Oernonia Eagle 4 THURSDAY, DEC. 17, 1964 Farm Bureau Furrow By Scott Lamb Information Director RANCHER SHOOTS GEESE; ACQUITTED ON GAME VIOLATION The frustration of ranchers in game preserve areas who find their crops and feedlots a smorgasbord for geese and ducks was given a solid airing in Klamath county last week. Merrill rancher Walter Fothering- ham was accused of game violation after shooting a bunch of geese in his feedlot last March 7. There was no doubt Fotheringham was guilty of game violation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent William Fuchs wit­ nessed the violation. To Fotheringham, the whole case was a matter of principle. He decid­ ed to test whether or not a man can defend his property against the dep­ redations of migratory birds by any means he felt reasonably necessary. Background on the case shows Fotheringham dumped 15 loads of cull potatoes in his feedlot last Feb­ ruary. Geese moved in by the thous­ ands and drove the cattle away from the potatoes. The rancher and his hired man tried many methods ra dispersing the geese and finally in desperation fired into the marauding intruders. A game officer who wit­ nessed the incident issued a citation. When asked where the officer was when the rancher was trying to dis­ pel the geese, the officer allegedly answered, “That’s not my job.” Dick Kilham, publicity chairman for the Klamath County Farm Bu­ reau, in reporting the story, said, "The trial, in exonerating the ac­ cused, changed the burden of proof, which rested fully upon the Fish and Wildlife Service, into a burden of guilt. In the end, the accusor had become the accused.” The jury found Fotheringham not guilty and in so doing gave new meaning to the right to protect one’s own property. The verdict places the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the defense after years of apparent immunity to the problems facing farmers and ranchers in refuge areas. Now, with precedent behind them, ranchers will have the right to protect their crops, and perhaps the U. S. Fish and Wild­ life Service will come forth with aids to help. The pattern of ignoring the prob­ lem on the excuse, “That’s not my job,” has suddenly been reversed and depredations of migrating birds are a part of the responsibility of the protectorates. It is neither right nor sound to ex­ pect farmers and ranchers to feed thousands of hungry geese to pro­ tect them for hunters who supposedly pay the government for maintaining the goose supply. E&BLAUNDRY’ and DRY CLEANERS 756 Bridge St. — Also, Shoe Repairing — Two-day Service — CASH & CARRY New Packaged Farm Protection Avoid dangerous gaps or ex­ pensive overlapping coverage in your farm insurance with the new Farm Pak Policy just introduced by The Hartford It covers your basic farm in­ surance needs—and a lot more besides—in one convenient policy. Call us now to dis­ cover how you can simplify your insurance program—ant SAVE. Bill J. Horn VERNONIA INSURANCE EXCHANGE Phone HA 9-6203 905 Bridge Street Vernonia, Oregon •presenting irtford Accident and demnity Company ember Hartford surance G roup irtford 15, Conn. Natal Grange Party Dec. 19 NATAL - PITTSBURG — Natal Grange has its Christmas party planned for Saturday evening, De­ cember 19. Visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Ekhoff Saturday were Michael Cook and Caroline McCawl- ey of Beaverton, Helen Joan Ekhoff and Duane Justice of Portland. Sun­ day visitors were Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Ekhoff of Portland. Mrs. Marion Grant and Mrs. Ike Dass were in St. Helens Friday. Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Lindsay cal­ led on Mr. and Mrs. Noble Dunlap Saturday. Monday evening Richard Peterson visited at the Dunlap home. Mr. and Mrs. Elvin Stiff of Port­ land visited her folks, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Howard, Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Lester Cook of Ska- mokawa visited with Mr. and Mrs. I. J. Dass Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. John Buchanan and family of Long­ view also visited at the Dass home this week end. Letter to the E d itor- - - To the Editor: The outstanding success of “Hearts and Husbands” Day, featuring Dr. Paul Dudley White, was due in large part to the complete saturation by the newspapers of Oregon and South­ ern Washington with the message urging women to attend. The Board of Directors and the Committee on “Hearts and Hus­ bands” Day of the Oregon Heart As­ sociation wish to express their sin­ cere appreciation to you for the gen­ erous contribution of time and per­ sonnel which made this unique event such a success. Without your valu­ able assistance this program would not have been a success. We thank you. Sincerely Yours, John W. Kendall, President Lauretta Taylor Keller, Chairman "Hearts and Husbands” Day Growers Told Deadline Need Growers need to complete all de­ tails of marketing wool and lambs not later than December 31, 1964, in order to receive payments for the current marketing y e a r , reminds County Agent Don .Coin Walrod. Since the wool marketing year now is on the calendar-year basis, the sale will not be considered as taking place in the 1964 marketing year if any part of a sale of lambs or wool is not settled by December 31. Only a small number of farmers have filed wool marketing information so far this year, according to ASCS office manager Bill Armstrong. Payments for the 1964 marketing year will begin about April of next year, after the program payment rates are determined, based on the average prices received by pro­ ducers for shorn wool sold throughout the nation in 1964. Payments for the 1965 marketing year on marketings taking place or completed after Dec­ ember 31, 1964, will be made in the spring of 1966. Wool producers may file applica­ tions for payment for the 1964 m ar­ keting year with the ASCS county of­ fice any time between now and the end of January 1965. 3eeoxowe