Sheriff Warns Hage of Possible Cattle Confiscation and Arrest by BLM & Forest Service

The Nevada Live Stock Association (Press Release) ^ | August 17, 2004 | Ramona Morrison, the Nevada Live Stock Association

[PropertyRightsResearch.org]

Sheriff Warns Hage of Possible Cattle Confiscation and Arrest

August 17, 2004

Nevada Live Stock Association

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ramona Morrison 775.424.0570 rhmorrison@sbcglobal.net

Nye County, Nevada - According to Nye County Sheriff, Tony DeMeo, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in the midst of finalizing post-trial briefs in a thirteen-year old lawsuit with Nye County rancher, Wayne Hage, and in a move of apparent direct defiance of the several recent court decisions, are preparing to confiscate Hage’s cattle on his ranch in Nye County, Nevada. Hage was notified Friday, August 13, 2004, by Sheriff DeMeo, that Bob Abbey, Nevada BLM Director, had told him that, despite ongoing litigation, the BLM could move forward with the confiscation unless they receive a cease and desist order from the Court.

Alf Brandt, Interior Department Solicitor, and one of the Government’s attorneys in the May Hage v. U.S. compensation trial in Reno, Nevada stated in a July 30, 2004, letter to Sheriff DeMeo that the, “BLM actions may result in Mr. Hage’s appearance in federal court, which may provide him the opportunity to again present his legal theories and allow the federal court to adjudicate these issues.” Brandt’s letter also contained thinly veiled threats to arrest Hage.

Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service hand-delivered a three-day notice to Hage to remove livestock from the lands the U. S. Court of Federal Claims determined in its 2002 Final Decision and Finding of Fact to be “fee lands” to which Hage holds title. (“Fee” means the inheritable right to use.)

Sheriff DeMeo commented on the governments actions, “It is inexplicable to me why, after thirteen years of litigation, the BLM and Forest Service seem so anxious to go after Hage now. But there definitely seems to be an intensity building in this county and I expect them to try something. I have instructed my deputies to protect Constitutional rights of the citizens of Nye County, even if the perpetrator is the federal government,” he added.

Concerned about a Ruby Ridge-style government “arrest”, today, Hage forwarded a letter to Sheriff DeMeo stating that he believes the government’s efforts to create a “confrontation” with him is a move of desperation on the part of the agencies as a result evidence that surfaced at his trial in Reno in May.

The U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and southern Nevada water interests were implicated in a “conspiracy”, according to court transcripts, to bankrupt the Hages in order to obtain the abundant Pine Creek Ranch water for the benefit of Southern Nevada interests.

In his letter, Hage stated that, “....I believe Alf W. Brandt, as solicitor for the BLM Department of Interior, would like to find a way to eliminate me at the hands of some (federal) ‘Law Enforcement’ personnel.”

In the thirteen-year Fifth Amendment of the Constitution “takings” lawsuit in the U. S. Court of Federal Claims between the Hage family and the federal government, Hage has prevailed in all court rulings to date.

In 1991, the federal government, in an attempt to derail Hage’s civil “takings” case, attempted to prosecute him for destruction of government property. The case was reversed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Nevada Live Stock Association Director, Ramona Morrison, remarked about the May trial. “The government’s case faltered dramatically during the compensation trial. Every government witness was roundly impeached or discredited during cross examination. Facing the potential of incurring enormous damages in a ruling expected after the October closing arguments in Reno -- and numerous “takings” cases brought by other ranchers who have found themselves in similar circumstances as Hage -- the U. S. Forest Service and BLM have little chance at damage control. They may be acting in desperation to intimidate other ranchers from similar attempts to seek compensation when federal government takes their property.”

Government Solicitor, Alf Brandt, justifies his actions in his letter to Sheriff DeMeo by stating that Hage is failing to keep his cattle on the forage of the 50-foot right-of-ways. Hage commented from his ranch, “The government argues that I must contain my cattle on 50 feet of either side of my 1866 ditch rights-of-ways, some of which are natural creeks. I defy anyone to show me where the Court has said that in any of the three published Decisions or in the one court Order. Yet this is their justification for seeking my arrest. The government refuses to recognize that I am not a trespasser on my own ranch.”

# # # # #

Contacts:

Tony DeMeo, Nye County Sheriff 775.751.7000 www.nyecountysheriff.net

Ramona Morrison 775.424.0570 rhmorrison@sbcglobal.net

Wayne Hage 775.482.4187

Ladd Bedford, Esq., Attorney for Hage 415.905.0200

Nevada Live Stock Association

9732 State Route 445, #305

Sparks, NV 89436

775.424.0570

Fax: 775.424.0571

rhmorrison@sbcglobal.net

Note from Kathy Van Tuyl: Remember, folks ... these are President Bush's Secretaries of Agriculture, of Interior, and his Attorney General. He apparently has no more control over them now than he did four years ago, and I haven't heard him talk about doing anything about them. Should we give him another four years?

To be fair, I doubt he even knows this is going on ... although you can bet his cabinet members do. And since their actions do truly endanger this nation and her citizens, AND, after all, don't these threatened actions by USFS and BLM constitute "paper terrorism" as defined by the Patriot Act ... I ask that you join me in demanding President Bush defend us against this kind of terrorism here at home ... NOW! This is a real and imminent danger ... and he can stop it with a phone call!

Let's see what a few thousand of us can accomplish! Please be respectful but firm. There is plenty of useful information in the Nevada Live Stock Association press release with which to construct your letter.

Federal Citizen Information Center - Email addresses for the Bush Administration http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/call/e-mail.htm 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636)

President George Bush president@whitehouse.gov 1-202-456-1414 1-202-456-1111 1-888-552-9406 (non-working in parts of the country) Fax: 1-202-456-2883 or 202-456-2461

Secretary Ann Veneman Ann.Veneman@usda.gov 1-202-720-3631 1-866-632-9992 Veda Patterson 202-260-1026 Fax: 1-202-720-2166

U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth dbosworth@fs.fed.us 1-202-205-1661 Fax: 1-202-205-1765 U.S. Forest Service, 202-205-8421, Deputy Office, Kathleen Clemens

U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester, Region 4, Jack Troyer jtroyer@fs.fed.us 1-801-625-5605 Fax: 1-801-625-5359

Secretary of [the Department of] Interior Gale Norton gale_norton@ios.doi.gov 1-202-208-7351 or 1-202-208-6416 1-202-208-3100 (information and employee locator number) Fax: 1-202-208-3144, 202-208-6956 or 1-202-273-3501 [Harold] Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary for Fish & Wildlife and Parks 1-202-208-5347 craig_manson@ios.doi.gov

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director, Kathleen Clarke (Greg) Kathleen_Clarke@blm.gov 1-202-208-6731 or 1-202-452-5125 Fax: 1-202-452-5124

BLM State Director (Nevada), Robert Abbey babbey@nv.blm.gov 1-775-861-6590 Fax: 1-775-861-6601

Attorney General John Ashcroft AskDOJ@usdoj.gov 1-202-353-1555 or Main Switchboard 1-202-514-2000 Fax: 1-202-307-6777

Could this be why the federal agencies won't leave Wayne Hage alone? Please read and consider that this 'trail' passes through Private Land and that often the private landowner is not even told about the existence of this 'trail'

It seems that the American Discovery Trail (ADT), "The nation's first coast-to-coast, non-motorized recreation trail", passes right by (or through?) Wayne Hage's Pine Creek Ranch in Nye County, Nevada. http://www.discoverytrail.org/states/nevada/nv_points4.html

ADT's home page: "Stretching across more than 6,800 miles and 15 states, the ADT is the only coast-to-coast, non-motorized recreational trail. Linking communities, cities, parks and wilderness, the ADT allows people to hike, bike or ride horses for an afternoon or a cross-country adventure." The first "national discovery trail" long-distance trail. http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/archives/105cong/parks/pks97mtg.htm Originally described as being 6,000 miles in length -- from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware to Point Reyes National Seashore in California -- it has expanded by over 800 miles in less than seven years. http://www.discoverytrail.org/index.html

The ADT website is supported by the Coleman Company and the Lipton Company: http://www.Coleman.com and http://www.Lipton.com . See more sponsors: http://www.discoverytrail.org/sponsors/index.html -- including DeLorme http://www.DeLorme.com

"About Us" and "Mission": http://www.discoverytrail.org/about/index.html

See the list of Board of Directors: http://www.discoverytrail.org/about/staff.html

info@discoverytrail.org

This researched information sent to you by Julie Kay Smithson propertyrights@earthlink.net www.PropertyRightsResearch.org (Have you visited lately? Family safe, educational and empowering, regularly updated.)

[Texas Eagle]

Bad cows,
Bad cows,
Whatcha gonna do

Whatcha gonna do
When they come for you

Okay, so I'm no Doug From Upland.

[GeronL]

Does the Secretary of Interior have a website??

[coloradan]

Sheriff DeMeo commented on the governments actions, “It is inexplicable to me why, after thirteen years of litigation, the BLM and Forest Service seem so anxious to go after Hage now. But there definitely seems to be an intensity building in this county and I expect them to try something. I have instructed my deputies to protect Constitutional rights of the citizens of Nye County, even if the perpetrator is the federal government,” he added.

It would seem that we definitely have a good cop in this case. More power to you, Sheriff!

That said, the federal government appears to be up to its usual, despicable tricks. I wouldn't be surprised if they posted snipers with shoot-to-kill-on-sight orders, stating "law enforcement objectives" as their reason to do so.

[Texas Eagle]

Doesn't Nevada have any Senators this Hage guy can get to help him?

[PropertyRightsResearch.org]

Yes, it's: http://www.doi.gov/

[sport]

Yep!

To me his future looks dim.

The peasants do not defy the king.

There is a former Navy SEAL in Florida that they are going to kill also.

[GeronL]

Is there an email for Karl Rove's office??

[PropertyRightsResearch.org]

I don't know, but Harry Reid is as globalist as they get and only cares about property rights when its his family and friends' property. Part of this problem is the fact that Wayne Hage has a very remote ranch and communication can be delayed. Please, everyone, forward this main posting to everyone you know that cares about property rights and responsible resource providers -- let's get a LOT of phone calls/emails/faxes to all the contacts listed! Thank you.

[GeronL]

I meant email. heh =o)

[GeronL]

farmfriend has a ping list

[PropertyRightsResearch.org]

I don't know an email address, but here's the rest of his contact information:

Karl Rove
Senior Advisor to the President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Tel: 202-456-5587 or 202-456-2369
Fax: 202-456-2461

[nunya bidness]

Thanks for the heads up Julie.

[GeronL]

Now I can say he has a ping list...

[bayourod]

"these are President Bush's Secretaries of Agriculture, of Interior, and his Attorney General. He apparently has no more control over them now than he did four years ago, and I haven't heard him talk about doing anything about them. Should we give him another four years? "

That's all, I need to know. I'm emailing Bush, my Senators, Congressman and political allies to enforce the law against this criminal Hage. The courts have spoken and the law is the law. Where do these rich cattlemen get off threatening our President! Put Hage in prison for life and take everything he owns away from him.

[soundbits]

Isn't Wayne Hage the husband of Helen Chenowith, former Congressional representative from Idaho?

[PropertyRightsResearch.org]

Sport, I work my heart out every day -- from twelve to twenty hours a day -- on my website and email lists, my website being educational/empowering: http://www.PropertyRightsResearch.org . If everyone digging holes to bury these great fighters such as Wayne Hage and Jesse Hardy, would just visit my website and look up how they can add their voices to mine and snowball this effort, we'd be even further along in derailing this train run amok. Sorry, but I don't buy into the negativism. Even your sending the main post at this thread to, say, five or ten more people, would help both Wayne AND Jesse. Thanks in advance! Heck, if I can do this, you sure can!

[Calpernia]

I have NO IDEA if this is related. I saw cattle and thought of the letter I received yesterday.

So just surf by if this is unrelated.

Carneco Foods Recall

State health and agriculture officials are investigating five cases of E.Coli 0157:H7 infection in four Minnesota residents and a Wisconsin resident that are connected with Northern Plains frozen ground sirloin patties manufactured by Carneco Foods of Columbus Neb.

The recall involves approx. 497,000 pounds which is one day of frozen beef patty and fresh chub production at the company's Nebraska plant. The frozen patties were sold under the Northern Plains brand name in 6 pound bags or 10 pound boxes. The fresh ground beef was sold in 10 pound chubs labeled "Fine Ground Beef 91/09."

Frozen Patties
Northern Plains
Beef Sirloin and Beef Patties

Gourmet Beef Patties.

August 6, 2004

[Calpernia]

FYI on the recall.

[PropertyRightsResearch.org]

I guess you haven't been reading the news. Wayne Hage WON his case in May. The only thing left to be determined by the judge, next month, is how much compensation he gets for the criminal activities of both the BLM and Forest Service in stealing his cattle and keeping him from ranching. You can read all the details here: http://www.stewardsoftherange.org/