June 16, 2021
Liz Writes Life
Update on Greyback Road
Things are still uncertain regarding the official re-opening
of the Greyback Road from Happy Camp, in Siskiyou County, over the mountain to O’Brien
in Oregon. Local residents utilize the paved road quite often; and it is a
popular tourist route in the summer, because it connects with the Redwood
Highway. But, it runs through two National Forests.
Over a week ago, I contacted our Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for
Dist. 5, Ray Haupt, when several Happy Camp residents called me saying they
were frustrated the Forest Service had closed Greyback Road. According to the
Klamath National Forest and Rogue River/Siskiyou National Forest websites, an
emergency closure was put in place on May 1, 2021 under Forest Orders. A
possible permit was available, but no one can find any more information or the
ability to obtain one. Because of Covid-19, the USFS doors at the Happy Camp
Ranger District remain closed and there are reports of only a recording, when
calling the District’s office.
Ray is a retired USFS District Ranger, so I hoped he would be
able to figure out the problem. On June 1, 2021, Siskiyou County sent a letter
to both National Forests asking the road to be reopened for emergency and safety
reasons. I had planned on trying to contact the Forest Supervisors, but by
Tuesday, June 8, 2021, Ray had spoken with Rachael Smith, the newly appointed
Supervisor of KNF and to Merv George Jr., the Supervisor for Rogue NF.
Ray found the culprit to the problem.
Klamath Forest Alliance, (yep, they are still around after
decades of opposition to thinning the forests) a non-profit environmental group,
has sued the USFS and also named Forest Supervisors Smith and George. The
offense? Using a Decision of Memorandum to fell at-risk trees and include
rehabilitation of reseeding and planting in the burned area of the 2020 September
Slater Fire.
KFA is calling the DM a “major logging” project stating the
USFS has “failed to articulate a rational explanation” for removing the blackened
trees. What? Really!
Happy Camp residents are stunned by KFA’s lawsuit. Ray has
also surveyed areas of the massive Slater Fire. He said that because of the
high severity of the fire, there is “an abnormal amount of dead trees.” Yep,
anyone visiting the area can see the miles and miles of sad black trees and
desolate environment.
Apparently, a DM gives the federal agency authority to move
quickly on these after-fire situations. Waiting two to three years to complete
a NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process will make the trees
worthless and slow the restoration process. This is a strategy KFA has often
used.
So official re-opening of Greyback Road is under the
constraints of the litigation filed by KFA. Yep, Greenies are the culprit and,
in my opinion, KFA is stone-walling the rehabilitation of the forest and
endangering residents by trying to close an important route. Despicable!
CA automatic gun ban lifted
Shockingly, a U.S. District Court Judge recently ruled
in favor of AR-15 rifles.
On June 4, 2021, Judge Roger Benitez ruled in the
Southern District of CA in favor of the 2nd Amendment, when he said
California’s weapons ban on assault weapons was unconstitutional. The ban had
been in place for 32 years!
Immediately, CA. Governor Gavin Newsom and CA Attorney General Rob Bonta
announced the state will appeal the new decision. Of course!
Judge Benitez issued a 30-day “stay” on his own
ruling to avoid the testy “back and forth” request for emergency stay, reviews
and gamesmanship on the part of the government in seeking the appeal.
Interestingly, the judge made a strong statement in support of
the 2nd Amendment, when writing his decision. Judge Benitez said:
“Like the Swiss Army Knife, the popular AR-15 rifle is a perfect combination of
home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment. Good for both home and
battle … yet, the State of California makes it a crime to have an AR-15 type of
rifle.”
Gun Owners of California group was more than pleased with the
new decision. GOC Executive Director Sam Paredes said, “We are euphoric in the
way that Judge Benitez literally took apart the state’s argument for the
Assault Weapons Control Act.”
Paredes added, “Judge Benitez decision
is packed with precision, facts and wisdom. He virtually obliterated the
state’s case and kicked open the door for more challenges to California’s
reckless gun control laws.”
My goodness this is good news for the Bill of Rights! I just
hope Newsom’s appeal doesn’t stand up in court.
Garden
My orange and salmon colored Oriental poppies were late in
blooming. In other areas of the valley, the Orientals were blooming in early
May, but not mine. I irrigated them every few days hoping for the typical May
blooms! They started blooming during the 100-degree temps two weeks ago and boy
did they perk-up when it cooled-off last week and drizzled a few times! Ah,
that was so nice.
The California poppies looked great this year. My sister, in
Utah, even sent photos of a flowerbed full of California poppies! Several
purple/lavender columbine and one very tall pale pink and white one are
blooming. The red rose bush and the orange-yellow-pink one started blooming,
but unfortunately I did not get the two rose bushes pruned and now they are
very tall at about nine feet. I did find one bloom low enough for me to get a
good smell. Oh, the fragrance of the red one is heavenly!
The early Shasta Daisies and pink, lavender and red Sweet
William are also blooming. Yay! Oh, and I am surprised the zinnias are already
blooming at just eight-inches tall. The hollyhocks are growing, but not popping-out
any flowers, yet. Bees buzz around the little pink bells on the comfrey, but it
is four-feet tall and falling over. I need to cut it back and use the foliage
for mulch, cuz it is supposed to get hot again this week. Yuck, even though it
will make things really grow. The garden vegetable plants are doing well.
May peace
and calm be with you this week. Smile – just cuz it makes you feel better!
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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