Artists working to erect the dreamcatcher
on October 31, 2007. From left: Cheryl
Wainwright, James Wainwright, Lou
Tiraterra Sr, and Dennis Day.
By Linda Martin
I met Dennis Day five years ago. He sat in River Park with Lou Tiraterra Sr. discussing the plans he had for building the largest dreamcatcher in the world. At the time he’d just finished weaving his first dreamcatcher and planned to erect it in what used to be the community garden across the street from Old Town Park. The rope used was dyed with blackberry juice.
After many trials, failures, and changes, the first dreamcatcher went up and survived for a few weeks until weather and fate destroyed it. Devastated by this loss, Day left town and traveled.
Happy Camp has a way of calling people back, and after many months, Day returned, enthusiastically planning to write a book on the subversion of education. He had no plans to put up another dreamcatcher until Cheryl and Jim Wainwright offered him an opportunity he couldn’t refuse. They wanted a large dreamcatcher on their property at the corner of Davis Street and Indian Creek Road across from Parry’s Market. They promised that for his effort Day could expect a better, more supportive frame to make the new dreamcatcher more likely to survive than the last one.
Day set to work in March 2006 with about $600 worth of materials. He started the project with 900 feet of rope, which he dyed with kelly green and turquoise linseed oil based paint. He and Cheryl Wainwright collected and prepared the wood used as a frame and border. Before long Day’s work produced a dreamcatcher with a circumfrence of 105 feet, and diameter of about 33 feet though it varies in spots because of the shape of the wood used in the border. According to Day the design he used for this dreamcatcher is typical of that used by the Ojibwa Tribe which is from the Great Lakes Region.
This frame for the Dreamcatcher
was designed and constructed by
James Wainwright.
A spider donated by Bonnie
Alvarez and colorful lights
bring the dreamcatcher to life.
Plans for the future include sales of engraved tiles, a decorating event in the springtime, a dream-theme park including construction of surrounding patios and pathways with a central gazebo, and addition of a sculpted eagle with a 7 foot wingspan to the top of the archway. Lou Tiraterra Sr. has already donated a soapstone eagle sculpture which will be placed on an eastern facing patio. All Happy Camp residents will be able to purchase engraved tiles at a discount.
The three feathers hanging from the dreamcatcher at this time were all created and donated by Yreka artist Ralph Starritt. The first dreamcatcher ornament to be hung on the large dreamcatcher was placed there in memory of Janeen Anderson, donated by JavaBob and Vicky Schmalzbach. Others who wish to donate small dreamcatchers to the project are welcome and encouraged to do so.
This year November 22nd is the day that we celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving.
But we who live in the beautiful forest along the wild and scenic Klamath River beneath the wide blue sky have so very much to be grateful for all year round! One day isn’t enough. We live in a wonderful place in a great little town, and have many blessings to enjoy.
I’m thankful for the beautiful sunrise, and Jim Waddell sharing his photo with us so we can all remember how beautiful it can be to see a golden sunrise.
Patrons of National Public Radio’s show, “California Gold!” saw a familiar face on the streets of Happy Camp. Huell Howser was visiting our area, Scott Valley, Yreka and Happy Camp especially, and then continued down the Bigfoot Scenic Byway to Willow Creek and out to the coast. Television viewers in Los Angeles have already seen the television program in their homes. For those in our area, it won’t be broadcast until sometime in January. Thanks to James Buchner of Klamath River Resort Inn for inviting and providing the river side hospitality to the celebrity and his cameraman. Huell also visited with Montine Blevins from the New 49er’s Prospecting Club, Wayne Scott of Bigfoot Towing across the street from the statue, and Rita Manley-King. Just goes to show! Never know who you will see in the friendly little town of Happy Camp, at the top of California!!
You may see Alverna Bresette, sitting at her desk in the office at Happy Camp High School. You may not imagine her going for a trip to southern Califonia for three days of walking. and walking 60 miles!
However, for a good cause, that is what she has accomplished! She did it again 2007 and came in about 315th of the million people who were walking to support research to aid in the fight against breast cancer!!
Last year, Alverna and her daughter, Tamara M. Bartel participated in the walk to benefit Breast Cancer Research. Tamara was a happy Camp High School student (Class of 1989) and went to College of the Siskiyous (class of 1991. She now serves as a correctional officer in lovvelock, NV.
Mother and daughter are now making plans for the 3 day walk, November 9-11., 2007 now.
Tamara and Alverna will participate in a three day walk of 60 miles for Breast Cancer Research. She and her daughter will share in this experience and, yes, they did walk sixty miles!
For futher informationm and information on how you can support them in their desire to help Breast Cancer research, go to the Web site: www.the3day.org. or to donate to Cancer Research.
Governor Swarzengger has vetoed the bill of great concern to the gold prospectors along the wild Klamath River. We want to see the fish and wildlife protected from harm, if there were harmful effects of suction dredge mining.
However, most dredgers looking for gold are amazed at how the fish enjoy partipating in the sport. No scientific study has shown this to be harmful and at least one has shown that it is particularly helpful in restoring habitat for fish.
The Governor said that “current law gives the Department of Fish and Gamel the necesasary authority to protect fish and wildlife resources.”
“It is undlear why this bill specifically targetsa number of specific waterways for closure of further restrictions,” and “scientific environmental review should precede such decisions.”
Each summer, visitors from far and wide come to the Klamath River. Since 1852 many of those travelers are looking for gold. They also have a wonderful outdoor recreation time with family and friends. The Dredgers are facing new regulations that would lead to sharp curtailment of the prospecting activity on the River. They’d appreciate your help right now in sending a letter, fax or email to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, asking him to please veto this bill.
Dave McCracken has sent word to all those interested in prospecting for gold and similar receation on the River that Assembly Bill 1032 has passed through the California legislature and is now on its way to Governor Schwarzenegger for his signature. AB 1032 is a bill that is intended to modify Section 5353 of the California Fish & Game Code to allow the Department of Fish & Game to arbitrarily close and/or curtail suction dredge activity along numerous waterways in California, which would no doubt include the Klamath River that we love.
For liberty for the dredgers to pursue their recreation on the Klamath, theconcen is that they must encourage the Governor to kill this bill right now, or suffer the consequences later. Further information and help with this can be found at the following link: http://www.goldgold.com/legal/1032actionalert_governor.htm
Liberty to keep the Klamath open to recreational prospecting is dependent on the outcome of this bill.
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.
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!
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.
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