The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNTY SINCE 1901

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 118, Number 45 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages $1.00

PUD considers electric rate increase BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Pend Oreille Public Utility District commissioners grappled with an electric rate increase during a public hearing Tuesday, Dec. 1. They didn’t make a decision, but will need to balance the budget by the end of December, probably with a rate increase. The utility is facing about a $6 million shortfall on a proposed $42.7 million 2021 budget, largely because of its biggest customer, Ponderay Newsprint Co., declaring bankruptcy. The PUD currently lists revenue at $37.7 million and expenses at $42.7 million, including $5.9 million in budgeted capital costs. The closure of PNC left the PUD with more power

than it needs and furthermore, the power costs more to produce than it can be sold for on the open market, said Sarah Holderman, the PUD’s Director of Treasury, Broadband and Strategic Planning. It costs about $21 million to produce power at the PUD’s Box Canyon Dam, power PNC used to buy. When the electricity is sold on the open market, it brings in about $14.4 million. PUD commissioner Joe Onley asked how much of the Box Canyon cost was because of debt service. Just under half, Holderman said. About $10 million is for principal and interest. She said the PUD had refinanced the debt twice, saving a significant SEE PUD, 2A

COVID widespread Hospitals plan for surge in cases BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER MINER PHOTO|SOPHIA ALDOUS

“I think there’s such a loyalty people have to take care of their local shops,” Maggie Christie, owner of Shanty Boutique said during the Newport businesses’ Black Friday sale on Nov. 27.

A Black Friday unlike any other People turn out to buy local

BY SOPHIA ALDOUS OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Full disclosure: this reporter expected a bleaker story

when the inspiration struck late afternoon last Friday to ask Newport retail businesses how Black Friday sales were this year in the

midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not all businesses agreed to be interviewed, but the ones who did had heartening answers.

“We had an excellent Black Friday,” said Jill Linton, owner of Just Because Fashions in

NEWPORT – There were 32 new lab confirmed positive COVID-19 test results in Pend Oreille County reported for the Nov. 25-29 period, and ‘There’s not one zip one more death, acto numbers code without cases.’ cording from the Northeast Tri County Health Matt Schanz, Administrator District. That brings the Northeast Tri County Health District number of Pend Oreille County COVID-19 deaths to three, with 60 new cases in the last 14 days preceding Nov. 29. There have been 264 lab confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Pend Oreille County since the pandemic began. While the Newport area has seen the most COVID-19 infections, there isn’t an area of Pend Oreille County that hasn’t had recent cases, NETCHD Administrator Matt Schanz told Pend Oreille County commissioners during their weekly update Monday morning.

SEE FRIDAY, 2A

SEE COVID, 2A

B R I E F LY Bonner County holds off on stripping health district funding SANDPOINT – Bonner County Commissioner Steven Bradshaw proposed to strip funding from the Panhandle Health District (PHD) at the commissioners’ weekly meeting Tuesday, Dec. 1. According to county Clerk Michael Rosedale, the county has budgeted $256,985 for the district in the current spending plan. Bradshaw’s resolution would stop the county from making financial contributions to the district. His plan was in response to the PHD mandate last month requiring face masks in public if social distancing cannot be accomplished in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

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The order applies to five counties, including Bonner, Benewah, Shoshone, Kootenai and Boundary. The board of commissioners did not vote on the resolution on Tuesday, since the county budget was finalized before October 2020, when the fiscal year starts. After consulting with legal, Bonner County Commissioner Dan McDonald said the commissioners decided pulling funding for the district isn’t possible until they’ve had budget discussions.

Washington election certified OLYMPIA – More Washingtonians voted in the 2020 General Election than in any election in the state’s his-

tory. According to vote totals certified this week by Secretary of State Kim Wyman, 4,116,894, or 84.14%, of Washington’s 4,892,871 registered voters made their voices heard Nov. 3. The 84.14% turnout rate is less than half a percent shy of the all-time record of 84.61%, set in the 2008 General Election. Contributing to this historic turnout was the state’s efforts to register more voters. In the two weeks leading up to Election Day, more than 55,000 people registered to vote. Nearly 20% of them were able to register on Election Day, thanks to Washington’s same-day voterregistration laws.

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COVID: Staffing is big problem during a surge FROM PAGE 1

“We’re seeing community transmission,” Schanz said. He said the health district has tracked infections by zip code. While Newport has the most new infections, with 20, all areas of the county have had cases. “There’s not one zip code without cases,” Schanz said. In the Nov. 25-29 period, the Elk and Deer Park part of south Pend Oreille County had one new case, Metaline Falls had two new cases, Ione had one new case, Usk had three new cases, and Cusick had five new cases. Schanz said the county and tri county district is in the midst of a surge in COVID. “Most concerning to us is the level of hospitalization,” Schanz said. He said hospitalizations in the region, which includes Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, have increase to 207, up from about 114 at the end of October. Schanz said there is COVID surge planning going on, with hospitals figuring out where to

treat people if the increase continues and hospital capacity is reached. He said the VA hospital in Spokane could be used, as well as setting up a field hospital at the Spokane County Fairgrounds. Earlier in the year Yakima County set up such a field hospital at their county fairgrounds. That was supplied with state and federal resources, he said. Rural hospitals are preparing to take lower level patient transfers from larger hospitals to free up Intensive Care Unit rooms at the larger hospitals, he said. Newport Hospital’s Christina Wagar said a big problem such a surge would present is with staffing. “The entire country is saturated with COVID,” Wagar said. She said field hospitals set up at the Spokane fairgrounds could find themselves without doctors and nurses to staff them. Pend Oreille County Sheriff Glenn Blakeslee said one of the biggest questions his office is be-

ing asked is how the COVID outbreak compares with flu this year. Wagar said that the flu season usually starts in December and January and continues through spring. She said the hospital has only had two flu cases this year so far, in mid-October. Wagar said the hospital has continuously had at least one COVID patient since mid October. “We’ve never seen that with flu,” she said. Schanz said they don’t see this impact on ICUs with flu. One of the worries for Newport Hospital is that elective medical procedures could be halted if COVID continues to rise. According to hospital public information officer Jenny Smith, the hospital has been able to comply with all the requirements for non-emergent care that were issued in a Nov. 25 proclamation by Gov. Jay Inslee. Smith says the hospital has 30 surgeries and 31 procedures scheduled

through January. “In addition to working through the proclamation requirements, we are carefully monitoring the surgery schedule, acute care bed availability, staffing, and PPE supply to guide daily decision making regarding elective procedures,” Smith said in an email. “Also, patients scheduled for surgeries are being told that changing circumstances could require their procedure to be rescheduled. Unless we surge beyond our capacity, we have every confidence that we will be able to meet the proclamation requirements and continue providing these services for our community at this time.” The hospital’s Materials Management department performs constant vendor checks for available PPE throughout the day, and the hospital is also utilizing the Pend Oreille County Emergency Operations for access to PPE available through the state, she said.

County budget feels pandemic’s influence Sales tax still better than expected BY SOPHIA ALDOUS OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – The COVID-19 pandemic’s reach is affecting county budgets across the state and Pend Oreille County is no different. As a New Year dawns, county commissioners and administrators are in the process of figuring out the 2021 budget, which they must do no later than Dec. 31, according to Washington State law. Currently, the estimated ending fund balance for the preliminary 2021 budget is $1 million. Projected revenue is $10,421,727 SEE BUDGET, 9A

PUD: May rethink goal of 180 days of cash on hand FROM PAGE 1

amount on debt cost. Commissioners were presented with three electric rate options to consider, all of which would dip into cash reserves and require rate increases. All three proposals would keep the monthly service availability charge the same as it is now, at $35.50. That charge was raised $5 per month in July. In proposal A, rates would increase about 10% for a residential customer using 2,000 kilowatt hours per month, from $143.90 to $157.97. In proposal B, the rate would go up 5%, to $151.71 per month for a customer using 2,000 kilowatt hours per month. In proposal C, the rate would increase 16%, to $167.34 for 2,000 kilowatt hours per month. PUD General Manager Colin Willenbrock said the staff would do what the commissioners decided, but that kicking the rate increase can down the road meant hard decisions later. According to the PUD’s figures,

if the board doesn’t increase rates, the PUD will exhaust electric system cash reserves in early 2022. Proposal A would get the district to 2023, Proposal B would exhaust cash reserves before the end of 2022 and Proposal C would get the district to the first part of 2023 before the cash was exhausted. Willenbrock said that commissioners could approve rate increases that would start in April instead of January. Board chairman Curt Knapp said that he thought that might be a good idea. One of the things he’s heard from school districts is that they’ve already set their budget for the year and a January increase is something they haven’t budgeted. Delaying would give them time to budget the added expense. Onley asked why not table discussion on rate increases until April or May. “There’s too many balls in the air to decide now,” he said. The only comment from the public during the hearing, which was conducted remotely, was from former PUD commissioner

Dan Peterson. He said that a 10% increase in revenue was actually a 13% increase in rates. Onley said that a revenue percentage was meaningless to customers. Willenbrock said that it was important that commissioners understand what a rate increase generates in terms of percentage of revenue. There are a few areas where commissioners can trim costs. One is in dues and membership, where the PUD currently budgets $121,700. The PUD can save nearly $50,000 by not paying membership in the American Public Power Association and the Public Power Council, something all three commissioners agreed with. Commissioner Rick Larson asked if the board should revisit having 180 days cash on hand, which has been a PUD goal. At the end of October the PUD had 152 days cash on hand, nearly $10 million. Willenbrock said the bonds the PUD has out currently require the electric system purchase Box

Canyon power. He said that the budget is a plan and plans can change. Holderman said that she was concerned about a rating downgrade if the PUD didn’t have enough cash on hand and didn’t increase electric rates. While the PUD isn’t considering going further into debt by selling more bonds, she said trading partners who buy and sell electricity for the PUD do take the credit ratings into account. Willenbrock said his recommendation is that the board looks at one year at a time. “You don’t have to solve a five year problem today, you just have to take a step in the right direction,” he said. The PUD plans for 77 full time employees in 2021, the same as this year. That’s down from 102 in 2015. The PUD budgets about $13 million for labor. Willenbrock said that a 3% cost of living adjustment is due in April. He said there is a 3% merit pool for non-union administrative employees, but the merit pool doesn’t all have to be used.

FRIDAY: Plenty of out of town shoppers were in Newport too FROM PAGE 1

Newport and Hayden, Idaho. “We exceeded our numbers from last year.” Black Friday has been regarded as the beginning of the holiday shopping season in the United States since 1952 and always takes place after Thanksgiving. Considering Washington state COVID restrictions state that retail businesses are not to exceed 25% capacity, Black Friday shopping in Newport was not diminished. The general consensus from Newport retailers was that their sales were comparative, if not better, than 2019 Black Friday sales. “I’m at where I was last year this time, which honestly surprises me,” said Janet Kenney, owner of Now and Then Antiques. “I sold a lot of vintage Christmas decorations and quite a few higher priced items went out the door than I thought would.” Petticoat Junction, an antique and vintage store owned by Susan Dankievitch, also had more

high priced items go out the door for Black Friday. Among those sold were a vintage bomber jacket, a silver flatware set and a 65-feet long American flag. “Sales were way higher,” Dankievitch said. “We didn’t get hardly any business on Black Friday last year. I think the shutdown has effected how people are shopping and a lot of them are deciding to keep it closer to home.” There were plenty of out-of-town customers too, Dankievitch added. She said she had shoppers from the west side of the state, Oregon, Illinois and even Utah. Petticoat Junction has a sign on the front door advising all customers must wear a facemask upon entering, a policy Dankievitch enforces. While she received some complaints, most customers were respectful and courteous, she said. “I’m here by myself and I can’t afford to get sick. No one likes wearing these,” Dankievitch said, motioning to her face covering. “But if it enables me to be at work

and keep from getting sick or getting other people sick, then it’s not a problem.” Shanty Boutique found a creative way to solve the 25% customer capacity issue for their Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sales. Owner Maggie Christie and her staff had a fire pit, snacks and hot beverages behind the store as people waited their turn to shop. Christie estimated that from the time Shanty opened at 10 a.m. on Black Friday to about 4 p.m., the foot traffic equaled around 10 customers per hour. “Sales are about the same as they were last year, but considering what we’re all going through right now it’s been pretty good,” Christie said. “I think a lot of people aren’t doing the Black Friday shopping that they usually do; it seems like people are committed more to shopping local and going to smaller stores. Whatever the reason is, we’re so thankful that people are showing the care and concern to shop here, it

means a lot.” The holiday purchases went beyond antiques and clothing. Tina Stanton, partner at Exbabylon IT, Computers & Verizon Wireless, said the Newport store’s numbers doubled this year for items sold and money coming in since 2019. “It’s been our busiest retail year across the board, so even though we didn’t advertise our Black Friday specials we were still up,” Stanton said. It was a similar story for Griffin’s Furniture and Floor, where Black Friday sales were twice as much this year as they were in 2019, according to owner Marlin Griffin. “This year we were just flabbergasted in the best way,” Griffin said. “The same thing happened on Saturday in that we were busy all day. We have a good clientele, we’ve been blessed.” Griffin said one thing that has helped sales is more people moving to the region due to the pandemic and wanting to buy new furniture and flooring. “There’s been a lot of

  

people coming in from out of the area and they want stuff and they want it now,” Griffin said. Several of the business owners interviewed for this article theorized that more people decided to shop in their communities on Black Friday, as opposed to traveling to Spokane to malls and big box stores and increasing their risk of exposure to the coronavirus. Whatever the exact reasons are, more local shopping is a trend they hope will continue. “This year more than ever your local stores need your support,” Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce President Jason Totland said. “Online and big box stores might have the best prices, but they aren’t sponsoring your kids’ teams, providing local jobs, or investing in our communities.” “We really need people to shop small businesses,” Linton said. “I can’t stress that enough. If people don’t shop local, there are going to be stores that aren’t around at the end of this.”

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December 2, 2020 |

Holiday tree raffle going on all around town

Coming soon to a food distribution near you

Rural Resources employees pose with this semi and one of two refrigerated trailers recently purchased with funds provided by the Washington State Department of Agriculture to expand the capacity for food distribution in Pend Oreille, Stevens and Ferry counties. These vehicles will be used to transport and deliver perishable and shelf stable food products to established community food pantries and as future planned distribution points for direct “truck to trunk” food delivery to more remote communities in the tri-county area.

Local businesses keep fundraiser alive NEWPORT – In the wake of COVID-19, the Newport Hospital and Health Services (NHHS) Foundation Board cancelled the annual Festival of Trees event, but don’t worry, it will not be Grinched. Revamped plans around the event include raffling one all-around town tree and nine other raffle trees displayed at local businesses now through Tuesday, Dec. 15. Raffle tickets will be sold at various locations for a $1 from now through Dec. 15, and the winning raffle tickets will be drawn by the Grinch himself via a live social media broadcast. The list of raffle trees and locations includes: Epic All Around Town Tree (sponsor: Country Lane Apparel, Newport); Candyland Christmas (Super One Foods, Oldtown); Seeing Your Way Through Christmas (Newport Vision Source); A Night on the Town (Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Kalispel Casino, tree located at Washington Federal Bank, Newport); Kalispel Christmas (Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Kalispel Casino, tree located at Kalispel Casino, Cusick); Cabin Fever (Priest River Businesses, tree located at Columbia Bank, Priest River); A Very Mooey Christmas (The Eclectic Heifers, tree located at River Mountain Village Advanced Care, Newport); For the Love of Red (Just Because Fashion & Gifts, Newport); The Great Newport Baking Show (NHHS Dietary Department, tree located at Pine Street Café, Newport Community Hospital); Home is Where the Heart Is (Pend Oreille Title, Newport). According to Lori Stratton, Foundation Event and Program Supervisor, raffle tree descriptions See tree, 6A

correction The name of the executive chef for the new Edgewater Lounge in Diamond Lake is Zanlan Williams and mussels will not be on the menu. William’s name was misreported and mussels were erroneously mentioned as a menu item. (‘Edgewater Lounge coming to Diamond Lake’ Nov. 25). We regret any confusion this may have caused.

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Courtesy photo|Rural Resources

Reps. Kretz and Maycumber re-elected to leadership positions

Kretz elected to Deputy Leader, Maycumber to serve as Floor Leader OLYMPIA - In an online meeting Washington State House Republicans once again elected Representatives from Washington’s 7th Legislative District to serve in senior leadership positions within their caucus. Rep. Joel Kretz, RWauconda, was chosen to be Deputy Leader, a position he has held for the past 14 years. The Deputy Leader helps serve as a spokesperson for the caucus, monitors legislation through the committee process, meets with committee ranking members, helps set the caucus priorities and agenda, and meets with the governor, stakeholders and other high-ranking government officials in support of the Republican caucus agenda. “I appreciate the support of my fellow legislators and the trust they have in me to advocate on their behalf,” said Kretz, who will begin his ninth term in office. “They know I’m going to fight for them, their bills and their priorities.” Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, R-Republic, was elected Floor Leader for the second consecutive term. The Floor Leader is responsible for developing strategy and leading floor debate on legislation, initiates and responds to parliamentary actions, meets with House and Senate leaders to coordinate strategy, and oversees the caucus agenda and messaging development. She will serve as one of the primary spokespersons for the caucus on a wide array of issues. “I’m humbled to be chosen as Floor Leader once again by elected

leaders from around the state,” said Maycumber. “Legislators know I will work across the aisle without compromising our core values to get their solutions through the legislative process.” She said being in an elected leadership position allows her to bring the values, principles

and priorities of the 7th Legislative District to the table when strategies are being debated, solutions are being discussed and decisions are being made. Amidst rumors of a remote or “hybrid” 2021 session because of COVID-19 concerns, Kretz and Maycumber both reiterated a desire to be in

Olympia in-person for the session. “Look, I’m probably in one of the highest risk categories for this virus,” Kretz said. “But I know what I signed up for and it entails me being in Olympia every day during the 2021 session fighting for my constituents and working to solve

the significant financial and economic problems facing our state. “Additionally, the internet access I have where I live in the mountains is fickle at best. The logistics of trying to sponsor bills, go through parliamentary procedures, give See leadership, 6A

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| December 2, 2020

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

Public health deserves more, not less support It’s hard to know if Bonner County commissioner Steve Bradshaw’s proposed resolution to withdraw Bonner County funding for the Panhandle Health District is just symbolic or if he is serious. Bradshaw has proposed reducing the county’s funding from more than $250,000 to as little as $1. Bradshaw objects to the district’s mask mandate, claiming it violates the state and federal constitutions. Bradshaw’s resolution is wrongheaded and moves in the exact opposite direction of what government should be doing regarding public health, let alone during a pandemic that is surging across the country, including in Bonner County and neighboring Pend Oreille County. You can disagree about whether requiring people to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is the best way to stop the disease spread, but there really is no disagreeing with the idea it needs to be stopped or more people will die. Public health districts like Panhandle Health District do far more than disease prevention. In addition to disease reporting and data collection, the Panhandle Health District is involved in emergency preparedness, suicide prevention, cancer screening, food safety, water protection and much more. It’s bad enough that the federal government has been reducing public health funding for years. According to the non-profit, non-partisan Trust For America’s Health, while the United States spends an estimated $3.6 trillion annually on health, less than 3% of that spending is directed toward public health and prevention. Furthermore, public health spending as a proportion of total health spending has been decreasing since 2000 and falling in inflation-adjusted terms since the Great Recession. Health departments across the country are battling 21st-century health threats with 20th century resources. The COVID-19 crisis demonstrates this reality in the starkest of terms. Counties may not be in a position to increase public health funding but they should not decrease it if they don’t have to do so. If Bradshaw wants to make a point objecting to forced mask wearing, he can do so – with words. But it’s irresponsible to withhold county money from the public health district. Bonner County commissioners should recognize this and reject the resolution. -DG

Prevent COVID with behavior By Dr. Sam ArTzis Northeast Tri-County Health District

Traditionally, we look to the holidays with hope and joy, and this year is no different. Despite record numbers of COVID-19 cases locally and nationally, full, and over-filled hospitals, and resultant restrictions, there is hope. A vaccine is on the way, which, along with masking, social distancing, and avoiding crowds will expedite and more safely reach the end of the current pandemic. We can likewise take comfort that we will persevere, and I pray our families will be whole in numbers when the COVID-19 storm is retreating, and the sun is shining again. A COVID-19 “2 shot” vaccine will be available in December for frontline health workers and our most vulnerable population in long-term care facilities or the like. The general-public likely will receive the vaccine as soon as April 2021. The vaccine looks to be very effective and has relatively mild side effects, which may include pain at the injection site, fever, and flu-like symptoms. These symptoms, if they occur, tell us our body is reacting to the vaccine as expected and is building antibodies to fight the actual virus should we later become infected. Northeast Tri County Health District (NETCHD) appreciated early on that our children needed to be in school if in-person learning could be safely achieved. We have worked very closely with school superintendents since summer to present to develop guidelines that will keep students and staff safe. The result is minimal transmission of disease while in school, and the hope is to phase into more in-person learning. Masks work! They decrease the transmission of COVID-19 and other illnesses. We now know that the COVID-19 virus remains airborne and social distancing helps keep us away from the virus when around others. Good hand washing is the singlemost important measure in the transmission of disease in the world, and if done frequently, many epidemics could be prevented. Staying home when we are sick prevents us from spreading any disease to others. Avoiding large gatherings, especially this time of year when we are mainly indoors in poorly ventilated areas, is sure to keep COVID-19 numbers from rising at such a steep incline. Holiday travel See artzis, 5A

we b com m e nts We welcome comment on select stories on our web site. You may comment anonymously. We will review comments before posting and we reserve the right to omit or edit comments. If you want to comment only to our writers and editors, let us know that you do not want your comment published.

yo u r o p i n i o n Parents, not communities, raise children To the editor, On Nov. 25, 2020, Pete Scobby (‘Murder a community failure’) regarding Jason Fox stated “what kind of community produces young people who would murder over what appears a simple argument?” I always thought parents raised their children, fed them, clothed them, etc. Not communities. At least he blamed someone other than Trump this week and that amazes me. Also, the last four years he’s had something negative to say about this great nation under Trump. Now he doesn’t feel safe about the community he resides in. He states “he has armed murders on his property.” Really, then he should call the police. He also states “this was a community failure.” He doesn’t say how! Wow, what a shameful statement he has made about his community. I wonder what next? -Curtis Bedore Blanchard

Selfish, yes I am To the editor, I say that because even though I am in my autumn years I am still having so much fun I would like to hang around awhile. So when I go out in public, which is less and less these days, I am dismayed with those I encounter who do not wear a mask. That is evidence of my selfishness because I know how horrible it is to wear a mask, I am the one you see with a mask on. (However, since I am an ugly featured person, I think I am better looking wearing a mask, whoops! That’s beside the point). For those who oppose,

I admit wearing a mask not only takes away your rights to give me a fatal disease but also, been there, done that, it makes your nose itch every time. What is more intrusive on your rights under the Constitution of the United States, then to be uncomfortable and unfair to you than an itchy nose. I am stuck on that issue because I can’t seem to find another reason why some people refuse to wear a mask. There seems to be a parallel between the wearing of seatbelts and that of wearing masks, even though seatbelts protect the wearer most instead of those encountered in the grocery store. My point is it took roughly 10 years for 98% of drivers to accept seatbelt laws. We really don’t have that long to agree to cooperate on this issue. I think it is ridiculous to make the wearing of a mask a partisan issue and it is ridiculous to not pitch in to help defeat this pandemic. I am wearing my mask for you, too. -Roger Castle Newport

Voter rolls inaccurate To the editor, I have a hard time believing that our county truly had an 83.47% turnout considering our voter rolls are very inaccurate. I know this because I and my husband investigated the voter rolls of District 1. I initially was treated very rudely by Marianne Nichols and Liz Krizenesky back in early June when I requested the voter rolls from District 1. How dare I request the voter rolls list. I wasn’t given what I requested either. I was given a (expletive) list that

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

I had to organize. I can’t believe they can even mail out the ballots properly, let alone count them. They are incompetent and they act like bureaucrats. They ought to be ashamed. I question whether Inslee or Biden really won. Nobody really seems to like Inslee but he keeps winning. Many of the voter addresses of the voter database are not deliverable to the address shown in our state. I can attest to the fact that District 1 falls into that category from my and my husband’s dedicated research. -Donna Rae Lands Sacheen Lake

What if it was Clinton denying election results? To the editor, It was informative to read the comments of a fellow citizen regarding the honor and integrity of the American flag. (‘Can’t fly the flag for Biden/Harris,’ Curtis Bedore Nov. 25) It was heartwarming and patriotic! His first point made was a Trump inspired insult of ‘sleepy’ Joe Biden. President Trump likes to insult. Apparently, likewise with the writer? Biden was elected because he received more votes and this time the candidate with the most votes will win. The writer is mistaken, Democrats do not condone burning the flag, lawlessness, vandalism, riots or the destruction of property committed by political opportunists who use the cover of legitimate protests to engage in illegal activity. Criminals should be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. It is a GOP myth accusing Democrats of condoning

lawlessness. Socialism. Is it revealing that the writer failed to mention President Trump sending socialistic government welfare checks to GOP farmers in his criticism of socialism? Why not? Suppose President Hillary Clinton was the one who lost this election and then chose to deny reality. So, huddling in the White House she invented an election fraud conspiracy of monumental proportions, involving five states, with no evidence. Then she sent her legion of inept attorneys into courts in an attempt to disenfranchise the votes of thousands of the electorate. Again with no evidence whatsoever in an act of treason. I will bet that conservative Republicans everywhere would come to Hillary’s defense and give her their overwhelming support to attack the election process in such a manner because to do otherwise would make them ridiculous hypocrites. -John Marshall Spokane

Supreme Court caved to politics of religion To the editor, The US Supreme Court has ruled against COVID-19 restrictions on religious services for public health. Justice Gorsuch wrote, “So, at least according to the Governor (New York), it may be unsafe to go to church, but it is always fine to pick up another bottle of wine” or “shop for a new bike.” If I went shopping for a new bike, I would not sing loudly in front of the bike and hug other people shopping for bikes. I wouldn’t have a potluck See Letter, 5A

r e a d e r ’ s p o l l r e s u lt s Have you read more books this year? I’ve read about the same as ever.

Yes, I’ve read more books this year.

Congress has made little movement on any form of coronavirus relief since the initial CARES Act passed in March. Democrats in the House passed a $3.4 trillion package in May, which includes $1,200 direct payments, $600 a week federal unemployment benefits, significant state aid, and more funding for virus testing and contact tracing. Republicans have said it’s not a serious bill and proposed a $500 billion relief plan with assistance for small businesses and health funds, with less unemployment assistance. What should Congress do?

42%

The Democrats’ bill is what is needed. They can come down a little but not a lot. This is a crisis.

No, I’ve read fewer books this year.

The Republicans bill is the most fiscally responsible. Congress can pass more later if it’s needed.

54%

4% Total votes: 24

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letters: From Page 4A

meal in the basement of the bike shop. Churches have the same virus-spreading footprint as schools. The schools are being held online and so can religious services. The Supreme Court has caved in to the politics of religion. I can’t understand why religious freedom overrides public health measures during a pandemic. After worshipping in a large gathering inside of a church building, the faithful may go to the bike shop and buy wine at a store. They potentially spread the virus after exposure at the church. A simple question should be answered. Can I sue a church for wrongful death if contact tracing proves the virus came from a church service and killed my wife or child? I wonder how the new Trump Supreme Court would rule on that case. This has been a rough year with the virus impacting our daily lives. Calling public health officials and governors tyrants for doing their duty seems out of touch with the reality of infectious diseases. Holding a normal church service during a pandemic is like drinking Reverend Jim

artzis: From Page 4A

and large family gatherings are no exception. By avoiding our traditional gatherings, we truly will be saving lives. The alarming increase in COVID-19 cases nationally is reflected locally. We keep hearing it is “just the result of increased testing.” If this was the case and COVID-19 was under control, we should be seeing the rate of positivity (number of positive COVID-19 cases/number of tests) decline. Our rate of positivity is increasing in all three counties (Ferry, Pend Oreille, Stevens). Likewise, we regularly hear that COVID-19 “isn’t that bad.” If COVID-19 were not a serious illness, then our hospitals should be functioning as usual. We are currently at capacity in all our regional hospitals including Idaho, and things are getting worse. Staffing at hospitals across the nation and locally is the critical challenge. If we look at the national picture, we see almost every state is experiencing alarming increases in COVID-19 cases, and, as a result, increased hospitalizations. “But COVID-19 cases are just a fraction of the beds these big hospitals have,” is another popular refrain we hear from skeptics. COVID-19 patients take a great deal of effort to manage and are time and staff intensive. It’s not a matter of bed or ventilator availability as we saw previously but now a matter of nurse and doctor availability. Since almost every state in our nation is seeing a rapid increase in hospitalizations, we cannot get traveling nurses or doctors to help out. How does that affect me if I do not have COVID-19 but need medical care? Consequent to staffing shortages, non-COVID medical emergencies may not be attended to in a timely fashion. A heart attack, stroke, and trauma each requires

Jones Kool-Aid to prevent the government from intruding on your religious liberty. Intentionally exposing yourself to a deadly virus is a form of suicide and intentionally passing the virus to others is a form of murder. -Pete Scobby Newport

Bedore needs to check facts better To the editor, Once again I have read a hateful letter from Curtis Bedore (‘Can’t fly the flag for Biden/Harris,’ Nov. 25). I feel so sorry for him. To be so filled with misinformation must be very troubling and painful. Obviously no one taught him to think independently, watch various news programs with different perspectives, read a variety of books and newspapers and to fact check things that he learns about before believing them. He would be shocked to find that many of the things he professes as truths are lies and misrepresentations. Does Mr. B know that not all Demos are liberals? I was a 30-year registered and voting Republican, am conservative in many of my views but never could vote for someone known to be a corrupt, lying, self-centered, racist, nor continue supporting

immediate attention, and the “golden hour” likely will become several hours before definitive care can be offered. Transportation by ambulance in rural areas is already limited, and patients requiring advanced life support en route to regional hospitals are stressed and response times to rural areas are much longer. Helicopter flight is limited during inclement weather. Our hospital staff is at capacity and diversion to other hospitals outside our region is occurring, which further delays care. How do we free up staffing? Elective surgeries will be canceled, which at this time of year, is a large burden for those who have paid their deductibles. This is a popular time of year for upper and lower diagnostic endoscopies, orthopedic surgeries, gynecologic surgeries, and similar “non-emergent” procedures. Ask anyone with a bad hip or knee if they consider their severe pain and limited mobility to be “non-emergent,” and they will strongly disagree. Postponing elective surgeries will free up some hospital staff to take care of the record number of COVID-19 patients we are seeing daily. With the holiday season upon us, the numbers are going to be worse as people gather. So why the recent restrictions? Noting the above recent sharp increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations locally and across the state, Gov. Inslee and the Washington State Board of Health realized they had to decrease the traffic in places where increased spread of COVID-19 was occurring. Data from the spring reflected restaurants, gyms, churches, and the like were sources of increased transmission in the community. The goal is to limit further spread of COVID-19. How can I do my part to help with this crisis? Our behavior makes a difference. Despite all of us being tired, discouraged, and ready to give up, we can help our medi-

someone who promoted locking up children, nominated unqualified cronies, encouraged right wing conspiracy theories, denies obvious health and environmental measures and now has pardoned a traitor. Does Mr. B. have a social conscience? Does he know that Defund the Police means retrain the police? Does he wear a mask to protect himself and others? I would personally do anything to try to protect my family and neighbors even if it only helped one person, even him. During these difficult days, I have chosen to devote myself to improve my small section of the world. It can make a difference and it makes me feel more positive. I have made over 700 donated masks and quilts for my community. I continue to hope that Mr. B. can grow educationally to expand his news sources and investigate what he chooses to have an opinion about. He doesn’t have to love the opposition but he can learn more positive ways to expend his energy than writing hate filled rants. I can send him a simple mask pattern to sew if he likes. He will feel better doing something good for society. -Carrolyn Vidal Newport

cal system and keep our neighbors alive until the vaccine is widely available. As United States of America citizens who have faced many challenges in our history, we can do this together for however long it takes to put the COVID-19 pandemic in our rear-view mirror. We can shorten the time of our suffering and save lives while exercising measures under our control. This holiday we can make a profound difference for others like never before. Our ‘giving’ should not be the transmission of COVID-19 to others by ignoring measures we now know work. We can truly help others and save lives if we mask up, avoid large gatherings, and stay home when we are sick. We are helping our economy and keeping our children in school. Despite overwhelming, confusing messaging and information, restrictions, and sometimes chaos, we can be hopeful and take comfort that our actions will save lives. What better gift to give for the holidays?

December 2, 2020 |

5A

Local governments face logistical challenges with vaccine By Hannah Weinberger Of Crosscut.com

SEATTLE – That medical experts have warned of a winter surge of the coronavirus since the early days of the now year-old pandemic doesn’t make the lived reality of it any less sobering. Cases are surging in almost every state, and exponential growth promises a long and deadly season, adding to the 1.4 million

lives globally claimed so far by the pandemic, including more than 259,000 in the U.S. and more than 2,655 in Washington state. But just as the predicted darkness descended on the country, hope for an end to the pandemic also arrived. In the past week, two separate trials for COVID-19 vaccines have claimed to significantly beat expectations for vaccine See vaccine, 6A

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| December 2, 2020

vaccine: From Page 5A

effectiveness, with a third showing promising results. Both Pfizer and Moderna say they have each reached about 95% effectiveness in Phase 3 trials of their respective vaccines, which means that only 5% of the COVID-19 cases identified in their trial participants were found in those who

had been given vaccines. “This is mind blowing,” says Dr. Jeff Duchin, Seattle & King County’s health officer. “Nobody expected a COVID vaccine to be 95% effective. Our very best vaccine is the measles vaccine and it’s about 95% effective.” While the companies’ data have not been made publicly available, Duchin says he thinks their estimates are probably right. They would “basically be shooting themselves in

the foot by announcing something that’s not true and then have it be widely discredited a few weeks later, ” he says. Officials report that a vaccine could possibly be administered to some highrisk individuals before the end of the year, but people everywhere are curious about when and how the vaccine will be made available to all and what the timeline might be for life returning to some semblance of normalcy. There has been a good deal of reporting on the science of vaccine development and manufacturing and the regulatory process around it, but what will most impact the trajectory of the pandemic is how ready our state and local governments are to distribute and administer vaccines. It’s a tough job to plan for, given the number of unknowns. Yet, many

states, including Washington, have made first stabs at that process through lengthy draft plans. Washington’s plan, devised by the state Department of Health, will be implemented by a 25-person Vaccine Planning and Coordination Team consisting of employees from within the department, sourcing from the Offices of Immunization and Child Profile, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Health Promotion and Education and others. The current 71-page plan is a draft, which means that it will likely change. While spreading the word of the plan throughout the state, the team behind it is also seeking feedback⁠ — especially from marginalized communities at the highest risk in the pandemic and that have historically been underserved — or worse — by

  

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the medical system. It does, though, provide an outline for a possible rollout. Here, we answer — as best as anyone can — what that rollout might look like.

Will the vaccine be safe when it’s available? An advisory panel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will be meeting to discuss emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 10. Distribution of the vaccine to states could happen within 24 hours of that meeting, with vaccines available as early as Dec. 12. That’s fast and has added to concerns about the safety of a vaccine. Yet, approval by the FDA, which is required for distribution, is a gold standard for a vaccine, says Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Vaccine Education Center, and a member of that FDA advisory panel. “I think if we get to this point in this country where you don’t trust the FDA, we’re in trouble,” he says. Coronavirus vaccines, like every other vaccine before them, go through multiple levels of safety testing. However, because the drugmakers are ap-

plying for emergency use authorization, the timeline for these assessments is shorter. As a result, some skeptics are concerned the drugmakers and the FDA won’t understand the extent of serious side effects. Yet two centuries of experience with vaccines have shown that serious side effects tend to turn up within months. “I think the two-month safety net at least tells you that you don’t have a serious adverse event that is relatively uncommon,” Offit says. The government will continue assessing the effectiveness and risk of the vaccines through ongoing monitoring programs. Also, some states — including Washington — have joined forces or individually vowed to launch their own state-based safety assessment programs over concerns that the Trump administration has mishandled its role in vaccine development. It is unclear whether those programs could delay the distribution of a vaccine.

Will everyone in the state be able to get the vaccine immediately? No. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention anticipates very See vaccine, 9A

tree: From Page 3A

and photos are located at each business location and on the hospital’s website. The theme “2020 Stink, Stank, Stunk” is a play on the popular movie, ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas.’ The cheeky approach to this year’s event is meant to lighten the burden felt by many businesses and individuals in the wake of COVID-19 upheaval. “We are asking community partners and Foundation supporters to help take the stink out of 2020 and support this temporary change to Festival of Trees. The Foundation Board is adamant that Festival of Trees holiday fun will continue, even if it looks different this year,” said Stratton. More information is available at www.NewportHospitalAndHealth.org or by calling the Foundation Office via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 509-447- 2441, ext. 4373. Raffle ticket order forms are also available at each display location. Due to COVID- 19 restrictions, visitation restrictions may prevent indoor viewing of trees located at RMV Advanced Care and Pine Street Café, although both trees are visible from outside. Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.

leadership: From Page 3A

floor speeches, offer up amendments, meet with legislators, government officials, stakeholders and constituents – all the things we do during session – shouldn’t be left to the whims of spotty internet access. We all need to be in Olympia when the 2021 session starts and the citizens that elected us need to have access to us and see us working on their behalf,” Kretz said. Maycumber expressed the need for an immediate special session to assist small business owners on the brink of closure, to address the state budget deficit, and the impending economic crisis. “The governor wants to wait until March or April when the next biennial budget is finalized to address our state’s pressing financial needs,” Maycumber said. “But we have families and small businesses who need help now, not this spring. They won’t survive that long. The governor has been making all his decisions and decrees in a vacuum without input from the

Legislative branch. We need an immediate special session to give voice to the voiceless and to advance practical solutions that come from every corner of the state and every constituency, not just Olympia and the West side.” The Washington State House Republicans also elected the rest of their leadership team: Leader: Rep. JT Wilcox, 2nd Legislative District (Yelm,) Caucus Chair: Rep. Paul Harris, 17th Legislative District (Vancouver) Assistant Floor Leader: Rep. Drew MacEwen, 35th Legislative District (Union) Assistant Floor Leader: Rep. Chris Corry, 14th Legislative District (Yakima) Whip: Rep. Dan Griffey, 35th Legislative District (Allyn) Additional leadership positions and House committee assignments will be announced at a later date. The 2021 legislative session will begin January 11 and is scheduled to run 105 consecutive days.

THE MINER



Calling All Poets WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOUR POETRY WITH THE MINER NEWSPAPERS? EMAIL TYPED POEMS TO [email protected] NO LATER THAN 5 P.M. ON FRIDAYS FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK’S NEWSPAPER.

At Last Charmed by the muted poetry of a slower life The flash-bang of an earlier time Has dimmed and slowed as age weathers My mind and body Replacing black and white with pastel hues “Must dos” evolve into “maybe dos” Life’s twists and turns less sharp Precious time spent just sitting Holding the hand of the one To be with until the end of life I think back on a life lived With good intentions and bad mistakes The journey not always easy But memories are softened and purged So that life sits warm on my shoulders Now prayers are for peace And happiness And protection For the ones I love As I set my path to walk to muted poetry till life’s end. -- VAL URBAT

B R I E F LY Holiday craft show starts Friday

CUSICK – The Arts and Crafts Village Holiday Show is happening at Kalispel Casino in Cusick Dec. 4-6 and Dec. 11-13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free and there will be a raffle for prizes. Those interested in being a vendor should contact 509-680-9813 or [email protected] to register. Facemasks are required for all attendees. Hand sanitizer will be supplied. Those feeling ill are requested to not attend.

Sign up for Holiday Storefront Decorating contest NEWPORT – Newport area businesses are encouraged to participate in the Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Storefront Decorating contest. Deadline for participating businesses is Friday, Dec. 11 and entry is free. The public is encouraged to vote for their favorite holiday storefront Saturday, Dec. 12 through Tuesday, Dec. 22. Vote and sign up by going to www.newportareachamber.com.

Hospitality House crafts for sale Saturdays

Lifestyle

DECEMBER 2, 2020 |

Create Art Center moves Annual Holiday Shop online

NEWPORT – Create’s Annual Holiday Shop has presented challenges for everyone due to this year’s circumstances around COVID-19, so volunteers at the non-profit have come up with another way to highlight local artisans while maintaining social distancing. “We would like to spread the joy of sharing our artists’ beautiful work in a new way,” Create Principal Officer Joyce Weir says. “We welcome you to our virtual Holiday Artists’ Shop online from now until Thursday, Dec. 31. People can shop the Artists’ Holiday Virtual Shop Catalog at www.createarts.org If a link does not cooperate within the catalog, copy and paste it into the address bar. The catalog will have some example photos of local artist creations, including metal art, fused glass, wooden bowls, succulents in pottery, jewelry, honey, books and more. Artists’ names and contact information are included in the catalog so people can contact the creators directly and/or order form their websites. “This is your opportunity to support your neighbors, family and friends at this regional event,” Weir says. “At least sixtyeight cents of every dollar spent locally stays in the area. Create is thankful for the diligent volunteers, generous supporters, art-

COURTESY PHOTO|CYNDI CASTLE

A painted metal celestial scene by Cyndi Castle is one of many local offerings in Create Art Center’s online Holiday Shop.

ists, members and teachers that allow the Create Place to grow and prosper.” Artists will donate some of their proceeds to Create to help keep the doors open and expand the

availability of the arts and humanities in the region. If interested in supporting or becoming a member of Create, call 509-4479277 or email create@createarts. org.

Live & learn classes for adults, kids PRIEST RIVER – Holiday themed Live & Learn classes are on the schedule at the West Bonner Libraries. Randy Haa will teach fused glass ornament class at the Priest River Library on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 3:30 and 5 p.m. The class will be repeated at the Blanchard Library on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. There is an $8 materials fee and registrations are limited to ensure

social distancing. On Thursday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. in Priest River, join University of Idaho Extension Educator Jennifer Jensen and learn to make an evergreen wreath. All materials will be provided for $10. Registration is required and social distancing protocols will be in place. There are still a few spots left for Full STEAM Saturday at 2 p.m. on Dec. 5. The Full STEAM Saturday

series explores coding, circuitry, connectivity and construction. The December session will feature experiments with Elephant Toothpaste. Full STEAM is open to kids 8 and up and registration is required. To register for programs call 208-448-2207 or email library@ westbonnerlibrary.org. Follow library programs and events at www.westbonner.lili.org.

Library gift exchange Dec. 8

NEWPORT – The Hospitality House will have homemade crafts for sale each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Dec. 19. There will also be limited swags for sale at that time. Swags can be ordered by phone at 509-447-3812 or in person at the Hospitality House, located at 216 S. Washington Street. Wearing a mask and social distancing is encouraged.

Santa heads to the Blanchard Grange Dec. 13 BLANCHARD – Santa will arrive on the fire truck at the Blanchard Grange Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served and Santa will host, but no sitting on his lap this year. There may also be a craft project for children to make and take home. The fire truck will leave the fire station at 3:30 p.m. and continue to the EZ Stop, going down Railroad and then up Rusho Road on its way to the grange. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Christmas Party hosted by BASIC at the Blanchard Community Center will not happen this year.

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COURTESY PHOTO|DAVE DRUM

Ready to be counted Birders will no doubt see plenty of ducks during the Pend Oreille County Christmas Bird Count, set for Sunday, Dec. 20. People interested can call John Stuart at 509-671-6071 or email at [email protected]. For more information go to www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count.

PRIEST LAKE – Come celebrate the end of the year at the Priest Lake Public Library Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m. For those who would like to participate in the White Elephant Gift Exchange, bring a gift under $20. Refreshments will be served. The Priest Lake library is located at 28769 Highway 57.

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| DECEMBER 2, 2020



Spartan boys open basketball season at home No fans, game will be live streamed BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

PRIEST RIVER – The Priest River boys’ basketball team will open their season at home Wednesday, Dec. 2 against Wallace. Because of COVID-19, fans won’t be able to watch the game in person, but it will be available to stream through the National Federation of High School Sports (www. nfhsnetwork.com). For $10.99 a month people will be able to ON DECK: livestream everything on the site. VS. WALLACE: Spartan coach Kevin Wylie says Wednesday, Dec. 2, 6 he has 21 players out this year, a p.m. few less than last season. AT WALLACE: Friday, With COVID, players didn’t play Saturday, Dec. 4-5 (TBA) in the off-season, but the school VS. POST FALLS JV: did make the weight room availTuesday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. able and Wylie says some players spent two or three hours a day working out four days a week. “Because of that, I’m pretty confident in this year’s team,” he says. The players have put in quite a bit of work already. That being said, they’re still a pretty young team. Their sole senior, Terry Jansen, hasn’t played organized basketball before. The Spartans have six juniors, three sophomores and a freshman on the varsity. Juniors Trentyn Kreager and Travis Matthews are three-year varsity players and team captains. Matthews is a 6 feet, 2 inch point guard who has worked on his shooting, Wylie says. Kreager is a 6 feet, 2 inch player who can play any position. “We’ve got some good size,” Wylie says. “It’s a really good group.” Wylie said the team will miss the play of last year’s seniors, Caden Brennan, Jantzen Lucas, Cameron Bell, Cole Thompson and Ben Zapfe. Wylie said Brennan, the team’s top scorer will be especially missed. “But everyone lost players,” he said, referring to the rest of the Intermountain League – Kellogg, Timberlake and Bonners Ferry. Wylie said Timberlake and Kellogg lost the league’s co-MVPs. “The league will be pretty competitive,” he says. “Bonners Ferry is like us, pretty young.” While it will be different playing without fans in the stands, Wylie says it is important for the players to be able to play. “Our main focus is to keep them playing and involved in sports,” he says. After playing Wallace at home Wednesday, the Spartans will travel to Wallace to play in the Silver Valley Tournament Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5. The game Friday starts at 6:30 p.m. while the time for the Saturday game is TBA. Priest River will take on the Post Falls junior varsity at home, with no fans allowed in the gym because of state COVID restrictions, Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.

Sports

THE MINER

  

National Finals starts this week

In a rodeo year in which most Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos were cancelled because of the pandemic, the National Finals Rodeo is set to start Dec. 3 and run through Dec. 12. The NFR is a 10 go-round rodeo considered the world series of rodeo. The top 15 money winners qualify for the NFR. The NFR is being held in RODEO Arlington, Texas SCENE this year having to move from Las DON Vegas because of GRONNING Nevada’s COVID restrictions. The NFR has been held in Las Vegas since 1984. The first NFR was held in 1959 in Dallas, Texas, where it remained for three years before moving to Las Angeles from 1962-1964. From 1965-1983 the NFR was held in Oklahoma City, Okla. There are a handful of Idaho and Oregon contestants at this year’s NFR. There are no Washington contestants. The NFR will be telecast on RFD-TV and online at TheCowboyChannel.com. I’ve listened to the NFR for years online at ProRodeolive. com. That’s a free live radio broadcast. There are a handful of contestants from Oregon and Idaho. Steer wrestling has the most northwest contestants. Stetson Jorgensen of Blackfoot, Idaho

Wrestling hits the mat Friday SANDPOINT – The Priest River Lamanna High School wrestling team starts their season Friday, Dec. 4 at Sandpoint High School at 5 p.m. The Spartans will travel to Lake City High School to wrestle against the Timberwolves Saturday, Dec. 19 (TBA). Schedules are subject to change. For more information, go to www.lam.sd83.org/Athletics.

qualified in the steer wrestling in eighth place, with $46,041. Blake Knowles of Hermiston, Ore., qualified in 11th place with $42,483 and Jesse Brown of Baker City, Ore in 15th place, with $39,494. New Plymouth, Idaho bull rider Roscoe Harboe will go in the bull riding, qualifying in seventh place with $61,147 in winnings. Jeff Flenniken is going in the team roping as a header, with $49,391 in winnings. It’s pretty incredible no Washington contestants qualified. The closest were the team roping Minor brothers from Ellensburg, who finished 23rd. Shane Proctor, the 2011 PRCA champion bull rider, finished 28th in world standings, with $37,082 in winnings. Caleb McMillan of Soap Lake, Wash., who is familiar to Pend Oreille County rodeo fans from his many appearances at both Newport and Cusick, finished 15th in world All Around standings with $10,599 in winnings in bull riding, steer roping and tie down roping. McMillan won the All Around award at the Columbia River Circuit for the second year in a row, winning the steer roping. Had McMillan won a little more earlier in the steer roping, he would have won the prestigious Linderman Award, which goes to the contestant who wins the most in at least three events, including both a riding event and a timed event. Contestants need to win al least $1,000 in each event. McMillan won $2,700 in the steer roping finals, held in October, after the 2020 season ended. Although contestants will

Team Won Ez-Rider 145.5 Gutter Gang 142.5 Firewood Rescue 138.5 Country Lane 129 Diamond Lake Deli 126.5

BOWLING WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25 Lucky Ladies Team Won Morning Glories 25 Sparklers 19 Misfits 14 Pooch Parlor’s Golden Girls

Lost 11 17 22 14

22

High scratch game: Darlene Dinwoodie 178. High scratch series: Claudia McKinney 502. High handicap game: Darlene Dinwoodie 235. High handicap series: Barb Mix 653. Converted splits: Betty Balison 3-10.

Wednesday Night Loopers

actually compete for about 40% prize money at this year’s NFR, the NFR will award points as though the prize money was the same as in year’s past. That means most event world championships are up for grabs at the NFR. The only one that is really out of reach is the tie-down roping, in which Shad Mayfield of Clovis N.M. has a nearly a $90,000 lead on Tuff Cooper of Decatour, Texas. Mayfield won The American Rodeo and $600,00 in March before the pandemic shut almost everything down. Only $50,000 counted towards PRCA standings but he also won San Antonio for $24,500 in February, part of $156,668 he has in PRCA winnings, by far more than any other contestant, even those competing in multiple events. Cooper leads for the All Around title with $111,450. Unless Mayfield gets hurt or something and doesn’t win anything at the NFR, he will likely win the tie down title. Saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper of Pampa, Texas also won $600,000 at The American Rodeo, also with $50,000 counting for PRCA standings, and leads his event by about $35,000, which can be made up at the NFR. The bull riding will likely be the most competitive event. Sage Kimzey of Saledo, Texas, the six time reigning PRCA champion, leads Boudreau Campbell by less than $3,000. Campbell is coming off a Professional Bull Riders World Finals win, so that event will be worth watching. For rodeo fans, the whole thing is worth watching, even in a pandemic year.

Lost 106.5 109.5 1113.5 123 125.5

High Scratch Game Team: Firewood Rescue 689. High Handicap Game Team: EZ-Rider 847. High Scratch Series Team: Firewood Rescue 1,995. High Handicap Series Team: EZ-Rider 2,418. High Scratch Game: Jim Loveridge 224. High Handicap Game: Pam Nichols 233. High Scratch Series: Jim Loveridge 615. High Handicap Series: Gordon Batsch 643. Converted Splits: Phil Benzo 3-10, Glenn Miller 4-5, Gordon Batsch 3-10 Dale Maki 5-7, Jan Edger 4-5, Pam Nichols 3-10.

THE NEWPORT MINER



DECEMBER 2, 2020 |

9A

States with few coronavirus restrictions spreading virus

Lax states are attracting shoppers and students from stricter neighbors — and sending back COVID-19 cases. The imbalance underscores the lack of a national policy. BY DAVID ARMSTONG PROPUBLICA EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally published by ProPublica and has been edited for length. It is republished under a Creative Commons license.

SPOKANE – For months after Washington state imposed one of the earliest and strictest COVID-19 lockdowns in March, Jim Gilliard didn’t stray far

from his modular home near Waitts Lake, 45 miles north of Spokane. The retiree was at high risk from the coronavirus, both because of his age, 70, and his medical condition. Several years ago, he had a defibrillator implanted. So he mainly ventured out during the pandemic to shop for food. There wasn’t much else to do anyway. Gatherings

in his county were limited to no more than 10 people, there was a mask mandate, movie theaters were closed and many nightclubs and concert venues were shuttered because of a state ban on all live entertainment, indoors and out. An hour away in Idaho, life was more normal. The state left key COVID-19 regulations up to localities, many of which made

masks optional. Even in places that required face coverings, enforcement was laxer than in Washington. High school sports, canceled for the fall in Washington, were on full display in Idaho. Most Idaho schools welcomed back students in person, in contrast to the remote learning prevailing in Washington. Businesses reopened earlier and with

fewer restrictions. There were concerts and dances. Weary of Washington’s restrictions, thousands of residents made the easy drive over the border to vacation, shop and dine in Idaho. Gilliard resisted temptation until he learned that the annual Panhandle Bluesfest would go on as scheduled near Priest River, Idaho, on Sept. 12. A keyboardist who used

to own a blues club just outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Gilliard was buoyed after months of relative isolation by the prospect of hanging out with friends while listening to music. He decided to go. A friend took a picture of Gilliard at the festival. As was permitted by local regulations at the time, he SEE STATES, 10A

VACCINE: Healthcare workers, first responders at top of list FROM PAGE 6A

limited availability of vaccines in the beginning. Pfizer, for instance, thinks it can produce 50 million doses by year’s end for the world’s population. As a result, vaccinations will be focused on people deemed most in need of them, according to state vaccination plans. “It’s going to be the Beanie Baby phenomenon,” said Offit. “I mean, this is a limited edition vaccine.” The state of Washington estimates it will receive 2% of all vaccine doses during the first two months of their availability, when they are scarcest, and suggests it could vaccinate between 150,000 and 400,000 people in that timeframe. To determine who gets vaccines and when, Washington state is following ethical guidance from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. According to Duchin, the plan will be executed “in an orderly way, based on a framework that incorporates [people’s] risk of disease and ethics and transparency, and who’s getting offered a vaccine at what time.” Groups being considered for Phase 1 vaccination include, in descending order of priority, 500,000 health care workers; 53,000 highrisk first responders, including emergency medical technicians and firefighters; more than 3 million people of all ages with comorbidities; 33,000 older adults in care facilities; and an undetermined number of essential workers. The CDC’s advisory committee’s new draft guidance prioritizes residents of longterm care facilities at the same level as health care workers. The state notes that Phase 1 distribution could

BUDGET: FROM PAGE 2A

while projected expenditures are $11,229,482. Financial manager Jill Shacklett said she is in the process of billing for reimbursement from the $1,030,000 the county received from the federal CARES Act, distributed by the state. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump earlier this year in March. The bill is meant to offset the economic fallout of the pandemic for states, counties and municipalities. According to Shacklett, Pend Oreille County has spent $30,000 of the money received from the CARES Act on emergency sick leave if an employee has to quarantine, self-isolate, provide childcare, or if a member of their immediate family becomes ill with coronavirus. Funds also include reimbursement for extra sanitation at county sites and facilities, IT for employees to work remotely and the establishment of a backup 9-1-1 emergency operating system in Cusick. “Because we’re billing for that as we use it, it’s money that doesn’t show up as cemented in the budget until we are reimbursed for it,” Shacklett said. The county was also able to use $365,000 of CARES funds to help local businesses with grants, $38,000 to Pend Oreille PUD for utility assistance and $2,000 for 2nd Harvest food distributions in the community. In the proposed budget all county departments that have work vehicles would take a four-month payment vacation from the Equipment Rental and Revolving (ER&R) Fund. The fund finances the purchase, maintenance, and disposal of county vehicles. By Washington law, all counties and cities with populations over 8,000 are legally required to have an ER&R fund for operating county road and city street departments. The payment vacation will allow $200,000 to be shifted to the road department so the commissioners can do a road levy shift to current expense, Shacklett said. “The commissioners are really dedicated to keeping county roads whole so roads don’t deteriorate further,” Shacklett said. The county’s sales tax has also not dropped as dramatically as was expected due to the pandemic and the closure of the Pend Oreille Mine in Metaline Falls in July 2019. The county budgeted $1,200,000 in sales tax for 2020 and to date has received $1,063,070 with one month left. The projected $100,000 from the one tenth of 1% sales tax increase for mental health is not reflected in the preliminary budget. Those funds are expected to be divvied up between Pend Oreille County Counseling and the jail, but that is not official yet. The commissioners will hold a public hearing for the proposed 2021 budget Monday, Dec. 7 at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom and telephonically. For more information on how to participate in the meeting, contact the clerk of the board at 509-4474119.

also take into consideration equity factors, such as whether people live in areas with high COVID-19 risk or are from vulnerable groups. The second phase will kick in when there’s enough vaccine to immunize more people and the capacity to store those doses. When that will happen is still unclear. The National Academies’ suggestions for people in the second phase of vaccine eligibility include essential workers in high-risk situations, teachers, people in detention facilities, people with slightly less severe comorbidities, the unhoused and all other older adults. It is likely that people in Phase 2 could be vaccinated even if Phase 1 is not yet complete.

What’s this about storage? Storage is a significantly limiting factor for vaccine distribution, and a real concern. One issue with the two leading vaccine candidates is that both require cold storage to keep — with Pfizer’s requiring unprecedentedly cold conditions. Depending on which vaccines become available, some states and counties might not have access to all the necessary cold storage. Washington state has three possible scenarios in place for cold storage, depending on vaccine requirements: ultracold, frozen and a mixture of both. The state Department of Health doesn’t currently have this kind of storage capacity, and the CDC has not asked the state to look for that ultracold storage just yet. But it is trying to gauge what storage options might be available in the state, and how much dry ice it will need to keep vaccines cold in transit. It estimates that for the first two months that a vaccine is available, the state will need between 7,000 and 20,000 pounds of dry ice. “Vaccine capacity will be directly impacted by freezer capacity in the state,” the state plan says. “We are working with local health jurisdictions and health care partners to document and map storage solutions, redistribution costs, and cold-chain management.” “I believe we’ll have enough of those freezers in King County to allow us to distribute that particular [Pfizer] vaccine product,” Duchin said Friday, “but in some communities across the country, that will be a real challenge.”

What will getting a vaccine in Washing-

ton look like?

There are 17 standard vaccinations given to people in the U.S. over their lifetime, so barring parental or personal decisions or immunocompromisation, you’ve had one. The mRNA-based COVID vaccines might work differently than previous vaccines approved for human use, but in terms of how you’ll experience it — a shot in the arm — it is likely to be a familiar process. Only people licensed to administer vaccines will be allowed to do so. However, there are things no one is sure of just yet: How many shots you’ll have to get — it depends which vaccines get approved — and how long immunity from each vaccine will last, which we won’t fully understand without long-term monitoring. Also, choosing which one to get might be difficult. Depending on your medical provider, you may have access to some vaccines and not others.

So who’s actually giving vaccines to people in Washington? The state Department of Health’s Office of Immunization and Child Profile is working with health care providers that can serve priority populations to sign up groups that can administer the vaccine initially. “I haven’t seen or heard any recent numbers for King County,” Duchin said Friday of how many health care providers in the county are signed up to administer vaccines yet. “I know this is in process currently, so it’s not finished. We don’t know the final number at this point. But the state has been reaching out to hospitals and health care systems to get them signed up.” The state has been doing outreach to health care providers and pharmacies that might be able to support vaccination later in the process as well. “We have gauged that nearly 90% of pharmacies across the state are interested in enrolling to provide COVID-19 vaccine,” the authors of the state’s draft plan write. “There are about 1,000 pharmacies in Washington (not including hospitals) and about 9,000 licensed and practicing pharmacists.” Additionally, the federal government has developed partnerships with 60% of chain pharmacies nationwide for distributing the vaccine.

How much is this going to cost me? It’s not completely clear. Estimates have the vaccine costing less than $100, but it’s not apparent who will actually pay for that, especially without know-

ing how much of the total vaccination tab hospitals, health departments and other groups will have to pick up. While Operation Warp Speed — the federal plan to fund and promote vaccine development — has an approximate budget of $10 billion, planning for vaccine distribution hasn’t received the same funding treatment. The CDC so far has distributed only $200 million to local jurisdictions for vaccine preparedness, when between $6 billion and $8 billion is expected to be necessary, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis. The state Department of Health says it has received $5 million. “The vaccine was developed [with] Operation Warp Speed, and the public health capacity to deliver this vaccine is proceeding at Operation Status Quo,” Duchin says. ”We are really, really hurting with the ability to do the type of advanced planning that we would like to do, if we had resources that should be made available to prepare for [an operation] larger than anything else we’ve ever don in public health or in emergency response in this country.”

So let’s assume I get the vaccine. Is this whole nightmare done now? These vaccines will not be panaceas. There’s still uncertainty about how long they might be effective, given that the vaccines being tested will have only a few months of safety data behind them. “A fear [is], are we going to have a vaccine that is effective for much shorter than we thought? Which would be a problem,” Offit says. “Now, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. But you don’t know.…

I think if it is effective for two months, it’s likely to be effective for longer.” There’s also concern about whether the vaccines will be effective at preventing severe cases of COVID-19. Moderna’s Phase 3 trial, though, showed that none of the most severe cases of COVID happened in the test group that had received Moderna’s vaccine. But if we get to a point where we have a vaccine, even then it’s just one tool in our pandemic toolbelt. Vaccines don’t immediately create herd immunity, and we’ll still need to maintain good hygiene — especially if vaccines protect against illness, but not asymptomatic infection. “Can we discern the amount of infectious virus that’s being secreted and then make a statement about whether or not we think that person would be contagious? The reason that’s relevant, obviously, is ... you may still be dangerous to others,” Offit says, giving a hypothetical situation in which a vaccine that’s 95% effective at preventing illness might be only 15% effective at preventing asymptomatic infection. “If you care about others, you should still want to wear a mask and social distance because until we get this virus under control,” he says. “That would still be a problem.” “But,” he adds, “I think you should be incredibly optimistic that we now have in hand, in all likelihood, a way out of this mess.” Duchin, King County’s health officer, has been similarly excited by this news. “There’s light at the end of the tunnel. But first we need to get through the next few months.” VISIT CROSSCUT.COM/DONATE TO SUPPORT NONPROFIT, FREELY DISTRIBUTED, LOCAL JOURNALISM.

10A



| DECEMBER 2, 2020

STATES: FROM PAGE 9A

was not wearing a mask, nor were about 10 people sitting together in the background. After the Idaho concert, Gilliard started feeling ill and was diagnosed with the coronavirus. For about a week, he stayed in bed. As his condition worsened, he was admitted to a Spokane hospital and placed on a ventilator. He died on Oct. 15. His death certificate lists COVID-19 as the underlying cause. Going to the Idaho festival likely killed Gilliard, his ex-wife, Robin Ball, said. “If he had been wearing a mask, not shaking hands and keeping distance, he could probably be alive,” she said. “He had been careful before that. He shouldn’t have been up there.” As the number of COVID-19 cases skyrockets nationwide, the extent of the public health response varies from one state — and sometimes one town — to the next. The incongruous approaches and the lack of national

standards have created confusion, conflict and a muddled public health message, likely hampering efforts to stop the spread of the virus. Nowhere are these regulatory disparities more counterproductive and jarring than in the border areas between restrictive and permissive states; for example, between Washington and Idaho. A lack of such consistency is affecting eastern Washington, which appears to be absorbing some of the costs — both human and economic — of Idaho’s more laissez-faire approach to the virus. The rate of new cases in and around Spokane, near the Idaho border, is far higher than in Seattle and western Washington, which experienced one of the earliest outbreaks in the country in February. Although slightly more than half of recent COVID-19 cases in Spokane spread among households or personal contacts, Spokane Regional Health District epidemiologist Mark Springer said, “people bringing back COVID-19 from larger events in Idaho” has been a problem. And with Idaho’s

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rate of new cases now doubling Washington’s, Idahoans who commute to the Spokane area pose an outsized danger. At the same time, Washington’s shuttered businesses have ceded customers to their Idaho competitors.

Washington schools suffering Public schools in Washington have also suffered. After opening the school year with remote-only instruction, the Newport School District lost about one-fourth of its 1,200 students. Most of them opted either for specialized online-only programs or for nearby private and public schools across the border in Idaho, which offered in-person learning and sometimes didn’t require masks or social distancing, said Newport Superintendent Dave Smith. The plunge in enrollment has led to a $1.2 million drop in funding, he said. In early October, Newport began some in-person learning but had to return to remote instruction after a COVID-19 outbreak in the community. The source was traced to a Christian church and school only a few feet from the Washington border in Oldtown, Idaho. “It’s incredibly frustrating,” Smith said. “I certainly think aligned standards across the nation would have changed our situation.” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee recently called on “Idaho leaders to show some leadership” and be more aggressive in combating COVID-19. He blamed the virus spread in Idaho for straining Washing-

ton hospitals. For their part, some in Idaho have complained that the rise of COVID-19 there has more to do with the influx of Washington residents over the summer and fall than with a lighter regulatory touch. In July, the Panhandle Health District encompassing five Idaho counties ordered a mask mandate in Kootenai County. It required masks in indoor and outdoor public places when a social distance of 6 feet could not be maintained. Bonner County is a rural pocket of defiance against government public health mandates related to the coronavirus. When the local library instituted a mask requirement for users, mask-less demonstrators, some clutching small children, protested and tried to enter the library as staff members stood their ground and explained they were only trying to prevent people from getting sick. The county sheriff wrote to the governor criticizing lockdown orders early in the pandemic, alleging that public health officials misled the public and that “COVID-19 is nothing like the plague.”

Concert organizers didn’t take lightly Concert organizers Billy and Patty Mullaley said they waited until the end of June before deciding to go ahead with it. The only potential roadblock was getting liability insurance at an affordable price during a pandemic, which they were able to do after shopping around. “At the time, there were not any restrictions” on events like theirs in Idaho,

THE NEWPORT MINER

Patty Mullaley said. “We did not take it lightly, having the event. We really put thought into it.” They bleached outhouses and the area around the concert stage offered plenty of space for social distancing, she said. Among those most grateful they went ahead, she said, were musicians who had been starved for gigs because of coronavirus-related cancellations. Mullaley said the festival drew Washington residents eager for events banned in their own state. “From my experience, everyone and their dog from Washington was over here,” she said. “Our COVID is probably from people coming over here from Washington.” Few of the hundreds of people at the festival wore masks and many didn’t stay socially distant, according to attendees. “Part of what made it magical was people were completely free and happy and not fearful at all,” said Sylvia Soucy, who had COVID-19 earlier in the summer. People danced barefoot on the soft sand and mingled with friends, she said. Mullaley said people socially distanced “as much as possible.” In the end, she said, “these were all adults” who made individual decisions. The Mullaleys said they were unaware of anyone else from the concert getting COVID-19 around that time. But some Washington residents who tested positive for the coronavirus told contact tracers that they had attended the blues festival, according to Matt Schanz, the administrator of Northeast Tri County Health District. That doesn’t definitively mean that they contracted the virus at the festival, he said. “We have 550 cases within three counties, and if you read the summary reports, a decent number of those have some affiliation with Idaho,” Schanz said. Tensions between Washington and Idaho over their divergent responses to the pandemic escalated

  

in October. As the count of COVID-19 cases climbed, the board of the Panhandle Health District in Idaho voted 4-3 to rescind the mask order it had imposed on Kootenai County three months before. Officials in Washington were stunned. Inslee, the governor, refused to rule out restrictions on border traffic. The move by the health board came amid growing resistance in the state to mandatory public health measures to control the virus and skepticism that COVID-19 was even real. Health board member Allen Banks said he was “deeply suspicious” of tests for COVID-19. In an email to a senator who had criticized the board’s mask mandate, he wrote, “I hope you and the legislators who support your effort will continue to stand for truth rather than the fantasy of a phony disease based on a false test.” Board member Walt Kirby, who had voted in July to approve the mask mandate initially, was the deciding vote. He opposed a mandate because people were “pretty damn nasty” to him for supporting it before, he explained. “I am not going to vote for it, I am just not because no one is wearing the damn masks anyway,” Kirby said, adding that he wears a mask. As for people who ignore the advice of public health experts, he said, “I am just sitting back and watching them catch it and die and hopefully I will live through it. You know I am 90 years old already and I am not getting involved in it anymore.” Even as the requirement was rescinded, cases in Kootenai were soaring. The rate of hospitalizations in the border area in northern Idaho is nearly double the rate in the Spokane region. Overall, the number of new cases in Idaho per capita is almost twice that of Washington. With the county mandate overturned, the city of Coeur d’Alene considered in late October whether to adopt one on its own. Mayor Steve Widmyer and the City Council were inundated with hundreds of emails and telephone calls, many from mask opponents. Idaho Gov. Brad Little has also remained steadfast in opposition to the idea. “Idaho’s health officials have been mindful of the challenges of mitigating spread of COVID-19 in border communities since the onset of the pandemic,” a spokeswoman for Little said in an email. The governor’s “priority at this time is mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in Idaho and preserving health care capacity for those in need.” For the Panhandle health board, however, the situation became too dire to ignore. On Nov. 19 it reversed itself again and passed a mask mandate for all five of its counties, including Bonner, the site of the blues festival. But county sheriffs have ignored enforcing the mandate or made it a low priority, according to local media. The move came too late to save Gilliard. “Until everyone in this country can do the same thing, all states on the same page, limit crowd size and mask mandates that are enforced, this is going to happen,” said Ball, his ex-wife. “It only makes sense. Because what we have been doing hasn’t been working.”

THIS STORY ORIGINALLY APPEARED DEC. 1 ONLINE AT WWW.PROPUBLICA.ORG/ARTICLE/STATES-WITH-FEW-CORONAVIRUS-RESTRICTIONSARE-SPREADING-THE-VIRUSBEYOND-THEIR-BORDERS.

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Fold each spoons kosher salt Dough: 2 tablespoons all- and olive oil, 1/2mein teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper 18-by-13-inch rectangle and use noodles Servings: 8 pleasing texture. Pair your chosen entree with Warm purpose flour short side into middle and cut in half. Wrap each piece in 4 cups all-purpose flour and cayenne pepper. Spread into single layer pastry cutter to cut into 1 1/2-inch ks cold unsalted 2 tablespoons 3 pounds delicata squash, cut lengthwise, In Farro Salad with Grapes and Delicata Squash for ajuice saladminutes, bowl,orcombine spinach wide strips. andlarge roast 10-15 until bottoms are close like a book. Fold once 1atlemon 1/2 tablespoons sugar plastic and chill least seeded and cut into 1/2-inch slices utter, cut into Transfer filling into chilled browned. Turn squash and roast 10-15 minutes, or hearty side dish that can also be served on its own. with grapes, oranges and onion. e more to make thick block and 1 pinch 2 salt teaspoons kosher saltspread evenly. Lay 3 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive pastry and until browned and tender. 30 minutes or overnight. 2-inch cubes 1 3egg divided in half. Wrap eachoil, piece in dough strips on topcut of filling in While squash is cooking, combine farro, Finally, cap off the celebration with homemade Whisk together dressing, orange 1/2Grape sticks cold unsalted 1 tablespoon water teaspoon coarse salt, divided To make filling: In large pattern and crimp sidesand chill at 1least water and remaining salt. Bring to boil, reduce plastic p ice water, plus cut lattice into and Apple Sheet Pan Pie. demerara butter, sugar, juice andcover jam.and Pour salad and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black together. Mix egg with water to simmer, cookover until farro is tender, bowl, combine toapples, grapes, 30Sprinkle minutes or overnight. for garnish and brush top of pie. pepper, divided 1/2-inch cubes dditional if grapesfromcalifornia.com/recipe needed 25-30until minutes. Drain leftover water and transfer Visit find more toss greens are coated with with demerara sugar and make dough: In large Tobake make filling: 1Inpinch largecayenne pepper to large bowl. Add squash, remaining olive oil, flour,To lemon and 1juice cup icebowl, water, plus until filling is bubbling, andcombine apples, holiday-worthy dishes sugar, from appetizers andflour, entrees 1 1/2 cups farro whisk sugar to and salt. dressing. Divide among eightzest, plates remaining pepper, lemon juice, lemon grapes bowl, grapes, additional if needed crust is nicely browned, about salt; set aside. Add butter and toss with flour 2 cups water and parsley; toss. sides, snacks and desserts. and top with crunchy noodles. sugar, flour, lemon juice and 45-50 minutes. mixture. Smash each butter 3 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice Note: Acorn or butternut squash may be To assemble pie: Heat oven 1 teaspoon lemon zest substituted for delicata squash. salt; set aside. unds Granny Smith Filling: to 375 F. To assemble pie: Heat oven r other tart apples, 3 pounds Granny Smith to 375 F. Roll one half of dough out to or other tart apples, eeled thinly cube flat then userectangle. fork to stirpeeled Roll one half of dough out to pe andand Apple Sheet 18-by-13-inch Transfer and thinly iced (about 9 cups) in cold water. Knead lightly 1 1/2 cups halved California 18-by-13-inch rectangle. Transfer Warm Farro Salad with Grapes Pie sliced (about 9 cups) to 10-by-15-inch heavy baking 1 1/2 Warmand Farro Salad 1/2 withcup Grapes and parsley until dough comes together to 10-by-15-inch heavy baking psme:black chopped 4 cupstoblack 1/2 Delicata Squash 1 hour sheet; place in refrigerator Delicata Squash in ball. Transfer to floured sheet; place in refrigerator to alifornia grapes California grapes time: 50 minutes Heat oven to 425 F. Heat ov chill top sheet. work while surfacerolling and useout wellwhile out top sheet. Prepchill time: 20rolling minutes Prep time: 20 minutes cup sugar pgs: sugar 16 On s Roll out remaining dough to floured rolling pin to 3/4 roll into On sheet pan, toss squash with Roll out remaining dough to Cook time: 30 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes 2 tablespoons alllespoons allolive 18-by-13-inch rectangle and use 10-by-15-inch sheet. Fold each h: olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 ote Servings: 8 18-by-13-inch rectangle and use purpose flour Servings: 8 to cut into 1 1/2-inch cay pastry cutter short side into middle and urpose flour cups all-purpose flour pastry andsquash, cayenne Spreadand into cutter to cut 1 1/2-inch 2once tablespoons 3 pounds delicata cutpepper. lengthwise, wide strips. and roa close like a book. Foldinto tablespoons sugar lespoons 3Transfer pounds delicata squash, cut lengthwise, lemon juice seeded and cut into 1/2-inch slices wide strips. and roast 10-15 minutes, or until filling into chilled more to make thick block and browne teaspoons mon juice kosher salt cutTransfer 1 pinch seeded cutLay into 1/2-inch slices 3 1/2 tablespoons browned. extra-virginTurn olive squash and until pastry and spreadand evenly. in half. Wrap eachinto piece in salt filling chilled roastbr sticks cold unsalted 1 egg oil, divided ch butter, salt cut into dough strips on top of filling in plastic and chill at least 3 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive Whi pastry and spread evenly. Lay until browned and tender. 1 tablespoon water 1 teaspoon coarse salt, divided lattice pattern and crimp sides 30 minutes or overnight. water a 1/2-inch cubes oil, divided dough strips on In toplarge ofdemerara filling insugar, While squash is cooking,tocom 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black together. Mix egg with water To make filling: simm cup ice water, plus lespoon water 1 brush teaspoon coarse salt, divided lattice patternapples, and crimp forsides garnish water and remaining salt. Bring and top of pie. Sprinkle pepper, divided bowl, combine grapes, 25-30 m additional if needed merara sugar, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black 1 pinch cayenne together. egg with water In large bowl, with demerara sugar and bake sugar, flour,Mix lemon juice anddough: To make to pepper simmer, cover and cook tountil large or until filling is bubbling, and salt; set aside. 1 1/2 cups farro 25-30 minutes. Drain leftover whisk sugar and salt. and brush top of pie.flour, Sprinkle pepper, divided remain wa g: garnish crust is nicelycayenne browned, about To assemble pie:sugar Heat oven Add butter toss with flour 2 cups water to large bowl. Add squash,and par demerara andand bake pounds Smith with 1 pinch pepper ough: In Granny large bowl, rema 45-50 minutes. to 375 F. mixture. Smash each butter 3 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice Note or other apples, until filling isofbubbling, and 1 1/2 cups farro , sugar andtart salt. remaining pepper, lemon juice, l Roll one half dough out to 1 teaspoon lemon zest substitu peeled and thinly crust is nicely browned, about andsliced toss(about with flour 2 cups water 18-by-13-inch rectangle. Transfer and parsley; toss. 9 cups) 1 1/2 cups halved California grapes Warm Farro with Grapes to 10-by-15-inch heavy baking 45-50 minutes. mash 3 1/2 Salad tablespoons lemonand juice Note: Acorn or butternut squa cupseach blackbutter 1/2 cup chopped parsley Delicata Squash sheet; place in refrigerator to California grapes 1 teaspoon lemon zest Heat oven to 425 F. substituted for delicata squash. chill while rolling out top sheet. Prep time: 20 minutes cup sugar On sheet pan, toss squash with 2 tablespoons Roll out remaining dough to Cook time: 30 minutes tablespoons allolive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper 18-by-13-inch rectangle and use Servings: 8 purpose flour and cayenne pepper. Spread into single layer pastry cutter to cut into 1 1/2-inch tablespoons 3 pounds delicata squash, cut lengthwise, wide strips. and roast 10-15 minutes, or until bottoms are lemon juice seeded and cut into 1/2-inch slices Transfer filling into chilled browned. Turn squash and roast 10-15 minutes, or pinch salt 3 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive pastry and spread evenly. Lay until browned and tender. egg oil, divided dough strips on top of filling in While squash is cooking, combine farro, tablespoon water 1 teaspoon coarse salt, divided lattice pattern and crimp sides water and remaining salt. Bring to boil, reduce demerara sugar, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black together. Mix egg with water to simmer, cover and cook until farro is tender, for garnish and brush top of pie. Sprinkle pepper, divided 25-30 minutes. Drain leftover water and transfer 1 pinch cayenne pepper ke dough: In large bowl, with demerara sugar and bake to large bowl. Add squash, remaining olive oil, until filling is bubbling, and 1 1/2 cups farro flour, sugar and salt. remaining pepper, lemon juice, lemon zest, grapes crust is nicely browned, about utter and toss with flour 2 cups water and parsley; toss. 45-50 minutes. re. Smash each butter 3 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice Note: Acorn or butternut squash may be 1 teaspoon lemon zest substituted for delicata squash.

2B



| DECEMBER 2, 2020

THE MINER

An easy aay to make your holiday healthier (Family Features) Planning your holiday menu? Dried cranberries are an ingredient found in many classic holiday recipes, but what you may not know is that

they are packed with added sugars. Raisins, on the other hand, are naturally sweet with 0 grams of added sugars, making them a healthy alternative that can help

enhance the flavor and nutrition of your favorite holiday recipes. Raisins fit seamlessly into many familyfriendly recipes, like traditional oatmeal cookies, stuffing and sweet breads. They also make for easy salad, oatmeal and yogurt toppers, provide a naturally sweet fruit option on charcuterie boards and are a great standalone holiday snack. Why is this important? Many health-conscious consumers are interested in wholesome foods and products with less

ingredients and natural sugars, like those that occur in fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products. Added sugars, however, refer to any sugars or caloric sweeteners that are added to foods during processing or preparation. Consumption of excessive added sugars may be associated with health consequences, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, fatty liver, dental caries and more, according to research published by the National Library of Medicine. “Consumers are becoming more health conscious and trying to include more nutrientdense options with less ingredients,” says Sarah Schlichter, a registered dietitian with a master’s in public health. “Yet, consumers often don’t recognize how added sugars throughout the day can quickly add up.” The U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s 2020 Scientific Report, which sets the stage for the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, has proposed an overall reduction in added sugars, recommending that added sugars comprise no more than 6% of the overall diet for adults and children ages 2 and older. This is a reduction from the previous recommendation of less than 10% of the overall diet, bringing further attention to the serious health risks

of excessive sugar intake.

Understanding Natural Sugars vs. Added Sugars Nutrition labels haven’t always distinguished between natural and added sugars, Schlichter said, but instead lumped them together under “total sugars.” However, the Food and Drug Administration’s Nutrition Facts label, which is currently being transitioned to, makes this easily discernible by clearly outlining how much of the total sugar content comes from added sugars. “One key difference between natural and added sugars is that natural sugars usually complement other nutrients naturally found in a food or fruit, such as fiber, potassium, vitamin C or antioxidants, all of which confer several health benefits,” Schlichter said. “These complementary nutrients may also slow the rate of digestion, keeping blood sugar more stable. Conversely, added sugars are added in isolation and aren’t adding any nutrients to the product.” To put this in perspective, 1/4 cup of dried sweetened cranberries contains 29 grams of sugar. Of those 29 grams of sugar, 27 grams are added sugars, meaning that most of the sugar is not found naturally in dried cranberries. While a 1/4-cup serving

of raisins also contains 29 grams of sugar, the difference is that all 29 grams are naturally found in raisins and none are added. Raisins also naturally offer potassium, iron and fiber.

Making the Case for Raisins To reduce added and total sugars, many products have been formulated using artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose, aspartame or other nocalorie sweeteners. Nocalorie sweeteners are not free from health risks, however, and have been linked to weight gain, obesity, changes to the microbiome, decreased satiety and altered blood sugar levels, according to research published by the National Library of Medicine. Products sweetened with artificial sweeteners may also contain other unnecessary ingredients as well. For example, 50% less sugar dried cranberries also contain ingredients such as soluble corn fiber, table sugar, glycerin and sucralose. These products are not really any healthier, Schlichter said, noting there is still much unknown about artificial sweeteners and how they impact hormones, satiety and gut health. Because raisins have no added sugars, no artificial flavors and no unnecessary ingredients, Schlichter recommends swapping them for dried cranberries this holiday season.

  

THE MINER



Boosters 

DECEMBER 2, 2019 |

Four-legged friend salute

3B

W

e asked for pet photos and readers delivered, with pictures of cats, dogs, horses, rabbits and more submitted. We asked people to send us a clear photo of their animal family members along with their names and the funny and/or heartfelt things their pets do. We received so many we can’t include them all in one newspaper, but to those who did submit a photo, watch for future editions, as we will be revisiting this idea again. Thank you for sharing stories and pictures of your pets

COURTESY PHOTO|AMANDA HAMMER

“Levi the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) colt and his best girls, Alyssa and Hailey Bolyard.”

COURTESY PHOTO|PENNY CLAYTON

“Here is my beautiful boy, C.E. Tango Clasico. He is a Peruvian horse.”

COURTESY PHOTO|LAURA LOUTZENHISER WHITEHOUSE

“Our dog Tinkerbell with her favorite person, Lola.”

COURTESY PHOTO|TAMMY ROSE FREDRICK

“These are two of our Netherlands lop rabbits. Nevaeh is holding Oscar and Gage is holding Pepper.”

COURTESY PHOTO|GRACE LEAL

“This is my cat Gwenivere snuggling me when I was six months pregnant. She snuggled my belly like that everyday through my entire pregnancy. She is less interested in my daughter now that she is earth side, though.”

HEALTHY IDAHO FORESTS. HEALTHY ECONOMIC FUTURE

World’s only manufacturer of FAA approved composite aircraft floats!

IDAHOFORESTGROUP.COM (208) 772-6033

208-448-0400 265 Shannon Lane, Industrial Park aerocet.com

Support Our Future Loggers

WISE TIMBER MANAGEMENT PRESERVES BOTH

Professional Foresters Now Buying Logs AND Land

Trevor Favaro 208-290-4547 (Formerly Welco Lumber)

4B

H O L I DAY H A M G I V E - AWAY 

| DECEMBER 2, 2020

THE MINER

You could Win a Holiday Ham! Drop your entries at the merchants listed below by 3 p.m. Monday, December 14. A winner from each business will be announced in the December 16 issue of The Miner Newspapers. $15 value per winning entry.

Seeber’s Pharmacy & Gifts 336 S. Washington Ave., Newport (509) 447-2484 Name: Phone:

Mountain West Bank Ione Branch

223 Main St., Ione • (Drive through only) (509) 442-3516

Priest River Animal Rescue / Critters Thrift Store

Selkirk ACE Hardware 495 Hwy 2, Oldtown (208) 437-5669

5538 Hwy. 2, Priest River • (208) 448-0699 Name: Name:

Phone:

Phone:

Salesky Service Center 333209 Hwy 2, Newport (509) 447-4767

Mountain West Bank Newport Branch

330 N. Washington, Newport (Drive through only) • (509) 447-4315

Name: Phone:

Name:

Name:

Phone:

Phone:

Connie’s Cuts

104 S. Washington, Ste. A, Newport (509) 671-6179

Woods Crushing & Hauling, Inc.

Safeway

121 W. Walnut, Newport (509) 447-4315

Drop off at The Miner • (208) 263-4800

Name: Phone:

Northern Lakes Dock & Barge Drop off at The Miner (208) 428-0505

Name:

Name:

Phone:

Phone:

Vaagens

Drop off at The Miner (509) 684-5071

Mary’s Feed and Farm 240 Old Diamond Rd., Oldtown (208) 437-2046

Name: Phone: Name:

Name:

Phone:

Idaho Forest Group Drop off at The Miner (208) 772-6033

Phone:

R & L Enterprises, Inc.

Golden China

Drop off at The Miner (208) 448-1080

1596 W. 7th St., Newport (509) 447-2753

Name:

Name:

Phone:

Phone:

Name: Phone:

The Miner Newspapers 421 S. Spokane, Newport (509) 447-2433

Durham School Services Drop off at The Miner (509) 447-0505

Clearwater Properties Leslie Moug 319 West First St., Newport (509) 675-9444

Name: Name: Phone:

Phone:

Name: Phone:

  

THE MINER

H O L I DAY H A M G I V E - AWAY 



DECEMBER 2, 2020 |

5B

You could Win a Holiday Ham! Drop your entries at the merchants listed below by 3 p.m. Monday, December 14. A winner from each business will be announced in the December 16 issue of The Miner Newspapers. $15 value per winning entry.

City of Priest River

Aerocet, Inc.

422 High Street, Priest River (208) 448-2123

Drop off at The Miner (208) 448-0400 Name:

Name:

Phone:

Phone:

All Faz’s Bookkeeping

RTI / POTC

220 S. Washington, Newport (509) 447-5200 Name: Phone:

322 Main St., Ione (509) 442-0082

Floener Electric Drop off at The Miner (509) 684-8353

Name: Phone:

Jason Earl Insurance

223 S. Washington Ave., Newport (509) 447-3423

Name: Phone: Name: Phone:

Habitat for Humanity Colville Valley Partners Name:

Kelly’s Bar & Grill Drop off at The Miner (509) 447-3267

Drop off at The Miner (509) 684-2319

Name: Phone:

Phone:

ABC Heating & Electric Drop off at The Miner (509) 684-2018

Perfection Tire & Auto 311 W. Walnut, Newport (509) 447-3933

Bliss Chiropractic Health Center 601 Hwy 20, Newport (509) 447-2413 Name: Phone:

Petroglyph Printing & Signs 308 W. Second St.., Newport (509) 447-2590

Name:

Name:

Phone:

Phone: Name: Phone:

6B



| DECEMBER 2, 2020

THE MINER

  

Seniors: Get your flu shot – it’s important (Family Features) Getting vaccinated for the flu is more important than ever. Not only will a flu shot help keep you and your family healthy, it can help reduce the strain on the healthcare system and keep hospital beds and other medical resources available for people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This is no ordinary flu season; it’s a flu season amid a pandemic. With two dangerous viruses going around at once, it’s time for people to protect their communities by getting the vaccine already available: the flu vaccine. And people with Medicare are at greater risk for serious complications from flu. A flu shot is an important preventive tool for individuals with asthma, diabetes, and heart and lung disease – chronic conditions that can increase the risk for serious flu-related health complications or even death. It’s

the best protection from getting and spreading this flu virus, and it’s covered by Medicare at no cost. Medicare Part B covers one flu shot per flu season per beneficiary. You pay nothing for a flu shot if your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider accepts Medicare payment for giving the shot. A flu shot won’t protect you against COVID-19, but it has many other important benefits. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there’s no evidence that a flu vaccination increases your risk of getting sick from a coronavirus, like the one that causes COVID-19. Those at high risk for flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people 65 years and older, and people with certain chronic health conditions. Any-

one who is six months old or older should get a yearly flu vaccine. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated in September or October, but a flu shot anytime during the flu season can help protect you. Flu season in North America rarely begins before early October and usually lasts from December to March. In the past two years, the peak activity has occurred around mid-to-late February. Your body needs two weeks after a shot to develop a protective response to the influenza virus, so your best bet is to get vaccinated before the flu rate begins to climb. Workplaces and other settings that usually provide flu shots may not do so this season because of the challenges of maintaining social distancing. For more information on where you can get a flu vaccine, visit www.vaccinefinder.org. When going to get a flu shot, SEE FLU SHOT, 10B

Senior Activities December Sunday

Monday



Tuesday 1 • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open • 10 a.m. to noon: Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley

6 7 • 8 a.m.: Coffee Hour at Hospitality House • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open for Activities

13 14

8 • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open • 10 a.m. to noon: Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley

15

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open for Activities

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open

Noon: Potluck at Hospitality House

• 10 a.m. to noon: Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley

Wednesday

Thursday Friday

2 • 10 a.m. to noon: Food

3 4 • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Bank open at 45 S. McKinley Hospitality House Open • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open •Noon: Meal, Ione Senior Center Hospitality House Open • 2-5 p.m.: Priest River Food Bank • Noon - 1 p.m.: Growing Up Again open at 45 S. McKinley at UCC, Newport 9 • 10 a.m. to noon: Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open • Noon - 1 p.m.: Growing Up Again at UCC, Newport

16

10 • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open • 2-5 p.m.: Priest River Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley

17 • 10 a.m.: BASIC Meeting,

• 10 a.m. to noon: Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley

Blanchard Community Center

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open

11

• Noon: Meal, Ione Senior Center

Saturday 5 • 6:30 p.m.: Bingo at Ione IOOF Hall

12 • 6:30 p.m.: Bingo at Ione IOOF Hall

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open

18

19

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open

• 6:30 p.m.: Bingo at Ione IOOF Hall

• Noon - 1 p.m.: Growing Up Again • 2-5 p.m.: Priest River Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley at UCC, Newport

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open for Activities

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open

• 10 a.m. to noon: Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley

• 10 a.m. to noon: Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open

Christmas Day

• 2-5 p.m.: Priest River Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley

• Noon - 1 p.m.: Growing Up Again at UCC, Newport

27

28

29

• 8 a.m.: Coffee Hour at Hospitality House

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open for Activities

• 10 a.m. to noon: Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley

30

• 10 a.m. to noon: Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open • Noon - 1 p.m.: Growing Up Again at UCC, Newport

31 • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open • 2-5 p.m.: Priest River Food Bank open at 45 S. McKinley



• 6:30 p.m.: Bingo at Ione IOOF Hall

THE MINER

FOR THE RECORD



DECEMBER 2, 2020 |

7B

OBITUARI ES Leonard “Curly” Davaz CUSICK

Leonard Eugene Davaz, better known as “Curly,” passed away on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, surrounded by his loving wife and five children. He Davaz was 88. Born on Aug. 15, 1932, in Ruby, Wash., Curly’s family moved to Dalkena when he was a young boy. He attended Cusick Grade School and Cusick High School, where he excelled at sports, including football, basketball, and track. When his family relocated to Newport during his high school years, Curly rode the Newport school bus to the Dalkena Store and then transferred to the Cusick bus, determined to finish high school with his friends. He stayed in contact with those friends his entire life. He later worked at Jackson Motors and saved enough to trade the yellow school bus for a yellow Mercury. Yellow always was his favorite color. After graduating in 1951, Curly joined the Navy and became part of a construction battalion known as the “The Seabees.” He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1953. He returned home – and returned to his roots. His father and stepfather had been loggers, so he too took up the trade, working for Diamond Match as a log truck driver. A few years later, Curly’s mother, Harriet Emch, mortgaged their home to help Curly buy his own logging truck. During that period, Curly met and married his dear wife, Gladys. Until the very end, the most important thing to Curly was having her by his side. He later cofounded a logging business called C&D Logging with his uncle, Frances “Fuzzy” Cole. Back then, Curly never walked anywhere. He ran. During the week, he could be seen running from the woods to his logging truck, from his logging truck to the house, and back again. There was even a good chance he would challenge you to a race, which he would always win, one way or another. If he wasn’t cleaning and maintaining his logging truck and equipment on the weekend, he was racing snowmobiles. His children remember (mostly fondly) traveling to races as far away as Yellowstone. They recall how, on the straight stretches, he would hold onto the handle bars and lie flat on his stomach for maximum speed. How he never let them quit when they themselves were racing. And then there was

that one time during a cross-country race, when his team broke down, repaired their sleds on the spot, and still won the race. In 1969, Curly and Gladys opened Curly’s Sales and Service in Priest River, ID. On any given day, Curly could be found rebuilding a chainsaw, discussing the latest Arctic Cat snowcats, or drinking coffee next door with his friends. He was an honest and fair businessman. Every customer was valued, and everyone got the same deal. If a logger broke their saw, Curly either had it fixed by quitting time, or offered a lender so the logger could be back on the job the next day. With Curly, you always knew where you stood. You could call him anytime for advice and get a straight answer. And he made it clear when the conversation was over because he just hung up the phone – only to call back thirty minutes later with some new advice because he had been thinking about it. Curly and Gladys retired in 1996 and moved to the family homestead on LeClerc Creek near Cusick, Wash. He may have stopped running by then, but he didn’t slow down. He could be seen mowing the grass on his meticulous ninetee, one-hole golf course or moving rock with his skid steer. As he always said, “The worst kind of riding is better than the best kind of walking.” Curly loved antique gas pumps and automobile memorabilia, the Dallas Cowboys, polka dancing, and saltine crackers topped with peanut butter and a smidgen of Miracle Whip. He was truly one-of-a-kind. Curly will be remembered as a steadfast, reliable husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend. When he was needed, he showed up. If there was a graduation, class reunion (especially one of his own Cusick school reunions), wedding, or birthday party, he showed up. He was the first one there and – to be fair – the first one to leave. Now he’s gone for good, and with heavy hearts, we say goodbye. Curly has hung up the phone. We will sure miss talking to him. Curly was preceded in death by his parents Henry Davaz and Harriet Emch, stepfather Walter Emch, motherin-law Dorothy Davaz, brother Robert Davaz, sister-in-law Clara Davaz, brother-in-law Orville Gibbins, brotherin-law Duane Randolph, and granddaughter

Summer Leen. He is survived by his sisters Judy Randolph, Frances Burrell and husband Doug Burrell, and Wendy Banka and husband Ron Banka, children Carole White, Tina Rea and husband Ron Rea,

Trudy Leen and husband Neal Leen, Theresa Watson, and Neil Davaz and wife Jeannine Davaz, 16 grandchildren, 31 greatgrandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Memorials may be sent

FIRE DISTRICT NO. 4 COMMISSIONERS: 6 p.m. - Dalkena Fire Station No. 41 DIAMOND LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: 6:30 p.m. - Diamond Lake Fire Station, Highway 2 IONE TOWN COUNCIL: 7 p.m. - Clerk’s Office

THURSDAY, DEC. 3

EDITOR’S NOTE: The police reports, taken from dispatch logs provided to The Miner by law enforcement agencies, are not intended to be an exact report, but rather a comprehensive list of police calls in Pend Oreille and West Bonner counties. Dispatch also fields calls for the Kalispel Tribe’s property in Airway Heights. Certain police calls are generally omitted because of space constraints. These include, but aren’t limited to ambulance calls for illness, unfounded alarms, traffic stops, dogs at large, abandoned vehicles, 911 hang–ups and civil standbys. All dispositions for the police reports are assumed to be active, assists or transfers at press time. PEND OREILLE COUNTY

MONDAY, NOV. 23

ABANDONED VEHICLE: A South Ave, Metaline Falls, law enforcement out with a vehicle with a child in the backseat. THEFT: Hwy. 2, report that storage unit was broken into, everything taken. MISSING PERSON: Westside Calispel Rd., report that 30-year-old grandson is missing. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VERBAL: Houghton St., Ione, report grandfather came into his room, grabbed him by arm and fell and then verbally abused him. ERRATIC DRIVER: Hwy. 2, Newport, report of silver truck extreme lane travel. VEHICLE PROWL: W. Walnut St., Newport, report there is a possible drug deal, or someone is casing vehicles. Subject is sitting in a dark Jeep Liberty.

MOTOR VEHICLE COLISSION: Hwy. 211, report of dark blue vehicle on its side off in the trees unsure if anyone is in the vehicle.

AGENCY ASSIST: N. Union Ave. & W. 1st St., Newport, Bonner County requesting a backing unit on a stop at this location.

ANIMAL PROBLEM: Hwy. 2, Newport, report of dog hit by a car in the ditch still alive.

PROWLER: N. Union Ave., Newport, report that someone is at the back of the building can see a dark colored truck.

RUNAWAY JUVENILE: Silver Birch Court, Newport, report that 17-year-old male ran away from home Saturday. MISSING PERSON: Hwy 2, person reports brother is missing was last seen at above location. THREATENING: Hwy. 20, Newport, person reports that renter sent her a threatening letter. IDENTITY FRAUD: Robarge Rd., Metaline Falls, person reports that someone filed an unemployment claim under her name. SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: Yergens Rd., Newport BOOK AND RELEASE: S. Garden Ave., Newport, Quintin Patrick Rowden Spring, 22, of Newport was booked and released for third degree malicious mischief and disturbing an archeological resource or site. ANIMAL BITE: W. 7th St., Newport, person reports being bitten by a small dog on Friday and it got infected, so he went to the doctor and was informed he needed to file a police report. DRUGS: W. Blackwell St., report that occupant in one of the landlord’s trailers is becoming an issue, offered other residents meth and not paying rent. JUVENILE PROBLEM: LeClerc Rd. N., Cusick, report of juvenile problem. FRAUD: Forest Grove Lane, Newport, person reports that female subject stole a check from her mailbox and attempted to cash it at bank, subject got nervous and ran out of bank. RECOVERED VEHICLE: Deer Valley Rd. & Gray Rd., report that friend found his stolen vehicle. SUSPICIOUS PERSON: W. 7th St., Newport, person reports that male subject would not leave porch and don’t know who he is.

TUESDAY, NOV. 26 SUSPICIOUS PERSON: Tule Rd.

BONNER COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HEARING: 5 p.m. - Bonner County Administrative Building, Sandpoint

FRIDAY, DEC. 4 DIAMOND LAKE WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOARD: 10 a.m. - District Office, 172 South Shore Road

MONDAY, DEC. 7

PEND OREILLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: 9 a.m. Pend Oreille County Courthouse

PEND OREILLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: 9 a.m. Pend Oreille County Courthouse

BONNER COUNTY FAIR BOARD: 6 p.m. - Fairgrounds Office in Sandpoint

WEST BONNER LIBRARY DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES: 9 a.m. - Priest River Library

PRIEST RIVER CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. - Priest River City Hall

PORT OF PEND OREILLE COMMISSIONERS: 9 a.m. Usk, 1981 Black Road

NEWPORT CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. - Newport City Hall PROPERTY RIGHTS COUNCIL: 6:30 p.m. - Bonner County Administration Building, Sandpoint BLANCHARD TEA PARTY: 6:30 p.m. - Blanchard Community Center

TUESDAY, DEC. 8 BONNER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: 8:45 a.m. - Bonner County Administrative Building

in Newport is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at shermancampbell.com. SEE OBITUARIES, 10B

P O L I C E R E P O RT S

ERRATIC DRIVER: Hwy. 2, Newport, report of vehicle with no plates driving slowly. It is a sedan coupe dark colored. ARREST: S. Garden Ave., Newport, Chance C Merrick, 28, of Newport was arrested on warrants.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25 MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION: Hwy. 31, Ione, report of one vehicle rollover; driver is out; vehicle is in the ditch.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY: Noon - Priest River Library NEWPORT SCHOOL BOARD: 5 p.m. - District Offices METALINE FALLS TOWN COUNCIL: 6 p.m. - Metaline Falls Town Hall PEND OREILLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION HEARINGS: 6 p.m. - Cusick Community Center LACLEDE WATER DISTRICT: 7:30 p.m. - Laclede Commu-

STRUCTURE FIRE: Sunnyside Drive, report of fire on deck. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Driskill Rd., report of possible DV in progress. SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: W. Kelly Drive, Newport, report neighbor acting strange, believes he is seeing things.

FRIDAY, NOV. 27 THEFT AUTOMOBILE: S. Newport Ave., Newport, report that sometime overnight vehicle was stolen from lot. TRAFFIC HAZARD: Roberts Drive & Veit Rd., person reports that neighbor plowed berm into the middle of the road.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: N. Main Ave., person believes someone left poisoned meat in the park. FRAUD: Ione, person reports possible fraud occurred over 20 years ago. FISH & GAME: LeClerc Rd. N., report of male possibly trespassing/hunting on property. MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION: Scotia Rd., vehicle vs. deer collision reported. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VERBA: Roberts Drive, report of ex-boyfriend trespassing on property and breaking things. STRUCTURE FIRE: Rocky Gorge Rd., living room and stove on fire.

FOUND PROPERTY: Kings Lake Rd., report of keys found in the area by survey tech.

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE: Sunset Drive N. & LeClerc Rd., report of suspicious vehicle.

ANIMAL PROBLEM: Graham Rd., Cusick, report of animal problem at this location.

MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION: Hwy. 20, vehicle-deer collision reported.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: S. Washington Ave., Newport, person reports daughters were at park, came home and mentioned they were shot by a bb gun.

FISH & GAME: Tacoma Creek Rd., officer waiting at this location for bird hunter.

THURSDAY, NOV 26

MALICIOUS MISCHIEF: Sullivan Lake Rd., report that someone rammed gate yesterday morning. TRANSPORT: Kootenai County Jail, Nelson R. Blewett, 36, of Priest River was arrested on a warrant. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PHYSICAL: Hwy. 31, report of someone at residence fighting with complainant.

nity Hall

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9 PEND OREILLE CEMETERY NO. 1: 8 a.m. - Newport Cemetery PEND OREILLE CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD: 9:30 a.m. - Newport Post Office Building SACHEEN LAKE SEWER AND WATER DISTRICT BOARD: 5 p.m. - Sacheen Fire Station, Highway 211 BONNER COUNTY DEMOCRATS: 6:30-8 p.m. - Panhandle Health, 322 Marion St., Sandpoint WEST BONNER WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT: 6:30 p.m. Oldtown City Hall METALINE TOWN COUNCIL: 7 p.m. - Metaline Town Hall

ROBBERY: Dufort Rd., Priest River RECKLESS DRIVING: Hwy. 2, Priest River

TUESDAY, NOV. 24

ARREST: Tank Rd., Oldtown, Nicholas Davis, 23, of Lompoc, Calif., was arrested on a felony fugitive from justice.

FISH & GAME: Cusick Boat Ramp, officer out with duck hunters.

FOUND PROPERTY: Deer Valley Rd., report of found mountain bike stashed in some trees.

MONDAY, NOV. 23 TRAFFIC VIOLATION: Hwy. 95, Ponderay, a 35-year-old female of Priest River was cited and released for driving without privileges and failure to provide proof of insurance.

ANIMAL PROBLEM: Coyote Trail, person reports neighbor’s dog growling at complainant.

DRIVING WITH LICENSE SUSPENDED: LeClerc Rd. S., Newport, cite and release.

TIMBER FIRE: Hwy. 211, possible trees burning left hand side of road.

WEST BONNER COUNTY

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES: USFS 2550, Blanchard

THREATENING: Chain Lakes Drive, report of verbal altercation with neighbor.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: S. Washington Ave., Newport, report there are people across the street with flashlights in the empty lot.

JUVENILE PROBLEM: Moonlight Lane, report of juvenile arguing and yelling, breaking things.

ANIMAL PROBLEM: Main St., person reports neighbor’s dog came onto property and attacked complainant’s dog.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: W. Kelly Drive, Newport, person believes someone is banging around inside of his residence.

PU BLIC M E ETI NGS WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2

to Pend Oreille County Fire District (PO Box 287, Ione, WA 99132) or Usk Community Center (c/o Barb McGill, PO Box 343, Usk, WA 99180). Sherman-Campbell Funeral & Cremation Services

SATURDAY, NOV. 28

MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION: N. Newport Ave., Newport, report of vehicle vs. vehicle collision on private property. ARREST: Hwy. 2, Justin R. Kerzman, 33, of Libby. Mont., was arrested for driving under the influence. NOISE COMPLAINT: Duncan Drive, report of shouting and loud music coming from next door.

SUNDAY, NOV. 29 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VERBAL: Roberts Drive, report of subject yelling, threatened to shoot complainant. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PHYSICAL: N. Spokane Ave., Newport, report that boyfriend pushed complainant, is throwing her stuff out the window. THREATENING: Farber Lane, report person received threatening text.

MUNCIPAL CODE VIOLATION: Gregory St., Priest River, snow plowing right of way/abandoned vehicle. MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION: Dickinson Ave., Priest River, snow plowing right of way. ATTEMPT TO LOCATE: Eastside Rd., Priest River SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES: McKinley St., Priest River

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25 RECKLESS DRIVING: Old Priest River Rd. & Wisconsin St., Priest River ACCIDENT, UNKNOWN INURY: Hwy. 2, Priest River HUNTING & FISHING VIOLATIONS: Hanaford Ct., Blanchard

THURSDAY, NOV. 26 RECKLESS DRIVING: Hwy. 2, Priest River NON-INJURY ACCIDENT: Hwy. 2, Oldtown INTOXICATED PERSON: Hoo Doo Loop, Oldtown

FRIDAY, NOV. 27 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES: E. Settlement Rd., Priest River

SATURDAY, NOV. 28 NON-INJURY ACCIDENT: Hwy. 57 and Outlet Bay Rd., Priest Lake DEATH INVESTIGATION: Hoo Doo Mountain Rd., Priest River

SUNDAY, NOV. 29 HUNTING AND FISHING VIOLATION: Eastside Rd., Priest River MALICIOUS INJURY TO PROPERTY: Old Priest River Rd., Oldtown ACCIDENT, HIT AND RUN: W. Pine St. and Hwy. 2, Dover, a 22-year-old Priest River woman was cited and released for leaving the scene of a property damage accident. RECKLES DRIVING: Dufort Rd., Priest River

Classifieds CALL (509) 447-2433 TO PLACE YOUR AD

8B

| DECEMBER 2, 2020



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Please check your ad the first time it appears and immediately report any error to the Classified Department. We regret that we cannot be responsible for more than a one-time incorrect insertion if you do not call the error to our attention.

THE TOWN OF CUSICK is hiring clerical bookkeeping and accounting staff. Part time, temporary. Starting pay depending qualifications. Send resume to backup Evin Olson: [email protected].(45) WHAT’S IN THE PUBLIC NOTICE SECTION? mportant meetings, surplus items, applications to the county, tax sales, summons and more.

WANTED TO BUY OR TRADE FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-6754818 or visit RefrigerantFinders. com ANNOUNCEMENTS ADVERTISE STATEWIDE with a $325 classified listing or $1,575 for a display ad. Call this newspaper or 360-3442938 for details.

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Your right to know and be informed of the functions of your government are embodied in public notices. In that self-government charges all citizens to be informed, this newspaper urges every citizen to read and study these notices. We strongly advise those citizens seeking further information to exercise their right of access to public records and public meetings.

2020285 PUBLIC NOTICE SUPERIOR COURT OF WA S H I N G T O N FOR PEND OREILLE COUNTY NO. 20-4-00035-26 P R O B AT E N O T I C E T O CREDITORS ( R C W 11 . 4 0 . 0 3 0 ) Estate of CLYDE D. PLATTENBERGER, Deceased. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE The above Court has appointed me as Personal Representative of Decedent’s estate. Any person having a claim against the Decedent must present the claim: (a) Before the time when the claim would be barred by any applicable statute of limitations, and (b) In the manner provided in RCW 11.40.070: (i) By filing the original of the claim with the foregoing Court, and (ii) By serving on or mailing to me at the address below a copy of the claim. The claim must be presented by the later of: (a) Thirty (30) days after I served or mailed this Notice as provided in RCW 11.40.020(1)(c), or (b) Four (4) months after the date of first publication of this Notice. If the claim is not presented within this time period, the claim will be forever barred except as provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective for claims against both the Decedent’s probate and non-probate assets. Date of First Publication of this Notice: November 18, 2020. /s/ Monica Steck Monica Steck, Personal Representative ELTC Law Group, PLLC Denise Stewart, Attorney PO Box 301 Newport, WA 99156 (509) 447-3242

Published in The Newport Miner S T I L L PAY I N G November 18, 25 and December 2, TO O m u c h f o r 2020.(43-3) y o u r M E D I C A - _________________________ TION? Save up to 90% on RX 2020288 refill! Order today PUBLIC NOTICE and receive free SUPERIOR COURT OF CHECK OUT SPORTS shipping on 1st WA S H I N G T O N You may have missed order, prescripCOUNTY OF SPOKANE a story or picture of tion required. Call NO. 20-4-01714-32 someone you know. 1-844-369-9317. P R O B AT E N O T I C E T O CREDITORS STAY IINFORMED R C W 11 . 4 0 . 0 3 0 In the Estate of: Read The Miner Newspaper every week. ALLEN D. ELMER, Deceased. Michael Suryan has been appointed as Personal Representative of this Estate. Any person having a claim against the Decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Representative or the Personal Representative’s attorney at the address stated below

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THE MINER

  

a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the Court. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(3); or (2) Four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the Decedent’s probate and non-probate assets. DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION: NOVEMBER 18, 2020 Attorney for Estate: DIANNA J. EVANS, WSBA # 45702 Address for mailing or service: 28 West Indiana Avenue, Suite E Spokane, WA 99205-4825 (509) 624-1369 Published in The Newport Miner November 18, 25 and December 2, 2020.(43-3) _________________________ 2020300 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING D E C L A R AT I O N O F S U R P L U S Notice is hereby given that the Pend Oreille County Board of Commissioners will be holding a public hearing to receive comments on declaring surplus and identifying the means of disposal the following vehicles: VEHICLES 1. 2009 Western Star (208) Vin# 5KKHAECK89PAJ2604 Sell online auction 2. 1999 Ford Crown Vic (Juvenile) Vin# 2FAFP71W7XX137682 Sell online auction or other 3. 2014 Chevy Tahoe (S5159) Vin# 1GNSK2E07DR319105 Sell online auction 4. 2011 Chevy Tahoe (S7249) Vin# 1GNSK2E08BR318266 Sell online auction 5. 2015 Chevy Tahoe (S8676) Vin# 1GNSK3EC1FR280417 Sell online auction 6. 2010 Ford F150 4x4 (A3) Vin# 1FTMF1EW5AKC09971 Sell online auction This hearing will take place on December 8, 2020 at 9:15 am in the Commissioners Chambers, County Courthouse, 625 W. 4th Street, Newport, Washington. For more information on this please contact Brian Egland at 509-447-4513. If you require any reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, contact the Clerk of the Board at 509-447-4119 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. There is very limited space for inperson attendance, due to the social distancing mandate, so virtual attendance is encouraged. Zoom Meeting Info: https://zoom.us/j/5094474119; Meeting ID: 509 447 4119 Or Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US or +1 253 215 8782 US. Meeting ID: 509 447 4119 Clerk of the Board Published in The Newport Miner November 25 and December 2, 2020.(44-2) __________________________ Continued on 9B

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Continued from 8B 2020303 PUBLIC NOTICE COMBINED NOTICE OF A P P L I C AT I O N A N D A C T I O N Pursuant to County Development Regulations, notice is hereby given that Pend Oreille County did on November 4, 2020 received a complete Shoreline Substantial Development Permit Application, Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application, and associated documents from William & Bobbi Grant and did on November 6, 2020 issue a Determination of Completeness for a dock and ramp proposal (FILE NO. SSDP-20-025), Location: 426021 Highway 20, Parcel #: 443227039004. An Environmental Checklist under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) was prepared by the applicant on October 21, 2020 and the county expects to issue a Determination of Non-Significance for this project. The optional DNS process is being used and this may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts for the proposal (WAC 19711-355). The submitted application and related file documents may be examined by the public between 8:00 AM & 4:30 PM at the Pend Oreille County Courthouse, Annex Building, 418 South Scott Ave, Newport, WA 99156, (509) 447-4821. Contact: Pend Oreille Community Development Department, gsnow@ pendoreille.org. Written comments from the public may be submitted to Pend Oreille County no later than December 10, 2020. Required Permits: Shoreline Substantial Development Permit (Pend Oreille County); Floodplain Development Permit (Pend Oreille County);

HPA Permit (WDFW); Letter of Approval (Army Corps of Engineers) Dated: November 18, 2020 Published in The Newport Miner November 25 and December 2, 2020.(44-2) __________________________ 2020304 PUBLIC NOTICE COMBINED NOTICE OF A P P L I C AT I O N A N D A C T I O N Pursuant to County Development Regulations, notice is hereby given that Pend Oreille County did on October 29, 2020 received a complete Shoreline Substantial Development Permit Application, Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application, and associated documents from the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and did on November 6, 2020 issue a Determination of Completeness for Cusick Meadows wetlands enhancement and dike repair proposal (FILE NO. SSDP-20-024), Location: Cusick, WA 99119, Parcel #s: 433325409001, 433325109002, 433325100001, 433325000001. An Environmental Checklist under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) was prepared by the applicant on October 5, 2020 and the county expects to issue a Determination of Non-Significance for this project. The optional DNS process is being used and this may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts for the proposal (WAC 197-11-355). The submitted application and related file documents may be examined by the public between 8:00 AM & 4:30 PM at the Pend Oreille County Courthouse, Annex Building, 418 South Scott Ave, Newport, WA 99156, (509) 4474821. Contact: Pend Oreille Com-

DECEMBER 2, 2020 |

munity Development Department, [email protected]. Written comments from the public may be submitted to Pend Oreille County no later than December 10, 2020. Required Permits: Shoreline Substantial Development Permit (Pend Oreille County); Floodplain Development Permit (Pend Oreille County); HPA Permit (WDFW); Letter of Approval (Army Corps of Engineers) Dated: November 18, 2020 Published in The Newport Miner November 25 and December 2, 2020.(44-2) _________________________ 2020305 LEGAL NOTICE PORT OF PEND OREILLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HEARING The Port of Pend Oreille discussed will hold a public hearing for its Comprehensive Plan on December 8, 2020 at the Port office, 1981 Black Road, Usk, WA. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. Public comment is welcome at that time. Upon adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, copies of will be available for public inspection. /s/ Kelly J. Driver, Manager Published in The Newport Miner November 25 and December 2, 2020.(44-2) __________________________ 2020306 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Cusick Town Council in the Cusick Community Center, 111 1st St., Cusick, Washington 99119 on Monday,

9B

December 7, 2020 at 6:10 p.m. or soon after. The purpose of the public hearing is to inform and receive comments from citizens, on the Town’s proposed Ordinance adopting a 2021 Final Budget Contact [email protected] for computer web link, or call (509) 671-9008, Phone Call-in number 1(253) 215-8782 Meeting ID 439 111 0304, on prompt #, on prompt Pass Code 99119, on prompt # for zoom meeting. Published in The Newport Miner November 25 and December 2, 2020.(44-2) __________________________ 2020307 LEGAL NOTICE 2 0 - 0 2 1 C A L L F O R M AT E R I A L S BID Notice is hereby given that Public Utility District No. 1 of Pend Oreille County (the District), is requesting bids from prospective distributors for seventy (70) single-phase 25 kVA padmount distribution transformers, as is detailed in Call for Bid number 20-021 which is available at: popud. procureware.com. Proposals must be submitted using ProcureWare (the Districts online contracting portal) at: popud.procureware.com no later than December 9, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. PST. The District reserves the right to cancel this Call for Bid at any time, or issue amendments or corrections. The District reserves the right to award this contract, or to not award this contract. Women’s, minority, and small business enterprises are encouraged to apply. The District is Continued on 10B

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10B

| DECEMBER 2, 2020



THE MINER

OBITUARIES FROM PAGE 7B

Charles “Chuck” Frandrup ANACORTES, WASH.

Charles “Chuck” Frandrup was welcomed into Heaven Saturday morning, Nov. 14, 2020. He was 73. He fought fiercely with Frandrup an aggressive cancer, but eventually, graciously conceded, under excellent care at Everett’s Providence Hospital, to God’s timing and is now at peace. We will miss Chuck’s huge and generous heart with which he encouraged us, his musical laughter (his much appreciated but ONLY musical talent), and the twinkle in his smiling eyes. Chuck was born Nov. 1, 1947, in Marysville, Calif., and was raised in Saint Patrick’s Children’s Home until he attended Christian Brothers High

School in Sacramento, Calif. He was taught a strong work ethic and the values of discipline, of community, and of a lifelong service to Christ by the Sisters of Mercy who raised him at St. Pat’s. Chuck graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif., with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1970. Shortly thereafter, he began his employment with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) which brought him to Santa Cruz. There he met the love of his life, Jeane Kraft, whom he married in 1976 at Camp Hammer in Boulder Creek, Calif. Chuck worked for PG&E for 15 years in Santa Cruz, Auburn and the Bay Area. He furthered his education and was conferred, in 1986, a Master’s in Business Administration by St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif. He was also an active lifetime member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engi-

FLU SHOT FROM PAGE 6B

please practice everyday preventive actions and follow the CDC’s recommendations for running essential errands. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or health department if they are following CDC’s vaccination pandemic guidance. Any vaccination location following CDC’s guidance should be a safe place for you to get a flu vaccine. If you have a child over six months old who qualifies for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you may also qualify for a flu vaccination at no cost to you. What’s the difference between flu and COVID-19? Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they’re caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Because some symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. It is possible to have flu and COVID-19 at the same time. Health experts are still studying how common this can be. While it’s not possible to say with certainty what will happen in the fall and winter, the CDC believes it’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading. The CDC has developed a test that will check for A- and B-type seasonal flu viruses and SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This test will be used by U.S. public health laboratories. Testing for these viruses at the same time will give public health officials important information about how flu and COVID-19 are spreading and what preventive steps should be taken. So please protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting a flu shot. Visit the doctor, pharmacy, or other local providers to get a flu shot today.

neers) and mentored many young engineers within the organization. In 1994, Chuck moved the family for a change of pace to the Pacific Northwest where he managed and mentored the Electrical Engineering Department of Pend Oreille Public Utility District in Newport, Wash., for 22 years. Chuck and Jeane left Newport in retirement and moved to Anacortes in 2016. He enjoyed his church, his family and friends, and playing racquetball. Chuck was a lifetime learner and delighted in meeting young people committed to their studies. He never met a stranger and always encouraged those whom he encountered. He was a courier of compliments, a student of Scripture, a lover of all creatures great and small, and a profoundly kind human being. He was humble about his brilliance, proud of his family, and a devoted follower of Christ. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Chuck is survived by his loving wife, Jeane Frandrup, his daughter Karen (Calvin) in Middleton, Wis., his son Scott (Erica) in Alexandria, Va., his daughter Heidi in Anacortes, Wash., and his son Erich (Casey) in Panama City Beach in Fla. He has 10 grandchildren to whom he was a beloved “Papa.” Chuck’s brother Wallace Frandrup (Lynn) lives in Carmichael, Calif., and his sister Pat Smallen lives in Marysville, Calif. His lifelong devotion to his family and firm belief in God supported him in his battle with cancer. That which gave him strength through his life and in his fight against the disease also gave him his peace at the end. Since an electromagnetic field is a function of voltage, Heaven’s hum will surely be audible upon Chuck’s arrival. We love and miss you, Chuck. To share memories of Chuck, please sign the online guestbook at www.evanschapel.com.

James “Jim” Claud Holland PRIEST RIVER

James “Jim” Claud Holland died Thursday, Oct., 29, 2020, at the age of 73. Jim was born in April of 1947 in Seattle, Wash., to Mack and Shirley Holland. Jim married the love of his life, Judith Hansen in 1970, and together they raised three daughters, Karin, Andrea and Jamie. Jim and Judy moved to Priest River in 1974, with Jim’s parents and younger brother Steve and Steve’s family. In 1979, the family opened Good Year Tire, now known as Les Schwab Tires. A few years later the family sold the tire business and opened Holland Construction. In 1984, Jim started his own concrete business that he operated for more than 35 years. During that time, he also was a fearless crab fisherman in Alaska, a job he was very proud of. Jim loved to tell jokes and to make people laugh. In his younger years he enjoyed hunting for weeks at a time with friends deep in the mountains. In his later years he could be found watching old western movies and trading books at the old trading post in Sandpoint, as he was an avid reader. Jim is preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife Judy, brother Steve (Carol), and his daughters Karin (Dave) King, Andrea (John) Villani, Jamie (James) Lake and nine grandchildren.

Lorraine May Rademacher NEWPORT

Lorraine May Rademacher died peacefully on Nov. 17, 2020, in her place of residence, River Mountain Advanced Care in NewRademacher port. She was 93 years old. Lorraine was born Dec.

31, 1926, to Louis and Sophie Miller, in Stewart, Minn. She was one of five children. All are deceased. She was the last in her immediate family to die. Her siblings were Raymond, Lloyd, Vernon and Eunice. She is survived by extended family including her niece Jane Adams of California and her cousin LeAnna Southerland of Minnesota. She married Alvin (Bud) W. Rademacher on Sept. 15, 1945. They were married 49 years before he died on Dec. 16 1994. Lorraine was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on April 18, 1998. She was a sweet and cherished member of the Newport congregation for 23 years. The Newport congregation was like family to her. She was loved and well cared for by the members of her congregation and she will be missed. There was a virtual memorial for Lorraine on Saturday Nov. 28, 2020, at 2 p.m. She was buried next to her husband at Seneacquoteen Cemetery in Priest River, Idaho. Sherman-Campbell Funeral & Cremation Services in Newport is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at shermancampbell.com.

Paul Justin Moore LACLEDE

Paul Justin Moore passed away quietly at the age of 91 on Nov. 28, 2020. Paul was born in Oradel, N.J. to George and Anna Moore on Feb. 23, Rademacher 1929. In 1946, after graduating high school, Paul joined the US Marine Corps. He proudly served our country, including a tour in Panama, as a Technical Sergeant until 1952. After returning to New Jersey he was accepted into Seton Hall University. He later made the decision

  

to move across the country and transferred to The University of Idaho where he earned a bachelor’s degree in History. He also met his future bride, Barbara Conrad. Paul and Barbara married on Aug. 3, 1957. And what an incredible adventure they lived. From Idaho they moved to Washington, then eventually landing in Alaska. They had 11 children along the way. Paul became a teacher in Alaska and earned the title of “Favorite Teacher” on more than one occasion. He was an inspiration to so many of his students, and also to his children. Paul and Barbara returned to Idaho in 1987 calling Laclede home for many years. Paul is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara, his son Patrick (Pat) and his daughter Suzanne (Suzy). He is also preceded in death by his sisters, Norma Schulz and Beatrice Bloomfield. He is survived by his children and spouses, Donna Moore, Mike, David (Teresa), Terie (Joe), Steve (Ann), Mary, Gina (John), Paul (Steffanie), Joanie (Stephen) and Jim (Stela). His many surviving grandchildren are as follows- Kristen and Joe, Justin, Jerod, Jessica and Thomas, Taylor and Connor, Leah and Danny, Anders and Seth, Brooks and Britney, Gage and Rilley, Kyli, Andrea and Gregory. His great grandchildren are Lily, Koa, Jessie and Ryland, Braiden and Bradley and Harvey and Delilah, and baby boy Moore arriving May 2021. A Funeral Service will be held at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Priest River, on Saturday, Dec. 5 starting with a Rosary at 1:30 p.m. and the Funeral Mass immediately following at 2 p.m. Sherman-Campbell Funeral & Cremation Services in Priest River is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at shermancampbell.com.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Continued from 9B an equal opportunity employer.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising or real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800927-9275. (31tf)

Published in The Newport Miner November 25 and December 2, 2020.(44-2) __________________________ 2020301 PUBLIC NOTICE DIVORCE NOTICE In the Superior Court of Washington, County of Pend Oreille Donald Ray Brown vs Samantha Elizabeth Ann Ash The said Samantha Elizabeth Ann Ash whose place of residence is unknown is hereby notified that said Donald Ray Brown has filed this petition in said cause alleging that Samantha Elizabeth Ann Ash has been willfully absent from him for 10 years without any justifiable cause therefore and praying that he may be divorced from Samantha Elizabeth Ann Ash. Said cause will stand for hearing on the 8 day of December 2020 in the City of Newport, WA, at the Supe-

rior Court of Newport, WA, 229 S Garden Ave., Newport, WA, 99156, at 1:30 p.m. Published in The Newport Miner November 25, December 2 and December 9, 2020. (44-3) __________________________ 2020308 PUBLIC NOTICE Chippewa Water and Sewer District Commissioners will hold a budget hearing for the purpose of fixing and adopting the 2021 budget at their December 8th meeting at 7:00 pm at the office on 430 McInnis St., Ione, WA. This will also be their monthly meeting. Published in The Newport Miner November 25 and December 2, 2020.(44-2) _________________________ 2020309 NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Notice is hereby given that Pend Oreille County Planning Commission will be holding a virtual meeting via

Zoom on December 17th at 6:00 PM to hold a workshop to develop rules and procedures for conducting meetings electronically and to consider updates to the Comprehensive Plan. To attend the virtual meeting, go to the following link to join. https://pendoreille-org.zoom.us/j/86 874620922?pwd=ajI0enJaRmYxdU tQMVRjMGE0N3BqZz09 Meeting ID: 868 7462 0922 Passcode: 479177 One tap mobile +12063379723,,86874620922# US (Seattle) +12532158782,,86874620922# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location 877 853 5257 US Toll-free 888 475 4499 US Toll-free 833 548 0276 US Toll-free 833 548 0282 US Toll-free Meeting ID: 868 7462 0922 Find your local number: https://pendoreille-org.zoom.us/u/krJiZ4Axi Dated: November 25, 2020 Published in The Newport Miner December 02, 2020.(45) ___________________________