Liz Writes Life 5-1-18

May 1, 2018

Liz Writes Life

Published in Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

After that hot weather, it sure was nice to have cooler temps and some rain showers this weekend. Can’t believe how much everything grew after I irrigated several times. Picked a couple asparagus and ate them raw and will likely harvest some rhubarb this week. Sure do need to hit the garlic with Miracle Gro to get those bulbs to, hopefully, fatten up.

Rodeo

The 71^st Scott Valley Pleasure Park Rodeo will be held this Sunday, May 6, 2018 at the Etna arena. There are numerous activities starting on Friday with the CA. Dist. 1 High School Rodeo Finals. Awards for the high school rodeo will be on Saturday afternoon, then there will be open Team Roping and a Barbecue and Dance at Dotty’s Saturday night.

On Sunday, an early-morning Cowboy Breakfast starts at 6:30 a.m. at the rodeo grounds. Long-time Pleasure Park Rodeo supporter, Nancy Carver, will be honored as Grand Marshal of the Rodeo Parade at 10:30 a.m., in Etna, and youth events kick-off the rodeo at 1 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and kids age 12 and over; $5 for seniors age 65 and over and kids 8 to 12. Kids 7 and under are free.

Taco Feed

The Callahan Mr. Bolivar Grange is holding a fund raiser Taco Feed on Cinco de Mayo this Saturday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. Cost is $10 per adult or $20 family. The band “Wind Fields” will be playing next door at the Emporium after dinner.

Fishin’ Derby

The 17^th Annual Kid’s Fishin’ Derby is also on Sat. May 5, 2018 at the Lower Greenhorn Park in Yreka. This fun event is sponsored by E Clampus Vitus Humbug Chapter 73. Sign-up is from 8 to 9 a.m. There will lunch at noon. Age groups are 3 to 8 year olds, then 9 to 12 years with 13 to 15 the oldest group. Awards will be at 12:30 p.m.

Candidates Forum

I didn’t make it to the Candidates Forum in Yreka on Thursday night, but heard there was a good crowd with lots of candidates speaking, some were even heard – live -- over skype or other digital technology. Way to go!

POW

Scott Valley Protect Our Water supporters met last Thursday night with three speakers who spoke at the Candidates Forum in Yreka and then drove over to Fort Jones to share even more info. Craig Kay spoke first. He is running for Siskiyou Co. Assessor/Recorder. Ethan Garrett, who is also running for the assessor/recorder office, spoke at POW in March, so it was Craig’s turn in April.

Craig was born and grew up in Dunsmuir. He was graduated from Dunsmuir High School and University of California at Chico. Craig started his career in business management, then began working in the Tulare County Assessor’s office and soon moved closer to home by working at the Shasta Co. Assessor’s office a few years. For the last 14 years, Craig has worked in the Siskiyou Co. Assessor/Recorder’s office and has been the assistant-recorder the last 8 years.

Craig mentioned the crash of the real estate market and how he oversaw the proactive reduction of $1000s of property values under Prop. 8, which temporarily reduced taxes that had been assessed higher than the market value. He said the assessor’s office continues to analyze values each year in order to stay fair and equitable.

Craig said the office has up-graded computer programs and integrated new software. He works closely with the business property assessments utilizing itemized lists for more accurate and fair depreciation. He said he has built good working relationships with other county department heads.

Like Ethan, he was asked several questions. One was about saving the Klamath dams. He said that the current county assessor, Mike Mallory, has spoken many times in support of saving the four hydro-electric dams and he will as well. Craig said he supports the prosperity of Siskiyou County.

Ray Haupt, Dist. 5 Siskiyou Co. Supervisor, had good news to report on several fronts. Earlier in April, he attended the American Forestry Resource Council’s annual conference held in Washington State. He met Congressman Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Arkansas, who was a keynote speaker explaining the reforms package of forest management and fire funding in the recent Omnibus Appropriations bill. Ray said that Westerman is the only congressman in the House with a background in forestry and was pleased to find a county supervisor, who was also a forester.

Ray said the new legislation expands stewardship authorities to allow the USFS to contract with counties on road work, when needed because of problems from weather. Several years ago, due to the change of policy regarding forest harvests/management, USFS lost funding for their road crews that maintained roads. This new authority will allow USFS Klamath National Forest to actually maintain some roads and use local county road crews that are already in place.

Because Ray is always working on saving the four hydro-electric Klamath dams, he was able to have a sit-down meeting with Oregon Dist. 2 Congressman Greg Walden, who also spoke at the forestry conference. Ray said that Walden was “shocked” about the frustration that Siskiyou County has with Klamath dam removal. Personally, I can’t believe that Congressman Walden hasn’t heard or read letters from Siskiyou Co. against the Klamath dam removal, but maybe Ray’s scientific concerns helped alert him to the looming economic and environmental problems that will result from dam destruction.

Then, Ray explained that he was not happy with the lack of transparency by Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife regarding the wolf issue. He said the county has sent a letter demanding better communication, when Oregon wolves travel out-of-state into California. He also shared that the state agencies begrudgingly admit there are likely more wolves in Western Siskiyou Co. than reported as few wolves are actually collared. Landowners and ranchers throughout our county have contacted Ray to report sightings of wolves; and Ray believes the wolf sightings are legit.

I’ll cover more of Ray’s comments next week.

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

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Liz Writes Life 4-24-18

April 24, 2018

Liz Writes Life

 Published in Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

Yep, I finally did it. On Saturday, it had to be done -- irrigate. Because our outside water isn’t turned-on yet, I needed to drag-out and hook-up several hoses to extend to the west side of the house. It isn’t that big of a job, I just don’t like having to irrigate in April. Nature is supposed to do it! Boy was the soil dry and did not want to soak in the moisture.

It took well-over a half-hour to try to water the two rhubarb, phlox, 10-inch tall garlic, returning parsley, chives, two volunteer spinach plants, a few volunteer onions, narcissus, tulips and just-starting-to-grow tiger lilies. And that was only in the vegetable garden area. In the wild garden, the blooming lung-wort, daylilies, comfrey, iris, sage, two rose bushes, Oriental poppies and other perennials were in desperate need.

A surprise find was the pulsatilla. It had large delicate purple blooms. Its greenery is so frilly and fragile looking, normally, it is lost in a bunch of weeds and I never get to enjoy it. I actually thought it had died several years ago, but here it was -- and it also was craving some water.

So, with the hot spell coming this week, I will need to irrigate every day. Ugh! The variety of temperatures and weather make it really hard to second-guess plants’ needs. And don’t even think of planting your annual vegetable or flower seeds or plants for several more weeks, cuz we can get hit with a hard morning frost for another six to eight weeks. Yep, that’s life in Siskiyou County!

Candidates Forum

The General Primary Election is Tuesday, June 5, 2018 and races are heating up.

Quite a few candidates running for office have responded to invitations to the Candidates Forum hosted by the Siskiyou Co. Republican Central Committee on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Miners Inn Convention Center in Yreka. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the candidates speaking at 6 p.m. There will be free hearty snacks and desserts; and beer and wine available for purchase.

Only one county race is contested with Ethan Garrett and Craig Kay running for Siskiyou Co. Assessor/Recorder. Mike Mallory, who has served in that capacity since 2002, is retiring. Both Garrett and Kay will be speaking at the Candidates Forum.

After five terms in office, county clerk/registrar, Colleen Setzer, is also retiring. Laura Bynum, who has served as assistant county clerk since 2003, is running for the office. She also will speak at the Forum.

Siskiyou Co. Supervisors, Ray Haupt for Dist. 1 and Michael Kobseff for Dist. 3, are running unopposed and both will be speaking at the Forum. Superintendent of Schools Kermith Walters, Auditor-Controller Jennie Ebejer and Treasurer-Tax Collector Wayne Hammer are also running unopposed and said they will attend the Forum and speak about the work they do.

John Lawrence is running for Superior Court Judge, Office 1, and is sending a statement to be read.

District Attorney Kirk Andrus is running unopposed and sent his regrets as he will be in Utah attending a daughter’s university graduation.

At the state and federal level, many invitations were sent. As of yesterday, this is the information I received regarding attendance at the Siskiyou Candidates Forum. Believe it or not, there are 27 people running for CA. Governor. (I didn’t know that!) Two Republican candidates, John Cox and Travis Allen, have responded they will be sending representatives to speak. That is impressive!

Konstantinos Roditis, a Republican, is running for CA. Controller and is sending a statement to be read. Also, David Evans, running for Board of Equalization Dist. 1, will send a statement as will Eric Early, who is running for attorney general. Erin Ryan, representative staff for CA. Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa will speak for LaMalfa, who is flying home from D.C. that night.

I want to thank these candidates for running and attending this Forum. This is a really good time for the voters to learn about these candidates and the type of work they do in their respective offices. Hope you can attend.

This is also a good time to thank Siskiyou Co. Clerk/Registrar Colleen Setzer and Siskiyou Co. Assessor/Recorder Mike Mallory for their many years of service to Siskiyou County. Both have personally helped me when I have gone into their offices seeking information or with questions. Both have been easy to contact and are friends, when you meet them on the street or grocery store. They are good people. Here’s a big “Thank You!”

POW

Unfortunately, the Scott Valley Protect Our Water will hold its meeting at the same time as the Forum. Drats! It will be held at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7:15 p.m. Three of the speakers at the Forum will be first on the agenda, so they can drive over to Fort Jones to speak at the Protect Our Water meeting. Ray Haupt will share important information from the American Forest Resource Council he attended in early April. There is also good news regarding the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Craig Kay, who is running for assessor/recorder and Erin Ryan, Congressman LaMalfa’s staff, will also be speaking at POW. Drive safely over the mountain!

Rodeo

There will be lots of activities in Etna on Rodeo weekend May 4-6, 2018. High school cowboys and cowgirls will compete in the California High School Rodeo District 1 Finals on Friday and Saturday; Team Roping will be held Saturday late-afternoon; Dotty’s is sponsoring a barbecue and dance that night; the Rodeo Parade is Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. and rodeo events start at 1 p.m. with Mutton Bustin’ and Kids’ Calf Riding on Sunday.

Call Sarah Griggs to enter the parade at 530-736-1336.

Taco Feed

Also, on Saturday evening, May 5^th, Cinco de Miyo day, the Callahan Mt. Bolivar Grange is holding a fund-raiser Taco Feed from 4 to 8 p.m. The band “Wind Fields” will be playing next door at the Emporium after dinner.  

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

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Liz Writes Life 4-17-18

April 17, 2018

Liz Writes Life

Published in Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA.

From warm days to blizzards and snowy mountains, April 2018 has showed she can provide nearly everything that weather has to offer. There were some colder days for baseball, soccer and track parents to sit through last week, but that means it is spring in Siskiyou County. Sunday’s rain was extra nice!

The snow-level surveys are out for April 1, 2018 and it doesn’t look good for California. PG&E conducts snow surveys in the Sierras to forecast hydropower production for the rest of the year and how to manage that water. There was 11 feet of snow at the Mt. Lassen measuring station on April 1, which is 58 percent of normal. But that was up from 23 percent at the start of March 1, when there was just 6 feet of snow.

The news article that I caught said the Mt. Lassen and Sierra-snow melts into the North Fork of the Feather River and then into Lake Almanor. Then it runs through PG&E’s system of hydroelectric plants in the Feather River Canyon and finally into Lake Oroville. As you know, this water flows south.

Closer to home, the USFS Klamath Nation Forest employees check eight stations in the mountains around Scott Valley starting Feb. 1^st each year. The April 1, 2018 report shows an average of 42 percent of historical averages of snow and 36 percent of average of water content.

Middle Boulder 1 snow station has been measured each spring since 1946 is at 6,600 feet above sea level. This April, it showed only 24 inches of snow with an historic average of 70 inches making it 34 percent of average.

Scott Mt. is the youngest of the snow surveys, which began in 1986 at the elevation of 5,900 feet. This year, there was 15.5 inches giving it a 32 percent of the historical average.

Swampy John, at the 5,500 elevation foot level held the highest percentage with 39 inches. The historical average is 79 inches, which gave a 49 percent of average. They began monitoring Swampy John in 1951.

Drought Declaration

Our Siskiyou Co. Supervisors were monitoring the poor snow levels throughout the winter and as a result, at their April 3, 2018 meeting, approved a resolution to proclaim the existence of local emergency for Siskiyou County related to drought.

I talked with Brandon Criss, who chaired that meeting. Brandon is vice-chair this year. Chairman Ray Haupt was attending the American Forest Resource Council in Washington State that week, so Brandon took the gavel. He said that the county has been in contact with the Tulelake Basin and Klamath Co., which have declared this a drought year. On March 26, 2018, it was reported the snowpack water content for the Klamath Basin was 29 percent of normal and Bureau of Reclamation Klamath Project irrigation deliveries could be significantly delayed and reduced. This water is used for the Tulelake Basin row crops and that area doesn’t need to take an economic hit from a lack of water.

Also on March 26, 2018, CA. Dept. of Water Resources reported the North Sierra snowpack water content was 20 percent of normal; and the Klamath National Forest reported 18 percent of average countywide on April 1^st. As a result, water supplies for irrigators and the environment could be in serious jeopardy resulting in economic loss, lack of feed production and shortened growing season.

Drinking water supplies for cities and towns, including unincorporated areas, may also be affected; and wildfires continue to be a major threat.

Brandon said that declaring the State of Emergency will assist the county in evaluating the situation; and help establish tools for farmers and ranchers, who want to take the risk of farming, to obtain federal crop insurance.

A copy of the resolution was sent to the State Director of Emergency Services and CA.  Gov. Jerry Brown. Brandon praised Siskiyou Co. Ag. Commissioner, Jim Smith, Siskiyou Co. Project Manager, Elizabeth Nielsen, and Jasen Vela, from our county Office of Emergency Services for their monitoring of the situation and writing the resolution.

Spring

Bright yellow forsythia and magenta quince bushes are gorgeous along with the pink and white tree blossoms bursting throughout the county -- and the first greens of spring are eye-candy! I think my Oriental poppies and perennials have grown over a foot this week! I didn’t get any spinach or lettuce planted, so will work on getting it done this week.

LaMalfa

Our CA. Dist. 1 Congressman, Doug LaMalfa, was honored by the American Conservative Union, last week, when the group presented him with their Award for Conservative Excellence. His voting record during the 115^th Congress proved his commitment to conservative values.

LaMalfa responded: “Growing up in Northern California, our views are typically very different from those that live in the Bay Area and those views are often ignored by our liberal-dominated state government. I’m pleased to once again receive this award based on my conservative track record last year, including votes to repeal the collapsing Obamacare law, defund Planned Parenthood and provide once-in-a-generation tax relief for millions of Americans. I’ll continue to advocate for conservative values in Washington on behalf of Northern California.”

Save the date

Remember there is plenty to do on Thursday, April 26^th. The Siskiyou Co. Republican Central Committee is hosting a Candidates Forum for candidates -- from all political parties -- to speak about the office they wish to hold. It will be held at the Miner’s Inn Convention Center in Yreka. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the introduction of speakers beginning at 6 p.m. There will be free hearty snacks and desserts; and beer and wine available for purchase.

Then, Scott Valley Protect Our Water will hold its meeting at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7:15 p.m. Ray Haupt will share important information from the American Forest Resource Council he attended in early April.

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

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Liz Writes Life 4-10-18

April 10, 2018

Liz Writes Life

Published by Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA.

What a great rain last week! Sure perked up the spring plants and the fields over here in Scott Valley. Our garlic is about nine-inches tall. The rhubarb must have grown five-inches one 24-hour period and the poor lung wort plant that was so dry and sad is now glorying in its blue and pink blooms. Oriental poppies really shot-up too.

There are so many trees blooming with white or pink blossoms. Spring has sprung!

This week, I was asked if I had planted any garden. Nope, not yet, but now that the soil is moist, I should get some spinach and butter-head lettuce in the ground this week. Actually, I am still not ready for gardening season. But, then we do have nearly two months where frosts can kill our annual plants.

Mistakes

Gotta fix two mistakes from last week: Ethan Garrett, who is running for Siskiyou Co. Assessor/Recorder, called to let me know I printed his age incorrectly. He is 28 years of age. Then, I talked about my parents working for the Siskiyou Co. Farm Bureau 60 years ago and forgot to mention their names. Some of you guessed and others were left hanging. Their names are Jeanne and Hearst Dillman. OK, now I hope I do better this week!

Rodeo entries

The 71^st Scott Valley Pleasure Park Rodeo will be held Sunday, May 6, 2018 at the rodeo arena near Etna. Cowboys and cowgirls need to enter this weekend on April 14^th and 15^th. Call Jaclyn Boyce at 530-340-5527 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on those days. Events are: Ranch Bronc Riding, Bull Riding, Saddle Cow, Open Team Roping, Mix Team Roping, Calf Roping, Girls Barrel Race, Girls Breakaway Roping and Steer Wrestling. Also, call for youth events of Mutton Bustin’ for age 7 and under, Kids Calf Riding 8-12 years and Jr. Steer Riding for 13-17 year olds.

Candidates Forum

The first election in California will be the Primary Election on Tuesday, June 5, 2018. To help voters know the candidates, the Siskiyou Co. Republican Central Committee is holding a Candidates Forum on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Miner’s Inn Convention Center in Yreka. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the informative event will begin at 6 p.m. Hearty snacks, along with beer and wine will be available. The forum is free.

Invitations have gone out to candidates running for office, including county positions, state and congressional offices. This is a time for candidates to share their bio, why they are running and answer questions. Be sure to attend this meeting.

POW

Guess what? Like normal, everything happens around the same time. Thursday, April 26^th is also the Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting that will be held in Fort Jones Community Center at 7 p.m. Craig Kay, who is a candidate for the Siskiyou Co. Assessor/Recorder office, along with Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for Dist. 5, Ray Haupt, will be doing double duty. Both have agreed to speak in the early part of the Candidates Forum in Yreka, then drive over for the POW meeting in Fort Jones at 7 p.m.

At POW, Ray said he will discuss the forestry conference he attended last week in Skamania, Washington. He also learned about the terrible mess made by the removal of the Condit Dam in Washington and will share that information.

Jim Smith

Jim is our Siskiyou Co. Agriculture Commissioner. He spoke at the March Protect Our Water meeting explaining the various aspects of his job. First, he said, there is pest, predator and animal control. Or, at least, he attempts to control pests, which include insects, as well, as noxious weeds. Then, he is also in charge of all scales in the county making sure that the weights and measures, like a gallon of gas to grocery store produce, is weighed correctly.

Air pollution control is a huge project and he has authority to enforce local, state and federal air quality rules. His county office sets the “burn” days and “no-burn” days. Fines can be $1,000 per situation. Wow, we better pay attention to air pollution control and not burn on a “no-burn” day.

Immediately, Jim was asked about the wolf issue. Yes, dealing with wolves will soon be upon us. Yes, Siskiyou Co. already has a huge amount of predators of bears, lions, coyotes and bobcats. Wolves will have an additional impact on the livestock industry and he has contracted with the previous retired Ag. Commissioner, Pat Griffin, to monitor the influx of wolves.

“Do not shoot a wolf,” said Jim. In fact, he said it three times. It is a highly-emotional issue and government agencies will not be benevolent. If someone suspects a wolf is in his area, or you see a wolf, report it to his office immediately. The number is 530-841-4025.

Jim’s department employs 17 individuals, who work throughout California’s 5^th largest (land mass) county. Siskiyou is huge with a diverse crop base of grain, hay, pastures, potatoes, onions, strawberry plants, timber, hogs, sheep, cattle and exotic animals. There is a lavender farm and even a horse rescue ranch.

He related the problems with climate explaining that the Tulelake area can receive as little as 10 inches of rainfall in a year to over 80 inches of rain, in a year, down in Happy Camp. Growing season can also be very different as the elevation in the county ranges from 1,085 feet to 4,250 feet above sea level.

Oh, he also issues dog licenses, manages a no-kill animal shelter and deals with animal neglect, which he said is pretty disheartening. The county works with other shelters to find homes for animals.

A long time beekeeper, Jim started a Siskiyou club to help people learn about and protect their bees.

It was truly an eye-opener, learning about the county’s agricultural department.

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

Liz Writes Life 4-3-18

April 3, 2018

Liz Writes Life

Published in Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa found he had an extra two hours between meetings, last Saturday, so he invited members of the Siskiyou Co. Republican Central Committee to meet with him for an informal visit in Yreka. Several of us were able to show up. It was a treat to casually ask him questions regarding D.C. and receive a bit of insight on issues. He is still pressuring U.S. Dept. of Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, to save the Klamath dams, although Zinke is frustratingly evasive.

It was in December of 2001, when I first met Doug LaMalfa. The Sacramento Valley rice farmer decided to run for state assembly and began his campaign by participating in events throughout his district. The Fort Jones Christmas Parade brought him to Siskiyou County. I liked him then and like him even more now. Yes, he won our district assembly seat in the 2002 election. Later, he ran for state senate and won. Many times during the past 17 years, Doug has traveled to Siskiyou County to aid farmers, ranchers, property and business owners; and the county. I so appreciate him for his concern for rural America – especially Siskiyou!

He attended the Siskiyou Co. Farm Bureau Federation’s annual dinner later Saturday evening. Even as a busy congressman, on a few weeks break, he finds time to come up here to be with constituents.

I wasn’t able to attend the Farm Bureau dinner as family had shown up for Easter celebration. But, I want to thank Sherry Crawford for purchasing a unique quilt -- started by my mom and finished by my sister -- during the Live Auction. I heard auctioneer Clifford Munson shared a bit of history on my mom and dad, who were members of the Siskiyou Farm Bureau back in the 1940s. They married in 1941 and dad operated several ranches in Scott Valley in partnership with his brothers.

After several ranch and horse accidents, dad’s back was giving him fits and he wasn’t sure he could keep ranching. Cal-Farm Insurance Company was affiliated with Farm Bureau, but not easily available in Siskiyou County. So mom and dad decided to become insurance agents. No, I wasn’t born yet. They passed the agents’ exam and, in 1950, began traveling throughout the county to homes and ranches selling insurance as Siskiyou’s first Cal-Farm Insurance agents. When I came along, they took me with them much of the time.

Dad also served as the first Siskiyou Co. Farm Bureau Field Secretary. I don’t think Farm Bureau has that position anymore, but I remember dad was gifted a new Stetson felt hat when he retired. For many of their Cal-Farm years, mom also served the county Farm Bureau as executive secretary. Winter and summer, she drove two days a week over the “old” windy road on Forest Mountain to work in the insurance/Farm Bureau office. In 1966, mom and dad retired from selling Cal-Farm Insurance and their Farm Bureau secretarial jobs.

So, how did I get to rambling on this subject? The current executive secretary, Dona Farnam, is a cousin. She was looking for donations for the dinner auction and called my sister, who remembered she had a quilt top that our mom made before she died back in 2006. Lorena finished it, but hadn’t given it away. She offered it to Dona. Thanks to Sherry Crawford, it brought $300. So even beyond the grave, mom continues to support the Siskiyou Co. Farm Bureau. I just thought that was a nice little country-folk-type story. My sister, Lorena, makes beautiful quilts. I don’t and won’t even try! They are hard.

POW

Scott Valley Protect Our Water met last Thursday night at the Fort Jones Community Center. Ethan Garrett kicked-off the evening explaining his background and why he is running for Siskiyou County Assessor/Recorder. The current assessor, Mike Mallory, decided to retire and is not running after serving four terms since 2002. There is another candidate who is running and it is Craig Kay. Both men work in our county assessor’s office. Craig will be speaking at Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting April 26, 2018.

Ethan admits right-off that, yes, he is young at age 30. But, quickly explains after 10 years in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco world of technology; and building program software and mobile apps, he decided that returning to his home area of Siskiyou would be a great next step in his life. He was also graduated from U.C. Davis and played on its football team. It was his extensive knowledge of doing risk analysis that helped him gain a position in the assessor’s office after moving back to Yreka in 2016.

Ethan was asked quite a few questions regarding his job as an appraiser, which was enlightening to say the least. One question was about homes or property that has declined in value. Ethan reported there is a remedy. Value can be reassessed through the 1978 Proposition 8.

I looked it up and here is a synopsis from Wikipedia.

“Proposition 8 (or Senate Constitutional Amendment No. 67) was an amendment of the Constitution of California relating to the assessment of property values. It was proposed by the California State Legislature and approved by voters in a referendum held on 7 November 1978.

The amendment was necessitated by the passage of Proposition 13 in June of the same year. Proposition 8 allowed for a reassessment of real property values in a declining market. For this purpose it amended Article 13A of the state constitution, which had been added by Proposition 13. Today a reassessment based on a decline in market value is called a "Proposition 8" reassessment.”

I don’t know how many people remember this Proposition 8, but it may be helpful for some home owners.

Erin Ryan, who is staff for Congressman LaMalfa, and Jim Smith, our Siskiyou Co. Agriculture Commissioner, also spoke at POW. I will share their information next week.

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

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