Liz Writes Life 11-20-19

Nov. 20, 2019

Liz Writes Life

Darn it, I didn’t get the garlic planted. Looks like temperatures are finally going to cool down with freezes into the upper-20s. I haven’t even checked how hard or soft the soil is where I want to plant about 30 garlic cloves. But, I think the soil is pretty soft where the potatoes are buried, so I really ought to dig a bunch of them out. Can’t believe it is nearly the end of November and the only rain was one weekend in September. Yep, I have been ignoring the garden. Really, it wouldn’t take long to do those two jobs. Oh, I also bought some hyacinths that need planting. Well, there is always something to do!

Salmon

The preliminary count of salmon entering Siskiyou County waters has been updated by Morgan Knechtle of the Klamath River Project of the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Here are the numbers so far.

The Shasta River adult fish counting facility has counted 5,752 Chinook salmon between Sept. 4, 2019 and Nov. 7, 2019 -- and five coho salmon were observed.

Bogus Creek station has counted 1,015 Chinook salmon and four coho between Sept. 5, 2019 and Nov. 8, 2019.

The Scott River station was installed on Sept. 19, 2019 and has counted 1,382 Chinook salmon and one coho through Nov. 13, 2019.

Power and fires

Ray Haupt spoke at the Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting last month and discussed the fire situations. The October fire danger and fires had made power companies shut-off electricity to vast areas throughout the state. Residents were pretty upset. Governor Newsom was blaming the power companies for the difficult situations, but in reality it is Green government regulations that created the problems.

Ray explained that this new de-energization is mandated by CA. Senate Bill 901, which was signed by previous governor Jerry Brown. What is not being explained is that power companies have been mandated to develop and pay for green solar and wind programs. Somewhere along the line, it looks like power companies have been putting their monies needed for maintenance into the green programs. Also the leave-the-environment-natural green attitude has added to the over-load of trees and brush around utility infrastructure – power lines. This is stupidity.

Several Somes Bar residents reported to Ray they lost power. But, most of Siskiyou Co. was not affected although there are two other small areas that could lose power from a red flag warning. Ray said that because Pacific Power is a miner power generator, it was allowed to stop paying the solar subsidies two years ago.  

Remember in past years, football field-wide fire breaks were cleared and plowed every few years under and around the power lines. These are now over-grown. Ray said that the main power grid line East of McCloud is a frightening example. During his entire adult life of fighting fires, power companies maintained the transmission lines. He does not recall fighting fires actually started by poorly maintained faulty transmission lines.

Yep, it is a mess. But, it looks to me like over-regulations and the “save the environment” attitude are very destructive.

On that note, some folks have asked me what I know about the possible expansion of the Kidder Creek Orchard Camp program near Greenview. The Camp has submitted an Updated Project Description and is following correct procedure regarding Use Permits. Ray, and other folks, hopes the over-crowding of conifer trees throughout the facility does get addressed prior to recommendation to the board of supervisors.

The Siskiyou Co. Planning Commission has not made a recommendation regarding the project. It is still in the public comment period and planning department staff are working to address those issues.

Hooray for goats

Several weeks ago, when the fires were blazing south of us, I saw an article that praised goats for saving President Ronald Reagan’s Library, which was threatened by the Easy Fire in Simi Valley. Mellisa Giller, a spokesperson for the Reagan Library, voiced gratitude to the concentrated grazing from 500 goats, which had been contracted earlier in the summer to clear overgrown fuel loads surrounding the library complex.

Giller said she was told by a fire fighter that the fire break made their job easier as there truly was a large open space devoid of highly combustible brush and grass. The goats ate it all.

Apparently, the goat herd was contracted through a county government, but the article went on to say that grazing on federal lands can provide this service at virtually no cost to the taxpayer. Yep, livestock is beneficial to reducing fire fuels and should be encouraged and utilized. I won’t go into the years of verbal abuse and lawsuits by environmentalists that stopped much of the beneficial use of cattle and other grazers like goats. I am just glad the goats were appreciated.

POW

Scott Valley Protect Our Water will combine its November and December meeting and it will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7 p.m. POW will not hold a meeting in November.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Liz Writes Life 11-13-19

Nov. 13, 2019

Liz Writes Life

Published in Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA.

Last Saturday, Congressman Doug LaMalfa hosted a Harvest Banquet at his family’s farm and I received an invitation. His friend, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, was the featured speaker and I really did want to go. So, I hitched a ride with my friend, Erin Ryan, who is staff for the congressman and lives in Redding. The farm is south of Chico. When we drove to the giant barns, I was wowed by the huge rice harvesters, big trucks and tractors. Yep, it is a full-fledged working farm.

Congressman McCarthy was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002, the same year that Doug was elected to the assembly. The two became friends and actually roomed together, when they were in Sacramento. McCarthy is from Bakersfield. And, Kevin did tell a few stories on Doug.

Kevin’s background is in business. His grandfather was a cattle rancher and his dad a firefighter, so he understands the working-class and the problems that government regulations pose to business. He started his first business, called Kevin O’s Deli, at age 21 and later sold it to put himself through college and graduate school. Yep, he worked his way up.

In 2006, Kevin was elected to Congress and in 2014 was elected by his fellow Republicans as Majority Leader of the House. When the Democrats became the House majority party in January 2019, Kevin had to turn the gavel over to the Democrat Majority Leader, Nancy Pelosi. He is now House Minority Leader.

Kevin was one of the first from congress to support Donald J. Trump, when he announced his candidacy for President of the United States and has remained a trusted ally. So, Congressman McCarthy started right out explaining the incorrect process the Democrats are using to push for impeachment of President Trump. He said the only bi-partisan vote that has been held was last week and that was to stop impeachment.

Congressman McCarthy praised President Trump for the improvement in our U.S. economy. “You are living in the best economy for the last 50 years,” he told the crowd of over 460. 

“I’ve watched him rebuild our military and changed and empowered veterans in their health care.”

“Trump hardly ever sleeps,” said McCarthy and has found the president to be very caring. He even offered Kevin three scoops of ice cream, one time, when he was flying on Air Force One. And, Trump is always looking for ways to solve problems.

When the Camp Fire destroyed most of Paradise, CA., Kevin was with Doug when they flew with President Trump in Air Force One to witness the devestation and offer help. It was a sobering and exhaustive situation. President Trump was visibly affected and concerned.

Kevin praised Doug as he continues to work hard for reconstruction, aid and support for the victims of the Camp Fire that occurred on Nov. 8, 2018.

Congressman Doug announced that USDA recently authorized a grant of $148,300 to the Town of Paradise to support the recovery efforts and renovate a building to be the Building Resiliency Center to aid residents in recovery.

“It has been exactly one year since California’s most destructive wildfire ever --  the Camp Fire -- was ignited in Butte County and quickly engulfed the towns of Paradise, Magalia, Concow, Yankee Hill and the surrounding area,” Doug said. “The destruction is well-documented. Most tragically of all, 85 people lost their lives because of it. A year later, we’re still working on solutions to the after effects.”

Doug thanked USDA Rural Development and President Trump for their continued help. The grant is part of a $150 million set-aside included in the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act that the president signed into law on June 6, 2019.

It was a great evening with lots of support for the re-election of a man I have known and respected since he was elected to the California Assembly. LaMalfa is a huge fan of Siskiyou County and Siskiyou Republicans filled two tables. Dinner was super. The prime rib nearly melted in your mouth and the caterer used Doug’s mom’s brown rice recipe. You must have a super rice dish for dinner, when you grow rice for a living.

Garden

Yep, it is November, even though the warmer temps and lack of rain may have us confused. Guess I shouldn’t complain since much of the Midwest and Northeast are getting hammered with record low temps and snow. But, because there’s always lots of work to be done in the spring, I have decided to get a bunch of steer manure this fall to lighten that burden – hopefully – or at least get started earlier!

My soil really needs a boost from manure, but it will only go in the rows where I plant. And, I likely won’t put most of the manure out until March or April, but at least it will be there in bags ready to go. So, to that end, I purchased my first 10 bags of manure last week and it is stacked on one side of the garden. Two bags are right by the dried-up rhubarb and I do need to dump the manure on the plants – this week is the goal!

It is time to get garlic planted. October is considered the best time to do it, but I procrastinated as usual. I don’t believe it will begin its growing process until we get some moisture anyway. So, I hope to get the garlic in this week too. I do pray we get some good rain by Thanksgiving and then snow in December.

Birds of all sizes are busy eating the abundance of seeds and berries. It is fun to watch them flit around and they do look chubby. They like the cosmo flower seeds and I haven’t taken those dry, five-foot tall plants out yet. The blue jays must be getting plenty to eat, because they are no longer stealing the dry cat food I put out on the porch for the cats.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Liz Writes Life 11-6-19

November 6, 2019

Liz Writes Life

The 19^th Etna Veterans’ Parade was a hit last Saturday as it marched up Main Street with blue skies overhead and autumn yellow leaves in the background. A good crowd of 150 to 200 socialized as the stream of entries went by.

Local rancher, Scott Murphy, served as announcer using the Etna Police Dept. wireless microphone to interview many of the participants. Sophia Emerick, a senior at Etna High School, sang a very sweet and beautiful rendition of our National Anthem as the colors were brought to a halt by David and Theo Johnson on horseback.

Grand Marshal, Joe Hudson, 88, stood proudly in his Green Beret Special Forces uniform. It still fit! (He looked like John Wayne!) Joe was surrounded by family, including his wife, Donna, granddaughter, Randi Scroggins, and lots of great-grandchildren. Great-grandsons Jacob and Jason Scroggins carried the Grand Marshal banner. Joe is a Purple Heart recipient from Vietnam era.

Yreka’s Jackson St. Marching Band once again entertained. This band has become a mainstay for the Veterans’ Parade. They are led by dynamic Karen Clark, who teaches her students to respect our soldiers and veterans. Yay!

Etna Lion’s Club member, Charles Lincoln, drove a pickup pulling a trailer of veterans: Dave Bradford, Mike Bryan, Bill Roberts, Bill Beckwith, Peter Wright and one I didn’t get a name. Bummer, but I was glad that he jumped on with the guys. Ryck Kramer served as an aviation mechanic in the Army in Libya. He drove his vintage Kabota tractor boasting some grandchildren. One teen was in the front scoop bucket.

Several veterans drove their own vehicles or rode in Gary Koopman’s 1941 Dodge WC half-ton carryall or the Sheriff’s HumVee. They were Marine Fred Scott from Quartz Valley; Mason McCoy, from Yreka; Randy Steinbeck and Steve Farrington, Callahan; Tim Grenvik, Greenview; and Harry Harper, Dave Harrison, Don Meek, Sammy Facey, who is also a Purple Heart recipient, from Etna.

Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Dist. 5 Supervisor rode with Tim Grenvik in his pickup. They invited Jennifer Bray, and her young daughter, to get in the parade with them. Jennifer served in the Navy.

Oh, yea, at the last minute, veteran Larry Maplesden, squeezed in the parade in his little pickup. His mom, Carol, was with him. Bob Noel led one group of the historical cars. Bob served in the Navy during Vietnam. There were likely other veterans in the historical cars and Sis Q (Ford Model) A’s, who were veterans, but I wasn’t able get their names. Darn. Sorry guys.

Clara Johnson harnessed her little go-getter horse to a small wagon and invited Army and Navy veterans Tom Stone and Darrell Illian to join her.

A number of groups also supported the veterans by participating in the parade. Back Country Horsemen from the Top of the State Chapter rode. Cliff Lantz, who served in the Army in Korea, drove his horse and wagon with the Scott Valley Rotary Club Inter-Act Etna High School teens. Lewis Star revved-up his hot car for Deborah Beam, owner of Paystreak Brew and Pub, whose son, Forrest Rose, received a Purple Heart from injuries in Afghanistan in 2012.

Members of Future Farmers of America, from Etna High School, filled a flat-bed truck and the Siskiyou Mt. Men and Women livened-up the parade with blasts from their muskets. Reserve Deputy Jim Jacobson drove the Siskiyou Co. DARE 1989 Camero and Kelly Giradano, from the Siskiyou Co. Sheriff’s Dept., drove the HumVee.

Alan Kramer fired-up Etna Volunteer Fire Dept.’s 1932 Dodge Brothers hose truck that was purchased years ago from a San Francisco fire company. There was also the Etna Ambulance and engines from Fort Jones Fire Dept., Cal-Fire and U.S. Forest Service with Smokey Bear inside. Army veteran Al Buchter drove one of the two Scott Valley Fire Protection District’s engines.

At the last minute, five Veteran Christian Motorcycle Assoc. riders showed-up for the festivities.

The parade was a nice success! A big “thank you” goes out to Etna Police Chief Josh Short and his officers, Tony Stacher and Clint Whitchurch, for setting up the parade along with the P.A. system. It was a busy week for the Etna P.D. as Friday night the Homecoming Football games were played and two parades were held downtown on Thursday: The annual Etna Elementary School Halloween Parade, then the Etna High School Homecoming Parade -- and in the evening the Halloween Trunk or Treat on Main St. Yep, everything seems to happen at once.

Also a huge” thanks” goes to the Rotary Club of Scott Valley for providing the insurance and to members Bob McNeil, Vinnie McNeil and Prudence Magnuson, who lined-up the 30-plus entries at the Etna High School and Davey Martin, who spaced the entries at Collier Way/Main St. Corner. Years ago, Bob served in the Navy – underwater on a submarine.

The Etna City Council also deserves a nice “thank you” for supporting and approving the event.

There was plenty of food with the Sutter, Farrington and Whipple families cooking up hotdogs, the Rotary Inter-Act Club doing chili and the Scott Valley Resource Center selling baked goods. Native Daughters of the Golden West provided cookies at the Museum and the Etna Library also gave out free books to children.

Again, “thank you” to our soldiers and veterans for your service to our country!

Garden

These 70 degree days are crazy, especially after the freezing temps last week that were down to the teens. I had 19 degrees at my place and a friend said it was 14 degrees in Fort Jones. Boy, things are dry. Guess, we better start praying for autumn rains and winter snows.

Legacy

Condolences go out to the extended Hammond family. Scott Valley’s Jessie Hammond passed away last week at the age of 101. Yep, she leaves quite a ranching legacy. One of the hardest working women I ever met. About 15 years ago, she invited me to her place and we dug-up some daffodils-gone-wild. The bulbs are planted on the west side of my house. Early next spring they will bloom and I will smile remembering Jessie.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Photos from the 19th Etna Veterans' Parade -- Nov. 2, 2019

David and Theo Johnson carrying the colors





Clara Johnson invited Army Vet Tom Stone and Navy Vet Darrell Illian to ride with her and grandson, Jasper Johnson.

















Dean Harris and four other Veteran Christian Motorcycle Assoc., members showed up.  Dean is a good friend!




Grand Marshal Joe Hudson, a Green Beret Special Forces veteran.



Gary Koopman loves his 1941 military Dodge WC half-ton carry-all. With Gary are veterans Gary Fleck, Marine; Don Meek, Army; and Sammy Facey, Army and recipient of Purple Heart.



Etna Lions Club trailer full of veterans.



Announcer Scott Murphy talks to Army veteran Randy Steinbeck.




Jennifer Bray served in the Navy. She is with her daughter.




Lynn and Tim Grenvik of Greenview. Tim served in the Air Force and much later as the Siskiyou Co. Veterans Service Officer. Lynn is supervisor of nurses at our local hospice. Both are great people!



The curb on Main Street gets quite tall. Makes a great (cold) chair for the crowd. Etna's business district is one block long, but does slip-over on both ends with a few businesses -- Denny Bar restaurant on the South and the Library on the North.



Yay for the Jackson Street Jr. High Marching Band!!!! They are from Yreka.



Ryck Kramer and his grandkids on his well-used Kabota tractor loaded with gandkids. Ryck served as an aviation mechanic in the Army before Vietnam and was stationed in Libya in North Africa. 



Marine Fred Scott, Quartz Valley, served in Vietnam. Riding with him is his daughter, Cara Ravenscroft, and cute little dog. 



Navy Veteran Mason McCoy is from Yreka. He is driving his 1953 Chevy Suburban with a State of Jefferson double XX logo.  




Ray Haupt is our Dist. 5 Siskiyou Co. Supervisor. He rode with Air Force vet Tim Grenvik.  


eteran and Etna High School grad, Larry Maplesden, brought his mom, Carol, along for the parade. 




Kelly Giradano, from the Siskiyou Co. Sheriff's Dept., drove the Sheriff's HumVee. She had last year's Grand Marshal Dave Harrison as a passenger. He is below.




Siskiyou Co. Reserve Deputy Jim Jacobson drove the 1989 DARE Camero, below.







Back Country Horsemen -- this year was all horsewomen! -- like to participate. 

Cliff Lantz, Army veteran - Korea - with the Scott Valley Rotary Club's teen Inter-act service group. 

Etna FFA member, Troy Thackeray, is the only one to look at the camera. Yep, Troy is cute! 

The local owners of old, rustier-the-better, Dodge Brothers cars love the Veterans' Parade.

 Lisa Theofanides sold baked goods for the Scott Valley Resource Center.

The Siskiyou Mt. Men and Women love any chance they get to show off and blast their muskets!

Joe Hudson is Veterans' Parade Grand Marshal

Joe Hudson is Veterans’ Parade Grand Marshal

By Liz Bowen for Siskiyou Daily News

October 30, 2019

ETNA – After years of service in the U.S. Army, Reserves, ROTC, Green Berets Special Forces, recruiting duty and, later, American Legion, it is past time for Joe Hudson to be honored as grand marshal of the Etna Veterans’ Parade. The parade starts at 11 a.m. this Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 and will march from the Etna High School staging area down to Collier Way and up Main Street. All supporters of our military and the United States are invited to attend and applaud our veterans and soldiers for their service.

Joe Hudson, 88, served more than 20 years in the Army and retired with the rank of Master Sergeant after completing four tours: Two in Korea and two in Vietnam. His career is mixed and he was considered an “old man” at age 34, when he decided to sign-up for the newly established Green Berets Special Forces. Joe completed the vigorous training that included three weeks of “jump school” in Ft. Benning, Georgia and then Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to finish with HALO – high altitude jump training. Yes, he had to have oxygen (in a little tank) to jump out of an airplane at 30,000 feet above the earth. He successfully completed 15 jumps, in 1964, but never had to do it in combat.

It was during the Great Depression, in 1931, when Joe was born in Tempe, Arizona. His parents were from Arkansas, but by the time he graduated high school, in 1948, his family was living in Modesto, California. His dad had found a good job working for a railroad.

So, it was after World War II, in 1948, when Joe enlisted in the Army expecting a three-year stint. But, when time for his discharge arrived, U.S. President Truman rescinded all discharges. The Korean problem was escalating and in 1951, Joe went to Korea for nine months guarding the line.

In 1952, Joe received an Honorable Discharge and worked on the railroad and other jobs. Serving in the military didn’t bother Joe, so in 1957 he re-enlisted joining the Reserves. After eight weeks training in Ft. Ord, California, he was back in South Korea. This time, it was peaceable. But, Joe was there for 14 months!

Back home, Joe rightly chose to marry his long-time girlfriend, Donna, in 1958. And they are still married. They had a son, who unfortunately passed away a few years ago. But, Joe and Donna are lucky to have adult grandchildren and great-grandchildren that live nearby. The Hudson family now considers Scott Valley its home!

Joe kept re-enlisting and served active duty ROTC in Arizona, where he recalls lowering the United States flag to half-staff the day that U.S. President John Kennedy was assassinated. He was also stationed in Washington, Hawaii, Nevada and California – of course, taking his family with him.

His first tour to Vietnam began in September 1965 on a Special Forces A Team setting-up communications near the Cambodian border. At one point, their company took two troops of Cambodians to rout the Viet Cong, which ended in a serious battle. Joe was hit with a grenade injuring his knee and he remembers losing good soldier friends in that fight.

While under attack, a Huey helicopter picked-up the wounded and dead taking them to a MASH hospital. Joe was there for a week and was able to send a note home to his wife briefly describing the situation. Actually, he wrote a very short expression from WW II: “I’ve got the million dollar wound,” meaning he was alive, but injured and would be sent home.

After finally arriving back on U.S. soil, Joe was stuck in the Letterman Hospital at The Presidio, in San Francisco, for a year. Shrapnel fragments are still in his leg and he was awarded the Purple Heart.

When he healed sufficient for active duty, Joe did ROTC duty at the University of Nevada, in Reno and then went back to Vietnam. Because he couldn’t qualify to jump in the Special Forces, Joe became an Intel Sergeant and pulled 12-hr shifts for nine months.  He then volunteered for the 9^th Infantry Division and was sent to Hawaii doing more Intel.

Joe’s last duty in the Army was recruiting in his hometown of Modesto and then, finally, received his last Honorable Discharge in 1973. He went back to work for a family-operated railroad company and became an engineer – yep, getting to blow the whistle – and as switchman on the electric diesel engines. That very loud whistle likely contributed to his loss of hearing, he says!

It was in 2001, when Joe and Donna found Scott Valley. Well, his brother, Denton Hudson, already lived here. But while traveling up to Washington to visit their grandson, Jason Hudson, who was serving in the Marines, they stopped to visit – and fell in love. Their move happened quickly and family has followed them.

Be sure to wave and send a big “thank you” to Grand Marshal Joe Hudson this Saturday. His granddaughter, Randi Hudson Scruggins will be driving him in a big red pickup and grandchildren will be with as well.

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Liz Writes Life 10-30-19

Liz Writes Life

October 30, 2019

Yep, it is a dry fall. The soil in my garden is so hard that I haven’t gotten it cleaned-up. At least that is my excuse. I did get started a month ago, but got busy doing other stuff. I’ve shut-off the water to the garden and outside area. Frosts have pretty much killed the plants especially the annual flowers and vegetables. Fluffy asparagus tops are finally turning yellow and the autumn leaves throughout the valley have been gorgeous.

I have a bush that is supposed to turn red in the fall, but for years its leaves only turned ugly dark burgundy. It is located at the entrance of the garden and I’ve had great expectations. So, I thought about getting rid of it, but first contemplated what it might need to turn red. Because it was planted before I brought in several dump truck loads of manure 16 years ago (or so) -- it is actually just growing in some dirt between rocks. 

Maybe it needed more consistent irrigating? So, at least twice a week I watered it really well throughout the summer. Guess water was the magic potion, cuz it has been gorgeous red this year. Yay!

I am worried about the lack of irrigation for some perennials, especially when we had some really warm days. The rhubarb looks quite sad. I don’t usually harvest it in the fall, but I did and that may have been a mistake. Because we are going into colder temps, I certainly don’t want to perk it up, cuz it needs to go dormant. So, in more contemplation, I decided it is time to put a big bunch of steer manure on each of them and stop fretting.

Protect Our Water

Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for Dist. 5., will be the speaker at the Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting this Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019 (Halloween) at the Fort Jones Community Center in Fort Jones. Time is 7 p.m. A big thanks goes to Mike and Pauline Cramer, who set-up the room and get the coffee made. Bring a dessert to share or maybe we can trade Halloween candy!

Veterans Parade

Everything is set for the 19^th Veterans Parade in Etna this Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Theo and Dave Johnson will be leading the parade on horseback carrying the colors. Various groups and individuals have said they will be participating. The Siskiyou Mountain Men just called to enter. Hopefully, we will still have fire engines that haven’t been sent to fires south of us.

Joe Hudson has dusted-off his Army uniform and can still fit in it. Quite a feat, because he is 88 years young! He will proudly wear it, while serving as grand marshal. Veterans and other supporters of our military are encouraged to participate – just call me by Thursday, Oct. 31 so I can get you in the line-up. My number is 530-467-3515.

There are several activities planned for downtown Etna during the parade. The Sutter, Whipple and Farrington families will be barbecuing hotdogs on Main Street. The dogs are free to veterans. Members of the Native Daughters of the Golden West will open the Museum and there will be uniforms and information on soldiers from Scott Valley. It is quite interesting and includes women who served in the military. There will also be a book sale at the Etna Library.

U.S. Census

Denise Whitman is organizing workers for the 2020 U.S. Census that will take place early next year and will have a recruiting table set-up during the parade. Census-taking is a temporary job lasting about four to eight weeks and begins in April 2020. Workers must pass a background check and training. Pay is $16.50 an hour. Not bad for a part-time job in our area.

Fires and electricity

It is so sad. Fires are causing such havoc throughout California. The high winds are natural. Dry falls have been typical throughout my life, here in California, and the outrageously silly idea that the environment will be pristine, if man leaves it alone, is the major problem.

The environment must be managed, especially near human interface. Trees are hugely over-crowded and must be thinned. Brush must be removed and then constantly controlled. The power companies must have the ability to do both, which they have been denied – by government -- for years.

We are lucky to be on a different grid than PG&E. Ray Haupt told me he did get a phone call from a constituent down at Somes Bar, who had his power shut-off earlier this month and may be out of electricity as you read this, so Siskiyou Co. has been affected by the power shut-offs.

Remember, it is the state legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom who signed the bill with a variety of policies that mandate the utility companies to shut-off power. Yes, utility companies likely have some blame if their equipment and infrastructure is not impeccable.

Lots of finger-pointing is going on. The vast majority of people don’t like their power shut-off. They also really don’t like wildfires destroying their homes and businesses. So, what is the solution? Thinning and harvesting lots and lots of trees. And not just removing, but clearing huge swaths of brush. Creating open space boundaries around homes, towns and cities is the first monumental solution. This will also create an important industry and economy. Get moving California. I am likely preaching to the choir, who already believes. Yep, the rest of society needs to change its mindset. Trees should not be sacred.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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