On October 1, 2022 there was an article by Sarah Clendenon at the Idaho Dispatch titled Major Announcement for the Idaho Dispatch which began:
“New and exciting things are happening at the Idaho Dispatch!
Greg Pruett, who started and established The Idaho Dispatch, has now sold the company to Miste Karlfeldt.
Miste is a native Idahoan and an entrepreneur. She is married to Dr. Michael Karlfeldt and the mother of four exceptional children. She founded a statewide non-profit organization and has successfully run it for six years with a passionate team of volunteers. Miste’s commitment to the First Amendment and her love for Idaho drives her desire to purchase the Idaho Dispatch.”
On April 24, 2023 the Idaho Dispatch had an another article titled Press Release: Idaho Dispatch Owner Miste Karlfeldt Announces New Mission Statement, which claimed:
“Idaho Dispatch is a non-partisan, independent, unbiased news source designed to be your local media ally in Idaho. In stark contrast to legacy media, our mission is to bring you political news that offers both sides of the story. Stories that corporate media often refuse to cover find their way into print at Idaho Dispatch.”
But her activities belie claims that site could either be non-partisan or unbiased. Under her maiden name of Miste Gardener, she ran for Idaho State Controller in a November 2022 election, representing the Constitution Party. She came in third behind Brandon Woolf (Republican, and incumbent): 69.5%, Dianna David (Democrat): 26.9%, Miste Gardener (Constitution) 3.7%.
An article by Kelcie Moseley-Morris at the Idaho Capital Sun on October 31, 2022 titled Idaho controller says he will continue transparency efforts if re-elected described her and her campaign:
“Miste Gardner is running as a Constitution Party candidate, but has not raised or spent any funds since declaring her candidacy in March. Gardner, who also uses the last name Karlfeldt, leads Health Freedom Idaho, a group that protests public health measures and vaccines. She owns the website Idaho Dispatch.”
Is Sarah Clendenon non-partisan? Hardly! She also ran as a Constitution Party candidate in the 2022 general election, for Idaho State Senate District 15. She came in third behind Rick Just (Democrat) 49.8%, Codi Galloway (Republican) 48.0%, Sarah Clendenon (Constitution Party) 2.2%.
The mission web page for Health Freedom Idaho says Miste Karlfeldt is their Executive Director. It has an image of her and her husband, Dr. Michael Karlfeldt. He is a naturopathic doctor who runs The Karlfeldt Center in Meridian, Idaho. An article by Dustin Hurst at the Idaho Freedom Foundation on March 9, 2015 titled After battling excruciating pain, single mom fights for her healer at the Capitol discusses efforts to license naturopaths. And on May 21, 2023 there was an article in the Idaho Dispatch titled Featured Advertiser: Michael Karlfeldt, The Karlfeldt Center.
The Wikipedia page about Health Freedom Idaho which has 35 references (part of a series about Alternative Medicine), succinctly describes it as:
“an anti-vaccine group that also opposes health regulations, such as mask requirements and restrictions on the operation of businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Back on October 29, 2021 Health Freedom Idaho had a whining article titled How Our Wikipedia SHOULD Read.
I tried looking for background on Miste at LinkedIn. A page for Miste Gardener just lists her as owner since June 2006 of Prestige Property Management (and a realtor) in Eagle, Idaho. It doesn’t mention her education. She has another web site titled MISTE4LIBERTY.
A more recent article by Sarah Clendenon at the Idaho Dispatch on May 13, 2023 is titled Idaho – who controls the information you’re receiving? That question also should be applied to the Idaho Dispatch.
The image of a hollow cube came from here at Openclipart.
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