Posted on 04/04/2002 11:51:20 AM PST by AuntB
A Tribute to my friend Jeff Head, Free Republic’s Eagle Award-FREEPER OF THE YEAR
It had only been a few minutes earlier that I hugged blackie, Barb, GrandmaC, redrock and his precious family and headed north out of the narrow canyon, glancing in the rear view mirror at the tiny community of Jarbidge, Nevada. The sun was low in the west, bouncing glistening sparks off the tips of junipers and the winding creek that the narrow dirt road followed. It had been a long three days, my car, gear and my body was covered with a quarter inch of Nevada Dust. and I was distressed that I could not stay for the long anticipated events of the next day, July 4, 2000.
Redrock and the others had already cleared passage through the mountain of dirt and rock that the US Forest Service had dumped to block the S. Canyon Road, the only other road out of the isolated community besides the one I found myself navigating. A “staging ground” and campsite had been set up just over the border of Idaho and I could not resist stopping to meet any other Free Republic members who may have been there.
Remove from your imagination any notion of an organized “camp ground”. This was a big field donated by a local rancher for the gathering. I threw my vehicle into 4 wheel drive and started across the field, which was mostly ruts and foot tall grass. The first group informed me they thought some freepers were…”over that way”. I prayed that I didn’t run over an “endangered” field rat.
I encountered a group deep in conversation, a likely place for a bunch of freepers. After asking if any one there was with Free Republic, a charming man extended his hand, introducing himself as “cc2k”. Leaning against a bumper, with his back to me was a cowboy hat clad man who turned and said, “Who are you?” When he spoke, and I saw his face, I knew it was Jeff Head. Sometimes you meet a soul that you have known forever and you recognize him when you meet him. Then I was back on the road headed west for home for the 800 mile journey.
Jeff and the others finished clearing the South Canyon Road, moved the Liberty Rock, cleaned the outhouses on Independence day. I listened to the live radio reports and knew that all was well. Jarbidge was in good hands.
I never expected to see Jeff Head and my other new friends again. Once was privilege enough. And our work was done. Or so it seemed at the time. In April of 200l, the federal government cut irrigation water off to 1400 farmers in the Klamath Basin. Now, the battle was to be fought in my back yard and once again Free Republic’s incredible resources would be used. The Bucket Brigade was a successful milestone with nearly 20,000 attending in that small community. Many were from FreeRepublic.....MadameAxe, Robert Drobot, forester, Marsh2, Washington_Minuteman, Conservative and many more answered the call.
The residents of the basin were doing all they knew to do to restore some sanity to this process, but finally in desperation, some of them decided to “let the water flow” on July 13. We had a rally that day and I had already arrived home when late that night I got a phone call. It was Jeff Head. He was on his way to the head gates. The farmers were no longer alone.
I arrived in Klamath Falls about 6:00 a.m. the next morning after federal agents had surprised the dozen there trying to protect the water and were now standing armed guard to keep the farmers from obtaining their water. Though tired from the 14 hour drive all night long, Jeff greeted me with that wonderful smile, shaded by his weathered cowboy hat.
All the contributions Jeff made to the community of the Klamath Basin and others cannot be listed here. Until I met some of the fine, brave Americans like Jeff Head, who truly care about their fellow man, and the creatures of the earth as well. I would not have believed such good people existed. The last time Jeff and I met was the big rally at the Klamath County Fairgrounds in August. It had been an exhausting summer for us all. This time he brought his son Jared, who was a delight. These children don’t have to be concerned with not having a good role model and are proud of this Western gentleman they call “Dad”. I situated myself at the front of the building with signs to locate the other freepers soon to arrive. And arrive they did…. in numbers.....nunya bidness, amom, Bump in the night, clamper1797, 68-69TonkinGuilfYatchClub and more. Someone asked me if Jeff was there and I told them, he’s down on the bottom level with some other people. “Look for a cowboy hat with a braided leather hat band.....oh,nevermind, you’ll know him when you see him!.” And they did.
Sometimes, when we are in trouble, good people show up to help. Next time you find yourself in one of those situations, look around. My friend Jeff will be up front…HELPING. I can’t begin to explain it, but you’ll know him when you see him.
It's aged a little more since last year ... sweat ring creeping up higher ... but still represents good honest down to earth toil and labor.
Best to you and yours!
Best FRegards!
WOW - now *that's* a drive! I know you're a modest guy, but you truly deserved it.
BTW ... started Volume III this weekend.
Awesome! I'm going to have to open up a second bookshelf... :-)
Others drove further. One gal was there from Wisconsin! Having driven it herself.
Well, *I* finished it! {GRIN} Still gotta write the review, so I guess you're off the hook for another day.
PocketPCPRess will have the MSReader version of Volume II published in the next day or two. I hope it does as well as that version (MSReader) of Volume I. It's the one on the top of the list.
'Night!
BTW, I'll FReepmail you tomorrow ... might have a good lead on a publisher (not a major, but I got a good recommendation from another author I worked with recently)...
'Night!
Thank YOU for all of your own efforts for our Republic, particularly as regards the 2nd amendment. It will take us all, pulling together in the various area to vouchsafe our liberties and our Republic.
Best FRegards.
PocketPCPress is the only "officially" published version and he has promoted it ... with great results. I am sure the same would be true of the printed book if a publisher got ahold of it and marketed and promoted it.
In the mean time, check out how volume I is doing as an eBook:
--> Top Selling Mystery and Thriller eBook on Amazon
--> Top Featured Mystery and Thriller eBook on Amazon
Fregards!
Tell the President to instruct Norton to have Reclamation give the headgates and irrigation works to the farmers in Klamath.
Best Fregards!
That is my hope as well, as much for the opportunity for the messages contained in the book to get wider exposure and more folks ear (that is why I am writing the series) as anything else. The other personal impact would be icing on that cake.
Thank you for those gracious wishes. Best to you and yours as well my friend, may God's light shine on you.
Praise the Lord!
:<)
The news is out on President Bush's speech and visit, so here are the particulars.
Pres. Bush will arrive at the Medford, Or. Airport Thursday on Air Force One at 9:55 a.m.(pacific) and then tour some of the fire damage near Ruch. He will make his speech at the Compton Arena at the Jackson County Expo Park/Fairgrounds in Central Point at 12:45 p.m. The speech is by ticket given by invitation only, so I do not know if there will be any other access for the public.
I will try to take pictures!!
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