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Representative Michael Baumgartner recently praised the “Merkle Standard Data Center Project” in Usk as a regional economic win. But public filings and company actions tell a very different story.
The former Ponderay Newsprint Mill has been converted into a large-scale cryptocurrency-mining facility owned by Allrise Capital and operated as Merkle Standard, in partnership with Bitmain Technologies Ltd., a Beijing-based mining hardware firm. Bitmain has supplied the capital, hardware, and technical resources—equipment designed solely for Bitcoin mining, not “data-center services”.
Merkle came here after China banned crypto-mining in 2021. To secure access to nearly 100 megawatts of low-cost public power, the company promised to restart the mill and bring back jobs that were never going to materialize. The result: an automated mining operation exporting profits overseas while the mill site sits idle.
Now Merkle seeks to expand its power use—raising real concerns about future local power costs, reliability, and grid security.
How do broken promises and opaque foreign partnerships benefit Pend Oreille County? And why are our elected officials silent when critical public power resources are leveraged in ways that may undermine national energy security?
Norm Anheier Newport
The real story beneath the news
While most of us read the front page first, the real pulse of a county often beats a few pages later — in the Public Notices. There, in tight columns of legal text, you’ll find the decisions that quietly shape our lives: a change in water rights, a budget hearing, a name restored.
It’s easy to skim past, but those notices are democracy’s fine print — proof that accountability still exists in small, consistent ways. Even the smallest postings — a permit, a probate, a boundary adjustment — remind us that community isn’t built in headlines. It’s built in the act of showing up, documenting, and declaring our presence in public view.
Sometimes the most important stories aren’t told — they’re filed.
Saundra K. Park Newport
Did you know Gary Domke
and Hank Hester?
Two incredible local icons died within this very month. They were stalwart men who loved and respected our country that was founded on God given rights. So Thanksgiving is a celebration of the survival of the Pilgrims. Let us recall the words that were truly brazened in their hearts. The Salem Covenant of the Puritans read: “We covenant with the Lord and one with another, and do bind ourselves in the presence of God, to walk together in all His ways, according as He is pleased to reveal himself unto us in His blessed Word of Truth.”
These Icons knew that our country was truly a “city upon a hill” and firmly supported conserving what our Founders wanted to preserve – individual freedom and respect in worshiping our Creator.
The wilderness that the Pilgrims landed on at Plymouth Rock, required incredible courage, fortitude and resilience. Only half of those on the Mayflower survived the first winter. So when we remember the first Thanksgiving, it was really a celebration of survival among those who knew the essence of life and respected it – “Walking together in all His ways.”
Maureen Paterson Priest River
Watch NYC
New York City has just elected a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani. He campaigned on free stuff for everyone. The day after the election he turned to New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and asked for money to pay for all this stuff and she said no. People are beginning to flee NYC, however it’s only the people that can afford to leave. Everyone else is stuck.
Some have gone as far as saying Mamdani is a Marxist or even a Communist.
This is going to be interesting to watch.
A true socialist city in the US. Trump has said he will cut Federal funding to NYC. I feel sorry for the people that can’t get out. Mamdani said he’s going to ‘freeze’ rent and utilities. They are at an all-time high. You don’t freeze them, you try to bring them down. I think this will boost Republican runs in 2026 and especially 2028.
Trump and Hegseth are winning in the Caribbean, blasting the 17th narco boat bringing drugs to the US. In the last year, the Coast Guard has seized over 500K pounds of drugs, the most in history. Winning the war on drugs.
Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick
Got ID?
I can understand an ID if purchasing alcoholic beverages, cigarettes if a questionable age and even providing an ID for some financial transactions.
When you check into a hotel an ID is requested. However, I am befuddled and amused with the following Trump quote on Tuesday, November 4. Was this supposed to be about re-opening the government?
“We should start tonight with ‘the country’s open, congratulations,’ then we should pass voted ID, we should pass no mail in voting ... you go to a grocery store, you have to give ID.” Yes, this is an exact quote.
Be sure you have your ID handy at the market. Trump does not want people purchasing food without proper ID?
Robert W. Schutte Newport
ICE acting as Trump’s personal police
One of the most important cases decided last week was the sandwich assault defendant being acquitted by a DC federal jury. That guy threw a Subway sandwich at an ICE officer and hit him on his ballistic protective vest.
ICE is acting as Trump’s personal police force in Democratic run cities. They are going door by door and finding peaceful illegal immigrants who have been here for many years. The immigrant’s neighbors protest living in a police state and ICE shoots them with pepper bullets and tear gas.
Most voters in this community voted for this as Trump campaigned to have mass deportations. Helicopters flying overhead and assault teams repelling from roofs, throwing flash bang grenades, kicking in doors, and making everyone stand in night clothes in the street while they arrest anyone that looks like an illegal alien including USA citizens.
ICE operates in this community protecting us from violent Canadians who want to cross our border and murder us in our sleep. Watch out for them as Canadians are the people speaking with a funny accent and apologize a lot. They are trafficking maple syrup and Kokanee beer. God protect us from the sandwich throwers and maple leaves.
Pete Scobby Newport
Questions about protest numbers
In response to the October 22 article titled “Newport Protestors Join National Demonstration,” I commend the individuals who participated in the protest.
However, I have a few questions. The organizers claimed there were over 175 attendees in downtown Newport, but there is no explanation on how they arrived at this figure. Was there a sign-in sheet or someone who counted people?
Especially when the local police estimated 150 people. Seems the numbers are inconsistent. Also, the statement that “with 175+ people, close to 10% of the population of Newport showing up, it is obvious that these issues are important to our community” is misleading.
Someone mentioned talking to two people from Deer Park and three from out of town. How many more were not Newport residents? If “10%” of the population attended the protest, then 90% prioritized other activities.
How was the talking points figure of “over 7 million” individuals who participated in the nationwide protest determined? That figure represents about 5% of the total voters in the 2024 election.
Consequently, it implies that 95% of the voting public were doing something else. So, what real outcome did this protest achieve?
Renee Webster Newport
Trump only works for the top 1%
Musk wins a trillion-dollar commitment from the Tesla board of directors.
Trump family crypto interests top billions of dollars overnight.
On the other hand, Musk’s DOGE, with Trump’s enablement, spearheads laying off thousands of workers. Trump fights to deny SNAP food benefits to millions of needy Americans.
Does anyone seriously believe this administration is working for the good of our country and its citizens (aside from the top 1% of the wealthy)?
Sandy Nichols Newport
Disturbing voices
I am concerned with the assertions of two regular contributors to this opinion page. Their thoughts are disingenuous, vitriol, and venomous. They go way beyond TDS. The lady needs help with anger management and the gentleman needs a reality check. How someone can want a $200 million dollar White House ballroom torn down that was paid for by private funds simply because he hates Mr. Trump is absurd. Writers He & She can’t accept the accomplishments of a man that exudes leadership.
Mr. Trump’s trade deals will account for $195 billion in revenue from tariffs for 2025. He closed the southern border. He has $17 trillion committed in investment for the United States. He was influential in stopping the war in Gaza. He got the Federal tax cuts to be permanent. He is helping to stop crime in major cities. He had DOGE cut fraud and waste from the government. Now Schumer and the Dems are keeping the government shut because they want to add a trillion dollars more in spending to the budget. Writers He and She say nothing about that for they are for obstruction and uncontrolled spending, as long as it is other people’s money.
K.C. Hunt Newport
