Free Republic

This red California county roiled by a far-right-insurgency braces for more trouble as election nears ... As a devoted Republican who runs a cattle ranch and proudly talks about owning a gun, Shasta County Supervisor Mary Rickert is an unlikely progressive icon. But that is exactly what the 72-year-old devout Catholic and grandmother has become to some in this northern California county — which has been convulsed by conspiracy theories about voter fraud and other extremist ideologies over the last three years Rickert is still a staunch conservative. But she has also emerged as an often lonely voice on the...

...So far, while these observers don’t appear to have unearthed any evidence of fraud, they are having an impact. ... . This comes as election officials across the nation received death threats following the 2020 and 2022 elections, fomented by former President Donald Trump’s false claims that the election was stolen ... “A lot of people who have left just because it’s not worth it,” he said. “I make $19.64 an hour. I’m not going to be a martyr for $19.60 an hour.” .... Most California Republicans in Congress won’t commit to certifying the results of the presidential election. And...

REDDING, Calif. — The Shasta County Elections Office says it found a print issue on some ballots that is impacting the ability to efficiently process ballots. County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Tom Toller says the office has addressed the problem and pivoted their ballot processing procedures to ensure every eligible ballot is counted. He says it's unclear exactly how many of the nearly 117,000 ballots issued are affected. ... The error stems from an issue with ink overspray on some ballots which prevents election equipment from processing them, according to the Elections Office. They say it's not visible to...

Board of Supervisors meeting the Board decided In a 3-2 vote to terminate Shasta County's contract with Dominion Voting Systems after next month’s special election in the city of Shasta Lake. The term of the contract was set to run through December 31, 2025. The Board majority emphasized that “You can’t put a price tag on voter trust”. Acting CEO Patrick Minturn says it will likely cost at least $1 million to bring in a new electronic voting system and train employees. Implementation of a new voting system will begin immediately to adequately prepare for upcoming elections. Finding any vendor...

Restaurants, recalls and resistance are giving California Gov. Gavin Newsom one of the worst months of his political career. California held its presidential primary election on Super Tuesday, March 5, but it was far from super for the state’s ambitious governor. Voters showed more than a little resistance to passing the ballot measure Newsom had branded with his name and image in TV ads for which he had raised $20 million. Given the razor-close outcome, what was really shocking was the amount spent to oppose the governor’s effort: nothing at all.

Election fraud conspiracy theorist Jeffrey O’Donnell declined to appear in person at Shasta County Supervisor Patrick Jones’s Town Hall Thursday night. Instead, he chose to appear live via video feed from his home in Florida, transforming the event into a tightly scripted and somewhat mind-numbing Zoom session featuring The Lone Racoon of the Apocalypse and Patrick “Hand Count” Jones. Nevertheless, most of the 350 people who packed the Holiday Inn conference room applauded O’Donnell’s performance, in which he reiterated his debunked “Mesa County pattern of fraud” conspiracy theory that falsely asserts an unknown entity is using remote triggers or algorithms...

<p>At a public board meeting in May, Shasta County Supervisor Patrick Jones declared that he is convinced there was voter fraud in his election victory in November 2020.</p><p>Jones beat incumbent Steve Morgan by nearly 11 percentage points.</p><p>Jones explained at the meeting that the Mesa, Colorado, “pattern of fraud” played out in his race, referring to claims made by Jeffrey O’Donnell, who — like former President Donald Trump and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell — has pushed debunked theories about voting machines manipulating election results.</p>

U.S. soccer legend Megan Rapinoe announced on Saturday that she will retire following the FIFA Women’s World Cup and after the end of the NWSL season. Rapinoe is one of the most decorated athletes in American soccer history, with two World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal and a Ballon d’Or to her name

Fresh from Winnebago County, Illinois, he seemed to take it all in stride. "Well, in Illinois, I served as a public official for 22 years, as the tax collector and treasurer, so I have a fairly thick skin and dealing with constituents, and working with them, is something that comes second nature to me. I hope to work well, even with the people that have very strong opinions out here also," Rickert told KRCR. " ... He should be up on the dais for next week's meeting. Again, he is not related to Supervisor Mary Rickert.

REDDING, Calif. — The attempted recall of Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye has quickly turned contentious and expensive. ... "When you come into my neighborhood and you start telling me my business is going to suffer because I support a man, that's hypocritical, that's not what they're supposed to be doing," Gibbons said. "They're wanting to get rid of Kevin Crye, for reasons, I want to support Kevin Crye, for my reasons, and I'm not going to let people like that push me around in my own neighborhood." ....

Shasta County District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye, an ally of MyPillow CEO and 2020 presidential election conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell, is facing a citizen-led recall effort because of his role in the county’s decision to get rid of Dominion voting machines in favor of an expensive plan to hand-count ballots. On Wednesday, Crye joined Lindell’s TV show to preview his anti-recall messaging. “We want to keep Gavin Newsom out of Shasta County politics,” Crye said after directing viewers to a campaign site that prominently features the governor’s name in multiple places. The reason Crye is invoking Newsom is simple: Thanks...

The County Supervisors in Shasta County, California, voted last night to go with paper ballots in elections going forward. The vote was 3-2. In January the County Supervisors in Shasta County voted to get rid of Dominion voting systems in their elections. This vote sent shockwaves through the state. Last night the citizens in Shasta County supported their Board of Supervisors when the vote to use paper ballots in future elections was on the table.

Hello cuz, This is a message from Shasta County Elections. Your ballot for the upcoming June 7, 2022, Primary Election has been mailed to you. If you haven't received your ballot within 7 business days, please contact us. If you are a military or overseas voter, your ballot should have already been transmitted to you. Questions? Call (530) 225-5730 or email elections@co.shasta.ca.us. Visit https://www.co.shasta.ca.us/index.aspx for election information. "Where’s My Ballot?" is a service of the California Secretary of State through your county election office. / / \ This service is powered by BallotTrax, 9501 Northfield Blvd | . . ....

When conservatives fight one another over God and country, my general reaction is — have at it, and where’s the popcorn? But the recent recall election in Shasta County that pitted a Republican ex-police chief against a far-right faction backed by a local militia is different. It’s a wake-up call ahead of the 2022 midterms that elections can go very wrong, even in liberal California. What happened in Redding should be a big, blinking warning light to what’s left of the mainstream Republican Party, and to us all that we have an obligation as Californians to protect elections across the...

Ashley earned her gun! California criminal defense firm Tully & Weiss has a tradition to celebrate an associate’s first jury trial victory. The firm awarded associate attorney Ashely Bargenquast the gun of her choice for winning a major case. The tradition rewards a great job, as well as encourages their attorneys to practice and celebrate the Constitutional rights they defend. Associate Attorney Ashley Bargenquast won her first jury trial in Shasta County. The case was related to cannabis cultivation, manufacture, firearms, conspiracy, and resisting arrest after a raid at their property which included a very public and substantial medical grow....

Violent California parolee released early. Hours later, he was arrested for murder REDDING, CA – Within hours of his early release from jail due to overcrowding, a parolee with a lengthy and violent history was arrested Sunday on suspicion of murder. According to the Redding Police Department, James Joshua Noyes, 33, was arrested Saturday, Oct. 3, after a domestic violence incident. He was booked into the Shasta County jail on charges of “possession of methamphetamine for sales, drug paraphernalia and a parole violation.” Within five hours of his arrest, Noyes was released from jail. The RPD describes the early release...

A military veteran business owner in Northern California lit into his county's leaders at a board of supervisors meeting, warning that restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic are threatening the lives of his family and many others. "This is a warning for what's coming; it’s not going to be peaceful for much longer," Carlos Zapata told the Shasta County board in Redding, California, on Aug. 11. At the meeting, nevertheless, Zapata directed his animus to the county board. "I'm pretty appalled at what's going on. At first we sat as concerned citizens, and we all wanted to best figure out...

But as she walked toward the front door there was a welcomed surprise — her father’s flag, tattered but neatly folded by the front door. On it was a note from firefighters that read, “Saved the house but not the flag. Thanks for flying Old Glory.” A gesture that restored the Spellmans faith, even when it felt like their whole world was going up in flames. “It’s the flag that means a lot,” Kari Spellman said. “And I’m just very thankful to these individuals that are willing to sacrifice for people that they don’t even know and to put so...

The devastating Carr Fire in Northern California continued to consume tens of thousands of acres overnight, heading into several rural Shasta County hillside areas, forcing the evacuation of one hamlet and burning more homes. The five-day-old fire’s burned area jumped from 48,000 acres Friday evening to 85,000 acres by midday Saturday, a swath of 132 square miles, and authorities reported five dead and about a dozen missing. “This fire is a disaster,” Sacramento firefighter Chris Harvey told a crowd of residents about 11:30 a.m. Saturday as ash rained down on them. “It’s a very large event with very high speed...

Sharron Angle speaking in Shasta County