September 24, 2007

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING — POST FIRE TIMBER SALVAGE

Location: Happy Camp Grange Hall

Date/Time: October 2, 2007 at 6:30 PM.

ALAN VANDIVER
District Ranger

The recent fires on the Happy Camp Ranger District were generally of moderate and low intensity. In most areas, overstory mortality was scattered or confined to small groups of trees. However, on about 15% of the burn area, fire was intense enough to kill larger groups of mature trees. Just after September 1st, I began to gather preliminary data on these areas. This initial effort will be complete by the end of the month. On October second, my staff and I would like to present this information to you and hear your thoughts on how this timber should be used. We are particularly interested in your thoughts on harvest, retention for ecosystem function and burned area harvest effects such as yarding systems, soil and watershed effects.

I would also like to use this notice to provide a brief update about ongoing rehabilitation and repair efforts associated with the fire.

Roads: Where draws were intensely burned above roads, there is a higher risk that debris will wash down hill to plug culverts. This would, in turn, wash out roads and deliver sediment into streams. We have mapped these high risk areas and are developing a plan to patrol/clean these culverts during the upcoming rainy season. It looks like funding will be available to do this.

Although I closed roads for safety reasons during the fires, I began opening roads as safety concerns diminished. All roads that were open prior to the fires have been reopened.
Fireline: I was, and continue to be, very concerned about repair of the dozer line built during the fires. All indirect dozer line has now been water barred and covered with slash to reduce watershed, soils, fisheries and wildlife impacts. Crews and equipment continue working on perimeter and interior dozer lines.

Silviculture: As smoke cleared and dust settled, District personnel began to evaluate mortality in harvested stands. This effort began with a helicopter flight on August 28. District personnel mapped concentrations of mortality in large trees and in plantations. Unfortunately, more than 1000 acres will need to be replanted. Plantations at the heads of draws which aligned with the wind during the fire suffered complete mortality in many cases. Since the first part of September, we have been building on this initial aerial mapping to plan reforestation efforts for next year.

I look forward to visiting with you on October 2nd and to hearing your thoughts and concerns regarding post fire management.

September 3, 2007

By Judy Bushy

What a wonderful time the Bigfoot Jamboree brings to Happy Camp. The 41st annual Bigfoot Jamboree is now a happy memory. There were so many friends and family and neighbors from near and far who came back to the Klamath River town for the big event of the year. The food was great. The music was full of variety. The games were fun. But best of all was seeing friends and neighbors that we hadn’t seen in awhile.

Kenny and Donna McCully were the Grand Marshalls and rode in the parade in a delightful surrey with fringe on the top drawn by a black beaury named :Colt” and driven by Ike’s wife, Erica.

Savannah Britton was crowned queen of the Bigfoot Jamboree by Alicia Derry, 2005 queen. Luise Bryant was the flower carrier and Matilda Peters carried the crown on the red velvet pillow. Samantha O’Reilly and Leeann Timbrook were princesses. Samantha was escorted by Donald O’Reilly and Leann by Kyle Eastlick. Queen Savannah was escorted by Phil Tripp. Alan Dyar was the emcee of the program. The music for the dance was provided by Justin of the “Sounds ”

Grand Prize for the parade entries went to the float by Double J and ABC Logging In the Commercial and Business Division first place was Parry’s Market, 2nd was McCulley Logging and 3rd was Happy Camp Disposal. For Organizations, first place was Davis Dancers doing Karuk Dance, 2nd place was Cub Scouts Pack #52 and 3rd place was Sheriff’s “Dare Car” driven by Deputy Nye. The other category is for individuals. The first place for individuals was to the Driskell family. The family walked together in the parade as a Memorial to “Little Miss Tuff”. a horse who became well loved by the family and who they will miss. The horse driving in the parade was “I’m Super tuff one.” Kate Lyn, Rachelle, Chris, Sabrina, Glenice, Jimmy, Paul and Charlene will all miss Tuffy. 2nd place was Sunny and Angel Tello on motorcycles and 3rd place was Bigfoot for which Mike picked up the award since Bigfoot has escaped his cage and taken off to the wilds again. Seems to happen every Bigfoot Jamboree.

Thanks so much to the Happy Camp Coordinating Council for the wonderful Bigfoot Jamboree!

September 2, 2007

Bethany and Issac of the Blameless Child Band

By Judy Bushy

There was a special Christian Rock Concert at the pavilion after the parade by “Blameless Child”.

This group consists of the Bashor Family. Liz is 18 and lead vocalist and guitarist, Bethany is 16, and plays bass, Sam is 17, and Isaac, 11. rounds out the performers, but their adoptive parents help behind the scenes.

Thanks Bill Estes for helping to bring them to Happy Camp. They were also going up to have supper with the youth of the community up at the Assembly of God Church afterwards.