Liz Writes Life 2-24-2021

 Liz Writes Life

 

Feb. 24, 2021

 

Reminder: California Assemblyman Kevin Kiley will be visiting Siskiyou County this week. Kiley has written a book titled, “Recall Newsom: The case against America’s most corrupt governor. He is holding a book signing at Zephyr Books and Coffee on Miner’s Street in Yreka on Feb. 26, 2021. Kiley will be available to sign the books between noon and 3 p.m. this Friday. Stop in and visit with him.

 

Petitions to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom will be will be available for additional signatures from anyone who is registered to vote in California and is unhappy with Newsom’s response to Covid-19 and the pandemic.

 

County business

 

The Siskiyou Conservative Republicans held a meeting this month and shared information on issues and potential bills that will be voted on in either the state house or congress. Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for District 5, was asked to share information regarding the county. I was able to attend and took notes. So, here goes.

 

Ray was elected chairman of the county supervisors’ board for the 2021 year and Ed, Valenzuela, from Dist. 2, will serve as vice chair.

 

In a nutshell, Ray said funding the county budget is a major problem, especially when the county is dealing with a variety of issues and reduced revenues.

 

Angela Davis is the new CAO and worked overtime during the 2020 fires to obtain federal and state assistance. Previously, he had told me that she was assistant CAO in Shasta County, when it suffered major fires in 2018 and she knew what to do to get help from with the Slater Fire. There is a “ton of legal work” that goes on behind the scenes and Davis as well as county attorneys are busy working on those issues.

 

One of Ray’s goals is to get the county departments connecting with each other – digitally -- and all information converted to digital. It is, after all, the 21^st century, he said, and that people in Happy Camp shouldn’t have to drive all the way to Yreka for documents, when they should be available online.

 

Scott Waite announced that he will retire from serving as the director of Public Works and Jason Vela, the Director of Office of Emergency Services, will be leaving the county office as he accepted a higher position at the state level.

 

Ray said that the male gray wolf, OR85, has found a mate and their range is about 385 miles from McCloud into Little Shasta Valley. Apparently, Oregon State is going to allow depredation of a predator through its wolf management program. In California, it is still illegal to kill a wolf under the state Endangered Species Act.

 

Better communication has been established with the CA. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, because Ray and Dist. 3 Supervisor Michael Kobseff hold monthly meetings with local and, if needed, regional or state DFW employees.

 

Bear hunting

 

Ray mentioned, for now, bear hunting will still be permitted. At the state legislative level, the bill to outlaw hunting of bears was withdrawn. Well, that’s good news!

 

Lost communication

 

Ray mentioned that one of the biggest highs in his life was to visit with President Donald Trump in Sacramento, last September, right after the Slater Fire had destroyed much of Happy Camp. Previously, Ray had been able to network and connect with President Trump and members in his administration regarding the over-growth of forests and devastating wildfire threats to communities. He, the county and forest health groups, felt they were making headway in affecting solutions to wildfires. Unfortunately, since the election of President Biden, he has lost all communication with the White House and other departments in WA. D.C. That is so sad.

 

He also said that with this covid-19 pandemic, many federal agencies are closed and so working through the legal process is even slower than usual.

 

Next week, I will share more info from Ray on the Slater Fire and the pandemic.

 

Texas freeze

 

My goodness, after learning about the week-long deep freeze throughout the mid-west down into Texas last week, it makes me so grateful for so many things that we take for granted. I would imagine the human death toll will go higher and the loss of livestock and wild life will be terrible. There was talk about millions of dollars worth of milk from cows being dumped, but I just hope all the cows were able to get milked!

 

Yep, certainly makes me appreciate modern conveniences powered by electricity. I love turning on my tap and water comes out -- even hot water. And, I am so grateful I don’t have to use an outhouse!

 

Garden

 

It will really feel like spring this week with the warmer temps and sunshine. Rain and snow storms have certainly added much needed moisture. I see hollyhocks, Sweet William and Shasta daisy are perking-up along with day lilies, tulips and daffodils that are growing. Chives are poking-up through the old plants and I want to transplant some to another spot. Hum, looks like I need to try and get that done this week.

 

Family history

 

I’d like to let folks know that a world-wide free convention with motivational speakers and informative workshops will be held this week – online. It is called RootsTech Connect 2021. Registration is free. Check out the schedule that starts this Thursday and goes through Saturday.

 

RootsTech has grown in popularity through the past decade with over 30,000 people showing-up to the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City last year for the convention, but because of the continuing pandemic the leaders decided to put it all online this year. Go for it. Finding ancestors is fun!

 

Peace to you and may calm fill our hearts!

 

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 2-17-2021

 February 17, 2021

Liz Writes Life

Recall Gov. Newsom

A state-wide petition to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom has been making headlines as the number of signatures needed to put a recall on an election ballot continues to grow. Recent headlines say the number of signatures is up to 1.5 million. The petitioners have a month left to meet the legal deadline and are hoping to get another 500,000 signatures from registered voters.

If you are a registered voter and have signed the petition, do not sign it again. Under election codes, your signature will only be accepted once. If you sign it more than once, it will affect the outcome of actual signatures gathered. Each county clerk throughout the state will be verifying the signatures within each county office comparing it to the signature used for voter registration. It is important to sign the petition with the same signature if you want your signature to count. Recall petitions are quite finicky and must meet exact rules.

If the recall petition does receive the correct number of signatures, the petition will then demand an election for the actual recall. The petition does not actually recall the governor, but is needed to create the election voting process.

Republican California Assemblyman Kevin Kiley is a leader in the recall petition, which began last fall. Because of the pandemic and lockdowns, the leaders were able to get three additional months to obtain the needed signatures. I believe it was a court that made the decision.

Kiley, who is an attorney, has written a book titled, “Recall Newsom: The case against America’s most corrupt governor.

Petition available

In trying to reach rural areas, Kiley will be in Yreka on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 for a book signing at Zephyr Books and Coffee on Miner’s Street from noon to 3 p.m. Petitions for additional signatures will also be available for those who may want to join in this effort.

There are two recall groups working cooperatively to obtain the needed signatures. In an unusual twist, the Republican National Committee announced last week that it is donating $250,000 towards the recall efforts. 

RNC Chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, said, “Gov. Newsom’s authoritarian measures, blatant overreach and complete mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic have proved that he is woefully unqualified to lead the state of California.” She added that it was time the people used their constitutional recourse to remove him from power. Republicans are united in this.

Also, last November, Kiley and fellow Assemblyman James Gallagher won an all-important lawsuit against Gov. Gavin Newsom, which stated Newsom abused his authority by changing state law in violation of the California constitution during the pandemic. The court decision now denies Newsom the power under California Emergency Services Act to amend, alter or change any existing statutory law or make new statutory law to legislative policy. 

Making law is the state legislature’s business not the governor’s through executive demands.

Snowpack increased

Because we received some good snow storms in January, the snowpack at the headwaters of the Scott River at the south end of Scott Valley brought in some decent numbers, when employees of the Klamath National Forest conducted the annual February snow survey on Feb. 2, 2021.

The overall percentage of snowpack is about 81 percent of average for February. Middle Boulder station 1 at 6,000 ft. measured 44.2 inches of snow with the average of 49.4 inches during the past 75 years.

Middle Boulder station 2 is a bit higher in elevation at 6,200 ft. and it measured 103 percent of average at 50.1 inches. Dynamite Meadow at 5,700 ft. dropped to 59 percent of average at just 22.1 inches.

Swampy John, above Etna on Salmon Mt. at 5,500 ft., hit 72 percent with 40.6 inches compared to an historical average of 55.9 inches.

KNF does the surveys in cooperation with the CA. Dept. of Water Resources as part of the statewide program that forecasts the quantity of water available for agriculture, power generation, recreation, and stream flow releases throughout the year. 

Luckily, the big storm several weeks ago brought in the much needed snow and increased the snowpack in the Sierras to about 93 percent of historical average on Feb. 1, 2021. That survey by state employees recorded 63 inches of snow depth at the Phillips snow station near South Lake Tahoe. 

Karla Nemeth, Director for DWR, is still worried because of the dry start to the 2020-2021 winter. She said, “While there is still a chance we will see additional storms in the coming weeks, the Department and other state agencies are preparing for the potential for a second consecutive year of dry conditions.”

Darn that is not good. Even though the temperatures were a little too warm for my liking in the first half of February, at least continued rain and snow storms are in the forecast. Sure do hope the snowpack gets higher and higher in the mountains.

Peace to you -- and may calm fill our hearts even as these trying times make us wonder.

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 2-10-2021

 Feb. 10, 2021

Liz Writes Life

Whether you are a writer or not, the crazy year 2020 may inspire you enough to put your thoughts down on paper. 

Fort Jones Librarian, Celeste McFall, announced National Library Week will be held April 4-10 in 2021. Once again, the Fort Jones and Etna Libraries will celebrate with the results of a Writing Contest and Open House during that week.

Our local libraries have been hosting this Writing Contest for many years. Celeste suggested potential writers should think about any challenges that have been experienced during 2020. Then, focus on one of this year’s themes: 

Theme 1- Silver linings: Is there a surprisingly good or special affect resulting from covid-19, the pandemic, wildfire, or another tragic event.

Theme 2- Is there an aspect of isolation, “social distancing” or quarantine that you want to explore? 

Your true-life, which is non-fiction or imagined (fiction) work may take any form you choose from essay, story, poem or play. 

All authors are expected to read or present their work at either an in-person or virtual Fort Jones Library Open House tentatively scheduled on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Details will be determined by the Siskiyou Co. Public Health Advisories.

If the event is held as it has in the past, 6th grade and younger writers will begin reading at 5 p.m. Then, at 5:45 p.m., 7th grade through adults will read their submissions. Timing will depend on the number of entries. A light snack will be provided. 

The library will attempt to contact all authors receiving special recognition prior to an event. 

Here are the rules: Stay on track of the theme. There is a three page maximum or five pages double spaced. Be sure your name is on each page. This is for original work only. Young children may dictate to a parent or friend. 

Deadline is Wednesday, March 17, 2021 by 5 p.m. If the libraries are closed, writers may use the book drop or contact the library to make other arrangements. For additional submission information, call Fort Jones Library at 530-468-2383 or email: fortjonesbr.lib  

So, get to thinking and don’t procrastinate putting your thoughts down on paper!

SCOTUS opens two churches

Last Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 vote that two churches in California can open for worship during the covid-19 pandemic. This decision overruled previous decisions by federal judges in San Diego and San Bernardino Counties and the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that had upheld Governor Gavin Newsom’s indoor worship ban.

There were two separate lawsuits. One was by the South Bay United Pentecostal Church in the San Diego area and the other is from Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena. Currently, the ruling applies directly to these two congregations, but other religions believe there is legal logic that the decision will be applied to all churches in California.

It is not yet clear if the congregations will be limited to 25 percent capacity and if singing or chanting can be included in worship. Apparently, SCOTUS left that up to the state. (Not good!) But, at least six Supreme Court Justices agreed the governor’s restrictions were not legal and will open the door, again, to religious freedom.

Concealed weapons

Just a quick update on freshman Colorado Congresswoman, Lauren Boebert, who applied for a Concealed Weapons Permit for the District of Columbia. Surprisingly, it was granted by D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee. This means that she met the requirements. 

Then came the fight to be able to carry at the Capitol. Majority House Leader and Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, pushed for new rules in the 117th Congress that would not allow a Congressperson to carry a gun even with a Concealed Weapon Permit. Pelosi said that hefty fines would be imposed on those that do not comply by going through the new metal detector erected for congresspeople. Ironically, Pelosi skipped going through the metal detector one day last week and is being blasted as a hypocrite.

But, from what I can ascertain, although all congresspeople must now go through metal detectors, the alleged new rule against the ability to carry did not appear in the new rules for the 117th Congress. So it looks like Boebert, who is 5 ft tall, weighs 100 pounds and is a mom of four, will be able to conceal carry on the Capitol grounds and D.C. area. 

In searching for more info on this subject, I have read that congresspeople are exempt from federal legislation that bans guns on Capitol grounds. It looks like congresspeople are allowed to carry a concealed weapon if they obtain a concealed weapon permit from the D.C. police chief. Open carry is illegal in D.C. and so it would also be illegal on Capitol grounds.

Red Bluff Bull Sale

The annual Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale organizers did not let the covid-19 pandemic stop the event, which was held Jan. 26-30, 2021 and celebrated 80 years having held its first bull sale in 1941. It did have specific rules and expected participants to wear masks.

Several Siskiyou ranchers participated in selling and purchasing bulls. Stan Sears was quite proud that his Champion Sim-Angus bull brought the highest price at $16,500. Rick and Linda Anderson from Eagle Point, Oregon purchased the bull. Stan told me that he has never received that much for a bull. Congratulations Stan! That is super price for sure. The average price for the 282 bulls was $4,585.

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 2-3-2021 NRA and right to bear arms

 Liz Writes Life 

February 3, 2021

Right to bear arms

Currently, we live in a society that is loudly divided. I don’t have to tell you this. So, it is with care that I am going to talk about guns. Owning guns is still protected through the United States Bill of Rights and I believe that we need to be vigilant and support our 2nd Amendment rights. So, I will share several issues happening around guns.

The NRA, National Rifle Association, is a politically influential gun-rights group. It is headquartered in Virginia, but the NRA was chartered as a nonprofit in New York in 1871 and is incorporated in that state. Yep, that is right -- 150 years ago.

Over the years, NRA has weathered many attacks -- some even from within the organization. But, its goal is to advocate for U.S. citizens’ 2nd Amendment rights. Through the years, NRA has equally advocated respect for firearms and educational training. More than 125,000 certified instructors now train about 1 million gun owners each year in a variety of courses that start with basic training.

The most recent threat to NRA is that its home state of New York has filed a lawsuit to dissolve the non-profit.

Last August, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the NRA claiming top executives illegally diverted millions of dollars for lavish personal trips and other questionable expenditures. 

I have watched these accusations play out in headlines in recent years and I am frustrated when any organization’s leaders seem to take advantage of its members’ donated monies. I also know there are lots of accusations that may not be true. No one is perfect and after internal reorganizing, the NRA has a new president who is Carolyn Meadows. 

Meadows claims the newest lawsuit against the NRA is an “unhinged and political attack.” Yep, politics and opinions about guns are strong on both sides. 

In response to the newest lawsuit, NRA filed for bankruptcy last month. It is seeking relief through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Northern District of Texas. The group is planning to re-incorporate in Texas. The NRA’s website says that its decision to file for bankruptcy has nothing to do with its financial position, but is the result of the New York Attorney General’s present lawsuit. 

NRA claims that it is in a good financial position -- actually better than ever.

Many citizens are concerned about current and potential political regulations that threaten the ownership of guns. As a result, gun ownership has increased along with support of groups like the NRA. Many new gun owners also feel the need for protection.

What I find interesting is the changing attitude regarding firearms during the last 150 years. In 1871, New York was the state where the NRA felt safe. Now it wants to move to Texas, where there are more than 400,000 NRA members and is considered a pro-2nd Amendment state. In the 21st century, a negative attitude about gun ownership is expounded in New York. 

I just wanted to share information around the NRA bankruptcy. The organization is not going away.

Warrantless searches

 

The Gun Owners of California announced it has joined the 2nd Amendment Law Center and the California Rifle and Pistol Association in filing an Amicus (Friend of the Court) brief that will be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States regarding the use of warrantless searches.

 

Back in November 2020, SCOTUS agreed to hear a 4th Amendment case called Caniglia v Strom that will have a direct and significant bearing on the 2nd Amendment. Police used the principle of “community caretaking” to enter the home of Edward Caniglia and then seized and confiscated his firearms without a warrant. 

 

Sam Paredes, Executive Director of Gun Owners of California, said the government has argued in both District and Appellate courts that the doctrine of “community caretaking” outweighs the 4th Amendment prohibitions against warrantless searches, seizures and the intrusion on individual privacy. 

 

“If this dangerous concept is not stopped by SCOTUS, the notion of granting the government ‘community caretaking’ authority that extends to the home has the potential of putting ‘Red Flag Laws’ on steroids,” Paredes further explained. 

 

Warrants are a sticky situation. Yes, law enforcement certainly needs the ability to obtain a warrant. Yet, citizens fear the government will at some time try to confiscate our legally-owned guns. Finding a balance is important.

Bear hunting ban

Last, but not least, a new bill has been introduced by San Francisco Democrat, Senator Scott Weiner, that would ban black bear hunting in California. The bill has not yet passed through the legislature. It is Senate Bill 252 called “The Bear Protection Act” and is sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States. 

It was back in 2013, when the use of hounds to hunt bears was banned. Since then, the bear population has continued to increase and is now estimated at around 40,000 in California.

For those of us that live in rural areas this new bill will be a travesty. Ironically, society in general likes bears until they break into their homes, garbage cans and or kill their livestock or pets. In my observance, using hunting to manage the bear overpopulation is much more humane than allowing starvation and disease to take its toll.

Re-locating bears to a different area is also a travesty as it upsets the balance of predators and prey that has been established in that area. 

Hunting and the use of guns is the most humane way to manage most animal populations and hunting tag fees provide funding for wildlife managers to do their job. 

May there be much more understanding resulting in peace for all.

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 1-27-2021 New ESA rules for Klamath project

 January 27, 2021

Liz Writes Life

Well, the new year is underway. Holidays and the 2021 Presidential Inauguration are behind us. 

Once again, I wish to remind everyone that no legal decision has been made to destroy the Klamath dams. Yes, it seems the rhetoric on dam removal and many other issues tend to be incorrect and misleading. Yes, the non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corporation is still advocating for dam removal, but the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has not made any new decisions regarding the relicensing of the Klamath dams and the power facilities from Pacific Power to the KRRC.

There is one Klamath water issue that has received an important update regarding the Endangered Species Act and water law.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released a detailed analysis that will change its approach to the ESA on the Klamath (farming) Project. This new analysis and guidance adopted by the Dept. of Interior’s Solicitor supports the fact that irrigation water deliveries in the Project are not subject to the constraints that Reclamation has applied in the past. 

President of the Klamath Water Users Association, Tricia Hill, said this was “positive news” for family farms and ranches, rural communities and wildlife. “The federal government has recognized that we have been overregulated under the ESA and that needs to change,” she said.

The most recent egregious action by Reclamation was less than a year ago. In early spring, Reclamation announced to the 1,200 Klamath Project farmers the amount of irrigation water they would receive. Because of the drought and water dedicated to ESA-listed sucker fish and coho salmon, the water deliveries in 2020 would be very low at 40 percent of their legal water allotment that is stored in Upper Klamath Lake. 

The farmers were unhappy, but went ahead and decided which fields to plant, obtained their loans to buy seed and get the land planted. Then in May of 2020, Reclamation told the farmers their water amount would be reduced by half -- to just 20 percent. By the end of June, Reclamation would shut the farmers’ water off. This was unacceptable. Already growing crops would die and many farmers would be bankrupt. 

U.S. Congressmen Doug LaMalfa, from California, and Greg Walden, from Oregon, called the Trump Administration along with the Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt and federal Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman with complaints. Surprisingly, in early July, DOI Sec. Bernhardt and Reclamation Commish Burman visited the Klamath basin and heard first-hand from the farmers.  

Our Siskiyou County Supervisors also advocated for Bernhardt and Burman to re-institute the 40 percent of irrigation water instead of the reduced 20 percent. Both supervisors Michael Kobseff and Brandon Criss attended the Klamath meeting with the congressmen, Bernhardt and Burman. Luckily for the farmers, the Klamath Reclamation’s decision to reduce the water was overruled. Yet, the regulations regarding ESA-listed species continues to be a huge threat for the Project farmers.

Of course, the Klamath farmers and the KWUA are expecting criticism and finger-pointing from those that oppose the Klamath Project farmers. 

KWUA Executive Director and Counsel Paul Simmons said, “There could be political blow-back because Reclamation finished the work when it did, but the guidance applies rules that the federal government has recognized in other basins -- such as the Rio Grande and Sacramento -- since at least Pres. Obama’s Administration and that have been upheld in federal courts.”

KWUA President Hill said that Project water users do not have an absolute guarantee of water and there are still water issues involving Tribes that need to be quantified.

The Project was authorized in 1905 under the Reclamation Act of 1902.  It consists of dams and irrigation delivery and drainage systems, built and operated by Reclamation and irrigation districts and others. The Project provides water to nearly 200,000 acres and is the sole source of water for the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges. When water is shut-off to the farmers, it is also shut-off to the wildlife areas.

For many years, Dist. 1 California Congressman Doug LaMalfa, has worked to protect the Klamath Project farmers and the wildlife refuges from losing legal water allocations. He has long advocated for a reassessment of the science that has led to the over regulations by Reclamation. After the 2020 July meetings, and another request by LaMalfa, Reclamation announced the investment of $1.2 million to incorporate new science for the Klamath Project. 

“Reclamation’s decision to reanalyze its faulty regulatory approach and recognize that the people, not the government, own this water is a beneficial outcome for farmers and ranchers as well as our native fish species,” said LaMalfa. 

“This would not have happened without the willingness of Trump Administration officials to grant my request to visit the Klamath Basin firsthand, listen directly to local needs and commit to using the best available science. I especially want to recognize Commissioner Burman, Secretary Bernhardt and Regional Administrator Souza for their resolve in fixing this problem, and I look forward to continuing this work with Reclamation under the Biden Administration to see this regulatory approach implemented.”

So, there you have it. Some good news that might stick!

May peace flow through us all during the coming week!

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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