Liz Writes Life 10-20-2021 State of Siskiyou County and Assemblywoman Dahle gets a bill protecting livestock passed

Oct. 20, 2021

Liz Writes Life

State of the county

The room was packed, last week, when the Siskiyou Conservative Republicans met for their monthly meeting. “State of the County” was the question asked Siskiyou Co. Sheriff Jerimiah LaRue, Siskiyou Co. District Attorney Kirk Andrus and Ray Haupt, chairman of the Siskiyou Co. Board of Supervisors. It turned into an hour-and-a-half discussion with each one first giving a synopsis from their position.

Because my deadline for this column has been moved to Thursday, I will give you my synopsis of the meeting and will provide more depth in next week’s column.

Sheriff LaRue spoke first and he fully admitted, “We all know that things are very rough.” He has been in office one year and is dealing with a tremendous amount of illegal cannabis grows and lawsuits from the county’s eradication efforts. But, he still hasn’t lost his sense of humor and reminded the group of about 70 that his heart is in this county and for its people.

Lawsuits, water, Public Trust Doctrine, the Grand Jury, crime and covid issues were also discussed. I thought it was interesting that Supervisor Ray and D.A. Kirk ended-up explaining their roles and the limits of their power.

To explain this, Ray said that he receives calls from constituents asking him to fix issues happening at schools or in county departments. He made it clear that as an elected official he has no authority over any other elected official. In other words, he cannot dictate to the county superintendent of schools or to school district boards, because they are elected. So, citizens need to approach and talk with those elected individuals regarding issues and programs.

Kirk said the California Constitution gives certain authorities to the district attorney and the sheriff. When dealing with tough situations, Kirk said he is allowed discretion and he also employs common sense. But, there are new (and old) laws on the books that are extremely frustrating.

I’ll end there and share more next week.

Protecting livestock

Assemblywoman, Megan Dahle, authored a bill that passed both state houses and was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. AB 1103 is called “Livestock Pass” and will create a program allows ranchers access to their property -- during an emergency -- to save their livestock. The curriculum will be developed by the State Fire Marshal within the next year.

Dahle praised the passing of AB 1103 claiming it is a victory in improving response efforts when disaster strikes. She said: In the North State, we know all too well what happens when a wildfire hits. Road closures to ensure the residents’ safety also prevent ranchers from doctoring their animals, providing them essential water and feed, or evacuating them. And while emergency responders and volunteer groups can assist in rescuing household pets and a few large animals, they lack the ranchers’ expertise necessary to handle large numbers of cattle or livestock.

This is a great move and I am very thankful the Democrats, who are the majority in both state houses, agreed to protect ranchers and livestock.

Congressman LaMalfa explains

With all the haggling in Washington D.C. (and that is just within the Democrat party), Congressman LaMalfa released a short comment saying why he is opposed to increasing the debt limit.

On Oct. 12, 2021, Congressman Doug LaMalfa said he voted against a resolution which will automatically raise the debt ceiling without allowing the House to fully debate on it.

 “House Democrats continue to use parliamentary tricks to mask increasing the debt limit by another $500 billion,” LaMalfa said. “Democrats have brought the full faith and credit of the United States to within a week of disaster in an effort to shield vulnerable members from blame next year. I voted to prevent a government shutdown and provide disaster aid to my constituents earlier this year, but I will not support Democrat attempts to put their electoral concerns above our national interests.”

Garden

Those freezes last week finished-off the garden and flowers. A week before that, I pulled a few more rhubarb stems that were still firm and made a batch of Rhubarb/Strawberry Jell-O jam and froze enough for another batch. And the week before that, I made a large batch of Green Tomato Sweet Relish getting 13 pint jars. They all sealed! I did not grow onions or bell peppers this year, so I purchased them at the local grocery stores.

So, I am getting my 16-year-old grandson, Bryce, to help me clean up the garden. He pulled out the giant pumpkin vines and the six tomato plants, while I worked on a flowerbed that was tangled with lots and lots of volunteer purple morning glory vines. Oh, they are a pain to pull out, even though the freeze wilts the leaves, so I used big shears to chop the tall amaranths, fever few, and glads that were entwined with the glory vines. Got it done, whew!

Veterans’ Parade is Nov. 6

The Etna Veterans’ Parade is just two weeks away, so get entered by calling Heather Ford at 1-530-467-3193 or me (number at the bottom). Please encourage U.S. military veterans to participate. This is a great time to show our appreciation for their service. The parade starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.

Remember to dial a 1 and the 530 area code, if you are making a local phone call – if you want your call to go through.

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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Liz Writes Life 10-13-21 -- Change in dialing local phone numbers, County leaders will speak and Veteran's Parade is Nov. 6

Liz Writes Life

Oct. 13, 2021

Conservatives will meet

The “State of the County” is the theme for Thursday’s meeting by the Siskiyou Conservative Republicans and the three slated speakers will share what has been happening this summer -- on several fronts.

Ray Haupt, chairman of the Siskiyou Co. Board of Supervisors, along with Siskiyou Co. Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue and Siskiyou Co. District Attorney Kirk Andrus will be speaking. Hot-button issues from illegal cannabis grows and wildfires to who has authority over groundwater will be discussed.

The meeting will be held Oct. 14, 2021 at the Montague United Methodist Church at 150 S 12^th St. in Montague. Meet and greet is at 11 a.m. with the meeting starting at 11:30 a.m. Lunch of smoked ham, zucchini bake, golden potato cheese medallions, soup, Popeye bread and triple chocolate cake by Jackie is available. To reserve lunch, call Annie at 842-2350. Admission to the meeting is free.

New telephone number additions

Sunday, October 24^th is the start date for a change in land-line phone calls or local calls. Residents should have received a large card in the mail explaining that we will now need to dial a “1” and the area code to call local numbers. Yep, it is a pain. The Federal Communications Commission adopted an order that made the change.

Because I had questions, I called Siskiyou Telephone Company and Sarah explained how it will work. Apparently, cell phones will not need to have the numbers changed if those numbers already have the area code in front of the seven-digit number. The “1” will be added automatically or is already added. Whew, that is a relief!

But, any cordless phone that you may have programmed local numbers will need to be reprogrammed with the “1” and the correct area code. This also means reprogramming your fax machine phone numbers.

“Yes, it is a big deal,” Sarah said, knowing that Siskiyou Telephone will likely receive phone calls asking why local phone calls don’t go through, that is – if they know to punch-in all 10 digits to Siskiyou Tel. To test the system, I made a local Etna call on my land-line. I punched-in all 10 numbers and the call went through. So the new 10-digit number system is already in effect.

For us older folks, it will be frustrating because we will now need to dial the extra four numbers on local calls and those within our 530 area code. Yep, things keep changing. I remember, when I was a kid and first allowed to make phone calls, we only had to dial the last four digits to call an Etna number. Fort Jones was long-distance and cost more, so I was rarely allowed to call my friend, Candace Seaver, who lived on Island Road.

Oh, and when I say “dial” I mean dial. Remember the old rotary phones where you put your finger in each numbered-hole and rotated it to the right one at a time?

Veterans Parade

Yay! After a year hiatus because of the pandemic, the Etna Veterans’ Parade is back on. This is the 20^th parade and will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 6, 2021.

Back in 2001, after the 911 terrorist attack on United States soil, Etna’s Fr. Sergis instigated the parade to honor our service men and women. Karen Wresch stepped-in and organized it for many years. Now, Heather Ford and I are the grass roots volunteers doing the organizing.

A big thank you goes to several entities and individuals, who literally make the parade happen. First, the Etna City Council gave its approval for the parade to be held on its streets and Etna Police Chief, Josh Short, will organize the barricades and traffic. Then, the Rotary of Scott Valley kindly agreed to host the parade under its insurance umbrella and will have three members do the line-up at the Etna High School. And, this week, the American Legion Perry Harris Post #260 will be choosing the grand marshal.

So, now we need veterans and current soldiers to participate in the parade. Family and friends, please encourage your veteran to get in the parade. All other groups and individuals, who like to support our USA military and veterans, are also invited to join in the parade. Let’s make this a great celebration for our U.S. military honoring the service given by so many men and women.

To get signed-up for the parade, call Heather at 1-530-467-3193 or Liz at 1-530-467-3515. Vinnie and Bob McNeil and Prudence Magnuson from the Rotary will give participants a number for the line-up at the Etna High School starting at 9:30 a.m. Duane’s Drain is providing a (free to us) port-a-potty outside the high school that morning.

Anyone who would like to sell items during the parade, should contact the Etna City Hall for approval.   

Garden

We didn’t get much of a rain on Oct. 7, 2021, but it sure feels like fall has arrived. The two tomato plants hadn’t received any irrigation for several weeks, but they continued to pump-out ripe tomatoes. The raccoon has reappeared (well the remnants of eaten-on-red-tomatoes can be seen) to snag some of the final ripe tomatoes. There were a few zuccs growing and I picked them on Friday before the predicted freezes started. So the garden is done! Yay, I am OK with that. It was a long, very hot season and I sure can’t complain.

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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Liz Writes Life - 10-5-2021 -- Newsom agrees to $138 million for wildfire prevention

Liz Writes Life

Oct. 6, 2021

 These days of blue skies have been wonderful! The two mornings of frosts last week did not kill-off my garden, but most plants are certainly slowing down. The pumpkin, cucumber, cantaloupe and several old-looking tomato plants need to be pulled out. The zucchini plants are still tall and producing, so I will leave them in a while longer. That means I need to irrigate them, two healthy tomato plants and the rhubarb every few days, so I will be gardening a bit longer.

Wildfire prevention

California Senator Brian Dahle and his wife, California Assemblywoman, Megan Dahle, sent out a press release celebrating support for wildfire prevention. After pushing negotiations in this year’s wildfire prevention funding, they identified a list of shovel-ready projects to protect communities in their district and received $30 million in grant funding. This is a big win out of Governor Gavin Newsom’s recently announced allocation of $138 million for the entire state.

“We are excited to announce the data we gathered on unfunded projects was prioritized in the governor’s funding and thankful for his trust in our local Fire Safe Councils’ abilities to do this critical work,” said the senator and assemblywoman.

 The projects will give communities resources necessary to prioritize and establish much-needed firebreaks. The Dahles stressed that over six million acres have been destroyed by wildfire in the past two years and the state is late in funding the much-needed clearing of unnatural undergrowth and using controlled burns. Our legislators also stressed the need to focus on mobilizing the timber industry, reducing environmental regulation and costly red tape that hold up projects – and to commit substantial, ongoing funds to wildfire prevention.

Klamath dams

The deadline to submit public comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding its proposal to transfer the hydroelectric license of the Klamath dams to the non-profit entity Klamath River Renewal Corp. closed the end of August.

CA. Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa sent out a press release explaining why he submitted opposition. I decided to use the congressman’s response, because it puts in a nutshell the comments made by Siskiyou County, Siskiyou Water Users Assoc. and many individuals that oppose the license transfer and ultimate destruction of the Klamath dams by the KRRC.

“Clear evidence rebukes the idea that salmon would have naturally traveled above the current site of Copco 1. But, undeterred by facts, zealous environmentalists continue their dogmatic pursuit of dam removal even if it sends millions of cubic yards of toxic sediment and silt downstream, forces school closures, wrecks the habitat of other threatened and endangered species, reduces our ability to manage water in the Klamath watershed and eliminates a key source of water for wildfire air attack craft with any liability placed firmly on the backs of California and Oregon Taxpayers. The dam removal plan will create a man-made natural disaster that will cost billions to clean up,” said LaMalfa.

Boy do I agree.

Then, if we add the destructive wildfires and declining water levels at reservoirs throughout the state into the comments, it makes one wonder at the sanity-level of anyone wanting to destroy any reservoirs. The current drought shows the desperate need for more water storage – in reservoirs – not less.

With the threat of rolling blackouts compounding the crisis of water shortage, it has been reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom is looking at constructing five “temporary” gas-fueled plants. The California Energy Commission approved licenses for the emergency gas generators (for up to five years) with the ability to generate 30 megawatts of energy from each generator. Hum, 30 megawatts times five generators is 150 megawatts. Keep that number in mind.

In researching the Klamath dams hydropower ability, I found that 151 megawatts of energy is generated and 70,000 customers receive power. The same amount the “temporary” gas-fueled plants will produce!

Once again, why in the world would anyone want to decrease our current ability to produce power and store water from a project that is already in place? I just don’t get it! Thank you to everyone that objected to FERC’s license transfer of the Klamath dams and provided facts to FERC regarding dam removal.

Update on FERC situation

I have read FERC’s Sept. 23, 2021 “Order Addressing Arguments Raised on Rehearing” by Siskiyou County that tried to appeal FERC’s June 2021 Transfer Order that allows the potential license transfer of the Klamath dams to the non-profit entity Klamath River Renewal Corp. In this mix of procedures -- that I admit are complicated to me -- the California legislature decided (negated) its need to be involved. This included the state ignoring its mandate to do the environmental assessments accomplished through California Environmental Quality Act, which is state law. For a state that is so environmentally aware, I find this shocking because demolishing the Klamath dams will be a huge detriment to the environment.

So, this puts the environmental assessments regarding the removal of the Klamath dams directly on the federal National Environmental Policy Act, which must be done by FERC.

Once again, I called our Siskiyou County Supervisor, Ray Haupt, for clarification.

Ray said that FERC refuses to hear the county’s arguments. As a result, the county has two choices: One is to fight the current license transfer order that did not have a NEPA, but has no case law to support the county. The second is to wait until NEPA is completed and then challenge -- if it is insufficient.

“We must be prudent in the challenges we make,” Ray said. “It is the public’s money, not my money.”

As most folks know, lawsuits cost lots of money and I agree the county must be careful to use the best process that could provide a win in court.

Typically, NEPA takes about two years of environmental studies and several public comment periods to complete.

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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Liz Writes Life 9-29-2021 - More concern over state water board's certified letters

Liz Writes Life

Sept. 29, 2021

More concern over groundwater wells

I received several phone calls from folks concerned over the recent new “Emergency Regulation” by the State Water Board that stopped water use by adjudicated water right allocations on Aug. 30, 2021.

Folks with domestic wells, including non-adjudicated wells, received a certified letter from the Water Board explaining the “drought emergency minimum flows” in the Scott and Shasta River watersheds and the need to report water use and immediate stoppage of using adjudicated water. This is because the water flows in the Scott and Shasta Rivers are considered much too low by the Water Board.

After talking with a Water Board staff person and emailing with another, I learned that you do not have to report water usage and you do not have to stop using your groundwater well – if it is not adjudicated and you use a minimum amount. And some domestic adjudicated wells can continue to be used. Deadline to report was Sept. 24, 2021.

Questions have arisen. One is the need to understand “adjudication.” Adjudication typically means two or more people argued over water use and a court decision “decreed” who would receive how much water and when from a single source. In a differing situation, many groundwater wells were included in the 1980 Scott River Adjudication. The county or state water law involving that adjudication process is way beyond my knowledge or understanding, but it occurred in a Siskiyou County Court.

I talked with Ray Haupt, our Dist. 5 Siskiyou Co. Supervisor who is also chairman of the board. He said the board discussed the new “Emergency Regulation” at their Sept. 22, 2021 meeting. The supervisors voted to send a letter to the Water Board asking for the science behind their minimum flow requirements on the Scott and Shasta Rivers. Our board is also asking where and how the state has authority over domestic wells that were permitted by the county and are not adjudicated.

“The letter caught the public off-guard,” Ray told me, referring to non-adjudicated well landowners that were fearful and confused by the (possible) demand to stop using their domestic well. He and the other board members are also requesting Water Board representatives attend a Siskiyou Board meeting to discuss these issues regarding this potentially year-long “Emergency Regulation.” So, we will see what happens next.

In phone calls and emails with the Water Board staff, I learned that folks whose domestic well has gone dry should report it. There are grants and resources to help with domestic health and safety due to the drought.

So, I called Bryan Schenone, the director of Siskiyou Co. Office of Emergency Services, and asked him about reporting dry wells. He said it helps the county vie for financial help from the state that would directly aid the domestic well owners. In the past month, only one dry well has been reported to him. In comparison, Bryan said that Glenn Co. has reported more than 60 domestic wells going dry and Tehama reported 48 domestic wells going dry in the last month or so. They will be higher up the totem pole, when asking for state help.

There are several reasons folks don’t report their well going dry. One is that they don’t know the county could possibly help with finances to drill the well deeper or other possibilities. And, there are rumors that their well will then be in adjudication or metered. Bryan assured me that these rumors are not true. And, I agree. The wells cannot be adjudicated if they have not gone through a court system and order. Also, I don’t think domestic wells are metered in or by Siskiyou County jurisdiction. But, I will check on that one. Some wells are metered in our local towns and cities, but that is decided by that city council.

So, if your domestic well has gone dry, at least call Bryan and discuss the situation and the possibilities of help.

Garden

Oh, it is so nice that autumn is here and the skies have been pretty clear of smoke since that Sept. 18 and 19^th rain! My garden is winding down. Some of the bush zinnias are already dying, along with bee balm and the cantaloupe vines are turning yellow – so I picked the last four good-sized cantaloupes although they really didn’t look ripe. They should be ripe, because these are an 85-day variety and it has been more than 140 days since they were planted.

With the cooler nights, I decided to cut the five giant pumpkins off the vines. These are not extra huge, probably 40 to 50 pounds with the biggest at maybe 70 pounds. I could barely roll the big one out of the patch! The side they have been laying on is flat, but two-thirds is orange and looks like a pumpkin. It was fun growing them and they certainly did put on the most growth in August.

I’ve been picking ripe tomatoes and need to make several batches of Green Tomato Sweet Relish. Several tomato plants are already dying back as well. So, now it is time to start pulling plants out of the garden and cleaning it up. I tend to procrastinate and not get this done until winter or spring, but have already started. We will see how well my energy and attention-levels hold out to get it done!

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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Liz Writes Life - 9-22-21 California Water Board stops irrigation water use with new regulation

Liz Writes life

Sept. 22, 2021

Some folks in Scott Valley were upset and confused last week, when they received certified letters from the State Water Resources Control Board explaining a curtailment of water use has been put into effect.

It took some reading and a phone call to the water board staff to learn if domestic wells were exempt from curtailment and reporting. The information I received said that they are exempt, but folks that are concerned or confused should contact the water board staff for their own clarification.

There is a difference for domestic wells that are under adjudication. Those property owners must still report estimated water usage and it also must be under two-acre feet of water per year, according to the information I received.

So, according to the letter, most adjudicated water right holders must stop any water use (irrigation) and immediately report that stoppage. Deadline for reporting to the water board is Sept. 24, 2021. Fines for violating this newly implemented Emergency Regulation can be up to $1,000 per day.

Report on-line

Within the eight-page certified letter, readers are informed that “an acre-foot of water is approximately 325,000 gallons and is roughly the amount of water that 2 to 3 households in California use in a year.” So a single residence would likely use less than one acre-feet of water, which is half of the maximum. Whew! There is a website to use to sign-in and do your reporting. This will also put you in an email-type of notification/informational list.

According to the letter, it looks like water needed for residential, livestock and safety for fire firefighting is allowed to be utilized.

Because of the extreme drought, water-flows in creeks and rivers have been extremely low to none and many water right holders stopped diverting early -- or back in May, when the water board curtailed lower-priority-water-right diversions.

Whether non-agricultural folks know it or not, farmers have worked to reduced water usage in a variety of ways – for years.

The scary part

This “Emergency Regulation” was adopted on Aug. 17, 2021, by the water board, which established “drought emergency minimum flows” in the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds. The regulation went into effect on Aug. 30, 2021 and will remain in effect for one year!

Shockingly, this could stop all irrigation next spring in Scott and Shasta Valleys! Yep, this is really upsetting. It would devastate the agricultural community and drastically affect our Siskiyou County economy.

The water board can repeal the Emergency Regulation if water supply conditions improve. If we get good fall rains and a super-winter-supply of snow, the river flows should greatly increase. So, the million dollar question is: Will the water board rescind this curtailment of adjudicated water usage if we receive sufficient moisture?

The letter discusses the minimum flows that are set for the Scott River. On Sept. 3, 2021 the water flow was approximately 8 cfs (cubic feet per second) and the drought minimum flow for September has been established to be 33 cfs. That’s not good! The state board explains it believes that stopping adjudicated use (irrigation) will raise the groundwater table, even if it does not immediately increase the water flow in the river.

In the letter, the water board says it doesn’t have all the groundwater contacts or water right information it needs to let all adjudicated water right users know that they must stop irrigating. (I find that surprising. This is the agency that governs court-ordered adjudications and provides watermasters to oversee water right usage.) So, the water board decided to do this extensive certified letter project in hopes it will reach those diverters not in the water board’s files.

Yet, it still raises alarm bells to many domestic well owners. It feels like domestic wells are being lumped into the jurisdiction of adjudication.

I called our Siskiyou Co. Dist. 5 Supervisor Ray Haupt about this situation. He is frustrated over several legal issues and has put the topic on the Sept. 21, 2021 county supervisors’ agenda. Ray also contacted our State Assemblywoman Megan Dahle and State Senator Brian Dahle’s offices for help. He said the senator is also frustrated about this threat to agriculture and is working on the issue at the state level.

Webinar for help

The state water board staff is planning a webinar to help with reporting. It is called: Curtailment and Reporting Assistance webinar. It will be held Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 from 9 a.m. to noon. The link can be found by putting the webinar title in the search icon on the State Water Resources Control Board website. It may take searching a page or two to find the link, but it clicks right to a notice where you can click on the zoom video meeting link.

There should be much more information to share about this water issue next week. I will try to get on the zoom meeting and see how well people are able to report on-line. Sure hope the computer program works better than the one they had adjudicated water right holders use back around 2011, when I helped a neighbor who did not have a computer to report her water usage.

Garden

The cantaloupes are being tricky. They don’t look or act ripe, but after losing several because they were too mushy, I started picking them. It has been over 120 days since the seeds were planted and the larger melons should be ripe. More tomatoes are turning red. Several times, I have washed the smoke ash off the plants. Boy, it was thick. 

Thank you to all firefighters! And may lots of autumn rains bless our area.

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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Liz Writes Life - 9-15-21 -- Evacuation and life for a child in 1919

Liz Writes Life

Sept. 15, 2021

This is being written on Thursday of last week, Sept. 9, 2021, after I was evacuated with the expanded Callahan evac order last night. Luckily, last weekend I wrote a little history about my dad, when he was eight years old, so I have decided with all this fire craziness it will be my column this week.

This was a collaboration of remembrances with my older brother and sister. Steve started it back in July, when it was National Buffalo Soldier Day. Our dad had a wonderful encounter with an old Buffalo Soldier in September 1919. Steve had much more detail to these two stories than I did and Lorena remembered dad had ridden through mountains there in Southern Arizona. I also called a cousin in Redding, who explained the distances and topography of that area. So, here goes.

Our father, Harold Hearst Dillman, was born 110 years ago, on Sept. 6, 1911, in or near the small town of Douglas, Cochise County of the Territory of Arizona, USA. Hearst died March 13, 1995 in Yreka, Siskiyou County, California, USA.

George Robert Dillman and Rose Ann Beecroft Dillman are his parents, who married September 21, 1906 in Colonia Pacheco, Chihuahua, Mexico. Eight other children were born to George and Rose Ann. Hearst was the second son and third child. By 1919, the family lived in Whitewater – later called Elfrida – about 30 miles north of Douglas. His grandfather had homesteaded there.

Without argument, the early American 20^th century was another time and dimension -- a much different American culture and society than in 2021.

For the time period, Hearst likely lived a fairly normal childhood. The family was poor – scraping-out a living through various rural agricultural means in hot southern Arizona. Many children quickly learned tasks and skills that resulted in tremendous responsibilities. It was normal for children to be milking the family cow by age 5 or 6 along with feeding and cleaning-up after chickens and other livestock.

Not so, for children in the 21^st century USA! Remember, in 1919, the family did not have running water or electricity. And, they did not own a car.

On Sept. 6, 1919, George was working on the famous Texas Ranger John Slaughter’s “San Bernardino Ranch” in Cochise County, Arizona as a teamster. It was a full-day’s horseback ride to the ranch from where the Dillman’s lived, but George was allowed to ride home to celebrate Hearst’s 8^th birthday. We don’t know much about the birthday celebration, but George took quite ill with the flu. The previous year, the infamous Spanish influenza (now known as the Great Influenza Epidemic of 1918 to 1920) had struck the world and was still a raging pandemic.

The illness must have weakened the normally robust George, because Rose Ann was concerned he may not be able to endure the all-day ride back to the Slaughter Ranch headquarters. So, Rose Ann decided that Hearst should ride with George to the ranch, spend the night and then ride home the next day.

Apparently, the father and son made the long day-trip without incident even though they rode south through the Swisshelms and Chiricahua Mountain ranges. After arriving, Hearst was invited to eat with George and the ranch hands. The cook was a black man. Hearst was told he had been a Buffalo Soldier back in the day.

(The 10^th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army was formed in 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas with all black men. The regiment was tasked with supporting the nation’s westward expansion by protecting settlers, building roads and guarding the U.S. mail.)

As the story goes, cook was informed that young Hearst had just turned 8. So, the old Buffalo Soldier told Hearst he would make him a chocolate cake to celebrate. Hearst responded that he had never seen or eaten chocolate cake and was not sure he would like it. Cook then decided to convince him by saying, that “all boys like chocolate cake!” which apparently he did, because Hearst enjoyed chocolate throughout his life.

Early, the next morning, Hearst saddled-up his horse and rode by himself back through the mountains to the Dillman home. It was at least a 30-mile ride.

Next story:

Hearst told his son, Steve, that not long after that overnight trip, a local rancher must have decided that he was dependable – enough to do a job. Many men had been called-up to military service during World War 1 and those that had survived were not yet home, although the armistice was signed on Nov. 11, 1918. As Hearst put it, “Men were hard to find.”

So, Hearst’s first job, where he received a wage, was to ride horseback out in the desert to a stock watering tank. With no roads to follow, his horse likely followed a cow trail. At the water tank, he would start a hit-and-miss engine by pouring fuel into the little gas tank and then give the fly-wheel a spin. The word “tank” is a misnomer, because in Arizona stock tanks were an earthen pond.

Hearst was sent out with some food and a canteen of water in his saddle bags and a gallon of gas likely tied to the saddle horn. After making sure the engine was pumping water, he then rode back home – a day-long job. The next day, or a few days later, Hearst would head a different direction to another stock water tank that needed water. I don’t have any idea how much school Hearst attended during this time.

Chances are Hearst was barefoot. Lorena remembers Rose Ann told her that Hearst did not have a purchased new pair of shoes until he was 10 years old. He may have had second-hand shoes and the Mexicans made sandals, but in several photos from the time period, Hearst can be seen with no shoes.

Yep, our life is much different in 2021.

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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Liz Writes Life 9-8-21 -- CA Governor ignores forest hearing

Liz Writes Life

Sept. 8, 2021

Newsom ignores forest hearing

In a scathing press release, CA. Dist. 1 Assemblywoman Megan Dahle laid the lack of funding to streamline healthy forest projects on Governor Gavin Newsom. Dahle said the Newsom administration has completely failed to provide desperately needed budget funding to $400 million in projects that are ready and waiting.

“Our governor can no longer be all talk and no action,” said Dahle. “California’s majestic forests must be treated, not regulated into further destruction. It is time for his administration to provide real resources on the ground to fund efforts to manage our forests, combat catastrophic wildfires and assist wildfire victims in rebuilding.”

During the past eight years, Assemblywoman Dahle and her husband, Brian Dahle, who is our Dist. 1 state senator, have invited and hosted more than 125 state legislative members to their district with the specific goal of educating them on sustainable forestry management practices that protect the environment and climate from the huge smoke clouds of unnecessary carbon emissions. The Dixie, River Complex, McCash, Antelope and several other fires are currently burning out-of-control. More than one million acres have burned in the First Assembly District this year.

The neighboring Caldor Fire is also a huge threat. With this magnitude of fires, California is on track to suffer the most devastating wildfire season in recent history.

Megan Dahle further explained, “year after year we have been ignored, our policies shunned, our legislation shot down and we have been at the mercy of special interest groups who would rather watch the state burn than work together to implement good environmental public policy.”

Dahle was involved with the Wildfire Prevention and Forest Resiliency hearing, but it was canceled. She said that Newsom’s administration refused to participate. In its place the Assembly Republican Wildfire Working Group hosted an informational forum on the barriers, challenges and solutions to preventing catastrophic wildfires.

I’d like to send a big “thank you” out to Megan Dahle and legislators that are trying to get forest health practices accomplished – instead of just being talked about!

Vaccine mandates

At the risk of adding more fuel to the fire over the controversy of COVID vaccine mandates, I do want to alert folks that the state Democrat-led legislature is working to pass bills that would impose vaccine mandates on private industry.

Dist. 1 Assemblywoman Megan Dahle sent out an alert that she opposed AB 455, which she calls a gut-and amend bill. This means the text for the bill was originally about something else (in this case it was about transportation) and then just before the deadline during this legislative session the text was gutted and amended to impose the vaccine mandate on private industry. I believe this bill has now been dropped and will not be voted upon – this year. But there are rumors about another bill, AB 1102, that could be amended to allow employers to require mandatory COVID-19 vaccination as condition of employment.

Assemblywoman Dahle said she believes COVID-19 vaccination should be a personal choice and not mandated by the government. She urged citizens to check on these bills and make your voices heard, because situations are rapidly developing. I believe this legislative session will close on Sept. 10^th.

Republicans will meet

The Siskiyou Conservative Republicans will be meeting Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 at the Methodist Church in Montague. Mark Meuser, who is running for U.S. Senate against Alex Padilla, will be the featured speaker through a zoom meeting at 11:15 a.m. So, get there early! Mark is a Constitutional attorney who represented CA. Governor Candidate Larry Elder, when Elder was originally left off of the Recall ballot. Meuser won the court case and Elder is indeed on the ballot; and the front runner of the candidates in the Recall of Governor Gavin Newsom election that will be held Sept. 14, 2021. Be sure to get your ballot mailed by that date. Call Annie Ohlund at 530-842-2351 to reserve lunch of barbecue Cornish game hen.

Siskiyou Patriots to meet

Ray Haupt, chairman of the Siskiyou Board of Supervisors, will be speaking at the Siskiyou Patriots meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. Erin Ryan, staff for Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa will also speak on federal issues. The meeting is held at Covenant Chapel Church at 200 Greenhorn Rd. in Yreka.

Garden report

Vegetable output has slowed since the cooler temps hit several weeks ago, along with much cooler nights -- plus the wildfire smoke is blocking the sun quite a bit of the time. But, like normal, the tomatoes are gearing-up to really start ripening.

Gotta say that drying herbs in these cooler temps is not easy without using a dehydrator. The basil did not want to dry in the paper bags, cuz the room they were in was not getting extra hot. So I put the basil stems and leaves on a cookie sheet, pre-heated the oven to 250 degrees, turned the heat off and placed the basil in the oven for overnight. This pretty much dried it without the leaves turning too dark. Next year, I need to remember to dry the herbs in July and early August, while it is still hot!

I do have a dehydrator, but stopped using it because it increased my power bill more than I wanted to pay. During the heat of summer, using the paper bags is the cheap way to go.

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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