Big Springs farmers continue to irrigate

May 11, 2022

Liz Writes Life

Big Springs farmers continue to irrigate

A hearing was held on May 5, 2022 in the Siskiyou County Superior Court regarding a case brought by Big Springs Irrigation District against the State Water Resources Control Board. Back on March 15, 2022, the SWRCB issued a Curtailment Order demanding Big Springs ID not turn on their wells this irrigation season. The farmers need this water for their thirsty fields, so the District board voted to seek a Temporary Restraining Order (injunction) against SWRCB

Siskiyou Co. Superior Court Judge John Lawrence presided in the first hearing held on April 1, 2022, but he chose to recuse himself on May 5, 2022. Siskiyou Co. Superior Court Judge Karen Dixon then stepped-in and presided and should hear the rest of the case. I do believe the State is trying to get a change in venue to a different county. I hope this doesn’t happen. It needs to remain in Siskiyou.

According to several people I spoke with who attended the meeting (I did not attend the hearing), the State Water Board attorneys demanded the injunction be removed. I was told that Judge Dixon said she now has thousands of pages regarding the case that she must read, before she would make any decisions. She then left the injunction in place and set the final court hearing for Thursday, May 19, 2022.

As a result, the farmers and ranchers in the Big Springs ID will be able to continue irrigating their fields from the District’s wells – at least until May 19, 2022. The District ceased using surface flow water from Shasta River back in the 1950s.

Hero Skarlotos to speak

An Armed Forces Day “Lincoln” Dinner will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at the Miner’s Inn Convention Center in Yreka. Special guest speaker is Alek Skarlotos, who was one of several heroes that stopped a terrorist who opened fire inside a train headed to Paris, France back on August 21, 2015. Skarlotos was on leave after his deployment in Afghanistan and a specialist from the U.S. Oregon National Guard. He was traveling with two friends, when the admitted terrorist brandished his fire arms and was first tackled to the ground by a Frenchman.

The terrorist situation was brought to the silver screen by director, Clint Eastman, and the three American heroes, including Skarlotos,  were asked to play themselves in the movie titled “The 15:17 to Paris.”

“Come meet a national hero,” said Dan Dorsey, who is chairman of the Siskiyou Co. Central Committee hosting the event. There will be a “meet and greet” with Skarlotos and the other speakers starting at 4:30 p.m.

After the dinner featuring Prime Rib grilled by Dave Tyler, other speakers include: U.S. Congressman Doug LaMalfa, U.S. Senate candidate Mark Meuser, CA. State Senator, Brian Dahle (who is a candidate for California governor), Assemblywoman Megan Dahle, Siskiyou County District Attorney Kirk Andrus and Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue. The focus for these speakers is our Armed Forces and Dorsey says he will keep them brief.

Tickets for the event are $50 and can be purchased at Bergeron Insurance Agency at 347 N. Main in Yreka, call 530-842-4400 and Solano’s in Weed and Mt. Shasta or call Dorsey at 530-918-7993. Also sponsoring Skarlotos and the event are Dana McConaughey, the Degraffenreid family and Grange Insurance.

Sounds like a great dinner and event honoring our Armed Forces. I will be purchasing my ticket this week. Hope you do too!

Siskiyou Conservatives meet May 12

On May 12, 2022, the Siskiyou Conservative Republicans will hold its monthly meeting at 11 a.m. at the Montague Methodist Church. Mark Spanegal, who is U.S. Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s chief of staff will be zoomed-in to speak. Kelly Tanner, who is a Republican candidate for the State Assembly Dist. 1 position will also speak. For more information call Annie at 530-842-2350.

Siskiyou Patriots meet May 12

Later that evening, the Siskiyou Patriots will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Covenant Chapel Church in Yreka. Dist. 1 Assembly candidate Kelly Tanner will be the featured speaker. The meeting is free.

Gardening

Lots of weather changes make it hard to decide when to plant seeds or plants for the garden. After our dry, warm winter and then some spring showers in April and May, who would have thought we could actually have some snow storms? Well, those that have been here for a while can attest that we never know when the summer will truly begin and the frosts and freezes stop.

Unfortunately, the weeds got away from me in April and I am embarrassed ‘cuz I don’t think my garden has ever been this unready for planting. My grandson, Bryce, is helping me get it dug up and also do weed-eating. I gave the rhubarb, comfrey, salvia, phlox, chocolate mint, bee balm, Echinacea, Black-eyed Susans, chives, Shasta daisies, glads, gaura, garlic and some hollyhocks a good soaking before this last batch of spring storms came through. The rhubarb is over three-feet tall and needs harvesting. Boy, horse manure sure makes the rhubarb grow!

Yep, there is plenty to do in our yards and gardens this time of year. Makes me tired just thinking about it!

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. Columns from the past can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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