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.
And You and Yours are always welcome here.
Peace
That's what I've always said about FReeper RaceBannon! :-)
reckon you'll know him when you see him...
Thanks for the ping.
Jeff, I know you have paid your pound of flesh for the time and effort you have given to telling America about the back-stabbing edicts government placed on the savvy patriotic inhabitants of Klamath Basin.
Assuming a leadership role in any endeavor carries with it a burden only known to those who have been thrust into that kind of setting. You have, without doubt, been tempered, and aged, by your experience, and I'm glad to see you receive deserved recognition for you toil.
The motivation to assume a 'leadership' role is a rare trait among men, and from among them finding leaders rooted with a sense of principle is akin to finding that elusive needle in a haystack. You are joined with that small army of patriots in America who, like AuntB, act as our country's conscience. It's gratifying to see one of that army stand and acknowledge the efforts by his brothers and sisters who carry the banner of liberty for the rest of America.
Congratulations Jeff. Continue the effort. America is in short supply of you're sense of citizenship.
Thank you Jim Robinson for acting as a beacon of light on a coastline wrought with dangerous rocks and a turbulent sea. Yours is a very special calling.
Oh, do I understand that one! I'm in the same boat, cept don't do the heels and boa thing.
WHAT, exactly, IS IT you DO these days? ;-)
Bless you and yours.
By the way ... what's the status on the water delivery coming up? I want you to know, I spent all winter spear fishing that marvelous sport fish ... the Klamath sucker. My tireless efforts revealed to me that there are exactly eleven Klamath Suckers in the entire headwater Basin. So that's about $2 million of lost income for the valley per fish! That's is a price well worth you paying in the judgement of the Marxist Pagan Fish & Wildlife biologists.
So, I don't think the fish are going to be a problem going forward. It's going to be just a beautiful and vital use of water, the same reason that new group of Spotted Owls chose to nest right there on the Klamath Basin shores. ;^)
Best regards AuntB ... Floyd the Barber is awfully sweet on you! Yes, he's creepy as an open grave ..
Evidently mine was feeblier than yours. ;-)
I'd love to see y'all again real soon. Maybe in good time eh?
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