Monday Miscellany

 

After several days of rain and dark clouds, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. 

I'm now well equipped with hoses and nozzles to keep all my posies watered so bring on the warmth and the sunshine. 

We had a great weekend with Annie home, and now she has gone back to Seattle.  

Later this week she goes to Kansas for a geocaching event and soon after that, it's off to Italy for another event.  She'll also go to Switzerland for a brief time and visit with Swiss Miss aka Laura who was Willie and Debbie's exchange student. 

It's a tough life, but someone's gotta do it. 

I like to post this National Geographic cover occasionally when May 18 rolls around. 

The photo was taken May 18, 1980,  by my cousin Madeline's husband, the late Doug Miller. 

Doug was a photographer in Ephrata, Wash., well known for taking the senior portraits and as an adventurer of sorts. 

He took the photo of the crepe myrtle in full bloom in his back yard as the cloud of ash filled the sky overhead.

That cloud had traveled 300-plus miles to reach Ephrata and to move on to the east. 

The contrast between the blossoms and the ash was dramatic, enough so that National Geographic editors chose it as their cover photo when reporting about the Mt. St. Helens volcano eruption.  

Well, these two became fully acquainted yesterday.

I think Annie's lesson with Monty went very well. 

Annie has ridden off and on throughout her life and has competed in horse shows, so her basics helped her tune in quickly. 

CB had quite a workout with Laurie riding him first and then a second ride with Annie. 

I found the item in italics below truly amazing.  

One member of the Sandpoint High State Champion relay team is my longtime friend Julie's grandson Trey. 

Can't imagine the sense of pride for the family and for all the other families associated with these young men. 

As I commented to his mom this morning, their achievement is epic!

So thrilled for all the SHS athletes who excelled in state competition this weekend. 

They're from Sandpoint, and we couldn't be any prouder. 

Many athletes know what it means to pursue a state championship - the work, the dedication, the grit, the no-quit attitude, the pain, year after grinding year. These boys achieved the team State Championship, Individual Gold 100m (Maverick), and 4x100 Relay Team Gold.

This relay is not just a State Championship; it is a STATE RECORD. That means if you take ANY past state champion or future (up until if/when it ever gets broken), line them all up and race them, these boys right here would beat them. 

They are the State Champions of all State Champions - let that sink in. 

It is the Sandpoint Boys' only state record. In school history, there are only five guys to run a sub-11, and three of them are on this team, and the fourth is damn close.

They beat the 6A team as well. Worth mentioning is that they also beat the state record in the 4x200, but so did Moscow by a smidge more.

Composure, mental strength under pressure, flawless connections, pure speed and strength coordinated. 

It is a thing to behold, and they couldn't have gone out on a better note. (Except Trey, the only Junior.)

I love you guys!

Cynthia Schmit

When you're blind and you can't hear very well but your nose still works, you beg. 

And, Foster is a master as a gentlemanly and persistent beggar. 

Only problem in this case:  Bill had finished his dinner.  Foster continued to beg for several minutes afterward. 

Don't forget to vote tomorrow. 

I went through the stack of umpteen mailers that have appeared in my mailbox over the past couple of weeks and decided the one above was my favorite. 

So, I'll go mark my choices on the ballot and hope for the best. 

Someone told me recently that when you do walk inside the polling booth, you don't have to vote in every category if you don't like the choices. 

The object of not voting in some categories sends a message to candidates and it explains why some people on the ballot receive a higher vote total than anyone. 

I figure any messages that can be sent these days are important. Plus, they make us feel a little better when we are disappointed with the choices offered. 

Most importantly:  VOTE!!!

Headed off to pick up my sister who's dropping off a pickup for maintenance, so wishing everyone a happy Monday. 

WOW!

 

The Sandpoint community can be a little extra proud of its youth this morning. 

Baseball:  State Champs

Baseball:  Team of Tournament for Sportsmanship

Track Team:  State Champs

Tennis:  Pepper Rickert, three-time State Champ

Daily Bee sports editor Max Oswald has a pleasant challenge ahead to write about all these achievements. 

Plus, the Sandpoint team members, coaches, parents and fans have lots of reasons to be feeling pretty giddy this morning.  

Congratulations to all on what has to top the charts historically for an all-around weekend of amazing accomplishments for these dedicated youth and their coaches. 

Neat stories. 

In the next hour, we'll be loading up CB and taking him to my sisters' arena so Annie can ride him while taking a lesson from Monty Collison. 

It will be neat for her to get acquainted with him and learn CB's dashboard for future rides. 

So, Happy Sunday. 

Seeing the following "My Turn" in today's Sunday paper touched my heart for a number of reasons.   

For one example, I distinctly remember when Pat and I had a conversation almost word for word from the second paragraph more than 20 years ago.

He had stopped to talk while driving along Great Northern Road road that day. I was out in our front field. 

During our conversation, I was lamenting the rapid industrial growth occurring around our ten-acre farm. 

At least, our house is in the middle of the property, I said to him. 

His response (pretty much the paragraph) made me realize that in my experience, the present frustration had been far outweighed with the charmed life we had been able to lead in our neighborhood during "the good ol' days." 

It wasn't long after that conversation when we sold our place to Quest, the aircraft manufacturing company located behind us, and we moved to "the country" out here in Selle.

Still, I never forgot the wisdom Pat shared with me that day---always remembering to appreciate how good North Idaho had been to us also, regardless of usual annoyances that come along with wherever we happen to live.

Pat said it well in today's column, even if he did use more than his usual two-or three sentence paragraph to make his point.

He definitely left us with a meaningful and personal epitaph.  

Life in North Idaho has been good

| May 17, 2026 1:00 AM

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the past and present fine folks that I have had the privilege to know and were willing to share their space with me.

Whenever I would take time to think about it, I would recognize several facts about my life, that would make me realize just how damn lucky I was. To not only be born in the best country in the world, but also the best part of that country, right here in Sandpoint, Idaho. To live my whole life here, can’t imagine it getting any better than that. To have good honest hard working unselfish parents, siblings that were willing to tolerate me and children that are good citizens.

To live through times when a person's word was better than any contract, when you could be a hitchhiker and pick up one and be safe, doors unlocked, car keys left in all night, never a problem. Drank too much, the police would give me a ride home. 

Neighbors kept their cars for years, you always knew who was coming down the road. Hobos still had honor to them. Growing up across the road from the county poor farm that was loaded with men of various ages that could not work, spending lots of time with them, playing cards, eating two meals a day with them and countless hours just BS-ing, never a hint of impropriety.

To have lived from World War II rationing to all the modern conveniences and comfort of today. To be able to take advantage of our advanced medical community. From draining the water out of the cars and tractors every winter night and yearly mud outs, to pavement and the great mode of transportation we have today.

School was always important to me, lots of fun and no chores during those hours. Basketball officiating for 20 years extended that school association and than to have the privilege to have one of the best people jobs ever, driving school bus for 8 years. 

Having a family partnership in the meat business for 28 years with many customers letting us be of service to them, making some damn good products and having many excellent employees. Being in the realty trade for 18 years and meeting the many people that were good to me.

Life in North Idaho has been good and I can't phantom a better time to be on Earth. Again, thanks to all of you that have shared your space with me. 

Best regards and good health,

PAT GOOBY

Sandpoint

Saturday Slight

 

It's a colorful weekend in Sandpoint.  

The flowers are blooming. They're especially beautiful at the Bonner General Healing Garden, which you'll see in the photos below.  

Brew and wine are flowing. 

And, old cars, given a classy new look, are attracting eyes all over town, even with a little rain. 

It's a relatively cold day, but I doubt that will stop many folks from taking it all in. 

Sounds like Bill and Annie may do some "crick" fishing today.  Tomorrow she'll take a lesson from Monty on CB, and I'm thinking we'll be loading some dirt for Debbie to take home for her garden starts. 

Lots of fun stuff happening on one of the fun weekends of the year. 

Oh, did I mention the Farmers' Market?  

No reason to be bored. 

Happy Saturday. 

Enjoy the photos and a look at Sandpoint Magazine below. 

https://sandpointmagazine.com/issue/summer-2026/

Sandpoint Magazine Summer 2026 is out on the streets and on the Internet. It looks like a great issue.  

I've done some thumbing through and have read a few features.  One taught me that Sandpoint will be four bakeries richer by summer time. 

One of my former graphic arts students, Becky Sawyer,  will be opening Sawyers soon where she'll feature her baked goods and even offer some classes on baking. 

With Becky's bakery and the others opening, it's bound to be a sweet summer in Sandpoint. 

Also, I was most excited to see the story about Bill Peterson.  I was going to write it but decided early on that the unpredictability of life around this farm can often take away from the time I need to spend on major feature stories.  

So, I suggested that magazine editor Trish ask Zach Hagadone to do the assignment.  

He's one of the best among the wonderful freelance journalists we have around Sandpoint, and he did a masterful job in introducing readers to an amazing young man with an even more amazing story. 

Bill Peterson, a proud Eagle Scout and a true gentleman,  was one of Bill's scouts in Troop 111. 

To read the Zach's interview with Bill, turn to page 29.