Liz Writes Life 3-20-18

March 20, 2018

Liz Writes Life

All of this rain and snow is great! This is how March weather is supposed to act. We’ve been told that snow in the mountains this late in the winter season doesn’t pack well and melts quickly. That may be true, but it certainly is a help to our ground water and is much better than the extra warm temps -- without rain and snow -- that we experienced in January and February.

Iditarod

There was quite the upset, last week, when Norwegian musher Joar Leifseth Ulsom, 31, crossed the finish line in Nome, Alaska to win the 2018 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. He arrived with his eight-dog team in the early hours of March 14^th having unknowingly passed Nicolas Petit, 38, when Petit had gone off-course during a heavy snow storm.  

At 9 days, 13 hours and 1 minute, Leifseth Ulsom’s time was not as fast as some recent Iditarod wins, but it did the job.

Petit was in the lead over last year’s winner, Mitch Seavey, 58, during the last leg of the trip on March 12^th, but missed a trail marker and headed the wrong direction. When he realized he was off-course and turned around, he had lost 90 minutes. That was enough for Leifseth Ulsom to take the lead, who had over-taken Seavey.

The photo of the champion showed Leifseth Ulsom and his lead dog, Olive, graced with garlands of yellow roses. He will win a new pickup truck and a check for at least $50,000. I don’t know how the winnings are calculated, but the finishing teams split $500,000. Leifseth Ulsom said he was really pleased about winning the pickup, because his 1999 pickup broke down right before the race. He was also thrilled, because the win was a dream come true.

Bundy

Ryan Bundy announced he will run for governor of Nevada using his campaign to educate citizens about state’s rights. While waiting for his trial, Ryan was held in federal detention, without bond, for nearly two years. So, he studied law and successfully defended himself, which resulted in Ryan and his family being released from prison last fall. Ryan represented himself in the trial where he was able to prove federal prosecutors had filed trumped-up charges and withheld information. The federal judge declared a mistrial.

Ryan officially filed as a candidate for governor last Wednesday as an independent candidate. He will need to obtain at least 250 registered voter signatures before the June deadline to be on the ballot.

Last week, Ryan was quoted: “The state of Nevada needs someone who will stand up for statehood and recognize that Nevada is a sovereign state, not just a province of the U.S.

Remember that the Bunkerville standoff in April 2014, by his ranching Bundy family, was not about grazing or endangered species as the mainstream media falsely repeats over and over. The protest was about the federal claim of ownership of land within the Nevada state boundaries. The Bundy family believes Nevada is the rightful owner of its land.

Besides citing the U.S. Constitution’s 10^th Amendment regarding state’s rights, which is quite plain, Ryan also stands on Nevada’s statutes from 1979. This was Nevada’s response to the federal enactment of FLPMA – the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. A series of statutes declared ownership of and control and jurisdiction over all “public lands” within Nevada. Ryan believes it is time for Nevada to stand up to the feds and reclaim and manage its lands. 

Klamath dams

So, once again, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation is espousing its reasoning for destroying four hydro-electric dams in the Klamath River.  The non-profit KRRC held a public meeting, last night, and continued its false narratives. Never mind that Siskiyou County and other groups have proven the science and reasoning to be wrong. In my opinion, this meeting just repeated KRRC’s propaganda.

Remember, KRRC is not a government entity. It is a non-profit corporation. It can say the dams are coming out, but there are still major government hurdles that must occur. Yes, it is scary to constantly hear the drums beating – the dams are coming out. But, just because KRRC says it, doesn’t mean it is true.

A major hurdle is that FERC, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, must approve the transfer of the hydro-electric license from PacifiCorp to KRRC. Siskiyou County has filed as an intervener and is fighting this move, which is one where a lawsuit is likely to happen.

As of yet, I don’t believe KRRC had actually paid money to own the dams and if or when it does, the tremendous cost and liability of taking out the dams should play a huge part in FERC’s decision. KRRC should have to prove those hundreds of millions of dollars are in their grimy hands to pay for the destruction.

Also, NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act, process has never been completed by federal agencies. FERC must also finalize NEPA on dam removal, before KRRC can take out the dams. An estimated 20 million cubic yards of sediment behind the dams will make a huge environmental mess and must be addressed.

LaMalfa

Recently, our Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa grilled U.S. Dept. of Interior Ryan Zinke, when Zinke appeared at a National Resource House Committee meeting, where LaMalfa serves. I watched the video showing LaMalfa specifically asking Zinke to withdraw the previous DOI Secretary’s signature showing approval of Klamath dam removal. Guess what? Zinke replied that the DOI does not have a role in the Klamath dam situation. What a lie.

LaMalfa really backed Siskiyou County and accused Zinke’s “bagman, Allan Mikkelsen,” of pushing dam removal during several public meetings. I was at one of those meetings, several months ago, and was shocked at the insulting indifference from Mikkelsen when I, and 70 others, spoke against dam removal. Mikkelsen has stated the dams are coming out! But major hurdles have yet to be accomplished. So, I will repeat again loud and clear: Klamath dam removal is not a done deal. Don’t believe the rhetoric!

Liz Bowen is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515.

# # #