Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 2016)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2016 4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS Opinion / Local — Guest Opinion — Standoff or standing up? You decide. By Leo Castillo Special to The Baker County Press On the street next to the Safeway in Burns, after we prayed and sang The Star Spangled Banner, our peaceful rally march on behalf of the Hammonds’ unjust sentencing as arsonists and domestic terrorists began, despite the near zero degree tempera- tures. Three blocks up the hill, I looked back and the street was full of people for the entire three blocks. I estimat- ed five- to six hundred total. I interviewed many of them. Some, like my- self, were from distant places in Oregon; others had traveled from as far away as Washington, Idaho, Arizona & Utah. We stopped in front of the Hammond’s home. We respected their privacy, and only a few people spoke to them. All of a sudden, someone broke out sing- ing Amazing Grace, and everyone else followed! It was very moving, and as peaceful as peaceful gets. Only a handful of those present, maybe twenty or so, would later move to occupy the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. I spoke with Sheriff Richard Mack, of the Constitutional Sher- iffs & Peace Officers Association. He said this should have never happened; that there is no question that the Hammonds’ rights have been violated by the federal government, and that federal agents have done the same thing the Hammonds have been charged with, and received no punishment whatsoever. At a meeting held at the County fairgrounds just outside Burns after the rally, with less than half of the initial rally participants present, it was revealed that an official Notice for a Redress of Grievances had been filed in the Hammond case De- cember 11, convening a Common Law Grand Jury to investigate the Hammonds’ case and to protect them against il- legal imprisonment. To date, it has been ignored. You can read it for yourselves at: nationalli- bertyalliance.org It is a lawful document and a right guaranteed under the 1st Ammend- ment. It was sent to the Harney County Sheriff, Commissioners, Justice of the Peace, District At- torney, and the Attorney General & Governor of Oregon, on December 11, 2015. The deadline for a response from these representatives has past. The Notice of Griev- ance claims to hold much evidence sup- porting some of the following allegations; “that Dwight and Steven Hammond committed no crime in the act of performing the prescribe burn and back fire; that the U.S. Government abused the federal court system, situating the Hammond family into duress as an effort to force the Hammond’s to sell their Steen Mountain property to a federal agency; that Judge Hogan controlled the narrative and did not allow full disclosure in the courtroom; that the Hammonds were sentenced for something different than what they were found guilty of; that they are being subject for the same offense and twice put in jeopardy...” The Notice concludes: “In a commitment to expose the truth and administrate justice, We the People of these States United insist that you immediately assemble an indepen- dent Evidential Hearing Board (EHB) comprised of the people of Harney County in accordance with Common Law prin- cipals. That the Eviden- tial Hearing Board call witnesses and investi- gate each of these al- legations publicly. That the Evidential Hearing Board make public con- clusions in writing upon their findings. That the Harney County Board of Commissioners and the Sheriff’s Department en- force the conclusions of the Evidential Hearing Board in support of the United States Constitu- tion. We further insist that the Hammond fam- ily be protected from re- porting to federal prison until all allegations can be determined.” It con- cludes by citing several United States Codes. There is a petition in support of this Notice. As of January 2nd, it had collected more than one hundred thousand signatures! You can read the Notice and sign your support at http:// bundyranch.blogspot. com. In support of some of these allegations, in an October article from Tri-State Livestock News, “Where There’s Smoke,” Erin Maupin, a former BLM range tech- nician and watershed specialist and rancher in the area, said backfires by other ranchers had burned BLM land in the past and the agency had not taken action. Maup- in recalled other fires ac- cidentally spilling over onto BLM land, but only the Hammonds have been charged, arrested and sentenced, she said. Ranchers “would call and the BLM would go Expired tags now renewable online Just realized your car’s registration stickers expired? and help put Maybe it’s a weekend or evening, and you need to drive it out and but can’t wait to renew by mail or go to a DMV office. it was not Under a new Oregon law that took effect Jan. 1, when a big deal.” you renew your registration online at OregonDMV.com On the other you can print the online receipt and drive immediately. hand, Maup- Law enforcement can accept the online receipt as proof of registration payment in a traffic stop up to 30 days in said, there after you renew. New tags typically arrive by mail within were numer- 3-5 business days. ous instances “We heard from many people that they took time to of BLM fires renew their registration in person at a DMV office be- spreading to cause they couldn’t wait for tags via the mail,” said Tom private land McClellan, DMV Administrator. “So DMV asked the and ranch- Legislature to consider a law change allowing people to ers losing provide proof of payment of registration with an online Submitted Photo significant receipt.” Leo Castillo is the host of World numbers If you or someone you know can create a PDF of your Gone Crazy on 1490 KBKR Sunday online receipt and download it to a phone, the law also of cattle evenings. allows police to accept the PDF displayed on a phone and other instead of a paper copy. property. ings.” That’s actually “Nearly one-third of vehicle registration renewals Maupin said she was what it says. So why are still done in person at DMV offices – often because unaware of the BLM have they seemingly people are afraid of getting a ticket for expired tags,” Mc- compensating ranchers taken control of so much Clellan said. “Now customers can hit the road right after for destroyed property. of our land? Could it be they renew from the convenience of their homes and skip In a related January 4 because we let them? It the trip to DMV.” article from InfoWars. For anyone worried about getting a ticket for failure to appears a small group com, “Hammonds display current registration stickers—even with an online of people has stopped receipt for proof—the new law also allows you to bring Targeted Because letting them in southeast the receipt to court. The court may accept that proof and Government Wants to Oregon. dismiss the violation. Steal Their Land,” Kurt The atmosphere at the An average of nearly 800 people use Oregon DMV’s Nimo cites US Geo- Refuge seems calm. online vehicle registration renewal service each day. logical Survey Bulletin Many there see clearly Introduced in January 2004, the service saves customers 1740-B, which indicates the demonization, the from either writing and mailing a check or getting in line there is a high potential media attacks, the at a DMV field office. for silver, gold, cop- federal response to their If your vehicle is eligible for online renewal, your regis- per, mercury, uranium tration renewal notice will provide you with a temporary attempts; they know the and molybdenum and four-digit renewal access code to complete the transac- odds they face. Perhaps tion. DMV mails renewal reminders 45-60 days before other resources in the when someone has made vehicle tags expire. area. There is also a up their mind to live To renew online, you need Internet access, a printer or moderate estimate for free or die and means it, mobile device, your renewal reminder, a credit/debit card, natural gas and oil. He a sense of peace comes and your car insurance provider’s name and your policy also notes that during a to them. Perhaps in the number. plea agreement on the myriad distractions and If you have lost your registration renewal reminder, and arson charge in 2012 the pleasures of our daily it is within 75 days of your tags’ expiration date, you can Hammonds agreed to lives we have forgotten get a replacement renewal access code – just call DMV allow the BLM to obtain what, with God, severed Customer Assistance by calling your local DMV phone the first right of refusal number. If your tags have been expired for more than 75 the bonds of tyranny days, your temporary online renewal access code will should the family sell and carved a wild land also have expired, and you will need to renew by mail or their private land. into a mighty and free The article is conclud- nation. Perhaps we have in person. For more information about online registration renewal ed by a statement from forgotten the bedrock —or to renew online—go to OregonDMV.com. Property Rights Alli- and the calling of our Any time you need DMV services, DMV suggests that ance: “Much of the land birth. Perhaps we have you first check www.OregonDMV.com before visiting a targeted for government forgotten God. Perhaps field office in person to make sure you have everything takeover (across the na- we have forgotten valor. you need. If you do need to visit DMV in person, you can tion) holds great oil and What then? Where stand check wait times for many offices during normal business natural gas resources hours at OregonDMV.com. you? which could provide Letter to the Editor Policy: The Baker Opinions or Letters to the Editor express jobs in the energy County Press reserves the right not to pub- the opinions of their authors, and have not industry and a flow of lish letters containing factual falsehoods or been authored by and are not necessarily resources from our own incoherent narrative. Letters promoting or the opinions of The Baker County Press, any American supply. Once detracting from specific for-profit business- of our staff, management, independent those lands become es will not be published. Word limit is 375 contractors or affiliates. Advertisements ‘monuments,’ access to words per letter. Letters are limited to one placed by political groups, candidates, those natural resources every other week per author. Letters should businesses, etc., are printed as a paid is limited and in the be submitted to Editor@TheBakerCounty- service, which does not constitute an hands of the federal Press.com. endorsement of or fulfillment obligation Advertising and Opinion Page Dis- by this newspaper for the products or government.” claimer: Opinions submitted as Guest services advertised. Not limited to Oregon, the list of government crimes in land abuses YOUR ELECTED alone is long. In 2012, OFFICIALS a man in Eagle Point was sentenced to 30 President Barack Obama The Baker County Press days in jail and payed a 202.456.1414 $1,500 fine for collect- 202.456.2461 fax PO Box 567 ing rainwater on his own Baker City, Ore. 97814 Whitehouse.gov/contact property. The Sucker US Sen. Jeff Merkley Open Monday-Thursday for calls Fish has almost suck- 503.326.3386 9 AM - 4 PM 503.326.2900 fax Open 24/7 for emails ered Klammath Basin Merkley.Senate.gov farmers out of their Phone: 541.519.0572 US Sen. Ron Wyden livelihoods. Some claim 541.962.7691 TheBakerCountyPress.com their water was stolen Wyden.Senate.gov at gunpoint in 2001. In Kerry McQuisten, Publisher US Rep. Greg Walden eastern Oregon, we are Editor@TheBakerCountyPress.com 541.624.2400 no strangers to the Feds 541.624.2402 fax Wendee Morrissey, Advertising and Sales trying to restrict our Walden.House.gov Wendee@TheBakerCountyPress.com land access and use. For Oregon Gov. Kate David Conn, Advertising and Sales decades. Brown David@TheBakerCountyPress.com 503.378.3111 One of the allegations Governor.Oregon.gov Published weekly every Friday. made against the gov- Subscription rates per year are $29.95 all areas, State Rep. Cliff Bentz ernment in this case is e-mail delivery. $39.95 print issue, home delivery, 503.986.1460 that under the Constitu- Baker City city limits only. $49.95 print issue, State Sen. Ted Ferrioli mail delivery, outside Baker City city limits only. tion, Article I, Section 541.490.6528 Payment in advance. 8, clause 17, the Feds Baker County within a state are al- Commissioners Bill Harvey; A division of lowed jurisdiction only Mark Bennett; Tim Kerns Black Lyon Publishing, LLC over “forts, magazines, 541.523.8200 Copyright © 2014 -2016 arsenals, dock-yards, 541.523.8201 and other needful build- — Contact Us —