessitated a stop for swather parts and vet supplies. Learning to substitute ingredients was my saving grace.
That philosophy served me again when I began cooking on moving passenger trains. Invariably, though I had detailed shopping lists for each menu, I’d overlook a vital ingredient and have to improvise. Even now, my recipes continue to
Classic deviled eggs
evolve with substitutions as I cater to my growing family, including a handful of well-loved vegetarians.
There are only a few ingredients I can’t live without and, in my kitchen, you will always find an ample supply of Maldon sea salt flakes and S&B curry powder. The salt is the perfect finish for all things savory and, in my opinion, S&B is the ideal blend of spices that delivers a genuinely flavorful curry. Both are must-haves for my classic deviled eggs.
I’m headed to Seattle this week and will be restocking my supplies. Fortunately, if you’re inclined to try the deviled eggs, both items are available on Amazon.
These savory and tasty eggs compliment any meal or stand alone as an appetizer. Use older eggs, as they peel easier, and cook a couple extra to allow for breakage. If you have your own sure-proof method for cooking eggs that peel well, by all means use it. If you don’t have an egg dish, line the serving platter with spinach leaves so the eggs stay put. Serve garnished, or set up a “garnish bar,” and let guests add their own.
INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:
•12 hard-cooked eggs, peeled
•¼ cup of Best Foods mayonnaise
•2 tbs Grey Poupon mustard
•1 tsp S&B curry powder
•1 tbs rice wine vinegar
•½ tsp sea salt
•⅛ tsp fine ground white pepper
Garnish options:
•Bacon crumbles
•Minced parsley
•Finely chopped chives
•Paprika
•Anchovies
•Tobiko (tiny fish roe)
Place eggs in a medium saucepan and cover with a couple inches of cold water.
Bring to a full boil over high heat, then immediately reduce heat to a low simmer. Set timer for 20 minutes. Transfer the eggs from the stove to the sink and run cold water over them.
While eggs are still warm, peel under warm running water, rinse well and pat dry.
Cut eggs lengthwise in half. Place whites on a serving platter and turn yolks out, into a mixing bowl. Mash well with fork, then using a spoon, press yolks firmly against sides of bowl to make sure there are no small lumps remaining.
Stir in mayonnaise, mustard, curry powder, salt and pepper, and mix well by hand. Taste and correct seasoning if needed. Fill whites with heaped (or piped) egg yolk mixture. Cover tightly and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Before serving, sprinkle with garnish(es).
MUSIC
Good faith guitar
Folk singer Jonathon Foster to stop in Sandpoint Nov. 8 as part of extensive fall tour
By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff
Parallel to the seasons shifting in the American West, musicians often experience seasonal shifts of their own.
For singer-songwriter Jonathon Foster, the songwriting and recording processes — as well as the performance aspect of being a traveling musician — each take on a different feel, just like the changing seasons of his childhood home in Cranberry Lake, N.Y.
The same could be said for North Idaho, where Foster will stop on Tuesday, Nov. 8 to play Eichardt’s Pub at 7 p.m., and likely witness the region’s first real taste of winter.
Sandpoint is one of 45 stops on Foster’s extensive fall tour — which is seasonal not only by name, but also within the shifting lifestyle of this particular musician.
“Touring is its own separate beast,” Foster told the Reader, “and I do enjoy it.”
The California-based folk artist got his start as more of a “rock ’n’ roll kid,” he said, but through influences like John Prine and Bob Dylan, landed on a softer, more old-fashioned sound in his solo career. That career has led to a decade of cross-country tours and five independently released, fulllength albums — all presented
with a palpable level of sincerity.
Foster isn’t reinventing the folk-music wheel, but adding layers of his own observations and lived experiences to the rich mythologies of blue-collar heroes and rural beauty.
Though his musical stylings might best be described as Americana or folk, Foster isn’t one to be pigeon-holed.
“I’m really an acoustic singer-songwriter in the American roots vein,” he said. “Some of [my] songs, to the listener, might sound more like mountain music, or more like bluegrass, or more like country, or more like alt-rock or indie rock or like a regular old folk singer when you see me live because it’s scaled down — it’s just me and my guitar and harmonicas, and lots and lots of lyrics and stories.”
Regardless of genre, when Foster plays live, “the songs are the star.”
“My hope is that any time you go out and see a live show that you feel it in your soul a little bit,” he said, “and especially if you connect with that artist or that style of music. That’s why I’ve been able to do this this long. There’s just enough people that can glom onto this style — a little more back-in-time, scaled-down acoustic music.”
The significance of this particular Tuesday-night show isn’t
A
lost on Foster, either, who said he uses his music as a creative outlet while attempting to make sense of everything happening in the world.
“I’ll be there on Election Day,” he said, “so what better way to unplug for a minute [than to] listen to some folk songs?”
Jonathon Foster will play live at 7 p.m. at Eichardt’s Pub on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Photo by Angelo Antonio.
Learn more and listen to Jonathon Foster’s music at jfmusic.net.
snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
Sam Leyde Band, Heartwood Center, Nov. 4 B Radicals, 219 Lounge, Nov. 5
It’s been about a year since Coeur d’Alene singer-songwriter Sam Leyde formed the Sam Leyde Band, but already the five-piece has made a regional name for itself, mingling Americana, country and rock sounds fronted by Leyde’s strong and unique vocals. The band released its debut album, Big Small Town, in February and headlined at the Kroc in Coeur d’Alene and the Knitting Factory in Spokane.
Mattox Farm productions is bringing the Sam Leyde Band to the Heartwood Center on Thursday, Nov.
4, followed by a show Friday, Nov. 5 at the Pearl Theater in Bonners Ferry.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are the same price for both shows, with music starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Heartwood and the Pearl.
— Zach Hagadone
7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. music; $15 advance, $20 at the door, $8 kids 6-17, FREE for kids 5 and under.
The Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St., 208-263-8699. Get advance tickets at slbattheheartwood.bpt.me or Eichardt’s Pub, 212 Cedar St., Sandpoint. Listen at samleydeband.com.
The famed drummer QuestLove once wrote, “Funk never dies. It is eternal. It just smells a little different from time to time.”
Truer words have yet to be said about funk music.
The B Radicals will be offering their own smells from the funk, rock, jam and rhythm world at their upcoming show Saturday, Nov. 5 at the 219 Lounge. This energetic four piece from Spokane always
This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone
READ
After reading — and loving — Circe, by Madeline Miller, I wanted more witchy literature and so ended up checking out Juniper & Thorn, the 2022 novel by Ava Reid. Is it as good as Circe? Not quite, but it’s still a stellar, atmospheric story about a young witch living in a fictional steam-punkish city where magic is real but fading in the face of industrialization and commerce. Lorded over by her cursed wizard dad and snotty witch sisters, she has to go her own way — all while there’s a mysterious monster she must confront as it stalks the cobblestones of her proto-capitalist society.
LISTEN
brings the ruckus when they play at the Niner.
Called an “existential, experimental, rock-funk” band, the B Radicals’ shows are impossible to watch without getting up out of your seat to dance. Get ready to party! — Ben Olson
9 p.m.-midnight, FREE. 219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 208-263-5673, 219.bar. Listen at facebook.com/BRadicals.
My Hurray for the Riff Raff station on Pandora has delivered up a gem in the form of Valerie June, a powerful young singer who mingles blues, soul, vintage R&B and something indescribable carried in her vocals, which handto-heart will give you chills. Listen to the first measures of “Love You Once Made” and I all but guarantee the hairs on the back of your neck will stand on end. There’s something of Slim Harpo in her hardhoned nasal timbre, but June’s delivery is pure crystal.
WATCH
After many months of dithering, I took the bait and signed up for the Paramount+ streaming service (opting for the $4.99 per month plan). So far, I have not been disappointed — especially with the prequel Star Trek series Brave New Worlds. Set in the years before James T. Kirk would take the helm of the Enterprise, the show revolves around the captaincy of Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), featuring an early-career Spock and cadet Nyota Uhura. The adventures are rollicking, the production value is top-notch and the series takes an overall more sharp-edged approach than other Trek offerings, which for my $4.99 makes it near the best in the canon.
From Northern Idaho News, November 12, 1929
RUM RING TENTACLES MAY REACH SANDPOINT
A secret grand jury indictment returned at Moscow last night named over 40 persons connected with the biggest rum ring unearthed in northern Idaho. While most of the indictments were for men in Shoshone county including the sheriff of that county, it is known that federal investigators were here several times the past summer.
At the time they were here it was rumored they were after certain people on a charge of conspiracy to violate the national prohibition act. It is known they interviewed several of the prominent bootleggers but just what they learned is not known.
It was expected that the grand jury at Coeur d’Alene would have some sensational indictments but the action of the grand jury at Moscow in returning them would indicate the officials took their case to Moscow in order not to alarm those in the ring in this section of the state.
Rumor has it that several men well known in Sandpoint are among those indicted and that indictments were based on bribes given to officials to leave the bootleggers undisturbed.
It will be remembered not so very long ago a slicker came here and posed as a federal investigator and received money from several of the bootleggers to leave them along. After he had left town it was found out he had no connection with the official force at all but simply pulled a good one on them and they were afraid to say anything.
BACK OF THE BOOK
A weekly reminder: You’re not crazy
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
In the nearly eight years I’ve been at the helm of this newspaper, one constant remains as a motivating reason why we do what we do — to remind the moderate majority of residents in this county that they aren’t crazy. Let me explain.
From the very first edition of the Sandpoint Reader 2.0 in 2015, my inbox has attracted a spirited mix of hate mail, news tips, press releases, conspiracy theories, junk mail and complaints about everything from animal poop left on the sidewalk to the lack of a good chili dog in Sandpoint.
One sentiment, however, continues to dominate the rest. I’m talking about the many thoughtful messages from our readers who continually thank us for reminding them that they aren’t crazy.
North Idahoans are a curious bunch. They’ll help you when you’re stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire or when you come up a dollar short while paying for groceries, but show any opposition to their political beliefs and they’ll disown you. I’ve been bailed out of some crappy situations by people who, if they knew who I really was, would probably spit in my face before helping me. I get that often when telling people my full name. There’s a slow look, a narrowing of the eyes and a pursing of the lips.
“Oh, so you’re Ben Olson,” they’ll say, suddenly imagining my head impaled on a pikestaff. I can see the gears turning in their head as they come face to face with the “cancer” of their community, who dares to print viewpoints from people who have been marginalized, who has the audacity to publish opinions that aren’t popular with those on the fringes.
I hate it a little, being in this position. I wish my love of writing and journalism wasn’t matched by my aversion to being in the public eye. But I can’t help but continue to speak up for those whose voices have been silenced or drowned out by this loud
minority of extremists. I can’t help but point out extremism when I see it. Unfortunately, it’s not dying down. It’s ramping up, year after year.
When an angry mob gathered at City Hall and screamed anti-American and xenophobic comments after a rumor circulated that the city of Sandpoint would resettle Syrian refugees, that was extremism.
When a neo-Nazi living in Sandpoint sent out thousands of robocalls urging our readers to “burn out the cancer Ben Olson,” after I had reported on his actions sharing racist propaganda with high school students, kicking off three years of intimidation, harassment and threats — that was extremism.
When former District 1 Rep. Heather Scott called Idaho Gov. Brad Little “Little Hitler” and, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared Little’s stay-at-home order to the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews were systematically murdered, that was extremism.
When Bonner County Commissioner Dan McDonald took to social media to urge “some Bonner County folks” to turn out to a protest he erroneously believed was led by Antifa, but turned out to be a group of teenagers, who were then followed by grown men in battle dress openly carrying guns — that was extremism.
When these gun-toting dorks menaced downtown Sandpoint later that night under the guise of “protecting businesses from riots,” that was extremism.
When gubernatorial candidate Ammon Bundy stormed the Idaho Capitol six months before the Jan. 6 insurrection and had to be arrested and carted out zip-tied to a swivel chair by the police, that was extremism.
When District 1 Senate candidate Scott Herndon and several of his young children held up giant posters of aborted fetuses at the Sandpoint Farmers’ Market and Sandpoint High School, then later unsuccessfully sued the city of Sandpoint because of the Festival at Sandpoint’s no-weapons policy — that was extremism.
The examples are easy to recognize for many of us. For others, not so much.
Some might snort and say, as McDonald once told me (I’m paraphrasing here): “Extremism depends on what point of view you’re looking from.”
From my point of view, that’s a load of crap. The people who support these ideas are the same ones who fly Confederate battle flags from their trucks; who referred to the Jan. 6 insurrection as a “normal tourist visit”; who casually use racial epithets in public; who call people “libtards” and “cucks”; who demonize people to the degree that a deranged follower breaks into the speaker of the House’s home and brutally beats her 82-year-old husband with a hammer, then chuckle about how it was just a lover ’s spat.
Extremism is a disease that seems less deadly the more we accept it. But it must always be rejected, whether from the extreme right or left of a political party, because watered-down extremism is equally dangerous.
The rest of us live somewhere near the middle, waiting for a time when we don’t have to feel “crazy” for supporting basic things like human rights, law and order, accountability and civility.
As long as I’m involved, the Reader will continue to remind you every week that no, you’re not crazy for believing in these things. Far from it.
I hope I never do anything to bring shame on myself, my family or my other family.
Solution on page 26
Laughing Matter
CROSSWORD
By Bill Borders
Word Week of the
“His
/sel-kooth/ [adjective] 1. strange; uncommon.
library was filled with archaic, selcouth titles nobody every heard of.”
Corrections: Everyone makes mistakes, but we haven’t heard of anything major from last week’s edition, so there. —BO
