Liz Writes Life 9-30-2020

 

Sept. 30, 2020

Liz Writes Life

The cool 40-degree nights last week were great for the garden. Shorter daylight hours also help with the reduced need for irrigation. Sunday morning, the dew was really heavy throughout my garden! Yay!

So, I was troubled when this last hot blast of summer temps attacked this week. On Sunday, I saw where evacuations were expanded down in Napa County as the Glass Fire blew-up and was threatening the city of St. Helena. And then the Zogg Fire took-off in Shasta County causing more evacuations. Gee whiz, I sure pray for the rains of fall to get here.

Locally, the press releases on the Slater, Devil and Fox Fires in Siskiyou County showed the milder weather and cooler night temps helped the firefighting efforts, last week. Sure was glad the evacuation alerts and evac warnings were rescinded on the South Fork of the Scott River and Callahan. I just pray the winds don’t whip the fires back up.

My tomatoes keep plugging along and I canned a second batch of cooked-down sauce and 10 pints of stewed tomatoes. The plants are much bigger and healthier this year -- unfortunately I did not stake them very well. So, they are falling over themselves making it more difficult to find the ripe ones that tend to be underneath. I am grateful they are producing. Many times, in the past, we have had hard freezes by early to mid-September and the summer vegetable plants were done. Not this year.

The cucumbers look scraggly, but are still producing and I just picked the last cantaloupe. I was tired of finding homes for the zucchini, so I stopped irrigating two plants. They grew together and were huge. I am surprised they are still green and sorta producing. Yep, I have decided I really don’t like zucchini – at least not in late September! I will keep irrigating the purple onions. The tops are healthy and over three-feet tall. I just hope the bulbs are still growing.

Fire Tax

Every-so-often, someone asks me about the Fire Tax that many of us petitioned against. I think it was back in 2014 or so. Many of us joined with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which successfully lobbied the CA. State Legislature and governor to cease collecting the fire prevention fee. So, that was a good step in the right direction.

Then, HJTA brought class action litigation to try to obtain refunds from the unlawful double fire tax that we had paid to the state – under duress – for several years. Unfortunately, the Third Dist. Court of Appeals recently affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the case. HJTA issued a statement of disappointment this month.

I just wanted to close this long saga regarding the CA. Fire Tax (fee). We already knew the monies we paid were going into the state’s general fund and not into a fire prevention fund as was touted. But, it was worth a try to get the refunds and I am glad that HJTA is willing to go to bat for rural residents.

Religious rights

There is an updated article in the Christian Post.com on the Grace Community Church in Los Angeles County that has challenged the county and California government prohibiting indoor church gatherings, because of covid-19 regulations. The county has sought to shut-down the church and hold its Pastor, John MacArthur, in contempt for repeatedly violating the county order. Attorneys from the Thomas More Society have been defending the church. They argued that Governor Gavin Newsom’s state orders violate several provisions of the state constitution and have been applied arbitrarily and discriminatorily against churches.

Last week, Los Angeles Co. Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff ruled the pastor and church are entitled to a full trial on the merits of their challenge, before they can be held in contempt for violating the orders. Ironically, because of the state’s covid-19 shut-down orders the contempt trial may not take place until early 2021.

An attorney for Grace Community Church said the ruling is significant, because “no person can or should be held in contempt of a constitutionally invalid order.” So, the constitution is the point of contention.

Meanwhile, Pastor MacArthur said he will continue to hold church meetings, even though the county has said it is terminating a lease on the property, where church congregants park their cars. The county is also seeking a court order to close the Grace Community Church.

Also, Pastor MacArthur said he recently received a letter threatening up to six months in jail if he continues to hold indoor worship services. MacArthur responded that he has done many kinds of ministry work, but so far has not had the opportunity to do Christian ministry in jail. “So, bring it on,” was his response.

Voting

I received my sample ballot in the mail and will be checking it out. The Siskiyou Republicans have met and decided on their support of candidates and petitions. Next week, I’ll share my opinions as well as the Republicans.

I do know that the HJTA opposes Prop. 15 saying it will initially increase the cost of living in California and also pushes the camel’s nose under the tent to continue to raise taxes (on private property), because it raises taxes on commercial and industrial properties.

For sure, I will be voting “no” on Prop. 15. California is constantly trying to raise taxes and the Democrat leaders would love to do away with 1974 Prop. 13 protection and drastically increase our home property taxes.

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 can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Siskiyou's Ray Haupt meets with President Trump to discuss terrible wildfire situation in California

 

On Sept. 14, 2020, Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for Dist. 5 was invited to a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and CA. Governor Gavin Newsom to discuss the wildfires in California. Haupt said the government agencies need to be doing 100 times more thinning of the forests to reduce the destructive intensity of the now common-place wildfires throughout the state, including his Siskiyou County. Haupt is far left with President Trump far right in the photo.

Siskiyou Co. Supervisor, Ray Haupt, meets with U.S. President Donald Trump

 Supervisor Haupt gets “thumbs up” after meeting President Trump

Published in Siskiyou Daily News

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020

 

Slater Fire, Happy Camp were topics of conversation

By Liz Bowen

Ray Haupt, a Registered Professional Forester and second-term-elected Siskiyou Co. Dist. 5 Supervisor, was invited by the White House to a wildfire briefing with U.S. President Donald Trump and CA. Governor Gavin Newsom on Sept. 14, 2020 in Sacramento.

Two days before, with much sadness and desperation, Haupt emailed a letter to the White House Internal Governmental Affairs Director asking for help for Siskiyou County, which had just been hit by the Slater Fire in Happy Camp incinerating 158 homes and killing two individuals. Additionally, Haupt offered his expertise in wildfire behavior and healthy forest management. On Sunday morning, Haupt received an email and phone call asking him to be at the McClellan Air Force Base at 8 a.m. on Monday. Haupt assured the caller he would be there.

California officials, including Gov. Newsom and hard fire-hit Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, spoke first during the sit-down meeting. Then Pres. Trump motioned to Haupt. It was his turn.

“Thank you Mr. President for being here and listening to a very rural community and county at the very far extreme end of the state,” said Ray. He quickly added that his county continues to see the repeat of things President Trump saw during the 2018 Paradise Camp Fire, but on a smaller scale.

“The town of Happy Camp is under the Slater Fire that took-off and in a 24-hour period we lost 258 structures in a very small town and half of the population was displaced with 158 homes completely destroyed,” he said.

“Will that population come back?” Trump quickly asked with concern.

“Sir, that is a very tough question,” Haupt answered. “They are living through the down turn of the timber economy and there is very low employment in this area.” Haupt added, “We are completely surrounded by federal timber that at this point needs active forest management that would both improve the economy as well as even increase the water flow that is in short supplies in California.”

Getting personal, Haupt said he was coming to the president as a forester, elected official and past land manager for the U.S. Forest Service -- including fire fighter -- and explained he has worked with U.C. Berkeley and U.C. Merced on strategic forestry studies.

“Our forests are carrying four times the density as they did in 1930, so we have both the increase in brush in the wildland interface and the lack of management producing these extreme densities,” Haupt explained.

Haupt said he can’t do much about Climate Change, which had been touted as the major cause of the fires during the beginning of the meeting, “but as a forester actively managing the forest, I can manipulate fuels and can do that in pretty short order.”

Haupt then thanked Pres. Trump for his work on the most recent Farm Bill that provided more authorities for counties regarding public lands. He applauded Trump for the Master Stewardship Agreement, which Siskiyou County had just completed and signed.

“We have a half-million acre project that is ready to go,” Haupt said.

Trump interjected that money could also be made when removing and thinning the forests.

At that point, Gov. Newsom jumped-in and expanded on the progress made by the state with inter-agency cooperation and admitted that the state needs to “double” its efforts. Earlier in the meeting, Newsom had thanked Trump for all the federal support to California.

President Trump then looked at Gov. Newsom and Haupt and said, “I think we are totally in sync.” Haupt was able to mention the need to be “effective” in dealing with extreme fire behavior.

Trump then closed the 25-minute meeting, so he could then attend a ceremony to honor seven CA. Army National Guard personnel who flew helicopters through dangerous fire and smoke, on Sept. 5, 2020, and saved 242 people stranded by extreme fire.

After the meeting, the president stopped by Haupt and thanked him for his message giving him a “thumbs-up.”

To which Haupt added, “Sir, honestly, what the agencies are doing needs to be increased 100 fold.” Trump thanked him for his honesty.

Before the meeting and afterward, Haupt was able to speak with three Republican Congressmen, CA. Doug LaMalfa, Dist. 1, representing Siskiyou County, Tom McClintock from CA. Dist. 4 and Oregon’s Greg Walden. Congressman LaMalfa and Haupt have met many times working on legislation and projects to change the environmental policies that have been detrimental to forest health.

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Liz Writes Life 9-23-2020

 Sept. 23, 2020

Liz Writes Life

 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! To all the firefighters, organizers, support people and air pilots for working so hard on these fires. On Sept. 15, 2020, the Fox Fire ignited and began heading down the South Fork of the Scott River canyon towards Callahan. That night, evacuation warnings and orders went into effect. Lots of family and friends headed to Callahan with pickups and trailers to get important household items moved -- one friend even stopped at my place to check on me. Thank you!

I was just out of the evacuation warning by about a half mile. But, when recalling the quick fire destruction in Happy Camp and in Southern Oregon, on Sept. 8, 2020, I decided to load-up the "most important" of my stuff and take it into a friend's place in Etna. Then, I came home and realized other stuff that should be saved as well -- if I had the time. The next day, I bagged and loaded-up more and then waited and prayed. By Friday, the fire managers and firefighters had been able to do a major stop on this eastern side of the Fox Fire. Whew!!!

But, while writing my column on Monday morning, I could see out my window, a lot of Cal-Fire and USFS fire engines, crew trucks, support vehicles and a dozer going by on Hwy 3. I texted my Dist. 5 Siskiyou Co. Supervisor, Ray Haupt, and he replied the resources were expected to complete the containment of the Fox Fire up Cecilville Rd. Yay! They were hitting it hard, for sure.

When talking with Ray, last week, he was pleased and confident in local individuals who were in Cal-Fire and USFS leadership positions on the fires. He said the Klamath River Hot Shots had been sent to the Fox Fire and they were excellent firefighters. Because of his decades of working for the USFS, including serving as ranger on Scott River, Oak Knoll and Salmon River Districts, Ray attends incident command fire meetings every day, when there are fires in Siskiyou Co. So, Ray is my go-to, when I need information.

Last week, in my column, I suggested everyone should write down a plan for sheltering in place and a plan for evacuation, including the most important items to take, if you have the time. I did have the time to decide and it was still overwhelming. I cannot imagine the threat of fire so imminent that there is no time to gather important items. Yes, I am writing my list and making better plans.

With much sadness, my heart goes out to those who have lost their homes from these fires. Such tragedy! I know Red Cross and non-profit groups are trying to help. We all want to help, just be careful how you donate, especially money. Make sure it is with Red Cross or a legitimate group.

After telling you this, I will share my story. Surprisingly, I had just washed a dozen small blankets that a friend left behind when she moved this summer; so I decided to take them to a local church leader, who was gathering items for the Happy Camp refugees. I asked if she would be purchasing personal hygiene items. She said yes, so I handed her all the cash that was in my pocket. I was flush – it was about $25. I know and trusted this lady. But, we do need to be careful – even when our empathy gets the better of us.

Meeting with Trump

Last week, Supervisor Haupt was invited to talk with President Donald Trump and Governor Gavin Newsom about the devastation from the Slater Fire to Happy Camp and share actions that would greatly reduce forest and brush density. This was a huge shot-in-the-arm for Siskiyou Co. to be recognized and given a voice regarding the need to thin-out the national forests.

After the meeting on Sept. 14, 2020, Ray was also in attendance as Pres. Trump pinned the Distinguished Flying Cross military decoration on seven CA. Army National Guard members for their heroism in saving 242 people on the night of Sept. 5, 2020 as they flew two helicopters over massive wildfire flames and heavy smoke for the evacuation of stranded families. Thank you to all heroes -- known and unknown!

 

Happy Camp

Our elected and government officials are working hard to get Emergency Declarations and plans in place to aid Happy Camp and its residents, where 158 homes burned and two individuals died on Sept. 8, 2020. Last Saturday, Supervisor Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Office of Emergency Services Director, Jason Vela, and Siskiyou Co. CAO, Angela Davis, escorted CA. Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa, and CA. State Senator Brian Dahle and CA. Assemblywoman Megan Dahle to Happy Camp. They witnessed the blackened incineration and talked with residents, business people, incident command folks and firefighters.

LaMalfa and the Dahles have been actively visiting the communities affected by fires in their districts. Their concern is real, needed and appreciated.

In a recent discussion with Pres. Trump, LaMalfa said he “encouraged the President to push the Forest Service to massively increase the pace and scale of forest management across the West. Decades of mismanagement in our federal forests is the largest contributing factor to the destruction we have seen in recent years.”

Yep, that is the truth. Thank you to LaMalfa and to Ray Haupt for personally sharing this fact with President Trump.

 

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 can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

 

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Liz Writes Life 9-16-2020

 Sept. 16, 2020

Liz Writes Life

In a surprising turn of events, Scott Valley’s Ray Haupt received a prestigious invitation to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the devastation from wildfires. Ray is Siskiyou County Supervisor for District 5 and is currently serving as vice-chairman on the county supervisors’ board. His expertise in wildfires and (watching) the demise of forest management is extensive and, hopefully, will prove useful for President Trump.

Back in his college days, during the 1970s, Ray graduated with a major in Forestry from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and found a career in the U.S. Forest Service. He has been fighting wildfires on-the-ground and in command positions for nearly 50 years. After retiring as ranger for several local U.S. Forest Service Districts, including Scott River, he has been participating on several regional and national forestry groups that are working to affect policy change of the public’s forests. Creating healthy forests with low impact from fires is the goal.

Since he was elected county supervisor in 2014, Ray has been dealing with the destruction from wildfires. Last Tuesday, the Slater Fire destroyed 150 homes in Happy Camp, which is in his district. In July of 2018, there were 31 homes burned during the Klamathon Fire, which is also in his district. Residents have died in both fires. The destruction and loss is vividly long-lasting and feeds his passion to stop the madness.

During the many fires that have occurred, while serving as supervisor, Ray has participated and offered boots-on-the-ground information during daily fire command center meetings. After the Slater Fire attacked Happy Camp on Sept. 8, 2020, Ray and Siskiyou Co. CAO, Angela Davis, were escorted down closed Highway 96 by Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services Director, Jason Vela. Ray said the incineration was worse than he has ever seen. He met with Happy Camp Volunteer Fire Chief Eric Haskell, firefighters, community leaders and at the Forest Service Incident Command Center. So, he is armed with first-hand information.

Because of the deadline of this week’s publication, I do not have a report on Ray’s meeting with President Trump – next week! But, in my observation, it is Ray’s dogged-determination that provided this opportunity to talk directly with President Trump.

For years, Ray has been fervently working to change policies that would save the forests from these huge devastating wildfires. Several years ago, the county sent Ray back to Washington D.C. He prefaced his visit by sending his “Healthy Forest Management” documents to various agencies and White House officials.

He met with the Director of Internal Governmental affairs, which communicates with state, county and city governments and has continued networking with the agency. He also made appointments and met with other officials like Undersecretary of Agriculture, James Hubbard. He also meets often with CA. Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa. It looks like these meetings have proven beneficial.

Ray told me the trip to Happy Camp, last Friday, was extremely sad and so very disheartening. After following-up on local and county issues that needed immediate attention, he wrote a letter (on Saturday) to the Director of Internal Governmental Affairs explaining the dire situation of the county, fire fighters and the many residents who lost homes. He asked for help from the federal government and offered to help with on-the-ground knowledge and wildfire expertise.

Shockingly, on Sunday morning, Ray received an email from this White House agency telling him to be at McClellan Air Force Base at 8 a.m. on Monday for Covid-19 testing and then be escorted by Secret Service to attend a press conference with the Office of Emergency Services and congress-people. Ray was also told there would be a private meeting, where he would be expected to discuss healthy forest management with Trump.

What an incredible opportunity for our county supervisor, who is also a professional California Licensed Forester!

On Saturday, (before the exciting news he would be meeting with President Trump) I interviewed Ray about his guided trip to Happy Camp with the new county Chief Administrative Officer, Angela Davis. He had nothing but praise for the local fire chief, Eric Haskell and all fire fighters. Eric and four local fire fighters lost their homes, but continued to fight the inferno. It was through heroic efforts they were able to save the one grocery store in town and the Karuk Housing development.

The fire is under investigation. It started up on Slater Mountain and the high red-flag-warning winds pushed it hard and fast down through the bone-dry conifers to Happy Camp. Ray said the horrific scene is hard to describe. Only three or four homes survived in the Indian Creek area and those were surrounded by large green pastures and were open with few trees.

As they drove up Indian Creek Road, the wood was charred-off the bridges and power poles burned through with the top-crosses eerily hanging by the wires. Blackened trees bent and frozen by the suction of the fire’s own intense behavior were falling across the road. Etna Police Chief, Josh Short, and several Siskiyou Telephone Company crew members had chain saws and were cutting the trees and limbs out of the road.

At one point, Ray snapped a photo of CAO Angela Davis helping pull the limbs from the roadway. The trees are dead and hazardous -- and there are 1000s of them. Power was still out for the rest of Happy Camp residents as 20 miles of power poles and line were destroyed. Quickly, Pacific Power was trying to restore power to the town and actually brought in a giant generator to utilize at their Happy Camp station. But, the evacuation notice is still in effect, because of the danger.

Ray also praised CAO Davis. She was Deputy CAO of Shasta County, when the Carr Fire hit on July 23, 2018 burning over 1,600 structures, killing eight people and causing over $1.6 billion in damage – much of it in the City of Redding. Davis has literally been through the various “fires” and immediately knew what to do and who to contact to begin helping the county, residents and businesses cut-through the red-tape of bureaucracy.

During this time, Ray is serving as acting chairman of the county supervisors’ board as Chairman Michael Kobseff is out-of-state on a planned trip. After his Monday meeting with President Trump, Ray will be driving the five-hour trip back to Siskiyou to preside over the Sept. 15, 2020 regular supervisors’ board meeting. Yep, it was a busy and, hopefully, productive few days.

Planning

September is “Be Ready and Prepared” month. Between Covid-19 and the fires, all of us should have assessed our food, supplies and storage needs. Make a plan for how to shelter in place and how to evacuate. Write it down. Tell neighbors, friends and family. We never know what might happen next. Do it!

Patriotism

Last Friday, I drove through Fort Jones and Etna and was proud to see all the American flags lining Main Streets in memory of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 from the terrorist attacks. Thank you!

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 can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Liz Writes Life 9-9-2020

 September 9, 2020

Liz Writes Life

It is so hot and dry, at my house, that even the puncture vines are puny. There are a few plants down the driveway that I missed or that grew after I sprayed them a month ago; and they are not huge like I have seen them be in late summer. The tiny leaves on some of the small struggling plants are reaching for the sky instead of hugging the ground. I have never seen so many wimpy puncture vines. We sure do need rain. Even the vilest of weeds are feeling scorched!

I haven’t mentioned it, but spraying puncture vine is one of my least favorite jobs. Yet, I must give the hardy vine a little respect as it is very intricate with tiny evenly placed leaves, miniature yellow flowers that turn into the dreaded pokey seeds and it spreads into a huge circular spider-type web. I have seen some grow eight-feet wide after thunderstorms! They are amazing and specific-patterned plants that hug the ground and the pokey seed gets transported everywhere!

That’s enough about puncture vines. I’ve seen so many of them that sometimes, when I close my eyes, I see the patterned plant on the inside of my eyelids!

Voles

A big “thank you” goes out to Kitty Mabee, who called to tell me that my mole problem is actually voles. She said voles eat seeds, roots and vegetables. Moles are the insect, grub and earthworm eaters. Kitty has had problems with the voles eating seeds and then carrots and potatoes to the point that she dug down two-feet and put in tiny squared-wire as a protection from the underground tunneling. She also got some younger cats that are doing a good job hunting them down. Kitty also mentioned the voles will come up out of the ground under tomato plants and eat on tomatoes. Oh, gee whiz!

This fits my problem. I believe the voles ate a lot of my seeds even though I had wondered if those seeds just didn’t germinate. I never have problems with pumpkin seeds not growing and, this year, they just didn’t come up and now I realize vole tunnels were right there.

Almost everyone I have talked to this year said they had problems with seeds not germinating or coming up. And those same people have complained about mole tunnels and gopher infestation. Hum, maybe voles are also their problem.

So, what are some other deterrents for voles? Yep, I looked it up on the internet. One blogger said the battery-operated stakes that send out a vibration do not work. OK, good to know. Poisoned gummy worms and Juicy Fruit gum don’t work either.

The blogger said his first course of action is to apply large amounts of a castor oil-based mole and vole repellent in their tunnel areas. It is available in liquid and granular form and imparts a nasty smell to the soil. This is not your human-consumption castor oil, which doesn’t have much smell. Apparently, this repellent will not harm pets or humans. It is the strong smell that is the deterrent, so don’t dilute. Guess, I will look into this deterrent because my old cats are not getting the job done.

Churches

Several articles came out last week about the on-going saga of governments persecuting churches in Southern California. After an L.A. County Superior Court judge issued a decision that allowed the Grace Community Church to meet inside – with masks and social distancing – L.A. County Public Works Dept. issued a 30-day termination notice to the church for the church’s parking lot. The county says the parking lot property belongs to the county. Grace Community Church’s lawyer said the church has peacefully held the property through a lease since 1975 and stated this situation is harassment and abusive by the government.

The church must evacuate the property by Oct. 1, 2020. The county has also challenged the superior court judge’s ruling and a full hearing on the ability for the church to hold indoor services was set for last Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. I will report on the result, when it is published.

Another situation is with a church in Santa Clara County. The North Valley Baptist Church claims the county used spies to infiltrate its indoor religious services and as a result fined the church $10,000 for holding those services, which included singing. Yes, singing is a no-no, according to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Covid-19 virus regulations.

Senior Pastor Jack Treiber posted a facebook video that pleaded with Gov. Newsom asking him to remove the restrictions. He said the congregation is actively trying to help the needy, poor and sick people in its community.

“Instead of paying spies to monitor Christians, why don’t Santa Clara leaders use their resources to tackle the homelessness and violent crime pandemics plaguing the county?” the pastor said.

If I find out more about this situation, I will share it with you. Meanwhile, keep saying your prayers (in church or not, out loud or silent) for relief from all the plagues we are facing! Keep the faith!

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 can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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