FOREST FIRES

 "... our court system is manipulated by activists and how, in this instance, that has resulted in unmanaged and mismanaged public lands."

The above quote is from a rancher whose family has lived on and used these lands since 1852. Recently, the fires consumed nearly 320,000 acres and killed most of their cow-calf pairs. The legacy is gone.

Courts, lawyers and activists now dominate how the Forest Service does its job and it is not good.

We recently drove to Dakota Dunes and while passing Omaha, we noticed that our eyes burned and it was hazy. Yep, smoke from the fires. Maybe California, maybe Colorado. I just returned from Denver and was informed that the air quality is worse than India.

How are we going to figure out how to deal with extremists who are able to finance court battles that destroy our land? Let's do something! Or the whole country will be like California, Portland and Seattle.

UNCLE DAVID

 

Linda often recounted the outstanding qualities of her Uncle David—he was a highly respected OBGYN in Spokane, played clarinet in the symphony and jazz bands, sang in the opera, was a chess master, a successful real estate developer and the list goes on.

Truly a Renaissance Man.

He and Aunt Jenny adopted several children then had a bio-child later. Aunt Jenny was a nurse and a wonderful person all around and she still is active in her mid-90’s.

Uncle David died last Friday, October 9, two days before his 96^th birthday. A few weeks ago, he had been moved to the higher-level care area of their facility. He didn’t hear well, couldn’t see well, not eating, etc., the signs of an aging body, but when they set up his chess set, he proceeded to beat the staff most games. 

The remaining children, being what they are, didn’t tell Linda. So, instead, on Saturday night and again on Monday night, before she knew he was gone, an owl came in the wee hours to sit in our back yard and give her some hoots. We all believe it was a messenger from Uncle David, who loved her very much, letting her know since she had not heard.

She saw the post by one of the kids on Facebook on Tuesday. The owl has not been back.