2 / R / October 8, 2026
DEAR READERS,
The week in random review By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The spectacle of mourning
During the Victorian era in England and the U.S., grieving a loved one was as performative as it was personal. The Victorians didn’t believe that “everyone grieves differently,” in fact, they had strict social rules dictating what a person could do and how they could dress following the death of a loved one. Though these applied to almost everyone, the degree of required public mourning depended largely on class, gender and a person’s relationship to the deceased. Though wearing dark colors to signify the death of a loved one was already a practice in the Edwardian period, Queen Victoria solidified its popularity among the upper class by wearing mourning clothes for the rest of her life following the death of her husband, Prince Albert. Victoria displayed her grief constantly for 40 years, and such dedication was encouraged among regular widows, if to a lesser extent. According to the Lancaster History Museum and Research Center, how to act and for how long was highly debated, but most publications on etiquette instructed widows to wear dark colors and veils for one to four years following the death of their husbands. During the initial period, called “Deep Mourning,” women would wear heavy fabric with crepe veils and avoid accessories, aside from approved black jewelry and white “widow’s caps.” Women in deep mourning were expected to stay at home, if possible, or at least avoid social activity. During “Second Mourning,” women could introduce white accents like shawls or cuffs and incorporate lighter fabric, especially through a tulle veil. Finally, during “Half Morning,” women could once again incorporate muted colors like gray, white and lavender into their wardrobes; drop their veils; add gold jewelry; and even place silk flowers in their bonnets. Widows had to be especially attentive to area practices, as coming out of mourning too soon could be seen as callous at best and bawdy at worst. Given the many nuances and variety of practices — all with common themes — Victorian tailors and milliners created a profitable industry dressing the recently bereft. Anyone with more meager pocketbooks could still participate, though, either by dying their current clothes a darker shade or by wearing a black arm band during daily activities.
And on that note…
Some highlights from the book Famous Last Words: The Ultimate Collection of Finales and Farewells by Laura Ward: “Your ungrammatical style is putting me off them.” — Poet François de Malherbe, while listening to a flowery description of the joys of Heaven. “On the contrary!” — Dramatist Henrik Ibsen, in response to his nurse saying he “looked better.” “I did not know that we had ever quarreled.” — Writer Henry David Thoreau when asked whether he had “made peace” with his “Maker.”
I snuck out of town this week to explore around the backroads with my partner; but by the time you’re reading this, I’ll be back at my desk, chained tight and ready for more punishment. I always enjoy getting out this time of year. My backpacking trip into the mountains was rained out a couple weeks ago, so Plan B is to cram the car full of gear and drive around for a week without a plan except to find a cool place to camp for the night and shop the Montana thrift and curio stores for their treasures. Aside from all the news, views and community items that we offer every week, our spooky October vibes continue with a feature about what some of our readers would eat as their death row meal on Page 16. Special thanks to Claire Lutz, whose artwork “Death Row Meal” inspired this article. Enjoy yourselves out there, folks. Or don’t. I don’t care; I’m on vacation.
– Ben Olson, publisher
READER 111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368 sandpointreader.com
Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com
Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Soncirey Mitchell (Senior Writer) soncirey@sandpointreader.com Editors Emeriti: Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Cameron Rasmusson John Reuter Advertising: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Clair Lutz (cover), Gail Lyster, Zach Hagadone, Ann Spradling, Jim Bellatty, Chris Lynch, Ben Olson Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Clark Corbin, Emily Erickson, Ford Elsaesser, Jim Jones, Lauren Necochea 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 150 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 is a piece by artist Claire Lutz titled “Death Row Meal.” Want it as your own memento mori? Email Lutz at poacgallery@gmail.com.
October 8, 2026 / R / 3
NEWS
Prior sexual assault allegations against commissioner candidate made public Idaho Attorney General’s Office declined to file criminal charges By Soncirey Mitchell and Zach Hagadone Reader Staff The regular business meeting of the Bonner County Board of Commissioners took an unexpected turn Oct. 6, when residents Dan and Dian Welle testified during the public comment period, referring to a Bonner County Sheriff’s Office incident report detailing alleged sexual crimes committed by Republican District 2 commissioner candidate Jeff Roberts, of Priest River. According to the redacted records, the unnamed female accuser contacted authorities on June 1, 2026; however, the incident allegedly occurred two years prior. The investigation was turned over to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office in August, which “decided against filing criminal charges,” according to a Sept. 14 letter to the Bonner County Prosecutor’s Office. The Welles submitted printed copies of the documents to the BOCC, which they obtained through a public records request, identifying the alleged offenses as “forcible fondling” and “attempted forcible rape.” “The accusations behind this closed investigation are unequivocally false, and I fully deny these allegations,” Roberts told the Reader in an Oct. 7 email. “When made aware of the investigation, I immediately submitted to and passed a polygraph test administered by a licensed professional. This test was provided to the Sheriff’s Office shortly thereafter.” Endorsed by the Bonner County Republican Central Committee, Roberts bested sitting Commissioner Asia Williams for the Republican nomination for District 2 com4 / R / October 8, 2026
missioner in the May 2026 GOP primary. He is slated to appear on the November general election ballot unopposed. According to the incident report, Roberts initially agreed to meet with deputies in person, but later canceled the meeting, communicating instead through his lawyer, Michael G. Palmer, of Coeur d’Alene-based Palmer | George PLLC. The records do not make mention of any additional interviews with Roberts. “This matter was investigated by the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from other agencies and referred by the Bonner County Prosecuting Attorney to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office,” Roberts told the Reader. “As evidenced in the letter from the Idaho deputy attorney general, no charges were filed; and, after reviewing the facts discovered during the investigation, the state of Idaho formally considers the matter closed.” ‘The difference between allegations and facts’ Roberts’ campaign for Dist. 2 commissioner draws on his career as a general contractor; his membership in the right-wing, anti-communist political group the John Birch Society; and his leadership in an Oregon branch of the anti-government militia group the Three Percenters, which has been considered a terrorist organization by the Canadian government since 2021. According to his campaign website, votejeffroberts.com, his political views were shaped by his experience witnessing “firsthand” the FBI siege of Ruby Ridge. The allegations made against Roberts stemmed from two individuals — the accuser and a person close to her — whose names have
Through the course of the investigation, deputies were unable to uncover definitive physical evidence, with the accuser admitting to “throwing the pants away” that she wore during the alleged incident. Deputies could not obtain security camera footage from Mitchell’s Harvest Foods, as the security cameras automatically override recordings after three days, according to the report. However, the sheriff’s investigation indicated that the accuser recounted the alleged incident in her journal two years ago.
been redacted from the public file. Both individuals spoke to deputies and representatives from LillyBrooke Family Justice Center on multiple occasions, reportedly telling them that Roberts had “hurt” and “raped” the accuser, necessitating that she go to Mitchell’s Harvest Foods in Priest River “to buy a morning after pill or Plan B pill,” where another undisclosed incident allegedly occurred, according to the report. The testimony in the report went on to state that Roberts “does creepy things like pat [the accuser] on the butt and talk to himself in the third person.” When asked why she had not come forward sooner, the accuser reportedly told deputies that Roberts leveraged his membership in the Three Percenters to threaten her, allegedly stating, “I have contacts everywhere,” and, “I’ll
Jeff Roberts. Courtesy photo tell them where you are.” The accuser told interviewers that “she was worried that Jeffrey would ‘assassinate her’” if she spoke to anyone, according to the incident report. “I trust the people of Bonner County to recognize the difference between allegations and facts, and to see these tactics for what they are,” Roberts told the Reader. “The primary election made it clear that voters are tired of accusation, insinuation and character assassination. Unfortunately, there are those willing to go to extraordinary lengths to destroy someone politically. The people of Bonner County are smarter than that, and I trust they will see through it. I will not allow these tactics to distract me from the work ahead or from earning the trust of the people I hope to represent.”
‘The inherent conflict of interest’ Following the initial investigation, the Bonner County Prosecutor’s Office turned over the case to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office — a move that sparked confusion among some members of the public, with Dan Welle questioning whether it constituted “special handling for a candidate-elect.” “The candidate has every right to be deemed innocent until proven guilty,” stated Dan Welle at the Oct. 6 BOCC meeting. “However, what happened was that the report was effectively buried in the process. The county surely knew, the prosecutor knew, the sheriff knew — who did not know was the voting public. … Charges of this type should not be hidden from the voting public.” When asked by the Reader why the case was referred to the attorney general, Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall stated that, “I can categorically assure the public that my office, as well as the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, in no way have attempted to protect any suspect, other
< see BOCC, Page 7 >
NEWS
Sandpoint council votes to move forward with City Beach parking lot concept
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff The city of Sandpoint is moving forward with a redesign of the City Beach parking lot, after councilors agreed 3-2 at their regular Oct. 7 meeting to direct staff to proceed with a conceptual plan designed to improve safety and access for boat trailers while incorporating a number of changes to traffic flow — including a roundabout “gateway” at the north entrance. Referred to as “Concept D,” Sandpoint Project Manager Erik Bush told councilors that the current City Beach lot includes 10 boat trailer parking stalls, though the concept would increase that to 30: 20 of which would be dedicated pullthrough spots and 10 mixeduse spaces available to both trailers and passenger vehicles. In addition to the expanded boat trailer capacity, the plan calls for extending parking eastward into what is today the interior of the park’s green space, eliminating the turnaround near the beach pavilion in favor of widened areas for
trailer ingress and egress, and the inclusion of trees and other landscape features throughout the main parking area. Planning and Community Development Director Jason Welker said the concept is designed to 35% completion, with an engineer’s cost estimate delivered by December. “December’s an important deadline for that project, because January is grant deadline time,” he said, highlighting the Waterways Improvement Fund, which the city hopes to leverage for the beach lot reconstruction. “We needed a more refined concept before they’d approve funding a parking lot improvement at City Beach — particularly one that emphasizes improvements for boat trailer access,” Welker said. “The Waterways Improvement Fund is funded using boat registrations, so that committee that reviews those grant applications is really looking for improvements that enhance access to the boat launch.” Adding a sense of urgency, Welker added that the committee deciding that funding
will meet soon, and he is on the agenda to present. “It’s not going to pay for the entire City Beach project, but we’re hoping that at least for the boat trailer access improvements, we can get a significant amount of that funded with the Waterways Improvement Fund grant,” he said. While council members raised a number of questions related to traffic flow, adequate green space and availability of vehicle parking, Councilor Kyle Schreiber expressed the most concerns. “We are converting park space into parking lot beautification,” he said, underscoring his worry that the eastward expansion of the lot into the heart of the park would serve parking more than users of the
2026 election forum set for Oct. 20 By Reader Staff
Coinciding with the beginning of early voting on Monday, Oct. 19, the Bonner County Daily Bee, KRFY Panhandle Community Radio, SandpointOnline.com and Sandpoint Reader will host an election forum on Tuesday, Oct. 20 featuring candidates for Idaho Legislative District 1 and the Bonner County Board of Commissioners. Scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m. and moderated by Chris Bessler, the forum will take place at the Sandpoint High School auditorium (410 S. Boyer Ave.). Tables will be set up in the
cafeteria outside the auditorium where candidates are invited to provide literature and talk with voters before and after the forum. Candidates in contested races have been invited, including Republican Scott Herndon and Independent Steve Johnson (Dist. 1 Senate); Democrat Karen Matthee and Republican Jane Sauter (Dist. 1A House); Independent Kathryn Larson and Republican Cornel Rasor (Dist. 1B House); and Independent Fred Arn and Republican Steve Smith (BOCC Dist. 1). Each candidate in contested races will get two minutes to provide an opening
statement. Following those opening statements, the moderator will take written questions from the audience and candidates will each receive two minutes for closing statements. Candidates in uncontested races have also been invited to provide two- to three-minute statements during the opening period, but questions will be reserved for contested races only. The forum will be broadcast live on the evening of Oct. 20 on 88.5 KRFY, with the recording subsequently available on KRFY.org and followed by coverage in the Bee and Reader.
grassy interior of the property. “I feel like we’re designing this to chase a grant rather than designing it to maximize the benefit for the park users,” he said. Noting that he’d posed a number of similar questions and concerns weeks before, when the council previously addressed the parking lot plan, Schreiber said that none of those points were included in the concept presented at the Oct. 7 meeting. Regardless, he proposed a motion incorporating a number of tweaks to the plan, but which was broken into four separate motions taking each main point in turn. Specifically, he sought to eliminate the roundabout at the north entrance, preferring a three-way stop to slow traffic. That motion failed on a vote of 2-3. He also asked for the addition of between five and eight stalls near the pavilion with improved access, which also failed 2-3. Schreiber’s motion to expand green spaces within the parking lot and among the north entrance roundabout into areas that could be functionally used by park goers
The concept plan for the City Beach parking lot as pressented at the Oct. 7 meeting. Courtesy photo failed for lack of a second, though his motion to convert seven of the northernmost boat-only pull-through stalls to hybrid use for vehicles as well passed unanimously. Still, Schreiber voted against advancing the overall concept plan — joined by Councilor Pam Duquette — reiterating his concern that the redesign favored boat trailers and boat users at the expense of others. “Is this a park or is this a boat launch?” he said. City staff and officials repeated throughout the meeting that the plan, even as it was advanced, remained conceptual and returned again and again to the notion that individual details could be “massaged” to accommodate at least modest changes as it progresses to full completion. “I do support the massaging factor of this,” said Councilor Joe Tate. “I don’t want to get away from how much work our staff has put into this project and just punt it to another year.” October 8, 2026 / R / 5
NEWS City presents proposed zone changes at open house By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Dean said a good example of neighborhood commercial is to be found with the Granary District, where lower-intensity commercial uses operate on the edge of residential areas. “That’s a good picture of what neighborhood commercial is all about,” he said, going on to describe community commercial as a highly trafficked corridor with a more robust mix of uses, larger-scale employment. “If we’re going to invite density in this community, let’s put it in a place where the infrastructure can handle it,” he said.
Attendance was steady throughout Sandpoint’s zoning code update open house, which took place Oct. 6 from 12:30-5:30 p.m. at Community Hall, where attendees were invited to view presentation materials and interact with staff and elected officials on concepts for how to change a range of land use policies throughout the city. The central theme of the reimagined code was the addition of more “location-specific” commercial zones and “targeted residential zoning” — specifically, the identification of “neighborhood commercial” and “community commercial” zones to provide more flexibility of uses and blended transitions between residential and commercial properties. Attendees examine Sandpoint’s proposed zoning changes. Photo by Zach Hagadone City officials Specifically, community commercial have already hosted presentations on potential changes to the downtown core would enable the creation of districts supporting commercial, residential, and outer core areas, with a downtown institutional and mixed-use develophistoric district overlay and overall goal ment with larger employment and more of incorporating more mixed-use resiintensive use, especially along arterials dential-commercial in the city’s densest and U.S. Highway 2 between Boyer business area. The Oct. 6 open house was meant to and Division avenues. Buildings in those zones would be show how other zones throughout city capped at 45 feet — five feet higher limits would interact and support the larger goals of the Comprehensive Plan. than allowable in the proposed down“Really what this presentation’s been town historic district but 10 feet lower than in the downtown outer core — is about our downtown, and the rest of with an emphasis on active streetscapes. it begs the question: ‘What do we do Associate Planner Erik Brubaker about the rest of our commercial propsaid that participants in the Oct. 6 open erties?’” said City Planner Bill Dean. house were especially appreciative of He pointed to the neighborhood the envisioned transition from residenand community commercial zones as tial to commercial zones, rather than particularly impactful, with the former “strip-style” development along thorenvisioning retail services, restaurants oughfares like the highway. and craft manufacturing interspersed “The general trajectory has been with residential. Building heights really appreciated,” he added. would complement adjacent housing The draft zone changes are due to — typically between 18 and 35 feet, go before the Planning and Zoning depending on the lot and its surroundings — and incorporate limited primary Commission in a 5:30 p.m. public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 20 in City frontage surface parking. Defined as “small-scale services,” the Hall Council Chambers (1123 Lake St.). Following that, commissioners will neighborhood commercial zones would make a recommendation to the council include a maximum 5,000-square-foot with a final decision expected sometime building footprint with 10- to 20-foot in December. buffers next to residential. 6 / R / October 8, 2026
Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond
In defiance of Congress, the Trump administration removed $52 million in military assistance for countries suffering damages from Russia’s war on Ukraine. It was instead channeled to right-wing governments in Colombia, Peru, Panama and Ecuador, according to The Washington Post. NPR reported that the U.S. has drawn more than 30% from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to compensate for Iran war fuel shortages. Rapid drawdowns can damage the reserves’ salt cavern structures. China is also tapping its reserves, but less aggressively since that nation has more EVs. Due to instability in the petroleum markets due to Trump’s war in Iran, France, Germany and the Netherlands plan to end their use of fossil fuels in the near future, Climate Action Now reported. Global oil demand has fallen this year, equal to taking 42 million gas-burning cars off the road, according to the International Energy Agency. The IEA also stated that EV sales are on track to set a record in China at 95% of new cars sold, 100% in Norway and more than 30% in European countries. American EV sales are at 5.8% this year. An incentive for the switch in Europe includes gas taxation for covering “extremity” costs of fossil fuel use, such as for asthma, wildfires and floods. Germans pay an extra $3 per gallon for that tax, akin to the U.S. tax on tobacco. Axios reported that Tesla’s electric Semi is gaining popularity amid $6 per gallon diesel prices. The Semi can travel 500 miles on a full charge and regain up to 60% of range in 30 minutes. Hackers recently broke into the FBI portal and grabbed info on every employee, as well as other law enforcement officers, several media sources reported. Experts, along with FBI officials, described the breach as a “counterintelligence disaster,” with one FBI cybersecurity expert blaming “incompetence” for the breach. Axios reported that Wall Street “raked in” $45.9 billion in the first half of this year. That’s 51.3% more than at the same time last year. A month prior to the midterm elections, President Donald Trump said he plans to provide $90 to middle class seniors to help pay for their Part B premiums, arriving in October, various media reported. According to Axios, the $90 is less than half of a one-month
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Contributor
Part B premium. Other Trump offers include $5,000 for every adult citizen if Republicans win the House and Senate midterms, $500 Obamacare rebates and a “dividend” for living near a data center. Unrealized rebates promised by Trump in 2025 included those for tariffs and DOGE dividends. After bipartisan backlash, Trump said his super PAC will pay for his taxpayer-funded ads, the Associated Press reported. Trump offered no details about reimbursing taxpayers for the ads already run. Critics pointed out that the ads were created by a White House video team, which violates the Hatch Act. Four people died Oct. 4 when the U.S. military struck a small boat in the Caribbean, numerous media reported. Over the past year, 70 strikes have killed 230 people accused of being narco-terrorists, though without trial. A U.N. report described the extrajudicial killings as a defiance of international law. A Trump-appointed judge recently rebuked ICE agents for falsifying records after wrongful arrests made during an operation in the Bronx in May. According to Democracy Docket, the U.S. Postal Service is slowing delivery, potentially putting “tens of thousands” of mail-in voters at risk of being disenfranchised because a vote may not be counted if the voter waits too long to mail a ballot. The USPS advises submitting ballots a week prior to the deadline. Meanwhile, Trump has backtracked on his long-held dismissal of mail-in voting and is now pleading with Republicans to vote by mail as Democrats’ odds of taking Congress improve ahead of the midterm election. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced that tech billionaires Musk and Palmer Luckey are now on the Pentagon defense board, raising issues of conflicts of interest since both benefit from federal defense contracting, The Guardian reported. Blast from the past: Some news accounts say Republicans are comforted by the cash lead they hold in the midterm elections, but that’s no guarantee of winning. Elon Musk gave an unprecedented $22 million to the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s conservative candidate race in 2025 — along with millions in voter “prize money” — but the candidate Musk hoped to defeat won by 10 percentage points.
NEWS
BOCC continues Long Bridge Marina expansion proposal hearing to November By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff The Bonner County Board of Commissioners continued its hearing on a conditional use permit for the proposed Long Bridge Marina expansion for the third time Oct. 7, leaving interested parties to wait until Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. for the board’s verdict. Due to the absence of Commissioner Brian Domke, the Long Bridge Land Holding Company, LLC, represented by HMH Engineering, opted to postpone the vote until a full board could be seated. The 45-slip marina, located at 41 Lakeshore Drive, sits on approximately two acres zoned Recreation. The property includes a single-family residence, two rental cabins, and a boat rental and “snack shack.”
< BOCC, con’t from Page 4 > than following the law and respecting the constitutional rights of the accused.” He continued that, “The AG has a special prosecution unit charged with handling matters like these where county prosecutors can’t proceed with cases because the suspect is a county official, or, in this case, a person who has won a county election. “I was required to conflict the matter to a special prosecutor and I followed the rules of ethics,” he added. “If additional facts come to light we will send the information to the AG to reassess the case.” When the Reader pointed out that Roberts had only won a primary nomination — not the general election — Marshall responded, “That is technically correct. However, we have to act under the perception of a conflict of interest. If I would have acted one way or the other it would have been perceived as political in nature.” At the same time, Marshall stated, “All persons involved in the investigation believed
The proposed expansion would reorganize the existing 32-space parking lot, add 47 additional slips to the marina and relocate the snack shack to improve sightlines for cars at the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and U.S. Highway 95. Should the commissioners approve the CUP, the marina would grow to 92 total slips; however, the Idaho Department of Lands has granted developers an encroachment permit to ultimately construct a 268-slip marina. According to HMH Engineer Dan Tadic, 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 previously sided with public opposition, denying the CUP application
and arguing that increased traffic at the U.S. 95 and Lakeshore intersection could “create a hazard” and would be “dangerous to persons on or adjacent to the property.” According to the Idaho Transportation Department, the intersection has seen 11 crashes in the past five years. The applicants subsequently worked with Bonner County Road and Bridge and ITD to conduct a traffic study and alter their application to mitigate safety concerns. During that time, ITD further installed flexible bollards at the intersection, restricting left turns off of Lakeshore and directing traffic to a median U-turn installed in 2023. Following the traffic study and safety improvements, Road and Bridge and ITD both signed off on the application.
the accusations to be credible and, as such due to the inherent conflict of interest, I submitted the matter to the Idaho attorney general to review the case and press charges if they decided to do so. Whether or not I agree with the decision of the AG is irrelevant.” On Sept. 14, following a review of the investigation, Deputy Attorney General Madison Gourley informed Marshall that her office “decided against filing criminal charges” and “consider[s] this matter closed.” “Based on the facts revealed in the investigation, we do not believe we can prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt,” wrote Gourley. The AG’s ruling ended the investigation into the alleged incident, barring new evidence or testimony. “My office has and will continue to be a resource for this victim and fully supports victims of violent crimes in our community,” Marshall told the Reader, going on to state, “My office has been very aggressive pursuing crimes against children over the years. We have taken a
lot of cases to trial that many other prosecutors would likely decline. ... We will continue to take this stand until there is a different prosecutor in this office.” ‘Not informed of any allegations’ Though the investigation has concluded, its exposure at the Oct. 6 BOCC meeting spurred insinuations both on social media and in public testimony, with Amy Lunsford stating before commissioners, “[I]s the BCRCC serving up a pervert to the voters?” BCRCC Chair Roger Rudd, who is running unopposed in the Nov. 3 election for the position of Bonner County Clerk, told the Reader that the committee “was not informed of any allegations” until the Welles’ comments at the Oct. 6 BOCC meeting, and that the allegations were “first reported to law enforcement on June 1, 2026, weeks after the May primary,” and therefore after the committee had already published its voter guide and endorsements. As of press time, Roberts retained his endorsement from
“I concur with [HMH Engineering’s] conclusions that no additional safety or capacity improvements are necessary 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 have heard public comment and rebuttals by the applicant, leav-
The existing Long Bridge Marina. Photo by Ben Olson ing only board deliberation and the final vote for the Nov. 5 hearing. Attend in-person at the Bonner County Administration Building (1500 U.S. 2, in Sandpoint) or online via Zoom or YouTube by visiting bonnercountyid.gov/meetings. To view the complete application, visit bonnercountyid.gov/departments/Planning.
the BCRCC. “Idaho law provides no mechanism to remove or replace a party’s nominee at this stage,” Rudd told the Reader. “The nominee was chosen by the voters in the primary. Under Idaho Code sections 34-715 and 34-717, the deadlines for any withdrawal or replacement of a nominee passed in early September, and the nominee’s name remains on the ballot by operation of law. Neither this committee nor anyone else can change that now.” Rudd told the Reader that any decisions regarding the “committee’s own position” in response to the allegations would “require action by the membership.” It was not immediately clear whether the BCRCC would bring the issue forward at a future meeting. In a further twist, though the Oct. 6 meeting was livestreamed and uploaded to the Bonner County YouTube page — as is standard practice — the public no longer had access to the recording as of press time. Several hours after the meeting’s conclusion, Commissioner Williams re-
ported in a Facebook post that the county had removed the video under instructions from BOCC Chair Ron Korn. Neither he nor Williams publicly confirmed the reason for its removal as of press time. A fellow member of the Three Percenters, Korn has given Roberts his personal endorsement, which is posted on Roberts’ campaign website. Following public complaints that the video was unavailable, Williams instructed staff to reupload the recording and requested a review of Korn’s actions by county legal counsel. “Legal has rendered an opinion to Commissioner Korn that if he wants the video removed from the county website that he needs to put it on an agenda item for the entire board to vote on,” wrote Williams in an Oct. 6 Facebook post. “The video has NOT been restored to the County website. There has Not been a board vote to remove the video.” Commissioners did not respond to a request for comment by press time. October 8, 2026 / R / 7
‘A (different) nurse’s perspective against incomplete evidence’…
Bouquets: • I’m normally not a fan of people who play their music in public places, but one local dude has earned a reprieve from me. I hear him riding by on his bike, either to or from work, and he’s usually bumping some old 1990s hip hop or something from a speaker mounted to his handlebars. It’s usually nighttime when I hear him, so I’ve never gotten a clear look at his face, but I know he exists. It isn’t just a figment of my imagination. I think. I can’t tell you why, but every time I hear that slow fade-in of gangster rap coming down the street, I think, “Here he comes.” Then it’s louder and, 15 seconds later, he’s gone. A few seconds after that, the gangster rap attenuates to nothing and the night continues apace. It’s now part of my evening ritual, like hearing the train whistle blowing across the highway from my childhood home. Ride on, gangster rap bicycle man. May your beats be forever fresh. Barbs: • I’m just going to say it: I don’t get the whole rubber ducks on the Jeep dashboard thing. I know it’s some inside joke among Jeep owners, who all apparently travel around with scores of rubber ducks at all times. But I’ll say it again, I don’t get it. It seems like some kind of trend that was cooked up in a corporate board room between Big Jeep and Big Rubber Duck to increase sales by convincing Jeep owners they are members of an exclusive community. Or maybe I’m just looking into it too much. Either way, I don’t get it and I don’t like it. Rant over. 8 / R / October 8, 2026
Dear editor, Jennie E. Johnson’s perspective on Prop.1 last week omitted key details — chiefly, the word “licenses.” The Idaho Board of Medicine reported an increase in OB-GYN provider licenses between 2022 and 2024. This qualifier matters, as licensing figures don’t accurately reflect those actively practicing or even residing here. A 2025 study citing physician interviews and practice data concluded that Idaho actually lost 35% of its OB-GYN physicians since 2022. Relocation out-of-state accounted for 46% of 2024’s loss and not one of the 23 OB-GYNs that left Idaho moved to a state with similar abortion-restricted policies. Johnson’s legalized late-term abortion claim with Prop 1 is meritless. Approved ballot language for this measure states, “after fetal viability, there would be no general right to abortion except in cases of ‘medical emergency.’” Sound like a green light to unfettered late-term abortion to you? Yeah, me neither. Jessica Janssen, RN Sandpoint
‘Vote, vote, vote’…
Dear editor, It’s so important to vote that I can’t help wanting to constantly remind everyone. Remember to try to read letters to the editor in all the local papers to read what people are sending in about the candidates. Pay special attention to what people say about Herndon. We do not want him as our senator. Vote for Steve Johnson. Go to the meet-and-greets for him. Ask questions, he’ll answer them honestly. Also vote for Kathryn Larson. She also will listen and represent us for what we believe.We have to be so aware of the IFF infiltrating our system. They are among us and it’s dangerous. Beware. If everyone votes we have a chance to get some good people in. By not going out to vote we actually are giving the less desirable candidates more of a chance. We need everyone to vote. Please do it. Ernie and Helen Schoeffel Priest River
Wishful thinking... Dear editor, I am really looking forward to Donald Trump’s promises that immediately after the election every American adult will receive $5,000, the excursion in Iran will end,
gas prices will fall back to pre-war prices and food costs will drastically decline. I am also looking forward to a very large orange-headed balloon floating along with all of the other flying pigs when his promises are fulfilled. My condolences to the families who have lost loved ones or to the veterans who lost their health and whose futures will be permanently impacted from the excursion. I have many war heroes in my family. I guess we can refer to this group of disabled veterans as “Excursion Heroes.” Sincerely, Betty Gardner Priest River
‘Herndon is dishonest about campaign finance’...
Dear editor, Scott Herndon claims that his campaign is not funded by PACs, however, he is receiving money from PACs directly to his bank account. The PACs that pay him are funded by out-of-state investors and tech companies that are fueling the AI data centers in southern Idaho and are threatening North Idaho now. Herndon helped start the Idaho Freedom Caucus PAC. He then started his own corporation called Idaho Freedom Caucus Inc. that funnels money from PACs directly into his pocket. Money Metals Exchange, a company that produces silver that is used in AI data centers, pays the IFC PAC hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. The PAC then pays Herndon’s LLC. It’s that simple. This is the definition of dark money that is easily traceable through Idaho’s Secretary of State office. We must vote against him on Nov. 3. Leah Opitz Sandpoint
Put Idaho first and vote Independent... Dear editor, Not a day passes without someone tossing out political labels. We’ve come to the point George Washington cautioned about in his “Farewell Address.” He warned about political parties becoming too powerful and the danger this posed to the young republic. Government of, by and for the party is a characteristic of authoritarian regimes. Labels and name calling are the last refuge of authoritarians and bullies. What is happening in our political discourse is a strong message
that we need a reset in November. It’s time to put into action that political power is inherent in the people — not the party. Be smart and don’t fall for messages by those who blather about party labels or past affiliations. Choose candidates based on the issues they support and their focus on representing LD1 people over party. Vote Independent and put Idaho first! Mary Ollie Bonners Ferry
‘Where’s Jim Risch?’...
Dear editor, That’s what many of us here in North Idaho are wondering. It’s no children’s puzzle game for us. We just haven’t seen much of Sen. Risch lately. Unlike his opponent, Independent Todd Achilles, who has visited both Bonner and Boundary counties several times in the past months, Sen. Risch has been missing in action. Recently, the senator even declined to participate in a U.S. Senate forum in southern Idaho. The event was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the other senatorial candidates, including Achilles, managed to show up and participate. Sen. Risch’s absence was noted. When accused of prejudice by the Risch campaign, the League simply explained that it sponsors, but does not endorse, candidates. Maybe Sen. Risch believes he should support the president’s agenda, but many of us here believe he should be supporting Idaho. Like I said, where’s Jim? Robin Lundgren Bonners Ferry
Fulcher’s outreach is a little too late… Dear editor, Wow, U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher gets a front page article in the Daily Bee for finally doing his job to represent all his “constituents” — even those in Sandpoint — by setting up a “mobile office” to answer questions and assist us as a representative should have been doing for years. I suppose this will disappear after the elections. It’s a little too late! Please join me in a vote for Kaylee Peterson as Idaho’s First Congressional District representative to the U.S. Congress. Thank you, Pam Duquette Sandpoint
LPO students deserve hot lunches…
Dear editor, The students at the alternative high school are apparently no longer receiving hot lunches. Although some school districts don’t allow microwaves because of safety issues, the students at LPO can heat up their sack lunches if they have enough time between classes (they have about 60 students and two or three microwaves). I attended the opening of the technical center at the high school, and I am happy for those students. But the juxtaposition between the brand new building for one set of students and microwaves for another is, quite frankly, disturbing. It frustrates me that the nutritional needs of some of our most vulnerable students are not being met. We can do better. We hustled and planned and built a tech center at the high school, which proves to me that we can also hustle, plan and at the very least bring hot lunches to our LPO students. Desiree Aguirre Sandpoint
Jane Sauter addresses border security and immigration… Dear editor, One issue I believe deserves attention in this election is border security and immigration enforcement. This is not just a national issue — it affects our schools, hospitals, law enforcement, housing and resources in our communities. Jane Sauter makes border security and illegal immigration a priority in her campaign for Idaho House Seat 1A. Jane speaks about this issue. Legal immigration has strengthened our country for generations, while illegal immigration undermines a system in which people who follow the legal process wait their turn. Border security is about maintaining the rule of law, protecting our communities, addressing trafficking and ensuring public resources remain available to the people they are intended to serve. Jane Sauter makes her position clear: stronger immigration enforcement and secure borders. If you value the rule of law and a lawful immigration system, her position is worth considering. Sincerely, Rich Neel Colburn
PERSPECTIVES
Emily Articulated Honorable Harvest
By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist
There’s a cherry tree at the far end of my neighbor’s yard. It stands proudly between the vast lawn and the road, in clear view on my daily drive to town. I’ve watched its fruit redden over the past few weeks, growing fat and glistening in the morning sun. Lately, I’ve also watched it become a gathering place. Yesterday, large turkeys perched improbably high in its branches, gorging on cherries and sending others tumbling to the ground. Deer munched happily below them, as though the fall fruit was sweet confetti and today was their birthday. The scene could have been painted in watercolor, spilling across the pages of a children’s book. But there it was, beside the road, on an ordinary morning, from life at the edge of nature. This is the time of year when fall and harvest feel synonymous. Apples weigh down branches and pumpkins swell to their full size. Squash waits to be picked, carried inside and roasted, and food becomes visibly connected to the place from which it comes: dirt still clinging to its sides, leaves and vines still reaching toward the sun that sustained it from seed. Watching the animals beneath the cherry tree, I’m reminded that the harvest feeds more than humans. The same sweetness that draws me to an orchard draws a turkey into the branches and a deer beneath them. My appetite is one among many. In Braiding Sweetgrass, botanist and Potawatomi Nation member Robin Wall Kimmerer considers how language shapes our relationship with the living
Emily Erickson world. Calling a plant or animal “it” can make a plant or animal sound like an object. Her discussion of animacy (instead, using “he/she/they”) asks us to recognize the lives around us as beings worthy of consideration. That recognition also informs what she describes as the “Honorable Harvest”: a moral framework for taking that is predicated on a responsibility to the lives that sustain our own. She writes, “If we are fully awake, a moral question arises as we extinguish the other lives around us on behalf of our own. Whether we are digging wild leeks or going to the mall, how do we consume in a way that does justice to the lives we take?” The question follows me off the page, to the grocery aisle, at the checkout counter and in front of the refrigerator when confronted with something I bought and forgot to eat. What sustained this? What did bringing it into my life require? What responsibility comes with having it? I’m accustomed to thinking about food in terms of what I want, what it costs and whether I have enough. Kimmerer asks me to widen that attention: to the plant, the place, the other
lives that depend on it and what will remain after I leave. “The guidelines for the Honorable Harvest are not written down, or even consistently spoken of as a whole — they are reinforced in small acts of daily life,” she explains. I love that idea: an ethic learned through practice and passed down through action. In effect, an inherited way of life. Kimmerer describes these unwritten rules: “Know the ways of the ones who take care of you, so that you may take care of them. / Introduce yourself. Be accountable as the one who comes asking for life. Ask permission before taking. Abide by the answer. / Never take the first. Never take the last. Take only what you need. / Take only that which is given. / Never take more than half. Leave some for others. Harvest in a way that minimizes harm. / Use it respectfully. Never waste what you have taken. Share. / Give thanks for what you have been given. / Give a gift, in reciprocity for what you have taken. / Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever.” Reading these guidelines, I feel a flicker of recognition. Of course, leave some berries. Someone else is hungry. Obviously, care for the place that feeds you. You will need it again. We teach versions of this to children all the time — to share, to say thank you, to clean up after ourselves, to think about whose turn is next. But then we send them into a world that often rewards the opposite. We say, “take the opportunity, secure what’s yours, get more while you can.” We measure success by what we accumulate, and worry that whatever we leave behind will become some-
one else’s advantage. “Dog eat dog,” we say, as though desperation is a model toward which we should aspire. The Honorable Harvest offers me a different way to move through the world. It asks, “What do I need? What can this place give? Who else depends on it? How will I help sustain what sustains me?” I won’t always answer these questions perfectly (or ask them at all). I still need to eat, buy things and participate in systems that make the origins of what I consume difficult to
see. But I can pay closer attention, waste less, share more and learn something about where it all comes from. And I can keep noticing, with reverence and gratitude, the cherry tree on my way to town, with turkeys in its branches and deer at its roots, as its fruit falls through the morning light. 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
October 8, 2026 / R / 9
Mad about Science:
Brought to you by:
impossible architecture By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist As the remaining leaves shift to shades of red, orange and yellow, we continue our monthslong march into the season of spookiness with more unsolved mysteries of our world. Today, we are exploring incredible architectural feats from the distant past that we cannot explain. One’s mind immediately drifts to the Great Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge or the Stone Spheres of Costa Rica. Many of those are well studied, with valid hypotheses as to their creation and purpose. Much like last week’s “Mad About Science” topic, the Voynich manuscript, the subjects we explore today are enigmas to the modern mind. Sacsayhuamán is a ruined hilltop stone fort used by the Inca during and before the Spanish invasion beginning in 1532, though documented use of the site dates back to at least 900 C.E. It sits in southern Peru, near the city of Cusco. Even though the fort was largely disassembled by the Spanish after subjugating the Inca, many of the largest stones weighing up to 125 tons remain locked in place atop the hill. That isn’t just fanciful wording, the stones are cut so precisely and with such attention to detail that they actually lock together. It’s impossible to even slide a piece of paper between many of the stones due to the precision of the masonry. The first portion of this unexplained mystery is how they managed to get these stones up the mountain. Hauling anything uphill is difficult, but hauling 125 ton slabs of stone up a hill is almost unthinkable. 10 / R / October 8, 2026
It’s likely the Inca utilized their advanced road systems and found some unknown method for reducing friction beneath the stones while dispersing the weight across countless ropes being pulled by people or animals up the hill. The next, and perhaps more perplexing, part of this mystery is how they managed to engineer the stone slabs so precisely. It was unlikely that they were completely tooled before transportation, so some degree of advanced measurement and precision stonework had to take place on site. Cutting stone is no easy task, especially on top of a mountain away from running water or any other sources of power. No mortar was used, and instead the stones were simply cut into zigzagging patterns to interlock exactly. Finally, we have absolutely no idea how they managed to place the finished stones. One hypothesis posited rolling them into place with logs that were removed one by one so that each piece could fall into its final position, but this was impossible to replicate with much smaller slabs. Some sort of crane or pulley system could have been utilized, but we have no idea how they could have lifted such huge pieces of rock without advanced metallurgy or powered mechanics. The accuracy of their placement leads us to believe they were set down with an immense level of control. There are other fortifications across the world that we can’t fully explain. Iron age and medieval fort remnants scatter the United Kingdom and parts of Germany with a peculiar shared feature: The stone has been burned by a flame hot enough to fuse the material into a solid mass.
Called “vitrified forts” and found particularly throughout Scotland, these structures show signs of very high heat — up to about 2,000° Fahrenheit for some types of rock — melting together the stones that make up the walls. This doesn’t appear to be accidental and instead seems to have been done multiple times as a form of maintenance to certain forts throughout the countryside. This likely wasn’t done for defensive purposes, as heating the stone actually makes it more brittle. Additionally, the amount of labor and materials required to create an open flame with the heat necessary to achieve this particular effect didn’t match the understood behaviors of people during the iron and medieval ages. Resources were scarce and chopping wood was dangerous. Creating charcoal was also a massive ordeal, and burning immense amounts of it just to weaken your defensive walls for giggles doesn’t make any sense. The leading hypothesis is that this was some sort of ritualistic practice for retiring a fort, though it still doesn’t explain why some forts underwent the process multiple times as a form of maintenance. The final curiosity is Ishi no Hoden, a 500-ton slab of carved volcanic tuff in Takasago, Japan. The slab has a unique pyramidal shape protruding from its side, while it also appears to be floating above a pool of water. The oldest written record of the structure dates to around 700 C.E., but it’s completely unknown how this was carved or for what purpose. While the toolmarks on the surface of the structure show an immense level of precision, aside from the slab’s existence, there has
never been any sign of it having been worked on. There are no quarry remains, there are no tool fragments, and there is no written or even oral documentation outside of Shinto folklore to describe when, how or why it even exists. There also aren’t similar slabs anywhere else that have ever been found. However, volcanic tuff from nearby quarries had been used to build the fortifications of nearby Himeji Castle, built in 1333 C.E. and one of the last
and mostly pristine pre-modern Japanese castles that survive today. Whoever decided to create this unusual megalithic monument decided they would be one and done, and didn’t even bother leaving behind a calling card. It is such a massive piece of work that it must have been someone’s lifetime purpose to create. In doing so, they didn’t even want to be remembered for who they were — just what they did. Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner tural phenomena?
Don’t know much about odd na • The seashores along Maldivian beaches glow brightly at night thanks to bioluminescence, a phenomenon caused when bioluminescent organisms emit light because they are stressed or the water is turbulent. • Antarctica is the site of a rare natural occurrence whereby a waterfall looks like it’s bleeding. This happens because of a complex chemical reaction that began 1.5 million years ago. When iron-bearing saltwater comes into contact with oxygen, the iron takes on a deep red color and that resembles blood gushing down the glacier. • The Caño Cristales in La Macarena, Colombia is called the “Liquid Rainbow” or “The River of Five Colors” because the water appears red, yellow, green and purple as it flows down the mountain. It’s caused by a colorful aquatic plant called Rhyncholacis clavigera, which shows brightly through the clear water. • Abraham Lake, located in the Kootenay Plains area of the Canadian Rockies’ front range,
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is the location of an interesting phenomenon that includes ethereal blue bubbles freezing in the ice at various depths. When microbes feed on decomposing matter at the bottom of the lake, they release methane, which floats to the surface in bubbles. In winter, the bubbles become trapped in the frozen water, producing magical orbs. • Northern Ireland is the site of the so-called “Giant’s Causeway,” a landscape feature consisting of 40,000 naturally occurring black basalt columns that look like pavers laid out on the north coast of the island. Legend has it that an Irish giant named Finn McCool paved the route over the ocean to fight the Scottish giant Benandonner, but they were really caused by volcanic activity about 50 million years ago. • The Kjeragbolten Boulder in Norway is a famous site for people to pose for pictures. The boulder, wedged between two large cliff rocks about 3,000 feet above the water below, got stuck during the alternating melting of Norwegian glaciers and the flooding of the valleys.
PERSPECTIVES
The Coolin wetlands on Priest Lake must be saved By Ford Elsaesser Reader Contributor
and two minor land division applications to further divide three 20-acre parcels. The lakes, rivers At the time, and tributaries of Lake planning officials Pend Oreille and Priest in Bonner County Lake are magnificent asserted there were no resources, and many in legal means to prevent Idaho consider Priest the developer from Lake to be Idaho’s what was described “Crown Jewel.” Priest as the utilization of Lake is fed by remote “loopholes.” Natural Ford Elsaesser. Courtesy photo cold-water tributaries, resource agencies and reaching into Canada, and the lake has the public, who are legally entitled to dense forests and wetland ecosystems challenge proposed subdivisions, were with an abundance of fish and wildlife left out entirely. — including endangered species. Now, five years later, the Idaho When undisclosed development Supreme Court has issued a unaniplans of valuable wetlands on the mous ruling, finding the developer’s southern shore of Priest Lake, near efforts to avoid subdivision laws were, Coolin, were discovered in 2021, the in fact, entitled to full judicial review. Lakes Commission urgently reached Given the strong decision by the Idaho out to local, state, tribal and federal of- Supreme Court concerning this deficials to raise the red flag. Since then, velopment, it is anticipated that the almost six years of litigation has taken remaining Bonner County decisions place by parties also wanting to avoid in this case will likely be vacated and the destruction of these wetlands. And Bonner County, along with the develthe Idaho Supreme Court has spoken, oper, will have to follow the longstandruling that Idaho subdivision laws were ing subdivision ordinance, where the intentionally circumvented. proposal should have been made in the In 2021, a developer, working with first place, giving full opportunity for the Bonner County Planning Dethe public and all of the agencies to partment, created 34 parcels in the comment and take action to preserve Coolin Wetlands using a convoluted these most valuable wetlands. scheme of land divisions and boundary As chair of the Lakes Commission, line adjustments with the obvious and I have witnessed years of hard work by express purpose of avoiding Bonner County’s longstanding subdivision ordinance. In this process, the developer filed for a record 54 quitclaim deeds, consisting of 27 boundary line adjustments and 27 exempt waivers with the Bonner County Recorder’s Office,
agencies, natural resource professionals and community members to ensure that Priest Lake’s high-water quality is maintained, which is one of the primary goals of the commission. The Lakes Commission is hopeful that the attempt to inappropriately subdivide these precious wetlands will proceed under the subdivision ordinance, a situation which would allow everyone to have a voice. The Lakes Commission will strongly oppose any new development application that would destroy these precious wetlands. More than 20 years ago, Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne appointed me to serve as chair of the Lake Pend Oreille, Pend Oreille River, Priest Lake and Priest River Commission — the Lakes Commission. The Idaho Legislature created the commission to advise the state on water quality and quantity across this basin. Our stakeholders are the people who live here, vacation here, fish here and whose families have been coming to these lakes for generations. We very much welcome public comments and input. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time by phone at 208-255-8825 or email lakescommission@gmail.com. Ford Elsaesser is chair of Lake Pend Oreille, Pend Oreille River, Priest Lake and Priest River Commission, a.k.a., the Lakes Commission.
October 8, 2026 / R / 11
PERSPECTIVES
Idahoans deserve leaders focused on their concerns By Lauren Necochea Reader Contributor What political parties choose to fight for says a lot about their values and what they demand from elected leaders. At a recent Idaho Democratic Party meeting in Coeur d’Alene, grassroots members passed three resolutions addressing concerns we have heard from Idahoans: rising grocery costs, protecting citizen-led ballot initiatives, and safeguarding our water and future. Idaho is one of only four states that charges its full sales tax rate on food. Families pay another 6% at the register whether they are raising kids, living on a fixed income or stretching a paycheck. A tax credit months later does little to help with today’s grocery bill. We support ending that tax and re-
placing the revenue responsibly, without shifting the burden onto working families. We can start by revisiting deep income tax cuts that disproportionately benefited the wealthiest households and profitable corporations. Idaho Democrats also stood up for a right Idahoans have had for more than a century: the ability to take laws directly to the ballot when the Legislature will not act. House Joint Resolution 4 would amend our state constitution to remove one category of decisions from that process and reserve it for the Legislature alone. The amendment goes beyond the policy at its center. The initiative process gives Idahoans a way to act when elected officials refuse to listen. Voters should think carefully before giving politicians more power and themselves less. We also addressed the future of nu-
clear waste in Idaho. Idaho National Laboratory supports good-paying jobs, research and national security work. Idaho can support that mission while insisting the federal government honor the 1995 Settlement Agreement related to nuclear waste storage. Significant legacy waste remains in Idaho, the country still has no permanent repository, and INL sits above the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer. Before Idaho takes on substantially more of the nation’s nuclear waste, people deserve clear answers about how much would come here, how long it would remain and how our water would be protected. These priorities reflect what we hear from voters. Our candidates are talking with people on doorsteps, showing up to debates and forums, and organizing affordability town halls to hear from families struggling with
the cost of living. That stands in sharp contrast to the Idaho Republican Party platform, which calls for criminalizing abortion without exceptions for rape or incest; repealing the Affordable Care Act; taking away Idahoans’ right to directly elect U.S. senators; and abolishing the Federal Reserve in favor of currency backed by gold, silver or other stores of value. Those priorities are far removed from the real concerns of Idahoans. As you vote, look at what each party is choosing to fight for and ask which one is fighting for you. Lauren Necochea is chair of the Idaho Democratic Party and a former District 19 legislator. Necochea spent a decade leading nonprofit programs dedicated to research and advocacy in tax policy, health care and children’s issues.
Should Idaho’s attorney general be a competent lawyer or a politician? By Jim Jones Reader Contributor Because many voters were not clear about what the Idaho attorney general is required to do in office, six former Idaho attorneys general joined together in April 2022 to explain. The six had served continuously from 1971 to 2003. They summarized the Idaho AG’s job as being the “state’s family lawyer.” Those AGs were Tony Park, Wayne Kidwell, David Leroy, Larry Echo Hawk, Al Lance and me. Lawrence Wasden, who was then the AG, agreed with our explanation. So, seven AGs — including two Democrats and five Republicans with a total of 52 years of service — agreed on an AG job description. In that 2022 explanation, we said: “Like a family lawyer, a competent AG tells state officials what they need to do to keep the government out of legal trouble. The AG’s oath of office requires that he (or she) give legal advice and assistance that complies with the U.S. and Idaho constitutions. Keeping the government on firm legal footing is not headline-grabbing but it is essential for the protection of both the government and the citizenry.” Regarding politics, we said: “We have all been asked for legal opinions that … may be contrary to our own strongly held beliefs. The law requires that we put our personal beliefs aside when doing this work. Giving a green light to legislation with serious consti12 / R / October 8, 2026
Jim Jones. Courtesy photo tutional problems is a violation of our duty and does not benefit anyone. The courts will strike it down and require the state to pay the attorney fees of the person or group challenging the law.” During the past four years, we have seen millions of dollars of taxpayer money being squandered on politically motivated litigation, with no benefit to the state. The current AG will not carry out his legal duty to provide written opinions to the Legislature for fear that an honest, legally correct opinion that conflicts with his extreme political views will be used against him. He used that strategy to win the 2022 primary election. This year, Idaho AG Raúl Labrador’s opponent is Lori Hickman, whose legal qualifications, ethical standards and sheer competence are head and shoulders above his. Hickman promises to “restore reason, competence and integrity to Idaho’s legal and criminal justice systems.” She points out that Labrador is the first AG in history to be rejected as
legal advisor to the State Land Board. The rejection came upon the vote of the other four statewide elected officials who serve on the Board. “That indicates a lack of trust by the elected officials who are the most familiar with him.” Hickman has deep roots in Idaho pioneer settlers in Samaria and homesteaders in western Ada County. She was born into the military at Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts and has been endorsed by Veterans for Idaho Voters, a cross-partisan group of Idaho veterans dedicated to constitutional governing. She worked 20 years in private practice, including six years as associate general counsel for Micron Technology. She served as board chair for Mormon Women for Ethical Government from 2021 until joining the AG race this year. Hickman agrees with the seven former AGs about the family lawyer concept: “We don’t choose a family lawyer because of his or her political credentials. We choose a lawyer based on competence and ability to protect the family’s legal interests. It should be no different for the Attorney General’s Office.” An attorney general can have personal views on political issues of the day but cannot ethically inject them into his or her legal advice or court activities. Mr. Labrador appears unaware of that ethical restraint. Typical of his tainted advice is his contention that a simple sign welcoming every child into a classroom is a prohibited
political act. His political posturing on women’s health care has created a toxic atmosphere for Idaho women with life-threatening pregnancy conditions. They must go to Utah to get life-saving care because Idaho doctors cannot provide it without risking two to five years in prison. Mr. Labrador went to the U.S. Supreme Court in a failed attempt to force the federal government to turn over public lands to the states. Hickman believes that those lands should remain in public hands, open for public access, use and enjoyment. There are numerous other issues where the candidates have taken sharply divergent stances. Helpful voter information can be found at idahovoters.com. Former deputy attorneys general (DAGs), who worked in the AG’s office over the past 52 years, have the knowledge to determine which candidate would best serve as the state’s family lawyer. On Oct. 1, 50 former DAGs endorsed Lori Hickman for Idaho’s next attorney general. I certainly agree with them, because Idaho desperately needs a competent lawyer — not a politician — in the AG’s office. Lori Hickman is that lawyer. Jim Jones is a Vietnam combat veteran who served eight years as Idaho attorney general (1983-1991) and 12 years as justice of the Idaho Supreme Court (20052017). He also publishes at substack. com/@jjcommontater.
COMMUNITY
Bonners Ferry artist opens new Sandpoint gallery By Reader Staff Bonners Ferry local Hannah Sucsy has brought color and whimsy to her hometown for years through Teascarlet Fine Art Gallery, and as of Saturday, Oct. 10, she will share that magic with Sandpoint at the gallery’s new second location. “My art gallery is not a place where you are expected to crook your pinky while you drink wine and make snobby observations,” stated Sucsy. “It’s a place where I sit on the floor
to paint, invite you in for a beer and together we find something for your space that you absolutely love.” Teascarlet South will celebrate its grand opening in the Panida Theater’s retail space (300 N. First Ave.) from 1-4 p.m. The free event welcomes the community into the gallery to view Sucsy’s work, which ranges from realism to abstract, and talk to the artist about her down-to-earth creative process. Visit teascarlet.com to learn more.
Matchwood goes Deutsch for Oktoberfest By Reader Staff Matchwood Brewing Company is doing as the Bavarians do Saturday, Oct. 10 at its annual Oktoberfest in the Granary Arts District (513 Oak St., in Sandpoint). From noon to 6 p.m., the family-friendly event will revel in all things German, raising glasses and funds for the Bonner Community Food Center. Many of Sandpoint’s favorite breweries are joining in the celebration, meaning festival attendees can partake in frothy pours from MickDuff’s, Utara and Vantage Point brewing companies, as well as Timber
Sixth annual Apple Fest paints the town red By Reader Staff Sandpoint will go apple-crazy on Saturday, Oct. 10 for the sixth annual Apple Fest, hosted by the Sandpoint Historic Shopping District. The family-friendly day of discounts, activities and treats runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and spreads the length of
downtown Sandpoint. Festivalgoers can visit any participating downtown businesses to pick up an entry slip, giving them a chance to win one of two grand prizes: $500 in local gift cards or a seven-night stay in Napa Valley, Calif., sponsored by Send Me On Vacation. After picking up an entry slip, walk around to take advantage of special
deals and enjoy free apple cider, apple lollipops, apple-filled baked goods and other such treats at participating businesses. Visit Cedar Street Bridge (334 N. First Ave.) to taste entries in the annual apple pie contests or walk out onto the deck and try your luck at the apple slingshot into Sand Creek. When you’ve seen and done ev-
Town Beer Company. In addition to Matchwood’s usual hearty options, there will also be German fare from Black Forest Bakery to accompany the drinks. Local cover bands Picked Up Pieces and The Real McCoy will perform live throughout the afternoon, playing hits from the ’70s and beyond. Older attendees can also participate in games and competitions throughout the event — including the fan-favorite stein-holding contest — while the kids run around and get their energy out with activities and games provided by Ponderplay. For more information, visit matchwoodbrewing.com.
erything, drop entry slips at Connie’s Cafe (323 Cedar St.), Barrel 33 (100 N. First Ave.), Pend d’Oreille Winery (301 Cedar St., Ste. 101) or Sunshine on Cedar (upstairs in the bridge). To view the full list of businesses, visit sandpointdowntownshopping. com/apple-fest.
October 8, 2026 / R / 13
To submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com.
Top left: A beautiful fall shot by Gail Lyster. She knows the way to the Reader’s heart: typewriters. Top right: A view of the still waters off of the Oden Bay Trail. Photo by Ann Spradling. Bottom left: “The 7BMQ (mahjong queens) traveled to Wallace, Idaho, for fun filled mahjong retreat! We played hard and won a ton of mahjongs,” wrote Mahjong Queen Sharona Kuhnert. Pictured (L-R) are Buffy McClure, Kuhnert, Marguerite Anastassiou, Gina Hall, Jamie Schlehuber, Susan Fingal and Carolyn Lynch. Bottom right: Photographer Jim Bellatty asked these beefy bovines, “Boys, what part of this don’t you understand?”
14 / R / October 8, 2026
COMMUNITY
Margo Johnson honored with statewide volunteer award By Reader Staff After nearly three decades as a volunteer and auxiliary chairwoman at Bonner General Health, Margo Johnson has earned the Idaho Hospital Association’s 2026 Leader of Volunteer Excellence Award, recognizing her commitment to BGH and the community. The LOVE Award celebrates outstanding volunteer leadership and service within Idaho hospitals and health systems. “Bonner General Health is a better place because of Margo,” said Shannon Barnes, chief H.R. officer. “Her generosity, compassion and commitment have created a legacy of inspiring all of us for many years to come.” Johnson has held every office within the Bonner General Health Auxiliary and has served as chairwoman for the past 11 years. During her 28 years and more than 11,300 volunteer hours, she has helped lead fundraising efforts, generating more than $100,000. Those funds have provided equipment,
Courtesy photo resources and education scholarships to staff across BGH’s departments. She further organizes other volunteers and fosters community through events, lunches and holiday celebrations like the employee-favorite Parade of Trees. At 86, Johnson continues to volunteer with remarkable energy and dedication, always willing to step in wherever help is needed. Her decades of service have touched countless patients, caregivers, volunteers and community members and have helped make the BGH Auxiliary an enduring source of support for the hospital.
October 8, 2026 / R / 15
FEATURE
Death row meals
What would you eat if it was your last meal on Earth?
By Ben Olson Reader Staff What a person eats often says a lot about them, but what if they only had one meal to eat before shuffling off this mortal coil? There have been several interesting accounts of death row inmates’ last meals, including a series called No Seconds, by photographer Henry Hargreaves, in which he photographed a representation of the reported last meal requests of notorious criminals. Hargreaves’ photos are as striking as some of the inmates’ choices. Victor Feguer was put to death in Iowa for kidnapping and murder in 1963. His last meal request? A single olive with the pit in it. Serial killer John Wayne Gacy was executed in 1994 by lethal injection for rape and 33 counts of murder. Gacy requested 12 fried shrimp, a bucket of KFC, french fries and a pound of strawberries. Timothy McVeigh, the domestic terrorist responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing was killed in 2001 for 168 counts of murder. He only requested two pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Finally, in 2010, Ronnie Lee Gardner was shot by a firing squad in Utah for two counts of murder. He asked to eat a steak, a lobster tail, apple pie and vanilla ice cream — all while watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The eating habits of death row inmates might be interesting in a macabre way, but I’m oddly more interested in what you, our dear readers, might request if given one last meal on Earth. In that spirit, I reached out to a handful of readers and put the question to them: What would you eat for your “death row meal”? I’ll start it off with mine: I’d demand a noodle dish from a tiny restaurant in Ha Noi, Vietnam called Bún Bò Nam Bộ with spring rolls on the side, a couple of slices of thin-crust pepperoni pizza, two hard-shell ground beef tacos, a garden salad with ranch dressing and a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert. I’d wash it all down with an ice cold beer, preferably a rice lager from a Caribbean island and, if possible, I’d like to sit 16 / R / October 8, 2026
outside and watch water moving and hear birds chirping while eating it. Reader Senior Writer Soncirey Mitchell requested her mom’s zucchini pie. “It’s a kind of crustless, cheesy quiche with broiled parmesan on top,” Mitchell wrote. “And a big slice of devil’s food chocolate cake with milk chocolate icing (it’s my go-to birthday and death-day meal).” Mitchell would also like a side of steamed broccoli with loads of butter, salt and lemon; a bowl of Tillamook chocolate ice cream; a glass of water; and a passion fruit, orange and guava mimosa. “Finish it — and me — off with a classic peppermint Altoid,” she wrote. “If my crimes are so terrible that my mom won’t cook for me, though, just slap a grilled cheese with tomatoes and arugula in my hand and flip the switch.” Here was Reader Editor-in-Chief Zach Hagadone’s selection: “Freshshucked oysters on the half shell; artichoke-garlic-lemon sardine pasta with olive oil, capers and fresh Parmesan; and an arugula salad with red wine and balsamic vinegars, pepper, cherry tomatoes and butter/garlic-sauteed morel mushrooms. A bottle of good Champagne, a slice of stilton and pickled chutney, and a pint of Old Speckled Hen from The Gun Inn in Keyhaven, Hampshire County, U.K., to finish” Veronica Knowlton gave her last meal a lot of thought and came up with a detailed five-course dinner. “Food should tell a story, providing exploration and homecoming without ever leaving the table,” she explained. For her appetizer, escargot from Paris, France, which will be followed by a soup of Pailin sweet corn cappuccino with homemade salted egg yolk and black coffee from Embassy by Chef Kimsan, Siam Reap, Cambodia. “The trip to Cambodia was so special to my heart,” Knowlton explained. “Celebrating my mom’s retirement. I met my parents from California, my sister from New Jersey and my aunt and uncle from Thailand in Cambodia for 10 days of historic magic.” Knowlton’s main course would be Tim’s bone-in ribeye, charcoal grilled in her backyard with extra flaky salt.
“Here’s the thing about this steak: It must be grilled by my partner, Andrew,” Knowlton said. “He consistently delivers the most perfect sear, mouthwatering rendered fat and perfect salt-to-meal ratio. No steakhouse could ever compete with watching the love of your life — from the gentle sway of a hammock — pamper you with dinner.” Knowlton’s side dishes would include mac and cheese and roasted broccoli, finished with one Kraft American single. Finally, her dessert of choice is frozen Cool Whip with Honey Nut Cheerios eaten on the floral couch at her grandma’s house. For Tim French’s last meal, he told the Reader he’d pick his wife Kyla’s morels and clams meal that she makes after they forage for morels in the Selkirk Mountains. “We get some fresh clams from Robbie at Flying Fish Co. then cook them up with the morels, white wine, butter, fresh garden herbs and tomatoes and serve with some toasted bread,” French wrote. Rory O’Rorke also chose a family recipe for his last meal on Earth. “I start with my mum’s shrimp cocktail in one of those big old-fashioned glasses,” O’Rorke wrote. “Shrimp, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, red onion and avocado swimming in Marie Rose sauce.” O’Rorke would follow with a massive roast dinner with roast beef and potatoes, cauliflower, cheese, Brussels sprouts with bacon, Yorkshire puddings and beef gravy with a pot de creme to finish. “Failing that, an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet,” O’Rorke wrote. “I’m realizing now that my last meal is the same meal we do every Sunday, so it’s a good life. The roast, that is, not the
Chinese buffet.” Jen Heller’s first thought was to go for a meal that is really expensive. “My most likely death row crime would be ‘subversiveness towards authoritative government officials,’ so, forcing them to splurge on my last meal would be a great way to go out with two middle fingers held high,” Heller wrote to the Reader. After some Googling, however, Heller found that wasn’t an original thought. “Evidently a lot of states have now implemented caps on death row meals for this very reason,” she wrote. While some states can turn down a custom meal if it’s too expensive, others require prisoners to stick to a price point or to shop locally. Still others make prisoners pick from meal options that are on the menu in-house. Instead of the pricey option, Heller decided to eat foods that were highrisk, “Because, you know, no consequences,” she wrote. “I’d sample some Japanese pufferfish or fugu with casu martzu in the cheese course, washed down by some kopi luwak coffee (ethically sourced, of course),” she wrote. “Some of those recently recalled broccoli sprouts from Moyie Springs would feature somewhere, maybe with the fugu. But Idaho is cheap on its death row budget (shocker), so if I requested all of this, I would likely just end up with a plate of recalled sprouts.” Her final financial compromise while sticking to the “no consequences” attitude? “I’d eat the foods that my gut can’t handle well anymore,” Heller wrote. “A large mug of coffee, a platter of chicken alfredo, a big bowl of ice cream. And since there’s no alcohol allowed in prison, I’d toast my pending upgrade with a twin pack of Twinkies. ’Cuz why not?”
COMMUNITY More than 60 volunteers work on projects at Maiden Rock and Blacktail Trail
Courtesy photo More than 65 volunteers gathered on Sept. 26 for National Public Lands Day, working on projects coordinated by the Northern Rockies Trail Project in collaboration with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, PANTRA and other community organizations. The U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Depart-
ment of Lands, Idaho Parks and Recreation and Bonner County also joined in the effort to tackle three projects in and around areas affected by the Sunset Fire, including Maiden Rock Trail, the Blacktail trail and nearby state land, packing out nearly three truck beds of garbage.
October 8, 2026 / R / 17
events
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com Live Jazz w/ Bright Moments 6-8pm @ The District supper club Open bluegrass jam night w/ Dan 5:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge
THURSDAY, october 8
Live Music w/ Liam McCoy and Friends IPAC Sandpoint Movie Night fundraiser 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub 5pm @ The Hive Join the Quality Ski Time Film Tour for a night of connecting with winter friends, watching fun movies and winning evening prizes
FriDAY, october 9 Live Music w/ Kosh 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ John Daffron 5pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Music w/ Picked Up Pieces 5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33 Live Music w/ Babes in Canyon 8pm @ The Hive See Page 21. $20 online, $25 at door Teascarlet South grand opening 1-4pm @ Farmin Park Live Music w/ Ian Newbill 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Country and classic rock
Live Music w/ Sheldon Packwood 6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Paul Taylor 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Music w/ Buffalo Jones 9pm-Midnight @ 219 Lounge Live Music w/ Headwaters 5:30-7:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
Live Music w/ Shovels & Rope 7:30pm @ Panida See Page 21. $28-$48 Lakeview Cemetery Luminaria Tour 6:30pm @ Lakeview Cemetery $20 at bonnercountyhistory.org/events Live Music w/ Mason Van Stone 6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Live Music w/ Bobby Patterson Trio 5:30-7:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
SATURDAY, october 10
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Local produce, live music and more Just Andy benefit concert 6pm @ Create Arts Center, Newport $15 in advance, $20 at the door Live Music w/ Mobius Riff 5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33
Pints for Polio 4:30-6:30pm @ Bluebird Bakery Rotary fundraiser and birthday celebration for founding member Marcella Nelson
Live Music w/ Sons of Peaches: Allman Brothers Band Tribute w/ Austin Carruthers 7pm @ The Hive, 21+ Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee
Live Music w/ Lynda Ryan 4-5pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Make-It Monday: Mosaic pumpkins 6pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Join Indi Johnson and create a set of mosaic pumpkin coasters. $47 Trivia w/ Davey 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
SunDAY, october 11
Weekly Pool Tournament Noon @ Connie’s Lounge
Money Book Club for Busy People 4-3pm @ The Granary General Store
monDAY, october 12
Live Music w/ Liam Russell 9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge
The Marquis Crossing Ladies Society’s First Attempt at Murder (play) 7:30pm @ Circle Moon Theater, Newport northwoodsperformingarts.com for info The Marquis Crossing Ladies Society’s First Attempt at Murder (play) 7:30pm @ Circle Moon Theater, Newport northwoodsperformingarts.com for info Apple Fest 11am-4pm @ Downtown Sandpoint Treats, games, prizes and sales Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 6-8pm @ Baxter’s On Cedar Money Empowerment Workshop 10:30am-12:30pm @ The Sandpoint Center Exploring the masculine side of money. Register: tinyurl.com/masculinemoney Oktoberfest Noon-6pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. German beer, fare and games Money Empowerment Workshop 10:30am-12:30pm @ The Sandpoint Center Exploring the feminine side of money. Register: tinyurl.com/femininemoney Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Cribbage tournament 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Sandpoint Cuban Salsa & Rueda Series 6-7pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall
tuesDAY, october 13
Live Piano w/ Jennifer Stoehner 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Open Mic/Open Jam 5-?pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Beginner Argentine tango class 7pm @ Embody Center, 823 Main St. No partner needed. $15
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3-5:50pm @ Farmin Park Local produce, live music and more
wednesDAY, october 14
ThursDAY, october 15
18 / R / October 8, 2026
Sandpoint contra dance 7-10pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall Live music, lively callers, new dancers and singles welcome. $5
Outdoor Experience group run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome
Karaoke w/ KJ Crooze 9pm @ Roxy’s
Live Irish Jam w/ Seamus 5:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge
October 8 - 15, 2026
Weekly Pool Tournament 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Lake Pend Oreille Toastmasters meeting 5:45-7pm @ Sandpoint Library Lpotmsandpoint@gmail.com Live Piano w/ Peter Lucht 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live trivia w/ Toshi 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge Paint & Sip 5:30-7:30pm @ Barrel 33
COMMUNITY KRFY Community Radio hosts online fundraiser By Reader Staff Beginning Saturday, Oct. 10 at noon, 88.5 KRFY Community Radio will launch its annual online auction fundraiser benefiting the nonprofit’s educational and entertainment programs. The auction includes more than 24 items and will remain open until Sunday, Oct. 18 at noon. Bidders can win anything from a stay in a Turks and Caicos oceanfront
condo, Spokane theater tickets and specialty wines, to a specialty cake, rolls of Forever Stamps and fresh wreaths. Visit biddingforgood.com/KRFY to see the full offerings. Panhandle Community Radio is a North Idaho independent station that provides commercial-free broadcasts on 88.5 FM. In addition to music of all eras and genres, the station also features shows on local news, gardening, health and more. Find out more at KRFY.org.
October 8, 2026 / R / 19
MUSIC
By Zach Hagadone and Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff Alongside its jollier cousin in December, Halloween is as much a feeling as a specific date on the calendar. Critical to that feeling, of course, is the musical accompaniment. For the second year in a row, we’ll present a handful of suggested entries for your Halloween playlist each week in October. Danny Elfman, Oingo Boingo There’s a reason Tim Burton — Hollywood’s king of goth — always collaborates with composer and musician Danny Elfman. The eccentric singer, with his myriad tattoos and bright orange hair, is the physical embodiment of Halloween and manages to make every song both weird and creepy in the best way. Elfman was at his most experimental with his new wave, pop-punk jazz collage of a band, Oingo Boingo, which produced such spooky hits as “Dead Man’s Party,” “Weird Science” and “Insanity,” with its always-eerie children’s cho-
rus. Anyone lucky enough to be in Bilbao, Spain on the 31th will even get to see Elfman’s candlelight Halloween concert. We’re not jealous. The Black Rider Among the dark stars in the galaxy of oddball musical theater, The Black Rider shines with uncommon luster. Drawing from the avant-garde tradition, the production is a musical play (sometimes described as an opera and other times a “musical fable”), based on the 1810 story The Fatal Marksman by German writer Johann August Apel. It tells the tale of a hapless, lovestruck young man who tries and fails to woo the beautiful daughter of the local woodsman. To gain her affections, he enters into a deal with the Devil that will allow him to cast bullets that never miss their mark. Legendary weirdo William S. Burroughs (of Naked Lunch and Junkie fame) wrote the production book and no less than Tom Waits penned the songs and lyrics. Directed by Robert Wilson, The Black
Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets premiered on stage in Hamburg, Germany in 1990 and has been performed up to the present day — most recently in Rostock, Germany this year. It’s hard to identify standout tracks. The experience is worth having in total; but, for my money, top entries include the overture, title track, “November” and “Just the Right Bullets.” Find both the album by Waits and recordings of live performances on YouTube. Also learn more about the overall piece at robertwilson.com/theblack-rider. Joy Division Listening to Joy Division’s take on post-punk — especially in songs like “Atrocity Exhibition” and “The Eternal” — feels like walking through an abandoned building and hearing footsteps behind you. It has the raw, grinding sound of musicians with passion, anger and a disregard for classical training, making it feel unfinished, and all the more human for it. Add to
that industrial sound some droning vocals like the chanting of a funeral dirge, and you have the perfectly discordant music that was foundational in establishing the goth rock genre. Despite only releasing two albums, Joy Division’s innovation earned them a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the annals of Halloween music history. Hozier For every season, there is a Hozier song — or two or three. Though, the Irish folk and blues does have a deft, literary handle on gothic romanticism. He effortlessly blends macabre images and an understanding of human brutality with almost mythologized visions of nature. “In the Woods Somewhere” is essentially a short horror story about stumbling across a supernatural power, sung in a haunting minor key by one of this generation’s most beautiful voices. Likewise, “In a Week” explores the tender sentiment of rotting under the sky with your lover. As
for “Eat Your Young” and “Arsonist’s Lullabye,” well, you can imagine why they’re included here. Reverend Glasseye Formed in the first year of the 21st century by Boston-based Adam (Glasseye) Beckley, this group is credited as one of the establishing sounds in the “cabaret punk” genre with its meticulously orchestrated repertoire that ventures from horror folk to gothic country to sinister vaudeville and even some sea chanteys. Bolstered by Beckley’s tremolo vocals and driving rhythms, highlights are “Mother Was a Carpegian” from the 2005 album Our Lady of the Broken Spine and carnival dirges like “Black River Falls” from the 2001 album of the same name. Throw in “50% Murder” and “3 Ton Chain” and you’ve got a full “Tunes of Terror” playlist right there. Defunct since 2013, find the band’s oeuvre on YouTube.
PEDIATRICS FAMILY MEDICINE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Hey girl, have you scheduled your mammogram yet?
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20 / R / October 8, 2026
Accepting Medicare, Medicaid, most insurances. Sliding fee program available.
MUSIC
Synth-folk duo Babes in Canyon to play The Hive
By Ben Olson Reader Staff Babes in Canyon is a vibe. Blending synth-folk, moody pop, club beats and soaring vocal harmonies, the songwriter duo of Nathan and Sophia Hamer captures that broody Pacific Northwest feeling. It’s the music that might be playing in your earbuds on a rainy walk home at 4 a.m. after one of those nights out you’ll never forget. The duo will return to Sandpoint for a concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9 at The Hive (207 N. First Ave., in
downtown Sandpoint). The beats and soundscapes they create sound like they come from a full band, but it’s just two interconnected musicians. Their sound brings to mind Australian duo Angus and Julia Stone. The rich tapestry of catchy hooks and haunting melodies send this genre-curious band off the beaten path into a new live music journey that will get you in the feels — and on the dance floor. Joining the enigmatic duo for their return to Sandpoint are Anna Smyrk and Shelby Natasha. Hailing from Australia,
Smyrk’s anthemic indie songs showcase her exceptional songwriting, driving indie-rock sounds and tender alt-folk confessions. Smyrk’s first album Spectacular Denial debuted at No. 20 on the U.S. specialty radio charts and continues to get spins on BBC Radio. Originally from Seattle, Natasha is an alt-folk songwriter who plays a traditional Chinese zither called a guzheng. Her music offers an invitation into a world of R&B-inspired Chinese folk music inspired by her upbringing between China and the PNW.
Tickets are $23.64 if bought in advance at livefromthehive.com, or $25 at the door. Listen at babesincanyon.com, annasmyrk.com and shelbynatashamusic.godaddysites.com.
the seven studio albums, three collaborative albums and multiple EPs that they’ve developed together. The group’s shared sound draws from the South’s musical history, Courtesy photo blending folk, rock solo acts traveling across and country — even South Carolina, eventually adding an occasional dash of falling into the same bands punk. Their powerful sound before deciding to embark emphasizes the duo’s harmoon their own project. The nies, which pair Hearst’s classic husband-and-wife duo concountry-rock voice with Trent’s tinues to revisit and revitalize rawer, more traditionally folk their solo work while on tour, sound. Together, their voices though the majority of their elevate evocative lyrics that performances are dedicated to almost always tell a story —
whether it’s one of love or loss. Listening to fan-favorite hits like “Birmingham” and “I Know,” it’s easy to see why Shovels and Rope were featured on The Late Show with David Letterman, and why Americana greats like Brandi Carlile and Shakey Graves have chosen to collaborate with them. Find the duo’s music on most streaming platforms, and learn more about their newest release, Something Is Working Above My Head, at shovelsandrope.com. Tickets to Friday’s performance are available at panida.org or at the door for $28 to $48, depending on selected seating.
Sophia and Nathan Hunter are Babes in Canyon. Courtesy photo
This week’s RLW by Soncirey Mitchell
READ
Reader Editor Zach Hagadone gifted me the book Over My Dead Body by Greg Melville, a history of U.S. cemeteries stretching back to 1607. He knows me so well. I’m already captivated by Melville’s rich descriptions of graveyards and the camaraderie he finds there among the dead, but what makes the work truly special is his exploration of racial politics and how bigotry shapes us even in death. Find it at the library.
LISTEN
don’t love Brandi CarlCharleston folk duo headlines the Panida Theater ile,Ifyouyouneed to reevaluate your
By Reader Staff As part of a national tour stopping only briefly in the Northwest, acclaimed Charleston, S.C.-based folk duo Shovels and Rope will perform for one night only Friday, Oct. 9 on the historic Panida Theater stage (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint). The two singers and multi-instrumentalists will draw from their collective 10 albums for a musical journey that spans genres and moods beginning at 7:30 p.m. Musical and romantic partners Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent began their musical careers as separate
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
250 Express, MCS, Oct. 16-17
Sons of Peaches w/ Austin Carruthers, The Hive, Oct. 10
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint is highlighting uniquely American music with 250 Express: An American Piano Journey. The two-day program features pianists Melody Puller and Matt Goodrich conjuring sounds that could only come from this country — from the river deltas of the South to the plains and vistas
Billed as the Inland Northwest’s only Allman Brothers Band tribute, Sons of Peaches is as much a celebration of the region as it is of the classic Southern rock group. The group includes Sandpoint local Justyn Priest, along with a bevy of area musicians like Don Goodwin, Joe Welk, Vinnie Nickoloff, Bryson Coalt, Josh Fry and Jess Kunz, all dedicated to faithfully reproducing ABB’s great-
of the West, and everything between. Bonus: Rory Creigh, Ph.D., will host a roundtable before each concert to explore the evening’s program, bringing the sweep of American history to life on stage. — Zach Hagadone Friday, Oct. 16-Saturday, Oct. 17; 7-8 p.m.; $37.25. MCS Little Carnegie Hall, 110 Main St., 208265-4444, sandpointconservatory. org/events.
est hits. Joining them on stage will be Spokane multi-instrumentalist Austin Carruthers, a singer-songwriter with a powerful voice and passion for guitar. Having opened for The Steve Miller Band, he’s no stranger to classic rock staples. — Soncirey Mitchell 7:30-10 p.m., $20, 21+. The Hive, 207 N. First Ave., 208-9209039, livefromthehive.com. Listen at austincarruthersmusic.com.
priorities. The delightful Americana folk rocker always manages to have a sense of humor even while ripping out your heart with explorations of depression, yearning and love. Case in point, in late September she remastered and rereleased her 2025 album, calling it Returning to Myself (Sad Gay Version). It’s full of slower, instrumental versions of previous songs that are just what it says on the tin. Stream it anywhere.
WATCH
I understand hunting for meat, because it is more sustainable and ethical than the modern mechanized industry. Still, I’ve found it hard to rectify killing an animal with the joy people find in hunting. Watching hunter and conservationist Steven Rinella’s show MeatEater has opened my eyes to the nuances of the practice and the moral and practical concerns that separate the good hunters from the bad. It’s an enlightening view of a subculture that highlights both hair-raising shots and environmental concerns. Find it on YouTube. October 8, 2026 / R / 21
BACK OF THE BOOK
Wind through a million needles By Ben Olson Reader Staff
From Northern Idaho News, October 10, 1911
DOVER MAN RUN DOWN BY TRAIN Run down and seriously injured by the Spokane International freight train westbound at 1:30 this morning while en route from Dover to Sandpoint to get some medicine for his wife who is seriously ill at their home near Dover was the fate of John Sanville, an employee of the Dover mills. Mr. Sanville left his home after 1 o’clock and had reached a point near the Star Market slaughter house when he was run over by the freight train. Immediately after the accident Mr. Sanville was brought to this city by the freight train and was taken to Dr. Page’s hospital where his left leg was amputated just below the knee. Mr. Sanville received a few minor bruises about the body and face, but it is not thought that these injuries will prove serious. It is thought that the rain and wind prevented Mr. Sanville from hearing the train until it had almost reached him and in attempting to get off from the tracks he slipped and fell.
BONNER PIONEER PASSES AWAY William Derr, a pioneer of the west and Bonner county and one of the most respected citizens of Clarks Fork, died at the home of his son, John Derr, Friday morning. The cause of his death was old age. Mr. Derr was past 80 years of age and was born and raised in the state of Michigan. He is survived by two sons, John and A.L. Derr, both of whom reside in Clarks Fork. The services were held Saturday morning and were conducted by the Rev. VW . . Roth, an old friend of the deceased. Interment was made in the Clarks Fork cemetery. 22 / R / October 8, 2026
Last week, the transition into fall was complete when I lit the first fire in our woodstove at home. After sitting idle for months, this hunk of inert metal came alive again with the festive snaps and pops of the evening ritual. All the tedious, but welcome, tasks returned; splitting the kindling, building the fire, tending the early flames, keeping an eye on the kettle of water steaming on top, and cracking a window to achieve that cozy nirvana of fire and fresh air. After a few nights of burning, I walked out to the woodshed to replenish my woodbox and frowned at what I saw. Instead of the neat, symmetrical stack that I’d admired all summer long, there was now a noticeable dent in the design from the logs I’d taken out already. It’s a wonderful sensation to fill your wood bin for the winter, especially when I know that I personally dragged every piece out of the national forest. With my trusty old chainsaw, a 50-foot steel tow cable and 25-foot log choker, I dragged these magnificent dead beasts one by one from their natural habitat; swatting at bees, stinkbugs and mosquitoes; sweating so hard it poured into my eyes; and with a dumb smile on my face the whole time. Because I don’t have an old wood truck yet — or a trailer — I use my well-seasoned 4Runner to haul them out, then stack as many rounds as I can cram inside until the roof bulges outward. At that point, I travel home, dump them in the yard, and split and stack them until the shed approaches that geometric bliss I’m looking for. The angular butt ends are like a natural study of cubism; the organized
chaos of an orderly wood stack complimenting the clean, right angles of my newly built shed. Around the time when the stack was nearing completion, my partner Cadie started eyeing me every time I came home with another load of wood. “OK, I think we have enough,” she said, laughing at me. “It’s never enough!” I yelled, my bloody fist in the air. I tried to stop, but gathering wood doesn’t just heat our home; it gets me up in the mountains and reminds me why I live here. It also keeps me sane... mostly. A couple more loads in the backyard and Cadie’s laugh turned into a raised eyebrow. That’s when I started sneaking wood in while she was still at work, stacking rounds near the fence and covering them with a tarp — anything to feed that glorious habit. There’s no drug or drink that compares to the smell of freshly cut and split firewood. I suppose I could fill that gap with freshly split wood from the rounds by the fence, but the shed wood is perfectly seasoned. It spent all summer baking in the heat. Instead, I’ll have to be content with the gap in symmetry. I’ll have to live with the feeling of satisfaction I get whenever I’m about to place a log in the fire and recognize it. Like that enormous Douglas fir that I had to split in half just to fit inside my truck, with bark as thick as the palm of my hand. That was a good one. Working with wood, whether you’re burning or building with it, gives us a connection to this place in which we live. It binds us to the past, to these nameless men and women who made it here over a hundred years ago,
STR8TS Solution
Sudoku Solution
before all the modern conveniences we take for granted today. Gathering wood was a matter of survival back then, not fodder for a column I type on my $3,000 laptop. Yet, when I’m up in the forest, hearing that gentle sigh of wind through a million needles, I do feel the connection. I feel the weight of all these trees surrounding me, and it’s the most comfortable sensation I could ask for. If there ever is a god, it would live in the trees, I think. These noble sentries have provided us for millenia with roofs over our heads and warmth from the cold. Even this very paper in your hands was once a tree. They give us so much, and every time I drive up to gather the dead ones in my rig, I try to remember to give them a pat on the trunk and thank them for coming home with me. So much has changed in the world, but the simple things haven’t, and I like that.
Crossword Solution
I bet the main reason the police keep people away from a plane crash is they don’t want anybody walking in and lying down in the crash stuff, then, when somebody comes up, act like they just woke up and go, “What was THAT?!”
Solution on page 22
Solution on page 22
avarice /AV-er-is/
Woorf tdhe Week
[noun] 1. a greed for riches
“Avarice is the motivating reason behind many of those running for political office.”
Corrections: Nailed it!
By Bill Borders
CROSSWORD
Copyright www.mirroreyes.com
Laughing Matters
ACROSS 1. Yield 5. Belgrade native 9. Greenish blue 13. Beasts of burden 14. Operatives 16. Relative of a rabbit 17. After-bath powder 18. Not loose 19. Celtic language 20. Grin 22. Degraded 24. Deep sleep 26. Fortuneteller’s card 27. Beach 30. Separate 33. Party providers 35. Footwear 37. Employ 38. Innocent 41. North northeast 42. A fruit of the gourd family 45. Small amount 48. Words to a song 51. Not later 52. Highland families 54. Pack down 55. Supple 59. Particles 62. Dwarf buffalo 63. Wear away 65. Anagram of “tine” 66. Arouse 67. Feints 68. Accomplished
Solution on page 22 69. Tattled 70. Dispatched 71. Break in two
DOWN 1. Camp beds 2. Test 3. Finely 4. Surround completely 5. Supersonic transport 6. Majestic 7. Not left 8. Use a guillotine 9. Fast feline
10. Wool 43. Where apple 11. Rear end trees grow 12. Require 44. Egyptian river 15. Fixed gaze 46. Streetcar 21. Arab ruler 47. Oval-shaped nuts 23. Flower holders 49. Enclosed 25. Gulf port 50. Breathes noisily 27. Lowlife while sleeping 28. Artist’s stand 53. Product of 29. Chapter in combustion history 55. Not first 31. Tantrum 56. Put ____ words 32. Therefore 57. Hard work 34. Small mouthful 58. Anagram of “need” 36. Fortune teller 60. European volcano 39. Compete 61. Exude 40. French for “state” 64. Estimated (abbr.) October 8, 2026 / R / 23