Hearings, Hearsay, and Hope: January 23, 2019

News in the West

~~Mitt Romney's First Town Hall Meeting  Jan. 22

Lake Powell Pipeline Project

~~Despite Education and Warnings, Tourists and Bison Don't Mix 

~~ Paradise Lost:  St. George's Unchecked Growth

~~ California Hikers Not Prepared for Winter

~~ When Politics and the News get too much to Stomach  Try some humor

Bill Boyle Back as Editor of San Juan Record

~~ Marathon Hearing Discusses Residency of Willie Greyeyes 1/22/19

~~ Utah Challenges Control of Federal Lands

~~Snow pack on Blue Mountains Continues to Build

~~Recording of 1st Commission Meeting Jan. 2019 

~~New County Commission Prepares Resolution to Undo Will of the People 

Example: 

-Section 1: All prior resolutions or official actions of the San Juan County Commission opposing the Bears Ears National Monument or calling for its dis-establishment or reduction, and specifically Resolution Nos. 2015-09, 2016-08 and 2017-02, are hereby immediately rescinded.

-Section 2: The San Juan County Commission condemns the unlawful actions of President Donald Trump by effectively dis-establishing the Bears Ears National Monument through the issuance of Proclamation No , 9681 in violation of the Antiquities Act of 1906,

~~ KUER New Commission Builds up Old Tensions     

Photo by Judy Fahys KUER

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Some States are MORE Equal that Others

Borders, Bundy, Bluff and Beyond; January 19, 2019

News in the West

Salt Lake Tribune Receives Grant for Full Time SJC Reporter

Watch The National Debt Clock Escalate

Fiscal Debt and Why it Matters

~~  Hearing Jan 22 to Evaluate W. Greyeyes' State/ SJC Residency;  "Decorum" Rules

~~ Want More Fiscal Responsibility? Give more Power to the States  Gov. Herbert

"...the increasing frequency of federal shutdowns . . . should tell us that the problem is deeper than a disagreement over immigration or health care or the debt ceiling. If we accept that federal shutdowns are likely to continue to occur, then we should consider long-term strategies to mitigate their scope and severity—including the return to a robust federalism that leaves more policy making power to the states. . . . One year ago, I joined with a few other governors to meet then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to discuss various policy concerns. Among other topics, I emphasized the need to devolve power from Washington, D.C., to states, where government is more innovative and responsive. Mrs. Pelosi agreed, and even quoted Justice Louis Brandeis’ famous idea that states are the “laboratories of democracy.” Usually, I’m the one reciting that phrase to federal officials, so I was happy to experience the reverse." Gary Herbert

~~ Cliven Bundy Case Dismissed

~~ Bluff City Council Disconnects "City" from Lyman Family Farms Property 

“I was not elected to engage in expensive litigation,” Mayor Anne Leppanan said. “Expensive, long, nasty litigation with an attorney who will take us through the wringer.

 Natural Resources Package Introduced in Senate   

Senator Murkowski, AK

~~ Dock Congressmen's Salary During Gov. Shutdowns?  John Curtis Agrees 

~~ Climate Change Paranoia; the Campaign for Global Socialism

~~ Conservation Easements + Land Trusts Subvert Private Property Rights

      Tom DeWeese wrote in Sustainable, that there are thousands of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working with the UN to subvert property rights. Of course, they don’t just announce that property rights are now null and void. That would create a stir. Instead, they use code words and language that sound innocent and helpful to our society. One such tool that is now being used to target rural lands for takings is the Conservation Easement, and its threat is growing."

~~ FBI Recommended that BLM Waive Bundy Grazing Rights   Washington Post   

~~Farmers Under Fire: Trial Lawyers’ Attack Agriculture

"Agriculture is in the crosshairs as class-action lawsuits seek huge monetary awards against agricultural producers, said a panel of experts at a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention."

~~ Land and Water Conservation Funds Pose Problem for Stockmen

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Wall Building on the Border: Yay and Nay

~~ Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar's views on building the Wall:

"The statistics are worth repeating:

• 90% of the heroin in our country flows through our porous southern border
• 50 percent increase in family units arriving in 2018  
• First time in the history of United States family units and children make up the majority of apprehensions. 
• In the last two years alone, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records. Including those charged or convicted of 100,000 assaults and nearly 30,000 sex crimes.
• 68% of migrants and refugees are victims of violence along the journey
• 1 out of 3 women sexually assaulted  

When listening to the open border left discuss the much-needed border wall, they often whine that the wall will not work. They cite no facts or figures that walls do not work, nor can they, since the reality is far different. The data shows that anywhere we have built walls we have seen a massive drop in illegal crossings – usually by 90% or more.

• Tucson (built in 2000): Apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing the border dropped 90% over 15 years
• Yuma (built in 2005): Apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing the border dropped 95% over 9 years  
• San Diego (built in 1992): Apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing the border dropped 92% over the past 23 years
• El Paso (built in 1993):  Apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing the border dropped 72% in one year and 95% over 22 years"

~~ Regulatory Roadblocks in Securing the Southern Borders of US

~~ Who's Crossing the Border? 

~~Farmer Says He'll Give Trump An Easement If He'll Build the Wall

New Start for San Juan: Bear Essentials January 2019

News in the West

Bob Woodard Talks About Trust and Integrity With Des News

Utah Sales Tax May be Cut?

SJC Newly Elected Officials Sworn In

Historic Day In San Juan County KUER

New Commissioner Greyeyes with Judge Hazelton. Maryboy and Adams in back

KUER photo/ Judy Fahys 

Changes:  Zinke's Out, Bernhardt's In Dept. of Interior

Urban/Rural Divide in Oregon Deepens

 Vital For Colorado Interviews Western Wire: Energy Development in the West: 

(takes a few seconds to start)

Trump Admin. Asks Supreme Court to Determine Regulation of Groundwater 

Locals Object to Disneyland Approach to Western Life in Hurricane

~~ Canyon Zephyr Editor Found Innocent of Defamation Charges

"We have great news today! If you remember, The Zephyr was sued by former Moab City Manager Rebecca Davidson and Tayo, Inc co-founder Tara Smelt in the fall of 2016. That lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Anderson in February, 2017, but Davidson and Smelt appealed to the Utah Court of Appeals. We had oral arguments in front of the Appeals Court this past September and we have just today received our ruling! The Appeals Court unanimously affirmed Judge Anderson's dismissal. The ruling is a fun read. Enjoy and Celebrate!

~~ CNN  Senator Cruz and Rep. Rooney Introduce Constitutional Amendment with Term Limits 

"The amendment, co-sponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and David Perdue (R-Ga.), would restrict senators to two six-year terms and House members to three two-year terms. A similar amendment was proposed by Cruz in January of 2017."

~~Federal Judge Drops Suit Against SJC Auditor/ Clerk: Costs are High

~~ Trump: Pushes to Ramp up Logging on Public Lands

~~ Dixie Area Nat'l Parks Continue to Function with Local Financial Support

~~Federal Government Poor Manager of Nat'l Parks: States Could Do Better

"During the 2013 shutdown, under the Obama administration, the federal government took an especially punitive position. The administration sent armed government agents to shut down the parks. It sent in extra staff to erect barriers around some monuments — monuments funded by private trusts — such as the World War II memorial in Washington, DC."

   

   ~~Who is Funding the Sunrise Movement, and their Anti-Fuels Agenda

"Linking Movements: Newly released information on the deep-pocketed backers of the growing Sunrise Movement behind the "Green New Deal" reveals that the new push in Congress is being funded by the same donors supporting climate litigation. Both the Rockefeller Family Fund and the Wallace Global Fund provide substantial financial support to EarthRightsInternational (ERI), the Washington, D.C.-based non-profit representing Boulder County, Boulder City and San Mateo County in their lawsuit against ExxonMobil and Suncor, as Western Wire reported, and now we've learned that these same foundations provided the initial funding for Sunrise."

~~ Earth Rights International Role Training Indigenous People

~~Extreme Green Group Wants 3/4 Million Acres to Protect Garter Snakes  Free Range Report

~~ Nature Conservancy Acting as Fed. Government's Real Estate Agent?

"The $1.025 million transaction also sheds light on the threat to traditional rural Western communities posed by one of Capitol Hill’s most insidious slush funds, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Created in 1964, the LWCF was originally supposed to help states develop planning for recreation areas and related facilities. But over the decades the LWCF has morphed into a piggy-bank in which deep-pocketed environmental groups collaborate with wealthy, and often, out-of-state landowners flip land to the federal government."

 Free Range Report

2019 -- Times are a Changin' -- Bear Essentials and More

News in the West

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Utahans Will Pay more for Gas and Out of State Purchases in 2019

Normally, most citizens  believe we are already taxed enough as we pay for government services which are often antiquated, ineffective, and most often wasteful; however, when it comes to lost tax revenues which  affect our San Juan County Schools, I believe out-of-county shopping has been a great detriment to our schools, our teachers, and the services provided to our children.  

I know many people who prefer to drive 160 miles to Walmart, rather than support local stores. Thus they give those taxes to Colorado schools and agencies. Nor does Amazon and  other on-line services share any of their wealth with anyone in San Juan County. If we want a thriving economy in San Juan, without more businesses closing, we need to shop locally first.  Then, and only then, should we shop out of county, or at Amazon, or any other on-line business. Jeff Bezos has no interest nor concern about lack of services, personnel or materials in our schools.  I think requiring the collection and payment of out of state sales tax revenues to San Juan County is a good thing.  JW

Senator Graham Gives Warning to Mitt Romney

Utah Congressmen Push to Keep Nat'l Parks Open

Tribute to Mancos Times:  Renewal Project

Old News:  Opening of Bluff Bears Ears Visitor's Center Free Press

Suit Challenges Willie Greyeyes' Candidacy                 

The 15-page complaint filed with the court, claims, “Mr. Grayeyes is a resident of the state of Arizona, not of the state of Utah, thus he is ineligible to run for, or serve, as a San Juan County Commissioner.” 

The 15-page complaint filed with the court claims, “Mr. Grayeyes is a resident of the state of Arizona, not of the state of Utah, thus he is ineligible to run for, or serve, as a San Juan County Commissioner.” 

The 15-page complaint filed with the court claims, “Mr. Grayeyes is a resident of the state of Arizona, not of the state of Utah, thus he is ineligible to run for, or serve, as a San Juan County Commissioner.” 

The 15-page complaint filed with the court claims, “Mr. Grayeyes is a resident of the state of Arizona, not of the state of Utah, thus he is ineligible to run for, or serve, as a San Juan County Commissioner.” 

~~Petition Filed Dec. 28, Showing Greyeyes as Arizona Resident: 64 items

~~What are Public Lands to be used for?  Dexter Gill

~~Constitutional Amendment Proposed Limiting Congressional Term Limits 

~~Navajo Technical University Awarded 3.5 M Grant

~~Republican's Impressive Congressional Score Card

~~KSJD Radio:  Colorado Native Acting Sec. of Interior

~~ Utah's Pension Plan #8 in the Nation, While Other States Falter

• Bankrupt Fed Government Runs out of Money; Parks Suffer
• Drought Affecting Colorado Dry Farmers

Dove Creek "bills itself as the “Pinto Bean Capital of the World,” but the proclamation doesn’t attract many tourists – farming is still the primary economic driver here. In a typical year, Pribble will take in 3 million pounds of pinto beans grown without irrigation water – dryland beans. This summer, despite their admirable thrift, the bean plants withered in bone dry conditions. Southwest Colorado’s entire 2018 dryland bean crop failed, along with almost all of its wheat, sunflower, and safflower.  

2019: A New Year of Hope in the West

In the News

~~ Commissioners Benally and Lyman Honored at Commission Meeting:  Job Well Done!

~~Seven Other Presidents Tougher on the Media than Trump

~~ John Marshall, Shaped Supreme Court Policies

~~ Phil Lyman Battles with State Tax Commission 

~~Tax Reform for Small Businesses

~~Winter Solstice Burn in Bluff  video

~~Snow Looks Good From the Monticello Side Too!

~~Colorado Native Likely Choice to Replace Zinke  

“He has more experience in that building working on these issues than any predecessor,” Jon Hrobsky, an attorney who worked with Bernhardt in President George W. Bush’s Interior Department, told the Washington Examiner. “The uniqueness of David for this job is there has never been anyone more qualified to do it.”

~~ Trump Takes Steps to Stop More Catastrophic Forest Fires

"Trump issued an executive order Friday to allow for active management of forest and rangelands, including thinning and removing debris from millions of acres of federal lands.

The order also calls on federal officials to streamline regulations and permitting processes to allow the harvest of at least 3.8 billion board feet from U.S. Forest Service lands and 600 million board feet from Bureau of Land Management lands."

~~ How Freelancing Can Help Save Rural Life
"Utah is taking advantage of a technological wave that connects skilled workers with work, and increasingly enables people to work from anywhere as freelancers, entrepreneurs, or employees.

~~ Utah in the Top Ten for Mining Industry

~~ Utah Rings in New Year With Toughest DUI Laws in the Country

~~ Winter Storms Build Utah's Snow Pack 

~~ The Left Looks at Zinke's Legacy

~~Wind Power Viability as Energy Source Decreasing 

~~ Only 1 Utah National Park to be Staffed as 2019 Begins

Socialists still haven't figured out a bankrupt country can't afford more National Parks and Monuments.

~~ARE RUSSIANS BACKING US ENVIROMENTAL GROUPS?

"An open records lawsuit filed against the State Department is attempting to uncover whether Russian entities attempted to financially support U.S. environmentalist causes.

The Institute for Energy Research (IER) — a free-market energy group based in Washington, D.C. — filed the lawsuit on Monday. IER has requested that the State Department hand over correspondence concerning hydraulic fracturing, environmental advocacy and Russia that was exchanged to and from high-ranking employees."

DOI Faces Future Without Zinke -- Bear Essentials

Opinions 12-19-18

Vote for Utah Citizen of the Year
~~
Rob Bishop and Sean Reyes are on Sec. Interior Short List
~~

America is at a Rubicon Moment in History by By Michael Shannon

(Allusion:  "crossing the rubicon": Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon river was an event in 49 BC that precipitated the Roman Civil War, which ultimately led to Caesar becoming dictator for life and the rise of the imperial era of Rome. ... Today, the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" is an idiom that means to pass a point of no return.)
~~

ZviDance will present the world premiere of Bears Ears in NYC

~~ Rollbacks proposed on Excessive EPA Water Regulation

~~ EcoWatch Screams, while Miners with Leases Go to Work 150,000 Acres of Public Lands Available Near Utah National Parks

~~ Benefits of EPA Reduction of Water Restrictions 
  "This means that hardworking Americans will spend less time and money determining whether they need a federal permit and more time growing crops, building homes, modernizing infrastructure, creating jobs and improving the lives of their fellow citizens."

~~ Sean Reyes and Rob Bishop on "short List' for Zinke Replacement

~~ Coal Production Up

     Varying News Reports on Zinke's Resignation

~~Washington Post:   "Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke submitted his resignation to the White House on Saturday, facing intense pressure to step down because of multiple probes tied to his real estate dealings in his home state of Montana and his conduct in office."

~~ Zinke to leave at End of Year: CNN  "Some possible contenders for his position include Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Nevada Republican Sen. Dean Heller, who lost his re-election race, sources with knowledge of the situation said.

Zinke said in a statement on Saturday that he was proud of his work as interior secretary and called the allegations against him "false."

~~ New York Times Editorial Attacks Zinke "The New York Times ripped outgoing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Saturday as a cheerleader for President Donald Trump’s “boneheaded” policy of “energy dominance.” The editorial noted that Zinke is leaving his job under the shadow of an” impressive number” — 15 — “ethics investigations.”

~~Pelosi Promises Tougher Gun Laws

~~ Why Wyss plans to buy $1 Billion in land to Save the Planet

       Response from Ben Burr: "You’ll notice that all of the land he plans to buy is in developing countries. This is just the latest instance of imperious Europeans colonizing the planet at the expense of indigenous peoples. History will be just as kind to Mr. Wyss as it has been to Columbus, Cortez, and Custer." 
Hansjörg Wyss was born in Switzerland, founded the medical device company Synthes and          now lives in Wyoming.

~~Wyss and Companies:  Bad to the Bone  2012 investigation 
"The company repeatedly ignored evidence of potential lethal consequences. Interviews with more than 20 former employees and surgeons involved in the Norian project, hundreds of pages of court transcripts, and company documents submitted in the case reveal that Synthes not only disregarded multiple warnings that it was flouting the rules, but also brushed off scientists’ cautions that the cement could cause fatal blood clots."

~~ Back Pack Grand Gulch with Conservation Lands Foundation $2600 in April 2019

"A portion of the trip costs goes to support the Conservation Lands Foundation's efforts to defend America's National Conservation Lands, including Bears Ears National Monument, while building and empowering the Friends Grassroots Network to protect them for the future. "

Cows Not Condos! ~~Bear Essentials~~ Dec. 6-14, 2018

Christmas Gift Ideas

The San Juan Record has many books

 and even the newest National Geographic

 with articles/ history of Bears Ears.  

Past issues of Blue Mountain Shadows 

also sold there as well as in many 

Blanding Locations.

~~Jim Carlson: Reforming Administrative Government

~~Landowner Wants out of Bluff City Incorporation

~~Read and Support the Canyon Zephyr

~~Boulder Rancher uses Cows to Protest Tourism: 

~~ Read and Support: Free Range Report

~~More National Parks Needed; Bring on the Tourists Opinion SLT

~~Interior Dept. Inspector General Confirms Abuses by BLM employees

~~Lawsuits, Legislation, and Land Use since Bears Ears/ Grand Staircase were Downsized --KSL

~~Malheur Ranchers Given a Week to Respond to 'Fishy' Forest Service Report
"For example, federal agencies have developed their environmental data about steelhead populations by studying areas where fish are unlikely to travel, such as upstream of multiple “check dams” installed by the Forest Service to slow water flow, Stout said.

Though ranchers aren’t responsible for the problem, grazing cattle nonetheless get the blame, he said. If you go against their agenda, you’re demonized,” he said."

~~Mark Franklin and Rose Chilcoat Claim They Were Kidnapped   --"In another bizarre turn of events last week, Franklin’s team filed a complaint with the San Juan County Prosecutors Office claiming Mark Franklin and Rose Chilcoat were kidnapped by Zeb Dalton and Zane Odell when they detained them at the scene of the crime in 2017.

~~Friends of Cedar Mesa Involved in Self Appointed Road Closure

"Last week Josh Nielson of Blanding, Utah was out with a client in the Butler Wash / Comb Ridge area when he came across a group of folks building barricades across a couple of county roads. One of the roads was county road D2138 which was not closed. . . The fact that FCM, who purport to be “environmentalists,” are dragging logs, rocks, digging up sand and dirt to create these barricades without an environmental impact study, should cause great concern for the BLM. The transference and damage to artifacts as well as damage to the macrobiotic soil (Cryptobiotic soil crust), plants, and the area in general should warrant a criminal investigation to say the least by the Bureau of Land Management."  The Petroglyph Dec. 5

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Political Ponderings:

Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

~~"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those  who are willing to work and give to those who would not.-- TJ ~~"It is incumbent on every generation  to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on, would save one-half the wars of the world."  --TJ ~~"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them."--TJ ~~"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."TJ  ~~"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." --TJ ~~"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes, the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical.--TJ