California Rural

Not Bad for an American Oil Tycoon . . .

2008-07-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

This actually sounds good. Try www.pickensplan.com and let me know. Our midwestern wind corridor could supply 22% of our energy needs and it looks like he has invested in that.
We're all familiar with the problem: dependence on foreign oil to the tune of 700 billion (that's with a "B") every year. That's a lot of negative cash flow not to mention dependency.
He didn't mention hydrogen fuel cells or nuclear in the small segment I watched but I am impressed that an oil man would even do this. Nice to see somebody with something at heart that actually matches his wallet.
Most all our electricity comes from coal-generating plants and coal is bad. Nuclear, wind, solar, tidal, all of these are preferable but not developed. How come?
Money of course. And not only investment dollars but invested dollars. A great many people and companies do very well with our foreign dependance and resist change. It's the free market economy at work I guess.

A Giant's Game . . . Life in the City

2008-07-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

Our San Francisco friends invited us for the weekend and to the game . . . Giants vs Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. They have a home on Lincoln Way which is the street on the south side of Golden Gate Park. Like the park it leads right down to the ocean. Ocean Beach to be exact, and since it's only a mile, their home is considered to be in the Outer Sunset, one of the dozen or so fascinating neighborhoods of this gem city.

San Francisco you see, is California's premier city. We natives think of it as "The City" so when somebody says 'where are you going?' you say 'why, to The City' and if they have any class, they know that means San Francisco. Now this surely will offend Angelitos and we don't have time to get into that here. This thumbnail is about just one day and one game.

The Giants lost as they have been doing too much according to our hosts, 7 to 4. But the experience of the crowd and the spirit of things was memorable. The AT&T Park as the field is known, apparently seats around 50,000 people and on this Sunday there were 37,000+ according to the announcements. Our friends have season tickets which, although the get them free, cost the average buyer $37. Now, since there are 81 home games that works out to just about three grand a season.

The gate price is 39 bucks though so 37,000 times $39 = nearly a mil and a half. And that's before you figure in the $25 parking, the $5 sodas, and the $8 beer. I'm beginning to see how players can get million dollar contracts.

But our friends, being SF natives, are savvy. While they live clear across town (all of seven miles) they know how to get the most out of the muni system. For a paltry 50 cents each we got from their place to the park. Yes, it took half an hour but the bus delivered us and hundreds of other Giants fans, right to the door.

After the game we sampled ghastly over-priced but delicious oysters in the awesomely remodeled Ferry Building which, about a mile away from the park, was a neat stroll along the bay. Excuse me, The Bay. Ferries coming and going, fire boats, and snug pubs on the water.

I could go on for some about this place but it's hard to put the essence of such a cosmopolitan metropolis into words. You just gotta go and feel it for yourself.

Editor

Home Construction Kits

2008-07-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

Sally and I operate a private company called Siskiyou Cedar Homes (www.siskiyoucedarhomes.com) which is a dealership for Pan Abode Homes, Inc. The concept is pre-cut frame homes that come on a truck. A contractor can put it together or, like Sally and I did 36+ years ago, you can do it yourself.

The idea is that the materials are kiln-dried, not wet green lumber that is warped and moldy. And it's pre-cut to reduce waste. The most popular style is conventional stud wall design with the typical exterior siding and sheetrock inside although there are other styles that feature more of a cedar look.

We have the plan books and samples here at our office or you can order them online from Pan Abode at www:panabodehomes.com for about $20. It's called the Custom Home Guide and in addition to a DVD there is a book with several dozen suggested floor plans.

But most of our clients either amend one of the plans in the book or submit their own. Either way the design cost is part of the package and by the time you are ready to build you will have the conventional, large-paper plans to give your contractor.

If you are thinking of saving some money and getting a full-custom home at the same time give us a call. Kits start around $25 a square foot so there is a lot of money you can save with this program.

No Comment

2008-07-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

I set this blog up so that people who would like to say something about an article can click on "comments" and put in their two cents. The comment comes to me as an email with three choices: publish, respond, or delete. This latter is to avoid odd remarks from the Funny People.

But I am not getting any. Comments, that is. This can be taken only one way . . . everything I am writing is RIGHT. Of course you think this when you put pen to paper but well, this is a little heady. Sort of like not hearing any dissent you tend to get a little swell (look that one up, it has some interesting definitions).

Suddenly your thoughts become 'smart' and 'timely'. You can imagine the euphoria this brings on. This is dangerous, especially in my hands. To feel relevant and important all of a sudden can lead to illusions of grandeur.

Fortunately, I am aware that you are not complaining or charging me with internet abuse because you are just too . . . busy. Or something.

So I continue to feel free to careen off into the outrageous and enjoy the luxury of a monologue.

Still, it would be nice to hear from someone . . .

Our Mens' Club Here in Lake Shastina

2008-07-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

We have a delightful gathering every month which breaks all the rules for Organized Groups. There is no agenda. No minutes. No secretary's report. There are no officers to give boring speeches, and no dues either. In fact there are no rules at all.

It's called simply The Mens' Club and the next "meeting" if you can call them that, is Wednesday the 6th of August at 8 AM in the restaurant at the golf resort. You can order any of the great menu breakfasts or just have a cup of coffee to lubricate the sharing of news and gossip over the next hour or so.

We meet old friends, catch up on what's going on (or should be going on!), and we warmly welcome newcomers. In fact if you need a ride give me a call. I'll introduce you to the guys I know, too.

Bruce Batchelder, Editor

The Fawns Among Us

2008-07-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

I got this shot on Hogan today. There actually were three of them with one mother and I've seen several other families wandering about like this. The little guys look like they are no more than a couple days old but I know very little about this and want to get that on the table up front. For instance, I thought deer gave birth in the spring so as to give the youngsters some months to get enough weight on that they can manage their first winter. So why is it happening now?

I saw another set of triplets on Lake Shore but one of the fawns was bleating piteously because it was being rebuffed by the mother (I presume as it was trying to nurse her). In fact, all the other adults in the group tried to run it off. Somewhere back I heard that the females have only two teats and if they bear three or more young one is nudged out and starves. Does anybody know anything about that? Are any of you readers hunters or outdoors people?

Anyway, the whole reason for this rambling is to re-state what the obvious: these youngsters are even dumber than their parents when it comes to moving out of the way of an oncoming car. Whereas you can more or less assume that an adult deer moving across the road left to right will continue that way (still, don't count on it and even if they do keep your eye to the left as there may easily be a group of them), these fawns just prance to and fro with no plan whatsoever. And since way too many of us are driving faster than we should anyway, this makes for a likely roadkill scenario. I don't know about you but if this happened to me I'd feel absolutely crappy. It's bad enough to hit a grownup deer but seeing a Bambi under my car would ruin my day big time.

So yeah, slow down and watch the roadside more closely right now. But also remember this is their turf; we came here AFTER they did and should show a little respect for their timing if nothing else.

Farmers' Markets

2008-07-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year when you can really appreciate fresh fruits, vegetables, and local crafts at the many local farmers' markets. These shots were taken in Medford when we stumbled across their Thursday event on South Pacific Highway. Like many, we make a "Costco run" once a month and this market was going strong yesterday. There was plenty of parking (paved, as was the market itself) and the temps had dropped from Wednesday's 102 degrees so it was bearable.

Much of what is sold in farmers' markets is organic and the 'made' goods like bread, candy, and food (tamales, Japanese dishes, donuts, etc. etc. at this one) are all cooked at home. There was even a stall that sold locally-raised buffalo meat. So what you get does not come by ship from Chile or Australia coated with preservatives and such. In fact it was hard to put off our planned lunch in Ashland there was so much ready-to-eat stuff!

There are markets like this here in Siskiyou County too, of course. I know of one in Weed and another in Mt. Shasta. The respective Chambers of Commerce would surely know the days and locations of each. It's likely there are markets in Yreka and Scott Valley as well.

They even had kiddie rides on ponies (the mist was for the heat):

SHERIFF JOE IS AT IT AGAIN!

2008-07-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

(Thanks to John Kilburn for the following:)

Oh, there's MUCH more to know about Sheriff Joe!

Maricopa County was spending approx. $18 million dollars a year on stray animals, like cats and dogs. Sheriff Joe offered to take the department over and the County Supervisors said okay.

The animal shelters are now all staffed and operated by prisoners. They feed and care for the strays. Every animal in his care is taken out and walked twice daily. He now has prisoners who are experts in animal nutrition and behavior. They give great classes for anyone who'd like to adopt an animal. He has literally taken stray dogs off the street, given them to the care of prisoners, and had them place in dog shows.

The best part is that the budget for the entire department is now under $3 million. Teresa and I adopted a Weimaraner from aMaricopa County shelter two years ago. He was neutered, and current on all shots, in great health, and even had a microchip inserted the day we got him. Cost us $78.

The prisoners get the benefit of about $0.28 an hour for working, but most would work for free, just to be out of their cells for the day. Most of his budget is for utilities, building maintenance, etc. He pays the prisoners out of the fees collected for adopted animals.

I have long wondered when the rest of the country would take a look at the way he runs the jail system, and copy some of his ideas. He has a huge farm, donated to the county years ago, where inmates can work, and they grow most of their own fresh vegetables and food, doing all the work and harvesting by hand. He has a pretty good sized hog farm, which provides meat, and fertilizer. It fertilizes the Christmas tree nursery, where prisoners work, and you can buy a living Christmas tree for $6 - $8 for the Holidays, and plant it later. We have six trees in our yard from the Prison.

Yup, he was reelected last y ear with 83% of the vote.

Martin Mars Aircraft Fights Local Fires

2008-07-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

This monster tanker is one of only two in the world and until a few minutes ago was moored at Bridge Bay on Shasta Lake, fighting the numerous wildfires around Redding. It is the Hawaii Mars built by the Glenn Martin Company in the late 1930's for long-range Navy maritime patrol duty. Six were built originally but over the course of the war and later cargo duties two were lost to accidents. The remaining four, all named after South Pacific Island groups, were auctioned for scrap in 1956 from the Alameda Naval Air Station where they had been flying cargo since the war. Affectionately known as the Big Four, they had accumulated 87,000+ accident free hours of service and their impending doom was mourned by their loyal navy crews.

Dan McIvor, a fire tanker pilot in Canada got wind of the sale and picked up all four along with 30-some spare engines (enormous 2,500 hp Wright Cyclones), 47 tons of spare parts, and cabinets full of design plans. He ferried all the goods in the aircraft up to Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island and outfitted each with a unique retractable scoop that could be lowered behind the step on the seaplane's hull. This allowed the plane to scoop up water while skimming the surface of a lake, saving vast amounts of time and money. The craft can carry up to 60,000 lbs. of water and it takes a mere 30 to 40 seconds to load, mixing a fire retardant called Thermo-Gel as it comes into the onboard tanks.

As the years went by one craft was lost in an accident and another in a windstorm. The two remaining, Hawaii Mars and Philippine Mars, now travel all over the world with a complete ground support 18 wheeler (that carries spare parts and an extra engine) as well as a tanker truck for aviation fuel. The visit to Shasta Lake was only for a few days and I did not get to see the aircraft in action much to my regret. I was planning on going down Tuesday the 8th and just watching until it took off but when I called they said it was being dispatched today the 5th for some fires west of Palo Cedro.

A gallery of photos and more info can be found at www.martinmars.com.

What This Day Means to Me

2008-05-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

I was born in 1940, about seven months before Pearl. I remember my Mom doing a Victory Garden, making me save the aluminum wrapping from chewing gum, and rolling up string into big balls. We also had these little stamps for gas and things. I even remember the unforgettable rumble of B-17's leaving for England (we lived in Massachusetts) by way of Newfoundland and Greenland. It's hard to describe a sound 60+ years later but if you've ever heard a squeaky screen door you know what I mean.

Anyway, I was lucky enough to be part of the 1950's and to remember Mel's Drive-In, the skating waitresses, and yes, the '57 Thunderbird. The war in Korea had ended by the time I graduated from high school in 1958 and I blissfully went straight into college, got married, and had three kids with my then pony-tailed wife.

So I was exempt from Vietnam, too.

And now, all these free years later, I wonder how lucky I am that I was not watching flak over Germany or starving and freezing in Korea. I'm even feeling a little guilty that the numbers came up as they did. I'm an armchair WW II buff you see, and knowing now what nineteen year-olds went through so that I could go to college and marry and raise a family in a safe and comfortable country well, it makes me real respectful.

I'm not sure my own kids know what this is all about, either. They are all too old (oh, boy) or married, etc. to be called to Iraq so how can I tell them now neat it is what we've got?

So I'm going out Monday and plant a flag where a B-24 went down here so needlessly in a training accident just because.

Tule Lake Migratory Bird Festival May 17

2008-05-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

This annual event promises a lot of activities and fun. It begins at the Refuge Visitor Center on Hill Road in Tule Lake and looks like it could run most of the day with guided bus tours, mist netting and banding, airboat rides, morning bird walks, live blues music and even food.

We have been to this refuge, which is located on Highway 161 right on the Oregon border. To reach it one drives north on Highway 97 from Weed, through Macdoel and turn east on 161 just a few miles beyond Dorris. It took us about 1-1/2 hours from Lake Shastina.

If you don't have a county map call me at 530-938-0385 and I will mail you one.

The article in the paper recommends calling 530-667-2231 for more info and their website is helpful too: www.fws.gov/klamathbasinrefuges.

THE SUNDIAL BRIDGE

2008-05-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

If you haven’t visited northern California, I mean far northern California, now is the time to do so. Just an hour south of Siskiyou County is Redding. You may not know it but Redding really has something special to offer.

The Sacramento meanders right through Redding in its entire splendor. Did you know that the headwaters of the Sacramento is in Mt. Shasta City? Don’t forget to visit the Mt. Shasta City Park, sit on a park bench and relax at the headwaters.

The City of Redding decided to dedicate a portion of the river for people to enjoy. They wanted to make it a natural habitat that includes native plants and animals. They created miles of walkways along the river as well as Turtle Bay, the museum that is dedicated to the history and natural habitat of the area. But it gets better. They also built the Sundial Bridge to cross the river. It is an actual sundial. It has been featured in “Sunset Magazine”, “VIA”, and other travel magazines. It is truly worth a visit.

Park your car and either bike or walk across the bridge. Stop on the bridge to admire the river and watch the fisherman. After crossing the bridge you can walk or ride the miles of pathways. This time of year the scenery is painted with wildflowers and huge Oak Trees that seem centuries old. You can even visit the Arboretum, which has all the flowers and bushes you can even imagine.

WHERE IS SPRING?

2008-04-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

It is like a roller coaster around here. We get two days of shorts and 70-degree weather and I am madly digging in the garden. The very next day the temperature drops to a high of 45 degrees and a low of 18 degrees. The wind howls and there is no end in sight for the next five days. This really is a little unusual for Siskiyou County. My daughter called from Seattle and said it snowed and not only did it snow but the snow stayed on the ground. So, I guess it is unusual everywhere.

The stall in the planting season has made me think and plan a little more on what I want to grow in my garden. When we first had a touch of warm weather, I rushed out to the nursery and bought Pansies, English Daisies and Ranuculous. I planted them in my pots on the patio and for approximately six hours I had lovely bright spring colors. Well, maybe it was longer than that. But you see, I was asleep when all the color disappeared.

When I woke up in the morning the sun was shining and I could hardly wait to see the touch of spring I had planted. I should not have been surprised but I didn’t have a plant left anywhere. The deer had a snack during the night and I was left with mowed down plants.

Now, I knew that might happen. I even have a spray called Deer Off that has a nasty taste. Did I apply it? Of course not. So, now that the weather is cold and dreary, I am rethinking my choice of plants. I need to do more research on deer resistant plants if there is such a thing.

But, you know it is a trade off. If I lived in a large city I probably would be able to plant anything and not worry. But I chose to live in a rural environment, which is actually a deer habitat. I am intruding on their territory so I need to quit complaining.

Recycling Printer Cartridges

2008-04-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

Each of these is worth 3 bucks at most office supply stores and while some of them limit you to three cartridges per purchase here's how you can manipulate that:

Office Depot recycles electonics. Old PC's, printers, monitors, etc. They ask that you buy the box(es) to put them in (small $5, medium $10, large $10) but that (they claim) covers their shipping costs.

So I walk in to the Medford Office Depot with 5 used-up ink cartridges and a $3 coupon from an earlier cartridge trade (they'll take as many as you give them but only 3 can apply to a purchase, they give you a $3 coupon for the remaining ones).

In the back of my car I brought an old PC, a busted printer, two bad keyboards, and a box-full of old speakers, and other accessories.

The clerk suggests I apply 3 of my cartridges ($9) toward the $10 medium box and the other two cartridges + my $3 coupon toward a second medium box for a total net cost to me of $2.

Then he grabs a shopping cart, goes out to our car, and loads up all my stuff. After putting it all into the boxes and filling out the forms himself, he asks me to sign and I'm gone.

Maybe 15 minutes but I have responsibly disposed of things I'd have to wait months to do locally.

For 2 bucks.

footnote: We just replaced a printer (you can't repair them these days, not only are parts unavailable but the labor cost may approach the cost of a new one.....)and noticed the black ink cartridge seemed pretty small compared to the old one. Sure enough, the defunct printer used a 40 ml cartridge which I used to buy for $15 (remanufactured, from PrintPal.com in Medford) and the new one has a 10 ml cartridge which costs, yup you got it, $13.95. One-fourth the capacity, one buck less. Why do I suspect a plan here?

Siskiyou County in WW II

2008-03-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

Sally and I take day trips to places in Siskiyou County that are off the beaten path and one of these was the old county airport just north of Montague. It is a curious, almost haunting place with abandoned hangars and buildings dating to the 1940's and most intriguing, a hugely long 7,300 foot paved airstrip.

So I got to asking around and it turns out this field was built by the Army Corps of Engineers in late '42, early '43 as an emergency field for the military aircraft during WW II, specifically the "heavies" like the B-17 and B-24 that were on training flights or Lend Lease transfers to Russia. That's how I got onto the following story....

It was overcast that night in Salinas on June 10, 1943 when B-24E tail number 42-7119 finally lifted off at ten minutes to midnight on a night navigational training flight. There were two student pilots on board, an instructor pilot, navigator, engineer, and gunners; total crew was ten.

The bomber, part of the 7th bomb squadron, was nearly new with just over 200 flying hours on three of its monster Pratt & Whitney R1830-65 Twin Wasp radial engines. Yet a host of "small" problems delayed the lift off including hydraulic leaks and radio trouble.

The flight plan was to climb to 11,000 feet then turn northwest over Sacramento and head for Scotia, a small mill town just south of Eureka on Highway 101. Then due east to Redding, south to Bakersfield, and home. We don't know where it actually went however, because although orders were to report in every 30 minutes no radio contact was ever made with the flight.

What we do know is that George Linnville in Weed was wakened by his wife around 2:20am that next morning saying she heard a big plane with engine trouble flying nearby. George stumbled outside, looked up toward the sound, and saw a large aircraft pass over the town heading north with engines sounding "funny". As he was watching, the craft's navigation lights blinked off and it began a slow turn to the west and south, eventually crashing behind a hill south of town and exploding. Now 94, George still remembers the glow.

Four of the ten, including the instructor and one of the student pilots had managed to bail out just before impact but six others perished. The instructor's testimony in the subsequent investigation stated that # 2 engine had lost oil pressure but would not feather (propellor blades twisted edge-on into the wind to minimize drag). Engines are numbered from left to right so this was the engine closest to the student pilot Albert Demeusy in the left seat.

The instructor pilot asked the navigator, George Clarke who was killed in the crash, where they were and he replied they were over Redding but when # 2 suddenly feathered all by itself, the instructor, 1st Lt. Douglas Thornburg decided they could make it safely to Sacramento.

Then number one feathered itself as well.

The craft now has one completely dead wing with two engines running at full power on the opposite wing, a hopeless condition and the instructor told the crew to don their chutes. He thought they were at 8,000 feet when his occurred and turning south (it would have been nearly impossible to prevent the craft from making a left turn at this point, regardless). The instructor said he saw mountains on either side (it was a quarter moon that morning), probably Black Butte to his left and the Eddies to his right and told the co-pilot to head toward a clearing below. Rumor has it that he or some other member of the crew knew about the old Deetz Airstrip which mail pilots used, but there is no way to know for sure.

Weed is roughly 3,000 ft. altitude so the airplane was only 5,000 ft. above the ground if their altitimeter was correct (which is questionable, both electrical and vacuum power systems had failed by this point). The aircraft went in near Truck Village Drive, almost under where the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 now are. The resulting explosion and fire destroyed most of the plane and the Army salvaged the rest within a few days. The site is just short of the Deetz field by a mile or two.

I have been to the site and have collected some small pieces of molten aluminum, 50 calibre ammunition clips, and such, but no artifacts with "32" on them, Consolidated's official signature. Nor any name plate with serial numbers or other traceable information. Local stories relate that residents combed the wreck site for months afterward, returning bits and pieces to the Sheriff's Department and some, to their homes. One man claims to still have an oil pressure guage which would be a sad twist if true.

When the weather warms and the ground thaws I'll be back with friends and metal detectors to lay out a search grid. We plan to erect a simple stone cairn to memorialize the fallen crew eventually. But some things I'll never learn: why, with an instructor pilot aboard, was the craft so far off course (nearly 60 miles north of Redding)? How could a prop feather all by itself? With 5,000 feet of clearance, why did six men not have time to bail out? And the closure question: Does anyone have an artifact from this wreck on their mantlepiece?

I continue to interview witnesses and put pleas in the local papers for artifacts or stories. I am also trying to find decendants of the crew in the hopes that someone will have a story to tell. I will post updates of this story's progress on my local blog www.myshastina.com under the aviation label and continue to wait for the phone to ring. My number is 530-938-0385 or you can email me at batchelder@gotsky.com.

Bruce Batchelder

FOOTNOTE 5 APRIL; We now have a "32" part thanks to an energetic local volunteer who is a bottle-hunter on the side. It has GK32B047 stamped on it and (again, thanks to Craig Fuller of Aviation Archaeology.com) is identified as a hinge for one of the rollers on the bomb bay door (in the B-24 they rolled up, into the fuselage rather than swinging outward as in the B-17). Doyle Yandell, the volunteer also found a cooked-off 50 cal shell so there is no doubt the plane was military and built by Consolidated in San Diego. Our next 'dig' is Saturday April 12 and volunteers with metal detectors have promised to show up. See you there !

THE STATE OF JEFFERSON CONTINUED

2008-03-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

The citizens of the northern California and southern Oregon counties felt isolated and ignored in the 1940's. These rural counties were sparcely populated and depended on lumber and fishing for survival. The legeislatures located in Salem and Sacramento seemingly ignored their needs. So they revolted.

They started to gain newspaper notoriety when they declared that the new state of Jefferson would not have sales tax, property tax, or income tax. The source of revenue for the new state would be red light districts and gambling halls, of all things.

On December 4, 1941 the election for the first govenor of the state of Jefferson was held. A crescent City judge, John C. Childs, won the election. Quite a party ensued. Hollywood newsreels were invited along with photographers from "Life" and "Time" magazines. The local people were asked to dress like cowboys and carry pistols. Even the kids were given a day off from school to join in a parade to the court house.

Then progress came to an end. December 7, 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and all national attention was focused on the tragedy. Judge Child, in his last act as govenor, declared that all activity toward the state of Jefferson stop and all enery be put forth to defending the United States.

Many citizens still remember those days and periodically there is some revival. As you near Yreka on Interstate 5, you can see a sign painted on a barn proclaiming the state of Jefferson. There are even business named Jefferson.

One can only wonder what would have happened if the plans for a new state had not been interupted by WWII. Would we have had a new state of Jefferson. It is conjecture that this was not a joke but an effort to gain attention to the problems of rural counties that had little voice when it came to competing with Los Angeles or San Francisco.

THE STATE OF JEFFERSON

2008-02-23T14:01:00.000-08:00

In 1941 there were rural counties in northern California and southern Oregon who felt they were unfairly represented in their respective state capitals. These rural areas gained most of their income off of fishing and lumber. The structure of roads and bridges was poor thus leading to the opinion that state monies were unfairly distributed. They decided to break away and form their own state to improve transportation to remote areas and improve life styles. So the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors in Yreka, Ca. decided to look in to the possibility of forming a 49th state. The state would consist of Siskiyou, Modoc and Del Norte counties in California and Curry, Josephine and Jackson Counties in Oregon. The supervisors voted to allocate $100.00 to investigate the possibility.

The Siskiyou County Chamber of Commerce ran a contest for naming the new state. Some of the proposed names for the new state were “mittelwestcoastia, “Orofino”, “Bonanza”, “Curiskiyou”, “New West”, “New Hope”, and “Discontent.” In the end the name “Jefferson” won.

A state of Jefferson Citizens committee was formed. Each Thursday, committee members would go out to highway 99 where the so-called boundaries were and cover up all the signs with sheets that said “State of Jefferson”. They even set up roadblocks and committee members rode around on horses with guns handing out copies of The Proclamation of Independence. They had windshield stickers that read, ”I have visited the state of Jefferson. Then they would let the visitor pass.

The citizens really got up in arms when the Siskiyou Daily News ran an article stating that a California legislator actually spoke on the assembly floor saying that the northern counties still bartered with bear claws and eagle beaks. So On November 3, 1941, Yreka was declared the temporary state capital and the State of Jefferson seal was created. The seal was a miners pan etched with a double cross. The double- cross signaled the amount of double -crossing that they had received from Sacramento.

The story gets better and more colorful. More on this in my next article.

TULE LAKE INTERNMENT CAMP TODAY

2008-02-18T16:42:00.001-08:00

Having explained a little of the history of the Tule Lake internment camp, my husband and I decided to take a trip there and see first hand what it looks like today. We were especially interested because we saw on the website that there will be a pilgrimage there July 3rd through the 6th of this year. Also, in December 2006 President Bush signed a bill setting aside $38,000,000 for the rehabilitation of Tule Lake and the nine other internment camps throughout the United States.

We took the trip north on Highway 97 and turned off just north of Dorris onto Highway 161 which led us along the Oregon border and through the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. It was truly amazing to stop and watch the thousands of birds and the different species of birds along the way. If you go, bring your binoculars. There is even a view area as well as roads that take you right through the refuge. As we drove along the terrain became more and more desolate and lonely. We reached the small of Tule Lake, which seemed almost deserted. There are signs of potato fields and cold storage sheds along the way.

Actually, the camp is located in Modoc County just over the border from Siskiyou county near the tiny town of Newell, and equally desolate and lonely place. On the left side of the road there is a memorial placed there in 1976. A plaque explains the false imprisonment of many Japanese Americans from 1942 to 1946. Behind the memorial is high fencing used to keep people from escaping. We drove in to the area itself. It was disgraceful. Many of the old barracks were still there. Nothing had been done as far as restoration. Even worse, people were living in many of these buildings. The poverty and unsanitary conditions were appalling.. Most of the buildings should have been condemned. We did see a few signs place on buildings saying that they were unsafe.

In 1988, President Ragan signed the Civil Liberties Act, which gave reparations to survivors and issuance of an official apology by the United States Government. I find it shameful that even with the money given for restoration in 2006, nothing has been done to preserve this site as a reminder of how insane we can be in times of war. War itself is insanity. Who is in charge of the money and the project? I am going to try and find out.

A SAD PART OF HISTORY IN SISKIYOU COUNTY

2008-02-16T11:55:00.000-08:00

The small town of Tule Lake is located in Siskiyou County very near the Oregon border. Named after a nearby lake, this small town is mostly known for growing potatoes and horseradish. Perhaps you have seen Tule Lake Horseradish in the condiment section of the grocery store. You can even take a tour of the factory and see how it is made.

Over 60 years ago Tule Lake played a grim role in U.S. history. It was one of ten war relocation camps that detained Japanese Americans during WWII. Starting May 26, 1942 the camp detained over 18,000 persons of Japanese decent coming from western Washington, Oregon and northern California and was known as the largest of the ten detention centers. The camp was also the last to close in March of 1946. The camp had squalid conditions and because of the fear that anyone of Japanese decent was an enemy of the United States, martial law was the norm.

How did they end up there? Anyone of Japanese decent whether an American citizen or not were asked to take a loyalty test. There were two questions that were difficult and confusing. Number 27 asked, are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States wherever ordered? Question 28 asked, would you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States, defend the United States and forswear allegiance to the Japanese emperor or any other power both foreign and domestic?

Some refused to answer because they were protesting incarceration and others were confused and didn’t know what to answer so they answered no to these two questions and found themselves driven from their homes to an internment camp.

Few of us know this but public law 405 was passed by congress in 1944 and signed by President Roosevelt. It was directed at Japanese American citizens permitting them to renounce their U.S. citizenship. Sadly, many did so because they were told that if they gave up their citizenship they could remain in safety at the internment camp. If not they could be released to a hostile environment and possibly separated from their families. Some were expatriated to Japan. Others remained, stripped of their citizenship and powerless.

There is so much history in Siskiyou County. As I write about our county I am amazed at what a colorful history we have in this rural place. Fortunately, the internment camps are gone, but we have come a long way since then in ensuring civil rights and equality.

REAL ESTATE IN SISKIYOU COUNTY

2008-02-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

It seems that the media is predicting a recession. I read an interesting article in the San Francisco Chronicle. It reported that people are getting worried. They have seen the housing market in a downward spiral. They are constantly reminded that the stock market is losing points. So, the article says, people are deciding that it is unwise to spend. They are going out to eat less, spending less on vacations and entertainment, and using their cars less to avoid gas bills. And of course, potential homebuyers are not venturing out. They are taking the “wait and see” attitude.

So what is a recession? The dictionary defines recession as “a period of reduced economic activity.” Well, there it is. If we collectively get scared and believe in dooms day, we are creating it by our actions. Just when we need to act with confidence and keep the economy going, we retreat in fear and thus recession.

Being a realtor in Siskiyou County, I see countless opportunities for buying a home or property at such incredibly low prices right now. This is definitely a buyers market. Interest rates have never been so low. If a buyer has good credit and a good job, it is the time to invest. Sure homes have decreased in value. But it is only a matter of time until values will increase and the investment made now along with the low interest rates will pay off.

Having been a realtor for some years, we have quite a few clients that are buyers. But each one says that they just want to wait and see. What are they waiting for? Sellers will become more discouraged and they will wait to put their homes on the market unless it is a necessity to move. So then we have a stalemate. Listings decrease and buyers wait and see. This contributes highly to recession.

I wish for a society of positive energy. When can we stop listening to the negative media? When can we stop being fearful and make decisions based on sound information and a positive attitude?

IN THE SHADOW OF MT. SHASTA

2008-02-07T14:41:00.000-08:00

Mt. Shasta has small towns nestled around its base. Each town has a differing historical background although lumber mills were common among most of them. There is one town in the Sacramento canyon, which originated with a very important source of transportation, the railroad. Early survey showed that the upper Sacramento River canyon was the best route to link California with Oregon. By the mid 1880’s the railroad entered Siskiyou County. The town was first called Pusher named after the pusher engines that were assembled to help push the trains over the step grades to the north. Then a man by the name of Alexander Dunsmuir a British Columbia coal baron donated a fountain to the town and the town was renamed Dunsmuir. There was an enormous roundhouse built along with machine shops and rail yards. The population increased dramatically and by some accounts the population reached twenty thousand and remained so for many years. But in the 1960’s the railroad began to change. Steam had been gone for many years and diesel was the mode of energy. Structures were torn down. Dunsmuir was not a focal point for the railroad anymore. The population decreased significantly and today boasts about 2500. But the people have taken great pride in keeping the historical buildings as authentic as possible.

So, when traveling to Siskiyou County, put Dunsmuir on your list of visits. The Sacramento River runs right through the town and is noted for world-class fishing. The city park is right on the river and hosts a botanical garden. There are wonderful hikes to Mossbrae Falls and Hedge Creek Falls. Castle Craigs State Park is just a few miles south and is named after the huge rocks that jut up in to the sky. Of course don’t miss Railroad Park where you can actually stay in a railroad car equipped with all the amenities of a nice motel. You can eat a wonderful meal in one of the railroad cars that has been converted to a restaurant.

ADVENTURES IN ASHLAND

2008-02-02T12:43:00.000-08:00

It is yet another snowy day in Siskiyou County. The wind is howling and the snow is making geometric drifts hither and yon, providing some entertainment value to me as I gaze wistfully out the window. I am beginning to feel house bound.

But instead of feeling sorry for myself I check out my brochure for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. There are numerous plays lined up for the 2008 season. This year Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Coriolanus” are playing as well as a host of other plays that are both comedic and serious. I pick up the phone and order two tickets to “The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler”. It promises to be “a riotously funny comedy.” That sounds good to me. I could use some humor right now after days and days of storms. I can’t remember what it is like to see in Technicolor.

Ashland is only about an hour away from where I live in Lake Shastina. It is fun to take the day, drive to Ashland, and walk the streets of this quaint little college town. Local art abounds in the small shops. We have a great dinner in one of the many restaurants and then attend a play. We usually stay the night in one of the many nice hotels or bed and breakfasts. If the weather is nice, walking through Lithia Park is a must. The park hosts thousands of species of plants and trees. Ashland Creek meanders through the park and into the town. In the spring, the Rhododendrons are spectacular.

So my spirits are lifted. We live in a rural environment but cultural activities are close by. If you would like to know more about the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, just go to the links on this blog and click on Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

WINTER IN SISKIYOU COUNTY

2008-01-31T15:28:00.000-08:00

It is the last day of January and the last of a series of winter storms for January made its swirling, windy, white debut about 3:00 A.M. The wind began to whip through the trees sounding like waves breaking on the beach. The house creaked and it felt good to just creep deep down in the blankets and breathe a sigh of relief to not have to go outside.

Those of us who work at home, feel lucky to not have to brave the ice and snow. But a good many residents look glumly out the window and hope they make it safely to work. We all look at the traffic cameras on the cal trans website to see if there is black pavement somewhere out there. Meanwhile, the state and local road crews are working hard to keep the roads clear and safe. But this storm was too furious and unrelenting. So Interstate 5 was closed from Redding to Ashland Oregon.

Driving becomes tricky and hazardous. Local people have seen too many accidents from careless driving on slippery roads. We can almost always tell when a “flatlander” is traveling through our county at break neck speed on an icy road. They seem to think that ice doesn’t matter and braking is not an issue. I have seen them fly by me as I am inching along with white knuckles behind the snow plow. But I catch up to them. They are cooling their heels in a ditch frantically calling for help on their cell phones. When I pass them I am thinking, now maybe you will learn.

The snow is beautiful, the ski park is prospering and we are really lucky that these winter storms will bring much needed water to the lakes. So we put up with the storms even if they are irritating and annoying to our every day life.

BEAUTIFUL SCOTT VALLEY

2008-01-29T12:43:00.000-08:00

If you are giving thought to visiting Siskiyou County or you live in Siskiyou County but would like to explore more of this huge county at the extreme north end of the state,a visit to Scott Valley is a must. Just go to the county seat in Yreka and follow the signs to Highway 3 pointing to Fort Jones and Etna. You will start climbing up a mountain highway that reaches a summit and then you will decend down to the Scott Valley. It is filled with ranches producing hay and cattle. You first enter the sleepy little town of Fort Jones.It was originally a stage stop and tavern on the way from the old town of Shasta in Shasta County to Yreka. It is also a military fort called Fort Jones which was operated from 1852 to 1857 when it was abandoned. You can still see some old Victorian homes that grace this small community. Then you can continue on until you reach another small town called Etna. It was originally started as a flour mill in 1867. It has old brick buildings and quaint little shops with a beer brewery which makes Etna beer. There are a few nice restaurants and it is fun to walk around and explore.

Some of the main attractions of this valley include the Marble Mountains, the Trinity Alps, Scott River,(famous for white water rafting)and the Salmon River which is one of the few natural rivers that has not been blocked by dams or construction.

So whether you are fishing, hiking, biking or just taking a scenic drive, be sure to include Scott Valley. It has it all.

Puttering as an Art Form

2008-01-20T08:03:00.001-08:00

Most arts and craftspeople do not know that their modern hobbies began in the dusty stables of medieval times. But it wasn’t necessarily the same crafts we know today . . . macramé probably started out when someone started braiding scraps of rope tack for example. And, to drill down to their true beginnings one has to examine the ancient practice of puttering. Which is what drew those neocraftspeople into those smelly horse stalls in the first place.

We have only now re-learned how important it is to putter and to have a part of the home as a puttershop or in modern speak, "shop". The term derives from the verb "to putter", meaning to doze while appearing to be in deep thought, surrounded by rows of expensive power tools.

Observers will often mistake the vacant gaze of a putterer as, well, vacant. How far this is from the truth only the initiates of this mystical guild can appreciate. Rather, the sleepy pose, often with coffee mug in mid-swig, represents a transcendental moment. Often the issue is just how to make that cosmically difficult mortise and tendon joint. But just as often it goes more like "Let's see, what can I dream up to avoid any real work today?". Which, as we all know is a perfectly valid activity.

I recently have joined these noble ranks, having just completed the first stages of "shop building", that is to say, the least expensive part of the experience, before one begins the exhaustive process of selecting the many, several, and expensive digital power tools necessary to truly define it as a "SHOP".

This has a neat twist to it, too. In order to justify the whole process the male spouse inevitably has to agree to build things for the home. The more extensively one furnishes the shop the more one mortgages his/her future with such promises. To no married person’s surprise this is a skewed arrangement. Buried in the marital contract there is a clause that says one will return ten (varies, can range up to 1,000) –fold what one spends in both time and money to the other suffering spouse.

For instance no, I can't build the new cabinets that we now need to get for the kitchen with my $399 table saw. So that automatically creates a $3,990 cabinet "debit" with my name at the bottom. I tried an end run by offering to buy a $7,700 cabinetmaker’s table saw to do this but that just upped the ante to $77,000 worth of cabinets.

I think I will go back to braiding rope in the barn and limit my mortgage payments.