U nsuccessful in their bid to create a separate school district for the schools on the east end of Bonner

County, the Hope/Clark Fork Coalition for Quality Education petitioned the Lake Pend Oreille School District this week to create a sub-tax district. Under Idaho Code, Idaho school districts may subdivide for taxing purposes, giving a sub-tax district the ability to run its own levies for plant facility purposes, bonds and supplemental levies. Although a sub-tax district only effects those levies determined by a vote of resident, and not the mill levy

imposed on property taxes by the district, the Coalition stated its belief that a sub-tax district was a first step in improving educational services for students at Hope Elementary and Clark Fork Jr/Sr High Schools. Sixty signatures were submitted on a petition to the local board. Upon submission of 50 signatures of qualified voters in the area, the school district is obligated to hold an election to allow residents to determine whether they wish to create a sub-tax district. The Coaliton, in a handout first presented to the state Board of Education, has stated educational problems in their two schools range from unmet financial needs to lack of teachers and programs. Board Chairman Vicki Pfeifer stated the local school board would look into its requirements under Idaho Code for responding to the petition.

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SANDPOINT RESIDENT Kevin Watson took time to catch up on what was happening at home in the River Journal on a recent trip to Amsterdam.

D repung Loseling monastery was established near Lhasa, Tibet in 1416 by Chojey Tashi Palden. It educated

people not only from Tibet, but from regions as far north as Siberia and eastern Russia, to the Himalayan kingdoms in north India, growing to a population often to 15,000 monks. Drepung Loseling was especially close to the Dalai Lama incarnations; the Second Dalai Lama made his residence here in 1494 and subsequent incarnations maintained this link through the residence that he later built at Drepung, the Ganden Potrang. For over 500 years the abbots of Drepung Loseling monasteries have been sending their monks and lamas out into the countryside in an effort to accomplish three things. First, to perform the rituals that encourage world peace through spiritual healing. Second, to bring direct benefit to the people and all other beings wherever they travel while keeping their culture alive in the world. And third, to help support their monasteries and their

programs. In times past this would require several dozen monks and lamas, together with cooks, herders and laborers involved in a wide variety of tasks. They would have to pack and transport all the yurts and tents needed to house such a large party as well as each person's own needs of clothing and personal belongings. It required a tremendous amount of food supplies, because in many cases it would take several days to travel between monasteries. Just the ritual instruments, costumes and paintings of the various meditational deities would require numerous yaks to haul them. There were, in many cases, as many as 100 yaks or even more, utilized to carry all

(Continued on page 20)

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A Different Kind of Split Coalition asks Lake Pend Oreille School District for a sub-district

by Trish Gannon

(Continued on page 16)

World Healing, World Peace Festival of the Spirit introduces Sandpoint to Tibetan Monks

by Lama Yöntän Gonpo

Lions Club Does it Again Distribution dates set for December 22 and 23

R eaching out at Christmas to help those in need in o u r c o m m u n i t y , particularly kids, is what

“Toys For Tots” is all about. The Lions Toy Room is packed with great toys and gift certificates are available for children 13 through 16. Over 480 food boxes packed with good food items will be available for a great holiday meal with some tasty left-overs. Distribution days for toys and food boxes are December 22 and 23 at the Lions Den. Applicants must live within Bonner County’s Lake Pend Oreille School District #84, and application forms are available at the Bonner Community Food Bank, the Idaho State Welfare Office, and Panhandle Health. All applications must be turned in by noon on December 17. This year, to ensure that all those who have applied get food boxes, only

those with applications on file will get food boxes until 3 pm on December 23. Late applicants will be accommodated at that time based on food box availability. Recognizing that it gets cold before Christmas, the Sandpoint Lions turned all coats and the coat racks over to Coats for Kids earlier this fall. This should make more room available inside while waiting for food boxes and openings to shop in the Toy Room. Lion President Jerry Martello and all the Sandpoint Lions want to thank everyone in the community who assists and donates to the “Toys For Tots” effort. He summed it up this way, “The Lions are a small service club, and it is only with the generous support of individuals, businesses, and organizations that we can reach out to brighten the Holiday for the less fortunate in our area.”

Page 2|The River Journal | 8 December 2004

I ’m dreaming of a White Christmas… but then, we always have a white Christmas, and sometimes a

white Thanksgiving that lasts until spring. I know you’ve heard stories about the winters of the past. “Why, I remember when I was a kid, the snow was so deep the colts couldn’t even suck.” Old photos show snow piled two stories high on Main Street. Of course, back then there was no snow removal equipment, so you just shoveled it off the sidewalk, along with a place for a customer to park (just in case one could get to town) and piled it in the middle of the street. Usually, it was all gone by the time of the Fourth of July parade. A few days ago I was going down to the mailbox to get yet another armload of Christmas catalogs when a semi-load of Christmas trees passed me like a freight train passing a hobo. It was either Christmas trees, or else the Forest Service is now cutting NEW growth timber. That falls under the new wording- “sawed off to p r e v e n t e x c e s s i v e growth!” I’m not saying they’re rushing the season more and more every year, but Wobble Mart had to s h o w c a s e t h e i r Halloween products out in the aisles because the shelves were already filled with Chinese Christmas gifts. I, like a lot of folks, was unaware there were that many Chinese living in America, let alone celebrating their Christmas from October through December, but apparently, there are. That’s why everything in the stores is made in China. When I was a kid, we celebrated Christmas on the 25th of December. Our parents would stuff stockings with oranges, apples, assorted hard-rock candies and mixed nuts, then hang them on a nail over the mantel. There was one for each child in the household. The heat from the fireplace would begin to melt the candy, sticking the nuts and fruits to the inside of the stocking. While you were trying to clean this mess out of your only good sock, your parents would lay the blame on some fat guy named “Claws;” said he showed up in the middle of the night. And you wouldn’t believe how they said he got in!

We were told the story of the birth of Christ, and how he was laid in a manger while wise men brought him gifts. The gifts we received as small children were symbolic of that glorious night, meant to remind us, each year, of his birth. At what age does a child no longer need gifts to remind oneself that it is time to celebrate the birth of Christ? I was told it was at the age of reasoning, which varies with each child, but falls somewhere between nine and 12 years of age for most children. That explains why I still wanted a new truck at the age of 35! After all, I was getting pretty tired of a sock full of hard candy. Who told you there was no Santa

Claus? Did your mother and father sit you down and explain it? No! Those smart-aleck kids at school probably told you. You know the ones, two or three grades ahead of you in school, the know-it-alls who like to tease younger kids. They probably got coal in their stockings! “And another thing,” they’d say, “there’s no Easter Bunny, either!” Once they had you down, they’d really unload on you. “The only thing an Easter bunny leaves behind is little brown pellets!” That’s right. No Santa Claus, no reindeer, no sleigh full of toys, no rabbit laying colored Easter eggs. Remember, if you haven’t been straight with your kids by the time they reach the age of reasoning, trying to convince them Jesus can walk on water is going to be a tough sell!

Boots

Boots Reynolds From the Mouth of the River

A Newspaper Worth Wading Through

Just going with the flow 307 N. 2nd Ave. #7 Sandpoint, ID 83864

208.255.6957 Fax # 208.263.4045 email trj@sandpoint.net

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle Masthead Photo: The Clark Fork River from the Heron, Mont. bridge. Photo by Trish Gannon

Calm Center of Tranquility Trish Gannon– Clark Fork and Sandpoint—208.255.6957 208.266.1154 trishgannon@imbris.net Entertainment Ernie Hawks 208.255.6954 michalhawks@imbris.net Glitter Queen Misty Grage– 208.255.6957 m15ty@sandpoint.net Her Royal Highness of Sales Gail Fendley– 208.266.0503 velmaqof@earthlink.net

Cartoonists Boots Reynolds, Scott Clawson, Mike Gearlds Contributing Editor & Advisor Jody Forest- Dover "Ministry of Truth and Propaganda" Regular Columnists Sandy Compton; Mike Gearlds; Marianne Love; Lou Springer; J.J. Scott; Nancy Hadley; Idaho Rep. George Eskridge; Former Mont. Congressman Pat Williams; Mont. Senator Jim Elliot; Susan Daffron; Boots Reynolds and Melody Martz

Proudly printed at Griffin Publishing in Spokane, Wash. 509.534.3625

Contents of The River Journal are copyright 2004. Reproduction of any material, including original artwork and advertising, is prohibited. The River Journal is published the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month and approximately 6000 copies are distributed in Sanders County, Montana and Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties in Idaho.

The next issue of The River Journal will be out

17 December 2004

Boner County by Mike Gearlds

Ruffled Feathers by annoni mouse

Acres 'n Pains by Scitz (AKA Scott Clawson)

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are

laughing WITH you.

M y Bonner County property taxes went up 26.8 percent this year. I’m not happy about it,

and I have lots of company. At this rate, within seven years I’ll be renting my own home from the government and taking a long look at a short Winnebago. My house didn’t change at all from the previous year, and the county’s levy rate actually decreased by 1.1 percent, but the portion of my property tax bill that goes to Bonner County still increased by a whopping 23 percent. Despite all the new construction in our little corner of the world and home sale prices that are grazing the F layer of the ionosphere, property owners here are aghast at the climb in their tax bills. Another year or two of this, and a Proposition 13-type voter initiative will be in full swing. In Idaho, many public taxing entities, including counties, can’t increase their property tax levy rate—or that portion of their budget that comes from property taxes—by more than 3 percent a year without voter approval. This doesn’t include the impact of higher valuations. You’d think this alone would guarantee some upper limit on how much your taxes can jump from year to year, but it doesn’t work out that way. Governments substantially increase their revenue each year from property taxes by adding in the value of new construction and—now this is important—reassessing exist ing properties. Here in Bonner County, you can expect a dreaded visit from the Assessor’s Office every five years, but no inspection at all is needed to annually jack up the county’s assessed value on your place, because officials will just apply “trending” to your valuation, supposedly based on the current real estate market in your neighborhood You end up paying more taxes, based on money you haven’t made—or may never make, if you keep your house until the Grim Reaper comes calling. It’s a tax on money you haven’t made, on something you haven’t sold. Did your property taxes take a big jump this year? Do you know anyone whose taxes increased by only 5 or 10

percent? And where is all the money going? An improved real estate market shouldn’t mean a big windfall for government on the backs of people who aren’t cashing in. Yes, Idaho property taxes remain relatively low compared to most other states, but we have a full complement of all the other taxes that some states do without—income tax, sales tax, even a state monopoly on lucrative liquor sales. In short, our property taxes should be this low, considering we pay tax on pretty much everything else. For historical perspective, we have California, where big increases in home prices and assessments in the late 1970s led to a “taxpayer revolt” that resulted in voters approving the draconian Proposition 13, which rolled back property taxes by 57 percent and limited future property tax increases to no more than 2 percent. The California legislature was too slow, dumb and arrogant to provide meaningful property tax relief, and the public took it out of their hands. The same thing will happen here if lawmakers don’t awaken from their crocodilian torpor. There’s a few bills pending in the Idaho House that try to address the problem: House Bill 716 would exempt homeowners over 70 years old from property taxes, while Bill 825 proposes to freeze property tax increases for households over 65 that make less than $35,000. House Bill 826 would put a cost of living increase annually on the current $50,000 homeowner exemption. Yeah, that’s great for the oldsters, but just a few crumbs for everybody else. The most profound relief would come from House Bill 781, co-authored by Rep. George Eskridge and backed by other state legislators from this area, that would cap increases in the taxable value of occupied residences by a maximum of 3 percent a year. Bill 781 still wouldn’t limit your property tax to a 3 percent annual rise, because the various taxing districts still can apply their 3 percent levy rate increases on top of the valuation cap. If a property is sold or has assessable improvements, those changes in value also would be added to the original base year value. I’d like to see Bill 781 fine-tuned to go further, by imposing a 3 percent maximum annual increase in the total tax bill, not just the valuation. Selling the property; borrowing against equity based on current appraisals; or making improvements would result in a new valuation for tax purposes. Because residential property typically changes hands every five to seven years, those higher valuations, derived from sale prices reported to

title companies, would continually provide higher overall property tax revenue to local governments. And property tax relief shouldn’t just be for homeowners. Commercial property should be subject to the same reformed rules, which would make Idaho a lot more attractive to businesses. Two years ago, I successfully appealed my property tax assessment after the county raised it by 50 percent in one year. I wasn’t pleased that I was discouraged at every step from filing an appeal by virtually every county employee I spoke to. “Why would you want to appeal? It won’t do you any good,” and the vaguely threatening “If you appeal, don’t be surprised if your assessment goes up even more next year” are two actual quotes I heard from Nibelungen in the dark bowels of the county. In the end, I was contacted by a reasonable man—higher up in the Assessor chain of command—just prior to my scheduled hearing with the Board of Commissioners. He agreed with most of the arguments in my appeal packet and I agreed with his revised assessment. I didn’t appeal this year, and it cost me. I won’t make that same mistake next time. My packet will become an annual event a t the county bureaucracy, like the office Christmas party.

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8 December 2004| The River Journal | Page 3

Look for Currents in the next issue

Mike Gearlds It’s Time for Property Tax Reform in Idaho

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Corporations and Democracy “Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility.” Ambrose Bierce in The Devil’s Dictionary (1911). Whether or not we agree with Ambrose Bierce’ cynicism, the fact that corporations enjoy privileges not granted to us mere mortals still stands. Whereas you and I as individual business people can be personally sued for liability, as owners of a corporation we cannot, even if the injury stems from our personal decisions. We are so used to having corporations around that it seems they have always been with us, but it ain’t so. Corporations are a relatively new entity in the scope of history, and originally were created to perform a role that neither individuals nor governments could accomplish. An initial part of that role was to enable common ownership of property outside of government, such as church buildings and lands. In fact, the oldest corporation in the United States is the Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New York, which

was granted a royal charter in 1696 by King William of England. Originally, corporations were granted charters by government to perform specific functions for a limited period of time, after which they were to dissolve and the profits be distributed to the members. It was a means to raise money by pooling individual capital to accomplish a common purpose. By the 1600s, corporations were used by governments as a tool to colonize distant territories, one of the major advantages being that countries could gain land without having to spend government money. A corporation might be given monopoly rights on trade in exchange for administering the territory in the name of the King or Queen. The earliest of these was the Dutch East India Company, which was chartered to trade with India and points east. The longest-running corporation in the world is the Hudson’s Bay Company, still going strong after 330 years. It is best known for its historic role in the fur trade, but today is one of the largest department store companies in Canada. American colonies were founded by royal corporations such as the Massachusetts Company, and it was a corporation, not England, that was the focus of the Boston Tea Party. A participant of the Boston Tea Party, George Hewes, wrote that it was the semi-monopoly that the British East India Company had in the tea trade that incensed the Americans, not the tax on tea. According to Hewes it was an issue

of a world wide company driving smaller, American companies out of business. “Hence it was no longer the small vessels of private merchants, who went to vend tea of their own account…but, on the contrary, ships of an enormous burthen….”. Sort of a colonial version of Joe’s Building Supply competing with Home Depot. Some corporations were given the power to wage war in the pursuit of trade; again, the benefit to the parent government being the acquisition of territory without government expense. Military endeavors became too expensive for the companies, however, and this role reverted to the governments. Properly so, I might add. Corporations were originally given permission from the government to perform a specific task for a specific period of time. They were, and are today, creations of government, but have had their scope of activities broadened and their lifetimes extended into perpetuity. Most interestingly, in their lifetime they have gone from being creations of our citizen-governments to having virtually the same rights as the citizens themselves, and one heck of a lot more power. Corporations, in fact, are “persons” and have the same constitutional rights as you and I, who are known as “natural persons.” Like you and I, they have the right to free speech, and since giving money to advance a belief is a form of free speech, they have a major—the major—role in American politics. The elevation of corporations to “personhood” was first enshrined in an 1886 Supreme Court decision called Southern Pacific Railroad v. Santa Clara County. Whether or not the decision actually granted personhood is in

dispute, but the fact is that it is the benchmark case upon which personhood status is built, and is now an accomplished fact. Today we have a world governed not by nations, but by international t rade agreements draf ted by international corporations, governed by international corporations, with i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e d i s p u t e s a d j u d i c a t e d b y i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o r p o r a t i o n s . N o n e o f t h e s e corporations, by the way, was voted into power by you or me. Our elected representatives have ceded control of our lives and livelihoods in the name of “world trade.” I believe it is time that elected governments resumed control of our destinies. At least you can fire them if you don’t like what they do. [Information in this article was gleaned from “Ask Mr. Studlyhunk”(I did not make that up); www.orangek8.com, American Rebellions by Thom Hartman quoted on www.yesmagazine.org, and articles in Dinsmore Documentation presents Classics of American Colonal h i s t o r y ; w w w . dinsdoc.com.]

E very member of the Idaho Legislature is up for re-election every two years. Those that are successful in being elected to

office are sworn in the first week of December. The legislature reorganizes at this same time, electing leadership and assigning members to various committees. The majority parties and minority parties of both the Senate and House meet in separate caucuses the evening before the official swearing in ceremonies to elect their leadership members. This year this occurred on the evening of December 1. The House Republican members elected to keep their current leadership team. These leadership members are Bruce Newcomb (Burley), Speaker of the House; Lawerence Denney (Midvale), Majority Leader; Mike Moyle (Star), Assistant Majority Leader; and Julie Ellsworth (Boise), Majority Caucus Chair. The Democrat House members made some changes in their leadership. The Democrat members of the Minority Leadership team are: Wendy Jaquet (Ketchum), Minority Leader; George Sayler (Coeur d’Alene), Assistant Minority Leader; Elmer Martinez (Pocatello), Minority Caucus Chair. The Senate members of both parties elected to keep their current leadership

teams. The Majority party leadership members are Robert Geddes (Soda Springs), President Pro Tem; Bart Davis (Idaho Falls), Majority Leader; Joe Stegner (Lewiston), Assistant Majority Leader; and Brad Little (Emmett), Majority Caucus Chair. The Democrat Senate leadership team members are Clint Stennett (Ketchum), Minority Leader; Mike Burkett (Boise), Assistant Minority Leader; and Edgar Malepeal (Pocatello), Minority Caucus Chair. Although these leadership members were elected the evening of December 1, their positions were not official until the e lec t ions were formal ized by acclamation following the oath of office procedures the morning of December 2. None of the legislative members were official and no final action could be taken until the members of the Senate and House took their oath of office; only then could the Senate and House conduct official business. The next order of business was the selection of Committee Chairs and committee members. This was the process of most interest to the members since membership on the various committees influences their legislative emphasis over the next two years. Members want to get on those committees that they believe put them in the best position to represent specific areas of constituent interest in their district. As an example, those members whose constituents are involved in agriculture, generally prefer to be assigned to the Agriculture Committee. T h e J o i n t F i n a n c e a n d Appropriations Committee is also a preferred committee by many members because this joint committee acts as the budget committee for the legislature. Ten members from the Senate and ten

members from the House sit as a joint committee and set the appropriations for all state agencies and institutions. The members of legislative districts one and two that serve citizens of Bonner and Boundary Counties were fortunate enough to be assigned to committees that are of significant benefit to our counties. Senator Keough was assigned as Vice-Chair of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee. She also stays on the Senate Transportation Committee and in addition, was assigned to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. This last committee assignment adds to Senator Keough’s Senate responsibilities, but provides additional opportunity to serve constituents in our legislative district. I retain my position as a member of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee and my Co-Chairmanship of the Interim Energy Committee. I also retain my membership on the House Resources Committee. In addition the House increased the responsibilities of the House Environmental Affairs Committee. This committee has been expanded to include the interest areas of energy and technology. Because of my membership on the interim energy committee and my activities in the energy area, I moved from the House Local Government Committee to the new Environmental, Energy and Technology Committee. Representative Anderson was assigned to the House State Affairs Committee, the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, and the House Commerce and Human Resources Committee. Senator Broadsword was assigned to the Senate Agriculture Affairs Committee, the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee and the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Representative Harwood retains his position on the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee and will

continue to serve as Vice-Chair of the Environment, Energy and Technology Committee. He also retains his position on the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee. Representative Shepard was appointed to the House Transportation Committee, the House Commerce and Human Resources Committee, the House State Affairs Committee, and the House Transportation and Defense Committee. I b e l i e v e t h e s e c o m m i t t e e assignments will be of benefit to the citizens of Bonner and Boundary counties. They are in areas of interest that emphasize our dependence on natural resources, our transportation needs, preservation of our low-cost electric energy resource and our continuing need to serve the health and welfare needs of our citizens. Speaker of the House Newcomb has continually emphasized his intent to join the northern and southern areas of our state together in the best interest of all of Idaho and I think these committee assignments reinforce his intent. Thanks for reading and, as always, feel free to contact me with your thoughts and concerns on issues important to you. My home phone is 208-265-0123 and my home address is P.O. Box 112, Dover, 83825.

George

Page 4 | The River Journal | 8 December 2004

Idaho Representative George Eskridge (R)

A Seat in the House

Look for Pat Williams’ column in the next issue

Montana Senator Jim Elliott (D)

Montana Viewpoint

Correction In the 24 November 2004 issue of The River Journal (Vol. 12 No. 22), we ran an advertisement for Vanderfords. that inadvertently used a photo of the New York skyline that included the now-destroyed World Trade Center Towers. We apologize to Vanderfords for the oversight, and to any who might have been offended by this photo.

-Trish Gannon, Publisher

Sweet Home Log Homes Phone/fax 208-264-0410

www.realloghomes.com

Fear—It’s What’s for Dinner

F ear crawled up out of the basement of my brain this morning, one of those niggling, nasty, little worries

that can't be expressed without taking the time to ferret it out, or easily pinned on to anything moving this side of the horizon, where the great and terrifying unknown begins. It's just something out there, hovering outside of my peripheral vision. Even though I can't see it, I know it's there, but it's so elusive that no matter how fast I move my head, I can't see it—and I've been moving my head pretty darned fast today. As a result, I've spent most of my day chasing my own tail. Part of my madness has been the idea that I don't have time to stop and face whatever it is that's chasing me. For one thing, it might catch me; and then the world is sure to end. For another, there is way too much to do. Places to go, people to see, money to spend, bargains to search out. I mean, Christmas is coming. Through it all, though, whatever that thing is has stayed right on my bumper. What to do, what to do—besides wait to hit the wall, which I finally did about 8:30 tonight. After roughly 14 hours on the run, I finally had to sit down and let it catch me. And it did—big, bad, scary thing that it was. What was it? Just me; my own insecurity; my propensity to take the smallest incident and run it via my

own wild imagination all the way out to worst case scenario where not only everybody dies, but in the most horrible manner possible. (Note to self: catch, tame and saddle imagination—this week, if possible). The bad news is that I spent the day running from my own shadow. The good news is that when I recognized it, I laughed. I think I'll take a victory lap for that. Have you ever seen an ant lion's trap? Ant lions are hungry little critters that have a taste for (you guessed it) spiders. No. Just kidding. Ant lions really like to eat ants. To catch ants, ant lions build conical holes in the ground along well-traveled ant trails. The holes have steep sides made of fine material that looks and acts like loose sand. Ants may be able to walk up walls, but their capacity to scramble up steep slopes with loose footing is so atrocious it makes you wonder what God was thinking when She made them that way. So, when ants fall into an ant lion's trap, they can't get out. However, that doesn't stop them from trying, and ants are good tryers, if that's a word. They will try all day to get out of that trap. And all night. They just keep climbing and climbing and the walls of the trap keep crumbling under them and the ant keeps sliding back down into the pit. In the meantime, the ant lion is down in her lair under the pit, doing her nails and listening to the ant struggle. When the ant has exhausted itself, the ant lion sets the table; it's dinner time. Every once in a while, for whatever reason, I fall into an allegorical ant lion's pit. I don't think I'm the only person on earth who does this, though

when I am in the midst of it, I feel very lonesome. Climb as I might, all I do is exhaust myself. Lucky for me, the ant lion is also allegorical - though, I will admit, it can be just as

terrifying as the real thing. What the ant doesn't know—industrious they may be, but they ain't too bright as individuals—is that if it would just quit trying so hard and turn and wait, it could kick that ant lion's butt, have its own dinner and stand on the carcass to get itself out of the hole. We are not ants, but I often see us acting as if we're in an ant lion trap, blindly climbing the walls of a pit we've walked into rather than taking the time to think our way out of it. On top of that, the pit is often self-constructed, and the big, bad ant lion is nothing more than our own fear blown out of proportion. How many times have you done that? How many times, like a good little ant, have I tried to climb out of the pit instead of sitting down and waiting to see what's for dinner? When we face our fear, we are always fed. It's a reward for our courage. Self-revelation, though sometimes somewhat unpalatable, is a highly nutritious meal. It helps us grow. Sandy Compton's new book, Archer MacClehan & The Hungry Now will be in bookstores in February. Order it online at www.sandpointonline.com/generalstore or ask your local bookstore to order if from Blue Creek Press, Box 110, Heron, MT 59844 The Scenic Route is copyright M.R. Compton, Jr.

8 December 2004 | The River Journal | Page 5

Sandy Compton

The Scenic Route

Look for Love Notes in our next issue

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W ords of wisdom. Over the years I have saved quotes or action plans that have helped me stay on track. I

thought I would share some of these; hopefully you will find something that will help you. “Adulthood is defined by the willingness to except full responsibility for where you are at in life; no longer blaming others or circumstances.” ~Joe Westbrook, Networker and student of Philosophy “Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life.” ~Dr. David M. Burns “Decisions determine destiny.” ~George Patton, General, U. S. Army Successful goal setting: ♦ If it’s not specific, it’s not a goal. ♦ Goals must be believable. ♦ An effective goal is an exciting new

challenge. ♦ Goals must be adjusted to new

information. ♦ Dynamic goals guide our choices. ♦ Keep short term goals at 90 days. ♦ Maintain a balance between long

term goals and short term goals.

♦ Set goals in all areas of your life. ♦ Your goals must harmonize. ♦ Review goals regularly. ♦ Set vivid goals. ♦ Don’t chisel your goals in granite. ♦ Reach out into the future. ♦ Have a set of goals for every day. ♦ Train yourself to crave your goals. ♦ Set activity goals; not production

goals. ♦ Understand luck and make it work

for you. ♦ Start NOW. ~author unknown I will be conscious of the time I spend achieving my goals, maximizing my time management efficiency. I will spend time with my family and taking care of myself so I can maintain a high level of productivity. ~Nancy Hadley “In order to be a leader, a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence, the supreme quality for a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th U. S. President “In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins; cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later.” ~Harold S. Geneen, Accountant, Industrialist and CEO “When an old man dies, a library burns down.” ~An African proverb “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.” ~Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister “The less a man knows about the past and the present the more insecure must be his judgment of the future.”

~Sigmund Freud Many of these quotes are used in my business plan but I find there is a bit of everything that can be used in every day life. We often find ourselves so busy it is easy to overlook the most important things in life. As we head into the holiday season, set aside some time to reflect on the real meaning of life and take a few steps to make it better. Nancy Hadley is an investment representative with DA Davidson in downtown Sandpoint. She is currently accepting new clients. Reach her at 208-263-2010.

Page 6|The River Journal | 8 December 2004

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Holiday Debt

B efore you pull out the plastic to pay for all those gifts this holiday season, consider the following:

♦ It’s been reported that more men are worth more (financially) at age 18 than they are at age 65. That’s right—for many men, their financial worth goes down throughout their life!

♦ The IRS reports that approximately 85 percent of people, upon reaching age 65, do not have $200 in the bank.

♦ Albert Einstein once responded to the question, “What is the most powerful thing you’ve ever witnessed?” with the answer, “Compound interest.”

♦ If you charge $2,000 at 19.8 percent interest, and pay only the minimum payment, it will take you… 31 years and two months to pay off that loan! And in the process, you will have paid more than $10,000.

Want to break the credit card habit that eats away at your income? Try reminding yourself of rule number one—if I can’t afford to pay cash for it, I can’t afford it! If you can’t manage to quit the credit cards cold turkey, take a good hard look at what you’re buying with them. Is it really wise to purchase groceries on credit? Make purchases on your lowest-interest card and make sure to make your payments on time. Late fees (along with over-limit fees) will eat up your income in no time flat. Once your minimum payments are covered, apply as much extra money as you can to your higher interest credit cards. Talk with a credit counseling agency (many of their services are free of charge) before you get in a credit crunch.

I just came in from a walk in our woods for the first time in snow this year. It’s only about an inch but still,

it is snow. I thought about doing a test drive with my new snowshoes but decided against it. I really don’t like to clean the dirt off when I come back. The fresh white blanket brings that serene, sweet silence that makes time

feel as if it is standing still. My walk almost felt like as if it were a meditation. With snow on the branches, each step of each familiar trail looked like a new and different quest to be experienced. The recent cover also improves my tracking skills tremendously. I followed a snowshoe hare for a while. I rarely see those furry little creatures but his tracks were everywhere. I saw deer and elk tracks; a raccoon had crossed the trail near the edge of the property; and of course squirrels had scampered back a n d f o r t h b e t w e e n t r e e s . I complimented myself for being such a good tracker, even if it only happens in fresh snow or loose dirt. Back at the house I grabbed a piece of firewood from the porch, took it in and stoked the fire. It’s warm inside with a Christmas scene out each window. I’m getting into the spirit of the season. Not to be confused with getting the spirits of the season in me; that’s another story. When it comes to this wonderful winter holiday I admit to being a hopeless romantic. As an adult I’ve lived in tract houses, old homes on old city streets, condos and even a boat for a few years. But a log cabin in the woods has always seemed like the ideal Yule-time home. As a young adult it seemed absurd

to take the time to decorate a place that only I would see. But as I matured—a relative term—I found it did make the season more fun and it forced me to do a little cleaning… when I put everything away sometime in the spring. My four winters on that old wooden boat allowed for the most unique holiday decorating. Lights completely outlined all of her lines. A tree stood in the cockpit and at the helm was Santa Clause with a captain’s hat setting jauntily on his head. People could see the lights from all around the bay and came by to see what they were. To complete the holiday season on the docks for them, I made sure there was music of the season on the CD player all the time. This meant, in order keep my sanity— a relative term—I had to buy several CDs of holiday music in different styles. Then, there were a few years in a wonderful cabin that was off the grid. This required decorating without electricity. I wasn’t willing to let the batteries discharge into the colored lights, so I painted pinecones different colors for the tree and used candles and oil lamps around the rest of the interior. I mentioned once before that it was during this time that Linda found a perfect little cabin in the woods to live in and I came with the cabin. That cabin was way too small for two people, two dogs, and whatever other animals we thought needed a place to stay for a while, so we started

on a new adventure. Our past two years were spent in anticipation of our charming, forest-surrounded log home. While enjoying this anticipation we lived in the shop. It wasn’t so bad for me; after all, it was a shop. Linda, on the other hand, may have a different story. Most of the tools were in the house we were building so there was room for the most necessary furniture: a table, two chairs and a bed. One might notice only MOST of the tools were in the house, while many were still in the shop where we lived. This year we are in that log home. I was right. It really is a perfect Christmas home, to say nothing of the rest of the year. We have already started hanging lights outside. Some of our Santa Clause collection has already found places to spend the next few weeks and waiting outside is a 14-foot Douglas fir. We both have always wanted a big tree in the house and now there is room for one. We’ve started adding to our light supply and are wondering if our decorating supplies, along with my late mother’s ornaments, will be enough adornment for our plan. In addition to the tree, we have a second floor that will need to be decorated. It is open to the first floor in the living room and thus can be seen from below. We are thinking about a small tree up there and maybe a little one in the dining room as well. I don’t think we have any plans to do up the laundry room for the festivities, but Linda may have ideas she hasn’t yet shared with me. The house isn’t totally finished yet so there will be room to grow our merry plans. And in the future there will be a gate with posts that will need some cheer. Okay, I’m starting to sound like I could brown-out Bonner County with my display. Really, I just want to decorate our new home in a fun and tasteful way. Maybe I just want to live in a Thomas Kincaid painting for a few weeks each year. There will be more to our Christmas than lights and Santa Clause. This will be our first Christmas in this house, our first without kids at home, and our first without my mother. But then, what is Christmas if it’s not about new beginnings? We hope your holidays are as merry as our home. See you all next year after I’ve put a few miles on those new snowshoes.

8 December 2004 | The River Journal | Page 7

It’s Coming

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I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and was able to return to the valley safely. For me, I did something I haven’t

done in many, many years. With my wife and mother, I went to someone else’s home for this holiday. We were invited to share some time and dinner with our son’s in-laws. I must admit, I am not a great fan of being somewhere other than home for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The warmth and comfort of familiar surroundings is candy for my soul. The activity of putting the big dinner together and the smell of it cooking is something I really look forward to each year. But there is something to be said for expanding the size of our little worlds and enjoying the company of new friends. I am glad we took the trip, but I was really glad to return home and, of course, we had to cook our own turkey for the leftovers. Another general deer season has come to a close. Even though plenty of deer were harvested, the lack of snow no doubt kept the harvest from being even greater. I know that each time I was out looking I did see critters, but not as much as I would normally expect. Usually we would have plenty of snow by now, and it was always kind of reassuring to drive along some of our drainages and observe the sheer profusion of critter tracks in the snow. Then, even if we didn’t see deer, we could at least tell that the phantoms were around, hiding in the trees like we taught them. And, contrary to some folk’s belief, game wardens do not spend their nights making critter tracks in the snow to beef up the counts. We North Idaho whitetail deer hunters have become pretty dependant on the “rut” to bag our “braggin” deer. We have come to depend on that critter’s swollen neck to override its natural instinct to survive. Each of us could tell a story of a buck’s completely ignoring the person shooting at it because there was a doe nearby. That swollen neck and single purpose has led to more wallhangers, but it has also helped the species survive. Most critters spend the entire year gearing up for the short breeding

season. That is their sole purpose in the scheme of things. The biggest and strongest survive to perpetuate the population. If the truth were known, that is not always the case. I, like many of you, have observed the real truth. While the biggest and strongest bucks or bulls are trying to impress each other by posturing, fighting and showing who has the biggest horns, the little two- and three-point critters are in the trees, servicing the does. Meanwhile, the loser of the big battle is now really frustrated, with lots of testosterone built up and no release in sight. These bucks can be, and are, dangerous, especially in an area such as the David Thompson Game Preserve. As a rule, they generally will not take out their frustration on people, barring cataracts, but any other deer, critter or tree is fair game. On the Game Preserve we have lots of people and they have lots of pets. All year long these pets bark at and chase the same buck off “their territory” with little consequence. However, the tables can change during the “rut” and a 180-pound, 5-point, frustrated deer should not be taken lightly. Sometimes Rover is surprised when the deer does not run away, but instead runs at him and chases him up onto the porch. Sometimes, as in a recent case, the buck gores the dog. I have to admit that this buck had to be extremely frustrated and quite gnarly, but it was not possessed nor demented. For you folks living on the Preserve, the “rut” should be time of heightened awareness and the taking of great home movies. We are into our next season, muzzleloader spike elk for “B” taggers, and the weather has the promise of snow in it. I have seen several good bunches of elk and they had spikes in with them. Generally, one must find the cow herds to locate a spike elk. Be sure of your target and keep your powder dry. Cat hunters will be hitting the roads looking for tracks for their dogs to follow. But for those without dogs, you can set up in a wintering area and use a dying rabbit call to lure one into range. Waterfowl hunters should be looking forward to the unsettled weather as it will move the uneducated ducks and geese to the area. Time to stop goofing off on this contraption and get busy. I have some injured animals to check out and hunters to check. Be careful and please be sure to enjoy what we have, enjoy it with the family and leave it better than when you found it.

JJ

Page 8| The River Journal |8 December 2004

JJ Scott, ID Fish & Game Warden

The Warden’s Words Protection on the Pack

Conservation Easement Protects Pack River

Mock

Shots

THIS TIME OF YEAR the wildlife is on the prowl, quite often on the roads we like to think of as reserved for us two-legged critters. Keep your eyes open and maybe you can not only avoid “getting’ your moose” (or elk or deer) with the front of your car, but get a great shot, as Jay Mock did, above, on Rapid Lightning Road If you're interested in obtaining some of Mock's photos of this world we live in, send h i m a n e m a i l a t woodenware@imbris.net.

L ast January, I received a phone call from landowners on the Pack River who wanted to protect their 66

acres of land with a donated conservation easement. I packed up my snowshoes and met the landowner for a great wintertime hike through a beautiful forest that eventually brought us to the edge of the Pack River. It was

obvious that these landowners had managed their land for wildlife values and that the property was in a very natural condition. Beaver were busy taking down diseased birch trees and the fresh snow was covered in deer, moose and elk tracks. The river contained lots of large woody debris, and the riverbanks were well vegetated—factors that make for great fish habitat conditions. Last week, the landowners and the Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Conservancy signed a conservation easement that will permanently protect this portion of the Pack River for wildlife habitat values. About 60 percent of the easement is within the 100-year floodplain and the easement has special restrictions to protect the entire floodplain and associated wetlands from any impacts that might alter the natural ecosystem. The easement

protects both sides of the Pack River for almost a quarter mile. The Pack River is a migratory corridor for bull trout and cutthroat trout that spawn in the upper reaches of the watershed. Bull trout are a threatened species in Idaho and cutthroat are a species of concern. About 40 percent of the easement is outside the floodplain and can still be

managed for sustainable timber harvest and other traditional land uses. A s d e v e l o p m e n t p r e s s u r e accelerates in Bonner County, more and more rural landowners are considering conservation easements as tools for protecting their land from p o t e n t i a l s u b d i v i s i o n a n d development. The Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Conservancy is a regional, nonprofit land trust governed by a volunteer board of directors, who are all local people. Donated conservation easements usually qualify for federal income tax deductions and can also potentially reduce estate taxes. To learn more about protecting your land, you c a n v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t www.sandpoint.net/cfpoconservancy or call 208-263-9471 to receive more information.

-Suzanne Sawyer, Executive Director Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Conservancy

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8 December 2004 | The River Journal | Page 9

G ary Carlson and Ursula Graef, certified ski instructors at Schweitzer, are offering their adult-oriented Nice Turns ski

improvement program again this year. This program has been extremely popular with active seniors who enjoy

the social aspect of meeting each week with fellow skiers and benefit from the physical activity. Graef stated, “With Nice Turns you ski with people in your own age group and of comparable ability.” She added, “We felt that adults should have fun too!” Sessions are offered for skiers from entry level to expert. The Nice Turns program allows skiers to develop at their own pace in small sessions with six or less skiers. This is accomplished by utilizing the “ S i m p l e t o C o m p l e x ” s k i l l s improvement method. The skier builds a foundation of basic skills and then builds in more complex skills over the duration of the course. The result is a natural progression to new levels that the skier is comfortable with. Graef said, “We never ask a student to do anything that they are uncomfortable with.” Nice Turns utilizes the latest in computer and video technology to help the skier improve. Carlson said, “The ability to see yourself in action, plus the ability to break down each turn into its components, is a tremendous teaching tool.” “Learn to take full advantage of the new ski equipment. Learn to ski the mountain. And mix with lots of great people who want to improve their skiing while having fun,” exclaimed Graef.

The full season Nice Turns program begins the first week in January with weekly half-day lessons until the end of the season. The half season program follows the same schedule, but is completed at the end of February. A weekly full day lesson is also offered that focuses on practicing drills and skills in the morning with guided free skiing in the afternoon. The sessions meet weekly, either weekdays or weekends. All classes include a lunch session for video review and technical discussion. The cost is $325 for the full season half-day, $225 for the half

season, and $325 for the half season, full day program. Discounts are available for couples. Gary Carlson said, “If it has been a while since your last ski lesson and you are not sure about committing to a full season, take advantage of our “test run. Try an early session at no cost and see if our program is for you.” For more information go to the Nice Turns web site, www.niceturns.net, email : info@niceturns.net or call 208-263-5207.

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N ovember at Noxon and Heron was a little warmer and drier than normal and typically a mostly

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were 3.98 in. at Noxon and 3.37 in. at Heron, and due mostly to the previous three wet months, we are still about 3 inches above average through 11 months. Snowfall was far below normal for November, with totals of 2.3 in. at Noxon and 1.8 in. at Heron, the averages being 13 in. and 9 in. respectively.

November 2004 Weather by Frank Coupal

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McManus Book Signing Author-humorist Patrick McManus will be in Sandpoint for a book-signing on Friday, December 10 from noon to 1 pm at the Corner Book Store in Sandpoint, located at 106 Main Street. For information, call 208-265-2886. Way to Go Hazel Hamann! Hazel Brodkord Hamann of Sandpoint and Kootenai is delighted to finally be receiving her diploma from the University of Idaho. Hazel first attended UI from 1944-48 and finished all her credits over the years by 1978. However, she was just short the "prac t i ce teaching" requirement to earn a degree. Considering her 42-year career teaching in Idaho, the Dean of the College of Education waived that requirement and Hamann will graduate December 11 with a B.S.Ed. degree with a major in Secondary Education, a teaching major in General Science and a teaching minor in Psychology. Hamann began teaching in 1948, and just couldn't take time off to complete the requirement, she said. She taught for 42 years in Bonner County, at Kootenai Elementary for many years and at Farmin Elementary in Sandpoint, where she retired in 1989. Her low absenteeism and her continued volunteer service in the classroom, even after retiring, speak to her dedication. Credentialed with a pre-professional teaching certificate, she began her career in Bonner County, teaching for an independent school district in a two-room schoolhouse in Algoma. Her second year she taught first through eighth grade in a one-room schoolhouse in Seneacquoteen. She started the fire to warm the building long before students arrived, and was paid extra to do the

janitorial work after the school day was through. She then moved for a year to the Idaho Hill school in Bonner County, and was transferred to the Kootenai Elementary School, the same school she had attended as a child. Hamann's granddaughter, Donella Pratt, helped her grandmother through all the hoops at UI to finally achieve her degree. A Taste of the Wild Have someone on your Christmas shopping list with wild taste? Tickets are now on sale for the North Idaho College Alumni Association’s sixth annual Wild Game Feast, to be held Saturday, January 15. This year’s event features a four-course meal of unusual wild game delicacies created by Coeur d’Alene Inn chef Gene Tillman. Highlights include wild game delicacies such as smoked salmon pitas with cream cheese, firecracker alligator Caesar salad and braised venison. Dean Opsal, Fine Wine Manager of Odom Northwest, will be a featured speaker, suggesting wine selections that complement the wild game on the menu. The event will also include music and a silent auction. Works by local wildlife artist and NIC alumna Dianne Munkittrick will also be on display. Appetizers will be served at 6 pm followed by dinner at 7 pm at the Coeur d’Alene Inn, located at 414 W. Appleway. All proceeds benefit the NIC Alumni Association and scholarships for NIC students. Tickets are $50 per person or $45 for NIC Alumni Association members. Limited seating is available and the event has sold out every year. For tickets, mail a check to the NIC Alumni Association, 1000 W. Garden Avenue, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 83814, or call 208-769-7806. Open Gym Open Gym Basketball is here! Open gym has begun and will run thru March 27 at the Sandpoint High School gym. The gym will be available for girls and boys in grades 3 to 12 on Sunday afternoons from 4 to 5:30 pm. Gym use for youth is free. The high school gym will also be available for adult play from 5:30 to 7 pm on Sunday afternoons. Adults are defined as ages 18 and over. Entry fee for adults is $2, payable at the door. Special thanks to Lake Pend Oreille School District for

partnering to offer this open gym opportunity. For more information, please call Sandpoint Parks & Rec. at 208-263-3613. Shackelford Fund Raiser Barbara Janusz is spearheading a fundraiser for Mary Shackelford to help pay for medical expenses. Art Works Gallery, 309 N. 1st Avenue in downtown Sandpoint , will be displaying Mary's lovely, floral greeting cards. The Gallery will be selling the cards for a minimum donation of $3 (or more!) each. All proceeds will be given to Mary. Free Parking in Downtown Sandpoint Just a friendly reminder that parking in the City Lot in Sandpoint (Third Ave between Oak & Church Street) is free the entire month of December. On-street parking is still limited to two hours, where posted. Doll Exhibit and Essay Contest Once again, the Sandpoint branch of the East Bonner County Library is co-sponsoring a doll exhibit and essay contest. Anyone may submit an entry for the essay contest, 150 words on “My Doll and Me.”All essays must be attached to an entry form, available at the information desk at the Sandpoint and Clark Fork libraries as well as at many of our district schools. The completed essay and entry form must be submitted to LLC, East Bonner County Library, 1407 Cedar Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864 no later than January 14, 2005. The doll exhibit may be viewed in the lobby display windows of the Sandpoint library. The origin of the display and contest comes from the creativity of Marge Gerth and her daughter, Nancy. Marge has an extensive doll collection, acquiring over 500 dolls during the past 70 years. Many of these dolls are from other countries and serve as examples of native dress and custom. Dolls from any collector of the region are welcomed. For display, contact Sydne at 208-263-6930, ext. 243. The essay awards will be announced and prizes given at the Tea Party, which will be at the Sandpoint Library on Saturday, January 22 from 1 to 3 pm. This tea party, co-sponsored by the Sandpoint Friends of the Library, welcomes all dolls and teacups along with their proud owners to enjoy a post-holiday gathering to honor the

essay writers. Lions Turkey Thank You Turkey Bingo at Ponderay’s Bonner Mall gave a “jump-start” to the Sandpoint Lions Club 2004 “Toys For Tots” drive. The traditional bingo games, held in November, gave the drive a record $2,629.34 start. Lion “Toys For Tots” chairman Art Long said, “With a goal of $46,000 to serve the community this year, Turkey Bingo gives us an encouraging start.” The Lions want to thank the Bonner Mall Merchants Association, the member merchants, and the co-sponsors that include the Daily Bee, Real Country Radio K-102, and the River Journal. Bette Stepek from the Mall Association again did an outstanding job in pulling the whole event together. The thank you list must also include Wendy and Jeff Sater for hard work and donations. John Sater Auctions of Bonners Ferry provided the tables for the games. In addition to the bingo winners, Kim Truppe won the Hockey Game raffle and Katie Fox won the Leap’s Phonics Railroad raffle prize. A Fool Parts from his Money Marianne Love is a fine writer, and Viggo Mortensen makes for an interesting interview, but some area residents were surprised to find the new issue of Sandpoint Magazine listed for sale on Internet auction site Ebay. Given that the magazine is available for free at locations in the area, or for a minimal charge from Sandpoint Online’s General Store, it seems unlikely that someone would bid for a copy online. But that’s exactly what a few people did, resulting in one lucky gentleman—from Germany no less—going home with a copy of the magazine after parting with a mere $202-plus. If you want a great stocking stuffer for this holiday season, but are a little wiser about your financial situation, pick up a copy of the Winter 2005 issue at the Sandpoint Chamber Visitor Center, Harold’s IGA, local hotels and retail shops, or at the Keokee Publishing offices, located on the second floor of the McFarland building on Second Avenue in Sandpoint, just across from Jalapenos. Or visit the online general store (www.sandpointonline.com) and have an issue sent to your friends and family outside the area.

The Silver Lady

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Page 10|The River Journal | 8 December 2004

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Pet Tails

W ith six animals living in our house, every year we ponder the realities of all that furry activity versus

the Christmas tree. Maybe I’ve watched too many home videos on TV of pets toppling over trees, but I don’t trust my critters around a lovely pine covered with fragile ornaments. My cats’ klutzy leaps have already resulted in broken glassware, so it’s not exactly hard to imagine the sounds of yuletide destruction (i.e., a Tannenbaum Bomb). Fortunately, because of the layout of our house and our vigilant furry critter supervision, we’ve managed to avoid massive tree devastation. Although an enterprising cat or dog can still take out a tree, here are a few ideas to keep the tree upright and all the ornaments intact. The first thing is to pick a good place for the tree. If you have a room that can be closed off at night or while you aren’t able to keep an eye on your pets, that’s ideal. Alternatively, you can put up some kind of fence or blockade around the bottom of the tree to keep wagging tails and cats out of range. Another way to keep the tree upright is to secure it to the wall or ceiling. Some people use strong fishing line attached to a hook in the ceiling. The line is invisible, and even if a pet tries to climb it, the tree should still stay upright. P i n e n e e d l e s c a n c a u s e gastrointestinal distress for your pets, so don’t let them chew up or eat the needles that will inevitably end up on the floor. Sweep up regularly and put a big sheet around the base of the tree, so when you take the tree out at the end of the season, you don’t get needles everywhere. If you have a puppy, be very sure to

keep him away from electrical cords. Puppies and even kittens often like to chew on wires, so be sure all wires are out of critter range. You also can spray bitter apple spray on the cords as a deterrent. Place plastic, wood, or other reasonably unbreakable ornaments at the bottom of the tree (where ornaments are most likely to be wagged off). Broken glass isn’t fun for anyone. Also, keep food ornaments like popcorn strings off the lower branches. It’s food, and your dog knows it. Finally, know your pet. Some animals will eat absolutely any object they find on the floor, which results in an expensive vet trip to remove the object. If you have a pet like this, be extra careful about ornaments, ribbons, tinsel, presents, and holiday food. I know someone whose dog had emergency surgery to remove glass after the dog knocked a casserole on the floor and ate the dish along with the food. Even though you may be really busy, the bottom line is: pay attention to your pets. With a little extra awareness and forethought on your part, you, the tree, and all your pets can make it through the holidays safely. Susan Daffron owns Logical Expressions Inc., an editorial and publishing company. She is a former veterinary assistant and owns four dogs and two cats. Articles are archived at www.pet-tails.com

N ow that you have had some time to practice your Copy/Paste technique, let's ramp it up a bit.

Let's say you have a dandy little graphic image saved as a part of a document in Word, and you'd like to create a flyer with the same image at the top. Only problem is, you can't find the original graphic file to insert into your new document. Now what? With Copy/Paste, you can simply "borrow" the graphic from the original document. Open the document, click anywhere on the graphic image and Copy. This places the image in the area of memory of the computer called the Clipboard. You can then create a new document, or open an existing one, move your keyboard cursor to the position you have selected for the image, and Paste. Viola! An exact copy of your graphic image is now in the new document. If you want to reposition the image, you can use Cut and Paste to move it around. Remember, there are multiple ways to Copy/Paste. You can select the desired function from the Edit menu; utilize the shortcut icons at the top of the window on the standard toolbar; right click for menu options; or use the keyboard shortcuts. (See my last article in the November 24 edition of the River Journal for details.) Let's also say that there are some people who would rather be notified by email instead of receiving your flyer. Not a problem. You can simply use Copy/Paste to send as much or as little of the flyer as you would like via email.

Finish your flyer in Word. Decide how much of the flyer you would like to include in your email and highlight your selection. Copy your selection. Then open and address your email. Click in the body of the email and Paste. The selection you chose to Copy from your flyer in Word has now become the content of your email. If you would like to send the entire contents of your Word document, a quick way to highlight the entire document is with the keyboard shortcut for Select All: [Ctrl] + [A]. Then Copy/Paste into the new location. Keep in mind that the email message may not retain the same layout as the flyer because of your email settings. (Depending on your settings, you also may or may not be able to include graphic images in the body of your message.) You can always Copy/Paste small text selections at a time, instead of all at once, and reformat the message for your email layout. It will take a little more time, but not as long as having to retype all the content again. Once I'm in my email program, I can't resist checking for any new messages. Folks are always passing on all kinds of useful, and useless, information. But let's say that on this day, a new email has arrived with the most inspirational message you have ever read, and you want to preserve it for yourself and friends. It is not forever locked in the email Inbox. If you use Copy/Paste, you can bring it to Word where you can enhance it, add graphics, print it on parchment paper and frame it for gifts…. and free it to become all it was intended to be! Or at least, that is what I would be inclined to do. But I digress. Use the same technique we used to copy your flyer to email, only in reverse. Click in the body of the email. Select All. Copy. Open a Word document. Paste. Then work your magic on the text in Word. You can clean it up from all those annoying forwarding marks… you know… >>>>>>> ad infinitum. Change the fonts, add color, insert clipart, word art, and a border. Incredible! There are a myriad of uses for the Copy/Paste technique. Next issue, we'll use it to help you organize the files on your hard drive. Melody Martz owns Computer Help, a business and personal resource for those times when “you don’t know what you don’t know.” Reach her at 208-290-2924 or email her at melody@netw.com

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We wish you a happy McChristmas with “Pot Luck: A Salad of Seldom Seen McManus Stories,” a one-man show written by best s e l l i n g h u m o r author Patrick F. M c M a n u s a n d starring Tim Behrens. “Pot Luck” comes to Sandpoint for one performance only at the Panida Theater on Friday, December 10 at 8 pm. W e ’ r e a l s o c e l e b r a t i n g a M c A n n i v e r s a r y ! Twelve years ago this fall, Tim and Pat premiered the first McManus stage play in Sandpoint at the Panida. More than 800 performances later, McManus mania has swept 23 states and two Canadian provinces, leaving behind 350,000

McHappy people! “Pot Luck”

is a collection of “irregulars”—stories of the “one size doesn’t fit all” variety that didn’t make it into the other plays. But they are some of the most beloved McManus classics and are sure to fill you to the brim with holiday cheer! This is straight storytelling at its best with tales that include: The Grasshopper Trap; The Invasion of the Space Aliens; The Lone Ranger Strikes Again; The Canoe Doctor; The

Ending to the Old Ed Story; A Lecture on Ethics; and Deep Sea

Diver. “McManus stories are a cross between Bill Cosby and Mark Twain, and just as funny as both of them!” says the Billings Gazette. Attent ion McShoppers! Pat McManus will be at the Corner Bookstore across from the Panida Theater in Sandpoint at noon on Friday, December 10 to autograph copies of his books. Stop in and buy the gift of laughter for those on your list. General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students with ID cards. For tickets and information, call the Panida Theater at 208-263-9191 or stop by any of these Sandpoint ticket locations: Eve’s Leaves, Pack River Potions and Monarch Mountain Coffee. “Will Call” tickets also can be reserved by calling CenterStage in Spokane at 509-747-8243.

The “Potluck” is Served Page 12 |The River Journal |8 December 2004

Gallery Holiday Reception Art Works Gallery will be hosting a gala holiday reception, "Deck the Walls" on Friday, December 10, from 4 to 7 pm. You are invited to come to view the newest artwork and meet the gallery artists. Martin Alderette will play the keyboard during the reception. The Gallery holiday gift to you will be a 10 percent discount on all gallery artwork the day and evening of the reception. Art Works Gallery shows works of over 60 local and regional artists. The gallery is located at 309 North First Avenue in downtown Sandpoint. The hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. For more information about the gallery, please view their website at www.sandpointartworks.com. Christmas Concert at NIC This year’s annual holiday concert at North Idaho College December 11 and 12 will include the traditional holiday songs and the sing-a-longs that bring the crowd to its feet each year. “Sounds of Christmas” will feature several military-themed pieces with marches performed by the NIC Symphonic Band led by Terry Jones. The NIC Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers and Men’s and Women’s Ensembles will perform several pieces separately before the groups team up for a performance of John Rutter’s “Candlelight Carol,” in which the choir members will add a visual element to the piece with candles on stage. “Sounds of Christmas” will be at 7:30 pm Saturday, December 11 and at 2 pm Sunday, December 12 in NIC’s Boswell Hall Schuler Auditorium on the North Idaho College main campus in Coeur d’Alene Idaho. It is free and open to the public. For information and directions call 208-769-7764. ‘Sip and Shop’ for the Panida Have fun while you shop. throughout December., Get some unique holiday shopping done while enjoying Pend d’Oreille Winery’s

fabulous wines by the glass and supporting many local charities, all at the same time. Sip ’n Shops take place from 4 pm to 7 pm on December 8 to benefit the Panida Theater, December 14 and 15 to benefit the Panhandle Animal Shelter, and December 16 to benefit Angels Over Sandpoint. The Winery will be donating 10 percent of the night’s proceeds to these charities. In case you’ve never visited our hometown winery, you might be surprised to find out that they stock an incredible array of one-of-a-kind gifts like quirky steel and iron animals, holiday-inspired articles, beautiful jewelry, lovely linens in jewel tones, dinnerware and stemware, rich leather and Asian inspired furniture and accessories, beaded votive holders, gourmet foods, gift baskets and of course, Pend d’Oreille Winery’s award-winning wines. An early evening at the Winery at Third and Cedar in Sandpoint could turn out to be not only enjoyable, but productive as well. Library Closed for Holidays All branches of the East Bonner County Free Library District will be closed December 24 and 25 in observance of the Christmas Holiday and will be closed January 1, 2005 for New Years Day. Christmas Square Dance The Hoodoo Valley Hoedowners will be having their annual Christmas Square Dance on Saturday, December 18, at the Jewel Lake barn. It will be a party level dance that begins at 8 pm and celebrates until 10:30 pm. Refreshments will follow. Rick and Kathy Utter will be calling. For information call MaeBelle Hulquist at 208-263-4222or see the club web site at www.surf1.ws/hoodoo Sunday Afternoon Salons Series Lost Horse Press proudly presents the second in a three-part series of Sunday Salons titled “Wild Mind: Rebel Creativity in the Age of Commerce.” The performance and

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discussion on Sunday, December 12 takes place at the Hi Hopes Cafe—next to the post office in Hope—at 1 pm, and features local writers and artists, Robens Napolitan and Tom Kramer, in a program entitled, “The Artful Marriage.” For additional information about this or other Lost Horse programs, please call 208-255-4410 or check their website for a schedule of u p c o m i n g e v e n t s a t www.losthorsepress.org. Pend Oreille Chorale and Orchestra The Pend Oreille Chorale and Chamber Orchestra will be presenting the second half of their season's offering by presenting "Centuries of Christmas Praise in Song" for the community on Sunday, December 12. This second concert will be held in the sanctuary of the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Pine Street at 7 pm The upcoming concert will be focused upon uplifting music from Gregorian chant through more modern compositions. An emphasis will be placed upon having a representative work from almost every century. There will be a mix of solo and choral selections and even include a movement from a piano trio by Smetana. These concerts are given free of charge to the community as a community service in order that whomever may wish to attend can do so. A donation basket is placed in order to help defray expenses, for it is through donations that new music and equipment is procured. The Pend Oreille Cholrale and Chamber Orchestra is a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting the area by means of quality music. The Really BIG Raffle How about buying your loved one a house for Christmas this year? Tickets are on sale now for a chance to win a $200,000 custom home in the North Idaho College Foundation’s Really BIG Raffle.

“Think BIG this holiday season and give your loved ones a chance to win a beautiful home while helping deserving North Idaho College students at the same time,” said NIC Foundation Executive Director Rayelle Anderson. Tickets are $100 each and only 4,500 tickets will be sold before the July 6 drawing. This year marks the twelfth year of the Really BIG Raffle, which is sponsored in part again this year by Stock Building Supply of Coeur d’Alene. The grand prize custom home is currently under construction by NIC carpentry students at 1374 Coquille Court in Post Falls. Located in the Montrose subdivision, this year’s house is a rancher with a full basement and more than 3,500 square feet of living space. The house features a covered front porch, rear deck and three-car garage on a landscaped corner lot. Other prizes include the first prize $20,000 car or boat, the second prize $3,500 travel package or the third prize $2,000 shopping spree. Those who purchase tickets before May 31 will also be eligible for the Early Bird Prizes, a DVD/VHS player and color TV. Proceeds from the Really BIG Raffle benefit important educational needs at NIC. For more information call 208-769-3271. Winter Carnival in Troy The city of Troy, Mont. and the Troy Area Community Association welcomes everyone to get into the winter season with their first annual Troy Winter Carnival, to be held Saturday, December 18 from 11 am to 4 pm. in Troy’s Roosevelt Park. Loaded with events and activities, the Carnival will feature snow-related or no-snow options designed to get you out and to the park, no matter the weather! Activities include snow sculpture contests, a cross-country ski

race, snowshoe dashes, sled-pull relays (you bring the sled and a partner) and a chili cook-off contest. If no snow falls, no matter! You can make a scarecrow Yeti, enter a Yeti costume contest, race in a jingle bell

fun run, enter a Santa sack relay or make a mad dash in your snow boots for prizes! Awards include first, second and third place prizes in both adult and children categories. Entry fees for adults are $3 per contest, $1 each for children. Adults can win cash pots for first place (except the chili contest, requiring a $5 entry fee for the first place “Burnt Spoon Award”). Those heartburn specialists who enter the Chili Cook-Off can then sell their specialties post-contest. Everyone wins! If you’re into watching, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride or hayride (we at he r - r e l a ted) , r ent s o me snowshoes and take a walk through the park, or just eat some good food and enjoy the warming fire. This event provides a little something for everyone. Pre-registration forms are available at Gambles Hardware or Troy City Hall in historic downtown Troy, or you can find them on-line at the Troy Visitors Bureau web site sponsored by TACA (www.troyvisitorsbureau.com/calendar_of_events.htm). You can also reg is ter on-s i te . Need more information? Call 406-295-5834. Proceeds from the event go to the City of Troy for Roosevelt Park, and to the Troy Area Community Association, which works to promote and support T r o y a n d i t s s u r r o u n d i n g communities.

8 December 2004| The River Journal | Page 13

I f you’ve ever felt like you’d enjoy being a part of the hottest show in town, here’s your chance. Auditions for the

Follies, the annual Angels Over S a n d p o i n t p r o d u c t i o n d u r i n g downtown Sandpoint’s Madcap Mardi Gras, take place this month. On Sunday, December 12 beginning at 2 pm, wanna be singers, poets, dancers and more are invited to strut their stuff in an effort to garner a spot in the show billed as, “more fun than a person should be allowed to have.” Angels Over Sandpoint is a local non-profit organization dedicated to providing services and help to people in need throughout the area. All monies raised by the Follies goes to this effort. To book an audition time, call Gail Fendley at 208-266-0503.

Follies Auditions

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Snowboards and Ski equipment Quality outerwear from The Northface, Solstice, Burton and Mountain Hardware Gloves, hats,

goggles & other stocking stuffers Schweitzer Souvenirs Gift Certificates Layaway and Gift Wrapping plus full service repair shop

We’re here to give Santa a hand

December 9 Hope Elementary/ Clark Fork High School com-bined band night, at Clark Fork High School 7 pm. 10 GED Testing Sand-point Learning Center, 208-263-4594 for informa-tion and pricing. 10 “Pot Luck” a one-man show featuring Tim Behrens. Panida Theater, Sandpoint. 8 pm. $15 adults, $12 students with ID cards. 208-263-9191. 10 Deck the Walls. Holi-day art reception, 4 to 7 pm, Artworks Gallery, 309 N First, Sandpoint, Ida. 11 Sounds of Christmas. North Idaho College, Bos-well Hall Schuler Audito-rium, annual holiday con-cert, FREE, 7:30 pm. Call 208-769-7764. 11 Santa & Holiday Fes-tivities, Sandpoint, Ida. Santa at 102 Cedar St., gift wrapping from high school choir, music performances, noon to 2 pm. 11 Brian Crain String Ensemble, Panida Thea-ter, Sandpoint, 7 pm. 208-

263-9191 11 Holiday Rail Tours, train ride from Sandpoint to Thompson Falls. 1-800—519-7245. 11 Home 4 the Holidays, Open House at Kootenai Humane Society Pet Adop-tion Center, 1 pm to 4 pm, North end of Ramsey road in Hayden, Ida. next to the Coeur d’Alene Airport. 11 Hope Elementary School Christmas Bingo, 5 pm at the school, Hope, Ida. 12 Sounds of Christmas. North Idaho College, Bos-well Hall Schuler Audito-rium, annual holiday con-cert, FREE, 2 pm. Call 208-769-7764. 12 Jazzy Nutcracker, Panida Theater in Sand-point, 4 pm. 208-263-9191 14 Vietnam Veterans of America Christmas party, VFW Hall in Sandpoint, 6 pm. All veterans and their families welcome 12 Centuries of Christian Praise through Song, Pend Oreille Chorale, 7 pm, Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2255 West Pine St., Sandpoint. FREE 12 Auditions for Follies, Angels over Sandpoint Madcap Mardi Gras event. 2 pm at All Star Photo in Sandpoint. Call Gail at 208-266-0503 to reserve time. 12 The Artful Marriage, 1 pm, Hi Hopes Café, Hope, Ida. Second “Sunday Sa-lon” from Lost Horse

Press. Performance and discussions. Call 208-255-4410. 14 Hope Elementary Ge-ography Bee, 1 pm at the school. 14 & 15 Sip & Shop at the Pend d’Oreille Winery, 220 Cedar, Sandpoint, benefits Panhandle Animal Shelter. 15 Ski and Board Party, Swan’s Landing, Sand-point, 5 pm. Sponsored by 95.3KPND and Schweitzer. Call 208-263-2179 16 Sandpoint High School Christmas Con-cert, 6:30 pm, Christmas Basket Auction. Call 208-263-3034. 16 A Danceworks Christ-mas at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint. 16 Sip & Shop at the Pend d’Oreille Winery, 220 Ce-dar, Sandpoint, benefits Angels over Sandpoint. 16 Christmas Tea Party, Plains Aglow Community Lighthouse, 7 pm, Plains/Paradise Senior Center, 205 W. Meany, Plains, Mont. Call 406-826-0039. 16 Hope Elementary PTO meeting, 6 pm at the school. 16 Bonners Ferry Com-munity Orchestra Con-cert, 7 pm, Fry Auditorium in Bonner’s Ferry. FREE. 17 A Christmas Carol, presented by the Heron School, Sandpoint Com-munity Center, 7 pm, FREE 17 Santa & Holiday Fes-tivities, downtown Sand-

point. Santa at 102 Cedar, choir offers gift-wrapping, refreshments, discounts and entertainment. 5 pm to 7 pm. 17 Ladies Only Happy Hour, 5 pm to 7 pm, par-ticipating restaurants in downtown Sandpoint while men are shopping. 17 Men’s Night Only shopping, downtown Sand-point. 5 pm to 7 pm. Par-ticipating merchants. 17 Hope Elementary Ea-gle Cruise Field Trip, grades 1—3 17 & 18 Being Julia. Global Cinema Café se-ries, Panida Theater, Sandpoint, 7:30 pm. Call 208-263-9191. 18 Troy Winter Carnival 11 am to 4 pm, Roosevelt Park, Troy, Mont., dozens of activities. 18 Christmas Square Dance. Jewel Lake Barn, 8 pm to 10:30. Hoodoo Val-ley Hoedowners. Call 208-263-4222. 18 Christmas Tree Light-ing, traditional event at Schweitzer Ski Basin at dusk. Call 208-263-9555 18 Sandpoint Sunday Service Holiday Concert, Gardenia Center, 7 pm. Call 208-263-5915. 20 Danceworks Christ-mas, Panida Theater, 7 pm. Call 208-265-9186. 20 Christmas break be-gins for Lake Pend Oreille School District students.

Through January 7—Click, a photography ex-hibit, more than 25 local and regional artists. POAC arts council gallery in the Power House, 120 Lake St., Sandpoint. 31 New Year’s Eve par-ties! At Schweitzer inside Taps and Chimney Rock Grill, live music and festivi-ties. Call 207-263-9555. 31 Semi Normal-Semi Formal New Year’s Eve Bash. City Forum in Sand-point. Cat Daddy performs life, includes Fun, Funky and Fabulous Silent Auc-tion. All to benefit local charities. $20. Call 208-263-1514. 31 Eagles Lodge Party, Sandpoint. Prime rib dinner 7 pm to 9 pm, dancing until 1 am. $20 includes dinner, toasting champagne and party favors. Call 208-263-3514. January 3 Sculpture Classes with Lee Kirkwood. 9 classes. $20 plus materials. Hope Memorial Community Cen-ter. Call 208-264-5481 15-22 Sandpoint Winter Carnival. Ice sculpture contest, night skiing, Torch Parade, fireworks, Mr. and Ms. Winter Carnival 21 Basket Class with Kim Spencer. Hope Memorial Community Center, 10 am to 3 pm. Cost $35. Call 208-264-5481.

Each Tuesday Metaphysical discussion at the Dolphin House in the Bonner Mall in Ponderay, Ida. 7 pm The Priest River Chess Club meets 6:30 pm. West Bonner Library 219 Main Street, Priest River, Ida. Chess enthusiasts of all ages and levels of ability are welcome. Please call l Rebekah Leaf, 208-448-2344. Always on Tuesdays, exploration of herbs, Peaceable Kingdom, call 208-263-8038 Each Wednesday Bruce Bishop, Tom Newbill & Friends at 7 pm for Mu-sic Night at Hi Hopes Café in Hope Ida. Each Friday Jam Session at the Boars Breath With the Steve and Mary Band 9 miles from the state line on Highway 200 in Montana 1st & 3rd Tuesday Greater Sandpoint Toast-masters meet at Slates. For info, call 208-290-1939

Page 14| The River Journal | 8 December 2004

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Summers Funeral Home Boise, Idaho Velma Selina Coffelt, 90, passed away in Boise, Ida. on Tuesday, November 23. Funeral services were conducted in Summer’s Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel with Dale Coffelt officiating. Interment followed in Dry Creek Cemetery. Born in Gate, Okla., Velma lived in Springfield, Colo. before moving to Caldwell, Ida. at the age of seven. She married Kenneth L. Coffelt in 1936 in Caldwell. She had lived in Placerville and Atlanta, Ida., before moving to Emmett, Ida. in 1943. In 1983 she moved to Boise. For many years she was a 4-H leader in sewing, receiving many awards. She was active in the Vanderdasson School Parents Association, supporting athletics and school programs. She was a member of the Followers of Christ Church. Velma enjoyed her family, her gardens, sewing and canning for her family. Coffelt Funeral Services Sandpoint, Idaho Richard J. “Rick” Lutes 57, passed away December 1 in Spokane, Wash. Memorial services were held at Coffelt’s Moon Chapel with pastor David Olson from the First Lutheran Church officiating. Born in 1947 in Miles City, Mont., Rick grew up in Bozeman, Mont., San Diego, Calif. and San Bernardino, Calif., where he graduated from Pacific High School. Following graduation, he worked for San Bernardino’s Sun Telegram newspaper. He honorably served his country during Korea and Viet Nam with the US Army. He returned to California where he opened his own video store, All American Video. In 1989 Rick and his wife, Mary, moved to Sandpoint. He worked for Crest Home Health and then Bonner Home Health until his health forced his retirement in 1997. He loved the outdoors, especially being on Lake Pend Oreille. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating and cooking. He was a wonderful son, great husband and a special grandpa who taught his grandchildren to make cupcakes by hand. Memorials in his honor may be made to the Viet Nam Veterans of America, Local Chapter 890, PO Box 2014, Sandpoint, ID 83864. William “Bill” Raymond Haskins, 68, passed away on Tuesday, November 30 in Sandpoint, Ida. Private family services were held. Born in 1936 in Hanna, Wyo., Bill moved to Laramie, Wyo. at the age of 6. He graduated high school in Laramie in 1954. He was inducted into the US Army, serving from ‘54 to ‘56 in Germany as a squad leader with Company G, 47th Infantry. Upon discharge, he attended college, studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Wyoming. He worked for Martin-Marietta on the Titan I, Titan II and Atlas missiles as an aero-electrical design engineer through 1964. He then worked seasonal jobs, including working as a park ranger in the Teton National Park and Lake Chelan Recreational area. He worked at Brighton Ski Area as an assistant ski school director and certified ski instructor. He and his wife, Susie, moved to Sandpoint in 1972 where he was employed by Schweitzer Basin as the director of skiing, hospitality services, property management and marketing director. From ‘78 to ‘86 he was operations manager for Schweitzer. His extensive work resulted in the development and promotion of Oktoberfest, an event still celebrated. He also promoted Winter Carnival. He successfully lobbied the state legislature to pass the Idaho Skier Responsibility Code. He worked at the Garden Restaurant and the Back Door as a bartended and later worked at Aqualytic as an office manager. He enjoyed fishing, skiing, flyfishing and cooking. Please remember Bill with a smile in your heart.

Paul Wayne Parenteau, 75, passed away in Hope, Ida. on Sunday, November 28. Memorial services were held at Coffelt’s Moon Chapel. Born in 1929 in the old school house near Hope, Wayne grew up on the family’s dairy farm and graduated Clark Fork High School in 1947. He worked with his dad, farming and at the White Delph mine. He served in the US Army in 1953 and worked a variety

of interesting jobs upon his return to Idaho, including logging on Warren Island and working at the Cabinet Gorge Dam. He also delivered beer in the area. He began working at Schweitzer Ski Basin when it opened in 1963 as a “jack of all trades” and, as the area expanded, he supervised the Road Department. After 33 years of dedication to Schweitzer, he retired to his home on the lake. Later, he purchased and moved to the farm on Denton Road previously owned by his mother. He enjoyed fishing, smoking his catch and sharing it with his friends. He also enjoyed working in his garden, tending his flowers and fruit trees, and caring for the animals and birds. Many people knew him as an area handyman as he was always willing to help his neighbors. Memorials in his name may be made to the Panhandle Animal Shelter fund established in his honor. Merton Douglas “Doug” Moran, 78, passed away on November 24 at his home in Sandpoint, Ida. Funeral services were held at Coffelt’s Moon Chapel with Pastor Darel Hawson of the United Methodist Church officiating. Full military honors followed at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Doug was born in 1926 in Sandpoint, grew up and attended local schools here, and graduated Sandpoint High School in 1944. He enlisted in the US Navy and trained at Farragut Naval Base. He served aboard the destroyer class ship William R. Rusk, and was a Fireman, First Class. Following his honorable discharge in 1946 he returned to Sandpoint, where he married Norma Jean O’Donnell and they lived at the naval base, attending college for two years. Doug joined the US Postal Service in 1950 and retired in ‘81 as an Operations Supervisor after 31 years of service. He was a bowler and trap shooter, winning many awards for both. He also enjoyed traveling, especially to the Oregon coast and to the Grand Tetons. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. After Norma’s passing in 1985, Doug again found love and married Gloria McNearney in 1987. At the time of his passing, they had been married 17 years. Robert Otto “Bob” Lindemann passed away at home on Tuesday, November 23. A memorial service celebrating his life was held at the Coffelt Funeral Home’s Moon Chapel, with Paul Graves officiating. Bob was born in 1926 and, after high school, enlisted in the Naval Air Corps. Following that service he attended San Jose State University, where he earned a BA in Fine Arts, and later a Masters in art education. He was dedicated to his family, and was passionate about all aspects of art, music and nature, a superb craftsman and educator. He taught at junior and senior high schools,

as well as at the college level, and he was Art Supervisor for the San Jose school district. In 1984 Bob and his wife, Sally, moved to Sandpoint to build their dream home and immediately became involved in the community. They bought the Cottage Craftsman and added the Reflections Fine Arts Gallery in Sandpoint. He was a member of Sandpoint Rotary, and a Paul Harris fellow. He served on the board of the

Pend Oreille Arts Council for 18 years, completed two terms as president, and a s s i s t e d w i t h t h e development of ARTWALK.

Upon his retirement from the board, POAC initiated a Bob and Sally Lindemann Fine Arts Scholarship. HE was instrumental in starting and selecting the curriculum for the Kaleidoscope art program in Bonner County elementary schools, as well as in conducting workshops to train volunteer teachers. He was a 1998 Festival at Sandpoint poster artist, and his beautiful, contemporary watercolor expressed his desire to “sing to the viewer and alter consciousness about the beauty around us… and the beauty within us.” Memorials in his honor may be made to the POAC Scholarship Fund, PO Box 1694, Sandpoint, ID 83864 or to Bonner County Hospice, PO Box 1448, Sandpoint, ID 83864. Ora Mae Puckett, 90, passed away in Sandpoint , Ida . on Thursday, November 18. Funeral services were conducted at Coffelt’s Moon Chapel with Pastor Jon Pomeroy, First Church of God, officiating. Interment followed at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Born in Mercer, Tenn. in 1914, Mae attended school there before moving to Jackson, Tenn. She worked there for many years to be able to raise and support her family. For health reasons, she moved to Sandpoint, Ida. in 2001. Mae was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jackson. She liked to create silk floral arrangements and share them with nursing homes in Tennessee and Sandpoint. She also enjoyed sewing for her family, canning and fishing. Alex Stockman, 97, passed away in Sandpoint, Ida. on Wednesday, November 17. Funeral services were held at Coffelt’s Moon Chapel with Dale Coffelt officiating. Interment followed at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Alex was born in Sprague, Wash. in 1906, the son of German immigrants. He moved to Sandpoint in 1913, and to Kootenai, Ida. in 1917. He attended school in Kootenai and married Lottie Chubb in 1927. He has lived in the same house, in Kootenai, since 1930. HE worked in the sawmill for the Humbird Lumber Co., later working in the woods and operating his own logging truck. During World War II he worked construction at Farragut Naval Base, then worked for Hitchner and Hitchner Pole Company. He became a union carpenter, working construction on the Cabinet Gorge and Noxon Dams, and for many years worked at the Sandpoint Marina. He built and repaired both power boats and sailboats. He was one of the first in the area to work in fiberglass, both in boats and other applications. Memorials may be made in his name to Bonner County Library District, 1407 Cedar St., Sandpoint, ID 83864; the American Cancer Society, 1602 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 or to the American Diabetes Association, The Idaho Affiliate, Inc., 1528 Vista Ave., Boise, ID 83705.

8 December 2004| The River Journal | Page 15

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Is death the last step? No, it is the final awakening. -Sir Walter Scott

equipment, provisions and other supplies needed to sustain a group of this size. Travel was accomplished at a walking pace. Camp had to be set up and the cooking fires started before dark, their march would be halted in the late afternoon. Sufficient grass and water had to be found for the yaks and horses, which just like the travelers needed much rest. Dried yak dung was gathered for the cook fires as there was little wood available in this very harsh landscape. Traveling in this manner was very hard work and went on for weeks, even months at a time. Morning would come very early with the preparation of food for the day. Camp would be struck loading everything, once again, onto the yaks for another day's trek. Thousands of Tibetans would travel likewise by foot, horse and yak, in some cases for many days themselves, so they could attend these very special gatherings. Spirituality, which in Tibet is Buddhism, was the central focus of almost every person's life. With roughly 14 percent of the population engaged in monastic life, almost every family had a son or daughter who was either a monk or a nun. There was tremendous support for the Buddhist tradition and the monasteries. In some cases the rituals would last for just a few days but in many cases they would go on for several weeks. There was no set pattern. It depended on the time of year and the needs of those who hosted the travelers. For instance, if a very high lama had passed away, the final rites would take 42 days and nights of ritual to ensure a proper and successful passage into his or her next life. Another example would be the year-end purification ritual in preparation for the new year. This is

called Losar and goes on for seven days and nights. Intertwined with all the various rituals, the Drepung monks would always perform their very special practices and sand mandala for world healing and peace. Over hundreds of years they became famous for their development of multiphonic chanting. Although this type of vocalization. arose in other places, such as the country of Tuva, the Drepung Loseling monks were responsible for it's development within Tibetan Buddhism. After the Chinese Communist invasion of Tibet in 1959 and the forced closure and destruction of its 6,500 monasteries, some 250 monks from Loseling managed to escape the holocaust and rebuilt their institution in Karnataka State, South India. This was a very small percentage of the 10,000 to 15,000 monks that populated the various Drepung Loseling Monasteries. The traditional training program was thus preserved and soon news of their existence spread through Central Asia. Over the years, many more young spiritual aspirants have subsequently fled Chinese-occupied Tibet and sought entrance into the monastery in the hope of learning, and thus helping to preserve, their traditional culture. The number of monks presently in the re-established Loseling has swelled to more than 2,500. Today, the group of travelers is much smaller and they travel much greater distances. Their mode of travel now is by car, by bus and by aircraft and they travel throughout entire planet. The practices and rituals are still the same and their intention and dedication to world peace thru world healing has only intensified. Their effort is best exemplified in the body and activities of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. Since his first visit to the west in early 1973, a

number of western universities and institutions have conferred Pence Awards and honorary Doctorate Degrees in recognition of His Holiness’ distinguished writings in Buddhist philosophy and for his leadership in the solution of international conflicts, human rights issues and global environmental problems. In presenting the Iboul Wallenberg Congressional Human Rights Award in 1989, U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos said, "His Holiness the Dalai Lama's courageous struggle has distinguished him as a leading proponent of human rights and world peace. His ongoing efforts to end the suffering of the Tibetan people through peaceful negotiations and reconciliation have required enormous courage and sacrifice." The Norwegian. Nobel Committee’s decision to award the 1989 Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama won worldwide praise and applause, with the except ion o f China . The Committee's citation read, "The

Committee wants to emphasize the fact that the Dalai Lama, in his struggle for the liberation of Tibet, consistently has opposed the use of violence. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people. On 10 December 1989, His Holiness accepted the prize on the behalf of oppressed people everywhere and all those who struggle for freedom and work for world peace and the people of Tibet. In his remarks he said, "The prize reaffirms out conviction that with truth, courage and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be liberated. Our struggle must remain nonviolent and free of hatred." This writer is an American, born of German decent with 25 years experience with Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan people. I would ask, can we, in the West, learn anything from this outstanding example that has blessed our community?

Peace- (Continued from page 1)

Page 16|The River Journal | 8 December 2004

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