Sunny Sunday; MLK

 

Bill made a conscious decision on this Martin Luther King Day.  

He did not toast this piece of sourdough bread on the oven because he did not want to eat the United States. 

 The piece of sourdough almost went into the oven, but when Bill noticed Texas and Florida, signaling to him that this was an image of the United States (well, 48 of them anyway), he put the slice back to be toasted on another day. 

After all, Martin Luther King Day is a United States holiday, and it wouldn't seem right to toast the sourdough map of the Union in the oven on this day. 

Are we still a Union?  

That's a question that comes to mind as I think about the ideals of our nation on today's holiday.

I've always appreciated the MLK celebration because it does give me time to pause and think about ideals we should share as a nation and as a people.

While I was still teaching at Sandpoint High School and when Martin Luther King Day was coming along, we read his "I Have a Dream" speech out loud.  

Students in my junior English class also received the assignment of writing a major portion of the speech by hand and creating a nice display of what they had penned. 

I have always believed, as a journalist and a teacher and a person who had trouble remembering and interpreting, that the time spent writing something out by hand would bring insight and maybe even etch into my pea brain most of what had just been said. 

For the most part, the students seemed to enjoy the assignment, probably because it was a no brainer on their part.  They didn't have to think up anything; all they had to do was write. 

Still, the thinking that Dr. King did while putting together this iconic American speech probably spilled over into my students' brains as they wrote line by line. 

Since retirement and with this blog, I've always enjoyed gleaning some of Dr. King's quotes for the day and hoping that I could improve on my own civic involvement by remembering the guidelines he so eloquently articulated. 

We're not always great with ideals, but if we receive gentle reminders from time to time, maybe we can do better as Americans and remember some of the ideals of what being Americans has been all about for generations. 

Let's hope for the best, especially during these troubled times. 

Even a little movement toward what King inspired and toward what the United States of America truly means would be a good thing.  

💜💛💚💙 

"On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' And Vanity comes along and asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But Conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right."

— during a Feb. 6, 1968, speech in Washington, D.C. 

"The beauty of genuine brotherhood and peace is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold."

— from his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 10, 1964 

Difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future."

— from his speech at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on Aug. 16, 1967, in Atlanta, Ga. 

"What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love."

— from a speech at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on Aug. 16, 1967, in Atlanta, Ga.

“Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” 

 💓💓~~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.~~💓💓

Bill and I decided to take advantage of the January sunshine yesterday and go for a Sunday drive. 

"Where do you want to go?" he asked after coming home from church. 

I suggested Bonners Ferry, and he said that would be good because he could distribute some Trout Unlimited posters advertising the fly fishing film festival in February. 

So, we headed north, and as we drove along the valley north of Bonners Ferry, we were once again amazed with the January spring-like look to the landscape. 

No snow and even dust clouds on the road. 

Plus, we enjoyed driving past a variety of pretty and familiar sights.  

Later, we decided to take the dogs to the park on the northeast side of the bridge over Kootenai River. 

Lots of other Sunday walkers were out with their dogs too. 

That meant Foster got to meet Millie. 

Turns out both of the senior canine citizens came from Western Washington,  

Millie, beautiful collie, is 11, and her folks recently moved to Bonners Ferry. 

As I've noted before, Foster came from the Seattle area. 

The two hit it off just fine and spent some time nose to nose. 

Later, Scout, a rescue dog came along and enjoyed some time in the dogs/peeps gathering. 

The Sunday drive provided a wonderful and much-needed change of pace for all of us.

 

I loved this segment with Jane Pauley on "CBS Sunday Morning," talking about her alma mater Indiana University.  

Tonight's National Championship game on Martin Luther King Day brings with it some reminders of the American ideal with the phenomenal story of Indiana football, especially shining lights who have brought it to this place. 

Good luck to both Miami and Indiana, but, as a sentimental slob who loves an inspiring story, I won't mind if Indiana wins. 

🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈

It's Dolly's 80th birthday today, so I'll end with a couple of my Dolly favorites. 

Dolly Parton, another shining light whose story and her good will exemplify the ideals of America. 

Sunday Miscellany

  

It's looking like it will soon be a one-and-done flashlight experience for my early morning jaunts. 

I did not need a flashlight at all on my third trip to get the paper, and I could have done okay on the second trip with Bridie. 

The morning light is adding a welcome and upbeat new touch to these daily trips outside. 

This morning I even shed my boots and Yak Trax on the final trip.  

Lovin' it. 

The Lovestead garden now has officially begun.  

Two pots of pansies were planted yesterday, and I'll probably add another today. 

Can't wait to see the first tiny green flower top push its way upward out of the soil. That will probably take a couple of weeks with the pansies. 

50 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

and Sandpoint Bee

Jan. 18, 1976 - BOXERS ON THE MARCH… 

A drive to Lewiston is generally more gruesome than the 30 mile jaunt north to Bonners Ferry, but members of the Sandpoint Elks Boxing Club found it much more enjoyable this weekend. 

Two Sandpoint boxers travelled to Bonners Ferry Friday, both losing in close decisions. Four Sandpoint fighters ventured to Lewiston the next night, and all returned winners. Russ Marley defeated a 75-lb. opponent, John Plaster won at 85-lbs. and Carl Reeb at 65 won a close decision. 

In the main bout, Jeff McCracken defeated Dan Purrington of Lewiston, the 1971 national senior open division winner.  

•••

MEASLES EPIDEMIC REPORTED 

Measles is at epidemic proportions in some areas of Idaho. Both the Twin Falls and Boise areas have increased numbers of school children with measles, though activities have begun through local health departments to bring the outbreaks under control. Records indicate that in 1975 only 12 cases of measles were reported in Idaho until an outbreak in November; since then, there have been 61 cases.  

•••

CLUB ORGANIZES, ELECTS OFFICERS 

At the Schweitzer Valley Dwellers annual reorganization meeting Jan. 8, new officers were elected: President, Ann Ross; Vice President, Laurie Tibbs; Secretary, Barbara Tibbs; Treasurer, Diane Teller; Reporter, Cindy Wooden; Historian, Jim Tibbs; Sergeants at Arms, Craig Wooden and Wendy Mueller; Parliamentarian, Carrie Hunt. 

Note: I notice from this local historical brief that half of our family of siblings served as 4-H officers in the Schweitzer Valley Dwellers 50 years ago. 

 Another observation:  my first journalistic job came when I was elected reporter for my 4-H Club.  

It appears to have been the same for Cindy Wooden, recently retired Vatican Bureau Chief for Catholic News Service. 

The 4-H program definitely provides a foundation for a variety of lifelong disciplines.   

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

No. 35 is from Rathdrum, and he played several minutes last night. 

Our daughter Annie attended last night's ZAGS game at Climate Pledge Arena.  

She had a good seat in the lower tier, so she was able to get a few photos, including the bench---many of whom had the opportunity to play due to injuries sustained this week by both Graham Ike and Braden Huff (Gonzaga's top scorers). 

Last night's game may just have revealed just how strong the ZAGS are as a team. They won by 20 points over the same Seattle Redhawks who put the game into overtime on their first meeting at the Kennel. 

That revelation of just how deep the team is could signal some great times ahead. 

It was definitely a meaningful win for the ZAGS, now 19-1.

Of course, we are wondering if the most recent trend for them to drop one spot in the national rankings (even as they continue to win) will happen again this week. 

Those rankings are nice, but the ZAGS are definitely No. 1 in the hearts of their wide array of fans. 

Sending good wishes to the two injured players.

It was also a great day for the ZAGS women who earned a decisive win over San Diego. 

And, the Seahawks! 

WOW!  

Only one game away from the Super Bowl!

Our Super Sunday pig-out could be more fun than usual on Feb. 8. 

My sister-in-law Joyce sent these neat metal horse heads with my brother Kevin who is here visiting for the weekend.  

It was a welcome addition to the wall art here in the house. 

Thanks so much, Joyce!  

With AI, it seems that we now have "tribute" videos. 

I listened to this one from You Tube and really enjoyed the photos which do depict some iconic Irish scenes, especially the old cottage where the creator has Leonard Cohen performing. 

In our travels, Bill and I have stood inside some old Irish farmhouses which are very similar. 

Anyway, the video provides a fun dimension to a very famous and beloved song.  

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

From the creator:    

I've always loved this song, specially the Jeff Buckley version but I wanted to pay a bit of a tribute to Leonard Cohen since he's the man who actually wrote it. 

As someone from Ireland, I always thought it had a bit of a Celtic soul to it if you stripped it back. 

I put this together to sound like a proper trad session you’d hear down home, with the fiddle and the tin whistle and a beautiful but haunting voice. 

I also had a bit of fun with the pictures, putting Leonard out in the fields on the tractor and with the cows, just felt like it fit to give it that pure Irish vibe. 

Hope you enjoy this folk twist on it. Let me know in the comments what song I should have a go at next!

 ☘️ This is a transformative fan tribute and parody made with a lot of respect for the original legends. Sláinte!

Saturday Slight

 

A sunny day made for a lovely Friday. 

Foster and I went for a photo drive yesterday afternoon. 

Although, this is not the prettiest time of the year, with the combination of mud, ice, snow and a little green grass, there was still beauty to be enjoyed.

We just had to look a little harder to find it. 

The afternoon drive and the sun and the fact that it was Friday with a big high school game to watch and Friday-night dinner with family---all contributed to an ongoing feeling of exhilaration.  

When tip-off time came, I was so proud that I had, indeed, found the right game to watch on Hudl, so the laptop worked this time, allowing both Bill and me to watch the action. 

Twas cobweb time for Willie's Bulldogs, who hadn't played a game since Jan. 3.  So, it took the first half to work out the kinks and to get the ball to go through the basket. 

The second half play soon indicated that the players had come alive.  Slowly but surely, the Bulldogs caught up with the Lakeland Hawks, tying the game once at 38-38. 

It was back and forth after that with the Bulldogs falling behind by 4.  Then, just one point separated the two teams. 

BUT

with 11 seconds left in what had become a nail biter, Hudl went off the air. 

My phone lit up with texts, asking "Who won?" and noting that streaming had suddenly ceased in Colburn and in Seattle where Annie was watching and everywhere else that fans had become glued to the game and its outcome.

We learned about 15 minutes later from Debbie, who was at the game, that the Bulldogs had lost by 3. 

This morning it dawned on me why we lost our streaming with 11 seconds left.  Halftime at the Battle for the Paddle included a cheerleading competition which had taken up many more minutes than usual halftimes. 

I'm guessing the feed is programmed with enough time for a usual game and its halftime.  Last night's extension meant the switch went off early, leaving a bunch of fans in suspense. 

While we waited to learn the results, Bill suggested scenarios:  they tied and it went to overtime, the Bulldogs won or Lakeland won.  At least, it was fun for him to speculate. 

Long story short, my experiences with Hudl have not been so good lately, with the last game I watched being the wrong one and last night's unknown ending leaving a major void.  

After all, when devoting 31 minutes and 49 seconds to watching our son's basketball game, we wanted to watch the ending also.

Maybe next time Hudl will work without a glitch.  

For now, Bill and I are really proud of how Willie and the team recovered from those dismal early quarters. 

Next week we won't be watching Hudl because the Bulldogs will be hosting Lewiston in Les Rogers Gym on Friday, Jan. 23 at 5:30 p.m.

Hopefully, the cobwebs will be fully worked out by then. 

I bought potting soil and seeds yesterday.  

I'm ready to start Gardening 2026. 

This year I'll be planting lots of annuals in pots earlier than usual with hopes that they'll mature and produce some early color. 

I'll also plant some lettuce and some spinach fairly soon. 

So, some seeds will go into the soil today, and I'll continue in a gradual manner as January rolls on. 

There is something about seeds and soil that excites the soul, and that is often needed in January. 

WHAT A GAME DAY IT IS, especially in Seattle where the ZAGS will be playing Seattle University's Redhawks for the second time this season. 

Today will determine the fate of the Seahawks and if their season continues toward the Super Bowl. 

I've heard that these two games overlap each other timewise, but, at least, they're not on Hudl, so I'm figuring the remote will get some extra use today. 

The ZAGS tip off at Climate Pledge Arena at 7 p.m. PST

GO, ZAGS!!!

The Lady ZAGS play at home against San Diego with tip-off at 2 p.m.  Bill will be attending that game. 

The Seahawks take on San Francisco at 5 p.m. PST. Game can be viewed on Fox 28. 

GO, SEAHAWKS!!!

Happy Saturday. 

Friday Blend

 

We've reached that time in January where there is a tiny but noticeable change in the morning and afternoon light. 

This morning when I went out the third time to walk around and to get the paper, I did not need a flashlight.  

On my first walk with the dogs, I could see stars in the sky, meaning that the constant fog from the past two days had dissipated. 

Now, while typing, I'm looking out my west window and seeing blue skies and a purple hue to the mountains. 

It's a welcome sight, especially knowing that we are on the down side of January. 

It's gonna get better each day, and I'm sure most folks are ready for that to happen. 

It's also a Friday with a big event this afternoon and evening featuring Sandpoint High School. 

Willie's men's varsity will tip off against the Lakeland Hawks this afternoon around 4.  That game and others are all part of the annual Battle of the Paddle spirit contest between Lakeland and Sandpoint High School. 

We won't be attending the game because it's a "sold-out" affair, but we'll do our best to watch it if we can get Hudl.com to show us the right game. 

GO, BULLDOGS from all winter sports!!

And, with all that, it seems appropriate to lead off today with Dolly Parton's brand new version of this much beloved and upbeat song.  And, there's more singing with a Sandpoint twist as you scroll down. 

May we all feel a little light from a brand new day. 

I dedicate this segment to my daughter Annie's friend Miriam and her family in Minneapolis. Also to you, Gretchen!

Heck, Maybe play it a few times every day.  We all need it.  

GO, DOLLY!

Dale Eich came by to drop off a memento yesterday.

It was a framed full-page magazine ad for International Harvester from 1952, and it featured our dad Harold Tibbs, driving a dozer. 

Dale stayed for three hours.  We moved from the deck to our living room as the information flew back and forth among the three of us,  and we loved every minute. 

After he left, I said to Bill, "That was a goldmine."

Bill agreed.

I had Dale as a student in my honors English class back in the 1970s.

I remember him as quiet and maybe even a loner. 

Well, these days I'd say Dale, a longtime logger, heavy equipment operator and avid historian,  is a fountain of information, especially when it comes to well-known, long-time  family names around our area. 

His name "Eich" is one such, and he's related in one way or another to many many more.  

He's also a collector and an art lover.  Lately, Dale and his friend Christina have become farmers with lots of animals and a multitude of good stories to go with them. 

It was nice of Dale to take the time to bring us the photo below where Harold Tibbs, who worked for the City of Sandpoint and plowed streets, touts the International TD-14A.

The following is a segment from a blog post (Oct. 18, 2015) I wrote after visiting a History Day event which Dale had helped organize. 

Dale Eich told me that school and he didn't mix.  That stunned me while visiting with him during yesterday's History Day at the Cocolalla Community Center aka one-room school house. 

"You were in my honors English class," I said. Dale graduated back in the 1970s.

"Yes," he agreed, adding, though, that he did no homework because school time was school time and all other time was his time. 

Well, one can imagine the irony of listening to that story and seeing him for the first time in decades at a school house---on a Saturday----after school hours. 

I also learned from others at the gathering that he's the head researcher for the group of community members who maintain Cocolalla Community Center and the area's history. 

Several individuals, including my friend and noted local artist Judy Pederson, have kept the history of the Cocolalla-Westmond, Careywood area about 15 miles south of Sandpoint alive and flourishing.  

Their work was on display, and their stories of the good ol' days were flowing yesterday in the well-kept school house just off HWY 95 south of Lake Cocolalla. 

Longtimer Joy Eldred, who attended the school as a child, told about going over a steep embankment with one of the family rigs while driving the Southside School Road as a child. She shared many other tales as visitors filed through the door. 

Dale Eich also told me a story which he thinks is true----about a school teacher named Walter Campbell who taught at the Hanson School up Fish Creek Valley in Bonner County School District no. 53. 

Mr. Campbell, it seems, lived at Selle north of Sandpoint.  So, when it was time to go home to see his family for the weekend, he hiked a rugged terrain behind the school (about six miles) to catch the Spokane International train which went to Selle.  

I really wish that I could have stayed longer at the Cocolalla School event because it offered a sumptuous smorgasboard of local lore, photos and displays. 

The group who puts on History Day deserves big-time kudos for all their work and dedication to preserving their community history.  

📚📕💾💿

While on the topics above, our discussion included some snippets about the little town of Meadow Creek in Boundary County.  

Dale was visibly excited when I told him that our dad's mother Iva Tibbs taught at the one-room school house there in the 1920s. 

As one who has spent time helping out at the Boundary Museum, he expressed a strong desire to some day find a photo of the town of Meadow Creek.  

So, I'm mentioning it today in case any readers with Boundary County roots would know where such a photo or photos would be located. 

We, as members of Harold Tibbs' family would love to see them too. 

Thanks. 

🎵🎶🎤🎶🎵🎤

The mother of the young man featured in the videos below spent a year in Sandpoint in the early 1990s as an exchange student from Croatia at Sandpoint High School.

We all knew her as Ana Zuvan.  I remember her as a very sweet young woman. 

Thirty some years later, Niko, Ana's son, is a finalist for The Voice Kids Croatia with the winner being determined tomorrow night. 

Here's what they say about Niko on The Voice Kids Croatia

2,209 views Jan 15, 2026

Niko Huljev Žuvan is curious, musical, and empathetic. His friends often call him Nikolas. He studies violin at the Elly Bašić Music School and has already performed at many concerts.

He loves spending time with his hedgehog, family, and friends. He enjoys playing dodgeball and swimming. Niko dreams of becoming an astronomer one day and traveling the world — maybe even to Mars. 

His favorite memory is a night spent sleeping on a boat deck with his family while watching the stars.

And, the videos below show more about him and his amazing talent.  Plus, there are a few clips showing his mother Ana. 

GOOD LUCK, NIKO.  

Your fans from Sandpoint hope you win!

📞📧📥

If you have ever gotten calls or texts with a simple "hello," designed to lure you in, here's some information about where they may have originated.

This is from today's New York Times Morning  

Deep in the densely forested borderlands of war-torn Myanmar, two of our journalists recently visited Shunda Park, an office center that opened for business in 2024 with more than 3,500 workers from nearly 30 nations. Some were there willingly, some had been kidnapped. All were dedicated to the causes of online chicanery and digital scams.

The park was largely abandoned, having been captured and closed by one of the rebel militias that has been fighting the Myanmar military for years. 

But the militia allowed Hannah Beech, a reporter who covers Asia, and Jes Aznar, a photographer, to document what Hannah called “the inner sanctum of this secretive, highly fortified industry.” 

They were able to meet some of the scammers as well — some of whom were trying to return to their home countries, and others who were looking for another gig in the grift economy.

What they saw was amazing, just one of Southeast Asia’s compounds of cyberfraud, an enterprise that took at least $10 billion out of the United States alone in 2024.

There were huge open-plan work rooms filled with computer monitors, the walls adorned with inspirational, always-be-closing sale slogans: “Keep going,” “Dream chaser,” “Making money matters the most.” 

Videoconference suites were decorated with (fake) business books and (fake) modern art meant to evoke the boardroom of a successful business concern.

Here were photographs the scammers used to help establish false identities. There were a trio of porta-potty-style boxes that scammers told Hannah were used as punishment chambers, in plain view of the rest of the room. 

Everywhere were discarded cellphones. “In some buildings, with nearly every step I took,” Hannah wrote, “I crunched on SIM cards, scattered like snow in the tropical heat.”

A Sisyphean loop

Who ran this place? A Chinese transnational crime network — in other words, a gang. The militia doesn’t have the resources to investigate, and no one else has expressed much interest either.

Whoever it was ran the business with brutal efficiency. Hannah spoke with several scammers whose bodies bore scars from beatings or tight shackles. 

They weren’t paid for their 12-hour shifts. Hannah wrote about that beautifully, tragically: “Life was a Sisyphean loop: sleep, eat, scam, eat, sleep, scam.”

One told her his job for more than a year was to send “hellos” to social media accounts. If he didn’t receive responses to at least 5 percent of his greetings, he said, he would be punished physically.

The workers came from all over the world: Namibia, Russia, Zimbabwe, Malaysia, France. Some Chinese scammers were paid, Hannah discovered, though often not what they’d been promised.

Under fire

Hannah and Jes traveled to Shunda Park during what was supposed to be a lull in the fighting between the rebel militia, known as the Karen National Liberation Army, and the Myanmar military.

Mark that word, supposed. The thud of mortar rounds and sharp cracks of gunfire provided the soundtrack for their visit. 

As they worked, shells flew over their heads and landed across the river in neighboring Thailand. The day after they left the compound, a 60-millimeter mortar hit a building where they’d been sheltering, wounding three people, including their guide.

 

Tomorrow will be a big game for the ZAGS as they meet Seattle University once again.  You may recall that the ZAGS pulled off that narrow win after an overtime with the Redhawks.

Some folks have expressed concerns about not being able to watch the game, so I thought I'd post this information today to ease the concern. 

Great win for the ZAGS last night over the WSU Cougars.