Stevens County Roots

August 18, I published a first trip into the lands of my father and mother, with emphasis on Mom's teaching career. As usual when doing research, one uncovers just as many errors as good information . We now have a mostly positive record of where she taught and when.

Her first School was Lead Point, the school year of 1929-30. Lead point just a couple of miles east of Deep Lake, was once a vibrant mining town, as the name implies. It was her first opportunity to  teach right out of school. Hired by the Hartbauers, she reported that the community adopted this rookie with assistance and affection that lasted the lifetimes of those then involved.

Her second year puzzled us. Well, I'm getting ahead of myself as I often do. It was at the Aladdin School which absorbed the Meadow Creek School where my Dad and sisters attended and was located where Rocky Creek intersected Deep Creek at the Aladdin Road. That was the next year, 1930-31. There she met a single farm boy with an unusual amount of enthusiasm for the new teacher. They were soon engaged to be married which took place December 30, 1931, during that 1930-31 school year. They were hitched in Seattle, undoubtedly due to the fact that all of Mom's family were there.

Scooting back to Aladdin, they got back in time to resume the school year, after Christmas vacation. The mystery that plagued Brian, brother Stan and I was why, after a successful year at Lead Point, another at Aladdin, did she teach her third year back at Lead Point. One small sentence in a family letter, of which Nina Huseland was a prolific writer solved the mystery. She remarked while at Aladdin that," this was my second year in the district." Apparently due to the shifting in school student populations in those years, the two schools formed a district, whether formally or adhoc. She was still at home after the trifecta of Lead point, Aladdin then Lead Point again. Another puzzle was what happened in the school year of 32-33.

Her maiden name was Nina Barton, soon to be Nina Huseland, sister of Nellie Barton who became Nellie Sweat of the Chewelah Sweats who still run a cattle ranch up Sand canyon past the airport and golf course on the north fork  of Chewelah Creek, and who taught school in the Valley schools, (6th) grade for many years. She once retired, then upon her husband Elmer catching Rheumatic Fever, which takes months or more to recover from, went back to teaching at her old school.

The year of 1932-33 was still up in the air when my older brother reminded me that Mom had a miscarriage before he was born in October of 1935. We know for certain that she taught at Onion Creek the following year, causing husband, Amos to trek miles up over the hill to visit his newly wed wife.

Most of her teaching career was in the Aladdin Valley with the exception of Onion Creek. We finally realized that by taking 1932-33 off from teaching, she had been replaced at both schools. The opening at Onion Creek being the only opening she had, even though it was so far from home. We think she only taught there one year, but the references to close friendships to the Lotzes, (Helen, Sadie and others,) and that she took in two young ladies from the same family as boarders during her years teaching, not necessarily at the same time or even the same schools, the Bjornstad sisters, Lillian and Alma. Lillian later married Allen Duncan, but Mom never mentioned whether Alma married, just that she had moved to Winchester, Idaho. It also remains possible that she taught at Onion Creek during that missing year. The Isabel Wright- Nelson was also mentioned as her only 8th grade student at Onion creek. She later lived in with Nina &Amos to take care of newly born Stanley Huseland, while Nina resumed teaching at the Spirit School. Her last year was 1937, from which the family leased the Grace ranch to the Fredericksons and migrated to the Seattle area, relocating to Renton, Washington during the majority of the years there.

The last two or three years she taught, prior to retiring as a teacher to take on a more daunting job, that of mother, was at the Spirit School just south of the Spirit junction of Aladdin Road and Deep Lake Road. Dad, you see, had inherited the Pat Grace Ranch from his mother, having been widowed seven years earlier from Gunder Huseland, a Meadow Creek Homesteader. Spirit School was only about 3 or 4 miles from the ranch, where Amos also discovered several lead/Zinc claims on the hill side known as Blue Ridge for it's many lead deposits. It was sold in 1940 and was mined and milled there for many years. The name changed, but it was on what is now called goldfield Road. The Pat Grace homestead is where the current junk yard sits at the intersection of Gold field and Aladdin Road.

What we are looking for now, and it is a tough job, since most have past on, are older people that may have been Nina Barton-Huseland's students, or members of those families that have either memories or knowledge of those years from the four schools she taught at. Lead Point, Aladdin, Onion Creek and Spirit school between the years of 1929 and 1937. If you belong to this group please write either to Herb Huseland, PO Box 884, Bayview, Idaho, or e-mail me at bayviewherb@gmail.com

Eventually, I hope to write a book consisting of the second wave of immigrants from the turn of the century in 1900 to about 1930 when timber claims were allowed in Stevens and Pend Oreille counties to form free homesteads. Prominent names of that era were the Loiselles, Hartbauers, Hiatts, Doc Parsons The Phillips family and many others. That area consisted of Loggers, Miners, farmers, ranchers and such. After about 1960 or so, the back to the land craze hit, peaking about 1970, where disenchanted Vietnam Vets coming home to a hostile nation, sought isolation and moved as far into the hinterlands as they could. The area around Northport and Onion Creek was the destination of many. That they moved back into the wilds for the reason they did is a national shame. That they did well, formed a cohesive comunity, is a credit to their grit, survival skills, and a gift for dificult horticulture. Some raised gardens, others livestock and who knows what others did. They just survived and what started out in the early years as a logging camp, after that generation retired became gradually what it is now. Onion Creek School district will not merge with others. Joel Anderson explained. "This school is what keeps us a community instead of a scattered few farms without any connection with each other." I agree.

Farragut Firing Range Appeal

The other day I received three e-mails informing me of the Idaho Supreme Court hearing on the Idaho department of Fish &  Game loss in Mitchell's court. Judge Mitchell had essentially sunk the ill advised attempt by F&G to reestablish a World War 11 Training range that was never permitted for civilian use after the war.

This case was supposed to have been heard at 10:00 am last Wednesday. Now suddenly the sound of silence.Can anyone tell me what did or didn't happen in this case? Please comment.

***Reply from Sheryl Puckett:

Case was heard, packed courtroom, only four judges attended the fifth will listen to the tapes, Harvey did a great job, they have no time limits as to when they render a decision, could be two weeks, two months, or maybe a lot longer. We now wait.

Reply from Jeanne Holder:

Very sorry that I haven't followed through with an update regarding the Farragut hearing. I assumed that you saw the CDA Press article and I'm not sure I could top that. See below: Except for the interesting fact that IDFG Trever daringly used a statement out of the 2007 order (and restated in the CDA Press article) which during trial , Trever made the same argument, out of context, and it inflamed Judge Mitchell so much that he threatened to sanction her, not only in Court but also in his dated Aug. 25, 2011. I will send that to you in my next email to keep this from being so wordy.

" The 2007 order on the case, Trever added, described that "except for the absence of baffles, the range is relatively safe."

Alicia is not completely correct when she states " Three incidents of bullets escaping the range resulted in a group of Bayview residents suing Fish and Game". CARE sued IDFG because there was a substantial change of usage which created a nuisance and under Idaho law at the time, citizens were allowed to sue for nuisance if they can prove there has been a substantial change of use and they bring forth their suit within three years of the substantial change. We won on the noise issue and IDFG did not appeal, instead they created legislation that allowed for a louder range then we have ever heard. Judge Mitchell found this legislation unconstitutional and IDFG appealed to the Supreme Court, along with the safety issue.

Respectfully,
Jeanne

More from Jeanne:

Trevor again stated this comment to the Supremes (trying to convince that Judge Mitchell considered the range safe except for not having a baffle.)- "However, the Court found the Range relatively safe for use up to 500
shooters "[e]xcept for the fact that the existing range contains no baffle."

Below is what Mitchell said about it in his order.

....
IDFG supports its claim that "As a fundamental matter, the mere identification of

ricochet 'hazards' on the Range does not demonstrate harm to the Plaintiffs", with the

following convoluted reasoning:

In 2006, the Plaintiffs had the burden of showing clear endangerment to those outside the area
owned and controlled by IDFG. However, the Court found the Range relatively safe for use up to 500
shooters "[e]xcept for the fact that the existing range contains no baffle. 2007 Order at 46.

Id., p. 13. Because of the words IDFG omitted from this portion of this Court's prior decision,
IDFG's claim is completely false and intentionally misleading. Here is what the Court wrote, in
context and in its entirety:
The Court finds this remedy [closing Farragut range to everyone] is not
warranted. Except for the fact that the existing range contains no baffle,
MEMORANDUM DECISION, FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND ORDER FOLLOWING COURT TRIAL ON
DEFENDANT'S
MOTION FOR PARITAL LIFTING OF INJUNCTION (SAFETY ISSUES)
Page 22
the range is relatively safe as to its level of use up to and including 2002.

February 23, 2007, Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order, p. 46. AS found by this Court
the level of use in 2002 was 176 shooters for that entire year. Id., p. 4. This Court found that
as of the 2006 trial, the level of use "has expanded significantly since 2002." Id. Thus, for
IDFG to make the claim "However, the Court found the Range relatively safe for use up to 500
shooters "[e]xcept for the fact that the existing range contains no baffle", and cite this Court's
February 23, 2007, opinion as authority
is simply disingenuous. IDFG's making that false claim by using an incomplete quote of the Court,
can only be construed by this Court as an intentional act by counsel, an act that may warrant a
sanction. The issue of a sanction will be left for another day, and counsel's misconduct will not
be held against IDFG. What is pertinent today is that this Court has never held all that was
needed to make the range safe for up to 500 shooters was the installation of a baffle.
What the Court did hold was: "The baffle must be placed and be of sufficient size that the shooter,
in any position (standing, kneeling, prone), cannot fire his or her weapon above the berm behind
the target." While the Court did not mention "ricochets" in so holding, neither did the Court
mention "direct fire". A review of this Court's notes from the December 11, 12, 14, 14, 2006,
trial shows "ricochet" was only mentioned once, in passing, by IDFG's expert Roy Ruel, when he
mentioned a ricochet can occur off the ground or floor of the range. If a shooter, intentionally
or accidentally, shoots
into the floor, and doing so causes a good likelihood of that bullet travelling over the berm
behind the target, then the requirement that the shooter "cannot fire his or her weapon above the
berm behind the target", has not been met.

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The above attachemts are very long and consist of the original ruling by Judge Mitchell. If anyone wants it they can e-mail a request to me and I'll send them to you.

 

P.S. I don't read the Coeur d'Alene Press

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2012 Oktoberfish

Don't miss the best fishing of the year. Oktoberfish. Idaho Fish & Game has donated funds for extra prizes. Call Ralph's Cafe for details 208-683-2218. Single click on poster for larger view.

The Panhandle Sun Dies

As I suspected from near the start, the Sun is no more. It goes without saying that everyone connected with the paper, especially including the investors gave it all they had. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough journalistic knowledge in the organization, nor was there enough effort given to quality content.

It looked to me, especially after I was limited to 300 words for Bayview Daze, and the issue two days later had a half page farewell letter from the departing editor, plus a two full page history of Houser Lake, all in one issue. Obviously, that left little room or editorial judgement for success.

It was a nice try, but the wrong people were listened to and the rest is a short history. I will say this about the paper. I thought the layout and art work were superb. With the stories being more of local interest and ads follow local interest, it might have made it. It's a rough business even at the best of times. For those that poured their very souls into the paper, Crystal Jensen and Shelley Chambers, I feel badly that the rest of the staff didn't measure up. Even if they had, it is questionable in this economy if they could have made it.

As always, I will try to keep track of things in the surrounding communities on this blog. I am limited though, to information that is shared with me. e-mail or phone me with stories, events , etc and I will do my best to pass them on. Bless the investors that had a great idea, and put their money up without hesitation.

I also accept ads, except I'm not an illustrator and you must submit a finished product. I have a side bar that is usable for this purpose.

Herb Huseland

Supreme Court To Hear Shooting Range Appeal

The Idaho Supreme Court Hearing (regarding Farragut Shooting Range) will be heard in the Coeur D'Alene Courthouse (old building) in Courtroom 1 at 8:50 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012.  This is open to the public and we hope to see you there. The Idaho Supreme Court Press Release is stated below for your information regarding this appeal. Regards, Chuck Murray and Jeanne Holder CITIZENS AGAINST RANGE EXPANSION, JEANNE J. HOM, EUGENE RILEY, KATHLEEN RILEY, LAMBERT RILEY, DENISE RILEY, GABRIELLE GROTH-MARNAT, GERALD PRICE, RONALD ELDRIDGE, DOROTHY ELDRIDGE, GLENN CHAPIN, LUCY CHAPIN, SHERYL PUCKETT, CHARLES MURRAY, CYNTHIA MURRAY, DAVIE VIG, Plaintiffs-Respondents, v. FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT, VIRGIL MOORE, Defendants-Appellants. ______________________________________ )))))))))))))))))))) Docket No. 39297 Appeal from the District Court of the First Judicial District, State of Idaho, Kootenai County. Hon. John T. Mitchell, District Judge. Honorable Lawrence G. Wasden, Idaho Attorney General, Boise, for appellants. Scott W. Reed, Coeur d'Alene, and Harvey Richman, Athol, for respondents _____________________ This appeal comes to the Idaho Supreme Court after protracted litigation regarding the Farragut Shooting Range in Bayview. The Citizens Against Range Expansion (CARE), composed of individuals who reside near the range, sued the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) in 2005. Based on safety and noise concerns, CARE sought to enjoin IDFG's use and expansion of the range. The district court granted injunctive relief and closed the range. It then set safety requirements for reopening the range for up to 500 shooters per year, and safety and noise requirements for reopening it for more than 500 shooters. In 2010, after making modifications to the range, IDFG filed a Motion for Partial Lifting of Injunction. Citizens Against Range Expansion v. Fish and Game Department, S.Ct. 39297 Page 2 _______________________ The district court denied the motion after determining that IDFG had not met the requirements for lifting the injunction for up to 500 shooters. The court found that the terms of the injunction order were not met because bullets could escape downrange via ricochet. Further, the district court determined that the Idaho Outdoor Sport Shooting Act, which was enacted by the Idaho Legislature in 2008, was an unconstitutional special law and violation of judicial power. Because the noise standards adopted by the Act were unconstitutional, the court concluded that IDFG had not yet complied with the noise requirements for lifting the injunction for more than 500 shooters. IDFG appealed this decision to the Supreme Court.

Captain's Wheel Entertainment

The Captain's Wheel Restaurant & Lounge will present Sammy Eubanks Live in concert starting at 7:00 pm, Friday, September 14. Do not miss this one. Come early, have dinner and a great seat while waiting for entertainment to start. 208-683-6504

Rememberance

As the years go by in our nations history, many events fade back into obscurity, or are totally forgotten. Some, a few, are not.

For my generation it is/was Pearl Harbor.As long as we live we will never forget the Japanese sneak attack of December 7, 1941, nor should we.There, on a peaceful Sunday morning at around 0700, Japanese bombers flew unopposed over Pearl Harbor, Scofield Barracks and many other naval and military targets. All of our battleships were sunk, some to be re floated and resurrected into fighting units again used in the coming battles through the Pacific to a final surrender in Tokyo Bay on the Battleship Missouri, which was built after the war started and was refitted for Korea and again for Viet Nam. it has finally come to rest as it should, next to the sunken battleship Arizona, which even underwater, is still a commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy.

Your generation will feel about the same, as the entire country mourned the deaths today,  not of military or naval forces, but civilian office workers in the twin towers of Manhattan, New York..September 11, 2001 will be burned into your memories just as December 7, 1941. These dates will both live in infamy for the life of this country and will never be forgotten. What was worse about the fanatical Muslim attack on New York, was first, more died there than at Pearl Harbor, and because they were all non-combatants. People that all of the rules of war are designed to protect.

The live televised horror of people jumping to their deaths rather than stay where they were and burn was a first in news coverage. Never in the history of the world has a tragedy of this magnitude been recorded as It happened. Most of us are shielded by the separation of events and the stories written about them. That made the horror of the event even worse.

May the Bastards that warped their religion into what some, even many of them now believe it is a religious war. Perhaps it is time for us to recognize that in fact it is.

End Of Summer Party

MacDonald's Resort put on a great show Saturday afternoon and evening. I couldn't risk parking up above and then walking back up due to recent health problems, but those that did attend had a ball. Hopefully Gary will do it again next year, with more prior notice and perhaps a shuttle to parking up this hill.

I listened to the music from across the Bay and it was fantastic. Ya done good, Gary.

Due to the same temporary health issues, I failed for the first time in 8 years to attend the Naval Reunion at Farragut. It's a great program and with Errin running it, it is a smooth operation. Fewer vets that did boot camp there are still with us but it was opened up to all prior service sailors.

Gary MacDonald Announces End od Summer Party

I just wanted to mention that we are going to have a "End of Summer - Start of a Beautiful Fall" party on Saturday, the 8th of September, starting about 6:30 p.m.  It will be heldat the Marina.

We will have a blues/country/classic rock singer/guitarist (Pat Coast from Post Falls) playing from about 6:30 to 7:45. 

During that time we will be selling hotdogs for a $1.00; canned beer for a dollar; and soft drinks or water for 50 cents.  At 8:00 p.m. the band that Justin MacDonald is in, Eclectic Approach from Seattle, will play.  They will be on stage from 8 to 10 p.m. 

The band Eclectic Approach will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live in late September so everyone can see them before they get their national exposure.  I hope they go far!

There is no cover charge and all ages are welcome.

Thank you,
Gary MacDonald

Farragut State Park Continues To Improve

I like to chat with Randall Butt, the manager of Farragut every once in a while. Today I asked him what the construction near the Brig Museum was all about, plus the ditching. He went on to describe the water system as it exists and how it will be after the work is done.


I learned that there are eleven wells in the park of which only five are in use.Bayview Water & Sewer use two, the park uses two with one in reserve. The other six wells have no pumps and some are in use by the Idaho Department of Water Resources evaluating the aquifer.  Two of them were drilled by the Scouts for their Jamboree many years ago.
  

Currently, the ditching and cleared area along Hwy 54 near the brig museum is for a new well and pump house being installed for backup during peak periods of use and as the winter service well.


Another subject that seems to get homogenized when reported on or spoke to is the tree thinning program. First, there is no plan nor has there ever been a plan to clear cut the trees in the park with the few exceptions such as the one at the viewpoint. The fear the park has is that there hasn't been a wildfire since the big one in 1910 in the park, nor do they want one with the crowded weed like seedlings and trees growing many feet high and only inches around.The park is attempting to take it back to where nature left off, keeping in mind that when the naval base was built, the terrain was bulldozed flat, gravel was brought in by the truck loads for parade grounds and what was there in timber, was milled and used in building the structures.A thinning process is ongoing similar to the fire safe program you see from the park west on both sides of Hwy 54.


Sure the density of tree canopies will temporarily be thinner, but the healthier trees will spread more root system which will also produce more above ground growth . This is an on going process weighing many different uses, as well as tree growth. Those that hate to see any trees cut at all have formed extreme positions They must understand that Farragut State Park is a multi-use facility for the enjoyment and use of a wide range of interests. It is not, nor was it ever intended to be a wilderness Area usable for only hiking. 

Neighbor In Need

I just learned that five or so Timberlake firefighters are rallying in Bayview this afternoon to help a family in need. The names were not given to me so I can't help with that. I just learned that the tenants are Eddy and Betsy.

The home is the log building just east of the community center and visible from Perimeter. The exact nature of the problem is also unavailable, but volunteers fro Timberlake Fire District are meeting there about 6:00 pm to help out with wood chopping and any other areas they can be useful.

If you are in or near Bayview drop in to this log home about 6:00 and help the fire guys help the resident please donate some labor. A few bucks wouldn't hurt either.

Three Times Is A charm

Sorry I haven't posted lately. I've been working my way through my second bout with Bronchitis, with a pneumonia in the middle. Obviously not my best summer.

However, knowing that bad thinks happen in threes and I'm past that barrier, I will return soon, as usual, stirring shit, reporting the local news that is of interest  to others, and generally making a nuisance of myself. After all, that is my role as i see it.

Ruby Ridge, Where It All Started

Today marks the twentieth anniversary of shots fired at Ruby Ridge. The tragic misuse of power by the FBI and U.S. Marshall Service reached what we thought was the zenith of misused federal power until the mass murder of many in the unwarranted attack on the Branch Davidian compound at Waco, Texas.

The main stream media uses terms like far right, racist, white supremacist, right wing extremists and many other terms that sprouted from the far left. While some of these terms are accurate, most aren't. Some just want to be left alone by everyone. They built homes so far into the mountains that Ruby Ridge would look like a normal rural area in comparison.

It all started with disillusioned Viet Nam Veterans and other drop outs. The 1970's saw a huge movement toward, “back to the land.” Magazines like Farmstead, Organic Gardening, and many others taught gardening skills to city folks that were two generations removed from those that knew and ;practiced self sufficiency. Local author, Carla Emory wrote a book that is practically a bible for back to the land skills. She lives in Moscow, Idaho.

Most of these loners, for want of a better generalization, headed for the hills. Mentally exhausted,spitting on them, reviled by left wing zealots yelling terms like, “baby killers” at returning veterans, convinced many to avoid the society that not only didn't honor them for their service, but reviled them, just didn't want to settle in amongst those that treated them so harshly.

Northeast Washington, far north in the Idaho Panhandle and northwest Montana all offered land many miles from the nearest city. These dissed and unappreciated vets and their families moved as far as they could from civilization. They reverted to lifestyles more similar to the pioneer days where each settler was a law unto themselves without an army, sheriff or other law enforcement organization to hold their hand.

Today, the children of these dropouts are still living the life style their parents did. Perhaps without the anger the parents had, they learned to love the isolation of mountain living. Recently, I visited the Onion Creek School which is miles from Colville and Northport Washington, in the high country. I was there because my mother's first teaching job was at that school in about 1929.

In learning from staff at the school about the community, one remarked that they were very concerned about 3rd and 4^th grade students walking down the mountain to school. They are worried about cougars, which will attack small children for food. No losses as of yet have occurred, but with Washington State's prohibition of hunting cougars with hounds, which is really the only practical method of hunting them. Cougars, or Mountain Lions as they are known can grow to 180 pound or more. Their only enemy are Grizzly Bears.

These communities of isolationists still exist. They are armed, know how to use them and want to be left alone. They should be. It is not breaking the law to live apart from others, nor to be self sufficient, growing and hunting for food is a lifestyle not practiced any more in the cities, but if you go far enough into the back country that lifestyle still lives. Most of them are not right wing, racist or Nazis. In most cases they are not even political.

Looking For Roots

My Son, Brian and I set out yesterday to check out two one-room school houses that my mother taught at years ago. She graduated with a two year degree from what was then Bellinham Normal School, which is what they called teacher's college back then. All a teacher needed back then for an elementary teacher's certificate was two years.

Her first job was at Onion Creek School, a self contained school district with just one school. It is located about half way between Colville and Northport, Washington by going up over the mountain toward Northport. Not only is the original one room school still existing along with the teacher's cottage.  Both are still in use.

After getting the grand tour by the custodian, we headed for Northport. Driving south on the Aladdin Road, we encountered another one room school building that was not in use on private property. It was originally the Deep Creek School, but after burning down twice in forest fires, it was rebuilt on the Doyle place and renamed the Doyle Deep Creek School. They in turn gave us directions to the Lead Point School which also is still in use as a kind of community center. We have an old picture of who we thought was Mom shoveling snow, but a closer look told us it wasn't her. A relative still living told us he graduated from the 8th grade there.

Heading for Spirit, we spotted the South Fork Grange Hall. That is where my mother and dad met. Back in those days and in farming communities it was where everyone met socially. There were no bars, unless you count my Dad's still, no restaurants and no theaters. Just back breaking hard work ... and the Grange hall.

Back to Aladdin Road, where we drove South about two miles. The Y between Aladdin Road and Deep Lake Road was the location of a little town called Spirit. The old Spirit School is still in use as a private residence. My Mom taught there after leaving Onion Creek. By that time my future Dad has his hook set and was reeling her in. The Spirit School was only four miles from the Mine Dad owned. She taught there about six years until pregnant with my older brother.

Finally heading south we hit Colville the round about way and headed back to Spokane where Brian lives with his wife, Jennifer, and three adorable daughters. He teaches Fourth Grade at Northwest Christian Academy, now located in Colbert, next to the high school.

The bottom two [ioctures are of the South Fork Grange where my Mom and Pop met and eventually married, lo those 82 years ago.

Three hundred -fifty miles later I was home in Bayview, tired but satisfied that I showed my son who is the family historian. a part of uor family history.

Pictures T -B Gunder Huseland's Homestead, Onion Creek School, Lead Point School, Spirit School, South Fork Grange.

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Rebirth Of Bayview

This summer has brought out a larger crowd than the past two or three years. Part of that is due to the hospitality industry, with Henry ensconced in the Bay Cafe serving great food, Ralph's Coffee house with Ralph being the unofficial greeter for strangers coming here for the first time.

One of the bigger effects though is the reopening and turn around of the Captain's Wheel Resort. Rushing to open for last year's Bayview Daze there were many rough spots with personnel and lack of organization due to that hurried opening. Not so this year. With Theresa Long handling the day to day management and a great crew of bartenders and waitresses, the Wheel has become the anchor for Bayview tourism, as well as local residents.

Another plus was when Scenic Bay Marina tore out the beater trailers from the Lime Kiln location and added about six new RV spots. Parking is still a problem with pickups and boat trailers dominating the on street parking. On going landscaping projects will even further enhance what was an eyesore in the old trailer park. Gone are the tweekers, murderers and other malefactors, leaving three occupied mobile homes surrounded by Summer people. Most RVlocations have discounted Silverwood tickets as well.

The strong Canadian dollar has helped as well. Currently at about par, the bulk of new RV campers are from Alberta. Highway 95 traffic being rerouted around the Silverwood RV park has brought street noise to what was a quiet refuge for campers who usually bought multiple day tickets to the Park. Looking around at the RVs at Scenic Bay, most of them are gone all day which suggests they are attending Silverwood during daylight hours and returning at night.

Perhaps the most entertaining RV park is Lakeland RV park located across from the Bayview Post Office. They have 26 spaces plus some tent camping as well. Bayview Creek flows sedately through the park. The kicker though is the 4:00 pm happy hour. Folks gather around the shop and office about 4, either bringing their own drinks or if not, supplied by the park.he years, most repeat customers have become friends as well. It kind of resembles the social atmosphere of an Arizona senior park.

It looks like a win-win for the entire area. Let's hope it continues to grow.

Heroic Pre-teen girls

Briana , attending the party at Athol City Park, Saturday, had just exited a porta potty when she heard strange noises coming from the unit next to her. She and her friend Bethany, went back and the unit was still locked with no response from the occupant. They immediately contacted Briana's mother, Trina who then alerted Darlene Peterson, mother of Queen Rachel.

They went back where Briana was able to pry the door open a crack where they observed a man crumpled up on the floor, unresponsive. Asking a group of three or four men to help they returned to the porta potty, ignored by the men. Help came from an unidentified American Legion woman's auxiliary member.

Darlene Peterson was able to break into the unit where having difficulty pulling him out they got help from bystanders/ Darlene check for pulse and didn't get one. At that point, Trina LaRiviere got on her cell and dialed 911.

There appears to be two Queens in the Peterson family. While it was too late to save the victim, he could have been in that unit for a very long time had Briana not sensed an emergency and acted upon it.

This heads up reaction from  Briana and Bethany, only ten years old was worthy of an adult reaction. Where they were unable to save the patient, they got help quickly by heading for adults. Of those who helped, most didn't realize the severity of the problem, but came through when it counted.. The parents of these two girls should be terribly proud of their daughters who seeing a potential emergency responded as they should have.

The parents of the two 10 year olds asked us not to use their last names nor take pictures of them. We have honored that instruction.

Athol's 103rd Birthday

Athol Daze, celebrating it's 103rd birthday kicked off with a parade, featuring the little miss Queen and princess, secected from the Athol Elementary 5th and 6th grades through competivie applications.

The winners  represented their generation at the parade during Athol Daze along with other activities throughout the day. In reviewing the various applicant's submissions we found a treasure trove of bright talented young people. It is hard to imagine the difficulty in choosing the final winners from other well deserving applicants.

Two however, stood out. The queen, graduating 6^th grader Rachel M. Peterson was crowned queen for the year. It is hard to single out what makes children of this age group special, but we suspect it is a combination of great parenting,and the teaching staff at Athol Elementary. She credits her teacher, Mrs. Anderson for her development. Paraphrasing some of her qualifications were artistic, such as photography, painting, art, math and music. She also lists as her favorites, Duck Tape. We can only surmise that she follows Dad around fixing his errors.

Fifth grade winner was Tehya Russell. Tehya is another young lady graduating from 5^th grade. She credits her teacher, Mrs. Boots for inspiring her. It worked. Along with being a straight A student, she is active in target shooting, archery, and of course, her horse. That is just her outdoor side. She declared that she has a sophisticated side as well. She excels in art and is a song writer, poet and apparently is a great speller. She won the inter-school spelling bee this year. She sings and plays guitar,.too.

David Harms was chosen as Athol citizen of the year, well deserved. I knew of the award before the parade but didn't divulge the winner due to the scheduled award at the stage later.

This year marks the 103^nd of the city of Athol. Originally, the Main Street was old Highway 95, south of what is now Hwy 54. With the advent of the highway from Spirit Lake to Bayview, it then became the main thoroughfare of the town. Some of the old buildings are still standing The old church across from city park, and of course Lanny Spurlock, mayor of Athol who many claim was mayor back then, too.

Queen Rachel, top Princess Tahya bottom

The parade went off surprisingly well with Queen Rachel Peterson and Princess Tahya Russell leading the way. Following the parade, everyone dashed over to the city park where booths were set up representing arts, crafts, hot dogs, games and many other activitiies. Having survived announcing the parade, Herb greeted defacto Sheriff Elect Ben Wolfinger and the local beat deputy, Brougham, both who are pictured here, along with the Queen and princess.

***Tragic Update: The party was going fine until the locked porta potty that stayed locked for over 20 minutes was breached only to find Eugene Saputski, dead of a massive heart attack. I don't have many details other than he was survived by Wife, Kim and children on both sides. The Saputskis lived in Rathdrum.  He was 45 years old

Spokane Poilce Chief Applicants

My brother, Stan Huseland visited me last week. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. His comment on the former police chief there and applicant in Spokane was this. "The chief was hired by Indianapolis to clean up an out of control department which essentially is run by the FOP. (Police Officer's Fraternity) or Union. He was specifically chosen for his hard nosed no nonsense approach to controlling the department.

When I described the problems in Spokane having more to do with rapport with the community and police oversight, he felt we made the right decision, that this guy wouldn't fit in here. 

Lake Pend Oreille Fishing

I spoke with Chip Corsi today about the prospect of a Blueback (Kokanee) fishing season coming back to Lake Pend Oreille. He was upbeat, feeling there is a good chance that could happen. That is the recommendation of the regional office here in Coeur d'Alene. We won't know for sure until the November meetings at the state level where fish and game regulations are prepared for the coming year. This region will recommend a six fish daily limit, which with the larger fish is quite sufficient.

So far, so good. Mackinaws, the most voracious feeders of Kokanee are down. Mysis shrimp counts are own as well. Spawning four year old Bluebacks are much larger than historically, suggesting there is more feed for them. Bottom line though is that a whole generation of Blueback fishermen and women have sold their boats and moved on.

The cost for the moratorium on these miniature Sock eye Salmon in business revenue in Bayview has been catastrophic, since fishing has decreased. 

ATHOL DAZE 8/11

The parades and fairs are not over yet. Athol is celebrating it's 103rd birthday with a parade starting at 10:00 am Saturday with lineup at 9:30 on Davis Lane. If you wish to enter the parade, call city hall 683-2101. The parade will start at 10:00 am with yours truly announcing the entries as they pass the judges stand.

Following the parade will be the usual fair in the park with many vendors, games for the kids and a host of other events. The weather is expected to be perfect, so come on down. The kids always have fun with "money in the straw," and many other events.

After the fair, you can wander over to the Legion where Larry James will host a jam session under the gazebo starting at 4:00pm. 6:00pm will be a BBQ, also outside.

Victory Auto Parts will be hosting its 6th annual car show from 9AM to 3PM. Last year they had 48 cars.

Found Memory Card

If you are, or were recently on Bayview and lost the memory card from your camera, Norma Jean and Dean Knowles found it. Here is a picture taken from the card. Contact Dean or Norma Jean at 208-683-1980. If you are the subjects of this picture, or know who they are please respond.

I've just learned that the pictures on this card date back to 2008 and are obviously of great value to the family that took them. Here's another picture with a birthday cake from the same card. Apparently a boy named Devin had a birthday that day. These all appear to be family shots with some scenery thrown in as well. You may also reply to me at: bayviewherb@gmail.com.

Pretty Girls

I received an e-mail from a lady living in Sagle. She wanted to know whether the Buttonhook was open this Summer. I had to tell her no, but the new owners of the Captain's Wheel are doing a great job.

She said they would cruise down to Bayview with their boat Saturday and meet me at the Wheel. I wandered down about 4:30 and the bartender immediately told me a group was looking for me.

I found Ally and her husband, Scott along with a visitor from Minnesota with two adorable twin daughters. They sent me pictures which are published within. It is always nice to meet folks that follow my blog and come to Bayview. If anyone else wants to do that just e-mail me and we'll meet.

Jaiden me and Kaia, L-R

HUGE Community Yard Sale

Proceeds benefit the Bayview Community Center

Saturday, Sunday & Monday

September 1st, 2nd & 3rd

9 am  —  7 pm

First & Spruce,  Bayview  (at the Pole Building)

Donations needed. 

Please call 683-1859 if you need a pick up.

Donations can be dropped off in front of the pole building
at any time.

Please Help
THE BAYVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER

Bayview-Idaho.com

There will be no more posts on Bayview Bob Bowen's blog. I last chatted with Bob about his condition a few weeks ago.. He had Leukemia and was at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. Bob was very upbeat with having received a bone marrow transplant.

Unfortunately it didn't take and we lost him. Long an employee of Idaho Independent Bank, he lived here in Bayview. Bob was looking forward to returning home in 3 or 4 months. Unfortunately, it will be sooner. His cousin, Jan Larkin called me this morning to make sure I heard. Rest In Peace, Bob. Your battle is over.

Women and Men Are Indeed Different

Regardless of society trying to homogenize the sexes there are glaring differences. I'll explain.

Bachelor girl: While in town, realizes she is almost out of laundry. She heads for home to do the wash.

Bachelor Guy: While in town realizes he is out of underwear. He immediately heads for WalMart.

Bachelor Girl: Following dinner, she washes the dishes and puts them away.

Bachelor Guy: Following his dinner looks at the sink and determines it isn't at capacity yet.

Bachelor Girl: Takes half full garbage cans out to the dumpster.

Bachelor Guy: looks at overflowing garbage can and determines one or two things will fit so leaves it alone.

You can obviously see that the bachelor guy knows more about labor saving devices than gals. More beer drinking time, while sunning oneself on the deck.

Timberlake Fire District

A pontoon boat with 8 passengers and 3 dogs is taking on water near the Cement Plant close to Lakeview. Both Sheriff and Timberlake fire boats are rushing across the lake, with the pedal to the metal Friday late afternoon.

5:30 PM

Timberlake Fire said:

"All passengers and dogs were rescued and okay. we put 5 passengers and 1 dog on our fire boat and the remainder on the Navy boats. It was a combined effort and all worked out."

Apparently of the eight passengers aboard three were elderly and had trouble climbing out of the sinking craft. Paying absolutely no attention to the widely circulated Thunderstorm warnings which went out over all weather channels including marine channel 16.   When the storm hit high waves estimated at 6 to 8 feet were pounding against the heavily loaded craft. This caused water to enter the front vents. When the fire district boat arrived the sinking craft was kind of beached near the Cement Plant on the south shore of Lake Pend Oreille, Why they didn't even look up at the sky as the storm neared is a mystery. Apparently many adults do not have the basic survival training needed to safely cruise the unpredictable waters of the lake.

Many are not aware that the Naval detachment in Bayview participates in many rescues.

9:34 PM

Another Found Dog

Cindy Post writes,

Cindy Post

FOUND - A MinPin (?) near the mercantile. Please call 683-1859 if you've lost you dog." This undoubedly was due to the Thunder Storm. I have no idea what a minpin is but if you have one that is missing here it is.

Lost Dog

When the current thunderstorm started a dog ran into the water at the Bitter End Marina. Large white shaggy fur with brown splotches. This dog is disoriented and prbably belongs to someone in an RV or Boat. The dog is at this time unrestrained and has followed the ,an that rescued it back to the Bitter End. I f you have a dog that isn't inside, get them in before they run off in panic.

Weather Or Not

Around 4:15 this am, or as we in the service used to call it, O dark thirty, A very loud thunder bumper hit Bayview. It didn't last very long and with the exception of one short drenching didn't appear to carry much rain with it.

I hear we are going to get another this mid-day, but I have seen many of these dire warnings cross south of Bernard Peak and while hitting the Silver Vary hard, usually leave Bayview alone. Having same that, we'll probably get hammered.

Right now the skies are blue, RV's are arriving for the week-end frivolities and all is well in the tourist industry. Have a great week-end, watch the sky carefully if you are out boating. Thunder and lightning does strike in the middle of the lake and quite often

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Monday night  around 7:30  a homeless woman known to me came rushing through my back door. She asked for help from an attacker living in a motor home sited next door. . I strongly suggested that the best way to counter the pestering she was getting, was to get law enforcement involved.

deputy promptly reacted. Not waiting for back up he accosted the suspect, who then pulled a gun on him. To the officer's credit, he didn't immediately shoot him. Risking his own life, he talked the gun man into laying the gun down.

By 9:30 or so the situation was resolved. I asked the officer why he didn't shoot the guy pointing a gun at him. He replied , I identified myself as a police officer and asking him to put the gun down. The officer was totally authorized at that point to shoot the suspect. He showed at the risk of his life, a moment of judgement. The suspect put the gun down,  which saved his life.

Tonight, Roland Wayne Hughes  is in custody with a charge of domestic battery, with a $10,000 bail set. The homeless person that sought refuge in my home is gone. Is it something in the air? He was parked within feet of the location of Larry Cragun, murderer and serving a life sentence. Proving that fruit indeed doesn't fall far from the tree, the deputy's  name is  Brad Wolfinger. A secret source within the department told me that Brad and is wife are shortly expecting a baby. A third generation cop?

Readerboard Vandalized

Sometime between 7:30 am and 8:30 am Sunday morning, someone took letters from one side of the reader board and spelled out derogatory words that defamed the women of the Bayview Chamber. I am not going to repeat them as I then would be guilty of the same. Chan drove by at 7:30 and saw no changes. He received word of the vandalism at 9:45 From Sheryl Pucket who took a picture of it and then circulated it throughout the community.

Two things are happening as I write this. First Chan is offering a $500 reward for the name or names of the perpetrators. The second is the Navy security department will be asked to review the security cameras facing the Buttonhook.

About the only way out of this is for the guilty party to march into Chan's office and apologize to him and to the Chamber as well. If you don't you are going to have consequences.

It Ended Before It Began

This week was a sad one for everyone connected with the Panhandle Sun. I resigned for several reasons that will go unsaid, Monday. Today, I read in the current issue that our editor, Mary Jane Honneger is also leaving.

I think that everyone connected to management will need to take a long look at current expenses versus advertising income and modify some of the parts that aren't making it. I enjoyed another gig at writing after over four years with the spokesman-Review, but in order to track down stories that matter, the corespondents need more than expense money to write quality stuff.

Anyway, I'll wait and see how things shake out. I do know one thing for sure from my days with the spokesman-Review. People will pick up a paper because many times the subjects of the stories are friends, associates or even themselves. Readers are attracted to writers that have a following. Which style fits them. They like to read about their friends, community issues. It makes them even prouder to live here.

Good luck, Mary Jane. You gave it all you had. Leadership can eat you up if one isn't careful, and sometimes even when you are. Go with your head high.

Bayview Daze 2012

Sunday morning following the previous night's festivities, dawned so quiet you could hear the fish swimming by in Scenic Bay at Bayview, Idaho. Last night, Saturday July 7 was entirely another thing. Permanent residents hunkered down knowing that the thousands of visitors would soon be gone.

Saturday started out with the usual parade, which was managed this year by Norma Jean Knowles who probably is still looking for the mind she must have lost organizing the parade. Norma Jean, You did a great job. A new feature this year was a carnival which was arranged for by Chan Karupiah of J.D's Resort. Add to these activities were thousands of revelers crowding the aisles of the street fair looking for souvenirs. Dan English marched in the parade with the other three Kootenai County Democrats.

It was impossible to estimate the numbers of visitors since many were spread out in marinas on boats and float homes as well as RV spaces, which have been oh so rare lately. Other than the family orientated activities of which there were many, the late night crowd gathered around the local watering holes ordering their favorite beverages by the hundreds and listening to any of the five or six different musical venues.

The Carnival was shoehorned into a spot that wasn't originally planned for, but a few naysayers managed to thwart several plans of action. The street parade had a closure permit this year which allowed room for the carnival rides. We had more vendors than in the past but the great organizing ability of Paul Celeri, past Vice President of the Bayview Chamber of Commerce.

One of the more amazing feats was the removal of three derelict mobile homes in one week, tearing them down, disposing of the debris and plumbing and wiring the spaces for RV spaces for Scenic Bay Marina. By Saturday afternoon all spaces were rented. Unfortunately, one adventuresome party shot sky rockets toward the lake, injuring a child that was tent camping below the lime kilns.

Parade Grand Marshall were this year's queen, Mandy Skala and last year's queen Nannette Bradetich, L-R

Chance Long, playing at the Captain's Wheel

This Is An insperational That Will Leave You In Tearss

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=q6_Zzw3SPS4

I'm Not quite Done Yet

True to the vast reservoir of rumor mongers here in Bayview,  started like a Nevada forest fire. As the first old wreck of a mobile home went down, people had me being evicted, then condos built in it's place. Three unlivable and vacant trailers were destroyed. In there place Scenic Bay Marina has already converted the space to RV parking.

I'm not going anywhere. I talked to Paul a couple of days ago. He had just been asked the same question. "Is Herb going to be evicted?" Well either it was a well wisher concerned about my well being or someone wanting to immediately start the celebration.

Paul's comment is, "you got to be kidding a guy that pays his rent on time, every time, gives us no trouble, evicted? Get Serious. No, Herb is just fine where he is at." Chan, if he wished to build condos, owns several lots at Vista Bay, already zoned for multiple dwellings.

Here's the real scoop. Prior to my moving in 17 years ago, this was in fact all RV parking. The new owners figured year around income was better than summer part timers, switched back to single wide mobile homes. Unfortunately the folks that moved in were not very responsible. One side of me were tweakers. For the uninitiated, that means Methamphetamine. The other side housed a murderer that is currently serving life for the murder of Patty Heath and the seriously  injured Yvonne Wallis, of which that story has been told on previous posts.

The units were unlivable and taking up space from visitors that come Summer found the only other RV park full and Farragut State Park full all Summer. The reconverted spots should add about 6 more RV locations. Plans are underway for a thorough clean up and redecorating this into an attractive lot with a real good lake view.

I have spoken with Chan about the plans and he assured me I was not going anywhere. If anyone has questions about the project, feel free to either comment on this post, or privately e-mail me at Bayviewherb@gmail.com.

Come on down. There are boat slips available as well as camping, both tent and RV at both locations, Lakeland RVs and Scenic Bay Marinas Don' forget, there will be a carnival with rides galore. Something that perhaps should have happened years ago. With the old setup, only the Saturday of the three day weekends was effectively active. With rides, many tourists will stay the whole three days.

Still Room at the Inn

In an almost unbelievable quirk, there are still RV sites available in Bayview for theBayview Daze celebration, July 6-7-8. Check with Lakeland RV at 683-4108 or Scenic Bay Marina @683-2243.

I Double Down Dare You To Watch This Without tears

This kind of brings our blessings close to us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=q6_Zzw3SPS4

Previews Of Coming Attractions

The next issue of the Panhandle Sun will feature a tribute to a guy that kept to his family for the most part, his friends and employees partied with him He absolutely adored his wife of 23 years and his three sons. He died suddenly, March 10 at his home in Athol of a massive heart attack. Over two hundred people attended his memorial service.

Following that will be a recap in the life of Lorraine Yvonne Wallis, victim of an attack in December 2010, her health issues, surgeries and the outcome of it all. Read it here, read it first in the Panhandle Sun.

Don't forget that this is a targeted audience, in Athol, Rathdrum, Bayview, Blanchard and Spirit Lake. Advertisers can contact the office for great rates without having to cover areas not in your area. 687-4030. Ask for Chrystal Jensen.

Yvonne Wallis

For those of you that have been following the saga of Yvonne Wallis, her struggles with a serious head injury and months wearing a helmet, it  finally is over. She was operated on Thursday and is in ICU for recovery. I'm told by the hospital that everything went well.

A special thanks go out to those that donated to her so that she could afford the trips back and forth as well as help with her heating bill this Winter.She is truly blessed with the friends and neighbors that have stepped up to help.

Larry Cragun has plead guilty for the attack which murdered Yvonne's daughter-in-law and severely injured her. He is awaiting sentencing.

She should be home within a few days. I did not take her to Seattle this time. Genette Gabica of the Bitter End Marina and Real Life Church motored her over this time and will bring her back.

I just talked to Genette and she reports that Yvonne is still not out of the anesthesia and is not breathing totally on her own yet, but that happened last time too, and is not a serious worry. I will add updates as they occur.

***Saturday, 4/7: Yvonne is awake and alert and breathing on her own. She should be released in a couple of days. She is in some pain abut that can be controlled. It looks like the end of the line treatment wise, as no furthur complications are expected.

Panhandle Sun

The first addition of the Panhandle Sun will hit the street Wednesday, April 4. Everyone at the paper is excited about a new and sorely needed news outlet. With most of the print newspapers either going out of business or rapidly reducing the size and coverages, this niche needed to be filled. I personally am thrilled to be asked to participate.

Former staff reporter Taryn Hecker Thompson and I along with editor, Mary Ann Honegger will be bringin' it on. For advertising, contact the office at 687-4030.

Earl Scruggs 1924-2012

Tagging Earl Scruggs as a legend is to diminish what he was to Mountain Music. He was arguably the best banjo picker that ever lived or ever will. Prior to his leap to fame in the 1940's, 5-string banjo was frailed rather than picked with three fingers. He invented the style which is used by most traditionalists including yours truly.

The movie Bonnie & Clyde used his original score of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," as the chase theme. He also wrote and performed "The Ballad Of Jed Clampett," the theme for Beverly Hillbillies.

Through the forties, he and Lester Flatt on Guitar were an integral part of the Bill Monroe Band. The band played on the Grand Old Opry after World War 11 and hit music like a bomb going off.

Earl and Lester left the Monroe band in 1969 where they played in just about every venue including New York City. Flatt died in 1979, but Scruggs carried on with his three sons and playing with other Bluegrass greats like the Dillards and others who learned banjo at his knee.

That he will be missed is a given. His death isn't just the end of his life, it is the end of an era. An era that probably will not be repeated, as Bluegrass is way out of the main stream in music.

Home Town Success Story

I am a member of the 1956 graduating class at Renton High School, Renton, Washington. Our class held many that did quite well in life but one stood head and shoulders above the crowd. The following is a sketch of some of Ron Hicklin's work after graduation, a trip to Hollywood and after the starvation years. Captured on You Tube were several episodes of the network snow, Shindig. These are from 1965, which is when videotape first came on to the scene. Prior to that all shows were live. Stan Farber was also part of the group, also from Renton. Bob Zwirn was baritone, also from Renton. Those of you that remember Ron Rolla as bass, Ron dropped out of the group in 1963. After the Eligibles stopped ferforming, Hicklin went on to form a corporation in which wh hired out various background or studio musicians. There is where he made a huge success, both in wealth and reputation.

This is a song called Summer Place. It was widely recorded by many but none with the patented harmonies taught at Renton High School in those days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPfZCWV0Goc

Another is "Zing went the strings of my Heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr9CG3jPRq8&feature=related

Here is where The Eligibles backed up Patty Duke. They also backed her on her TV show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MZeABnPaFo

The group went on to back most of that day's feature performers and recording stars, including many themes like the Andy Williams Show, Petticoat Junction, Gilligan's Island and a ton of others.I'll let you search out the rest using your search function. Also look under "The Ron Hicklin Singers."

As a local note, I live in Bayview, Idaho and have for the last 17 years. The Now retired Patty Duke lives just a few miles south of me. Her nephew, Mike Kennedy, a friend of mine, is a member of the Coeur d'Alene City Council. I'm sitting in my home, somewhat house bound while I get well from what was a first stage Pneumonia, listening to the music from 1965.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbct6-6KjSw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdp6-6UWynk

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+ron+hicklin+singers&oq=the+ron+hicklin&aq=0&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_l=youtube-reduced.1.0.0.18618l29431l0l34092l15l15l0l7l7l0l187l1059l0j8l8l0.

I found Out Why I've Been Grumpy Lately

I found out Today why I've been so grumpy lately. I have pneumonia. Coughing and hacking all night I finally went to the Doctor. Sitting in the waiting room was proof enough. 102 temperature and a questionable x-ray was proof enough.

My VA clinic is in Sand Point. After getting jabbed in the butt with some sort of huge needle, I was sent to Safeway where they have a charge account.One bottle of pills was around $7.00. The other, was full of horse pills and cost $85.00. They were free to me, except for one thing.

The druggist told me the prescriptions would be ready in 15 minutes. This having been my second trip to Safeway for prescriptions, I knew the gig. You can spend a lot of money in 15 minutes. Oh well, KI barreled out of there with my pills and two bags of groceries.

on the way home I was weaving a bit, my concentration shot. Other motorists must have though I was drunk. With all of the cell phones out there, I suspect the cops are still looking for me. But I made it home OK. The Doc said that if I wasn't feeling better by tomorrow he might have to hospitalize me.  That doesn't sound like fun at all.

Panhandle Sun

Well, my first story is in. I wrote about the current and past forestry practices in the Park and the reasons for doing what they are doing. It's going to be a fun ride. I missed writing for publication, since the Spokesman-Review pulled the Handle Extra out of Idaho. That happened over a year ago and with the retiring of the Rathdrum Star, There hasn't been much chance of local news and features making the paper. 

The date of the first issue isn't set qite yet but it will be in the next few weeks. The paper will be available in racks in loctions we will alert you to as soon as they are extabished.
Advertisers can contact Mary Jane Honegger at: editor@panhandlesun.com or at 687-4030.

Circulation will be in Spirit Lake, Rathdrum, Bayview and Athol. That may expand later.

For news tips call Mary Ann or myself. I'm at 208-683-9107

On The Road Again

I was surprised to get a call from Taryn Hecker Thompson today. She said that prior Spokesman-Review correspondent, May Jane Honegger is the editor of a brand new Newspaper named Panhandle Sun. Taryn will be writing for the spirit Lake/Athol Twin Lakes area, and yours truly my old beat, Bayview and Farragut State Park. Look for the first edition soon.It turns out Mary Jane has been looking for me for the last couple of weeks not knowing I was listed in the phone directory.

It will be fun to write for a publication again. The Rathdrum Star closed down a while back leaving local businesses without advertising coverage. Some of those businesses stepped up, hired Mary Jane and the rest is the future. 

We will specialize in features and stories about local people. The paper will be distributed in Bayview, Rathdrum, Athol and Spirit Lake. If you have a story of interest, e-mail me at: bayviewherb@gmail.com. With the new ownership being local business, perhaps print media is still a valuable tool for businesses.

Are All Of The Candidates Real??

Well the stump season is well upon us once again. Some things that I perceive as different though are happening this election season. First, I see more competition in the Republican ranks for local, state and county offices. I'm talking about Idaho here.

It is very difficult if not impossible to look into the minds of some of the players. In the cases of District two, with incumbent Hart, we see several opposing candidates. Certainly, some of them are motivated by the desire to get rid of this horrible example of what not to be in a public servant. My cynical nature though, asks given the huge advantage for the incumbent to have many opposing, therefore splitting the vote.One wonders if some of this opposition is made up of friends of Hart, acting as Judas Goats to benefit their wacko friend.

In the case of Tondee, incumbent for the county council, I doubt that his opposition is contrived, but most probably just people that don't like Tondee. Still, the same result can be expected. Split opposition and another incumbent survives.

In another first, A democrat, Dan English filed for the district two seat held by Hart... What's more unusual is he may actually win the seat. There are enough Republicans out there in this heavily conservative district that believe in our public servants having integrity over purity of ideology.

English comes to the table as a practicing Christian, a community treasure having served as a city councilman, Sheriff detective, youth councilor, county clerk, founder of Anchor House, a home for troubled kids, and on top of that, he isn't an Ideological liberal. The values in this district are going to be tested severely. He has lived in Bayview as well as Twin Lakes, an anchor in this northern part of the county.

Then there is the Kootenai County Council.Larry Spencer, Gadabout and ultra-conservative,  running against one of his buddies last election cycle. It turns out that Green isn't conservative enough for Spencer, who is off the chart.

As far as the race for Kootenai County Sheriff, only one candidate stands tall amongst minor league opposition. Major Ben Wolfinger rose from 29 years ago as a patrol deputy. Didn't leave for greener pastures as most others have in this a low paying department compared to Spokane. He took the steps as they came, achieving the rank of Major, which he holds currently. Wolfinger is an officer's officer.highly respected in the department, no training would be needed for this guy and boy has he earned it. 

I will have more to say about these races as time slides inordinately toward November and the general election. Here is Dan English's web site:  http://www.votefordanenglish.com/

Dan English Speaks

I’m Dan English and I’ve filed for the position of State Representative, District 2, Seat B, currently held by Representative Phil Hart.  I’m well aware of my odds in this race.  Running as a Democrat in Kootenai County, let alone in a district that has been judged to be among the reddest of the red districts in Idaho is an uphill climb at best. This isn’t the most convenient time given the demands of family and vocation. Contrary to popular opinion, I’m not retired and in fact often put in very long but satisfying days on behalf of the kids and families served by Twin Lakes Friends Camp.  I’m not sure public service, especially when called upon to run for public office, is very convenient for anyone these days.  It can come at a significant personal and even financial toll.  And based on the number of people willing to put their name on the ballot in either party compared to those that could or at least those who regularly complain about their government, you would have to say most aren’t willing to pay the price.  But that is the price that must be paid if we want our Representative Republic that is based on the Democratic process of free and open elections to thrive and survive. This is America and we are free to believe what we want.  In most cases, we are free to act on those beliefs as well.  But I don’t think someone should be free to run term after term unchallenged when their belief and practices about our tax laws are so far out of line with ordinary, hard-working taxpayers who play by the rules, who pay their fair share, and expect everyone else to do the same.  They especially demand that anyone who draws a paycheck & benefits from those hard earned tax dollars to have enough respect for them to do the same.  I’ve had the privilege of winning the public’s trust and holding public office on several occasions, just like Representative Hart.  I’ve taken my oath of office very seriously as well as the trust that was placed in me.  I imagine Mr. Hart must feel he does the same.  But that’s about as far as the similarities go.  I can only think we must be made out of different stuff at our core. Because I can’t imagine wanting to even give the appearance that I was somehow using the fact of being an elected office holder as a shield to avoid, or in any manner delay the responsibilities and timelines that every other ordinary tax payer must abide by. I understand there are special privileges that lawmakers enjoy but I just can’t believe the framers of our state constitution ever had in mind that those privileges would someday be used to enable Mr. Hart’s tax avoidance behavior.  That is why I chose to make my announcement today in front of the Idaho State Tax Commission instead of a more traditional setting to draw attention to the apparent differences in our beliefs and behavior. I do realize that Mr. Hart may not even be in the race in November.  In fact, at last check he hadn’t even filed to be in the race in May.  But then, my candidacy is not just about Mr. Hart.  In Kootenai County, the decisions for most of our elected officials are made by a quite small percentage of the registered voters in the Republican Primary Election.  In most cases, if they even have an opponent, it is all over in May.  When the majority of the voters come out to make their choice, especially in Presidential years when the turnout is over 85%, they find they actually have no choice at all.  I think that problem will be even more acute this year given our new closed primary law. Democrats have been criticized for not fielding enough candidates for the ballot.  As a Democrat I have accepted that challenge.  I feel very strongly about making sure the voters have actual choices for candidates on their ballot, especially in the November General Election.  It has been 10 years since there has even been a contested race on the General Election Ballot in this district. So no matter who I face in November, I think the voters in District 2 will best be served by having a choice instead of so many of our voters not having anyone to represent them. And how are your legislators representing you these days?  Are you happy with all the time, effort, and expense they are using to debate one-sided partisan bills and resolutions that do nothing to improve the daily lives of ordinary working and struggling people?  Especially when so often they are told by their own Attorney General and other legal advisers that many of these laws are unconstitutional and expensive wastes of time and money.  But they continue to spend time and money on special legislation that are the equivalent of form letters to the editor and Congress for their party faithful.  That’s fine if they want to band together and do that on their time and their nickel but don’t be doing it on our time or our dime!  The burn rate of the legislature is about $30,000 a day and this is no time for those kinds of wasteful expenditures.  I don’t know about you, but that is certainly not what I elected them to do! The three core issues that will be most important to me are the same issues that I think most voters are concerned about.  They include quality education that benefits all of our citizens, strong economic policies that focus on job creation, and the expectation of high ethical standards for our elected officials. In the end, I believe it all boils down to just one question for the voters and good people of District two…ARE YOU READY FOR A CHANGE OF HART?   If you are then please support my candidacy with your time, efforts, financial contributions, and your prayers.  So if you’ve Had Your Fill then Vote for Dan English, Legislative District 2 this November.  Thank You.

Heart vs Hart

       L-R Mamie, PO 1sr class, Daughter, Joel, 2 Iraq tours,Son, Dan, Wife, Cory Daughter, Hannah

Former Kootenai County Clerk, Dan English, will make a formal announcement about his candidacy for Legislative District 2, Position B, the seat currently held by Representative Phil Hart. He will make his brief announcement remarks Wednesday, March 7st at 10:30 a.m. He will make them outside 1910 NW Blvd. in Coeur d’Alene, in front of the State Tax Commission Office.

English, 60, is a native of Kootenai County and has a lifetime record of service to his community. He is the founder and former Executive Director of two local non-profits, North Idaho Youth for Christ and Anchor House-Idaho Youth Ranch. He currently is the resident Manager of Twin Lakes Friends Camp and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. In the past he has held positions as a city councilman, a sheriff’s detective, and a school board member among others. (From Huckleberries)

For the first time in a while, voter will have a choice come general election day. Although Dan is a Democrat he is not a flaming liberal and uses common sense rather than knee jerk liberal issues. If Hart beats his primary opponent, Dan English will be the only barrier to more of this loser and Wacko of the far right.  I suspect that if it is Hart vs English, many moderate republicans will switch to English.

He's done it all. Law enforcement, Youth Councilor, County Clerk, father of two service kids and many more accomplishments. Stay tuned.

Bayview Is The Place To Party

The skies over Bayview are blue
the waters are as well.
If you party when in Bayview, we promise not to tell.

When you come to Bayview, the boating is sublime,
If you choose to be a little naughty,
we promise not to mind.

While float homes rest upon the water,
and kayaks skitter by
leave your cares at home, 'cause it don't matter.

Whether food, music or fun on the lake,
a great experience is yours to take.
So come on down,tell it true
You'll have so much fun you won't be blue.
(Bring Money)
Herb

Timberlake Fire Meetings

Hello Herb,

Could you let the Bayview community via your blog, know that the Fire Districts monthly Board of Commissioners meetings are now being held on the 3^rd Thursday of the month.  The location is still the Athol Community Center. The time is still 6PM.

Thank You,

Commissioner Rudebaugh