Liz Writes Life 3-31-21 High-tech wood fiber infused concrete benefits Hibbard Baseball Field in Yreka, CA.

March 31, 2021

Liz Writes Life

High-tech concrete

Grace Bennett, a past Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for (Yreka) Dist. 4, called me early last Friday morning. She wanted me to know that -- finally -- the high-tech-long-lasting concrete was going to be poured at Hibbard Field that afternoon. She was excited. Would I like to show-up and report on the innovative process that will aid the youth program and possibly Siskiyou County? Sure!

Back in my Nov. 18, 2020 column, I wrote about this new technology that is comprised of nano-cellular wood fiber mixed with cement, gravel, sand and makes a stronger, yet lighter concrete. Last November, Siskiyou County replaced a wooden bridge over Moffett Creek on Scarface Road with the micromaterial product, which was a first in California. Through the new technology, the new bridge’s lifespan is 100 years!

Grace, and current Siskiyou Co. Supervisor Board Chairman, Ray Haupt, had learned about the new technology that was becoming available at a workshop six years ago. Utilizing the byproduct of wood fiber was instigated by the U.S. Forest Service through a U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Community project. Grace and Ray saw the technology as a practical solution for both wood byproducts produced in the Klamath National Forest and utilizing the enhanced concrete in many projects by local businesses.

The pouring of the concrete, last Friday, at Hibbard Field was a combined volunteer effort to truly begin using the technology in Siskiyou County.

Grace is chairman of the Friends of Hibbard Field. The group needed to pour a concrete sidewalk and slab by the newly-replaced grandstands. Deborah Baird, who is also on the Friends committee and the Yreka City Council, added support to the project. Rich Leach, the concrete contractor, and Micah Nichols of Mountain Ready Mix coordinated with other committee members and the micromaterial-infused concrete was poured.

Grace and Deborah hope the new technology will soon be a new business venture in Siskiyou County and more concrete will be infused with the nano-cellular wood fiber in a variety of projects.

CCW classes available

Distinguished Firearms.com will be holding classes to obtain a California Concealed Weapon permit in April. The first one is April 17, 2021 and will be held in Etna. It starts at 9 a.m. Cost is $85. You must already own a legal firearm. It is so nice to have classes available this close to home!

There are two more classes that will be held in April. One is “Ladies Only” and will be held in Redding as a two-day course. It will start on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 5 p.m. Cost is $85.

Another class will be held near Grenada on April 24, 2021 at 9 a.m.

Get more information and reserve a place by going to the Distinguished Firearms website. Yep, it works. I signed-up and paid for my CCW renewal on-line last year. Oh, and I passed! Smiley face.

Etna Rodeo May 2

Now is the time to support the Etna Rodeos by joining the Scott Valley Pleasure Park Association. The Pleasure Park Assoc. incorporated as a non-profit back in 1948 and continues to maintain a horseback riding arena and hold baseball and softball activities throughout the year. Because insurance is a modern-day issue, those who would like to use the arena or grounds need to be a member.

It is easy to join. Go to: ETNARODEO.COM on the internet, where you can find the membership form. Download it, print it, fill it out and mail it with your check. Family memberships are available for your immediate family for $50. A couple is $35 and single adult is $20. Senior couple is $15 and senior single (must be 65 and over) is $10. The 2021 membership fee is due by April 24, 2021.

Membership does not include admission to the rodeos, reserved times or other public events.

There are new officers for the association. They are: Kory Hayden as president; Alyssa Scala-Burrone is vice president: Arnoud de Villegas is secretary; Emma Iannios is treasurer; Demetrious Iannios and Niki Gomes are directors.

Entries for the May 2^nd rodeo events are open. Get entered by going to the ETNARODEO.COM website, check the menu for May Rodeo Entries and do it all online!

Garden

Noticed several inches of rhubarb green leaves and garlic growing, so I decided to check out the garden. It was dry. Too dry. So on Thursday, I drug out several hoses and attached them to the frost-free faucet and started irrigating. The comfrey is also up four-inches and the hollyhocks are coming to life. The chives and two Echinacea that I transplanted earlier this month also needed water. Don’t see any sign of asparagus yet, but I soaked the patch anyway.

Saturday was such a warm nice day, I realized I should irrigate again and spend time irrigating the perennials like iris, day lilies, Shasta daisies and Sweet William. When I was finished with those, I put a sprinkler on the oregano, mint and iris that are outside the fence. I think I will need to harvest oregano this year, so I wanted to help it along. The water sure perked-up the blooming daffodils and lungwort.

I am still happy with the lawn clippings that I used to mulch the entire garden last summer. It has packed in some spots, but so far has not molded and is now deteriorating rather quickly. Anyway, the soil under the clippings was moist and soft, until recently – but it is still providing some protection. Unfortunately, there are lots of vole or mole tunnels pushing up the soil, so I am not looking forward to battling those little varmints this year.

Parting thought: Peace may be hard to find, but we must seek for it -- especially for our hearts and minds. Smile!

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 3-24-21 Doug LaMalfa voices opposition

 March 24, 2021

Liz Writes Life

Garden

Early daffodils are blooming as are the little purple violets and blue and pink tiny flowers on the lungwort! Yay! Spring is here!

Some folks are likely getting fidgety wanting to start their gardens, especially on warm sunny days. Because, I am (publicly) admitting that arthritis is slowing me down, I have decided that I must reduce my workload and make things simpler. Yep, I am gonna try. Ha, ha. My biggest goal is to lay-down soaker hoses and do very little hand-watering. I have found the black material-like soaker hoses work well, sometimes seeping so fast that the length of irrigation time can be greatly reduced. I will also ask my grandkids to help me more, which they will gladly do. They are good helpers!

Because I really do like flowers and I don’t need the volume of vegetables that I used to produce, I am planning for just two long rows of soaker hoses in the garden. One will provide water to perennial and annual flowers and the other to several giant pumpkins, six tomato plants, cantaloupe and cucumber plants. Oh, and just one zucchini this year. Finding takers for zucchini from three plants kept me busy last year. I like to share, but that was ridiculous. Luckily, I did have several takers that liked zucchini a lot more than I did!

So, happy “planning” for your garden. Darn, it looks like we will have another long warm spring.

Crazy stuff

Most of my readers know that I am a conservative. I find it interesting that many names of legislative bills and other policies will actually do the opposite of what their titles insinuate. A friend recently pointed out that there is a new bill in the California Assembly, called AB 655 that sounds like a good thing. But, when you read the description -- uh-oh! It is titled “California Law Enforcement Accountability Reform Act.”

The bill is set for its first hearing on April 6 in the Assembly Public Safety Committee. The California Family Council is asking those who oppose the bill to contact California Assembly legislators. Ours are Assemblywoman Megan Dahle and her husband, Senator Brian Dahle.

This bill, if passed, will ban police officers and officer candidates from serving as cops that are members of violent hate groups or have used hate speech. Sounds like a good thing, right? But, AB 655 defines a “hate group” or “hate speech” so broadly that if these individuals have expressed conservative religious or political views on abortion, marriage, gender, or belong to a church, synagogue or mosque that has – they will be disqualified. Yep, in today’s cancel culture we are seeing the loss of free speech. If you are concerned, call or write to our state legislators.

Doug LaMalfa

Congressman LaMalfa is working hard opposing bills that I certainly believe should be stopped. One is the House bill H.R. 6 that will grant mass amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants and does nothing to improve boarder security. The name of the bill is “American Dream and Promise Act of 2021”.

Here, I will say that I am not against immigrants, but the overwhelming mass of illegal immigrants, at the southern border, is not safe for our country or many of the people seeking entry, especially the children that are being sent. The stats show that drug trafficking and human sex trafficking are hugely on the increase. My heart breaks for those that get caught in those situations. Yes, it is a crisis on our border.

LaMalfa issued this statement in his opposition: The Department of Homeland Security has told Congress it expects over 115,000 unaccompanied children to arrive in the United States this year alone, and legislation like this one is a major reason why. We must stop sending signals to the rest of the world that we will give temporary protection followed by a shortcut to citizenship to those who cross the border if they are a minor. We need an orderly, fair immigrations system that starts with complete control over our border.

Congressman LaMalfa also opposes bill H.R. 1620 that will “reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.” Yep, another bill that will do the opposite of its title.

LaMalfa said: “This outrageously partisan bill contains numerous issues that would end up harming women rather than protecting them. The most glaring example is it would force women’s shelters to accept men who claim to be women or lose federal grant funding. This puts women who are fleeing abusive and dangerous situations in harm’s way rather than offering protection.”

He then explained about a situation in 2018, when nine women sued a women’s shelter in Fresno claiming they were subject to sexual harassment by a transgender individual and staff failed to take action to stop it. The transgender was a pre-operative male (dressed in women’s clothing), but engaged in showering, sexually harassing activities and inappropriate comments, while nude. The women felt threatened.

I searched the web to learn the result to this lawsuit and found some decisions were made June 28, 2019 and the women (plaintiffs) lost on every count. I don’t think this was the final decision. And, I don’t always understand how lawsuits work, except judges tend to decide opposite of my opinion.

Patriots meet

The Siskiyou Patriots will meet tomorrow, March 25, 2021, at the Covenant Chapel Church at 200 Greenhorn Rd in Yreka at 6:30 p.m. Steven Thornburg, president of the Siskiyou Co. Chapter of the Civil Grand Jury Assoc., will speak about the Grand Jury and its processes. Richard Marshall, president of the Siskiyou Water Users Assoc. is also slated to speak. The meeting is free.

Parting thought: Peace may be hard to find, but we must seek for it -- especially for our hearts and minds. Smile!

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 3-17-2021 Siskiyou Co. Sheriff gives update on dept.

 Liz Writes Life

March 17, 2021

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Hope you remembered to wear green, whether you are Irish or not.

Etna Rodeo is May 2

The Scott Valley Pleasure Park will hold its annual rodeo this year on May 2, 2021. Yep, it was canceled last year, because of the pandemic. But the group is moving ahead with the festivities this year and will hold the 73^rd rodeo since its beginnings back in 1947.

This is an open rodeo and contestant registration is underway. To enter, go to www.etnarodeo.com to fill out the entry form and pay your fees online. Entries will close on Friday, April 16, 2021 at midnight. Boy, technology has certainly changed some things!

Events include: Mutton Bustin’ for young kids and Calf Riding for ages 8 to 12. Both are buckle-winner events only. Junior Steer Riding is also only a buckle-winner event for teens. Events with added money, payout and buckles for first place are: Ranch Bronc Riding, Open Team Roping, Tie-down Roping, Girls Breakaway Roping, Girls Barrel Racing, Bull Riding and the local crowd-pleaser Wild Saddle Cow Riding.

The May 2, 2021 Rodeo begins with the youth events at 1 p.m. and the Grand Entry of Cowboys at 2 p.m. General admission is $10 for everyone, except kids 10 and under at free.

Writing contest

I also want to remind folks to get their stories finished and submitted to the Fort Jones or Etna Libraries in honor of National Library Week April 4-10. This year there two themes from which to choose.

One is Silver linings -- is there a surprisingly good or special affect resulting from Covid-19, the pandemic, wildfire, or another tragic event.

Two – 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 for Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Details will be determined by the Siskiyou Co. Public Health Advisories. For more information, contact Celeste McFall at 530-468-2383.

It’s almost here

Yep, spring will officially start this Saturday, March 20, 2021. Luckily, we can say that our weather has been typical of a rainy, sunny and snowy March. I had five inches of soppy snow one morning last week, three inches on Thursday morning and at least another four on Monday.

On Saturday, I decided to get those chives and two Echinacea transplanted, while the soil was moist and the air temperature was a nice 62 T-shirt degrees. Also scuffed-up a little foot-and-a-half spot and scattered some butter crunch lettuce seeds. Then, found a small area with volunteer lettuce growing and cleaned it up a bit. Wow, I am out of shape!

For those that look forward to fresh peas, now is a good time to plant them.

New sheriff in town

Siskiyou Co. Sheriff Jeremy LaRue spoke at the Siskiyou Conservative Republicans meeting last week and, boy howdy, was I impressed. Yep, he is fairly young at age 36, but he has been a law officer since age 19, when he went to work for the Yreka Police Dept. Yes, that was after he completed the police academy. Then, at age 21, Sheriff Rick Riggins hired him into the sheriff’s dept. Oh, LaRue is a local having grown-up in Dunsmuir and graduated Dunsmuir High School.

Because, Sheriff Jon Lopey announced an early retirement during his third term, LaRue decided it was time to take the plunge and apply for the position as sheriff. His goal had been to eventually run for sheriff, but was a bit surprised the opportunity came at this time. Because an election was not in the near future, it fell on the Siskiyou Co. Board of Supervisors to appoint a sheriff. After interviewing a handful of candidates, all five voted to appoint the young guy.

LaRue believes in the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics and said he indeed values the people he is serving.

“My burden is to make things better for my community and the department,” said LaRue, who was quite fun to interact with as he spoke. “As a Christian, we put value on life,” he added.

LaRue has been working at a good clip. He appointed a new undersheriff, has promoted three individuals to the office of lieutenant and hired five new deputies. He still has five more openings to fill. As an aside, LaRue said other county departments have had retirements and new hires, so it feels like the county is in a positive growing phase.

The sheriff’s office is quite busy with around 1,300 calls for service each month along with an average 5,000 telephone calls to the office and 1,000 calls made to 911. The officers also issue 130 subpoenas each month. The sheriff’s dept. contracts for law enforcement with the cities of Montague, Dorris and Dunsmuir.

He will continue the DARE program with reserve officer Jim Jacobson. LaRue brought back good memories, when he recalled the DARE officer of his youth was die-hard Dennis Melum. And, increasing the department’s social media presence is also a focus. He has already put up a “facebook live” video.

Now, for the nitty-gritty. The question was asked: What is the biggest problem for his department? LaRue’s answer is “organized crime” associated with marijuana and illegal drugs. He said county officials discuss the issue quite often and are alarmed at increased crime, problems on private property and increasing number of deaths from meth and heroin and fentanyl.  

“A massive amount of illegal drugs go through I-5 and 97,” LaRue said, adding he is forming a target enforcement team specifically to address the drug traffic.

Several in the audience told stories of intimidation from marijuana growers. LaRue said it is important to report any concerns and visual oddities to dispatch. Reports of activity helps to build cases and emphasized “the more reports we get the better.”

Apparently, his first five months have been good, because LaRue announced he will run for sheriff in 2022. The audience seemed quite pleased with enthusiastic applause voicing agreement.

May we all feel peace and calm in our hearts. Smile!

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 3-10-2021 Sheriff to speak, Klamath dams and uptick in coho salmon numbers

 Liz Writes Life

March 10, 2021

Sheriff to speak

Siskiyou Co. Sheriff Jeremy LaRue will be speaking at the next Siskiyou Conservative Republican’s meeting, tomorrow, March 11, 2021. LaRue was appointed sheriff by the Siskiyou Co. Board of Supervisors, last year, when Sheriff Jon Lopey retired early. The meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Montague at 150 S. 12^th St.

Those who would like to hear Sheriff LaRue share information about the county are invited to attend. The meeting is free, but if you would like a great Irish corned-beef and cabbage, red potatoes, Irish breads and dessert luncheon, you can call in your reservation to Annie at 530-842-2350. Cost for the luncheon in $13. Grill Master Dave Tyler is in charge of the lunch.

Patriots meet

The Siskiyou Patriots will meet tomorrow evening, March 11, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. at Convent Chapel Church, 200 Greenhorn Lane in Yreka. Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Dist. 5 Supervisor, will speak about a new Cal Fire regulation and new spotted owl litigation. Erin Ryan, from Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s office, will also give an update on WA. D.C. issues.

Klamath dams

I asked Ray for an update on the Klamath dams situation. He said there are two applications in front of the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission right now.  They are both from the non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corp. One is for the license transfer of four Klamath hydro-electric dams to KRRC; and the second is for surrender of the dams for decommissioning by KRRC.

Currently, PacifiCorp is providing power through another one-year license that allows it to continue to make electricity for our area. This is the 21st year that FERC has granted PacifiCorp a one-year license. Typically, FERC grants 40 or 50 year licenses to power generation companies. One of those long-licenses was up for the four Klamath dams in 2000 and has been under attack and discussion ever since.

Interestingly, I remember attending public meetings in the late-1990s, when PacifiCorp began working on what was planned as another long-term license. I wondered then what all the fuss was about never dreaming there were forces that wanted to destroy the dams and stop the hydro-electric power. It is hard to believe all the finagling is still going on.

Ray said the county has heard that FERC will do an up-dated (improved and corrected) Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act this year. He explained there are tons and tons of regulations and processes the agencies must go through before NEPA can be completed. And NEPA typically takes several years to complete and finalize. It will be at the end of the NEPA process, before the decision to destroy the dams will be made – if all the federal agencies follow their own rules.

So, no matter what KRRC claims, no decisions have been made to destroy the four hydro-electric Klamath dams -- as of today.

Scott River boasts coho

The numbers of returning coho salmon in the Scott River were way up this year. Each fall, the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife uses video cameras and weirs to count salmon that return to the Shasta and Scott Rivers and Bogus Creek.

This year, the preliminary count for coho salmon in the Scott River reached 1,754 -- a whopping number. Typically, less than a few hundred may be counted during the fall months of September through December. The Scott River video station was removed Jan. 4, 2021, this year.

I called Morgan Knechtle, who is in charge of the Klamath River Project for the state DFW in Yreka and asked about the big increase in coho numbers, especially since the Chinook salmon numbers were pretty low at just 252 on the Scott.

Morgan said they are seeing coho numbers up throughout the West Coast, including up at Irongate Fish Hatchery. Although every year is a “reset,” because of the variety of issues that can affect the coho life-cycle, Morgan said the marine ocean conditions have been great. There has been plenty of food for coho.

For more than two decades, farmers and ranchers have worked to improve spawning conditions in and near streams. Morgan praised the landowners’ restoration efforts that have been supported by programs through the Siskiyou Resource Conservation District, Scott River Watershed Council, state and federal agencies. 

Morgan also noted the fact that the Scott River was able to produce 15,000 one year-olds for this brood year. Interestingly, Morgan explained that this brood year shows an out-of-basin survival rate of about 10 percent from the fingerlings. Typically, the survival rate is less than 5 percent. Predators are a major factor that affects mortality of the infant and young fish as well as food availability.

 I asked why the Chinook numbers in the Scott River were so low and one reason is that a sizeable number of Chinook spawn before they reach the video weir counter. Also, during low-water drought years, the Chinook are not able to swim up the Scott River canyon. Chinook begin returning to the Klamath River in August, where coho do not begin returning until later in the fall.

The reason I am mentioning coho is because they were listed to the federal Endangered Species list back in 1996. Then, environmental groups and tribes petitioned the California Fish and Game (now Wildlife) Commission back in 2001 for listing with the California Endangered Species Act. After a year-long struggle to create a Recovery Strategy Plan, the commission did indeed list the coho in 2002 from the Oregon border south to Punta Gorda near San Francisco. 

Salmon preliminary count for Shasta River was very different than the Scott. Its video camera counted 4,101 Chinook from Sept. 2, 2020 through Jan. 11, 2021 and only 37 coho.

On Bogus Creek, the Chinook count was 2,289 and 145 coho by the video camera from Sept. 4, 2020 through Jan. 10, 2021.

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 3-3-2021 Congressman LaMalfa blasts Equality Act HR 5

Liz Writes Life

March 3, 2021

CA. Dist. 1 Congressman, Doug LaMalfa, is disgusted with H.R. 5 bill -- the so-called Equality Act that just passed the House by a vote of 224 to 206. Most Republicans voted against it, but didn’t have enough to stop it. The bill will now go to the U.S. Senate for the final vote, where the senate is split 50 Democrats to 50 Republicans. I checked, but could not find when it will be in front of the senate.

LaMalfa didn’t mince any words, when blasting the Equality Act. Here is what he said: “The catastrophic and misleadingly named Equality Act is an attack on women and would unleash countless consequences, including erasing women’s rights and opportunities, eroding parental rights, and threatening the free exercise of faith so foundational to our freedom. Schools nationwide would be forced to allow boys and men into women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and even onto women’s athletic teams. Parents objecting to their child’s desire to be ‘gender fluid’ could have custody stripped from them by the federal government. Even a doctor whose conscience prevented her from mutilating a child with gender reassignment surgery could have her practice taken away. Put simply, this bill is Washington-mandated wokeness that rejects both common sense and science at the expense of all Americans, especially children and women, as well as our fundamental rights.”

Thank you, Congressman LaMalfa, for exposing the hypocrisy of this bill and voting against it. We will have to wait and see how it plays out in the senate.

Slater Fire

Ray Haupt, chairman of the Siskiyou Co. Board of Supervisors, spoke to the Siskiyou Conservative Republicans last month. Last week, I wrote about some of the information he shared and will now continue with the two big topics of the Slater Fire that devastated Happy Camp last September and Covid-19 restrictions.

On September 7, 2020, the massive wind-stoked Slater Fire destroyed 449 structures in the community of Happy Camp. Of those, 353 were homes. Because of quick notifications, most residents were able to escape. Unfortunately, there were two fatalities. Several local firefighters that battled the blaze lost their homes. Immediately, Ray was involved – Happy Camp is in his district. Also, immediately, Angela Davis, Siskiyou Co. CAO and Jason Vela, Siskiyou Co. Director of Emergency Services, along with the sheriff’s office, other law enforcement and firefighting agencies, were involved with a variety of aspects of the fire and then the extensive recovery process.

The county was able to immediately begin removal of fire hazard trees on Indian Creek Road. To help Happy Camp residents through the often frustrating regulatory process in the building department, the county hired another person in a short-term position just for the Happy Camp situation.

Ray said he worries that too many residents may need to move from the Happy Camp area for a number of reasons, but a major one has to do with FEMA. To receive support from FEMA, the resident must be a home owner. So, unfortunately, folks who rented are having problems finding a home or the possibility of replacing the home they occupied.

Hazmat work for cleaning-up the toxic debris was underway last fall, but snow storms stopped the work with about 30 percent left to be completed. Now, hazmat crews are busy elsewhere and the county is hustling trying to get a crew back-in to finish the project.

Pandemic

Ray explained that the county is lumped into a regional county group, where the regulations of the lockdown are governed by the number of Covid-19 related patients in hospital ICUs. The supervisors have tried to get out of this group. Ray said that rural counties constantly push CA. Governor Gavin Newsom to let them open businesses and schools.

“I just hate that our businesses and restaurants are not open,” said Ray.

On February 11, 2021, Ray reported 19,900 people in Siskiyou County had been tested for Covid-19 with 18,304 of those negative. There were 74 active cases, at the time, and 2,000 vaccines had been given.

Currently, the Siskiyou Co. Public Health Covid Dashboard website shows 14 deaths from Covid-19.

Capt. Tom Moore

It was with sadness that I recently learned that Britain’s Capt. Sir Thomas Moore died last month. But, I quickly found a smile of great appreciation for the 100 year-old gentleman, who brought hope during the beginning of the lockdown from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Before he turned 100, last April, it was announced that he would raise funds for the National Health Service care workers by walking the outside of his garden 100 times. He did use a walker, but completed the goal and raised much more than the original 1,000 British pounds that he had hoped for. The world joined-in and Tom raised a record 38.9 million pounds for the NHS. That’s $53 million in U.S. dollars.

But, the World War II veteran didn’t stop there as he was encouraged to record an old song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” that then reached number one in Britain’s main music singles chart in 2020. His message to the world was that the sun would shine again and the clouds would clear! He became the oldest person to top the British charts.

Then, Tom, who claimed to be just an ordinary man, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in July for his accomplishments.

When learning of Tom’s death, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had praised Sir Tom for his wit and determination, ordered the flag at his Downing Street home lowered to half-staff in his honor. Yes, Tom Moore’s last year of life was an amazing and motivational one.

Passing of an icon

Also, I wanted to mention the death last month of radio commentator Rush Limbaugh. He persevered in the radio business until he found his place as a popular syndicated national talk radio show host. Whether you listened or not, Rush provided expanded and provocative thoughts; and will be sorely missed by the conservative sector of our society.

Even through the good and the hard, may we feel peace and 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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