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.