2 / R / November 5, 2026
DEAR READERS, The week in random review By Ben Olson Reader Staff
sick
Count me among the millions of Americans who recently dropped health insurance due to astronomically rising costs. I’ve enrolled in the Affordable Care Act for more than a decade and always felt good that I finally had health insurance if anything catastrophic ever happened. Even though my monthly premiums have steadily increased over the past five years, I’ve justified the expense because I’m in my mid-40s, which is the equivalent of driving a car that is nearing 200,000 miles; eventually stuff is going to start breaking down. However, after searching plans this year, I realized fairly quickly that I wasn’t going to be able to afford health insurance anymore. Not only did the premiums go up, but, due to pressure from President Donald Trump and inactivity of Republicans in Congress allowing enhanced premium tax credits to expire, here we are. Democrats shut down the government in October 2025 trying to negotiate a three-year extension of the credits that would have kept prices low, but Republicans simply left town and let the tax credits expire. Enrollment in the ACA marketplace was already down 13% in 2025 from the year before, so I can only imagine how many people are opting out of coverage for 2027. When I first started getting health insurance through the ACA, my monthly premiums were under $50. Then they jumped to $80 and later $120. Now, thanks to Trump and the legion of ass-kissing Republicans that follow him, my monthly bill has increased by $390 per month from what I was paying last year. I just can’t afford that extra expense, especially since everything we buy is more expensive now. Something is rotten here and it’s only getting worse. I guess I’ll go back to crossing my fingers and knocking on wood in the hopes that I won’t have a serious accident or health scare that will wipe out my life savings.
a proverbial win
The internet has muddied the proverbial waters, literally, to the point where nobody knows for sure where some of these proverbs originated. But that doesn’t make them any less poignant. “The forest was shrinking but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe was clever and convinced the trees that because his handle was made of wood he was one of them.” — Turkish proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — Proverb from Burkina Faso “In a battle between elephants, the ants get squashed.” — Thai proverb
Election Day is over. The blue wave swept the nation, but the waters didn’t reach Idaho. I’ve voted in a lot of Idaho elections since I cast my first ballot in 2000, so I wasn’t surprised to see the results here in the Gem State. It’s too bad that we’ve grown so lazy here in Idaho that we have candidates who sail through to victory without trying hard at all. They duck public forums (Sen. Jim Risch, for example, hasn’t held a town hall in 18 years), they send in AI slop for candidate questionnaire responses and they often avoid communicating with the media because they prefer to express their policy positions in the safe spaces of social media pages. I believe in healthy competition, and we’re not getting it. I’m proud to see the MAGA fever breaking nationwide, but we’re still contagious here in Idaho. So be it. You can’t win them all. But maybe just one?
– Ben Olson, publisher
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Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Soncirey Mitchell (Senior Writer) soncirey@sandpointreader.com Editors Emeriti: Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Cameron Rasmusson John Reuter Advertising: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Perky Smith-Hagadone, Ben Olson, (cover), Rev. Catherine Lyle, Bill Borders Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Emily Erickson, Rev. Catherine Lyle, Jen Jackson Quintano Submit Stories To: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed Weekly At: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $200 per year Website Designed By: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned by Ben Olson, Zach Hagadone and Soncirey Mitchell. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, bluster, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. For back issues, contact the publisher. Free to all, limit two per person, please. Letter to the Editor Policy: We welcome letters to the editor on all relevant topics. Please, no more than 200 words, no excessive profanity or libelous statements and no trolls. Please elevate the discussion and stay on topic. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinons expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publisher. Send to: letters@sandpointreader.com About the Cover: This week’s cover photo was taken in Dover by Perky Smith-Hagadone. Happy fall!
November 5, 2026 / R / 3
NEWS
2026 local election results
While Republicans lost big nationally, Idaho — including Dist. 1 — resisted the ‘blue wave’
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff The 2026 midterm election delivered what observers are already calling historic wins for Democrats across the country — flipping enough seats to secure majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate and turning stalwart Republican states like Texas blue. That trend didn’t hold in Idaho, however, with incumbent Republicans holding onto seats from the governor’s office to Congress, though Democrats were able to pick up six seats in the Legislature. In Idaho’s Legislative District 1, which includes Bonner and parts of Boundary counties, Republicans won strong majorities with a high turnout of 69.9%. “The results were exactly what I was expecting — the national [results] did not surprise me at all,” Bonner County Clerk Michael Rosedale told the Reader. Locally, he added that turnout was likely fueled by Proposition 1 and House Joint Resolution 4 — the first being the citizens’ initiative to roll back Idaho’s strict abortion laws and the second a constitutional amendment giving the Legislature exclusive authority to legalize marijuana and other narcotics — both of which failed. As evidence for the upswing in participation, Rosedale said the county had “a huge amount of new voter registrations.” So much so, that new registration materials had to be rushed to eight precincts as they came close to running out. Among the most closely watched contested local races pitted Republican Scott Herndon against Independent Steve Johnson, with the former garnering 14,838 votes (for 57.27%) and the latter taking 11,069 votes (with 42.73%). Herndon had a stronger 4 / R / November 5, 2026
percentage win in Boundary County, with 65.85% of the vote (bringing in 3,645 votes), compared to 34.15% for Johnson (or 1,890 votes). The race was somewhat closer in Bonner County, where Herndon took in 11,193 votes (54.94%) to Johnson’s 9,179 votes (45.06%). Republican Jane Sauter prevailed over Democrat Karen Matthee for the Dist. 1A House seat, pulling a total of 17,307 votes (67.21%) to 8,445 (32.79%). Incumbent Republican Rep. Cornel Rasor likewise succeeded in his race against Independent Kathryn Larson for Dist. 1B House, with 16,545 votes (63.95%) to 9,327 for Larson (36.05%). “Last night you returned me to the Idaho Senate, and you sent Jane Sauter and Cornel Rasor back to the Idaho House alongside me. I couldn’t ask for two better people to serve this district with. Thank you District 1,” Herndon posted on his Scott Herndon for Idaho Facebook page Nov. 4, later adding, “To everyone who showed up and voted, thank you. I don’t take it for granted, and I’m ready to get back to work for you.” The Jane Sauter for Idaho Facebook page also congratulated all three of the successful candidates, thanking them for their “dedication, hard work and willingness to serve the people of North Idaho.” Rasor, on his Facebook page, thanked voters in Bonner and Boundary counties, adding, “I will do my best to represent you and Idaho and work hard to make our communities the best they can be.” Johnson thanked supporters and volunteers; and, while congratulating Herndon, added, “With over 30,000 ballots cast in District 1, it’s important to remember that a majority of those ballots did not select him. I sincerely hope he will respect the multitude of voices that we have in North
Idaho and realize that he has a responsibility to represent all of us. Individual freedom and responsibility transcend politics and ideology.” In an email to the Reader on Nov. 4, Matthee wrote: “We did better than the first go-round, and I’m hoping for a younger, energetic candidate to come up behind me,” alluding to her unsuccessful Dist. 1A House bid in the 2024 election. “No race should go uncontested. Getting our message out there matters.” “We just elected the people who have signed our power over to outside interests,” Larson wrote in an email. “My opponent and his colleagues spent most of their money with out-of-state political consultants. ... We elected a slate of legislators who’ve pledged their loyalty to the money. They don’t answer to us.” She added that while this will be her last run for office, Larson plans to find another way to help “keep North Idaho communities strong, affordable and thriving,” and that it was “a joy working with so many great people.” Republican Steve Smith prevailed in his bid for Dist. 1 Bonner County commissioner, bringing in 15,419 votes (67.16%) to Independent Fred Arn’s 7,540 votes (32.84%). The remainder of county positions on the ballot were uncontested, including Jeff Roberts for Dist. 2 BOCC, Roger Rudd for clerk, Clorissa Koster
for treasurer, Cory Gabel for assessor and Robert Beers for coroner — all Republicans. “It was a hard night for Republicans across the country. The party lost ground almost everywhere. But North Idaho held, and Idaho held. We kept District 1 in strong conservative hands, and together we defeated Proposition 1,” Herndon stated. Prop. 1 needed 50% plus one vote to pass, but 55.94% of voters opposed it at the polls. In Bonner County, 61.5% voted against Prop. 1 (amounting to 14,691 votes) to 9,196 in favor (38.5%). Voters also considered other local ballot measures, with the Spirit Lake Fire Protection District’s permanent override levy going down to defeat with 50.41% of the vote — short of the 66.6% needed to pass — along with the Coolin Sewer District’s request to issue up to $8 million in revenue bonds for work on its wastewater treatment plant. That measure failed with 53.19% against. The Westside Fire Protection District succeeded in its request for a temporary, twoyear levy of $380,000 per year, securing 66.7% of the vote. The city of Dover was also successful in getting voters’ approval for a 12% occupancy tax on short-term lodgings, with 70.73% in favor. The city of Sandpoint, however, failed to get the necessary 60% support needed to pass a 1% non-property local
(L-R): Scott Herndon, Jane Sauter and Cornel Rasor won Legislative Dist. 1 races. Courtesy photos option tax with funds directed toward street and pathway infrastructure. A total of 1,874 voters (or 52.13%) approved of the tax, while 47.87% (or 1,721) were against it. “While I am disappointed that Sandpoint’s proposed 1% local option tax did not achieve the required 60% approval, I love the process where voters determine their priorities and how they want to approach the funding of critical infrastructure,” Mayor Jeremy Grimm told the Reader. Looking back on what will be his final election as county clerk, Rosedale offered some words of advice: “There is such a temptation to tear our community apart, with the left vs. right, Republican vs. Democrat stuff ... don’t let it happen. We’re still the same community the day after the election.” Election results are preliminary until canvassed, which is scheduled to take place Thursday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. in the third floor Bonner County commissioners meeting room at the county administration building (1500 U.S. 2, in Sandpoint). The Idaho State Board of Canvassers will then certify the results at its Tuesday, Nov. 24 meeting. The public is invited to attend. For more state and local election results, visit voteidaho. gov/election-results.
NEWS
Hearing on proposed Long Bridge Marina expansion set for Nov. 5 By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff After continuing its hearing on the proposed Long Bridge Marina expansion for the third time, the Bonner County Board of Commissioners will meet to deliberate on the development on Thursday, Nov. 5. Commissioners previously continued the meeting to request a traffic study and then to ensure all three members were present for deliberation. The public can attend the 10 a.m. meeting either in person at the Bonner County Administration Building (1500 U.S. 2, in Sandpoint) or online via Zoom at bonnercountyid.gov/ meetings; however, the commissioners will not accept any additional public comment. The current 45-slip marina sits at 41 Lakeshore Drive at the intersection of Lakeshore and U.S. Highway 95 on approximately two acres zoned Recreation. Developers Long Bridge Land Holding Company, LLC, filed for a conditional use permit that would add 47 slips to the marina, reorganize its existing 32-space
parking lot and relocate the property’s snack shack, leaving an on-site single-family residence and two rental cabins as-is. Though the current CUP would only expand the marina to 92 slips, the Idaho Department of Lands has granted developers an encroachment permit to ultimately construct a 268-slip marina, which would require additional lot modifications, including a parking lot expansion to the opposite side of Lakeshore Drive. According to HMH Engineer Dan Tadic, representing the developers, there is “no current plan” to expand the marina to that extent, and any future growth would require an additional CUP. The Bonner County Zoning Commission denied the CUP application, citing the potential hazard of increased traffic at the already notorious intersection, complicated by the marina’s driveway. The Bonner County Road Standards Manual requires that “[w]henever possible, no new access on collectors or arterial roads shall be located within
330 feet of an existing access, or the intersection of two public road rights-of-way.” The county previously granted a variance for the marina’s driveway, leaving the existing access at just 107 feet from the intersection. According to the Idaho Transportation Department, the intersection has seen 11 crashes in the past five years. Following the denial, applicants worked with ITD and Bonner County Road and Bridge to mitigate safety concerns. ITD further installed flexible bollards at the intersection during that time, restricting left turns off of Lakeshore
and directing traffic to a median U-turn — or J-turn — farther south on the highway. Due to the proximity of the commercial driveway to the intersection, ITD Program Manager Robert Beachler concluded at the Oct. 7 hearing that though the existing driveway “does not meet standard,” ITD did “not feel [the marina’s potential traffic increase] would have a significant change on that safety evaluation for the Lakeshore-95 intersection.” “I concur with [HMH Engineering’s] conclusions that no additional safety or capacity improvements are necessary
The current marina near the south end of the Long Bridge. Photo by Ben Olson at this time for the current phase of the expanded use of the marina,” stated Road and Bridge Director Matt Mulder. “We will want to reevaluate for safety concerns of any future phases.” The commissioners heard public comment and rebuttals during the prior installments of the public hearing, and have officially closed the comment period for board deliberation at Thursday’s hearing. To view the complete application, visit bonnercountyid.gov/departments/Planning.
Commissioners vote to revisit rules regarding public comment By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The Bonner County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously at the Nov. 3 business meeting to revisit Bonner County Revised Code Title 1 Chapter 2 to consider striking limitations on public comment contained therein. The issue, brought forward by frequent meeting attendee Dave Bowman, focused on the prohibition of “derogatory” comments and the requirement that attendees state their name and county of residence before speaking. Commissioner Asia Williams added the item to the agenda following comments
made by Chair Ron Korn at the Oct. 27 meeting, during which he read aloud from BCRC 1-201, stating, “The chair will not entertain under any circumstance comments derogatory in nature toward any board member, staff member, elected official or member of the public.” When presenting the item, Bowman called the word “derogatory” “subjective,” warning that it opens the county to litigation and citing the 1964 Supreme Court ruling in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan. The unanimous ruling established that the “Constitution accords citizens and press an unconditional freedom to criticize official conduct.” Bowman has long criticized
the BOCC’s rules regarding public comment. In 2024, he settled a $200,000 lawsuit against the county for “illegal and unlawful treatment” after then-BOCC Chair Luke Omodt trespassed him and performed a citizen’s arrest for alleged “disruptive and disorderly behavior.” Bowman further asked that the BOCC add language to BCRC 1-201 stating that public speakers should only supply their name and county of residence “should they choose to.” “A public speaker is a public speaker, and you have no way to verify if somebody says they live in Bonner County or they don’t unless you happen to know them personally, and
it’s protected information,” said Bowman. Williams, a longtime proponent of public comment, made the motion to revisit and potentially revise the BCRC language. “I [have been] a recipient of a crappy public comment for years, and I can sit here and tell you, I fought for the public to have their right to criticize me openly, and I think that that is important,” said Williams. “I don’t think you can say you support transparency and free speech if we start saying, ‘If you say something nasty about me, I’m going to shut it down in this meeting.’” Commissioner Brian Domke seconded the motion
and asked to consult with legal counsel going forward, though he questioned whether they should strike the rule that the public must state residency status. “Stating one’s citizenship and residence does seem appropriate to me because we have constitutionally protected rights to air grievances to our elected representatives, but those are granted to us as citizens of the United States of America and to the state in which we reside, not just to anyone,” said Domke. The commissioners voted unanimously to discuss the matter with legal counsel and bring any revisions forward for a vote at a yet-to-be-determined date. November 5, 2026 / R / 5
NEWS
Sow black bear and two cubs euthanized on Schweitzer
Idaho F&G: ‘Nuisance’ bears had been breaking into homes
By Ben Olson Reader Staff A sow black bear and two of her cubs were euthanized Nov. 1 after custodial workers reported the animals had broken into a home. The Schweitzer Fire District, Bonner County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho Fish and Game responded to the call after janitorial workers reported the bears had broken into a home, were eating food and destroying the interior of the house. “The fire department was first on scene and found severe damage inside the house, along with the bears inside,” Sheriff Daryl Wheeler told the Reader. “There’s been a sow and cubs that have been just terrorizing the village all summer,” Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer Matt Haag told the Reader. “It’s been an ongoing problem.” After Fish and Game initially trapped one of the cubs earlier this season, a Schweitzer resident — who was not authorized — released it from the cage, according to Haag. “This was a solved problem that now got recreated by a reckless resident,” Schweitzer Fire District Chief Dave Ramsey told the Reader. When the housekeeper reported the bear inside a home on Nov. 1, Schweitzer Fire responded with Ramsey carrying a shotgun loaded with rubber bullets and another employee with a .4570 rifle for safety. “The deputy responding called my phone directly and said, ‘Hey, there’s a lady that’s trapped in this house by these three bears that are being aggressive,” Ramsey said. “I hit [the sow] with four less-thanlethal [rounds] and she came towards us,” Ramsey said. “Then my backup took a shot,” which killed the sow, he added. Shortly after, under Fish and Game’s directive, the two cubs were euthanized. Carson Watkins, Panhandle Region supervisor for Idaho Fish and Game, told the Reader that F&G “fully” supported the decision “given the circumstances and history of that bear.” The decision to kill the bears rather than trap and relocate them was due to repeated incidents with homeowners living on the mountain, Watkins confirmed. “Schweitzer has been dealing with a series of black bear conflicts for the better part of the fall now,” Watkins said. “Food was pretty scarce up there this year and there were a higher number of bears than usual marauding into homes, getting into garbage around the resort. ... “Based on the recent history of these 6 / R / November 5, 2026
animals, the potential risk to public safety and their habituation, that’s a standard call for us to euthanize those animals to avoid any future conflict and to ensure public safety,” he added. A homeowner, who asked not to be identified, witnessed the responders euthanizing the bear while walking nearby. “This bear was a problem bear, but I don’t know why they killed them and the cubs instead of relocating them,” the homeowner told the Reader. Watkins said once bears become habituated to human food, they don’t forget those habits — especially cubs. “With those bears having that history and learning that behavior from mom, there’s definitely the potential for conflict later on,” he said. “They know how to get the food, so if you move them somewhere else, they’re going to find a place to get human subsidies again.” Also, Watkins said that while the cubs may survive without their mom’s assistance, it’s not likely. “We have an abundance of black bears in the panhandle and removing those bears and resolving that conflict that way, that’s not jeopardizing black bear conservation at large,” Watkins said. Because of its close proximity to bear habitats, Watkins urged residents on Schweitzer to practice better bear awareness. “Secure all of your attractants,” Watkins said. “The most minimal attractants can result in a break-in like this. ... It’s helpful to be mindful about where garbage is and to make sure when garbage is going to be picked up it’s in a secure place where bears can’t get into them.” “When you eat or cook, assume a bear could be drawn to that,” he said. The anonymous homeowner said they had noticed local construction crews camping on-site and leaving coolers and food trash nearby, which they believe contributed to attracting the bears. “It was a really sad ending,” the homeowner said. “The more people we get up here, the more construction we get up here [and it] leads to more and more people being careless and not being aware we’re in bear country.” Haag recommended Schweitzer homeowners install twist doorknobs instead of levers, avoid sliding glass doors if possible and to lock windows and doors with deadbolts. While grizzlies have been observed walking the ridgelines at Schweitzer, they have so far kept out of residential areas, but Haag is worried that will change if bear awareness keeps being ignored. “It’s just a matter of time before a grizzly gets in there, and that’s what makes us nervous,” he said.
Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond
As of the most recent weekend, The New York Times reported that the top 20 campaign donors collectively supplied about $20 billion to this year’s federal midterm races. Elon Musk gave $446 million to Republicans and George and Alexander Soros gave $103 million to Democrats, the latter picking up majorities in both chambers of Congress in the Nov. 3 election. The Department of Justice announced plans to send 1,000 election monitors to observe voting in all 50 states, numerous media reported. It is the first time that DOJ monitors have been sent to all of the states. Monitors were concentrated in Democratic strongholds and minority communities in 126 counties. DOJ said it lacked resources for monitoring all of the nation’s polling places. Michigan had the most monitors, according to early reporting. By law, monitoring has required a 100-foot distance, but the DOJ sought permission to enter some polling places. Reuters reported that President Donald Trump’s administration had already been preparing for how to govern with a Democrat-controlled Congress, focusing on what Trump can push through with executive power in the absence of congressional approval while also bracing for investigations of his administration. Talking to Trump officials, Reuters wrote that the administration also wants to find more ways to have influence over federal spending without congressional approval, which has already been put into practice. The latter has included the declaration of national emergencies, which the Democratic Congress could end, but only with the necessary two-thirds majority in both chambers to override an inevitable Trump veto. Democrats in power could create other obstacles for the administration, such as not approving presidential appointments and refusal to pass Trumpbacked legislation. Trump would have no way to deter Democrats from launching congressional investigations regarding his use of presidential power for the benefit of himself, his allies and his donors. To that end, Reuters reported that members of the Trump administration have been cautioned about what they put in writing. According to Democracy Docket, Trump might try to pressure congres-
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Contributor
sional Republicans to refuse to seat newly elected Democrats. A Project 2025-linked think tank, founded by Trump’s budget director Russell Vought, claims Congress can refuse to seat certain candidates, such as anyone who’s a Democratic Socialist of America. Incumbent Brazilian President Lula da Silva won reelection for a fourth term. He’s overseen a sharp decline in Amazon deforestation and effectively addressed hunger for millions. His opponent had “extensive” links to organized crime and had plans to accelerate deforestation, according to Climate Action Now. An ICE officer is charged with assault for striking a man with a car in Houston, breaking his leg, various media reported. A judge in Boston has blocked a Trump administration Medicaid rule forcing sick recipients to prove frailty, CNN reported. According to NBC News, another judge in Washington D.C. tossed a case accusing ex-FBI officials of lying to Congress, with the judge apologizing to lawyers, saying it was “incredibly unfair” that they were forced to defend the complaint regarding Hunter Biden’s laptop when they had insufficient evidence. International media reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin said his nation is ready for war with Europe. Though he claims to want peace, if tensions escalate too far, Putin said there will be no winners. Iran war’s cost to American taxpayers has grown to an estimated $47.1 billion, according to various media. Blast from the past: In an iconic photo from 1948, a beaming President Harry Truman held up a newspaper headlined “Dewey Defeats Truman.” Based on pre-election polling, many observers were certain that Truman would be defeated by his Republican opponent, but that didn’t happen. As 33rd president, Truman began serving after President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in office. Truman sought to go beyond FDR’s New Deal accomplishments, calling for national health insurance, more protections for minority rights and government aid for scientific research. After WWII ended, Truman’s administration worked to convert the war economy to a peacetime economy. He was president from 1945 to 1953.
NEWS
BGH secures $5.8M in grant funding By Ben Olson Reader Staff Bonner General Health recently secured two grants totaling $5.8 million, which will be used to improve electronic medical records systems as well as to build new multi-specialty procedural spaces at the hospital. CEO John Hennessy told the Reader that the grant funds originated from the Rural Health Transformation Program, which was authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to empower all states to strengthen rural communities by improving health care access, quality and outcomes. “The state of Idaho got $186 million in grant funding and there were different buckets that that went into,” Hennessy said. “The ones that were closest to what BGH needed were for infrastructure, for renovation and equipment and technology needs. There was a $97 million grant avail-
able for that.” Hennessy said that BGH officials have for three years talked about renovating the old ICU space into multi-specialty procedural suites, as well as establishing a new electronic medical records system. “But the hard part was the funding,” Hennessy said. “Both of these projects fell in line with what the Rural Health Transformation program is all about.” In October, BGH was notified that they had received $2.1 million to implement a new electronic medical records system as well as $3.7 million to build multi-specialty procedural suites, totaling $5.8 million. “Right now, we have five different electronic medical records systems,” Hennessy said. “Our hospital has one, our clinic is on another, physical therapy is on another system and hospice and behavioral health on others. They just don’t talk to one another, so from an efficiency standpoint, being able to
have everyone on one system is going to make a world of difference.” BGH will transition to the MEDITECH Expanse, their most up-to-date platform, which will help enhance communication between departments and streamline care. The rollout should take about 14 months, he said, with a targeted completion around January 2028. Not only will the electronic records system be integrated across all departments, but it will also feature time-saving features, such as login through a badge swipe instead of having to enter passwords after screen timeouts. The second grant will be used to renovate the former ICU space to build multi-specialty suites that will free up space and time for procedures that don’t need to occur in the main operating rooms. “Currently at our hospital, we have four operating rooms,” Hennessy said. “What we’ve really noticed is there is
Committee and serves on the Energy and Natural Resources, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Intelligence and Ethics committees. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008. “Thank you to every Idahoan who placed their trust in me to continue serving our great state in the United States Senate,” Risch said in an emailed statement. “Representing Idaho is the honor of my life, and I am proud to fight for the people and values that make our state special.” Achilles, 58, is a former Democratic state legislator from Boise who left the party and Statehouse seat to run for the U.S. Senate as an independent in 2025. His campaign out-raised any recent U.S. Senate challenger in Idaho, collecting more than $1.8 million. During the campaign, Achilles publicly promised to not caucus with either party if elected, and to resign after two terms. Risch’s closest general election contest for U.S. Senate was in 2008, when he won with 57.7% against Democratic former Congressman Larry LaRocco, Independent Rex Rammell, Libertarian Kent Marmon and the Independent candidate who legally changed his name to Pro-Life,
according to the Idaho Secretary of State elections database. In the 2014 and 2020 general elections, Risch won with 65% and 63% of the vote, respectively.
a big demand. A lot of the procedures done at the main O.R. don’t need to be done there, they can be done at a procedural setting.” By building the new suites, BGH will be able to free up time at the main O.R. to alleviate bottlenecks that occur there. About half of the $3.7 million will be used for renovation, while the other half will go toward purchasing equipment to furnish the rooms. Hennessy recognized Marketing Manager Kristin Carlson for her work securing these grants. “She did the bulk of the legwork writing grants,” Hennessy said. Along with Carlson’s work, Hennessy said a variety of employees at the hospital weighed in on every level to ensure the grants would be dedicated to the most useful purposes. The grants will help both BGH staff and patients to be more efficient in the future, Hennessy said.
Incumbent ID Republican congressional members retain their seats By Laura Guido Idaho Capital Sun Incumbent Republican Idaho U.S. Sen. Jim Risch won reelection in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election. The Associated Press called the race for Risch at 11:31 p.m. (Mountain Time). Risch had 56.75%, or 368,072 ballots cast in his favor, as of 2:50 a.m. on Nov. 4. The AP called the elections for Idaho’s Congressional District 1 at 9:43 p.m. Tuesday for incumbent U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher, at the Congressional District 2 race for U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson at 1:49 a.m. Wednesday. Idaho election officials were still counting ballots early in the morning Wednesday. Idaho’s election results do not become official until they are certified by the Idaho State Board of Canvassers, which meets Tuesday, Nov. 24. Independent challenger Todd Achilles trailed with 33.5%, followed by Independent Natalie Fleming and Libertarian Matt Loesby with 6.89% and 2.87%, respectively. Risch, 86, is in his third, six-year term in the U.S. Senate. He is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Russ Fulcher wins fifth term for U.S. House Voters on Nov. 3 chose Idaho Republican U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher to serve a fifth term representing Idaho’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House. Fulcher received 64.52%, or 228,038 ballots, in his favor, preliminary results as of 2:47 a.m. show. He was followed by Democrat Kaylee Peterson, who had 28.55% of the vote, and Independent Sarah Zabel with 6.02%. Constitution Party candidate Brendan Gomez had 0.9% of the vote. Gomez in September pleaded guilty to possession of child sex abuse material, but remained on the ballot because the deadline to withdraw had passed and felony convictions do not disqualify candidates from federal office under the U.S. Constitution. Fulcher, 64, was first elected in 2018. He sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Incumbent Rep. Mike Simpson leads in U.S. House race Republican U.S. House Rep. Mike Simpson, 76, also kept his seat in Tuesday’s election. Simpson is in his 14th, two-year term in Congress representing Idaho’s Second Congressional District. The incumbent had 51.71% of the vote, or 150,534 votes, against four challengers, results showed at 2:44 a.m. Simpson was trailed by Democrat Ellie Gilbreath, who had 40.31%, followed by Independent Tripp Hutchinson with 3.49%, Independent Emre Houser with 2.35% and Libertarian Will Johanson with 2.14%. Simpson was first elected to the U.S. House in 1998. He serves as chairman of the House Interior and Environment Subcommittee on Appropriations. 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. November 5, 2026 / R / 7
‘No wipes... good luck’...
Bouquets: • The Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission hit a home run at its Oct. 20 meeting, when members voted 6-1 to recommend the Sandpoint City Council approve zoning updates that will help preserve our small town’s character. P&Z’s recommendation establishes different commercial districts throughout Sandpoint, ultimately capping building heights in Sandpoint’s historic overlay district (i.e. the center of downtown) at 40 feet. This would ensure that giant luxury condo buildings will be prohibited from the most distinctive downtown blocks. The buildings outside the historic overlay but still within the inner and outer downtown core areas could rise between 45 and 55 feet, respectively, and farther out the height restriction remains 65 feet, which is what it is now across the entire city of Sandpoint. We should count our lucky stars that we made it this long without a canyon of 65-foot-tall buildings on First Avenue. Now, the only thing left is for the Sandpoint City Council to vote on P&Z’s recommendation. The council will take it up at the Dec. 2 meeting. Credit should go to the Sandpoint P&Z; Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission; and City Planner Bill Dean for the work they’ve put into this. I hesitate to use the hyperbole that this move will “save Sandpoint,” but I think that’s accurate. Looking at Coeur d’Alene’s overblown commercial district with buildings that climb to 200 feet, it’s widely agreed that Sandpoint shouldn’t become that. With this zoning change, we’ll (hopefully) ensure that it doesn’t. Barbs: • In the age of spam and scammer emails, I don’t click on any links without knowing for sure who sent them and why. That means if you send me an email with a link and no explanation, I most definitely won’t click on it. Provide some context, otherwise your email will go right in the bin. 8 / R / November 5, 2026
Dear editor, I cannot believe there was not some sort of public outcry when several weeks ago Walmart suddenly stopped giving free sanitary wipes for shopping carts. This, several weeks before the flu season begins for the winter. My Google research says the action was taken because some people miss the trash can and the wipes can cause the floor to be slippery for customers. (My Sherlock suggests one or more people lawyered up and got injury settlements.) Google says the stoppage of wipes is only suggested but not mandatory at the 4,500 stores and superstores. I bring my own sanitary fluid and paper towels now. If I miss the trash can, the floor would be more slippery than from the wipes. No vaccines...No Wipes...Good Luck.. James Richard Johnson Clark Fork
‘Targeted by Trump’s IRS’... Dear editor, I’ve been waiting for my tax refund for eight months and not getting any answers from the IRS. Maybe it’s because I’ve donated to Democrats and progressive causes. Maybe it’s because I’ve been critical of that bombastic ass-clown on social media. One thing I know for sure is that Trump has weaponized the IRS to intimidate his critics into silence. See: “Wyden, Schumer, Warren Sound Alarm Over Trump Weaponization of the IRS Against the Free Speech Rights of Trump Opponents,” published Oct. 22, 2025 by the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. Are his pursuits against perceived political enemies legal? Of course not, but when has that ever stopped Trump? How long before he changes the name of our country to Trumpsylvania? Guy Lothian Dover
What could have been… Dear editor, Ben Olson hit the nail on the head with his “Bouquet” for Jim Woodward and Mark Sauter [“Bouquets and Barbs,” Oct. 29, 2026]. Their shoes are too big for the Republican primary winners to fill. That’s why I voted early for Steve Johnson, Kathryn Larson and Karen Matthee. I have worked for and with all three superb community representatives. So I know that, individually and together, Steve, Kathryn and Karen would have been our best District 1 legislative team. They would have continued Mark and Jim’s legacy of honesty, integrity and hard work in the Idaho Legislature on our behalf, not on behalf of the rich and powerful. With sincere prayers for the future in our northernmost section of the panhandle, our state, our country and our world, Clarice McKenney Bonners Ferry
By BO
“I’m not looking to, you know, kill lots of people, but if we have to, we’ll have to.”
— President Donald Trump’s Election Day message on Fox News while speaking about the Iran War.
PERSPECTIVES
Emily Articulated Hope
By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist In his acceptance speech after winning the Senate race in Texas, James Talarico spoke the words so many in his state had been waiting to hear: “We just took back Texas. We just proved that all the money in the world is no match for the people of Texas. “We just sent a message to every billionaire mega donor, every trillionaire mega donor, every corrupt defender of this broken political system in this state, in this country: Power belongs to the people.” I woke up this morning remembering what it feels like to be hopeful. To look at the news and not feel sick. We chose people over big money, voted for people with names like Abdul El-Sayed, with stances like “unity over division,” and celebrated historic firsts instead of massive rollbacks — first Native American governor, Deb Haaland in New Mexico; first Black woman to win the governor seat in Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms — that reflect the richness of the America we know to exist. Finally, it feels like my unwanted companion of discomfort is reflected in the election results. It’s a relief to believe that people’s lives growing harder — grocery bills, gas prices, the cost of keeping a roof overhead — can cut through the noise about Cheesecake Factories, “great asses” and the excuses for wars started like toddlers grasping for things that aren’t theirs at everyone else’s expense. It feels like a rebuke of the big-money propaganda machine — like massive spending by billionaires protecting their personal interests can still register as disingenuous, like people’s common sense can
Emily Erickson. still turn them against those who built empires by taking more than their fair share. A cloud is lifting; empty promises falling to the floor like shattering glass. Talarico continued, “This win is for every underdog who’s been counted out and left behind. This win is for every teacher and every nurse, for every farmer and every rancher, for every young person who’s trying to buy a home, for every parent who’s trying to put food on the table.” The election reminded me that even where opposing ideologies seem to have a stronghold, people can change their minds. But with all that relief comes an equally large helping of unease here in Idaho, putting a large asterisk next to all that restored hope, begging questions without easy answers: Do I really belong here? How far is too far? I see myself in so many people in this community: kind, caring, hardworking, creative, thoughtful people who seek to enrich the place they call home. People who want better schools, preserved public lands, functioning infrastructure, affordable groceries, health care, and protections for the most vulnerable. I see myself in people who hold trivia nights and Rocky Horror Picture Shows; who create music festivals and writing
contests; who start businesses and nonprofits; who make room for one another. And I worry about their breaking point (our breaking point). What will be the straw (will there be a straw?) that causes the people with whom I feel so connected to leave? I thrive in places with middle ground, where people can come together, see what they have in common and make choices that do the least harm to the people around them. I grew up in a divided place. I’m not scared of people who don’t think like me. I am scared, however, of being represented by people who fearmonger and lie, who consider propaganda a viable political strategy. Who offer far-fetched solutions to problems affecting a few, with consequences for everyone. Who wield distractions like strobe lights — “trans people are coming for you,” “they’re killing our babies” — while we’re choosing between paying the mortgage, buying groceries and filling the gas tank. I yearn for regular disagreements with people I know to be good, or at least well-intentioned. Losing faith in that leaves me feeling raw. In the glow of everyone else’s great correction, their return to demanding solutions to problems that shape our daily lives, we’re left in the shadows. I can already hear the response from Idahoans who woke up with their own sense of relief this morning: “Well then leave! Go already.” But I live here. People I care about live here. I have a community here. And some battered, broken part of me still believes we can find our way. Talarico shared, “Always, always bet on the underdog. We went up against all the negative ads, smear campaigns, foreign bots and AI deepfakes that money can buy. Those at-
tacks were the final howls of a dying establishment. The death rattle of a status quo that knows its days are numbered. They played dirty because they were desperate, but we never lost hope. We never lost faith. And against big money and long odds, we took our power back.” If Texas can find its way, surely we can find some regular, not-He(rndon)-whomust-not-be-named leader to represent the reasonable people of Idaho, regardless of political affiliation. Until then, I am resilient. For now, I am still here.
If you’re trying to build a community that takes care of one another, that prioritizes the well-being of many over the personal interests of the few — if you’re investing your energy and resources in making this a good place for all different kinds of people to live and thrive — then I’m so glad you are, too. Emily Erickson is a writer and business owner with an affinity for black coffee and playing in the mountains. Connect with her online at www.bigbluehat.studio.
Retroactive
By BO
November 5, 2026 / R / 9
Mad about Science:
Brought to you by:
leaving leaves By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist People have a lot of rituals. Among the most bizarre to me is the collection of biodegradable leaves into non-biodegradable plastic bags to be shipped off to a landfill. Many of us don’t think about what happens after the bags get picked up — the leaves simply disappear and the tree regrows some more the following spring. Leaves decomposing on your lawn or in nature undergo a different process than leaves that decompose in a landfill. Leaves packed into a landfill are broken down by anaerobic organisms called methanogens. Methanogens undergo a process called methanogenesis to decompose material and spit out methane gas as a waste product. This happens exclusively in low-oxygen environments, such as swamps, rice paddies or landfills where organic material is present but there isn’t enough oxygen for bacteria or fungi to decompose it. Organic matter in oxygen-rich environments undergo aerobic decomposition, which leaves carbon dioxide, water and heat as byproducts of the decomposition process. This happens when leaves are left out to decompose naturally. In the wild, this is a cycle. Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air through photosynthesis, then the leaves fall and break down into carbon dioxide over the winter; rinse and repeat. The mass dump of leaves at fall isn’t an accident or a thoughtless byproduct of evolution. It’s an adaptation by trees to prepare themselves for winter by utilizing their own waste material. Leaves create mats of air pockets that help insulate the trees’ roots throughout winter. It acts very similarly to a down duvet for
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your bed. Fluffy, semi-rigid structures create air gaps that keep everything beneath them insulated from the ambient air temperature. This helps keep the trees healthy through the winter. Even without their leaves, there is still water inside the trees during the winter, and being able to keep the roots from freezing completely for very long periods of time ensures the tree can keep surviving dormancy. Temperature changes at different levels of the tree causes the water to move slowly during the winter, like the circulatory system of the human body. Our hearts act as a pump to move blood, which carries oxygen and nutrients through our vasculature, while trees use temperature changes during the winter. A tree keeping its roots warmer than the trunk or the limbs allows water to continue circulating within the tree’s own vasculature, and this is much easier for the tree to do when it has a blanket of leaves around its roots. Fallen leaves serve a greater purpose than preserving the tree’s temperature. Animal life benefits immensely from the fallen leaves, which in turn also serves the trees come springtime. Small animals require fallen leaves for the same reason trees do: their core temperatures remain steady in areas where the air doesn’t freeze. The smaller an animal is, the more vital fallen leaves are for their continued survival. Bumblebees and mason bees depend on leaf litter for overwinter survival. New queens burrow into the soil under leaf litter, relying on the stable temperatures to avoid freezing to death. Human removal of leaves directly contributes to wiping out entire generations of bumblebees, often without us even realizing it.
Leaves also provide shelter to other creatures such as frogs and caterpillars. Caterpillars that survive winter and metamorphose into butterflies and moths are essential pollinators. The fewer pollinators that survive the winter, the less chances that flowering trees and plants of all kinds will survive and propagate into future generations. This, in turn, creates a chain reaction that reduces the amount of food for future pollinators and leaf litter for their offspring to shelter beneath throughout the winter. An absence of leaves creates a prime environment for slugs and other pests to flourish, while their natural predators lack shelter to combat them. By reducing hiding places, we are actively promoting more pests rather than less. Leaves naturally decompose in the spring, but sometimes particularly large trees will create very dense mats of leaves. These can often be broken down effectively with a rake or chopped up with a tiller. This creates a layer of moisture-trapping mulch that helps keep plant roots moist through dry summer months and eventually creates nutrient-dense topsoil. Of course, all of this works against a lush green lawn. Manicured green lawns struggle to grow under thick leaf litter and mulch — but is that really a bad thing? Lawn grasses provide little in the way of shelter, insulation or nutrients to fauna or the soil. It is understandable to not want tall grasses where pests like ticks can lurk while keeping a stark and beautiful green space adds beauty to the external areas of our homes. I have to ask: Couldn’t this be achieved with more beneficial greenery? Clover provides great ground coverage with
big, beautiful green leaves we associate with good luck (at least when the plant mutates and spawns a fourth leaf). Clover also provides sustenance for bees of all kinds as well as adding nitrogen to the soil. Clover seldom requires mowing and tolerates being walked on — especially with bare feet so long as you mind the bumblebees. Bonner County has loads of native grasses and sedges that provide more value than bags of lawn grass. While some require mowing, others require very little. Numerous organizations and businesses can help guide homeowners
on how to create a lawn that is well suited to native plants while repelling pesky deer and the ticks that like to come along for the ride. Organizations that can help with this include the Kinnickinnick Native Plant Society, Kaniksu Land Trust, All Seasons Nursery & Landscaping as well as your local library. Abby, the library’s garden coordinator, is a wealth of information and resources who knows even more folks that could help transform a green desert into a thriving and beautiful ecosystem. Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner use mice? Don’t know much about ho
• Each winter, mice and other rodents invade an estimated 21 million U.S. homes, typically entering between October and February. They are usually looking for food, water and shelter from the cold. • Though they are tiny creatures, mice eat 15-20 times a day. They prefer to build their homes near food sources. • If you have signs of mice in your home, they aren’t just scurrying along the floors. Mice are incredible jumpers, climbers and swimmers. They can jump almost two feet in the air, which means they can often climb onto kitchen counters to access food. • Mice can squeeze through an opening the size of a dime • In the wild, mice live for about five months. Their main predators are cats, snakes and foxes. In a lab setting with all the right conditions met, mice can live up to two years. • Mice aren’t scary because of
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their size, but for the diseases they carry. Mice can spread dangerous diseases such as hantavirus and salmonella. In fact, they carry as many as 200 human pathogens. • A mouse produces between 40-100 droppings per day. Also, house mice constantly give off micro-droplets of urine as markers as they travel around their territory every day. The good news? Rodents don’t vomit. • If you see one mouse in your house, you’ve probably got a bunch. One female mouse can give birth when they are only 2 months old, having up to a dozen babies every three weeks, or upward of 150 offspring in a single year. • Mice have poor eyesight, but their other senses make up for it. They have ultrasonic hearing, and use whiskers to sense surface textures, breezes and temperature changes. • The collective noun for mice is called a “mischief.”
PERSPECTIVES
Post-Prop. 1, let’s wreak some empathic havoc By Jen Jackson Quintano Reader Contributor Despite the striving and storytelling of thousands over the past several years, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, a majority of Idahoans chose not to restore reproductive rights in our state. Too extreme for Idaho, said opponents of the measure, willing instead to embrace the extremity of our current abortion bans, which are among the most heavy-handed and havoc-wreaking in the nation. Too extreme for Idaho, they said without acknowledging how that term might be applied to the legislative body doubling down on those bans. With this loss, my heart is broken. Not for the four years we’ve poured into reproductive rights activism — I firmly believe we have accomplished much — but for the people who will bear the burden of this defeat. I ache for pregnant patients in medical crises, for families living in maternity care deserts like our own, for people who find themselves pregnant in untenable circumstances and for the remaining physicians struggling to practice under the weight of laws indifferent to the nuances of their work. We are entitled to our despair today and tomorrow. For those who have advocated tirelessly, please rest and recuperate. But at some point, we’ll need to find a way to stand up anew for those who will be most deeply impacted by the continuance of legislated misogyny. The most revolutionary act is to refuse to be defeated after a defeat. For those of us with relative privilege — and that’s many of us perusing this paper over coffee today — this moment calls for more than scrolling election commentary and trolling the opposition. The outgrowths of Christian nationalism are a scourge, yes, but we can’t combat them in isolation, on our devices. The real work is in person, in community, caring for one another. It’s time to think deeply about how we support those in need with our hands and hearts, in real time, rather than leaning heavily on more distant hopes. Community care isn’t a substitute for legal rights, but it can sustain people through the absence of them, on the path to restoring them. We have the power to support one another through some dark shit. We
can gather resources, build connections, share knowledge, find and fund access, and strengthen the networks that will help keep people safe. This could mean pooling money for those traveling for medical care, educating parents on how to talk with their teens about reproduction and consent, sharing sensitive information through trusted channels, providing emotional support to remaining health care providers or delivering groceries to a neighbor in pain. This is called mutual aid, and in mutuality, there is power. It is a different kind of havoc-wreaking, one rooted in care rather than control. And legislative extremism calls for such radical acts of compassion. Electoral results are not a referendum on the contents of our hearts. They are shaped by money spent, fears exploited and messages repeated. They don’t erase the stories we’ve told, the conversations we’ve had or the possibilities we’ve planted. And so we must also continue to change the story told about abortion, not ceding it to the realm of binaries and shame, but persisting in carving out space for complexity and empathy. Narrative activism is generational in scope. It moves slowly, one conversation at a time; yet, this pace is not a sign of ineffectiveness. Think of tiny, feather-light seeds from a towering tree and what they can manifest if given a chance. I know, deep in my bones, that the Prop. 1 battle was just the start of this work, not the end. This defeat doesn’t invalidate anything we’ve done; instead, it demands the patience to continue it. Join me — tomorrow, next week, next month, follow your heart’s timing, but please join me — in transmuting our grief into tangible acts of moral beauty: speaking vulnerably, advocating courageously, helping whole-heartedly. When you’re ready, come find me, and we’ll wreak some empathic havoc together. Jen Jackson Quintano is the founder and executive director of The Pro-Voice Project and author of the forthcoming book A Field Guide to Staying: Fighting for Women’s Rights in Red America, available now for preorder at afieldguidetostaying.com. November 5, 2026 / R / 11
COMMUNITY 208 Recovery opens new Bonner County location
By Reader Staff
Contessa ‘Tess’ Reasor, 208 Recovery founder and executive director, cutting the ribbon with Joan Urbaniak and Danielle Resso, of the Chamber. Courtesy photo
The Kootenai County-based 208 Recovery North celebrated the grand opening of its newest campus on Oct. 30, welcoming the community to its new accessible, community-based recovery center located within the EnVision Center (130 McGhee Road, Suite 220, in Kootenai). The program prioritizes dignity and agency, helping individuals and families through free, state-certified recovery coaching, resource navigation, community services and access to housing and employment support. “Recovery changes lives, but access to recovery support can change entire communities,” stated Tess Reasor, founder and executive director of 208 Recovery North. “We know that behind every person struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health is a human being with potential, a family hoping for healing and a future worth fighting for. Expanding into Bonner County isn’t simply about opening another recovery center. It’s about breaking down barriers, restoring hope and making sure no one in North Idaho has to navigate recovery alone.” With the facility up and running, members of 208 Recovery North are looking to connect with residents, service providers, first responders, justice-system partners and community organizations to strengthen referral pathways and ensure that everyone knows where to get help when necessary. For more information, contact Reasor at tess@208recovery.org or 208-261-1015, or visit 208recovery.org.
Annual Selkirk-Pend Oreille Food Summit celebrates women in agriculture By Reader Staff
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This year’s Selkirk-Pend Oreille Food Summit will celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer and the women in agriculture that hold up Idaho’s farms. The annual summit invites anyone involved in local food production — from farmers and foragers to chefs and retailers – to hear short presentations on the industry, network and enjoy catered food from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center (10881 N. Boyer Road). “The food summit this year highlights our region’s agricultural heritage and women farmers whose mentorship and expertise contribute to local food production, community resilience, economic vitality and wellness,” wrote organizers. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., after which University of Idaho representatives will welcome attendees. Presentations begin at 9:30 a.m., with “Advocating for Female Farmers” by Audra Mulkern of The Female Farmer Project, and will cover a variety of topics until the Pack River Store’s catered lunch at noon. Following lunch, members of the summit will acknowledge this year’s winner of the Local Food Leader Award. Registration is $35 at bit.ly/4A64zND.
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PERSPECTIVES
Thank God love wins, because we keep messing it up By Rev. Catherine Lyle Reader Contributor Jesus was clear and persistent in his call to love everyone; yet, throughout history, Christians have repeatedly failed to live out the servant-hearted discipleship he taught, leaving wounds that continue to affect our families, communities and culture. The United Methodist Church is not exempt. Recently, the Reader unearthed an Oct. 17, 1922, newspaper article reporting that the Ku Klux Klan met at the Sandpoint Methodist Church. As someone who grew up in a multiracial family, I felt my heart sink. I thought especially of the multiracial families who are part of our Thursday Messy Church and Twinlow Camp communities today. Throughout my ministry, I have intentionally shared stories of saints whose lives and faith are often missing from traditional history books. From Maggie Lena Walker, the first African-American woman (and any woman) to establish a bank in the U.S., to Silvia Hector Webber (an enslaved woman married to a white man),
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who helped enslaved people escape to freedom in Mexico (a country that outlawed slavery before the U.S.). My hope is that they inspire us to know our neighbors; listen to their stories; and build a more inclusive, flourishing North Idaho — one that perhaps reflects the nine fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). In 2025, Idaho prohibited a banner proclaiming “Everyone Is Welcome,” illustrated with children’s hands of different skin tones and red hearts. On the Fourth of July, I proudly walked in Sandpoint’s parade with Indivisible and my youngest son, publicly sharing that Biblical message of welcome with our community. These experiences remind me that racism and exclusion remain a lived experience in Idaho, including within churches and the government. Yet hate will not have the final word. Love wins. God is love, and our work is not finished (1 John 4:16). I will continue using my voice, my pulpit and opportunities to gather people in unexpected places to share the good news: Every person is creat-
ed and cherished by a creative God. You are loved by a God who could not make you into anything less than all that you are from the color of your skin, to the ancestors who prayed for you, to the people who you love today, for the people you love and will love, and the many expressive ways Spirit flows within and around you. Keep showing up. Be part of this community — not because we are flawless, but because we are trying and we will never be complete without you. And if there is ever a note of hope to be felt today, maybe it is the simple reality that if an old church can be brave, admit they were wrong and change over generations into an inclusive church where they publicly sponsor Sandpoint Pride, volunteer at local nonprofits and partner with human rights groups, then it can happen anywhere and in anytime.
Rev. Catherine Lyle’s son Rowan and a banner that reads ‘Everyone is Welcome Here’ at the 2025 Fourth of July parade in Sandpoint. Photo by Rev. Catherine Lyle Our country can and will do better because love wins. Also good news: That old church building was torn down years ago. The present-day building in which we Methodist in Sandpoint worship and serve folks may be a smaller church in our area, but we are not a church of hate. All means all. We are working to be as consistent as Jesus — that all our neighbors, including our enemies, are beloved children of God and the peacemakers will inherit heaven, not the hateful. Rev. Catherine Lyle is a pastor at Sandpoint United Methodist Church.
COMMUNITY
Outdoor Experiences marks 40 years of adventure By Ben Olson Reader Staff Sandpoint may have changed a lot over the past four decades, but one brick storefront on First Avenue has remained pretty much the same: Outdoor Experience. The gear may have advanced over the years, but OE’s mission to remain a pillar of all things outdoors in Sandpoint has remained part of the company’s ethos since the beginning. To celebrate 40 years in business, OE owner Jenny Curto is throwing a party on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 3-6 p.m. at the store (314 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint). “A really big part of our success over the years depends on access to outdoor recreation,” Curto told the Reader. “So we really wanted to celebrate alongside the nonprofits that make that happen in Sandpoint.” Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, Pend Oreille Pedalers, Kaniksu Land Trust and the Sandpoint Nordic Club will all be on hand at the anniversary party, each providing tables with activities or giveaways for attendees. Matchwood Brewing Co. also donated beverages for the event and all of OE’s brand partners contributed items for customer appreciation giveaways, which will occur throughout the afternoon. Opened in 1986 by Kevin Nye and Mark DeLaVergne, Outdoor Experience continues to be a local flagship source gear including cycling, paddling, camping, hiking, running, climbing, snow sports and more. Nye took over as sole owner in 2015 before retiring and selling the business to Curto in 2019, who has run it ever since. “It’s been here for so long, it’s an honor to be able to carry this forward,” Curto said. Not only does OE carry all the gear needed for outdoor adventure, it’s also become a preferred place for folks to stop by and ask for a nudge in the right direction. “There’s nothing more wholesome than when someone walks in the door and they say, ‘I’m traveling through town and here for one day. Where should I go hiking? Where should I get a beer after and where can I camp tonight?’” Curto said. In her time owning the business, Curto has seen the small business model change quite a bit — especially
through the pandemic and with the explosion of online shopping — but, ultimately, she believes in the power of supporting local businesses; especially when it comes to her six employees. “It enables a life for all of us that work here that we really value, like surrounding ourselves with co-workers and customers that share the same passions,” Curto said. When dollars are spent at local retailers, Curto said, they don’t leave town; they continue to travel around the community. “We’re paying our employees and, you know you’ve seen them at Eichardt’s or the Farmers’ Market or the Panida,” she said. “They’re spending their money back in the community, so it’s like this sweet little circle of life that gets missed when you only buy online.” Curto pointed to a regional map on her counter and said it’s often a conversation piece between OE employees and customers looking for places to recreate. “Think about Hank [Graves] and Jane [Arndt] and folks who work here that have either worked here for de-
cades or have lived here for decades,” Curto said. “They just have so much knowledge of not only the gear, but the local area. That’s why we have this map out on the counter here.” Curto invites everyone to come by and celebrate with her and her staff at the 40th anniversary party.
OE owner Jenny Curto puruses the wall of shoes at the shop. Photo by Ben Olson “I’m grateful that we get to stay in this same location and grateful we’ve had some of the same customers who have been supporting us for the entire time,” Curto said.
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STAGE & SCREEN Shared Waters: Ktunaxa and the Coal Mines comes to Sandpoint
Film highlights historic opportunity to resolve international coal mine pollution dispute
By Reader Staff The Idaho Conservation League will bring its new documentary, Shared Waters: Ktunaxa and the Coal Mines, to Sandpoint on Wednesday, Nov. 11, with a 6 p.m. screening at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave.). The showing will include a question-and-answer session with Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Vice Chairman Gary Aitken Jr., film director Jennifer Ekstrom and cinematographer Jimmy Matlosz. “Shared Waters amplifies a powerful Indigenous vision for justice, accountability and restoration,” stated Ekstrom. “The unprecedented Indigenous leadership of the Boundary Waters Treaty investigation gives us hope for accountability for the coal industry in British Columbia.” Shared Waters is a 43-minute documentary film exploring the impact of mountaintop coal mining in B.C.’s Elk Valley, and how the industry has for
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decades polluted water in the Canadian province, as well as the states of Montana and Idaho. The ongoing mining threatens the cultural resources of the transboundary Ktunaxa Nation — including the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho — and continues to pollute the Kootenai River with selenium. The film features Aitken and other Ktunaxa leaders, along with scientific and policy experts, who are working against the clock to protect the watershed as new and expanding mines add to the decades of pollution. “As the problem reaches the international stage through investigation under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, regulators face a pivotal choice: continue to prioritize industry, or rise to hold polluters accountable and protect the water, people and future of this watershed,” wrote ICL in a recent news release. Tickets are $5.50 at the door or online at panida.org. Visit sharedwatersfilm.org to learn more.
COMMUNITY Chamber celebrates Rest in Peace (R.I.P.) RV Park with ribbon cutting By Reader Staff Rest in Peace (R.I.P.) RV Park, a locally owned and operated RV park south of Sagle, recently celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. Owned by Sean and Kristina Gavin, the park offers a place for travelers to stay while exploring North Idaho, with easy access to Sandpoint, Lake Pend Oreille, Silverwood and surrounding attractions. The park features 17 RV sites, each with full hookups and complimentary Wi-Fi. Guests can also access private bathrooms with showers, an on-site laundry facility, designated pet area and self-check-in. The park’s name is a nod to its location near Westmond Cemetery. As longtime North Idaho residents, the Gavins bring their own unique backgrounds to the business. Sean is also the owner of Mountain View Construction and North
(L-R) Chamber Board Member Danielle Resso, RV Park owners Kristina and Sean Gavin, and Chamber Executive Director Joan Urbaniak. Courtesy photo Idaho Flood and Fire, while Kristina serves as a school nurse with the Lake Pend Oreille School District. “Together, they take pride in their community roots and look forward to welcoming visitors while supporting the local businesses and attractions that make North Idaho such a special place,” the chamber stated in a news release. For more information, visit riprvpark.com.
Rally for the Riders returns to fund youth snowboarding By Reader Staff In preparation for the upcoming winter, The St. Bernard on Schweitzer Mountain (479 NW Passage) will hold the second annual benefit dinner for Snowboard Northwest, a competition-based youth team. The evening will include food, live music and auctions beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7. Snowboard Northwest helps youth ages 6 and older learn and grow their technical snowboarding skills, understand backcountry safety, and, eventually, compete at the local and national level. The group provides a safe, supportive environment for all ages and skill levels, building confidence and foundational abilities. Support the team with purchases of $70 tickets at snowboardnorthwest. ticketgoat.com, and bring extra cash for the night’s silent and live auctions. Learn more at snowboardnorthwest. com.
November 5, 2026 / R / 17
events
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com THURSDAY, november 5
Sip and shop for Laiche Dance Team Live bluegrass Jam w/ Dan 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery 5:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge A percentage of proceeds will be doWeekly Pool Tournament nated to Laiche Dance Team 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge Tapped In (trivia game played on your phone) 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ Liam McCoy and Friends 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Documentary film: Women’s Work (free event) 7pm @ Panida Theater The untold story of America’s female farmers
FriDAY, november 6
Live Music w/ Jacob Robin 6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Mason Van Stone 5-7pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Music w/ Nic Allen 8-11pm @ 219 Lounge Live Music w/ Matt Lome 5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33 Live Music w/ Tucker James 6-8pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Music w/ Mason Van Stone 9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge Live Music w/ Tim G. 6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Monarch Mountain Band 5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33 Live Music w/ One Street Over 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ Jenny and Rich Jazz Duo 6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar
November 5 - 12, 2026
POAC reception: The Language of Color 5-7pm @ POAC Gallery Featuring art by a variety of local artists using color to express themselves Live Music w/ Ron Kieper 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Chris Lynch and Friends 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
SATURDAY, november 7 Panhandle Fall Conservation Dinner 4pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds Funds support outdoor heritage and Ducks Unlimited wetlands conseravation efforts. Raffles with guns, etc. Rally for the Riders II 5pm @ St. Bernard (Schweitzer) 2nd annual benefit dinner w/ live music, auctions and more. Benefits our local snowboard team. $80 per ticket Warren Miller’s Days Off 7pm @ Panida Theater Warren Miller’s 77th ski/ride film
SunDAY, november 8
Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee
Land of the Sweets Tea Party 1-2:30pm @ The Heartwood Center Join Cocolalla Conservatory School of Classical Ballet for this semi-formal attire enchating evening. $25 tickets
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Human Rights Trivia Night 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Outdoor Experience group run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome
Geezer Forum 2:30pm @ Marigold Bistro & Cafe
Live Music w/ Rich and Jenny 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
monDAY, november 9
tuesDAY, november 10
Selkirk-Pend Oreille Food Summit 9am-1pm @ Sandpoint Organic Ag. Center Celebrating Idaho Women in Ag and the International Year of the Woman Farmer. $35. idahofoodworks.org Karaoke at the Eagles 6pm @ Eagles Club, 1511 John Hudon Ln.
Turkey Bingo 12pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center $25 buys 4 cards. Raffles, prizes, more Friends of the Library monthly book sale 10am-2pm @ Sandpoint Library Theme: “Thankfulness and gratitude,” featuring books on crafting, religion and metaphysics. Funds support FOL GenTech Apps After Hours 6-11pm @ 212 N. First Ave. Sandpoint’s premier gaming experience with 1,700 games, pizza, snacks and drinks. Supervised and designed for parents to enjoy a night out. $50 Sandpoint Nordic Club winter welcome 1-4pm @ Pine Street Woods (Rec. Center) Connect with your Nordic community friends, enjoy a beverage, play games, renew membership, win a raffle, more! Cuban salsa and rueda dance series 6-7pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall Classes run on select Mondays. Register: sandpointcubansalsa@gmail.com
Open mic / open jam 5-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
wednesDAY, november 11
Beginner Argentine tango class 6pm @ Embody Center, 823 Main St. No partner needed. $20 Live piano w/ David Speight Trivia w/ Toshi ($5 buy-in) 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Irish Jam w/ Seamus 5:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge Weekly Pool Tournament 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
18 / R / November 5, 2026
ICL film screening: Shared Waters • 6-8pm @ Panida Theater Film will be followed by a Q&A with director Jennifer Ekstrom, DP Jimmy Matlosz and Gary Aitken Jr. from the Kootenai Tribe. Don’t miss it
ThursDAY, november 12
Artist reception: Bailey Miller Get Plowed annual fundraiser 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery 5-7pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Come together to raise funds to keep the The Winery’s November artist of the month Live Music w/ Liam McCoy and Friends road to Pine St. Woods safely plowed 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
STAGE & SCREEN The Independence Race Team brings Warren Miller’s Days Off to the Panida By Reader Staff Raise money for local youth athletes and live vicariously through some of the world’s best athletes at the upcoming screening of Warren Miller’s 77th ski film, Days Off, on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint). Presented by Mountain Fever Productions, the showing begins at 7 p.m. and will include a silent auction and raffle prizes. Days Off follows host Katie Burrell — a celebrated filmmaker, comedian and winter-sports enthusiast — as she adventures with fellow professional cold weather athletes and explores both their extreme feats and how they unwind after a long day on the slopes. Tickets are $18 at the door or online at panida.org. Proceeds from the evening benefit the local Independence Race Team, a nonprofit organization that gives skiers
Courtesy image ages 7-16 free coaching, equipment and insurance to ensure they have the opportunity to race. To raise funds for the upcoming crop of skiers, the team will raffle off four prizes at intermission: a multiday Schweitzer ski vacation for two, a Sandpoint Wellness Tour, a day of sailing on Lake Pend Oreille and a Priest Lake husky sled dog tour. The group will also auction off items like a case of wine and a Schweitzer season pass during the showing. Learn more about the team at independenceracing.com, and watch the Days Off trailer at warrenmiller.com.
Free showing of Women’s Work: The Untold Story of America’s Female Farmers By Reader Staff The PBS documentary Women’s Work: The Untold Story of America’s Female Farmers explores historical and contemporary female farmers, illustrating an often excluded side of the history of American agriculture, and will screen Thursday, Nov. 5 at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint). Presented by the Bonner Soil and Water Conservation District, the free showing starts at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a question-and-answer session and audience discussion in honor of the
United Nations-declared “International Year of the Woman Farmer.” Through interviews with various experts — including modern farmers and ranchers — Women’s Work highlights women’s important role in the industry and their myriad overlooked accomplishments. Local women in agriculture will take the stage following the film, sharing their firsthand perspectives and experiences sustaining Idaho’s agricultural communities. For more information on this free event, visit panida.org.
November 5, 2026 / R / 19
POAC presents The Language of Color By Reader Staff In an effort to offer a reprieve from the oncoming gray of late fall, the Pend Oreille Arts Council has curated a bright new exhibit for its gallery: The Language of Color. The showcase will open Friday, Nov. 6 with a reception from 5-7 p.m. featuring colorful pieces from 13 local artists at the POAC Gallery (313 N. Second Ave., in Sandpoint). “Artists choose colors that communicate their ideas with the viewer, and each one takes a different approach. ... Minimalist and muted palettes have their place, but there is something joyous about vibrant colors,” stated organizers. The monthlong display includes pieces by Jeanine Asche, Judy Baird, Alison Barrows-Young, Jenni Barry, Michelle Erny, Al
Before your furnace writes its resignation letter, give us a call.
(208) 263-6163 Heating • Cooling • Installation • Repair • Indoor Air Quality 20 / R / November 5, 2026
Friesen, Randy Fritz, Daris Judd, Jeff Keenan, Stephen Nelson, Holly Pennington, Teresa Rancourt, Jan Rust and Eli Sevenich. The artists are masters of a variety of media, from photography to oil painting, each capturing color and theme in their unique way.
‘Fall’ by Stephen Nelson Art lovers can speak with featured artists and take in the collection at Friday’s free opening reception, or visit the gallery during business hours anytime until Monday, Nov. 30. Learn more at artinsandpoint.org.
MUSIC POAC hosts jazz trio Duende Libre at The Heartwood Center By Reader Staff As part of their ongoing Performing Arts Season, Pend Oreille Arts Council is hosting award-winning jazz trio Duende Libre at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13 at The Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St., in Sandpoint. Playing music that celebrates the connections between global rhythms from Cuba, Brazil and the Mediterranian with the American jazz tradition, Duende Libre plays a euphoric new jazz that honors its historical roots while pushing open the boundaries of the genre. Core members Alex Chad-
sey (bandleader and keys), Jeff Busch (percussion) and Farko Dosumov (bass), Duende Libre is influenced by the trio’s direct connections with master musicians including Clinton Fearon, Dudley Nesbitt, Dave Hassel, Jesse Bannister, Chucho Valdés, Carlos Santana and others. With sizzling rhythms, grooving basslines, experimental meters and melodic hooks, Duende Libre will not only impress jazz aficionados, but music lovers across multiple genres. Tickets are available for purchase at artinsandpoint. org, with adult tickets going for $25 and students for $10.
Courtesy photo Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m.
To listen, visit duendelibre. com.
Local violinist reaches division finals in MTNA competition By Reader Staff Sandpoint’s own violinist Jacinta Larson will compete as a division finalist in the Music Teachers Association Northwest Division’s Young Artist String Performance Competition this December. The regional competition is judged via video submission, and winners will be announced no later than the week of Friday, Jan. 15. The MTNA is a nonprofit organization made up of more than 17,000 independent and collegiate music teachers around the nation. Founded in 1876, the group is the oldest professional music association in the U.S. and seeks to
advance music study, teaching and performance. Larson’s study of the violin began at a young age, leading her to study at the University of Idaho. Currently a junior, she entered the MTNA competition under the tutelage of lecturer Giselle Hillyer. After winning the Idaho State MTNA Young Artist String Performance Competition, she has gone on to represent her state at the division competition and, should she win, will vie for the ultimate championship at the national finals. “I want to state my gratitude for my professor Dr. Giselle Hillyer for going above and beyond in preparing me
for the competition,” Larson told the Reader. For more information, or
Jacinta Larson. Courtesy photo to view competition results when available, visit mtna.org.
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint Jenny and Rich Jazz Duo, Baxters on Cedar, Nov. 7
One Street Over, Pend d’Oreille Winery, Nov. 7
What pairs better with dinner, drinks and conversation than an accomplished jazz duo? The Jenny and Rich Jazz Duo bring a wealth of experience and talent to their performances, mostly playing jazz standards with an improvisational flair. Mixing piano and electric bass, the duo has earned its keep in the music world. Jenny teaches piano and harp, and is also a language coach, while Rich
The age of yacht rock is not yet over — not while One Street Over’s still performing. Though originally a seven-piece band out of Nashville, the family group of Michael, Bridgette and Jordan took the show on the road to the Pacific and Inland Northwest years ago and decided to stay. Now their classic renditions of rock, funk, pop and jazz — not to mention their soft-rock originals — are
started out in London playing in a 1970s English rock band (think Spinal Tap) and later founded a music abroad program for young adults in Argentina. Join them for an evening of jazz, food and conversation. — Ben Olson 6-8 p.m., FREE. Baxters on Cedar, 109 Cedar St., 208-6717175, baxtersoncedar.com.
favorites all over the region, including the Pend d’Oreille Winery. Treat yourself to a glass or two and listen to the dynamic trio’s performance, which spans genres and time periods. — Soncirey Mitchell
This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone
READ
Today’s best techno-dystopian writing isn’t science fiction — it’s to be found in the Form S-1 filed by AI developer Anthropic, which the company submitted to the SEC ahead of its stock market IPO. The really terrifying stuff is in the more than 90 pages on “Risk Factors”; specifically, that AI is either very close to or already capable of building and training AI, which Anthropic writes “could also pose a considerable safety risk, particularly if it sharply accelerates the pace of progress.” Read it (and weep) at bit.ly/AnthropicS1.
LISTEN
Croatian classical guitarist Ana Vidović is only 45 years old, but without doubt ranks among the most elite musicians in the world. That might sound like hyperbole, but it’s hard to oversell her uncommon talent, which has been showcased literally around the world. Any and all of her recorded performances are a master class is precision, but Vidović’s live one-hour concert at St. Mark’s in San Francisco — posted on YouTube by the Omni Foundation about five years ago and viewed 12 million times — is a perfect intro. Listen there, or learn more at anavidovic.com.
WATCH
The PBS series American Masters has been on the air for 39 seasons, inviting viewers to take a deep dive into the lives of some of the most distinguished, creative and impactful personalities in our history. The “American Masters PBS” YouTube channel hosts a huge catalog of those documentaries — all for free — and includes the riveting episode “Hannah Arendt Facing Tyranny,” which was posted about a week ago and shouldn’t be missed.
5-8 p.m., FREE. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St., 208-2658545, powine.com. Listen at onestreetover.com. November 5, 2026 / R / 21
BACK OF THE BOOK
Idaho breaks the ‘blue wave’ By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
From Northern Idaho News, November 7, 1907
HOUSES TO BE NUMBERED CITY COUNCIL TAKES STEPS TO BRING ABOUT METROPOLITAN IDEAS IN SANDPOINT The regular meeting of the city council was to have been held Tuesday night but there were but four present, Messrs. Coons, Walker, Ames and Martin. Owing to the fact that there was not a quorum present no business could be transacted and a few matters were discussed informally. Messrs. D.M. Williams and H. Caldervale were present and asked the council about their project for the numbering of the houses of town. The plan proposed by then was briefly this: That the council should order the numbering of all residences and places of business in town and give them permission to do the numbering, the prices charged to be 50 cents for the numbering when the plaques are nickel plated, and higher prices for extra quality. The charge was to be obtained from the residents and at the same time the promoters of the plan offer to make a census for the purpose of getting out a city directory and providing a copy of the same for all institutions and business houses. The plan outlined would cost the city nothing and was viewed favorably by the council. It will be necessary, however, for the council to pass an ordinance requiring all houses to be numbered in order to make the plan uniform and to ensure that all houses are numbered. The matter was expected to come up again. If put into effect, it will be preparatory to securing the free delivery of mail within city limits. 22 / R / November 5, 2026
The day after an election is always exhausting. Win or lose, they’re stressful exercises that more often than not combine overthinking with overdrinking, unhealthy food and long hours. This one, however, seems to have hit particularly hard. On one hand, watching the “blue wave,” “bluenami,” “blue earthquake” or whatever the talking heads decided to call it was regardless an exhilarating example of how much of the country is ready to shake off the MAGA fugue state and return some rationality, accountability and genuine public service to the system. However, Democrats like former-Transportation Secretary and onetime presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg were wise to temper their enthusiasm on election night. As he and others rightly pointed out, it’s not like Americans woke up on Nov. 3 and suddenly decided they love the Democratic Party — they just woke up to the pain of President Donald Trump’s long con, which has left them desperate for affordable gas, groceries and health care while his plutocratic clique wallows in obviously ill-gotten lucre. It’s tempting to respond to this apparently historic awakening with “no duh” or “it took you long enough,” but that’s just the curse of Cassandra — the mythical ancient Trojan princess who was doomed to always know what was really going on but no one would listen to her when she warned them about it.
It’s a case of “better late than never,” but also to Democrats: “Don’t screw it up.” Considering how difficult it is for U.S. voters to even understand what’s in their actual best interest, much less cast a ballot for it, they’re going to expect swift relief from this incoming congressional majority — up to and including investigations and charges brought against the administration’s many malefactors. If that’s not delivered, my Cassandra sense is that we’ll see a backlash in 2028 that will feel like the fall of the Ancien Régime. So if there’s something like “hope” in the air across the country, it’s likely as much to do (or more) with the rejection of Trumpism than a general recalibration toward progressive politics. Though neither of those things are gaining traction in Idaho. Having watched local, state and national elections for a living over the past 20-odd years, the feeling of enduring an Idaho election is singular. While I, along with millions of others around the nation, watched that “blue wave” roll across the map on Nov. 3, I also had the suspicion born of long experience that it would almost certainly break on the Gem State. Sure enough, every incumbent Republican retained their positions among the highest constitutional officers from governor to state controller; voters returned all three of our Republican U.S. Congress members; the citizens’ ballot initiative Proposition 1 restoring abortion rights failed; we amended the Idaho Constitution to establish English as the official state language (which it already was
by statute); and, for some reason, we now have a “state gun,” which 161,298 people thought should be the Winchester Model 1873, a.k.a., the “Gun that Won the West,” according to the ballot language. Thankfully, the Trojan Horse of House Joint Resolution 4 — which would have given the Legislature a tidy end-run around the ballot initiative process under the guise of keeping drugs out of Idaho — didn’t succeed. Locally, voters sent Scott Herndon back to the Idaho Senate for his second non-consecutive term (after losing in the last cycle to outgoing-Republican Sen. Jim Woodward), Cornel Rasor will serve another term representing District 1B in the Idaho House, while Jane Sauter is headed to Boise for a first term as the Dist. 1A House member. No secret has been made in the opinion pages of this paper that a preferable outcome would have been sending Independents Steve Johnson and Kathryn Larson, along with Democrat Karen Matthee, to the Statehouse in January, but that didn’t happen — resulting in the familiar sensation of waking up the day after an Idaho election and climbing out of a smoking shell hole. But there is palpable solace in the national results, carrying a good reminder that Idaho is but one of 50 states, and if the overall political environment is to shift toward more stability then the only option is to keep some faith that things might get a little better even in spite of ourselves.
STR8TS Solution
Sudoku Solution
Crossword Solution
Solution on page 22
Solution on page 22
By Bill Borders
parvenu /PAHR-vuh-noo/
Woorf tdhe Week
[noun] 1. a person who has recently gained wealth but lacks the expected refinement
“The parvenu loudly bragged about his fortune while using the wrong fork at dinner.” Corrections: You’re going to have to look elsewhere for mistakes this week, but we’re sure there are plenty of places to find them.
What is it that makes a complete stranger dive into an icy river to save a solid gold baby? Maybe we’ll never know.
CROSSWORD
Copyright www.mirroreyes.com
Laughing Matters
ACROSS 1. Entertain 6. Spine 10. Rodents 14. Rubber wheels 15. Distinctive flair 16. Mine entrance 17. Beginning 18. Walking stick 19. Hefty volume 20. Keyboard instrument 22. Voyage 23. Punctuation mark 24. Sleighs 25. Q-Tip 29. Say again 31. Oxygenates 33. Accomplice 37. Backbones 38. Calm 39. Sullied 41. Denounces (archaic) 42. Increase (an incline) 44. Annoyance 45. Wool eaters 48. Manager 50. Test 51. An inflated round ball 56. Kiddie 57. Inactive 58. Spooky 59. Biblical garden 60. Fortune teller 61. Innocent
Solution on page 22
62. Dispatched 63. Combines 64. Type of viper
40. Deciphered 11. Love intensely 12. Shy 41. Merchants 13. Stairs 43. Canvassed 21. Realize 45. Distributes beforehand 46. Any compound DOWN 24. An alloy of iron of oxygen 25. Back talk 47. Spoken for 1. At the peak of 26. Cried 49. Doglike nocturnal 2. Short skirt 27. Diva’s solo mammal 3. Celestial bear 28. Deportation 51. Sanction 4. Observed 30. Failure to 52. Small ball 5. Medieval sword be present with a hole 6. Transforms into 32. Canvas dwellings 53. Dry 7. Alerts 8. Choral composition 34. French for “Head” 54. Not prerecorded 35. 1 1 1 1 55. Lascivious look 9. Leg joint 36. Repose 10. Jalopy November 5, 2026 / R / 23