Liz Writes Life 11-13-18

Nov. 13, 2018

Liz Writes Life

Yep, I missed at least one veteran, last week, when I wrote about the 18^th Annual Veterans’ Parade in Etna. It was Navy veteran Norm Malmberg, who shows up every year in his sharp-looking uniform! He was at the back of the parade riding in a fire engine! Thank you to all veterans for your service!

And to fire fighters, emergency responders and police, a big “thank you” goes to you too. Many of our local responders have been called down to fight the horrible fires that burned most of Paradise, near Chico, and down in Malibu and Ventura. This is just worse than I have words to express with more than 6,700 of mostly-homes burned in the Camp Fire at Paradise. It is so awful. How do you even stage enough safe shelter places for that huge amount of victims?

At church on Sunday, we were told the American Red Cross is the lead non-profit providing relief and if anyone wants to donate, do it to RedCross.org. It is November and we should be getting rain and snow not fires. Let’s pray a little harder!

Speaking of the fire, Congressman Doug LaMalfa reported he is in close contact with the White House, which actually contacted him by lunchtime on Nov. 8, 2018. The Camp Fire started early that morning and began burning through Paradise. This is the fifth major disaster during the past several years in Congressman LaMalfa’s district. In a press release, LaMalfa said FEMA is responding quickly and is so grateful for the open communication with President Trump’s staff.

Ray Haupt, who is chairman of the Siskiyou Co. Supervisors’ Board, is also finding President Trump’s administration and staff at the White House really do have an open-door policy. It was at the beginning of the Klamathon Fire, in Hornbrook last July, when he received a phone call from a woman asking if there was anything she could do from the White House to make sure federal agencies were fully cooperating with the local county and state agencies in carrying out their responsibilities. Pretty impressive!

That kind of concern has continued and he felt it during his (and Siskiyou Co. Dist. 4 Supervisor Lisa Nixon’s) visit to WA. D.C., last month. Ray said he has never had a president’s administration or White House personnel seem genuinely interested.

Because of the contacts he made in D.C., the Klamath dam is being noticed more. One of the county’s residents, Loy Beardsmore, who is the local community liaison for Copco, asked Ray if there was anyone she could talk with at the White House? She became an intervener in the Klamath River Renewal Corporation’s definite Plan to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for taking the four hydro-electric dams out. Loy wanted to plead her case to save the dams. Ray was able to connect her with a deputy director of intergovernmental affairs, who agreed to meet with Loy – in person.

So, last week, Loy flew to D.C. and had a face-face meeting with the deputy director. In doing that, she was able to hand-deliver Siskiyou County’s extensive response to the KRRC’s dam removal Plan. She also delivered a draft response from the Siskiyou Water Users Assoc., who also filed as an intervener. Ray told me he followed-up with a phone call to the deputy director and reiterated Siskiyou County’s responses as well as the personal negative impact dam removal will have on citizens at Copco.

I asked Ray about the county’s response to KRRC’s definite Plan. He emailed it to me. It is very long! Ray said the county’s hired environmental group, SWCA, has thoroughly investigated the holes in KRRC’s science and the county is “going after the illogical conclusions that are not supported by facts.” There are many!

The county also honed-in on the important aspects of liability. There are significant things the county would be responsible for that have not been addressed and these issues would cause financial harm to the county. Ray said there is a lack of sufficient scrutiny on raising the flood plain and the impact it will have on private lands.

Sediment is also a problem issue in the Plan. ‘”There are a lot of environmental assumptions made -- regarding Klamath River flows -- that makes the flushing of the sediments speculative,” Ray said. “The Plan assumes the best possible outcomes on every part of the Plan and that isn’t realistic and statistically not possible.”

Republican luncheon

Today, Ray and Lisa Nixon will discuss their WA. D.C. trip at the Siskiyou Co. Republican Women’s Federated meeting, which is at the Miner’s Inn Convention Center with the speakers at the pulpit around 12:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Salmon

We are near the end of the season for the returning Chinook salmon run. The CA. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife released its summary from its fish counting facilities in Siskiyou County. The Shasta River video camera was installed and operational on Sept. 4, 2018 and has counted 13,233 adult Chinook salmon. The Bogus Creek station was installed on Sept. 7, 2018 and has observed 579 Chinook. The Scott River station was installed on Sept. 20, 2018 and counted 41 Chinook. The numbers are preliminary.

Patriots

The new Yreka Chief of Police, David Gamache, will speak at the Yreka Tea Party Patriot’s meeting tonight. Erin Ryan, from Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s office will speak as well. Thank goodness, Doug won our Dist. 1 Congressional seat. Yay!

Films

The Scott Valley Film Coalition presents “The Wandering Reel Traveling Film Festival” this Friday, Nov. 16, 2018 at The REC in Fort Jones. Time is 7 p.m. A variety of award-winning short films will be shown with time for discussion and coffee. Admission is $7.

POW

Scott Valley Protect Our Water will hold its last meeting of the year on Thurs., Nov. 29, 2018 at the Fort Jones Community Center. Time is 7 p.m.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515. Check out her blog at: LizWritesLife.blogspot.com.

# # #

Liz Writes Life 11-6-18

Nov. 6, 2018

Liz Writes Life

Sky was autumn blue, bright yellow leaves were still on the trees and barely a frost on the windshield last Saturday morning. Yep, it was a great day for the 18^th Annual Veterans’ Parade in Etna. We sure do appreciate all the help and support, especially the veterans that showed up and participated. We really do want to show appreciation for you and your military service. I, like many citizens, like my freedoms – including the one, where I get to vote today!

First, a very big thanks goes to the Rotary Club of Scott Valley for sponsoring the parade and providing the needed liability insurance. Once again, Rotarians Vinnie and Bob McNeil, Prudence Magnuson and Davey Martin lined-up and spaced the parade. (I hope I didn’t miss anyone!) Every year, Duane Eastlick, brings a port-a-potty. It is important to have up there at the Etna High School -- while everyone is waiting. And, Duane donates it. This is a grass-roots parade and we do it on a shoe-string budget!

The Etna Police Dept. provided the P.A. system, blocked-off the streets and parking areas – and kept the peace. (That part was pretty easy as everyone seemed to enjoy socializing and the sunshine.) Heather Ford was a great help on our little committee. Thank you, Heather!

It was a pretty large parade with 35 entries; took about 40 minutes – just right for a home-town parade. Scott Murphy did a great job as announcer. As they went by on Main St. he asked the veterans their names and branch where they served. A few entries were out-of-order, but he rolled with the flow.

Jimmy Sutter and Kip Whipple barbecued hotdogs until they were gone. Etna High School Interact Club served chili and cookies were available when checking out the Museum. I hope the Lions Club Christmas Sale was also successful. I apologize for failing to mention it in my column last week. Oops!

Riley Kutzer, an Etna High School student, sang a beautiful national anthem right at 11 a.m. as Theodora and David Johnson rode their horses up Main St. carrying the American and California flags in honor of their grandfathers who served.

Grand Marshal, Dave Harrison, rode with Dennis Honea in his 1936 gorgeous green 1936 Ford. Dave served in the Army and Dennis in the U.S. Navy Sea Bees. Then, Ryck Kramer, Army, was a hit on his trusty Kubota tractor.

Next, we want to thank Michael Stapleton for decorating his trailer with hay bales, banners and flags for veterans to ride. Michael served in the Air Force. On the float were Joe Hudson, Buddy Simas, Steve Radford, Mark Dean and Bill Beckwith. The Facey family drove a bright red truck with 2016 Grand Marshal Albert Facey and his nephew, Sam Facey. Both served in the Army.

Karen Clark brought over the Yreka Jackson Street Marching Band and performed several lively numbers. Sure is nice to have a live band! Then the Etna Lions Club float touted more veterans with Dave Bradford, George White, Peter Wright, Corky Gussman, Dmitri Iannois, Mark Gepford and Manny Fernandez.

Several members of Fred Scott’s family joined Fred, Marine, who rode in a 1941 original Willies jeep with son-in-law, Jeremy Ravenscroft. Fred’s daughter, Cara Ravenscroft, was unique riding her blue-starred white horse, carrying an American flag and her little dog riding in the rumble seat behind her saddle. Looked pretty cute!

Mason McCoy, from Yreka, served in the Navy and drove his restored 1953 Chevy Suburban. Dotty’s cafe owners, Christy and Robert Bartneck, drove their roadster with cute kids in the back. Chip Port, from Montague, drove his 1991 five-ton B-M-Y military truck loaded with a 1970s F-M-C armored infantry tank. Impressive!

Announcer Scott asked about his top speed, when driving over Forest Mountain. Ten miles per hour was the answer. My goodness, thanks for your dedication Chip to make the long trip over to Etna. That fuel cost wasn’t cheap!

Siskiyou Co. Sheriff Jon Lopey, served in the Marines, Army and Army Reserve, drove a military Hummer. With him were Siskiyou Co. Veterans Service Officer, Tom Jackson, and retired Army First Sergeant Jerry Schumacher. There was also the Search and Rescue Snowcat; and Reserve Deputy, Jim Jacobsen, drove the hot DARE Camaro!

Gary Koopman, Army, entered his 1941 military Dodge WC 17 half-ton carryall. Then the Top of the State chapter of the Back Country Horsemen rode their horses to honor the veterans. Native Daughters of the Golden West rode in Linda Beverlin’s husband’s 1957 Fairland, 500 Skyline with a retractable hardtop. I saw Linda, Vonita Bishop and Francyne Jenner riding in that convertible. It looked like they were having a good time.

Clara Johnson entered her miniature horse and Alan Piersall, Air Force, rode with her in her cart. The Sis Q A’s Car Club like to show-off their Model A Fords that were first built in 1927. They were decorated red, white and blue. Paystreak Brewing decorated its pickup with American flags to salute military veterans.  Deborah Beam, owner, is the proud mom of Purple Heart veteran, Forrest Rose, who served in Afghanistan in 2012.

Members of the Etna Chapter of the Future Farmers of America walked next and then came the Boy Scout of America Troop 99. Tim Grenvik, Air Force, and his son, Tyler Grenvik, Navy, invited Siskiyou Co. Supervisor of Dist. 5, Ray Haupt, to ride in their pickup and looked like a happy bunch.

The Siskiyou Co. Republican Central Committee entered a pickup with signs suggesting how to vote in the General Election, today. Then, the Dodge Brothers Car Club rumbled-up the street. The owners are right proud of the rust on their old vehicles. Because the most important thing is that they still run!

Letting off some loud bangs were the Siskiyou Mountain Men and Women and more noise could be heard from the Christian Motorcyclist Assoc. who also drove a ways on the frosty morning. Thanks to my contact, Dean Harris, for letting the group’s president know we like to have them participate!

Smokey Bear rode on top of a U.S. Forest Service vehicle. And then we had a bunch of fire and rescue vehicles from the Scott Valley Fire Protection District, Etna Volunteer Fire Dept., Etna Ambulance, Fort Jones Volunteer Fire Dept., and Cal Fire. Tony Stacher, with the Etna Police, closed up the parade driving the city’s pickup.

Sorry, if I missed a few entries. They came late, which I encourage, but I didn’t have the info on them. Thanks for participating!

Ceremonies

There are several Veterans' Day ceremonies at cemeteries this Sunday, Nov. 11th. I just learned that a plaque honoring Mike Adams, who served in the Coast Guard, will be presented at Yreka's Evergreen Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 11th. Mike was president of Scott Valley Protect Our Water, when he passed away two years ago. He was also active in the Yreka Tea Party Patriots. 

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515. Check out her blog at: LizWritesLife.blogspot.com.

# # #

Liz Writes Life 10-30-18

Oct. 30, 2018

Liz Writes Life

It was great to visit with our Dist. 1 Congressman, Doug LaMalfa, this past weekend. Saturday night, he attended the Siskiyou Co. Cattlemen’s dinner, at the Yreka Community Center, after knocking on doors in Yreka most of the day. I caught up with Doug on Sunday morning, before he and Republican supporters went door-to-door in Etna and Fort Jones. He also went door-to-door in Weed and Butte Valley.

“I am energized by knocking on doors and talking with people,” Doug told me. He has some funny stories to tell from his experiences. Many times residents don’t believe that a congressman is really on their doorstep and will voice their disbelief. And he doesn’t mind discussing the issues with those who say they are voting for his opponent. In fact, he wants to set people straight about his voting record and issues that are important to him.

I remember when Doug first ran for public office. It was back in December of 2001, when this rice farmer decided to run for CA. State Assembly. He showed up in Fort Jones to participate in the annual Christmas Parade and stopped at the early-morning Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the Fort Jones Volunteer Fire Dept. I liked Doug then and still do. He is down-to-earth and has been a huge supporter of Siskiyou County.

During the years Doug has served in state and federal office, he and his staff have helped Siskiyou landowners and veterans through many difficult situations with government agencies.

Scott Valley Protect Our Water organized in May of 2010 to stand against the CA. Dept. of Fish and Game’s newest permit idea (with a fee) regarding legally-allotted water. As a CA. Senator, Doug and his staff worked to intervene and explain laws and regulations to out-of-control bureaucrats. He has never waivered and his support provided needed buffers for frustrated landowners.

Congressman LaMalfa continues to work to save the Klamath dams. He said that FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has not approved the phony-baloney of the non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corp., which is the entity trying to take the dams out. Doug added that the recent order by President Trump will be helpful as it is requiring timely processing and updates of biological opinions for animals listed with the Endangered Species Act.

Doug said that the biological opinion used on the Klamath dams is outdated and was not based on sound data, “but is being enforced as de-facto law.” So, Klamath dam removal is not a done deal.

Every chance he gets, the congressman talks about the North State. During the Carr Fire in Redding last summer, he met with Sec. of Interior, Ryan Zinke, Sec. of Ag., Sonny Perdue, and Sec. of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen and told them we have got to manage the forests and thin the trees. The wildfires are out-of-control and everyone could see the fires were tremendously destructive.

He was able to visit Donald J. Trump when he was campaigning in Redding in June 2016. Doug told him three things about Northern California: We need to keep water behind the dams for storage; harvest trees rather than burn them up; and take better care of our veterans.

Doug is from a small unincorporated town of Richvale in the heart of the Sacramento Valley. He likes small towns and understands what it is like to be forgotten. “I know what it feels like to not be important,” he said and is proud to be a voice for rural people.

I sure hope that Doug LaMalfa is re-elected to congress. He works hard for us!

POW

Ed Kiernan, Siskiyou Co. Counsel, spoke at the Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting last week. He was hired to serve as the lead attorney for the county board of supervisors seven months ago. He admitted he was originally from Queens, New York, but did most of his growing up in Indiana. (We didn’t boo!) He drove out to California in 1997, with his dog, and worked in private practice, before being hired by Nevada and Marin Counties.

He explained that the county supervisors’ board makes policy. It is his department’s roll to carry out the board’s directions. His office deals with litigation. “We try to keep the county out of trouble,” he said, explaining that he works with county department heads to solve problems. There is a lot of bureaucracy and regulations. “We try to make the county government as effective as possible,” Ed added.

The county has been and is legally arguing to save the Klamath dams. He reiterated that although it is an uphill battle, dam removal is not a done deal. The county is legally intervening and filing briefs and coordinating with Modoc and Klamath Counties to stop dam removal.

Ed was asked a variety of questions regarding timber, wildfires and the cannabis ordinance to name a few. He was informative and helpful in explaining how he works for the county supervisors.

Veterans Parade

The 18^th Veterans’ Parade in Etna looks to be a good one and the weather should be great as well. Dave Harrison was chosen as grand marshal. He served in the Army in the early 1960s and was stationed in Florida when the Cuban missile crisis threatened nuclear war. He was a first mate on an Army patrol boat stationed at Fort Estice in Virginia and was mobilized to go to Key West Florida, when the Soviet Union decided to build a missile base in Cuba. Dave would have been part of an invasion force to Cuba, if the Soviet ships had not turned around at Pres. John F. Kennedy’s insistence. It was a pretty tense time.

Veterans and active soldiers are invited to participate in the parade. Michael Stapleton and the Etna Lions Club will be pulling trailers that you can hop on. Meet at the Etna High School before 10 a.m. The Rotary Club of Scott Valley will be handing out entry numbers and lining-up the parade. Siskiyou Sheriff Jon Lopey will be there with the county’s humvee.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. Hot dogs and chili will be available downtown by the Museum, which will be open by the Native Daughters of the Golden West. It should be a fun and patriotic morning in Etna. Come out and show your support of our military and veterans!

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515. Check out her blog at: LizWritesLife.blogspot.com.

# # #

Liz Writes Life 10-23-18

Oct. 23, 2018

Liz Writes Life

These warm temperatures -- after several early morning frosts during the past month -- sure confuse the plants, especially the perennials. And it frustrates me as well. I really am done with the garden; and the vegetable and annual flowers are freeze-dried, too. But, there are several perennial plants, like the tansy, mums, asters, blooming sweet William, snapdragons and newly-given-to-me hydrangea that would appreciate some extra water.

Last week, I looked ahead on the weather predictions and NOAA claimed there would be 20 to 50 percent chance of showers this coming week. Now, it doesn’t! Don’t know where that rain went? Darn it!

Veterans

We are getting more support for the Veteran’s Parade that will be held on Sat., Nov. 3, 2018 in Etna at 11 a.m. Chip Port left a message that he plans to load-up his tank and bring it over for the parade. Dave Harrison, an Army veteran, will serve as grand marshal and the Jackson Street Marching Band will participate and play for us.

It is easy to enter in the parade, just call me at 467-3515. Veterans: We need you! Michael Stapleton will have a low-trailer with bales of hay, so it is easy to load-up and participate in the parade.

LaMalfa

There was good news for farmers growing food in CA., OR., WA., and ID. last week. President Donald Trump signed an order directing federal agencies to deliver water more efficiently and consistently in the Western States.

Our Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa said, “The President’s announcement is an immense relief for the farmers and families of the San Joaquin Valley and communities across California.”He added California agriculture has suffered for many years, because of the actions of environmental extremists and overzealous bureaucrats regarding the beneficial uses of water. Productive land has gone fallow and farmworkers have lost their jobs due to government agencies taking water from agriculture.

“Communities across California have also been devastated as senseless government regulations have mandated that billions of gallons of water be flushed out to the ocean and wasted,” said LaMalfa.

This executive action will demand that biological opinions of animals listed in the Endangered Species Act must be updated and reviewed in the timely manner as described in the ESA. Many of these biological opinions have not been updated for years. Trump’s order is also expected to aid the farmers in the Klamath Project.

This executive action also prioritizes building critical projects to expand water storage in our state so that we can store more water during wet years for use in dry years. LaMalfa works diligently in trying to get more water storage in California.

Please vote for LaMalfa for Congress!

On the state-wide propositions in the upcoming Nov. 6, 2018 election, there is one I forgot to mention, last week. It is really important, cuz it is about changing the most recent gas tax that the Democrat-controlled CA. State Legislature passed. Our gas prices are ridiculously high and this newest gas tax is outrageous. I am voting “yes” on Prop. 6 to repeal this gas tax.

In reading the Prop. 6 description, it makes it sound like the state will lose $5 billion for road repairs and public transportation. Right now, I don’t trust our state government to spend that tax money correctly. But, if Prop. 6 passes, it will make certain fuel taxes and vehicle fees be voted and approved by “we the voters,” instead of the state legislature. The only other two propositions that I am giving a “yes” are 7 and 11.

Locally, I hope that Measure L passes to provide better maintenance on the eight historic cemeteries in Yreka and Shasta Valley. Unfortunately, I don’t live in the Shasta Valley Cemetery District and won’t be able to vote, but would be willing to pay the proposed parcel tax of $7 per year to preserve and take care of our local cemeteries.

FERC

To finish catching-up from the Sept. Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting, Ray Haupt, our Dist. 5 Siskiyou Co. Supervisor, said the county continues to fight to save the Klamath dams. He said the Klamath River Renewal Corp. released its "definite plan" for removal of the four hydro-electric Klamath dams. The county went over the huge document with a fine-toothed comb and came up with many questions and challenges. Ray keeps asking KRRC how much the dam removal costs will actually be and if the non-profit KRRC has sufficient funds to cover those costs. Another question is: Will KRRC pay homeowners in the COPCO area when they lose their well water. Also, the tremendous amount of sediments trapped behind the dams have tested positive for arsenic, nickel, iron, DDT and DDE. How will KRRC deal with that environmental hazard? 

Because KRRC has released its "definite plan" and is asking to have the dams re-licensed into KRRC ownership, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is now the agency that will make decisions. Ray said that FERC is of the position that a new Environmental Impact Statement is required, because the biological opinions on ESA-listed species like the sucker fish is out of date.

And when FERC makes a decision, it will own that decision -- including unintended consequences and liability costs. Siskiyou County became an intervener in this legal process and FERC must respond to KRRC's definite plan and all interveners' and their challenges, so the county is deeply involved. Challenges and concerns by other interveners, like the Siskiyou Co. Water Users Assoc., must also be addressed by FERC. 

So, no matter what you might hear, Klamath dam removal is far from a done deal. 

POW

Remember that Siskiyou County Counsel, Ed Kiernan, will be our featured speaker at the Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting this Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018. He will share what his job entails working for the county supervisors. The meeting will be held at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7 p.m. Please bring a dessert to share if you can.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515. Check out her blog at: LizWritesLife.blogspot.com.

# # #

Liz Writes Life 10-16-18

October 16, 2018

Liz Writes Life

Right off, I need to make a correction to last week’s column, where I discussed the KRRC (Klamath River Renewal Corporation) secret meeting and stated that our Dist. 5 Siskiyou Co. Supervisor Ray Haupt and Dist. 2 Supervisor Ed Valenzuela attended. It was Ray and county counsel, Ed Kiernan, who attended. Ed Kiernan was hired this year and I haven’t met him. I guess my mind just went to the only “Ed” I know at the county level and that was Ed Valenzuela.

I sent an email apology to Ed Valenzuela. And then to fix my problem -- of not knowing him -- called Ed Kiernan and invited him to speak at the next Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting. He said he will be there. Great!

The Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting will be Thurs., Oct. 25, 2018 at the Fort Jones Community Center. Time is 7 p.m. If you need an address, it is 11960 East St. But, if you think your GPS will get you there – it may not. Best way is to turn on Sterling St. at the Fort Jones U.S. Post Office. One block up is East St. and the City Hall, Library and Community Center.

Ed will explain what his job as “county counsel” entails, including the Klamath dams issues. Should be quite informative!

Ray will not be at the Protect Our Water meeting, because he will be in Washington D.C. Lisa Nixon, supervisor for dist. 4, is also going to D.C. She told me the White House has reached out to county officials throughout the state and has invited them to a day of meetings to discuss local issues and problems. Both Ray and Lisa will be taking stats and facts about the lack of forest management, health problems from wildfire smoke, affects of the ESA, water and Klamath dams. Wow, this is new – an administration that wants to connect with county supervisors. Good luck Ray and Lisa!

Recipe

Then, I made another mistake. I like my Green Tomato Sweet Relish tangy, but after tasting it and getting a comment from a friend, who followed my recipe, two teaspoons of turmeric is a bit much. So, find the recipe and cut it down to one teaspoon or one-and-a-half teaspoons. But, if you like it super tangy, leave it the way it is. Oh, and that recipe makes 12 pints. So, there you have it: I am far from perfect.

Copco

A resident from Copco Lake called me about the KRRC secret meeting. She wondered why she didn’t receive notice about the meeting from KRRC. She said KRRC is drilling on the roadsides for core samples and when residents ask KRRC about the drilling or other concerns they are not receiving answers – and as a result are quite frustrated.

LaMalfa

CA. Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa sent out good news last week. He has been working to get a new healthcare facility for veterans, in Redding, and a new lease was just awarded by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs. It will be on Knighton Road in an expanded building that will allow for an additional 17 mental health providers, a mammography division and a second x-ray unit.

Advocating for veterans has been a top priority for our congressman, who has fought hard to improve the Veterans Administration and local health care.

Doug is also a strong advocate for Siskiyou County. His work on the House Natural Resources Committee helped save our hydro-electric Klamath dams from the destructive Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and he met with U.S. Sec. of Ag., Sonny Perdue and Dept. of Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke during the Carr Fire this summer. He is making inroads regarding forest health and changing management of wildfires. He needs to continue being our voice on these issues.

Please join me in voting for Doug LaMalfa for House of Representatives.

With that said, I might as well share my opinions on other candidates. I am voting for John Cox for CA. Governor. I met Mark P. Meuser, when he visited Siskiyou Co. (twice) this summer and will vote for him as Sec. of State. Previously, a state senator, Ted Gaines is running for State Board of Equalization, Dist. 1 and I will vote for him. Believe it or not, I will vote for Dianne Feinstein for U.S. Senator; and Marshall Tuck for Superintendent of Public Instruction.

I like Konstantinos Roditis for Controller, Greg Conlon for Treasurer, Steven C. Bailey for Attorney General and Steve Poizner for Insurance Commissioner. In his short time in the State Assembly, Brian Dahle has climbed the ladder and is serving as leader of the Republicans in the Assembly. He also gets my vote.

I haven’t studied most of the initiatives and do not have enough info about the associate justices or the local Siskiyou Community College Trustees. But, after a short perusal I will be voting “yes” on Measure 7, cuz I don’t like the hour change every fall and spring. And I will vote “no” on the animal confinement Measure 12.

Veterans’ Parade

Things are moving along for the Etna Veteran’s Parade on Sat., Nov. 3, 2018 at 11 a.m. and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Scott Valley. Jimmy Sutter, with the Farrington and Whipple families, will be grilling hotdogs on Main St. The Native Daughters of the Golden West will have its Museum open with free cookies and the Etna High School Interact Club is serving free chili.

Veterans, organizations and individuals are invited to participate in the parade. It is easy to enter, just give me a call at 530-467-3515. Rotary members will line-up parade entries starting at 9 a.m. in front of the high school.

Oct. 20^th events

This Saturday is busy. “A Walk Through History” will be held at the Siskiyou Co. Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Yreka, with traditional and cultural arts on display.

The Etna Beautification Project is holding a community party “with a purpose” from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Main Street Park in downtown Etna. There will be appetizers, live music, wine and refreshments. The group is looking for ideas and suggestions to brighten up Etna.

Then the Buck Hunters Chili Dinner and Dance will be held in Callahan at the Mt. Bolivar Grange starting at 5 p.m. There will be several contests, including the all-important buck horns contest. Remember, they must be horns from this 2018 season!

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515. Check out her blog at: LizWritesLife.blogspot.com

# # #

Liz Writes Life 10-9-18

Oct. 9, 2018

Liz Writes Life

It rained off-and-on all week, even at my house. Yay! I hardly needed to irrigate and really got out of the habit. Did pick green tomatoes and made two batches of relish. Saturday, I decided to get most of the red tomatoes picked. Boy, those splits in the tops make them go bad – too easy. Then, on Sunday morning there was a pretty good frost. So, things are winding down for sure.

While the ground is soft, it would be smart to get the garlic planted. An October planting would certainly be early for me!

Veterans’ Parade

Yep, time to get our veterans and organizations revved-up and entered in the 18^th Etna Veterans’ Parade. This year, the parade is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Scott Valley, who is providing the insurance for the parade and will also do the parade staging at the Etna High School.

The parade will be on Sat., Nov. 3, 2018 at 11 a.m. Start lining-up at the high school between 9 and 10 a.m. Dodge Brothers with their old cars have already said they will participate, Back Country Horsemen will ride as well and Etna’s Gary Koopman is ready to drive his 1941 Dodge WC 17 half-ton carryall.

All veterans and active-duty soldiers are invited to participate in the parade. Local clubs and groups are also great supporters with entries. It is easy to enter. Pick up an entry form at the Etna Hardware and Fort Jones Hardware stores and mail to me. Or you can call me at 530-467-3515 or Heather Ford at 530-467-3193.  

The parade is Scott Valley’s way of saying “thank you” to our military and veterans. Let’s have a big parade with an even bigger crowd this year!

Buck hunters

The Mt. Bolivar Grange in Callahan is holding its annual Buck Hunters Chili Dinner and Dance on Sat., Oct. 20, 2018. Time for dinner is around 5 p.m. and Smokey and the Bandits band will begin playing at 7:30-ish p.m.

Museum

The Siskiyou County Museum, on Main St. in Yreka, is holding “A Walk Through History” on Sat., Oct. 20, 2018. This event was held last year and was so successful the Friends of the Siskiyou Co. Museum decided to hold it again. It is a family activity with a pie baking and pie eating contests, butter churning, Shasta basket weaving, Karuk dancing, bread making demonstrations, blacksmithing and food booths. Time is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more info call 530-598-0075.

Identity

The California DMV continues to have problems and the new federally-mandated Real ID card program is causing even more. Nearly everyone complains about wait times at DMV offices throughout the state. This past summer, our state legislature approved $17 million to fund and hire hundreds more in staff and to expand hours at field offices. Hum, I hope that is what actually gets done with those funds.

The current situation causing increased wait times is the federal Real ID card program, which will be needed to board an airplane on Oct. 1, 2019. Only 1.5 million people have obtained their CA Driver’s License as their identity card and 23.5 million have yet to either renew their driver’s license or get their identity card through the DMV. Wow, that is a lot of people to get processed in one year. You can also get a passport as your Read ID card.

I received my driver’s license renewal notice and went to the DMV office. I learned that I need certified certificates of my birth and marriage, because my marriage legally changed my last name. My birth certificate was easy to get, because I was born in Siskiyou County and went to the Recorder’s office at the courthouse in Yreka.

But, when I tried to get my marriage certificate, it wasn’t recorded in Siskiyou Co. Luckily, I found my marriage license and it showed that we obtained our license in Shasta County. Jack and I were going to Shasta College, when we got married.

Then, last year, when Jack tried to get his identity card, DMV wouldn’t accept his birth certificate, because most of his life he has used his stepdad’s last name and not his birth certificate last name. He was pretty upset, but ended up getting his passport renewed as his identity card.

For some reason, I thought the Real ID card was the state, but it is a federal program. So, good luck.

Klamath dams

At the last Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting, Ray Haupt, our Dist. 5 Siskiyou Co. Supervisor and chairman of the board, told us about the “secret” meeting that the Klamath River Renewal Corp. (KRRC) held. Apparently, Ray heard about the meeting through a local citizen. The county had not been notified or invited. So, Ray and Dist. 2 Siskiyou Supervisor, Ed Valenzuela, showed up anyway. The meeting was intended for the residents in the Copco Lake area.

Ray said KRRC discussed the flood plain, the model it was using and basically claimed there would be little flooding when the four hydro-electrical dams were out of the river. After being ignored for some time by the facilitator, Ray stood up and said he had some questions. He was frustrated that basic statistics were not used for modeling and wanted answers for homeowners whose houses could be flooded. Their response was 1 – move your house; 2 – build your house on stilts; or 3 – put a dike around it. Those responses were not practical and Ray told them so.

Currently, KRRC is not communicating with the county and that is very poor judgment, because it is the county that will issue permits for projects related to dam removal. I don’t think the county will let them get away with any shenanigans. And ignoring the county will not make the permits go away.

KRRC has released its “definite” final plan for destruction of the four Klamath dams. But, the county attorneys and administration are scouring the plan and will respond by Oct. 16, 2018 to many outrageous claims by KRRC.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515. Check out her blog at: LizWritesLife.blogspot.com

# # #

Liz Writes Life 10-2-18

October 2, 2018

Liz Writes Life

What a great rain most of Scott Valley enjoyed Saturday afternoon. I went down to the Kidder Creek Orchard Harvest Fest to visit with my daughter-in-law and grandkids. You could pick apples, play games, enjoy a free pony ride and jump in bouncy houses. I hadn’t attended for several years and was surprised there were so many people. Lots and lots of cars were parked in the upper field and nice open-air vans transporting us down to the festivities.

Marion Steelman’s band was set to play music on the open field at 6 p.m., but at 5:40 p.m. there was a down poor. Rain ruined the activities, but what a welcome relief to our drought-worn area. Most everyone headed for home, including me! I heard that Etna had several good rains, but when I arrived home, near Callahan, the dust hadn’t hardly been settled. Nuts!

Rumor has it, the buck hunters were excited by the change in the weather!

Autumn

It is officially fall and the leaves are turning gorgeous yellows, orange and reds. My cosmos have dried-up, but the yellow zinnias are still putting out and a last-gasp of volunteer purple morning glories are climbing on them. Very pretty!

My tomato plants and lemon cucumber plants look pretty straggly, even without a frost. I did hear that there was some frost outside of Fort Jones last week. I need to get two more batches of Green Tomato Sweet Relish canned and cut-up ripe tomatoes and freeze them on a big pan. After they are frozen, I gather them up and put them in a zip-lock plastic bag. It is easy to grab a hand-full of frozen tomatoes to put in taco hamburger or soups. I’ve been doing this for several years and appreciate their fresh flavor in winter dishes.

Then, the vegetable plants and a lot of flowers need to get pulled-out and much of my irrigating will be done for the year. Yahoo! Funny, how we can hardly wait to get the garden going in spring and by mid-September, I am ready to wind it down.

I have put off starting a fire in my stove and it is almost over-flowing with paper garbage. With that cool spell several weeks ago, I anticipated building a fire and began saving more burnable stuff. This reminds me of a cute Ace Reid cartoon that was published in my dad’s weekly Western Livestock Journal newspaper. The skinny cowboys in the cartoon were in Texas from a time period before I was born. In the one I am thinking about, they are in the bunkhouse and the woodstove is over-flowing with garbage. One says he can tell it must be close to winter, cuz no more garbage will fit in the stove. That was back when there wasn’t nearly the pre-packaged stuff that we have today.

POW

Ray Haupt, chairman of the Siskiyou Co. Supervisors’ Board and our Dist. 5 Supervisor, was our speaker at the Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting last week. He had lots to share, so let’s get started.

Ray learned that the law enforcement side of the CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is, once again, pushing for water right holders to purchase a permit in order to open their headgate. This issue has been in limbo; and is why Protect Our Water organized back in May of 2010, when the state agency was demanding a first-year $100 fee for a permit to obtain our legal water. The agency was planning on increasing the fees in future years. We protested and it went into limbo.

Apparently, there is a disconnect between the administrative side of the CADFW and the law enforcement side, which gets its marching orders from Chuck Bonham, the state director. By mid-October or November, most irrigators will be shutting-off any water that is still available for use. It is the end of growing season and end of the use of their water right. So, this will likely be a battle next spring.

Then, some ranchers have received letters claiming huge fines are owed the state for not reporting water usage or not reporting it on time. One rancher told Ray that he was three days late and the fine was over $200,000! This has not been resolved, but is certainly an over-the-top threat by a state agency. This new demand for reporting water usage is still in its infancy as a new state regulation. Hopefully, the Farm Bureau and Cattlemen Associations are tracing down the problem.

It is budget time and the supervisors will be working all day, today, on what was a $3 million shortfall. Department heads have been cutting back over the years and -- without a robust economy in the county – there just isn’t enough money. Ray said he is butting heads with Sheriff Jon Lopey and District Attorney Kirk Andrus over the policy of when employees can use county vehicles. To fix the situation, there will be more discussion today and Ray hopes to get an ordinance in place. Apparently, there has been no set policy to guide the situation.

I remember when there were complaints about our previous Dist. 5 Supervisor, Marcia Armstrong, using a county vehicle to drive from her home in Quartz Valley to her meetings. Ray said he uses his own vehicle and is re-paid for the mileage he uses for county business.

One of Ray’s long-time friends, James Hubbard, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment of the USDA. Ray knew Jim from his fire fighting years in the Forest Service and said he is a good man to try to get sensible firefighting back into the Forest Service.

Then, Ray announced he received an invitation from the White House to attend a meeting with key White House staff on Oct. 23, 2018 in Washington D.C. The discussion will be specifically about fires in Northern California. One of Ray’s comments to the federal government staff will be: Your policies are chocking my constituents with smoke! Hopefully, this meeting will improve how the USFS fights fires. The agency needs to put them out!

Meetings

Brandon Criss, Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for Dist. 1, will be speaking at the Crebbin Ranch at 6438 Lower Little Shasta Road, outside of Montague, this Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. on local issues. Also, Grace Bennett, a past Siskiyou Co. Supervisor and Yreka City Mayor, will share information on Measure L regarding the need to support our cemetery districts. All are invited. Bring a coat as the meeting will be held outdoors.

Also, the Etna FFA is holding its annual fundraiser barbecue/auction this Sat., Oct. 6, 2018 at 5 p.m.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515. Check out her blog at: LizWritesLife.blogspot.com

# # #