052919NewportMiner by The Newport Miner

The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 117, Number 33 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages $1.00

Emotional comments dominate comp plan amendment hearing By Don Gronning Of The Miner

NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County commissioners got an earful of public testimony Wednesday night, May 22, as they heard comments during a hearing on four amendments to the county’s comprehensive plan. The amendment drawing the most comments was the county’s proposal to rezone all lands currently zoned Public Lands. The county proposes eliminating the Public Lands zone and rezoning all properties in line with the Land Use matrix. The rezone would affect land owned by PacWest Silicon, a Canadian company that wants to build a silicon smelter near Newport

on land it purchased from the Pend Oreille Public Utility District. Most of the testimony during the three hour hearing held at Newport High School was about the smelter, including testimony from homeschooled Sandpoint children, ages 9-11. The children testified individually against the rezone and sang a song. “You want to pollute our water, air, land and life here,” said Alia Howard, 11. “I say no to the smelter and to the rezoning. If you rezone you will only make it easier for the smelter and once you do, there is no going back.” While the proposed smelter isn’t a direct topic of any of the four comp See Comp Plan, 2A

Miner photo|Don Gronning

Jamie Sears said she wanted the county’s mass rezone comprehensive plan amendment to be approved. She said she and her husband want to build a house on property they bought from the county. They can’t build a house there because the property retains its public lands zoning designation.

‘Everybody was on edge’: West Bonner district passes levy

School levy lift disappointing By Don Gronning Of The Miner

NEWPORT – Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, and Reps. Joel Kretz, R- Wauconda, and Jacquelyn Maycumber, R-Republic, said the way the Democratic controlled legislature dealt with education was the biggest disappointment of the session. “The biggest disappointment was the schools,” Short said. “The levy lid lift is going backwards.” She is referring to the legislature agreeing to allow local districts to raise their local maintenance and operations levy rates, something that was supposed to be discouraged under the idea that the state should pay for basic education, not local districts. Maycumber said that allowing property tax rich districts to raise more money locally only helped the rich districts get richer. Kretz said districts are affected differently but for 19 of

the 29 districts in the 7th Legislative District, it felt like they were going backwards. The legislators stopped by The Miner Wednesday as part of their post session district tour. They said the session was characterized by the Democrats pretty much waiting until the last minute to put a variety of measures forward, including $750,000 funding for a study on the removal of the Snake River dams, which the legislators oppose, money to do a study on comprehensive sex education and money for an income tax study. The Democrats, who control the House, the Senate and the Governorship, put forth several title-only bills in which the bill was introduced early in the session with the details to be added later. Maycumber said the legislature passed tax increases despite the state having more money than anticipated. “There was an 18

percent growth in the state budget,” Maycumber said. That happened because of a good economy, not because of tax increases. “That’s something people could have come to testify about.” The 7th District legislators did have some accomplishments. Maycumber got bipartisan support for Bill HB 1448, The Veterans Service Officer Program, which was signed into law. The program will bring certified Veteran Service officers to rural counties so veterans can access the services they have already earned. On average veterans are only accessing 25 percent of the federal money they are owed, she said. She said two officers will be on board in June with more later. Kretz was able to get a wolf bill through, HB 2097. It directs the Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop and implement conflict See Legislators, 2A

By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner

PRIEST RIVER – The West Bonner County School District (WBCSD) administration can breathe a sigh of relief after its $6 million operational levy passed by 73 votes Tuesday, May 21. “I would like to thank our community and all the people who work hard for our students,” WBCSD Superintendent Paul Anselmo said. “Everybody was on edge, both staff and students, since this levy is 25-percent of our budget. Now we will be able to provide the same services to our students moving forward.” The levy proved to be a controversial measure for the WBCSD. Numerous letters to the editor in area newspaper publications were critical of the district’s fiscal responsibility leading up to both the March 12 and May 21 levy elections. Support for the levy seemed to emerge stronger leading up to the May 21 election, with letters to the editor and signs in front of West Bonner County businesses and homes encouraging people to vote in favor of the levy. Unofficial results from the Bonner County Elections Department the morning of Wednesday, May 22 showed that 1,023 people voted for the levy and 950 voted against it. A total of 1,973 votes were cast. Voter turnout

was 30.13 percent. This is the second time the WBCSD has run a levy this year. The district attempted to run the same $3 million per year, two-year operational levy on March 12, along with a modification that would have made the levy permanent if approved by voters. Both measures failed. For last Tuesday’s levy election, the district dropped the permanent levy, keeping the two-year, $6 million operational levy. With the passage of this levy, WBCSD will be able to retain 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Director Cherie Coldwell. The after school program, which focuses on providing tutoring in core subjects and extra-curricular activities for students including science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEaM) was slated to be cut at the end of the school year due to lack of grant funding from the state. An anonymous $20,000 donation to the program earlier in the year will help keep it afloat, but another $50,450 was needed in order to sustain the program and staffing. The WBCSD board of trustees approved the expenditure at the May 15 board meeting in Priest Lake, with the underSee levy, 2A

B r i e f ly Adult social hour at library May 31 NEWPORT – Find a baby-sitter because Adult Social After Hour at the Newport Library is Friday, May 31, 6-9 p.m. There will be sweet and savory nibbles, assorted beverages, live music and more. Anyone 21 and older is welcome. The event is hosted by the Friends of the Pend Oreille County Library District. The Newport Library is located at 116 S. Washington Ave. classifieds Follow usLife on Facebook Obituaries

For more information, email POCLDFriends@gmail. com.

Spartans graduate high school

PRIEST RIVER – The Priest River Lamanna High School class of 2019 will have their graduation ceremony Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m. in the high school gymnasium. The public is welcome to attend.

Opinion

Record

Police Reports

sports

6B, 10B, 7A

Public Notices

8B-10B

Waterfront

2B-4B

Chamber of Commerce meeting Monday CUSICK – The North Pend Oreille Chamber of Commerce (NPOCC) meeting will be at Ruby Creek Lodge Monday, June 3. Social hour starts at 6:30 p.m. with the meeting at 7:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. For more information on the NPOCC, go to www. npochamber.org. Ruby Creek Lodge is located at 400051 Highway 20.

What to do in the River Valley?

the Pend oreille River Valley Visitor Guide

On Stands Now!

from page on e

| May 29, 2019

The Newport Miner Serving Pend Oreille County, WA

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Legislators: Wildfire protection bill passed and sign into law

From Page 1a

mitigation guidelines for each wolf recovery region in the state. “It provides a different set of rules for wolf dense areas,” he said. WFDW will be able to be responsive when problems occur. Non lethal actions will be considered first. Kretz said another bill he sponsored to put a wolf sanctuary on Bainbridge Island helped pave the way for the bill that was passed. Kretz was also able to get a wildfire protection bill passed and signed into law. Kretz said fire breaks are really what stop wildfire. Ideally, he wants one 20 miles long and a few hundred yards wide. Firefighters can fight fire in that defensible line. The bill that was signed into law directs the Department of Natural Resources to prioritize, to the maximum extent practicable, forest health treatments that serve the dual benefits of forest health maximization and strategic wildfire response. It requires the DNR to track areas of forest health treatments, and other relevant geographic features in planning a fire response and authorizes outdoor burning within urban growth areas for certain purposes. The legislators had a list of policies they considered harmful, such as HB 1087, which created a long-term care benefit that will be paid through a payroll tax and SB 5223, which requires electric companies to increase the number of customers who are permitted to engage in net metering, the sale of consumer generated electricity to the utility. They said the Legislature missed opportunities to provide tax relief, including car tab relief. From the GOP lawmakers’ perspective, the Legislature did dodge some bullets, including HB 1086, which would have prohibited high capacity firearm magazines over 15 rounds and HB 1110, which would have created a new low carbon fuel standard program.

Miner photo|Don Gronning

Seventh Legislative District legislators Rep. Joel Kretz and Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, along with Sen. Shelly Short, not pictured, stopped by The Miner for a briefing on the recent legislative session in Olympia. Rep. Joel Kretz and Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber are pictured.

Levy: Election results will be certified Wednesday, May 29 From Page 1A

standing that the expense could be cut if the levy did not pass. Coldwell will spend about 30 hours a week working in the 21st CCLC program and about 10 hours a week writing grants for all the schools in the district. Breaking down votes by precinct, results show 79 ballots cast for the levy in Blue Lake and 133 against it. In East

Priest River 178 people voted in favor of it and 135 opposed it. In Edgemere 106 people voted for the levy and 186 did not. It was a close race in Laclede, with 69 people voting in favor of the levy and 61 people voting against it. The majority of voters in Lamb Creek supported the levy, with 128 votes for it and 41 votes in opposition. In Oldtown 196 ballots

went for the levy and 148 were against it. In Priest Lake precinct 51 voters approved the levy and 17 did not. Spirit Valley had 93 votes for the levy with 162 against it. West Priest River had 123 people in favor of the levy and 67 votes opposing it. Election results will be certified Wednesday, May 29, 8:30 a.m. WBCSD relies on the levy for 25 percent of its

budget. This levy will replace the current levy of the same amount that expires in June 2019. While the requested amount is the same, the rates have been reduced to $1.47 per $1,000 of assessed property value, down from the previous $1.76. This is attributed to the selling of lots at Priest Lake that increased the property tax base in the county. Previously, they were state owned and not taxed.

On the March 12 election the supplemental levy failed with 536 votes in favor, and 769 votes against the levy. The second question that was on the ballot, whether or not to make the $3 million per year request permanent, also failed with only 387 votes in favor and 900 against the modification. With only 1,308 total votes cast, the total voter turnout in West Bonner was 20.17 percent.

Comp Plan: Attorney says basic information is missing From Page 1A

plan amendments, the land where the proposed smelter would be built does need a rezone if the project is to go forward. Smelter opponents have actively testified and had their attorneys testify in opposition at the planning commission as well as at Wednesday night’s hearing. Indeed, Wednesday night’s hearing may not have happened and testimony reopened had there not been an appeal of the planning commission chairman discouraging testimony about the smelter. Rich Eichstaedt of Gonzaga University’s Legal Assistance is one of those attorneys. He represents Responsible Growth * Northeast Washington, one of the groups opposing the smelter. He said county commissioners can’t approve the amendment, as there is a State Environmental Protection Act appeal. “They can certainly reject it and save us a lot of time, but you cannot approve the amendment because you do not have a final SEPA decision until the hearings examiner has completed review,” he said. Eichstaedt says the amendment is unneeded, as there is a parcel by parcel way to rezone Public Lands designated properties that are no longer owned by the public. He said there is basic information lacking in the county’s amendment, which he said would affect about two thirds of the county. For example, exactly what parcels would be affected and the exact amount of acreage hasn’t been specified, he said. “There is very, very basic information about this that you don’t have and the public doesn’t have,” he said. He said some of the land proposed for re-designation qualified as forest land of long-term

commercial significance, such a DNR forest land. That land really should be zoned Natural Resource lands 40. To do otherwise violates the Growth Management Act, he said. He said the commissioners should deny the amendment. Jamie Sears of Priest River spoke in favor of the amendment. She said she and her husband recently bought property from the county that is zoned Public Lands. “We’re one of the little guys that bought property that we can’t use,” she said. “We just want to build a house but we can’t.” She said she recognizes that many don’t want a smelter. But as far as the rezone goes, she says that affects her, not a big corporation. “There is more than just the smelter involved in the rezoning,” she said. She urged the commissioners to not focus on the smelter but on the people like her who want to build on their property. Curt Holmes, a Kalispel Tribal Council member, testified that the tribe is opposed to the rezone and to the proposed smelter. “Let PacWest apply for their own rezone,” he said. “It’s their project.” He said the tribe isn’t going to give up in its opposition to a smelter. He said the tribe is still willing to partner with the county on economic development in other areas. Martha Winje spoke in favor of the rezone. She said she is passionate about services, such as hospital, fire and law enforcement services that are funded with tax money. She said the county already is having trouble maintaining its roads. Kimberly Gentle also spoke in favor of the mass rezone. She urged the commissioners to clear the hurdles for the 17

landowners who are awaiting a decision. Alex Stanton said the easy way out for commissioners was to follow the planning commission’s recommendation and deny the amendment. He said the commissioners could craft a way for people who own Public Lands to get their zoning changed in an expedited way. He gave the vacation rental ordinance as an example. The commissioners also heard testimony on the other three comprehensive plan amendments. The planning commission had recommended approval of an amendment for a zone change for Shannon Reel. She wanted seven acres changed from NR20 to R-5 to build a commercial storage facility near Dalkena. Nobody testified. The planning commission also recommended approval for a zone change from Public Land to R-5 on behalf of Lori Stime of Hayward, Calif., and Tracy and Rachel (Kelli) Knapp of Newport. They were seeking a zoning change from Public Lands (PL) to R-5 for three parcels on Pleasant Drive East, on the east side of Pend Oreille River, off LeClerc Road South. Stime has two lots and the Knapps own one. Sheryl Miller, who unsuccessfully ran for county commissioner against Mike Manus last fall, said that the applicants had asked two years ago and were told to hold off for the rezone. The other amendment from Responsible Growth * Northeast Washington proposed pages of changes throughout the comp plan. The planning commission recommended the commissioners reject it. Phyllis Kardos is one of the group’s leaders. She expressed disappointment with the planning commission’s recom-

mendation for denial. She said members of her group had work for months on the amendments. “There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell you’ll approve it,” she said to the commissioners. She said her group saw the amendment as a way to pull the county into the 21st century. Karen Skoog, county commission chair woman, started the hearing by asking each of the commissioners to answer audibly whether or not they owned property within 300 feet of any public land designated property. She and Manus said they did not. Commissioner Steve Kiss said he had some land in the north county that would be affected but he didn’t anticipate making money from it in foreseeable future, a remark that drew scoffs from the audience. Skoog asked if they all felt like they could decide fairly on the comp plan amendments. All three said yes. She asked if any had had “ex-parte” communication. “I think we all have,” Manus said. He said the communication basically followed the line of many of the comments. Kiss said he also had reviewed hundreds of comments and emails. Skoog then opened the hearing up for one minute testimony about the commissioners. This was separate from the public comments about the comprehensive plan amendments. Several people spoke, with calls for all three commissioners to all recuse themselves. The commissioners will wait until the SEPA appeal is decided to rule on the county’s comprehensive plan amendment, Skoog said. She said Community Development Director Greg Snow is scheduling time with the hearings examiner. She said didn’t know if the others could be approved separately, referring questions to Snow.

THE MINER

MAY 29, 2019 |

B R I E F LY

CORRECTIONS The Pend Oreille County Library District’s property tax levy is currently 37 cents per $1,000 valuation. Because of a reporting error, it was misstated in last week’s story ‘Library district will seek levy lid lift,’ The Miner, May 22. In last week’s story ‘Local economies get local attention at EDC’ the location of the next north Pend Oreille Chamber of Commerce was incorrect. The next North Pend Oreille Chamber of Commerce meeting will be at Ruby Creek Lodge Monday, June 3. Social hour starts at 6:30 p.m. with the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Ruby Creek Lodge is located at 400051 Highway 20. We regret any confusion this caused.

County holding visioning meetings NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County is holding a series of visioning meetings as they seek public input on the 2020 Comprehensive Plan update. The public is being asked for their thoughts on the scope, vision and topics they want addressed in the county’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan update. All plan elements – maps, goals and policies – will be updated, as necessary, during this process. A meeting will be held at the Cusick Community Center Tuesday, June 11, starting at 7 p.m. The Cusick Community Center is located at 107 First Ave., in Cusick. There will be a meeting held Wednesday, June 12, at 6 p.m. at the Ione Community Center, at 210 Blackwell St., in Ione. Thursday, June 13 at 6 p.m. there will be a meeting held at the Newport High School Multi-Purpose Room. For more information, call Greg Snow, Pend Oreille County Community Development Director, at 509-447-6457 or contact Lara Floyd of White Bluffs Consulting atlara@whitebluffsconsulting.com or by phone at 509-460-2001.

Make and take a mini succulent container garden NEWPORT – People are invited to learn how to create a “mini garden or fairy garden” using succulents during this “Make and Take Succulents Mini-Garden” class Saturday, June 15, at the WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension Office at 227-A S. Garden Ave., in Newport, from 10 a.m. until noon. Class participants will learn about the different types of succulents; choosing the right varieties; suggestions for containers; design elements; propagating; transplanting; and care for these popular plants. The class, taught by Master Gardener Vicki Green, will then go outside to the greenhouse for hands-on experience designing and creating a miniature garden planter to take home. The fee for the class is $20 per person and will provide each participant with a planter, soil, five succulent plants, a “fairy house” or other miniature structure, moss, rocks, lichens and other supplies. Fairies, gnomes and additional accessories with be available for purchase at the class. All funds raised from the class will be used by the local Master Gardener Foundation to cover costs for materials and to help provide gardening education programs. Register early because class size is limited. Participants should wear appropriate clothing, including sturdy, closed-toe shoes, for working outdoors with soil and bring gardening gloves. Bring a lawn chair if you require seating while working in the greenhouse. Register by calling the WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension Office at 509-447-2401 to provide contact information should the class schedule change and ensure adequate materials for all participants will be available.

Home values have increased, MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING

buyers approved & ready!

Queen of the rodeo

NOW IS THE TIME TO SELL!

Newport Rodeo Queen Emily Sprague shows kindergarteners at Stratton Elementary School her horse Sweetie Thursday, May 23. Sprague, who started riding at age 2, attends Whitworth University. Her ambition is to become an equine veterinarian. She has been busy promoting the Newport Rodeo, set for June 21-22.

Cusick clerk arrested, charges dismissed Charges may be brought back when crime lab results return BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Cusick city clerk Jennifer C. Lee, 41, of Newport was arrested Tuesday, May 21, for alleged possession of methamphetamine. When she appeared in court the next day following a night in jail, prosecuting attorney Greg Hicks said it will be some time before results are returned from the state crime lab. He asked District Court Judge Robin McCroskey for a finding of probable cause for the arrest, with the intention to proceed with the case if the results of the crime lab come back supporting the charge. Defense attorney Dana Kelley said Hicks couldn’t have it both ways, he needed to charge or dismiss. Lee has a right to be brought to trial within 90 days after arraignment. McCroskey asked Hicks what he wanted to do. Hicks moved to dismiss the case without preju-

Two injured in mid-county wreck CUSICK – Two people were injured Tuesday, May 28, when their cars collided one mile south of Cusick. Anthony J. Seymour, 18, of Inchelium was driving a 2006 Toyota Tundra pickup east on McKenzie Road when he allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign, according to the Washington State Patrol, and hit a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Carol O’Leary, 56, of Cusick. O’Leary was traveling south on Highway 20. Both drivers were injured, with O’Leary transported by Lifeflight to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. Seymour was transported by ambulance to Newport Hospital. Seymour was ticketed for failing to yield. Both vehicles were totaled.

dice, meaning it can be brought back once he has the crime lab results. Lee is currently on unpaid leave from her job. Hicks said Lee is alleged to have been smoking meth in the outdoor bathroom. According to the sheriff logs, she was arrested at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Cusick Mayor Chris Evers said as soon as she heard of the arrest, she ordered an internal investigation to see if Lee had broken any town policies. Evers says people are presumed innocent until proven guilty and that the town can’t put an employee on unpaid leave solely as a result of a criminal allegation. “Pursuant to the Town’s Employee Policy Manual, unpaid leave is limited to a maximum period of thirty (30) days,” Evers said in a written statement. “If the internal investigation is incomplete after thirty days, I am required to return the employee to paid status while the investigation continues.” Evers said she may rely on the Prosecutor’s and Sheriff’s Office investigation or she may complete the internal investigation first. She says a written report of the internal investigation will be prepared. “If any discipline, up to and including termina-

tion, is imposed based on the results of the internal investigation, I will follow the procedures outlined in the Town’s Employee Policy Manual,” Evers wrote. Evers said she also took steps to ensure the town’s work gets done while Lee is on leave. She assigned what could be done to existing town staff and contracted with William Mulholland, a CPA who previously served as the Finance Director for the City of Pullman and as an auditor for the Arizona state retirement system, to handle other matters. He will be paid $65 an hour. “His first assigned duties will involve the finalization of the Town’s 2019 budget analysis with my assistance and that of the Town Council’s Finance Committee and preparation of any necessary amendments to the 2019 Budget,” Evers wrote. City attorney Laura McAloon said she would handle all public records requests. Former council member and mayoral candidate Duane Schofield has a number of pending public records requests. McAloon says since the town is short handed, they might not come as fast as Schofield wants, but they are being responded to.

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| MAY 29, 2019

OUR OPINION

Viewpoint

THE MINER

LETTE RS POLICY We welcome letters to the editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Letters should be typed and submitted to The Miner office no later than 5 p.m. Friday for publication the following Wednesday. No letter will be published unless it is signed by at least one individual, even if the letter represents the view of a group. The letter must include a telephone number and address for authentication. The Miner reserves the right to edit letters. Political letters will not be published the last issue before an election. Letters will be printed as space allows.

Levy election should be wake up call for board of trustees

he West Bonner County School District levy passed last week, but narrowly. The two-year $3 million levy failed earlier in the year, and while we support its passing now, we remind the board of trustees that it’s now time to listen to your constituents. There was a time when school levies in West Bonner passed handily, without much thought. This time, there was a concerted effort by people who are not so happy with the school district to convince voters to not pass it this time either. It would behoove the current board to take those complaints to heart, start a constructive conversation with those who opposed the levy, and put a plan in place so the next time they have to ask voters to balance the budget, it won’t be so difficult. Not to mention that a lot of the complaints out there are well founded. The installation of a new reader board at Priest River Elementary comes to mind. While we understand that funding for the board was donated, the timing of the installation of such a high-end piece of equipment that is meant to get the attention of passers-by, was poor. Optics are important. Don’t ask voters who are already anti-tax and strapped to make their own ends meet to fund education or there will be dire consequences, without paying attention to what you’re showing the public. We’ve said on this page before that the levy should not be a referendum on the school board or the administration, but that the election of the board should be. Before the next election, we encourage the board of trustees to take seriously the complaints your constituents have and do something about it. -MCN

Building bridges… one by one BY KELLIE RISSO

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office presented its annual Neighborhood Watch Captains Forum and meeting April 26 at the Bonner County Sheriff’s Training Room. The main focus and networking event provided an overview of resources and introductions to key contacts from the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office and that of the other agencies in the department that serve the county. Captain Tim Hemphill welcomed the groups and gave the overview of speakers which included Deputy Steve Carl with the K-9 unit, Deputy Jason Davis Risso with Search and Rescue, Detective Matt Wallace who presented a PowerPoint presentation of what is needed to build a case, Lt. Douglas McGeachy with the Marine Division and Sgt. Shawn Deem with the Patrol Division. This event aimed to provide community leaders with a basic understanding of knowledge and building awareness along with new ideas and increasing interaction between Law Enforcement and the Neighborhood Watch Captains and the Watch Coordinators. One of the main goals is keeping the lines of communication open. Communication comes in many forms; newsletters, flyers, E-mail lists, neighborhood websites, etc. Newsletters can help further neighborhood goals by allowing neighbors a chance to read/ talk at their leisure about the news from within your own community, included to social events which give neighbors a chance to know each other – like a block party, potluck dinner, picnic or barbecue in the park or meeting for a cup of coffee. With that in mind, please mark your calendars for Wednesday, Oct. 2 for the Coffee with a Cop event that involves the Tri-State region of Sanders County in eastern Montana, Bonner County, Idaho, to Pend Oreille County in eastern Washington, with all law enforcement agencies spanning and participating. The coffee with a cop event creates a relaxed atmosphere with no agenda or expectations, just coffee, and conversation. It allows for residents to sit down with the local officers that patrol their community and have the ability to discuss whatever concerns that they may have and that is important to them. The event will be at various coffee businesses throughout the region soon to be announced. Remember: What you do matters and community members of neighborhood watch groups only serve as the extra “eyes and ears” of law enforcement. If you see something say something, report suspicious activity to law enforcement. For more information on how you can become a volunteer or a member with a neighborhood watch program in your area please contact Sheryl Kins at the Bonner County Sheriff’s Department at 208-263-8417 or in Pend Oreille County contact Deputy Jake Larsen at the Pend Oreille Sheriff’s department at 509-447-3151.

WE B COM M E NTS We welcome comment on select stories on our web site. You may comment anonymously. We will review comments before posting and we reserve the right to omit or edit comments. If you want to comment only to our writers and editors, let us know that you do not want your comment published.

YO U R O P I N I O N Drinking from the Grid To the editor, Those of you who follow environmental news are likely aware of escalating concerns about the future availability of fresh water sufficient for the needs of a growing population. Most of the Earth’s surface water is not suitable for human consumption, and the water available at depths accessible by practical well drilling methods is not sufficient to satisfy the deficit in our demand for fresh water. What to do? I think the necessary actions are readily sorted into one of three simple categories: (1) reduce consumption by conservation and improving the efficiency of processes that require fresh water; (2) recover potable water by processing waste water to the greatest extent technically possible; (3) extract fresh water at potability standards by desalination of ocean water. I also think that our

fresh water future will be secured by actions in all three categories, noting that the latter two require energy, and further note that the extraction of fresh water from the ocean is already a primary source of potable water for some countries today (Israel, for example). So, as the demand for fresh water increases with increasing population, we had better find the energy for processes (2) and (3), because simple conservation (1) will not suffice. Thus once again the electric Grid will be called upon to increase its capacity to meet this demand. And, as I noted last time in the discussion about the effects of electric transportation, realization of this increased Grid capacity with fossil fuels as legacy generation technologies (e.g. coal) will further confound efforts to reduce the total amount of carbon dioxide and other combustion gases released to the atmosphere. Thus the integration of renewable energy

sources into the Grid is further motivated to satisfy one of our basic survival needs. Next time – why photovoltaics are prominent amongst renewable energy sources. -David Bell Fertile Valley Road

Saddened by rude behavior at comp plan meeting To the editor, I don’t have all the facts regarding the proposed smelter. Fortunately for those of us at Wednesday’s zoning meeting, the anti-smelter folks did. Dozens of them did. They made some good and valid points. Some points were spoken, some sung, some rapped. The few, maybe five who spoke in support of the re-zoning, not necessarily the smelter, were heckled, shouted over, laughed at by the opponents of the re-zoning. They were a hostile group. Which sort of diminished their argument. Unfortunately, this incivility seems

to be acceptable today. There’s one view allowed and any opposing view is met with anger, threats and violence. This group spoke of our First Amendment right to free speech but apparently feel those rights only belong to them. I was saddened and embarrassed by their rude behavior. -Lorraine and Ben Kirkpatrick Newport

Tariffs making it more expensive for everyone To the editor, I am trying to wrap my head around President Trump’s trade war with China. The president is going to give farmers impacted by China’s tariffs on their crops $16 billion in aid from the federal government. He claims that the farm aid cost will be paid by American tariffs on Chinese imported goods. Look at it this way, a trip to Wal-Mart will cost SEE LETTERS, 5A

State of Liberty tempting I was headed into the grocery store the other day for bread, eggs and milk when I noticed a line outside the door. I thought it might be some free samples, so I went over to see what they had. It was a line to sign a petition for a ballot initiative C O L U M N to create Liberty State. I had heard a little about the FRANK proposal, and WATSON had dismissed it as the rumblings of anarchists and the ultra-right. I was more concerned with my bread, eggs, and milk, so I bypassed the gathering and proceed-

ed to get my shopping cart. After securing my purchases and barely avoiding a collision with a six passenger pick up in the parking lot, I let my thoughts wander to the crowd still in the line to sign the petition. They didn’t look like radicals, but you never know. We already have two Washingtons and surely don’t need a third. Spokane Valley is confusing enough. I decided to learn more about the issue generating the crowd, so when I got home, I visited the Libertystate.org website. The movement is not new but is recently gaining momentum. In a nutshell, the proposal draws a line down the crest of the Cascade Range and divides our state in two parts. The western, liberal, part keeps the name, capitol, and all

existing government bodies and functions. The eastern, conservative, part becomes a new state and must create a new capitol, government, etc. The arguments for and against are easily found on Google. I questioned the constitutionality of such a proposition and was assured that it is not prohibited, and precedent exists. In 1861 contrary to the wishes of the western part of the state, Virginia seceded from the Union. The dissenting counties formed their own state and were formally admitted to the Union in 1863. So, I guess it is possible for Washington to follow a similar path. I thought the Liberty State proponents would have no chance of SEE WATSON, 5A

READE R’S POLL

R E A D E R ’ S P O L L R E S U LT S

Visit The Miner Online to answer our readers’ poll question through Monday afternoon. Find it on the right-hand side of the page at www.pendoreillerivervalley.com. The results will be printed next week on this page. You need not be a subscriber to participate. If you have any ideas for future readers’ poll questions, submit them at minernews@povn. com.

Do you think the U.S. will go to war with Iran?

Several states have passed strict abortion laws, seemingly aimed at getting a case to the U.S. Supreme Court, where anti-abortion activists hope Roe V. Wade will be struck down, making abortion illegal in the U.S.

Yes.

32% 35% 32%

Is it time for the U.S. to end legal abortion? Yes, it’s murder. It is time to end abortion. No, abortion is one part of women’s health care. It needs to be protected. I don’t care.

No.

Maybe.

Total votes: 31

THE MINER

Governor launches effort to improve Idaho’s broadband BOISE – Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed his latest executive order last week, establishing the Idaho Broadband Task Force to improve connectivity and broadband infrastructure across Idaho. “In a data-driven society, connectivity is imperative for a vital economy,” Governor Little said. “Improved broadband infrastructure ensures both urban and rural Idaho will be connected and well-positioned to attract business and enhance our citizens’ quality of life.” Little directed the task force to come up with recommendations by November on ways the state can assist in furthering Idaho’s connectivity and

speeds. Idaho Department of Commerce Director Tom Kealey will chair the task force. The group will focus its efforts on mapping Idaho’s existing services and identifying gaps in Idaho’s broadband infrastructure. The mapping effort is the first step in developing a statewide broadband plan. “For Idahoans to continue to realize commercial growth and better lives, they must have access to reliable broadband infrastructure and service,” Director Kealey said. “The Idaho Broadband Task Force intends to directly address connectivity gaps and low-speed service and provide recommendations to the Governor that will

allow Idaho citizens, businesses and communities to continue on a trajectory of success.” The task force plans to meet four times before October and provide a final report to the Governor in November. The task force is made up of government officials, internet providers, satellite providers, cellular providers, industry representatives, universities, and representatives from the tribes, counties, and cities. In addition, the task force includes Reps. Megan Blanksma, R-Hammett, and Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, as well as Sens. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, and Carl Crabtree, R-Grangeville.

Delayed opening of Mill Pond Historic Site, Campground NEWPORT – The anticipated June opening of Mill Pond Historic Site and the Mill Pond Campground has been postponed until mid-August, due to unforeseen construction and weather-related delays. These sites have been closed since July of 2017, when construction began to remove Mill Pond Dam and restore the habitat in and around the area. The project is being performed by Seattle City Light on the Colville National Forest as required by the Boundary Hydroelectric Facility License issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2013. Upon opening, visitors can enjoy 10 upgraded campsites with new food storage lockers at each site. Improvements to the road, and parking spurs will be made, and a new bathroom facility will be installed in the campground.

The new Mill Pond Historic day use site will offer visitors a picnic pavilion with fireplace, picnic tables, grill tables, fire rings, and interpretive displays. A new trail system, which can be accessed from the old dam site or campground, will provide a loop around the old pond site and lower floodplain area. An additional connecting trail and improvements to existing trails will be completed over the next two seasons to provide a continuous loop opportunity connecting the picnic shelter site to trail system. Most of this trail system, including two large bridges spanning Sullivan Creek and the old dam site, will be accessible for all users. Visitors to the area will notice that since Mill Pond Dam was demolished in the fall SEE DAM, 7A

LETTERS FROM PAGE 4A

you more as you are paying the tariffs in the form of price increases. The federal government collects the tariff taxes and the importers raise the price to offset the tariff. Don’t forget that the increase price at the store also translates additional sales and excise taxes at the cash register. Those taxes are based on a percentage of the sale. Before the trade war with China, farmers exported their crops to stable Chinese markets.

Those farmers made profits and didn’t need aid from taxpayers The result is that taxpayers are the consumers who are paying for Trump’s trade war of his own making. The idea is that China has treated us unfairly with trade practices. China simply took advantage that American parents didn’t want their kids working factory jobs, they didn’t want to breathe the dirty air from operating factories and they wanted cheap goods and lower prices. The first TV I bought in 1971 cost

$1,000 and was made in an American factory by union workers making living wages. The same TV is now $300 and is made in China and sold to me by a kid at Wal-Mart making $12/hour with no benefits. The problem is that the kids went from working in a factory to working at a Wal-Mart. The solution of putting our farmers on welfare and paying for it with a tariff tax is making everything we buy cost more. -Pete Scobby Newport

WATSON FROM PAGE 4A

success until I reviewed the activities of our most recent legislative session. With both houses of our legislature controlled by liberals, the legislature was able to run amok, create programs that were west coast specific, and pass the largest budget increase in history. Everyone knows the mess they made of school funding, but relatively few voters are aware of the bevy of new taxes passed during the last-minute surge. These bills were passed in dark of night with no public input and without the critical eye of the press. These secret proceedings included a new tax on gasoline to be added to the increases already passed, making Washington gas prices among the highest in the nation. Banks will be subject to increased state taxes. They have no choice but to pass these increased costs along to their customers. The state tax on your home will increase, and the rate will vary with the appraised value of the property. If you recently purchased a new home, your tax can more than double. Another big kicker was the increased tax on businesses. When this tax became public, a spokesman for the administration said it was an increase on a small select group of services. This is simply not true. I read the bill. The list

MAY 29, 2019 |

Sharing the Dharma Day June 9 NEWPORT – Sravasti Abbey, the Tibetan Buddhist monastery, opens its doors for Sharing the Dharma Day on June 9. The day’s schedule includes a guided meditation, vegetarian potluck lunch, and facilitated discussion on the day’s topic. The program is offered freely, and donations as well as food offerings for the resident nuns and monks are welcomed. Venerable Thubten Chodron, Sravasti Abbey founder and abbess, teaches on “Establishing Compassion-

ate Habits.” The day’s topic is drawn from the book, An Open-Hearted Life, a book published by Shambhala and co-authored by Ven. Chodron and Eastern Washington University psychologist Dr. Russell Kolts. The first session begins at 9:45 a.m., potluck lunch is at noon, and the program ends at 3 p.m. Participants should bring food to share for lunch, avoiding onions, garlic, and SEE DHARMA, 7A

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is neither small nor select. It includes: anything related to technology or software, newspapers and news agencies, on-line shippers, lawyers, engineers, etc., etc. Did I mention that the new law also increases the cost of health care? The escalating cost of health care is already a national crisis, and our legislature jacked up the cost even more. I think the logic is that when the bill comes, it will be in the form of higher insurance premiums. The legislature can then blame the dirty rotten insurance companies. The saddest part is that the increased taxes are not needed. Our economy is booming, and state revenues have increased over 22 percent since the last legislative session. No thought was given to what will happen when the economy cools, as it surely will. The budget is not sustainable. When the whirlwind session was over, Governor Inslee joined the liberal legislators in celebration. Is there any wonder why the Liberty State initiative is gaining momentum? Next time I am at the grocery store, I just might sign the petition. FRANK WATSON IS A RETIRED AIR FORCE COLONEL AND LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF EASTERN WASHINGTON. HE HAS BEEN A FREE-LANCE COLUMNIST FOR OVER 19 YEARS.

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Last game of the season

hese youngsters were taking part in the last game of the Pend Oreille Valley Youth Sports Association soccer season at Newport Thursday, May 23. Parents, siblings and grandparents watched as the Wild Animals, in green, took on the Shooting Stars, in blue. The POVYSA had about four games for the youngest players, ages 3-6.

Miner photos by Don Gronning

A Shooting Star looks to dribble while Wild Animals rush to defend.

ABOVE: Emmett Green, 5, a Wild Animals team member, gets a little tangled in the net as he retrieves the ball. ABOVE RIGHT: Two spectators share a moment while watching Thursday’s match. RIGHT: The Shooting Stars and the Wild Animals mix it up with Shooting Stars coach Laura Verity overseeing the play. BELOW: The two teams have the customary handshake at the end of the match.

THE MINER

MAY 29, 2019 |

COURTESY PHOTO|ROB LOHR

Dam Safety Awareness Day Pend Oreille Public Utility District will celebrate National Dam Safety Awareness Day Friday, May 31, at Box Canyon Dam in Ione. Activities for kids, including catching critters in Campbell Pond, are available during the entire event. Visitors of all ages can take part in interactive tours, presentations, get a free barbecue lunch and receive giveaways. The lunch will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. It will be followed by a powerhouse tour from 12:30 to 1 p.m. A dam safety presentation will be given at 1 p.m. and people can ask questions and talk to staff from 1:30 to 2 p.m. People who RSVP in advance to communications@popud.org will be entered into a raffle.

DHARMA:

DAM:

FROM PAGE 5A

leeks as well as meat, fish, or chicken. Dress is casual, although modesty is appropriate for a monastic environment. Short skirts and shorts are discouraged. Sharing the Dharma Day is a monthly event for people of all faiths and backgrounds that would like to know more about Buddhist teachings. All are welcome. Curiosity and openness to learn are the only pre-requisites. Future dates include July 14, Aug. 4, and Sept. 15. Sravasti Abbey is located at 692 Country Lane, Newport. For more information and directions call 509447-5549 or email office.sravasti@gmail.com. Find additional information about Sravasti Abbey at Sravasti.org.

of 2017, the landscape of the old Mill Pond site has been dramatically transformed. Most of the sediment in the pond was flushed downstream with strong Sullivan Creek flows in the spring of 2018 exposing the pre-dam ground surface of the Sullivan Creek floodplain. Throughout the summer and fall of 2018 a natural riverine ecosystem was shaped, with multi-thread stream channels and extensive

log jams to provide high quality fish habitat and spawning areas. During the fall of 2018, thousands of locally-sourced shrubs, trees, and grasses were planted in five different planting zones around the old pond site. With the warmer weather of spring, the site has begun to green up and the initial site restoration will be complete when the site opens later this summer. For more information, contact the Newport Ranger District at 509-447-7300 or visit www.millponddam.com.

NEWPORT

Barbara Jo Ross of Newport passed away May 23, at Newport Hospital, due to health complications. She was 64 years old. Barbara was born Feb. 15, 1955, in Lewiston, Idaho, the Ross daughter of Dale Hardin and Frances Peterson. She married Robert Ross Sr., who passed away. She then married Larry Bergman. Barbara enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and sewing. She loved her cats, humming birds and yellow roses. She also loved music, dancing and cooking. Barbara is survived by her son and daughterin-law, Eric and Nanette Ross of Newport, and grandchildren Stacy, Thomas and Alyssa Ross; and her son Robert Ross Jr., of Spokane, and grandchildren Alexander, Nicholas, Robert, Isaiah and Lily Ross. She was preceded in death by her late husband Larry Bergman and former husband Robert Ross Sr., as well as her mother, Frances Harding. A private family service

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Ruth Ann Snyder gained her angel wings and went to be with her Mother and Father on May 1, 2019. She was 63. Ruth was born in Tacoma, Wash., on Jan. 16, 1956, to Vincent and Angelina Macaras. Ruthie, as she was known to Snyder family and friends, graduated from Tahoma High School in 1974, married her high school sweetheart Jim Satterlee and had two daughters, Summer and Shawnee. She moved to Deer Park in 1991, where she raised her family. She married Skipp Snyder May 9, 2009, adding to her family four stepchildren. In the short time she was on this Earth she made a positive impact on everyone that crossed her path. She was a genuine soul who loved her family. She leaves behind her husband Skipp Snyder, daughters Summer Satterlee and Shawnee Satterlee, stepchildren Aaron, Brett, Christopher and Torrie; one

granddaughter Payton Satterlee; two grandsons Hunter and Holden Snyder; her three brothers Bill Macaras (Becky), John Macaras (Daniela), and Paul Macaras (Suzanne); as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family requests donations be made to an

animal charity of your choice, or do as Ruthie would have done, and help someone in need. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 1, at Country Church, 40015 N. Collins Road., in Elk, Wash. SEE OBITUARIES, 6B

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THE MINER

Priest River Lamanna High School

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riest River Lamanna High School was unable to provide individual photos of the class of 2019. Check out the June 5 issue of The Miner for photos from graduation and a class photo.

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