June 14, 2004
by Judy E. Bushy from Happy Camp at the top of California
There are lots of summer days before Bigfoot Jamboree. But no matter how full of sun and fun, Bigfoot Jamboree will be here before you know it! The theme for this year’s Sunday Jamboree Parade is “Silver Streams & Golden Dreams.â€Â Put on your thinking cap and think of applications of this theme to your float in the parade. Be creative! It will be fun to see the resulting floats on Septembe 5th.
Saturday was a wonderful day! Many out of town visitors were here for the grand opening of the Visitor Information Center at the Forest Service office.. Peg Boland, Supervisor for the Klamath National Forest, Cheryl Wainwright for the Happy Camp Chamber of Commerce and Tom Waddell filling in for the Karuk Tribe of California representative, cut the ribbon and invited the crowd of eager people in to see the new Visitor Information Center. It is beautiful!! There is a large wrap around desk where the receptionist and those who will be helping the visitors with questions can sit ready. Valerie has been doing that. With her move to another position, Veronica Salvage will be the smiling face greeting visitors now. An oak display rack holds a wealth of information on the area, wildlife, natural resources and businesses in the area from the Chamber of Commerce. More will be added.Â
There are areas for the youngest visitors can sit at a table and see an animal skull or feel the difference in vegetation that is used in basketry. The Karuk basket collection of Ruth Baker, which has been administered by Hazel Joyner, is on display so you can see Karuk’s world-renowned basket skills. The most striking item is a manikin with the traditional regalia dress of the Karuk.
The mining history of the area is also apparent with the display of how a mine worked in the old days. Local artists have brought in their paintings and other artwork to display, which adds color and the proper setting for the displays. Alan Crockett teaches art classes, some of which will be going into the Marble Mountains for on the scene painting experiences. They brought art to bring these views to the visitor who stops by the center. Klamath Know Arts Council is also involved in this part of the project. Photos and poetry as well as the actual “hands on” exhibits make this a wonderful slice of the resources of the area. Colleen Hall and Dan Huddleston are also thanked for their participation. Animals that had previously been on display in the forest service office are there to see, along with fascinating additions.
From the beginning of the idea of a Visitor Center, which Tom Waddell mentioned in the Action committee many times, to the fruition of the plan, it has taken a few years. It seems like all of the parts of the local community have been involved. Don Hall in Yreka as well as Valerie and Gay Baxter spent busy days helping the Chamber with memorandums, applications with necessary paperwork. That was back when Eddie Davenport was the president. Louis Tiraterra Sr. Louis Tiraterra Jr., and Dennis Day were working on drawings.
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Fred Newoshi, Verna Reece, Alta Harper, Hazel Joyner as well as Arch Super and the Karuk Tribe of California provided support and assistance to the displays. People’s Center and the Visitor’s Center will be sharing displays and sending out visitors to eachother for further information for years to come.Â
Nothing would have gotten accomplished without the help of the RAC, Sheryl Crawford, and Eddie Davenport; they provided the initial funding of $38,000 for the remodeling. It has turned out a very beautiful project. Information and assistance for visitors to enjoy our area more will be available. More exhibits and possibilities are anticipated. It will be a “work in progress” as more variety and presentations will vary with the seasons. You just need to stop by and see the displays. You’ll enjoy it. It is a perfect place for a visitor to our area to find out about recreational opportunities and get questions answered to make their stay more enjoyable!
Hope you didn’t miss the last meeting of the Children and youth Alcohol and other Drug Prevention Coalition. I was very sad to hear that Dr. Steven Burns has stepped down from the leadership of that group. De. Steve has done a wonderful job in founding this organization with a most important goal for our community—to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse among our children and youth. Dr. Steve sent an email to let everyone know that he will not be able to continue actively working on the coalition project. Since moving his family to Happy Camp, he has become four times busier than he was in San Diego. He will be refocusing his time on his family and church activities as well as his many ongoing responsibilities as the town doctor. We thank Dr. Steve for getting the ball rolling on this alcohol and other drug prevention efforts in our community. Karen and Nadine are excited about the impact the Coalition can have on our river communities for our children.Â
Last day of school came and went for Happy Camp Elementary kids.  Some of the  boys and girls enjoyed their last day of school up at Slater Butte Look out!.
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 I did attend the open meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last Tuesday. The Chamber, under Cheryl Wainwright has gone “high tech†and “stepped into the modern world†as they say. The minutes are now usually sent by e-mail, saving both paper and postage.and membership is not a requirement. The first Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. is the regular monthly evening meeting so you can usually count on there being a meeting then unless informed otherwise even if an agenda is not received.  By then the “Rollin on the river†Bike Rally of July 2-4 will be history for the 4th year and there will be more time to take care of pressing Chamber needs. There is a big band coming to the Bike Rally and “Genuine Draft” will also play at the pavilion before the other band. There will be admission to the dance available to locals for those who don’t get the entire package. If you’d like more information on the event, having a booth for your organization or to register to attend the bike rally talk to John Gould who is in charge of the event and would be happy to help you.
The same weekend, there will be the second annual quilt show!! It was great to see all the wonderful quilts and crafts last year at Evans and the Old Town Park and it promises to be better than ever this year!!Â
June being for weddings, last week when electricity went out in Scott Valley, I’d wished HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Ronald and Glenda Hockaday, Rick and Leslie Huston and Stan and Virginia Poeschel who are celebrating wedding anniversaries. I hope you all had as good a time as Dan and I did. Thursday night we celebrated out 38th wedding anniversary with a dinner out. “Happy Birthday”s also went to Bill Taylor and Silas, Alverna Bresette, Randy McLane. Jay Clark and Amy Lantz. Hope it was happy even though I am belated due to electrical outage!! Congratulations to all the graduates. Twenty young persons graduated from Happy Ca mp High School on Friday and others program marked the milestone in Mt. Shasta. May the Lord bless you as you face the future and assume the responsibilities of mature adults.
  We hope to visit the Wild West Café in Seiad right next to the Seiad Store one day soon. They are open now Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 4 pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 7 pm. Lisa West has done some remodeling and redesigning and had a chef’s salad and special Saturday of French dip and French fries. Saves a long drive to Yreka or Medford to save a night in the kitchen!! Looking forward to their milk shake.
 Last Saturday was a really busy day for oodles and oodles of children of all sizes and shapes! It was the Outreach America in town with games and fun for the children. The kids got bicycles and all sorts of prizes and seemed to be enthusiastic about the event when I was able to find it at the high school football field. The Happy Camp Assembly of God was instrumental in bringing a team from Little Country Church to town for this special event for the kids.
That was the news on June 14th, 2004 for Happy Campers along the wild and scenic Klamath River at the top of California. Â
