Category: Opinion

Opinion

How real estate shapes a community

By Raphael Barta
Reader Contributor

In a prior existence, I lived in Vancouver,  British Columbia, where I was a vice president for the ski resort development company Intrawest. At the …

Our turn: Together we can do better

By Mark Sauter
Reader Contributor

Last month the Bonner County Fire Chiefs Association (BCFCA) held three public forums. The BCFCA pointed out, in multiple, evidence-based ways, how Emergency Medical Services …

Engage Sandpoint: A missed opportunity

By David Phillips
Reader Contributor

Projects fail for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes the expectations are set too high; sometimes the allocated time or resources are insufficient; sometimes the tools …

City waterfront giveaway

By Kody Van Dyk
Special to the Reader

The city of Sandpoint draft Parks Master Plan identifies disposing of city-owned green space located east of the Edgewater Best Western Hotel. …

The Baloney Detective

By Tim Bearly
Reader Contributor

Images of an Orwellian dystopia are often evoked when we hear the term “big government.” The mere uttering of the phrase can function as a …

Touched by the change

By Robin Lantrip
Reader Contributor

It started with a brisk chill in the morning air. The meadow began dressing in longer birch and fir shadows. The evening scent held a …

Working toward civil discourse

By Brenda Hammond
Reader Contributor

The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force recently sent a questionnaire to all the candidates for city office, asking their positions on a number of …

Letters

  • Lack of Public Input Concerning… Dear Editor, Our county commissioners are proposing a significant change in the regulations for subdividing land in Bonner County from "Ag 20 to Ag 5." This may sound good in theory, allowing people with larger tracks of land to sell some of it and make a little extra money, but what's ...
  • Animals in Stores… Dear Editor, I am concerned with both the number of restaurants and supermarkets allowing animals into their establishments, as well as the number of pet owners who think they can take their dog into said places. Along with your column The Straight Poop, people think that they can bring their pets ...
  • Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road? Dear Editor, I do not have an answer for that, but every year I see turtles that have been hit by cars (five since this spring). I personally have assisted several turtles in their highway crossing. The area where I notice them crossing is near the Idaho Club golf course and the ...
  • A Profound Thanks… Dear Editor, I lost my wallet the other day. It bummed me out. I spent the next couple days retracing my steps, canceling credit cards, arranging to get a new driver's license, bemoaning the loss of the cash, etc, etc. My dark mood deepened during those days as I listened to excerpts of ...
  • Crony Capitalism… Dear Editor, The city and governor's endorsement of Kochava is just another example of crony capitalism. It is not government's role to endorse some businesses while ignoring others. Why doesn't every opening Idaho business have its mayor and governor cutting its ribbon. Either the government cuts every ribbon for every business or ...
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