Bonner County exposed as a bastion of ignorance

I was shocked to see Sandpoint, Idaho, as a lead article in The New York Times today. This usually hasn’t been a good experience. This time is no different. Bonner County is once again exposed as a bastion of ignorance led by a buffoon for sheriff and the village idiot for a state representative. A casual reader of the article referenced would be within their rights to conclude that North Idaho is a place populated by raging lunatics. The sad part is these folks are imported Californians not native Idahoans!

With the encouragement of Heather Scott and Daryl Wheeler to not only avoid social distancing but to make a point of coming together, the spread of the coronavirus will continue unimpeded. This makes the idea of visiting North Idaho untenable for any thinking person. For my wife and I, gone are the days of a leisurely lunch at Baxters, a dinner at MickDuff’s, shopping for home goods at Meadowbrook, a visit to her favorite hair dresser, buying a few things at Misty Mountain, buying a tank of fuel or bottle of wine at Pend d’Oreille Winery. The list goes on — you get the idea — no dollars are coming to Sandpoint. I wonder how many others are doing so as well? It will be a cold day in you know where before we go back up to what may well become the next national hotspot for coronavirus. All so a bunch of two-bit politicians and religious zealots could take a stand. Nice job Sandpoint … you are now known nationally! I hope you’re proud.

JIM BURNETT

Spokane