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j Record-Courier
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7,2016
Buras, the Hammonds and Oregon Cattlemen's Association
January 4, 2016 - Oregon ranchers Dwight and
Steve Hammond have left their homes to report to a
federal prison. Both ranchers are faithful, long term
Oregon Cattlemen's Association members. Many
have asked where the association stands On the
Hammond's predicament.
The Oregon Cattlemen's Association has declared
that they do not support illegal activity taken against
the government but has, and will continue, to support
the Hammonds via avenues that are in accordance
with the law.
John O'Keeffe, current president of the OCA, said
the ranchers in Burns strive to work together with sur­
rounding agencies. "The community of Burns and the
ranchers there have been very resourceful in working
together with agencies on many wildlife issues," he
said. "Furthermore, OCA does not support illegal ac­
tivity taken against .the government. This includes
militia takeover of government property, such as the
Malheur Wildlife Refuge."
OCA's Executive Director, Jerome Rosa, pointed
out that the Oregon Cattlemen's Association has sup­
ported the Hammonds for some time and does not
agree with their current re-sentencing. "OCA feels the
Hammond's situation is a classic case of double jeop­
ardy. The Hammonds were tried and convicted by a
jury of their peers and have already served their sen­
tence," Rosa said.
Although the Hammonds have already been sen­
tenced to additional prison time, OCA is continuing to
work to find ways to support them.
O'Keeffe mentioned several legal ways the organi­
zation is working to provide assistance. "We are cir­
culating an online petition asking the White House to
review the Hammonds case." A link to the petition can
be found the OCA website or on their social media
channels. "In addition to clemency efforts, we are
working through legal avenues to help the Ham­
monds get their BLM grazing permits restored," said
O'Keeffe.
While the Oregon Cattlemen's Association does not
agree with the current legal action being taken
against the Hammonds, OCA will continue to assist
and represent the Hammonds solely through av­
enues that are in accordance with the law.
The Oregon Cattlemen's Association was founded
in 1913 and works to promote environmentally and
socially sound industry practices, improve and
strengthen the economics of the industry, and protect
its industry communities and private property rights.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Ranchers like Martin Murphy and Sonny Simms are frus­
trated and fearful. They and other families who have homes
between Paisley and Valley Falls—communities along the
lower Chewaucan River in southeastern Oregon—are afraid
they are being targeted unfairly by special-interest groups,
and could lose ranches where owners have been running cat­
tle and raising hay since the late 1800s.
The fight for their survival is reported in “Birds or Beef’ in
the current issue of RANGE magazine, an award-winning
advocate for commonsense solutions to problems facing peo­
ple who five and work on the land, and the recipient of three
consecutive Freedom of the Press awards.
For more than a century, the ranchers have relied on long-
established water rights for irrigation and watering their
stock—rights that may now be threatened, writes Lee
Juillerat, a Klamath Falls, Ore., newspaper reporter and fre­
quent contributor to RANGE.
The ranchers are concerned about the water rights needed
to provide for their homes and families. The special-interest
group is looking after birds.
According to Juillerat, leaders of the High Lakes Aquatic
Alliance Foundation have indicated that they might try to
have the water rights trumped by the International Migratory
Bird Treaty as part of an effort to protect migratory birds that
rely on brine shrimp from Lake Abert, Oregon’s only salt­
water lake. The ongoing drought and lack of snowpack has
left Abert dry or nearly dry. The special-interest group wants
water from the lower Chewaucan and a dam at the Rivers
End Ranch to be used primarily for the lake, not the upstream
irrigators, he explains.
“Our biggest concern is we want to make sure we can keep
our water rights,” says Martin Murphy, who oversees the
multigenerational Murphy Ranch near Paisley. “It seems
©Larry Turner/RANGE
White-faced ibis enjoy the grass on the Chewaucan
Valley cattle pastures. Historic water rights held by
Oregon families are being threatened by special-inter­
est groups intent on protecting migratory birds. The
situation is profiled in the Winter issue of RANGE mag­
azine, which recently received a third consecutive
Freedom of the Press award.
every time you turn around people and new groups want to
fight about something. The first filing they want to do is drag
the ranchers down.”
Sonny Simms’ family ranch is near Valley Falls. “The real­
ity is we’re in a severe drought. I don’t believe any of us [ir­
rigators] are using more wafer. We’re actually more efficient
and are all trying to do everything we can to help fish and
wildlife,” he says.
Leaders of the High Lakes group based in Sisters, Ore., sug­
gest drought conditions are being exacerbated by increased
water use by ranchers. Dr. Frank Conte, a retired Oregon
State University limnology professor who heads the group,
BHS to Hold 'Pink Night* Jan. 29
The Baker High School Cheerleading team is
proud to announce that Jan. 29, 2016 will be ‘Pink
Night’.
A silent auction will be held for themed gift baskets
sponsored by local businesses; breast cancer
awareness merchandise will also be for sale at both
games. Merchandise will include bracelets, bags,
headbands, lanyards, t-shirts, and other items.
The public is encouraged to wear pink to the
' games on Jan. 29 and support Baker High School
and your BHS Cheerleaders in their efforts to raise
mohey for those in need around our community.
Pink Warrior t-shirts will be for sale at the game or
you can contact a BHS Cheerleader to pre-order
now! Cost is $18.
To donate to the cause, please contact BHS Head
Cheer Coach Hope Perkins at (541) 524-2600.
Cheerleaders to Host
Camp for Kids
Hope Perkins and her BHS Cheerleaders are hosting a
cheer camp for kids grades Kindergarten-sixth Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Jan. 25-27. Practice will be held at
the BHS Commons frdm 5:30-6:30 p.m. Kids will learn
cheers, jumps, and a dance to Grease's "Hand Jive."
Their performance will be Friday, Jan. 29 and kids are to
meet in the small gym at 7:40 p.m.
Registration fee is $30 per athlete, to be received by
Jan. 18. Additional $5 per athlete will be assessed for late
registration. Fee covers tuition, one camp T-shirt, porrh
poms, and participant’s entry into the game. Adult tickets
are $5 each (not included). Registration forms are avail­
able by emailing bhscheerleading@hotmail.com. Please'
make check payable by Jan. 18 to BHS Cheerleading and
send it along with the registration to: BHS Cheer Camp;
2500 ‘E’ Street, Baker City, OR 97814. Questions? Please
contact Coach Hope Perkins at (541) 524-260Q.
See WHAT WOULD YOU DO on page 2
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