Editorial
To find our opinion based editorials, see below. We'll share opinion based editorial articles regularly for interested viewers.
What an Idaho school funding lawsuit might look like
It is not inevitable that the Idaho Legislature will invite a school funding lawsuit, but legislators appear at th…
DayBreak Center invaluable for area families
The Sandpoint Area Seniors’ DayBreak Center, an adult day program for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related issues, is a valuable community resource that is helping ease the burden many families face w…
Bonner County assessments will be mailed soon
In early June, each property owner in Bonner County will receive their 2017 assessment notice. This notice is a reflection of the estimated current market value of your property; in other words, the most probable p…
Time spent with Honor Flight has been an honor
As I begin to wrap up my teaching career at Sandpoint High School, one group I will be giving up will be the Honor Flight Club. I’d just like to take a minute to thank all those who made the club successful and who…
Join Idaho Gives and help our community
If the nonprofit agencies in our community closed their doors tomorrow, would we really notice a difference? With over 100 registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in Bonner County alone, the consequences would b…
Sandpoint's local option tax is not a use tax
There have been some questions raised recently regarding Sandpoint’s local option tax and we have been made aware that this has been a point of discussion at a…
Health care bill just wasn't right for America
All across Idaho, families and small business owners are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing health care costs caused by the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. If you’ve seen your health insurance …
Wilderness: What on Earth is it good for?
I grew up in Minnesota, and our family’s cabin was our summer playground. We also cherished nearby public spaces for hunting, fishing, hiking, swimming. Minnesota’s population went from 3.5 million in the 1960s to …
Wilderness aids habitat, maintains flexibility
As a sportsman and a retired Fish and Game conservation officer, I care deeply about Idaho’s fish and wildlife. To conserve these critters, we must also conserve their habitat. Protecting wilderness areas, such as …
Wilderness not to blame for wildlife issues
A recent opinion by Pete Thompson, Nancy Hadley, Tony McDermott, and Brad Corkill suggests that wildlife will be in peril if S.3531 (introduced by Idaho’s U.S. Senator Risch) passes. To make their case, they build …
Scotchman Peaks Wilderness bill is just common sense
I, like many Idahoans, depend upon our public lands for my livelihood. As a representative of the timber industry, I understand how important it is to have healthy forests that produce wood for products that we all…
Budget, bills keeping state's legislators busy
As I write this on Friday evening, March 10, the Idaho Legislature has just completed its ninth week of this year’s legislative session. A total of 678 pieces of legislation have been prepared of which 482 have bee…
An improved government is up to all of us
“Civility is about more than just politeness, although politeness is a necessary first step. It is about disagreeing without disrespect, seeking common ground as a starting point for dialogue about differences, lis…
Yes vote is the only answer for our schools
The battle of misinformation has been waged by a small group of naysayers in Bonner County. They question the need and second-guess those tasked with educating our young minds.
Immigration, sled dogs and slot machines
Week 7 of the 2017 legislative session has been the busiest yet. Floor sessions have been starting earlier than usual in order to have enough time to vote on all the bills and conduct our regular business. We have …
Boat inspection funding bill surfaces Monday
Greetings from our state Capitol. Thank you to those who have contacted me to let me know your perspectives on the idea of renaming our Long Bridge across the Pend Oreille River the Veterans’ Memorial Long Bridge. …