Idaho Hill Elementary proudly celebrated the promotion of its kindergarten class as students, families, and staff gathered to recognize a year filled with learning, growth, and achievement.

The kindergarten students have spent the year building important academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics while also learning valuable life lessons about kindness, responsibility, and citizenship. Throughout the year, they worked hard to develop classroom routines, make new friends, solve problems, and become confident learners.

During the promotion ceremony, families enjoyed watching their children proudly receive certificates recognizing their successful completion of kindergarten and their readiness for first grade.

Congratulations to the students on their accomplishments and praised them for their enthusiasm, perseverance, and growth throughout the school year. Our kindergarten students have learned so much this year. They have become readers, writers, mathematicians, and caring classmates. We are proud of their hard work and excited to see all they accomplish in first grade.

The ceremony served as a reminder of how much students can achieve in a single year.

From learning letters and sounds to reading books, counting numbers, and developing friendships, the kindergarten class has made tremendous progress.

Idaho Hill Elementary extends its gratitude to the kindergarten team and families whose support helped make this year a success. Together, they have built a strong foundation for these young learners as they continue their educational journey.

Congratulations to the Idaho Hill Elementary Kindergarten Class! We wish you a safe summer and look forward to seeing all the wonderful things you will accomplish in first grade.

Letters should be no longer than 200 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 Political letters will not be published the last issue before an election.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.

I notice there was an article in the “Miner Extra” “Newport celebrates Pride Month June 5”. The Miner was unable to put an article in the paper anywhere about Memorial Day. Just to mention the lives that have been lost so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today would not have taken any more space than the “Pride” article. I saw a picture of a woman laying prostrate in front of a headstone in a military cemetery.

Flowers surrounded the marker and her baby was in a carrier beside her. Two lives were lost there, the military man and her husband, the father of her child. It brought tears to my eyes.

The whole point of “Pride Month” is to shove it in everyone’s faces all June. I am, thankfully reading about the “Pride” parades not happening this year because of lack of funding from corporate money. Obviously, Target, Safeway and a few others still are. I don’t want to spend my money where that is happening.

The nuclear family is God’s perfect design for humanity and is aligned with the long-held traditional values of many Americans.

This is one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children. These are the people that are the backbone of America. Alabama and Tennessee Governors have made a resolution June being Nuclear Family Month.

-Karen Hanson Newport

One hundred percent

Mr. Scooby knows how the representative system works. 100% of the people are represented. The 40% number he speaks of is not written in stone. If they want to have left leaning candidates win elections they first need people with better ideas. They need people that are strong leaders. They need people with a proven, positive track record. They need people to do more than just stand by a big wheel and hold up signs. More than just vote for people with a “D” next to their name. I talk with Mr.

Scobby on a regular basis. He is a nice guy. He even has some good ideas (on occasion). It is crazy to do things continually that don’t work an expect positive results. Hang in there my friend.

Nice letter by Renee last week.

-K.C. Hunt Newport

Support hospital bond

The Newport Hospital is running a bond to expand and renovate its facilities. I am a resident who has been grateful for 55 years to have this excellent hospital in my community. The administration and staff, doctors and nurses have done an amazing job utilizing the space they have which includes the original 1958 structure, the 1993 additions and the old nursing home The only way our hospital is going to survive in the 21st century is for it to grow to meet the demands from additional patients for additional medical technology.

Here are some of the many reasons the facility needs remodeling and expansion. There are surgeons who would utilize additional operating rooms and cancer patients who would prefer to get their chemotherapy close to home.

There are lab results that could be processed here with results obtained faster. An in-house MRI facility included in the proposal that would save the hospital $38,000 per month by not having to rent the current mobile unit.

And there are patients who want to be treated close to family and friends rather than drive an hour for that care.

Please do your own research and I’m sure that you, too, will support this bond.

-Martha Nichols Newport

Fact check using books, documentaries

The title of this page is “opinion”, but what is the basis of letters written as opinions? If writers base their opinions on a TV program where five media entertainers sit on couches and talk, they could be getting false or inaccurate information and using it to write an opinion. Where do those entertainers get their information? It’s likely from a script writer who finds sensational information made up by dubious internet influencers.

A frequent letter writer should explain how Iran turns Uranium Hexafluoride stored in high-pressure gas cylinders into a nuclear weapon. The couch sitting entertainers have been saying Iran is two weeks away from a nuclear weapon for over 20 years.

America’s complex development of nuclear weapons has been ongoing for over 80 years. Many books and documentaries are available to develop an understanding of what is and was involved in producing those weapons. You could also listen to people’s accounts of working to produce and deploy America’s nuclear weapons. Instead, opinions are frequently developed from media entertainment programs designed to increase ratings then sell us consumer products.

Your attention was grabbed and you pass on opinions with no basis in reality but were presented to you as ‘facts’.

-Pete Scobby Newport

‘Disenfranchised’ have quite a bit of representation

In retrospect, I guess it was really a ghostwriter who was responsible for the May 27th letter “We are a strong community, regardless of differences.” The writer is back with the “Forty percent of residents not represented” letter.

Where the writer tells a “story” but not “the story.”

Let’s look at how the 40% are disenfranchised. In the District of Columbia, there are 10 House seats and two Senate seats, with eight House seats and both Senate seats held by Democrats that represent the State. At the state level, we have a Democratic Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State.

Furthermore, currently, 30 out of 49 State Senators and 59 out of 98 State House seats are held by Democrats.

I bet the 60% wish they were that underrepresented! Unfortunately, this writer consistently exhibits an in-group bias, frequently flooding the reader with an excessive amount of information while simultaneously saying nothing to support their assertions. If the writer dislikes the local makeup, they should “walk the walk” instead of just “talking the talk.”

Come on, put your name on the ballot, not just an opinion letter.

-Renee Webster Newport

We are grateful for everyone that stopped by and purchased plants as well as the Newport Miner for highlighting the sale in the newspaper and Selkirk Ace Hardware for donating items for our drawing.

The majority of the plants are grown and donated by the Master Gardeners with all the proceeds from the sale used to develop educational opportunities for the public and to purchase supplies for our demonstration garden (located on Circle Drive) such as wood and soil for new beds.

It was exciting to visit with all of the community members who came to the sale and shared their love of gardening.

The Master Gardeners are always interested in sharing gardening information, or learning something new from other community members, so feel free to stop by any time you see us in the demonstration garden.

Amy Dillon Pend Oreille County Master Gardener Foundation

Sudden elevation changes

harmful

Last week in two days the Priest River dropped three feet. It does this for Memorial Day and the 4th of July. Then rises just as radically in October. These alarming drops and falls are the direct result of the gates closed and opened at the Priest Lake Outlet bay dam.

Please take a look at google folder https://drive.google. com/drive/folders/17ytHDXECESpXBCoVap3fuwlvrjrx0eiz to see 15 years of flow history, a 50 second video filmed by a riverfront longtime resident, showing last week’s devastating water level drops and a one page report about why this is contributing to the decline of several species of spawning salmonids.

Along with negative impact on cold water fish, the sudden changes cause banks to collapse exposing water mammals’ dens where they are raising litters, bird nests in the banks are destroyed and wetlands along the river dry up overnight killing millions of benthic macroinvertebrates larva like damsel flies, dragon flies. The dam is not for electricity, flood mitigation or irrigation. It is so a relatively small amount of people can recreate.

Betty Gardner Priest River

Theories on Iran uranium

Some say Trump started a war with Iran. Others say he’s ending a war that began in 1979. They have been pushing America around since then and a bully in the Middle East.

Most of the world and especially the Middle East agree that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.

My guess is that the deal Trump makes with Iran will include the uranium, either removal or its destruction. It’s my understanding that uranium has a fingerprint. Trump wants that fingerprint.

Remember under Obama, it was alleged that Obama and Hillary sold some of our uranium to other countries? It was said to have gone through Canada and then moved on.

How many countries? If so, how many ‘Heads of State’ knew about it? Did any go to Iran? Did Iran have enriching capabilities in Syria at the time?

What if Trump gets the uranium, tests it, and the fingerprint matches our uranium? Would that implicate the Obama Administration in any way? If the alleged is true, would that be considered aiding an enemy of the US to help build a nuclear program?

Hmm. Is that why the ‘Deep State’ is panicking?

Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick

Forty percent of residents not represented

An interesting point was made last week about democracy vs. a constitutional republic.

At least 40% of Pend Oreille County voters have no constitutional representation in our state and local elections. They are out voted by the 60% that always vote for Republicans.

That’s why our county has had no growth and an economy dominated by government employment. If you don’t work for the government in our community, you are a lower paid service worker or a struggling small business owner. Our Republican commissioners function as Commissars in a socialist government structure, and rule without opposition.

Holding up a protest sign at the Newport Wheel doesn’t change the locked-in majority vote. Many Commissars run unopposed. Why would a Democrat waste time and money running against an overwhelming majority?

The best the 40% can hope for is that Republicans turn on each other and purge out an incumbent. All power is held by a small number of officials elected by a 60% majority. Think of your car engine running on 60% power and wasting 40% of the fuel in the tank. How do you make it up the long hill of community living with governing that excludes 40% of its people?

Pete Scobby Newport

Nate Powell for Congress

As someone who ran for Newport City Council in 2025, gaining 184 votes and only losing by 28, and who continues serving our community through the Pend Oreille County Planning Commission, I care deeply about the future of our community. That is why I am endorsing Nate Powell for Congress.

Nate Powell is an Independent, union firefighter, and Marine veteran who understands the struggles facing working families. He supports securing the border while fixing our broken legal immigration system, lowering the national debt by cutting wasteful spending, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and defending family farms from corporate monopolies.

He also wants to stop large corporations from buying up single-family homes, ban insider trading in Congress, and reduce the influence of corporate money in politics. As Nate says, “it’s not left vs. right, it’s top vs. bottom.”

Nate also supports protecting rural hospitals, veterans, and first responders in Eastern Washington, and knows the challenges rural communities face every day.

Last Tuesday, I attended Nate’s town hall, and he has something rare in politics today: honesty, independence, and a willingness to work with people from both parties.

Eastern Washington deserves leadership focused on working people, not political games.

John Spring Newport

Surprised by letter writer’s optimism

Last week, I opened the Opinion section of The Miner newspaper during my weekly retreat from reality. I anticipated encountering the hilarious customary discourse: Hitler, fascism, dictator, tax concessions for billionaires, etc.

Naturally, my expectations were met. After wiping my eyes from laughter, I encountered two letters: one that was spot on, Constitutional Republic vs Democracy, and a striking letter entitled, “We are a strong community, regardless of differences.”

This writer usually doesn’t cover this kind of topic. Typically, this writer harbors a negative temperament towards any individual or group that does not reside within the blue circle. In fact, consistently expressing disapproval of others’ viewpoints, writing at least 50 letters annually, typically relying on unverified information.

Upon reviewing the letter, I propose three potential explanations. First, it is plausible that the letter was written by a ghostwriter who took the name of the individual. Second, the writer may have finally looked into the mirror and experienced a “Come to Jesus moment.”

Last, perhaps the impending end of the world as we know it is near, so if that’s the case, I recommend everyone prepare for survival by gathering essential supplies.

Renee Webster Newport

Birthday wishes

Today is my birthday. For some reason, I still hear that question, “what do you want for your birthday?” That memory causes me to wonder what my now older self wants.

First, an end to war. This current war demands attention because of its cost, both in dollars and in the rule of law.

The impact on Americans and world-wide is mind boggling, realizing that this is Donald Trump’s war of choice. He and the Republican Party, including Michael Baumgartner have steamrolled this war down the streets of the world.

Secondly, I wish for health, education, safety and a thriving planet for our children and grandchildren. By ending this and future wars we would have the funds to provide these. There would be no call by Trump and Baumgartner to slash funding for Medicare, rural health care, the Department of Education, the EPA and other programs to pay for multi-billion dollar attempts to overthrow sovereign nations.

Thirdly, I wish for a return of our system of government, of the people, by the people and for the people and away from the abuse of power that Donald Trump and his enablers are trying to normalize.

JR Wyatt Elk

Water levels in the lake or Pend Oreille River may be noticeably higher but are not expected to result in increased flood risk, according to the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District. To mitigate flood risk, USACE officials will increase outflow at AFD over the weekend and through next week. Spill gates will be operated in their fully open or fully closed positions.

Under this operation, outflow from AFD may rise or fall in the coming days, and outflow may change faster than usual operations.

Outflows from AFD are expected to be roughly 10,000 cubic feet per second less than inflows at Lake Pend Oreille. The lake will continue to rise over the weekend, and outflows may approach 85,000 cubic feet per second, according to the news release.

Current snowpack in the basin is about 57% of what is typically observed for this time of year.

Though snowpack is below normal, higher temperatures paired with rain are forecast to create high flows. Those on the river should be prepared for water levels to temporarily rise or fall as the event unfolds.

Areas downstream of the lake, such as Newport, Cusick and Usk, should be aware of changing forecasts. For the latest modeling forecasts, visit the National Weather Service’s Northwest River Forecast Center at nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/ flowplot/flowplot.cgi?lid=ALFW1.

Letters should be no longer than 200 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.

Letters should be no longer than 200 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.

One more in a long line of scams dragging this country through the mud at taxpayers expense. It would drive me to drink but the cost of gas precludes that.

-Steve Bennett Newport

Constitutional Republic vs Democracy

Sandy Nichols was wondering (letters May 13) “why conservatives like to state that we are not a democracy.” I was wondering about this as well, so I did some research. Thomas Jefferson explained: “Democracy is nothing more than mob rule where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49%.” Our Constitution, unlike other countries, guarantees our rights as granted to us by God, not subject to the whims of government. Our Republic has checks and balances, like the electoral college counterbalancing the popular democratic vote.

A pure democracy makes a nation vulnerable to manipulation by its enemies using strategic propaganda to sway the voters according to their dictates. Our Constitution serves as the last word for what additional laws can be passed, which protects us from deviating from our founding values, principles and structures.

Unfortunately, that protection isn’t fail-safe.

I believe we have been infiltrated at all levels by enemies who strive to undermine our constitutional republic in order to replace it with centralized socialism. Over the past 50 years plus, they have managed to pass unconstitutional laws that were not challenged, and therefore not adjudicated by our Supreme Court to determine constitutionality.

-Kamori Cattadoris Newport

Baumgartner stands silent

On May 12 Trump was asked if he was concerned about the economic hardships Americans are suffering due to his war of choice with Iran, and he stated, “Not even a little bit, I don’t think about Americans’ “financial situation.”

Pretty breathtaking admission from someone who famously won the presidency the first time with the slogan “I’m with YOU”.

He’s not concerned about the cost of food, gas, healthcare, rent, electricity or vacation travel. What are his concerns?

Well, he wants taxpayers to buy him a ballroom, pay to remodel the reflecting pool, build an arch to himself, slap his name on currency, passports, park passes and airports. Apparently, he’s standing with “YOU”? The latest theft is him suing himself for $1.8B for a personal slush fund to provide money to those that were mishandled by the DOJ. Meanwhile our own sycophant Representative Michael Baumgartner stands silent. Baumgartner who bloviates at how dangerous it is to raise the national debt and then votes to raise it anyway.

I wonder why I, or any of us, must pay taxes for his graft and egotistical whims? He is the only one benefiting and it is illegal.

Why is Congress letting this happen? -Julie Everson Arden

Bajun is with us

Congressman Baumgartner came to Newport as part of his trumpeted “listening tour.” He met with the county commissioners and presumably “listened” to the three of them. He held no public, advertised events in Pend Oreille County that I am aware of.

Bajun Mavalwalla who is running for Baumgartner’s position, has been in Newport and the surrounding area four times in the last six weeks. He has talked to people on the street, at rallies, at a Democratic candidate’s forum and at a solo speaking engagement.

That would only be noteworthy if he had something to say. And he does. And it shows that he IS listening to us.

Bajun won’t make promises he can’t keep. He will fight VA cutbacks. He will work to return funding to healthcare. He knows that tariffs hurt our farmers financially. He says the Iran war is a war of choice and not legal and if anyone is ever held accountable it will be the foot soldier, not Hegseth or Trump. He knows that Baumgartner is trying to gain status in the Republican party by listening to Mike Johnson and never crossing Trump.

That’s not Bajun’s definition of listening to your constituents.

-Martha Nichols Newport

No more IRS auditing

In the future I think we may see a wave of billionaires running for President of the US. The ability to save hundreds of millions of dollars by nullifying IRS audits will be an almost irresistible temptation.

It was bad enough that DOGE eliminated one-third of the IRS branch that goes after tax cheats; after all, as the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal pointed out - would those of us that are businessmen start cutbacks in our accounts receivables department? That DOGE initiative, spearheaded by the world’s richest man, cost us taxpayers an estimated $1T in lost revenue over the next decade.

This latest trick by Trump is estimated to save him and his companies at least $100M.

However, Trump is also drawing attention to the question: What is Trump trying to hide in his tax returns? Just how much does he owe in back taxes?

-Sandy Nichols Newport

Lots of investigations going on

The DOJ is finding massive fraud in Minnesota (MN). A ringleader Aimee Bock was found guilty of a 250M scam and sentenced to 41 years in prison. She led a network that was taking money from ‘Feeding Our Future’ program during covid and beyond. Money for children’s meals that were never served. Apparently there were no kids. Fifteen more are accused of a 90M scam across seven Medicaid programs in MN. The investigations are getting broad and going deeper.

May 20th was Primary day in several states. Conservatives went RINO hunting. Trump went 37-0 on candidates that he endorsed. Trump also signed an EO that targets financial system abuse by immigration, cartels and lending that’s turned into money laundering.

Trump dropped his 10B suit against the IRS for leaking his taxes and then defaming him. They settled for a 1.776B fund for those people that the weaponized justice system went after under the Biden Administration. Gen. Mike Flynn is one case that comes to mind. There are many others.

On May 18th the DOJ made a statement that evidence shows that Trump won more states in 2020 than he was given credit for. They are investigating deeper.

-Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick

We are a strong community, regardless of differences

The Miner continues to provide insight into our community with articles and stories about interesting local people. I enjoy reading about the hobbies and activities of people who are passionate about living a meaningful life. We have a good community despite our social, political and religious differences. There is plenty of room for everyone to live a free and prosperous life. The idea isn’t to condemn others over their thoughts or beliefs.

I could say I don’t like the color red and that’s fine, but I shouldn’t say that people who like red are evil. That’s something that divides us, but we still have many other things we all like and accept. I admire happy and thriving children.

Stories about young people doing sports and other activities are heartwarming.

Within our community we help each other without qualification.

We volunteer and participate. We are renewed by public service and belonging to organizations that help others. If asked, we would do anything to help others. Yet, our narrative is often dividing and judgmental. People are who they are, and we don’t need to force them into our views or beliefs. We can introduce our thoughts and invite others to join in fellowship.

-Pete Scobby Newport

Not impressed with Baumgartner

Can you call it a constituent tour if you don’t invite the constituents? Apparently Baumgartner thinks so. He made his first sweep through since Feb 25, and several stops were just to collect money. One Colville resident RSVP’d for the local event only to be informed days later that after a review of their social media they were not welcome!

And what did he say when he was asked real questions? Regarding the price of gas, he conveniently (purposefully?) blacked out on the illegal Iran war and blamed prices on the “stupid” Climate Commitment Act – the one that Washingtonians voted last year to keep. He neglected to address the over $1.50/ gallon increase in gas prices since Trump took our children and neighbors into his illegal war February 28. He thinks the war is ok since Iran shouldn’t have a nuclear weapon, but he’s said nothing in opposition to Trump ripping up the Obama deal in 2017 that did just that, diplomatically.

When asked about creating affordable housing, you know – something that would help constituents, Mike trotted out the $39 trillion national debt, forgetting to mention that it’s increased $3 trillion since Trump took office, and that Trump is responsible for $11 trillion of it. We have money for war and billionaire tax cuts, but not for housing you and me. Or healthcare, or food assistance, or education, etc.

-Dianna Michaels Colville

As this school year comes to a close, I find myself thinking less about policies or programs and more about people.

Over the past several months, I’ve had the privilege of visiting schools across Idaho. I’ve sat in classrooms and stood in shops in communities big and small, listened to teachers talk about their students, and watched kids light up when something finally clicks.

From Potlatch to Grangeville to Rigby and beyond, I’ve had the privilege of seeing this work in action.

I saw a first grader sound out a sentence with confidence after months of hard work learning to read. I met middle school students who, not long ago, struggled in math but are now stepping into algebra with a new sense of belief in themselves. I talked with high school seniors who are graduating not just with a diploma, but with college credits, job skills, and a clear plan for what comes next.

Those aren’t headlines, but they are at the heart of education in Idaho.

I’ve also seen the people who make those moments possible.

I’ve watched teachers give all they had to their students. I’ve seen principals step in wherever they’re needed, no matter what. I’ve met bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and administrators who greet students by name every single day, making sure they feel seen and valued.

I’ve seen families showing up – at parent- teacher conferences, school events, and around the kitchen table – doing the important work of supporting their children.

I’ve seen community and business partners step up with resources, access, and generosity, investing in their local kids and communities.

Because of all of you, we’re seeing real progress.

Our youngest learners are becoming stronger readers because we’ve stayed focused on the fundamentals and supported teachers with what works. More students are building the math skills they need for the future. And across the state, more young people are taking advantage of opportunities like career and technical education and dual credit, opening doors earlier than ever.

Just as importantly, I’ve seen something that can’t be measured on a chart: confidence.

Students who believe they can succeed.

Teachers who know their work is making a difference.

Parents who value their local education. Communities that are proud of their schools.

Of course, we know the work isn’t finished.

There are still challenges we need to face together, from building on student success to ensuring schools have the support they need. But this year has reminded me that when we stay focused on students and support one another, we can make meaningful progress.

As graduations take place across Idaho, I’ll be thinking about each student walking across that stage, and all the people who helped them get there. That moment represents years of effort, encouragement, and belief.

To everyone who plays a role in our schools: thank you. What you do matters.

And to Idaho’s students: this is your moment.

We are proud of you, we believe in you, and we can’t wait to see what you do next.

On an average autumn morning last year, Gary Verbrugge would walk off his front porch and watch as a full-grown bull moose took to pruning his apple tree 20 feet away.

Although Verbrugge stands just below the furry behemoth’s shoulder, he said he’s never been afraid of the animal the size of a compact SUV. He’s seen the same moose wandering around his 965 acres for the past 10 years and considers him something of a pet.

Blind as a bat but blessed with exceptional hearing, many rightfully consider moose, which can run speeds as fast as 35 mph, extremely dangerous. Verbrugge doesn’t. At least not any of the five different bull moose his wildlife cameras caught last fall.

“To see the wildlife, where they’re not aggressive, they’re not scared, they’re just at home, is the reward,” Verbrugge said.

In 2007, Verbrugge partnered with the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy to create a conservation easement across 605 acres of wildlife habitat in Scotia Valley, about 8 miles southwest of Newport, Washington. An additional 280 acres, that he bought from his nephews and nieces for $1,100 an acre, were permanently protected in late 2025. Out of the 965 total acres he owns, only 80 acres, where Verbrugge lives in a house he bought from his neighbor, are considered “unprotected.”

With no heirs to bestow his property upon and his interest in keeping the land from development, the 72-year-old decided to leave his property to the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. So far, he’s donated 145 acres to them and the rest will go to the Kalispel after he dies.

Michael Crabtree, the conservation director for the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, said their conservation pact is a legal agreement added to the land deed that sets guidelines on how the property will be managed in the future. Houses, apartment buildings and any form of commercial development is now legally forbidden on the property, including any new roads.

“In any property where we hold a conservation easement, we’re not the owners, we’re kind of like the third party that makes sure the rules are being followed,” Crabtree said. “And we do that by going out and doing annual inspections and working to resolve any issues.”

The Little Spokane River runs through about 0.75 miles of his property.

“It’s just uniquely positioned in the landscape in such a way that it has great soils, great climate, and it grows trees fantastically,” said Ray Entz, the director of wildlife and terrestrial resources for the Kalispel Tribe. He’s worked with Verbrugge since 2012. “There’s a little less disease that’s exhibited from a forest health perspective than other areas in the county.”

Crabtree said the acreage has an abundance of wildlife habitat diversity. Nestled in the mountains with jagged ridges, small valleys, thick forests and flowing streams, the protected property is bustling with life. The streams and Little Spokane River provide habitat for bull trout, but that’s not the only species that call Verbrugge’s property home.

Wolves, bobcats, cougars, elk, bald eagles, deer and other animals are often caught on the wildlife cameras.

“Everything is getting so subdivided and developed in this area that it’s getting cut down into the little 5- and 10-acre plots,” Verbrugge said. “And there just isn’t anything big for the wildlife left.”

Fresh off a nearly 30-year career with the Social Security Administration, Verbrugge took an early retirement in 2006 when his parents’ health began to fail. He had worked in cities for all of his adult life and missed the quiet serenity of nature. But what he saw when he returned home was devastating.

Verbrugge’s father had hired a forester to oversee the property. Except the forester “only cared about how much money he could make and the easiest way he could make it,” Verbrugge said.

Half of the property was clearcut. Many of the towering, old -growth trees and numerous natural plants Verbrugge remembered as a child were gone. The landscape was barren across hundreds of acres.

From that moment on, Verbrugge said he wouldn’t allow that to happen again.

A year later, he started working with the conservancy. Over the past 20 years, he’s worked on the property by planting tamaracks, willows, hawthorns, wild roses and other native plants. Verbrugge, the conservancy and the Kalispel Tribe have worked on improving habitat conditions, reducing the risk of wildfire and ensuring that the land remains undeveloped. The only logging that occurs now is for forest health and disease prevention.

His family’s history with the land began in 1927 when Verbrugge’s uncles bought more than 700 acres. In 1961, Verbrugge, his father and his brother moved from Iowa and bought 160 acres adjacent to the land. Over time, as uncles and parents passed away, Verbrugge bought or inherited the land from relatives until he amassed 885 acres. The additional 80 acres he now lives on he bought from a neighbor in 2025.

Verbrugge said he donated 145 acres to the Kalispel and the assessor valued that acreage at $665,000.

One of his uncles, who used two canes to walk around after a ditch he dug collapsed and hurt him, built a cabin of tamarack in the 1960s and lived there for the rest of his life without any electricity. Once his uncle died, the pack rats moved in. Verbrugge stripped and rebuilt it into his “summer cabin.”

Out of all the acreage he owns, that area, right next to a winding stream, is his favorite spot. He described it as a different world, somewhere without traffic, without sound. Only the occasional passing airplane can be heard. Moose, elk, deer and a couple of cougars are his only company.

“When someone chooses to return land to tribal stewardship, they are helping to ensure that it will continue to be cared for with respect and longterm responsibility,” said Annette Pierre, the director of archives and a Kalispel Tribe member. “That kind of trust is deeply moving, and carry it with profound gratitude.”

This is entirely true. I couldn’t possibly agree more. Which makes it all the more infuriating that he’s done nothing during his time in Congress to address this – indeed, he’s voted repeatedly to make matters worse. Our national debt increased by $2 TRILLION in less than a year and a quarter, while every word the administration says would have us think things are improving.

Baumgartner voted to strip funding from programs that help constituents, while supporting blowing billions of dollars every week on unnecessary military aggression in other countries – countries, plural, as if starting even one war wasn’t more than enough. Voted to defund nutrition and health and education at home, while handing out tax cuts to billionaires and Trump toadies. He’s encouraged the decimation of the Department of Education while simultaneously bemoaning the cost of college tuition and doing nothing to support the elementary schools in our district.

I am weary beyond telling of being represented by hypocrisy. Government should work for us, not strip us to the bone to make the rich richer.

Jessica Adams Colville

Don’t exploit people just because you can

There are many things I could have done in my life just because I had the means to do them. Why didn’t I use my time and money to do those things? I attempted restraint to avoid regretting my actions.

An example is saying or doing hateful things to others because you have authority or economic influence over them or demanding love and respect because you have money and power.

Think of successful people that are hated not for their success but how they use it against others. I have never met a rich person who didn’t screw over other people to gain some of their wealth. My grandmother would stay up all night sewing clothes, and a rich lady would demand a lower price for her work. A deal where she wins and my grandmother loses. Exploiting people because you can is simply wrong.

Current politics has taken the restraint lid off what would normally stay in the political pot. Winning an election today requires the losing side to be totally cast aside and even punished.

The USA has a powerful military, but it doesn’t mean we should bomb and kill people for geo-political purposes. We must use self-restraint.

Pete Scobby Newport

Read the Constitution, not Wikipedia

In response to the person that used Wikipedia of all things. You young people need to read our U.S. Constitution and learn what it says. Read ARTICLE IV Section 4. It states, The United States shall guarantee to every State in the Union a Republican Form of Government and shall protect each of them against invasion and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic. Violence.

DEF. of Republican Form of Government: A system of government in which the power of government is vested in the people and delegated by representatives chosen by the citizens, meaning legal citizens. In other words we are a Constitutional Republic, therefor not a Democracy. Once again read the Constitution, it’s the law of the land not the computer versions of what you want to base your beliefs on.

Clinton Tucker Rosalia

EDITOR’S NOTE: This appeared on the Washington State Standard website washingtonstatestandard.com May 11.

A regional timber industry group warns that Washington’s Department of Natural Resources is headed for deep budget trouble that will result in state worker layoffs and force taxpayers to foot more of the bill to keep the agency running.

Counties that rely on logging revenue from land the agency manages could be at financial risk, too, argues the American Forest Resource Council.

While it’s become common for the group to clash with the department, they’re not the only ones complaining.

Foresters inside the agency are pointing to Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove’s decision to pause some timber sales for eight months as a reason for the looming deficit in a key operating account, which covers many of the department’s expenses for managing timberland.

The account is on track to go negative by mid-summer.

Upthegrove and other agency leadership say recent management decisions are not to blame for the low balance. They say it has less to do with recent timber sale activity on state land and more to do with the timing of when logging revenue reaches the agency.

That’s because the Department of Natural Resources is only paid 10% of the auction price at the time of a timber sale. Loggers then have three years to harvest trees and often wait until lumber prices are higher to cut.

“We have more than $20 million in sales that we haven’t gotten the money from yet because the trees haven’t been removed,” Upthegrove told the Standard. He rejected the idea that his policy decision to move older tracts of trees — which some call “legacy forests” — out of the logging rotation has anything to do with the budget difficulties. Upthegrove ordered last year’s pause on sales to identify which forests to set aside.

“It’s darn near nothing to do with this conversation about older forests,” Upthegrove said.

Timber harvesting hit a 22-year low last year, but it’s on the rise now, according to Heath Heikkila, director of government affairs with the American Forest Resource Council.

“It’s a cash receipts business,” Heikkila said. He argues that if Upthegrove continues his policy of forego- ing logging of some older forests, there will be “inevitable layoffs” at the agency.

He also made a case that the issues around timber prices are more nuanced than what the department’s leadership is presenting.

“While it is true that some commodity wood products have seen reduced markets in recent months, many of the sales that were paused or pulled by the agency contained wood types that go into products for which very strong markets remain,” he said.

Amanda Hacker, president of the Washington Public Employees Association, one of the unions that represents Department of Natural Resources employees, believes agency leadership is at fault for the low account balance.

“DNR leadership has attempted to attribute this situation to market conditions and external factors, without acknowledging the role of its own decisions,” Hacker said.

“When you stop generating revenue for the better part of a year, the outcome is entirely predictable,” Hacker added. “The current shortfall is the direct result of those choices.”

The timber sale pause, she said, will have consequences that extend beyond this fiscal year because it creates a gap in the revenue pipeline that will eventually hit.

Hacker also emphasized that if the agency falls behind managing forest land due to its budget problems, it could bog down sales and hurt revenue for schools and counties.

“This is not just about agency operations,” she said. “It affects trust beneficiaries, rural economies, and the public at large.”

Five of the nearly 30 paused timber sales were added to 77,000 acres of “structurally complex” older forests that will remain out of the logging rotations.

Five others in the Elwha River watershed are still on pause due to action the Legislature took last year, according to Michael Kelly, communications director for the agency. All others were eventually sold.

Sales that were paused or canceled under Upthegrove’s directive were a “double whammy” on the agency budget because it had already spent money to do prep work but never received the revenue, said Heikkila.

Monthly timber sale revenue hit a four-year high, at over $38 million, in December 2024, just before Upthegrove’s inauguration. In September last year, the same month that most paused timber sales went back online, the monthly sale value was just $1.4 million.

The latest available data from April shows the agency sold $13.8 million worth of timber for the month.

The Department of Natural Resources receives 25% of timber sale revenue. The rest goes to counties and junior taxing districts, including schools and fire districts.

Now, an account funded entirely by state timber sales is projected to be in the red by June, and it’s not expected to bounce back in the next fiscal year, the agency’s revenue forecast shows.

The Forest Development Account funds land management, timber sale prep and at least partial salaries for hundreds of employees.

The account balance has fallen from nearly $19 million to just over $1 million in the span of two years, balance sheet records obtained by the Standard show.

“Whatever challenges may face the agency, our union scientists and field staff can’t work toward addressing them if they aren’t getting paid,” said Ava Clarridge, president of Washington Federation of State Employees Local 443, which represents more than 500 department employees.

“DNR management needs to meet the state’s sustainable timber harvest level to support that account and the state workers who depend on it,” Clarridge added.

In February, Duane Emmons, assistant deputy supervisor of state uplands, directed employees to stop certain work on state logging lands, including some thinning and surveying, until further notice.

“Expenditures have been exceeding revenues the last four quarters. We’re in this situation largely because of factors outside the agency’s control,” Emmons wrote, citing the timing of when logging revenue comes in, tariff uncertainty and the fluctuating timber prices.

If timber harvests continue increasing as they did in March and April, the Forest Development Account could start ticking back up, Emmons said in an interview, but with fuel prices high, purchasers could choose to delay harvesting and the revenue could keep falling.

“It’s really a wait-andsee game right now,” Emmons said.

As for the possibility of layoffs, “we haven’t even considered it,” he added.

“We’re nowhere near the 2009 recession, where we had to lay off a number of staff. The economy is not at that level. This is, you know, a short-term blip.”

In former Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz’s first term, the agency faced a similar decline in the account, Emmons said. In response, it deployed the same strategy of limiting management practices until the deficit passed.

But the problem may be bigger than just the timing of logging and revenue collections. Upthegrove suggested there could be a more structural issue, as timber prices have not kept pace with inflation, which is driving up the agency’s costs.

“As our cost goes up and the revenue stays the same, I’m beginning to question whether or not we’re selling timber at a loss,” he said. “We have to be incredibly, incredibly efficient in order to make this all balance out.”

There is a group of us from opposite ends of the political spectrum who have met now for the second time. We don’t debate the issues, we speak our own truth and everyone listens.

While this time it was clear that people were more comfortable with one another, we did have a new participant who said, “I am just so relieved to see that no one is wearing horns!”

The topic was ‘Government and how can we take it back’. There were some recurring themes in comments such as the challenge of media propaganda, taking personal responsibility, getting past personal blind spots, and how to wake people up.

Other comments mentioned the principles of Christianity, the need to rein in private equity and the plan to control all the resources in the world.

Then things really started coming together. We agreed that one of our most important tools is to simply be genuine and make it a practice to have meaningful conversations. That we can talk to one another and be in community together.

And most importantly, as we were winding down, one participant said it best “This meeting gives me hope.”

Stacy Cossey Priest River

Whoa!

Remember when the FBI raided the election office in Fulton County Georgia (GA) recently?

The GA AG sued DOJ for the return of the ballots from the 2020 election. A judge just ruled that DOJ can keep the 600+ boxes of ballots. A grand jury was convened and now wants the names, addresses, phone numbers and email for all 3,000 election workers. What are they finding in GA? The FBI also raided the Maricopa AZ election office. A grand jury was convened there as well.

We are still waiting for that outcome.

What if they find fraud in one or both of those counties? I can hardly imagine wanting personal information on every election worker in the county. They seem to be finding something though.

Everyone that gave an order or carried one out, if it was tipping towards fraud, must be a little nervous about now.

The only thing I can remember about 2020 is that they were counting ballots in the middle of the night in GA (maybe that’s normal) and in AZ they had trouble with some of their voting machines and ‘Sharpies’ bleeding through ballots. Only time will tell.

Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick

Democracy vs Republic

A letter writer in last week’s Miner incorrectly stated that the United States is not a democracy, because we are a republic.

Of course we are a democracy, a representative democracy just as are France, Germany, Italy, etc.

There is no country in the world that is a direct democracy – only representative versions (look up the word “democracy” in Wikipedia).

So why do conservatives like to state that we are not a democracy? It’s because they are trying to deflect criticism of their own political positions that are anti-democratic, such as support for a President intent on autocratic rule. That said, we do have a Congress that has become dysfunctional and a Supreme Court that is only partially willing to support our Constitution. But we are still a democracy, albeit one that is very ill.

Sandy Nichols Newport

Money for war could be better spent

Our poor rural community needs around $100,000,000 for public schools and the hospital.

Our congressman isn’t going to help us. Instead, he is going to give the Department of War another $1.5 trillion to attack and bomb more countries. If you are tired of Iran, then Cuba is next.

Does Cuba have Soviet nukes left over from the 1963 missile crisis? What about those Cuban boat people that we took into our country in 1980? They could be elderly communist sleeper terrorists ready to attack us.

Let the bombing start and demand unconditional surrender by Cuba. They need to have their schools and hospitals rebuilt just like our community. Bombing civilians living in opposing countries is now our foreign policy.

These countries are supposed to fear American military might and become our economic slaves because we have lethal military power that gives us the right to rule over them.

Federal government money is the path to rebuilding schools and our hospital. Paint murals of Trump on Newport buildings.

Then ask Trump for the $100 million. He could be our savior.

Otherwise, fire Baumgartner and vote for a congressman that will vote against wars and for our schools and hospital.

Pete Scobby Newport

Reactions to the recent Supreme Court decision in the Louisiana redistricting case provides a showcase for how the media uses language manipulation to stoke “moral outrage.” Former President Obama, for example, stated in an April 29 X post that the decision shows “…how a majority of the current Court seems intent on abandoning its vital role in ensuring equal participation in our democracy and protecting the rights of minority groups against majority overreach.”

First of all, our system is not a “democracy” where the majority rules; it is a representative republic. Second, the phrase, “protecting the rights of minority groups” is just one of many that “mockingbirds” repeat to sound “righteous.” However, with regard to the Louisiana decision, it is an extraordinarily weak argument.

Minority “groups” do not have any special rights; individual citizens of all “groups” have rights under our Constitution. That means there is no legal concept of “rights of minority groups,” and therefore that concept is irrelevant to the Louisiana decision.

In my opinion, Obama exposed what Socialists wish was true: that the Constitution would privilege the “rights” of identity groups, which they would define, over the rights of individuals. Thankfully, the Constitution still prevails!

Kamori Cattadoris Newport

Dynamic duo

There they go again! Two cousins not related by DNA, just having an interchangeable mentality. They emit disparaging, imaginary thoughts and falsehoods purportedly to deal with their anger issues regarding the President of the United States.

This is not a rational mindset but has been present throughout American politics. Free speech is what separates our country from the rest of the world. Problems arise when uncontrolled hate influences weak minded individuals to perpetrate dastardly crimes, i.e. Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy, T. Roosevelt, Reagan, and Trump. (All Republicans but one) A prejudiced media is a major contributor to stirring the pot of hate.

It is rare these days that two individuals or groups coming from opposite camps can express their points of view and listen to the other side without blood pressure rising. The time is now for extending the olive branch. Try to understand someone else’s point of view. Agree to disagree needs to make a comeback.

K.C. Hunt Newport

A thought on preparedness in a digital world

After reading the recent article on cybercrime affecting Newport, I found myself thinking about how quickly the idea of “it won’t happen here” is disappearing.

The phrase that stood out most was “when, not if.” That’s a shift. Not just in technology, but in mindset.

We tend to think of threats as something distant—something that happens to larger cities or bigger systems. But what we’re seeing now is that smaller communities are just as vulnerable, sometimes more so.

What I appreciated in the article was the focus on layered protection and education. It wasn’t presented as a single solution, but as a series of small, consistent actions—training, awareness, verification.

That raises a question worth discussing locally: Are we, as individuals and as a community, taking that same approach in our daily lives?

Not just in government systems— but in how we handle emails, messages, and even the way we respond to urgency online.

It seems like the most effective defense may not be technical at all—but behavioral. Slowing down. Verifying. Asking one more question before acting.

That’s something all of us can do, regardless of background or position.

I’m not offering a solution here—just a point of reflection.

If the shift truly is from “if” to “when,” then the conversation probably needs to shift too—from reaction to readiness.

Saundra K. Park Newport

Current news

There appears to have been another attempt on Trump’s life. The media and politicians need to tone down the rhetoric about Trump. Some people hear ‘Nazi’ and ‘Dictator’ enough they apparently will act on it. Half the country didn’t like Biden but they didn’t try to kill him.

King Charles III just visited Trump at the WH. On a tour of the grounds they went by Melania’s bee hives. While they were standing there, a bee landed in the palm of Donald’s hand and rested there. Apparently there is historic significance to bees and leaders, at least in England.Also during the visit, King Charles addressed congress. The ‘No Kings’ Dems cult gave him a standing ovation. Interesting.

The UAE has left OPEC. Many others are talking about leaving as well. When the OPEC cartel crumbles, the restrictions on oil and price setting will fall. Energy will get cheaper.

Trump just handed Iran a 6B loss. The Navy turned back 42 oil tankers with the blockade. Trump is in no hurry, Iran has to make an acceptable deal that includes no nukes. Their economy won’t stand much longer. The clock is ticking.

Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick

No growth means limited taxpayers

When I drive by the construction at the data center in Newport, I see our community becoming a jobless desert of wasted natural hydroelectric resources. Both crypto mining and now a data center suck the natural resource life from our community. Looking at the PUD contract for supplying electric power to Clark County and the excessive demand from electronic computing, no power is left for any future industry or businesses to locate in our community. Creating, storing and sending electronic data out of our community doesn’t create tax revenue or living jobs for our young workers. A computer isn’t going to walk into a business and buy anything, and computers don’t need human services like medical care and education.

I have often heard comments about our rural quality of life which depends on residents doing business and trading with each other. How do we trade with a soulless electronic machine that devours electrons?

No offense to the handful of people connected with electron consumption, but a truckload of contempt for the elected commissioners who approved it. The no-growth policies our commissioners adopted will force limited existing property taxpayers to pay for around $100,000,000 in school and hospital bond levy requests.

Pete Scobby Newport

Blue line flag to honor law enforcement, firefighters

In last week’s Viewpoint, a letter writer asserted that an American flag with a colored stripe not present in the original American flag is a desecration of the flag. The writer states that the people who fly a “desecrated” flag with a blue or red line don’t support law enforcement or firefighters and that these people only want to “own” liberals. How can the letter writer know this and state this as truth?

Ironically, after the letter writer bemoans the desecration of the flag, he suggests his version of desecration is justified. It appears the justification is that he is sincere about his beliefs regarding his suggested version of a desecrated flag, whereas anyone who flies a blue or red line flag is not.

I fly two flags: a traditional American flag and a blue line flag. The blue line flag is not to own anyone, but is in remembrance of my deceased younger brother, who was a dedicated law enforcement officer. I suspect there are many others who fly blue or red line flags in sincere honor of law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Please stop with broad-brush aspersions. At times, it’s hard to take this letter writer seriously.

Kirt Shaffer Newport

Woodward true citizen legislator Some reasons why I support Jim Woodward and will be voting for him May 19.

Jim listens to his constituents, represents their interests well, is a life-long Idahoan that knows and understands Idaho values. He is the type of Republican that built the Idaho that makes everyone want to live here.

In the senate he has made decisions that we expect our Senator to focus on. He voted against the 2025 tax cut passage because he had the foresight to see what was coming. He said out loud that we were getting out in front of our skis. He was right and even with the difficult budget balancing he faced this year he fought for essential services like Trooper pay and wild land firefighting.

He voted against the 2025 $50 million school choice tax credit because the Governor himself admitted it lacked accountability. That vote was not against school choice but about accountability for taxpayer’s money which is one of Jim’s core values.

Jim is an involved community member and a true citizen legislator. He spends 3 months in Boise representing us , then comes home to run his business and still takes time to listen to the people of Bonner and Boundary counties.

Vote Jim Woodward May 19th Bob Boeh Sagle

Don’t ever forget the Durst disruption

I was the music director for the West Bonner County School District for seventeen years. I watched good teachers arrive and stay because they loved their community. I watched what happened when politics invaded a school district.

Scott Herndon talks about education freedom and parental rights, yet he personally endorsed Branden Durst to our District. Durst did not have the proper state qualifications, yet Herndon called Durst a personal friend and praised him publicly.

I had retired by this time, but remained in contact with parents and teachers. It was devastating to watch the West Bonner County situation unfold. A third of the teaching staff quit and the junior high closed. The board members who voted to hire Durst were recalled by a 60% majority. Scott Herndon gave those board members money to support their potential recall.

Taking no accountability for the disruption, Herndon later told his supporters he had “literally nothing to do with” what happened there. Jim Woodward was raised here. He understands the importance of education and the community that our schools build. I encourage you to vote for Jim Woodward on May 19th.

Barbara Fournier Sandpoint

MARK Sauter is the Right Republican Sauter

Mark Sauter is the right candidate for right thinking residents. Mark makes time to listen, works hard to resolve issues, and promotes thoughtful legislation that balances small government and protects our freedom and quality of life. He promotes local control and “live and let live.”

Mark actually engages with all of the residents and returns calls. I’m afraid that certain caucus candidates simply vote to score high on an index. I have had zero response from members of that caucus. A Representative is more than just voting an ideology. Mark puts the work in and is not owned by anyone.

Mark’s opponent pledges allegiance to a caucus platform that includes: 1) repeal of property taxes with no plan to fund public schools, 2) elimination of the PUC that protects consumers, and 3) drastic statewide regulations including personal choices and prescribed ideologies.

Mark has worked hard the past two terms and is well respected in the Capitol. Let’s keep the momentum going with the Right Sauter. Please vote Mark Sauter – State Representative for District 1A.

David Frohnen Sandpoint

Woodward steady, honest, accessible

“I am seventy-two years old and have lived in Bonner County my entire life. Over the years, I have seen many politicians come and go, and I know the difference between a true public servant and a self-promoter.

I have supported Jim Woodward since he first ran. When I saw the claims in Herndon’s fundraising letter, postmarked from Virginia, I will admit — it gave me pause. That did not sound like the Jim Woodward I know. So I did what too few people do anymore: I picked up the phone and called Jim.

He answered and calmly walked me through the claims, setting the record straight. He was direct, respectful, and simply shared the facts, allowing me to draw my own conclusions.

That conversation confirmed everything I needed to know — not just about the claims, but about Jim’s character.

A few days later, the “Official Republican Voter Guide” arrived in my mailbox. I read it cover to cover, then used it to start a bonfire. It served its highest purpose.

Herndon’s ridiculous tactics haven’t changed in four campaigns and Jim Woodward remains steady, honest, and accessible. That is the kind of senator North Idaho deserves.

Vote May 19th.

Pat Gunter Sagle

It was never about deportation

Trump campaigned in front of rally goers holding up signs saying “Mass Deportation Now,” and when interviewed, the typical Trump supporter would say he wanted to see the government arrest and deport the criminals that Biden opened the border to. After a year of the ICE process paying out, there are some conclusions that can be made.

According to the DHS website, around 675,000 arrests since the beginning of the crackdown of which only 30,000 made the worst of the worst list. Barely half of those arrests were actually removed from the country, the rest are being housed in inhumane conditions at “detention centers.” These privately run (for profit) facilities represent another scam perpetrated by this government. Who pays for this? Taxpayers do, that’s us and is a result of the Big Bill that Baumgartner voted for. The bill provided $38 million just to purchase and renovate existent empty warehouses never designed as housing. Think water, sewer, garbage and other infrastructure costs offloaded onto local communities. That’s on top of ICE overpaying for these empty warehouses, sometimes 300% more than their market value.

So, never about deportation, always about redirecting public money to private prisons.

Roger Haick Loon Lake

Voting for Mark Sauter

Mark Sauter deserves your vote.

I am a Sandpoint native and local physician, and I have followed Mr. Sauter’s work in Boise as our District 1A representative over the last four years. He has voted to promote education and support local and rural healthcare in Idaho. He supported SB1453 (the bill that establishes the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund of $186 million for our State). He has been an available constituent who makes time to listen to voters. His goals to work efficiently and for the people are evident in his work as representative.

I strongly encourage the re-election of Mark Sauter, who is a level headed and logical representative for Bonner and Boundary County. I encourage you to do the same.

Jillian Klauck MD Sandpoint

Vote in Republican primary, send a message

Victor Orban was elected for a two-year term as prime minister of Hungary in 2010 as an opposition candidate. Pledging to end corruption and improve the lives of the people, he quickly changed the courts, constitution, and voting regulations so only he could win re-election. Aligning himself with Vladimere Putin, he soon became very rich, corrupt, and supremely powerful. Sound familiar?

Peter Magyar overwhelmingly defeated Orban on April 6, was confirmed immediately and will assume office in mid-May, maybe sooner. He hopes sooner so Orban can be arrested, convicted and jailed before he can leave the country with all the money he has stolen from the now impoverished and politically dispossessed citizens after 16 years of corruption!

Voters in the USA must take a lesson NOW! Everyone, regardless of party affiliation, should register and vote in Republican primaries to replace existing congress persons, and vote blue on all national and state midterms. Relax, it will only take two years to remove Trump, stop the insane destruction of our democratic republic, begin trying to make repairs, and send a clear message to the Republican party that they need to change their ways if they ever want to get re-elected!

Jay Omundson Cocolalla

Reelect Mark Sauter

We worked with Representative Mark Sauter this recent legislative session on a bill to clarify the Idaho Defense of Life Act. We found him to be honest, sincere and easy to work with. Mark was always ready to listen to our concerns. He will continue to work hard for his constituents. Get out and cast your vote for Mark Sauter in the Republican Primaries.

Stephen Schmid MD, Twin Falls Robert Davis MD, Boise

Who benefits by switching parties?

Many Democrats temporarily register as Republicans—not because their values have changed, but to influence Republican primaries by supporting more liberal candidates. Then, after the primary, they switch back to vote Democrat in the general election.

The real question is: who are they trying to help?

Stop Idaho RINOs is an organization that tracks and scores legislative voting records. According to their published data, Mark Sauter voted with Democrats 83.9% of the time in 2025 and 74.3% in 2026. While he disputes these numbers, the data is publicly available. Review it for yourself at VotesWithDems.com and see exactly how the scores are calculated.

This is why Jane Sauter is running.

Jane believes District 1 deserves clear, consistent, conservative representation, not someone whose voting record aligns so frequently with the opposing party. A lifelong Republican, Jane has spent over 30 years actively serving in the party and standing for its principles.

Jane is not driven by power or personal gain. She is grounded in integrity and committed to doing what’s right for the people she represents.

If you want a representative who reflects Idaho’s conservative values, the choice is clear.

JaneSauterforIdaho.com Vote Jane on May 19th.

Annette Thompson Hope

It feels like a weight that pulls us down with a cloud of hopelessness.

Trust, truth, and kindness are disappearing to be replaced by name calling, labeling and lying. A good example of this propaganda is the so-called Republican Voter Guide that arrived in everyone’s mail. Written by outsiders or recent MAGA transplants, they promote a world vision of volatility and hatred. They and their candidates broadcast bombings in the name of Jesus, splitting up of families, and reduction of services that benefit our children, our women, our veterans, and our sick.

How can that feel right?

We, the people, have the power to set things right in May and November with our vote. Let’s take back our rights. Let’s turn the tide of hatred and corruption to something more positive. Let’s protect our communities from outside money and influence. Vote out the Idaho Freedom Foundation and the BCRCC. They do not serve Idahoans.

True Idahoans care about our lands, our state and each other. A vote for Jim Woodward is a vote for a better Idaho.

Jane Hoover Priest River

No voter regret here

I for one will say how glad I am that I don’t have voter regret. I voted Democrat all down my ballot. I don’t have to be one of those people that’s kicking themselves right now saying what the hell is wrong with me voting for that fool!

I see the majority of our country is tired of Trump and is flimsy stupid excuses and lies for everything.

Tonight is supposed to be the White House Correspondence dinner. This is Trump’s plan to insult these people all except those that are ass kissers.

We need to take our country back.

All the yelling about the Biden crime family just makes me sick right now.

You have the Trump family that is making money right and left off of everything that they should not be right now. You have his son-in-law who is a negotiator all of a sudden for America and Iran. He was supposed to be negotiating a ceasefire. The only thing this guy should be negotiating is business deals in his own family. I hope that in the future we will no longer vote for people that have no qualifications whatsoever. Trump is a loser, no matter what these few followers he has left will say. There needs to be several things that a president or a person running for president should do.

Pass an IQ test is one. They shouldn’t have any criminal record for another. I’ll

Jeannie Hutchins Newport

Need to correctly plant trees

I have taken the opportunity myself over the years to inspect the trees along the oneways. It’s something I can’t help but notice having worked as a salesman for some of the retail/wholesale nurseries in the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area.

Most arborists will tell you about how detrimental compacted soil is for a tree and its roots. City conditions can be unforgiving, so tree selection can be crucial.

The labor put into the planting is also critical. You can have a tree species suitable for the conditions, but without proper planting practices, even the toughest of trees will struggle.

Those are definitely flowering pears along Union Ave, most likely the ‘Chanticleer’ variety.

European Pyramidal Hornbeams are the trees used along Washington Street.

Notice these trees are doing a little better as these trees are suitable street trees and commonly used as such.

There are crabapples and flowering plums at the post office, and there are flowering dogwood at Washington Federal.

Varieties like ‘Ivory Silk’ Lilac, ‘Golden Raindrops’ or ‘Royal Raindrops’ Crabapples, ‘Toba’ Hawthorns, and ‘Autumn Brilliance’ Serviceberry are nice choices with many more to choose from.

Aaron King Blanchard

A thought on our public conversations

After reading recent letters in The Miner, I found myself thinking less about the positions being taken and more about how we’re speaking to one another.

There’s no shortage of passion. That part is clear.

What seems to be missing, at times, is clarity.

We speak in conclusions— strong ones—but often without the kind of specifics that help others understand how we got there. Broad statements about “storms,” “division,” or “what’s happening to our country” may resonate emotionally, but they leave little room for meaningful discussion if they aren’t grounded in something observable or actionable.

This isn’t about agreeing or disagreeing. It’s about whether we are giving each other enough to work with.

If we want better conversations in our community, we may need to slow down just enough to say what we mean in a way others can actually respond to—not just react to.

There’s value in strong opinions. There’s even more value in making them clear.

Saundra K. Park Newport

Asia’s dedicated leadership

Commissioner Asia Williams, Bonner County Commissioner since January 2023, has greatly contributed to our county and responded to the many questions from constituents, including: Instituted commissioner chats with department heads.

Held Saturday workshops to inform citizens of issues from our county departments.

Completed course work as an accredited Internal Auditor.

Completed course work in Grant Writing, Advanced Grant Proposal Writing, and Grant Writing Consulting.

Improved the efficiency of county department budgets, encouraging them to maximize details of their expenditures thereby enhancing its history and evaluation.

Shared her extensive previous Risk Management skills.

Sits on many mental health boards to include Idaho State Suicide Prevention and Policy and Advocacy Mental Health Board.

Through networking and advocacy, she worked to bring ASIST training to Bonner County residents at no cost to the county or participants. ($60K price tag) Sits on a Regional Behavioral Health Board aiming to enhance mental health counseling rooted in the Bible and Faith Counseling. Thank you Commissioner, for running for another term! To continue strengthening our Bonner County with this powerful leadership, please vote for Commissioner Asia Williams on May 19!

Doug Paterson Priest River

Hormuz

Since my last writing, Iran decided to fire a couple of shots at ships and we closed the Strait of Hormuz again. Trump is under no pressure to get a peace deal done. However, Iran is under pressure. Every day the Strait is closed, Iran loses 500M in oil sales. They will wreck their own economy if they don’t act soon.

Another problem that Iran faces is oil storage.

With the Strait closed, they will be at storage capacity soon. It’s my understanding that if they hit capacity and have to shut their pumps down, they are difficult to get restarted and rarely get back to full production. They are literally shooting themselves in the foot. Trump is just waiting.

When Iran’s economy falls off the table, Iranians will be in a position to overthrow their radical leaders and put someone in that likes peace and freedom.

Game of chicken.

A ship tried to run the blockade and the Navy disabled it and took control. The ship was from China.

Its cargo wasn’t oil but chemicals for ballistic missiles and other military material. My guess is that Trump knew that in advance.

Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick

Why the flag desecration?

I recently passed a local home flying an American flag that had been desecrated with a red stripe.

I have also seen similar flags with blue stripes. My understanding is that blue is for law enforcement and red is for firefighters. Other flags show an image of Trump’s face over the Stars and Stripes. Why the need to desecrate the flag that was draped over the casket of my family members who served in WW-II? I have my dad’s funeral flag in a display case.

What I see is a cheap political stunt to own the liberals by claiming fake support for law enforcement and firefighters. I put that in the same light as AI Trump Jesus. The people flying those desecrated flags don’t really care about public servants who enforce the law or perform fire/EMS, who need labor unions to protect them from being abused by stolen valor politicians.

What’s needed is a yellow striped flag indicating support for other people’s kids fighting and dying in presidential vanity wars overseas. America is killing people all over the world who are innocent of the deeds of their governments. Bomb them into the stone age the cowards say with glee.

Pete Scobby Newport

Red-Alert for US Forest Service research

By now, most people realize that President Trump and congressional allies are breaking government organizations, traditions, and laws to rebuild a miniature version of their former self. Deregulation and extraction of public land resources are front and center as priorities.

One of the most troubling targets for deconstruction is USDA Forest Service (FS) Research Centers.

Of 77 existing FS research facilities in the nation, 55 will be closed and consolidated. Community and institutional partnerships built over decades will decline or disappear, along with experiential knowledge.

Public and private forests in northeast Washington have already benefited from at least 16 local research studies conducted on the Colville NF by the Pacific Northwest Experiment Stations in Portland or Seattle. A great variety of environmental, economic, and social topics were involved.

North Idaho forests also prospered from the multitude and variety of decades-long research at the Priest River Experimental Forest that is coordinated by the Rocky Mountain Experiment Station in Moscow. Weather stressors, wildfire patterns, animal or plant population shifts, and ecological degradations are among the many subjects only evident after decade-or-longer study.

Collectively, we must urgently object to federal Senators, Representatives, and our friends about these alarming proposals.

Ed Styskel Newport

Trump’s spats turn into cuts

After Trump’s Christ portrayal I eagerly awaited his damage control. He wasn’t portraying Christ, he was playing “doctor.”

Got it. He then said he was showing his “support” for the Red Cross. In less than a minute googled what “support” from Trump means. Trump cuts reduced the Red Cross budget by on fifth (17%).

Layoffs of 2,900 employees led to a loss of 15% of its workforce being laid off.

As a side note his recent spat with the Pope led to the president cutting $11 million from the Catholic Charity fund for migrant children. Times are tough but I may have a solution for the unemployed Red Cross workers. They might consider being Door Dash workers in the D.C. area. I hear Trump tips very well.

Gregory Turner Newport

VA help

Do you need medical help or caregiver support? Did you or your spouse serve in the military, whether Active duty, Guard or Reserve? Are you a child or parent of a deceased veteran? Many people who actually would qualify hesitate to ask for VA help. Too often we hear “Others need it more.” If there is any question, please check.

The easiest way to determine qualification is to call Spokane County Veteran Services at 509 477 3690.

Or call the Spokane VA at 509 434 7000 and ask for “Eligibility.”

Another option is to call the national number 1 800 698 2411. Online, go to VA Health & Benefits App, MyHealtheVet, or https:// dva.wa.gov For the veterans Crisis line call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or go online to chat at veteranscrisisline. net.

The VA offers many programs, such as caregiver assistance and support, disability benefits starting at 10% disability, or pensions depending on circumstances. If you live a distance from the VA you can be reimbursed for your travel expenses.

The Spokane VA needs volunteers to assist veterans. Volunteers assist patients from the parking lot to the building, and provide wheelchairs and drivers if needed to get patients where they need to go in the building.

Bon Wakabayashi Elk

Tax time

In his 04/17/2026 newsletter, Michael Baumgartner bragged about how the Big Beautiful Bill has put money into the pockets of District 5 residents.

According to IRS data, the average increased refund was $351 per taxpayer.

Do the math. The Republican tariffs have increased annual costs to each of us by $1700 according to the Joint Economic Committee. Now determined illegal, we are responsible to pay for a refund program for those tariffs.

Will those companies lower their prices after they receive their refund?

Donald Trump’s war, which Michael Baumgartner supports has increased gas prices at the pump by about $50 per driver each month by conservative estimates. Increased fuel costs to farmers and truck drivers have driven up costs of goods. The costs for Donald Trump’s war are in the billions of dollars per day. He has stated due to the war costs, Medicare/ Medicaid and other programs need to no longer be funded by the federal budget. Meanwhile, the BBB tax cuts are increasing our national debt up to $5 trillion over the next ten years while cutting social services. Let’s make Michael Baumgartner a one-term Representative.

J.R. Wyatt Elk

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DIRECTOR OF STUDENT TRANSPORTATION

It feels fitting—almost poetic—that School Bus Driver Appreciation Day lands on Superhero Day. As the State Director of Student Transportation, I don’t see that as a coincidence; I see it as long overdue recognition for the people who quietly serve as the foundation of our education system.

My own journey began behind the wheel of a yellow bus. And if I’m honest, I can see it ending there too.

There’s something about that role that stays with you.

When you’re responsible for the safety and well-being of Idaho’s students, it changes you. That sense of responsibility and pride still drives my work every day at the Idaho Department of Education. Because no matter how much policy we write or refine, none of it matters without the drivers who start the day before the sun comes up.

School bus drivers are, in many ways, the roots of public education in Idaho. They are the only professionals in a district managing a “classroom” of 50plus students while traveling down the road—often at highway speeds—with their back turned. Before a teacher ever picks up a marker, a driver has already set the tone. A calm, consistent presence or a well-timed word of encouragement can shape how a student walks into school that day.

It’s one of the most complex roles in any school system. Drivers don’t just navigate roads. They navigate relationships. They know their students: their routines, their needs, their challenges. Over the course of a single route, they shift from authority figure to mentor to trusted adult. They are the first face a child sees in the morning and the last one they see before heading home. That matters more than we often say out loud.

They don’t wear capes. They wear high-visibility vests. They don’t fly. They handle 13-ton vehicles with skill and precision in every kind of weather. They are steady, watchful, and quietly heroic—protecting what matters most.

To the drivers across Idaho: I’m proud to be part of this work with you. Thank you for the grit, the patience, and the care you bring to the job every single day.

Whether you’re navigating a mountain pass in a snowstorm or offering reassurance to a nervous kindergartener, you are making a difference, one mile at a time.

On behalf of the Idaho Department of Education, thank you for the essential role you play in our schools and communities. Because of you, students arrive ready to learn and return home safely.

Happy School Bus Driver (Superhero) Appreciation Day.

When I led the Bureau of Land Management under President Biden, the hardest part of my job was reassembling the agency after the first Trump administration had scattered its headquarters from our nation’s capital. The move crippled the agency—as intended.

That experience led me to understand that the current Trump administration’s unpopular plan to move the U.S. Forest Service headquarters will be every bit as destructive. It will hurt forests, wildlife and communities that rely upon our public lands and waters.

In 2020, almost 90% of the BLM employees ordered to move West chose not to, forcing them out the door. With those seasoned employees went years of wisdom and knowledge of how things are supposed to work, of how to deliver for the American people.

Today’s Forest Service plan goes farther, aiming to close regional offices and shutter dozens of the agency’s research centers, as we face what some say will be a horrific wildfire season.

The Forest Service and the BLM combined manage 20% of our country’s lands and waters. These public lands, the places we camp, hike, watch birds, hunt and simply wander in nature, are truly one of America’s best ideas. For Westerners, they are a deep part of our identity.

There is a reason Forest Service headquarters are based in Washington, DC. It’s where our nation’s leaders work. Believe me, I did not want to move to the capital from my home in Montana to run the BLM, but to be able to fight for Western people and places, I had to go to the seat of our nation’s power.

I was often in the Interior Secretary’s offices. I frequently walked to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director, talking through thorny problems such as how to protect wildlife while permitting transmission lines. Washington is where people manage relationships with Congress, where budgets get made.

The administration says all their changes are about bringing leadership closer to where the work happens. That’s a political talking point, and it’s false.

If DOGE’s dismantling of government agencies last year provides any lesson, then cruelty and disruption are the real point. These changes aim to create chaos, deliver the administration’s stated goal of traumatizing employees, and imperil the very existence of public lands — lands that belong to all Americans. We improve the management of our forests by giving foresters the resources they need and letting them make decisions based on sound science and collaboration, not by gutting their agency.

Over the course of the last year, the Forest Service forced or coerced roughly a quarter of its approximately 30,000 employees to leave. In this latest round of engineered chaos, thousands of people will be reassigned and ordered to move. If BLM history is any guide, almost all will leave their positions rather than uproot their families. The agency could soon be left with roughly half its former ranks.

Think of your job. Now, think of half of your colleagues gone. Would your organization be able to recover from the loss and demoralization to do its work?

There are inevitable repercussions to this radical attack on our public land management agencies: Campgrounds will close. Trails won’t be maintained. High fuel loads near communities will go unaddressed. Wildfires will become even harder to fight. More sawmills will close. The health of our land, waters and wildlife will decline. With things going wrong on the ground, some will demand that these lands be transferred to states or sold to private industry.

That’s exactly what the people in power today want. The choice of Utah for the Forest Service headquarters—home to Senator Mike Lee, who leads the charge on public land selloff, as well as to the state that is suing to try to take over millions of your public lands—reveals the administration’s true agenda.

The inevitable does not need to happen. There is one power to stop our public lands from being mismanaged to the point of selloff: It’s the outrage of the American people.

Americans overwhelmingly support public lands and want future generations to enjoy the freedoms found in them. Our public forests, rivers and deserts deserve to be treated better, and the federal land managers who work tirelessly deserve better. It’s up to us to demand it.

TRACY STONE-MANNING IS PRESIDENT OF THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY AND A CONTRIBUTOR TO WRITERS ON THE RANGE, WRITERSONTHERANGE.ORG, AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO SPURRING LIVELY CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WEST.

“Journalism” once reported all the facts from multiple perspectives on issues using neutral language. Then billionaires bought up the mainstream media to control the narratives using sophisticated propaganda techniques. Right-leaning “news” sources, like Fox News, myopically interpret events to appeal exclusively to that audience. Likewise, left-leaning sources, like CNN and the NYT, do the same. “Inconvenient” facts are entirely omitted. The language is crafted to provoke intense moral outrage, smothering any curiosity to investigate deeper.

In 10 years, we have a highly polarized population, each side claiming to have the “truth”. Neither side can fathom what the other side believes due to zero exposure. Neither side can even imagine they are missing anything – “They’re obviously wrong!”

Take, for example, illegal aliens: I believe the left myopically focuses on their legal and human rights (“All should be granted amnesty!”). Meanwhile, the right is myopically focused on the unfair, overwhelming tax burden and dangerous criminals (“Get them out of here!”). Resolution appears impossible.

Righteous citizens with violently opposing viewpoints, consumed by outrage, lead to chaotic conditions enabling the installation of a dictatorship: declare martial law and suspend the Constitution. Will the infiltrators succeed in provoking civil war?

Detach; investigate. Remain calm.

Kamori Cattadoris 

Newport

Differences between DJT and JC

The height of Trump (DJT) insanity and deraignment was observed last week when a picture appeared, with DJT’s approval, portraying lunatic DJT as Jesus Christ (JC) healing the sick. My thoughts as to some of the differences between the two.

JC could actually perform miracles; DJT only wishes he could.

JC was born in a manger; DJT hangs out with donkeys and pigs but was not born in a manger.

JC is a king and a God; DJT only wishes he were.

JC never fired any of his apostles; DJT has already fired two cabinet members three months into 2026.

JC is loved around the world and has been worshipped for 2,000 years; the world hates DJT and no one will worship him in the near future.

JC never broke a Commandment; DJT has broken them all.

JC was never mentioned in the Epstein files; DJT thousands of times.

One similarity between the two: I am fairly certain the Romans/ Italians hate DJT just as much as they did JC.

MAGA may praise their false god and golden idol, but for the rest of the sane world, isn’t enough enough?

Greg Hicks 

Spokane

Let’s fight corruption

Political corruption is “the use of powers by government officials or their network contacts for illegitimate private gain.” Our president has torn down part of the White House, manipulated tariffs to enrich himself and his family, bombed Iran without congressional authorization, stacked the Supreme Court to give him immunity for potential crimes, and given ultra-wealthy people Cabinet positions, ambassadorships, pardons, and dropped investigations of their crimes, as long as they are loyal to him.

Imagine the uproar if any Democratic president had done these things. Trump won’t live forever, and someday a president you don’t like will be in power. At that point, nothing will stop that president from doing the same corrupt things without consequences. Is that really a precedent we want to set?

The freedoms we have in this country are there in part to protect us from government oppression no matter what group is in power. Now those are gone – unless we fight to protect them.

Meg Lyman 

Deer Park

Vote for Jane Sauter

It seems to me that non-emergency care for non-citizens (such as illegal immigrants) should not be paid for by the citizens of our state. There was a bill H135 introduced in 2025 that was voted on, passed, and signed into law this month. Having traveled extensively, I have always had to foot the bill if I’m traveling to other countries, should I need non-emergency medical assistance. The bill and now law, makes total sense to me.

I heard Mark Sauter say he opposed this commonsense bill. In fact, in looking at his records, he frequently opposes bills that are supported by a majority of the Republican representatives. This doesn’t seem to be an issue that would need much debate. You don’t get services paid for by others.

Jane Sauter indicated she would have voted for this bill and understands that the people of Idaho support this type of approach to reign in government spending.

Jane keeps showing her commonsense regarding things needing to be fixed. I like her positive way of offering a clear solution to issues. I’ll be voting for Jane Sauter on May 19!

Sincerely Trent Oyler 

Naples, Idaho

Vote for Woodward

May matters in Idaho, because the Republican who wins in the May 19 Primary is typically the winner in the general election. We are so fortunate to have Jim Woodward as our current Idaho senator. He carefully considers each bill on its own merits, and how it will affect his constituents and his stated goals of governance, rather than being swayed by getting a “good grade” from the Idaho Freedom Foundation like his opponent does. I have listened to Jim at his regularly scheduled town halls and been impressed with his long-range outlook, investing in education, healthcare, and infrastructure improvements. At the same time, he is fiscally responsible, opposing cuts to income or property taxes that might sound appealing but will require cuts to important programs and services that have been mandated. Reducing taxes for popularity votes while causing a budget shortfall is just not responsible government.

Jim Woodward is vice-chair of the Finance and Appropriations Committee and serves on the education and transportation committees. He has many other important committee assignments as well, as he is a hard-working and highly respected member of the legislature. I urge you to vote for our current senator, Jim Woodward, on May 19.

Kate Painter

Bonners Ferry

Recent News

Recent headline topics: Trump to Iran: I will blow an entire civilization to bits with a deadline to make a deal. Just prior to the deadline, Trump and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire and to open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump uses the Navy to blockade the Strait. The Navy begins sweeping for mines. The US controls much of the EU’s oil. The US only allows a few tankers per day through the Strait. Squeezing Iran. The US gets no help from NATO.

Trump signs Presidential Memo-7 which declares Antifa as Domestic Terrorist Organizations. Bondi leaves DOJ handing off 8K+ ongoing fraud cases. DOJ opens an antitrust exemption case against the NFL. DNI Gabbard declassifies IC official’s conspiracy in 2019 to impeach Trump. Buried for seven years: Declassified transcripts exonerate Trump’s impeachment story. The WH put a taskforce together to go State by State looking for fraud (I hope they don’t go in alphabetical order). Gabbard declassifies Dem’s plot to frame Trump on the Ukraine call.

Trump brokers a deal for a two week ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The Strait is fully open and the Stock Market soars, fastest rise in decades. The Dealmaker.

Glen Pierce 

Spokane/Cusick

Reelect Mark Sauter

We worked with Representative Mark Sauter this recent legislative session on a bill to clarify the Idaho Defense of Life Act. We found him to be honest, sincere and easy to work with. Mark was always ready to listen to our concerns. He will continue to work hard for his constituents. Get out and cast your vote for Mark Sauter in the Republican Primaries.

Stephen Schmid MD

Twin Falls

Robert Davis MD

Boise

Beware of false claims

No wasted words. Herndon, as usual, is spreading false claims and untruths. He brags about tax cuts when he actually only voted for one. Woodward on the other hand, voted for two income tax rate cuts, three tax rebates, an increase in the homeowner’s exemption and homeowners tax relief. He chose to vote no on last year’s tax cut as he felt it wasn’t in our (his constituents) best interest.

That proved to be right as that cut caused all kinds of problems this year.

Woodward always has our best interests steering his decisions on voting for or against bills.

Herndon wants to get rid of property tax. Now how ridiculous is that? No one likes to pay taxes, but unfortunately, it’s a necessary evil. He basically opposes school levies, another necessary way of getting needed dollars to properly run our education system, because the state does not fund education properly.

Beware of fliers filling our mailboxes telling us who to vote for. Many of these are again spreading false claims about why people should vote one way or the other. Please do your own research. But you must do it thoroughly. Don’t just go by what you hear. Check it out yourself.

Ernie and Helen Schoeffel 

Priest River

What do local Christians think about Trump’s pictures?

Now that Trump thinks he is Jesus or that he and Jesus are picture buddies, what do the Christians in our community think of Trump’s social media picture posts? Are local church leaders thinking of putting Trump’s likeness above their altars?

Trump seems jealous of Pope Leo and has a running feud with him over bombing of innocent civilians living in Trump’s enemy designated countries.

Trump rails about Iran killing protesters but then drops bombs on the Iranian people killing non-combatants in his made-up war of choice. Please identify the Christian doctrine that mandates killing your enemies. You don’t need to defend your faith with guns and bombs. What part of “Thou shall not kill” requires theocratical nuance? Is it God’s will that you kill your enemies before they can kill you?

Trump imagines the office of president as some kind of religious or divinely inspired position. He is much like the Supreme Leader of Iran who believes that God gives the president or leader the right of life or death. Think about that when blindly supporting a president who wants to rule over the entire world.

President first and country last.

Pete Scobby

Newport

Letter writer doesn’t provide evidence

In response to the April 15th letter “Military kills on supporters behalf,” the author draws another false analogy this time a car dealership symbolizing Iran. It is uncommon for car dealerships to take disciplinary action against people protesting with negative remarks about the dealership. However, there is no credible evidence to suggest that such actions have resulted in executions of such protesters by the dealership. The assertion, “That requires using hundreds of nuclear weapons to kill all 93 million Iranian people,” lacks substantiation. The writer’s failure to provide evidence to support their claims screams of their constant inexperience in the subject matter.

“Trump voters have the blood of innocent civilians on their hands.” In this instance, the writer exhibits a cognitive bias through their use of a whataboutism. But it isn’t unusual for this writer as they have shown a constant ability to bow before the political golden calf.

“Our military kills women and children on your behalf, making you complicit in the act.” The absurdity of the unfounded statement boggles the mind. The accusation against our military forces intentionally targets civilian populations is vile and doing it for a particular voting public is truly ludicrous.

Renee Webster 

Newport

History shows freedom doesn’t disappear overnight

After the recent rally, two signs held by attendees stayed with me because they reflected concerns many Americans share about protecting our freedoms and our families.

The first sign read: “Hitler didn’t start with camps.

He started with banning books, targeting the press, blaming immigrants, creating enemies from neighbors, controlling the courts and judges, attacking workers’ rights, spreading lies and conspiracy theories, using religion as a weapon, replacing truth with propaganda.”

It was a reminder that the erosion of liberty starts with limits on information, government overreach, and efforts to control what people can say, read, or believe. Historians have noted that these early warning signs often appear subtle until they accumulate into something more dangerous. The message was simple: stay vigilant in defending the Constitution, free speech, and the institutions that keep government power in check.

The second sign read: “If only children were protected like the Epstein files.”

Many Americans feel that children’s safety, education, and well‑being should rise above partisan fights.

Protecting kids should be a unifying national priority.

Both signs carried the same plea: pay attention.

Ask questions. Defend truth. Protect children. A strong nation is defined not by empty promises, but by the actions its citizens take to preserve truth and accountability.

Gloria Jean Wells 

Newport

Over the past decade, the connection between firefighting and cancer has grown too significant to overlook. Beside the immediate dangers of flames and smoke, firefighters are frequently exposed to perilous substances that can embed in their bodies long after a call ends. Consistent with this, national data revealed that these personnel have a 9% elevated cancer risk and 14% surge in related fatalities compared to the general population.

This threat extends not only to civilian departments but also to current, former and retired military personnel trained to provide fire protection, technical rescue, and other emergency response.

For those serving the Pend Oreille River Valley this issue is compounded by rural conditions where resources and long-term health monitoring may already be limited. To better tackle these concerns, the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer was launched in 2023 as a nationwide effort to track connected exposures and health outcomes. Yet its impact depends on participation—making it essential that firefighters in smaller and rural communities are not left out of this critical dataset.

The occupational hazards of firefighting are not always immediate or visible. Beyond the urgency of extinguishing blazes lies a quieter, cumulative threat shaped by repeated contact with toxic substances released during emergencies.

For example, burning buildings, industrial facilities, or natural landscapes usually generate many carcinogens, like volatile and semi-volatile organics, lead, heavy metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and aldehydes. And as these pollutants typically come in solid, liquid, or gaseous form, firefighters can easily inhale or ingest them after every response. More disconcertingly, these risks become even more complex within military settings, where operations and training have long depended on specialized, chemical-intensive equipment.

In fact, as early as the 1960s, the armed forces had already incorporated aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) into standard fire suppression protocols, notwithstanding its PFAS compositions— synthetic chemicals that can persist in the ecosystem indefinitely. As a result, reports indicate that more than 700 military installations nationwide have documented contaminated groundwater, including Fairchild Air Force Base.

In addition to this, the very environments in which military firefighters operate are often laden with hazardous materials that can be discharged when combusted.

Confined settings such as naval vessels, for instance, house a dense concentration of fuel systems, electrical and insulation components, solvents, and other industrial substances. As such, when fires occur, these sites can produce a highly toxic atmosphere—releasing asbestos fibers, benzene, carbon dioxide, and numerous other chemical residues that may be absorbed without immediate detection, thereby exacerbating the overall exposure risk.

Efforts to better understand occupational risks in the fire service greatly hinge on one critical element: comprehensive data collection. The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer serves this purpose by bringing together detailed information from firefighters nationwide—including those in the military. Through this centralized approach, researchers can uncover exposure patterns, evaluate health outcomes, and generate evidence that supports more effective protective measures and operational standards. Also, these insights carry policy implications, particularly in shaping access to benefits. While certain conditions have already been granted presumptive coverage—allowing them to obtain benefits seamlessly—others, like those PFAS-linked, still require individuals to establish a direct service connection, highlighting the need for stronger scientific validation.

Yet even with its noble intention, this initiative cannot prosper without broader participation from all firefighters. As of April 10, 2026, the registry has already enrolled nearly 47,200 personnel, with almost 1,200 and 360 responders from Washington and Idaho, respectively. Although notable, this figure represents only a fraction of the nation’s firefighting force, which exceeds one million individuals. ‘Bridging this gap will require sustained outreach, stronger institutional support, and the integration of registry awareness into training, medical evaluations, and transition programs—boosting participation and protection for those on the front lines.

CRISTINA JOHNSON SERVES AS A VETERAN ADVOCATE AT THE ASBESTOS SHIPS ORGANIZATION, A NONPROFIT THAT RAISES AWARENESS OF VETERANS’ EXPOSURE TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES.

1). There is a difference between the God of Nature and the God of Religion. How do you keep your connection to Nature?

2). There are forces that are using Divide and Conquer. What do you do to Unite and be in Community?

3). There are forces that are using propaganda, subliminal programming and mind control.

What do you do to avoid or limit: TV, social media, gaming and technology?

4). We vote everyday through our time and our resources. What do you do to avoid or limit your support of companies that are working to tighten their control on humanity?

5). It is possible that everything authentic in our life has an artificial hijack. What do you do to hone your capabilities of discernment?

6). If there is authentic euphoria, there is also artificial euphoria.

(Think Beatlemania). Would you be able to discern the difference and find your authenticity when the artificial is playing financial games and ‘making you happy’?

7). What do you do to maintain your health, family, friendships, and community so we can navigate this storm together?

Stacy Cossey Priest River

All about Epstein files

Here we are in a stupid war no one wanted, big Trump. Why did he do this? He wants people to stop talking about the Epstein Files and his involvement in it!

To all those people that still believe him you need to wake up and listen to him. It is pathetic that he wants a draft to get more young people killed.

Our gas prices are higher than ever before, Trump did it. Grocery prices are crazy, Trump did it. More people are going to homeless from the partial government shutdown.

Make sure Democrats get control of our country to save it from him.

We can’t allow these crooks to skate off after all they have done, they need to is to look be held accountable!

Jeannie Hutchins Newport

Williams has my vote

Please don’t forget our history.

The value of looking backward before going forward has been repeated to us often. So let’s talk about the Bonner County Commissioner meetings. Does anyone remember how public input was shut down by the former commissioners? Commissioner Asia Williams made countless motions to overcome this, but the other two commissioners never seconded her motion. Thus, her motion could not go forward. So frustrating!

But she persevered and now, with new commissioners on board that have the same viewpoint, public input is promoted. Presently, public input is invited after each departmental presentation as well as at the end of the meeting. Thank you, Commissioner Asia Williams.

And please don’t forget the departmental chats that Commissioner Williams instituted.

Constituents wanted to know more about each department. So she invited them to an 8– 9 a.m. chat with those interested. (the building opens at 9 a.m. usually).

Oh yes, and what about the Saturday townhalls for the departments. This is quite a bit above and beyond what a commissioner does. Yet, she is just that. She is outstanding. Thank you again Commissioner Asia Williams. You have certainly secured my vote on Tuesday, May 19!

Kristine Logue Blanchard

TDS

As our politics and economic conditions continue to deteriorate, Trump supporters are relying increasingly on the “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS) to dismiss criticism of their President.

No full Epstein file disclosure, foreign war, inflation jumping up, tariffs declared illegal by Supreme Court, cutbacks on social benefits - a lot to legitimately criticize.

All of this is driven by a convicted felon president who describes the opposition party as “scum, vermin, enemies of the United States”.

I think the Trump fan club has run out of factual points to debate.

Enter TDS. Each time I see this lame excuse used to dismiss criticism of Trump’s policies and vulgar behavior, I think “how silly is this”? And do you remember all those F Biden signs we had? Talk about the frying pan calling the kettle black!

Sandy Nichols Newport

Dear Congressman Baumgartner

The misdirected attack on Iran does not benefit Eastern Washington, must less the entire country.

As a farmer, fertilizer costs, fuel and anything involving the use of petroleum is already being impacted.

My visit to the grocery store today, milk has risen 60 cents per gallon in the past week.

Trump has provided an only ever-changing reasoning for this attack on Iran. The vast majority of the country does not support this war. Compound all of this the longterm damage being inflicted upon our country’s reputation in the international world. A reputation being destroyed that will take years to recover.

“Bomb them back to the stone age” is not a new comment from a misguided leader. Geneal Le-May made this statement in 1965 concerning Vietnam. We know the result.

It is time for Congress to “look in the mirror” and take control of this debacle. Supporting your party leader is understandable in normal times. Now is the time to stand up for our country and uphold the essential elements of our democracy. A “photo op” in your newsletter does not negate the negative economic impact for Eastern Washington or our world’s reputation.

No war.

Robert W. Schutte Newport

Military kills on supporters behalf

Imagine a Trump voter imitating Trump’s Iran civilization ending threat going to a car dealership and demanding they sell him a car for $$ by noon, or he will pull his open carry weapon and kill everyone at the dealership.

He then shoots out some windows. The police are called and the Trump voter says he was just negotiating and wasn’t serious about killing everyone.

To be clear, Trump can’t end the 6,000-year-old Iranian civilization in one night by blowing up bridges and power plants. That requires using hundreds of nuclear weapons to kill all 93 million Iranian people.

One day Trump is going to do what he says so outrageously.

Our military will launch nukes on Trump’s order. Dropping bombs on countries and killing or kidnapping their leaders isn’t negotiating. Trump voters have the blood of innocent civilians on their hands. You put a deranged person in office, and his bombs can’t tell the difference between combatants and children who can’t harm us. Our military kills women and children on your behalf making you complicit in the act.

Soon, America will be dropping bombs on Cuba, or another country Trump wants to claim for his personal empire of conquest.

Pete Scobby Newport

Letter writer misdirects

Over and over again, the writer in the April 1 letter, “Dying for presidential vanity,” attempts to misdirect readers using confusing analogies by assertions that are unrelated to my original statement and continues to omit consequential information.

Examples: “We recently did that with Venezuela; Trump deposited $500 million from Venezuela in a Qatar account.” The writer failed to mention that, as reported by US News, the Venezuelan people received the $500 million in February.

In addition, they write: “She can process 18-year-old boys for induction and foreign war deployment.” The statement appears to be both unsettling and misogynistic. In the context of Trump’s “Imperial American Empire,” it is perplexing why he would deny women the right to be drafted, individuals with asthma, and even those with “bone spurs.” If he assumed the role of a monarch, he could issue another authoritarian executive order without congressional approval.

The writer demanded evidence of drug cartel vessels and their occupants in their letter titled “Show us the proof.” Ironically, they consistently fail to provide their own evidence. In their letter “Money determines level of justice,” they asked if a billionaire has ever been executed or imprisoned for life. Yes, just Google it… Renee Webster Newport

Letters should be no longer than 200 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.

Curtis Bedore Blanchard

Hospital bond untenable

As we consider the proposed $51 million hospital bond, it’s essential to begin with the realities of Hospital District 1.

Our community includes a large share of retirees, fixed-income households, and working families already stretched by rising living costs. For many, even modest tax increases are not abstract—they affect groceries, heating bills, and the ability to remain in their homes.

We recognize the need to keep our medical facilities up to date— not only to care for our aging population but to attract people who might consider living in our area, knowing we have great medical facilities nearby.

The district estimates a tax impact of $1.47 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a typical home in our area—often assessed between $250,000 and $350,000—that means an annual cost of roughly $368 to $515. Over the full 30‑year life of the bond, that adds up to $11,000 to $15,450 per household. That is a significant long‑term financial commitment for residents with limited financial flexibility!

Improving access to care matters. But so does ensuring that the people who will pay for it can reasonably afford the cost.

As a rural district with modest incomes and aging residents, we must weigh need and affordability with clear eyes.

Ernie Hood Newport

‘No Kings’ rallies peaceful, non-threatening

As The Miner reported last week, the Newport No Kings rally on March 28 drew 150 protesters by actual head count. This is an excellent turn out. And yet, I’ve heard from several people that they were discouraged from attending by the aggressive social media posts that threatened the participants in some way.

The rallies at the Big Wheel are peaceful, legal, and non-threatening. The police are notified of the events and participants are given directions about where to park and where to stand.

There may or may not be music, chants, costumes, or treats. The Big Wheel area is cleaned up afterwards and participants go home feeling like they are not alone with their concern for our country and our democracy.

In other words, there is nothing to justify the bullying that happens on social media prior to an event. At No Kings III, there was only one individual who wished to debate our stand on the issues, and he was very polite in his discussion with participants. The only way to stand up to a bully is to call his or her bluff. So, when another rally is planned, ignore the social media bullying and join us.

Martha Nichols Newport

Jane Sauter champions children’s needs

Children’s care needs to be left to their families and churches. In 2025,Senate Bill 1206 appropriated funds to Health and Welfare for Early Learning and Development for the Developmentally Disabled. Giving money to the state to handle our children’s care can easily cause corruption like what we have seen in Minneapolis. The wrong Sauter voted for this last year! Jane Sauter would have the foresight to see that children’s care needs to stay firmly under the control of their family. This is taxpayer-controlled federal dollars that can create a dependency on government instead of strengthening families. Vote for families to have control of their own children’s needs. Vote May 19th, for Jane Sauter!

Maureen Paterson Priest River

Where were ‘No Kings’ when Fauci, others ran the country?

It’s interesting that they can specify a single day and ‘No Kings’ protests pop up in cities around the country yet they can’t show up on a specified day to vote. Where were the ‘No Kings” protests when Fauci was running the world, Obama; buy my insurance or get fined and Biden; take the vax or lose your job? Trump Derangement Syndrome.

The 14th Amendment was passed to make citizens out of the freed slaves. Here for several generations and no country to call home. In Wong Kim Arks case, his parents were established and lived in America for decades.

They couldn’t become citizens because of our racist mindset towards the Chinese at the time.

Right now there are over 500 Chinese companies helping facilitate birthright citizenship.

They bring late term pregnancies to America (birth tourism) to have their babies and then take them back to China to raise them as communists. When they reach adulthood, back to America.

Infiltration. In 2023, 350K (9%) of babies were illegal. Let that sink in.

If my neighbor’s cow jumps the fence and gives birth in my yard, it’s still not my cow or my calf.

Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick

Letter writer resides in own echo chamber

The author of the letter titled “Dying for Presidential Vanity” appears to have taken my letter personally, particularly when they presented a feeble ad hominem argument. While I concur that registration is mandatory, I never contested that assertion or the presidential power of military actions. Instead, I clarified the fact that the military is currently a volunteer organization. Here again, the writer, as they always do, overloading readers with fabrications and underwhelming with actual evidence. For instance, their inaccuracies regarding the statements of the congressmen and the unsubstantiated assertion that enriched uranium is not used to make nuclear bombs, which contradict both the DOE and NRC.

They possess their own perspective, but what grounds this viewpoint? This phenomenon arises when individuals reside within their own echo chambers. Like a child with a box of Legos, they have a Lego here, a Lego there, never connecting the Legos. Let me be candid, the sole reason for their composition of this letter, directed specifically at me, was the negative impact it had on their self-esteem due to my inquiry regarding the glorious title of “Guest Opinion.” I stand by my opinion that they are not a guest; they have become a resident.

Renee Webster Newport

Met Mavalwalla at Newport ‘No Kings’ rally

At the No Kings Rally in Newport, Washington I met Bajun Mavalwalla. Look at PBS. org/newshour, March 27, “Army veteran faces conspiracy charges after participating in anti-ICE protest,” about his son. Bajun Sr. is a retired intelligence officer with three bronze stars. His wife, son and son’s partner are veterans. Senior and Junior served in Afghanistan. Bajun Jr. was at a non-violent anti-ICE protest in June then later arrested by the FBI for conspiracy and faces six years in prison for protesting to ICE for grabbing Legal asylum applicants. Bajan Sr. is worried about his son; also that he will be recalled from retirement to be court martialed.

POTUS says rallies aren’t important except to protestors and reporters. Eight million protestors were watched across the world by millions more. In Newport hundreds of cars gave waves, smiles, thumbs up compared to a few one finger salutes from old and young men. The young guys are those who will be drafted if Trump’s war escalates so why don’t they enlist now with all five of Trump’s kids? Trump actually attempted campaign fund raising at the transference of dead soldiers who came home recently.

To the many veterans at the rally, thank you.

Betty Gardner Priest River

As the public information officer for Pend Oreille Public Utility District, it’s my responsibility to make sure that information about rates is clear, accurate and easy to understand.

The PUD’s Board of Commissioners recently approved a 2.5% adjustment to revenue in an effort to keep pace with inflation and rising operating costs while maintaining system reliability and safety. This does not mean every customer’s kilowatt-hour rate, or total bill, increases by exactly 2.5%.

A revenue adjustment simply means the PUD must collect 2.5% more revenue overall to cover rising costs. How that translates to an individual customer’s bill depends on usage and rate class. For a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, the expected increase is about $2.24 per month, or 2.2%. A customer using 2,020 kWh per month can expect an increase of $4.53 per month, or 2.7%.

A recent letter to the editor focused on the change to the energy charge, showing an approximate 3.3% increase in that specific component. While that figure is accurate for the energy portion of the residential rate, it does not represent the total bill. A customer’s bill has multiple components, including a flat monthly service availability charge that has not changed, so the overall impact varies based on how much electricity is used. We are expecting that a residential customer will see an average increase of $3.25 on their monthly bill, but the total could be less or more than that. The PUD has explained how these numbers work through public meetings, communications and a public hearing, and we remain committed to providing clear and accurate information.

We’re here to help if you have questions about how this change impacts your bill. Just give us a call or swing by our office, and we’ll be glad to walk through the details.

We also know that any increase matters, especially at a time when costs seem to be rising in nearly every part of daily life. Our goal is to keep any rate adjustments as minimal and predictable as possible while continuing to provide safe, reliable service to our community.