Category: General

EPA Violated Personal Privacy of Farmers, Ranchers

GW:  These rogue, unelected power mongers need to be cut off at the knees now that the horses are already out of the barn.

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has violated the personal privacy of tens of thousands of farmers and ranchers, according to a unanimous ruling issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

The ruling in American Farm Bureau Federation and National Pork Producers Council vs. EPA concerned the federal agency’s 2013 release to three environmental groups of a vast compilation of spreadsheets containing personal information about farmers and ranchers who raise livestock and poultry in 29 states. The case also related to similar personal information from farmers and ranchers in seven additional states that had yet to be released. The information included the names of farmers, ranchers and sometimes other family members, home addresses, GPS coordinates, telephone numbers and emails. EPA claimed that it was required to disclose the information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

“This was an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy by a federal agency in violation of law,” said AFBF General Counsel Ellen Steen. “The court’s decision is a vindication of the right of farm families to control their own personal information. Farmers and ranchers have a strong privacy interest in their personal information, including their home address, even when they live and work on the farm.”

Farm families usually live on the farm and the court took note that EPA’s disclosures in this case could facilitate unwanted contact and harassment of farmers and ranchers by the FOIA requestors and others. According to Steen, “this case assures us that individuals still have a privacy interest in their personal information. The fact that government agencies may have that information and even store it on the Internet does not eliminate the individual’s privacy interest.” According to the court, “EPA’s release of the complete set of data on a silver platter, so to speak, basically hands to the requesters a comprehensive database of their own, whatever their motives might be.”

“EPA now has to ‘recall’ all of the personal information it unlawfully released, but unfortunately that information has now been in the hands of the FOIA requestors for three years, and many feel that the damage is done,” Steen said. “AFBF will continue to work to ensure that personal information about farmers and ranchers is not disclosed by EPA.”

 

General

Another 30 Pounder

30 Pound 4 Ounce Watermelon

30 Pound 4 Ounce Watermelon

The watermelons are ripening fast now and we’ve harvested another whopper.  A good year despite a terribly dry June thanks to the water well pump installed for our remote garden.  Growing watermelons in Michigan is a good trick, considering the relatively short growing season but our 14 hills have provided some 60 melons and they’re some of the best ever.

Pitcher pump in garden

Pitcher pump in garden

At a mere 9 feet in depth, the well point has provided much needed water for the garden this year…GW

General

Thin Green Line Needs Your Help

Around 12:45am on Sunday, August 21, a California game warden patrolling in the redwood country of Humboldt County in northwestern California about 30 miles SE of Eureka, spotted a car that was shining a spotlight in the woods. Surmising that the people in the car were spotlighting deer, the warden approached their car. The occupants of the vehicle fled and began shooting at the warden. As the poachers fled, they continued to shoot at the warden’s truck.

Wardens typically patrol alone in remote areas without immediate back-up. The warden radioed in asking for back-up. The warden did not return fire as he was driving as that would have been more dangerous. According to Cal. Fish and Wildlife’s Information Officer, Capt. Patrick Foy, eventually, the pursued vehicle crashed into a tree and the suspects fled on foot into the woods, leaving two guns in the abandoned car. The warden was not injured.

“Due to the presence of multiple suspects, their intent on shooting him, and lack of immediate assistance, the warden waited for help before continuing the search,” according to Captain Foy. Multiple agencies responded to the call for assistance from the warden.

The poachers have not yet been found. A group of environmental organizations and the California Wildlife Officers Foundation are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the capture of Shawn Eugene Hof Jr., 24, who allegedly was illegally hunting wildlife with the poachers when he fired multiple shots at the warden on Aug. 21. Hof is described as 5 foot 9 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information in this case is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office crime tip line at (707) 268-2539.

This incident is, unfortunately, not that unusual. According to warden Jerry Karnow, former President of CA Wardens Association, game wardens in California are involved in an average of at least one police shooting a year. Remember in 2013 it was CA game wardens who played a major role in the pursuit of Christopher Dorner. Considering that there are only 250 wardens in the field in CA for 38 million people, this means that wardens are engaged in more shootings than the average city police force of 250 officers.

California wardens are not alone. According to the FBI, game wardens nation-wide are nine times more likely to be assaulted in the line of duty than a police officer. http://www.policemag.com/channel/patrol/articles/2012/03/a-law-of-unintended-consequences.aspx

 Karnow and Lt. John Norris, who heads a tactical unit of game wardens currently focusing on busting illegal marijuana gardens, both agree that this year is the worst in memory for illegal marijuana grows on wildlands in California. Read more

General

Leatherman Now Selling Replacement Links for Thread Multitool


Leatherman Tread – MSRP $165Anytime, anywhere. The functionality of a Leatherman tool, with you everywhere. Our engineers designed multiple tools in each 17-4 stainless steel bracelet link, making usable tools like Allen wrenches, screwdrivers and box wrenches available at a moment’s notice. Adjustable to accommodate any wrist size and fully customizable with the links you need most, the Leatherman Tread is as stylish as it is functional.

General

Coast Guard Rescues 15 Anglers Near Golden Gate Bridge


SAN FRANCISCO — U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco responded Thursday to a mayday call from the 50-foot sport fishing vessel New Seeker. The call, received at approximately 4:30 p.m., reported that the vessel was taking on water in the vicinity of Kirby Cove near the Golden Gate Bridge.Coast Guard Station Golden Gate and Marin County Fire Department immediately launched rescue boats and safely removed 13 passengers and two crewmembers from the vessel. One passenger was reported to have suffered a head laceration and was transferred to local EMS for treatment.

Currently there is no report of pollution from the vessel and salvage operations are underway. Read more

General

Frequently Asked Questions about Crime and Law Enforcement

source: www.fbi.gov – data recently updated in 2015

If you’re not a Michigander, just click on “Home” at the FBI site.

In 2014, an estimated 1,165,383 violent crimes occurred nationwide, a decrease of 0.2 percent from the 2013 estimate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MCRGO is now accepting instructor applications for the MCRGO CPL Safety & Training Program. Instructor workshops will begin this summer. To qualify, applicants must be current instructors with another organization, must have a valid current Michigan CPL, & must become a member of MCRGO. Instructor certification is $200 with a $50 renewal every two years. Per student cost for the course is $15 initially ($10 later) and includes access to the attorney presented video covering the legal portion of the course, all course materials, and a one year membership for the student to MCRGO. Instructors are free to set their own course fees. MCRGO’s program is modeled to Michigan law, will continually be updated as Michigan law changes, and is designed to be as instructor-friendly as possible.

To apply visit:  MCRGO_Candidate_Application.pdf

General

First Ever Licensed Mossy Oak Roof Top Tents


BEND, OR – Freespirit Recreation, located in Bend, Ore., is a lightweight trailer and roof top tent manufacturer that has partnered with Mossy Oak® to offer Break-Up Country® camouflage on roof-mounted tents.”I’ve enjoyed hunting and the outdoors my whole life,” said Brannon Birrer, owner of Freespirit Recreation. “Some of my best memories involve the outdoors. To see our newest products finally come to fruition is really special, but honestly, I just can’t wait to get out there and enjoy them with my friends and family.”

Freespirit Recreation tents can be mounted to any roof rack either on a vehicle or trailer. They’ve also designed and offer innovative tent annexes that create a total living space for any outdoor adventure. There are four tent models with additional models currently being designed. All Break-Up Country models come with camo accented features like hanging storage pockets and mattress cover. Read more

General

Hartwick Pines to host Black Iron Days Festival


Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27 and 28, Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, Michigan, will host the annual Black Iron Days Festival at the park’s logging museum. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, blacksmiths will pound and shape metal into a range of practical and decorative items.Visitors can watch glowing iron bend like clay and hear the ring of hammer meeting steel. The sights, sounds and scents of a 1912 steam-powered sawmill cutting pine logs into boards will add to the activity at the site. Other craft demonstrations will include period music, woodworking, weaving and wool spinning. Read more
General

Michigan: Outdoors Gear Inventor Celebrated in Lansing

Webster Marble’s marketing included catalogs for both dealers and direct-sale customers, like this one from 1915.

Webster Marble’s waterproof matchbox kept matches contained and dry in any conditions.

Perhaps the most influential of Webster Marble’s inventions was the Ideal knife, which set the standard for hunting knives throughout the 20th century. It could be customized with varying handles, blade lengths, guards and sheaths.

Last chance to see ‘Inventing the Outdoors’ in the Lower Peninsula

The story of Michigan’s famous inventor runs through Sept. 11

A hundred years ago everyone, including Theodore Roosevelt and Admiral Perry, knew the name of the Gladstone, Michigan, inventor who made exquisite knives, a box that kept matches dry, and countless other outdoor tools. Outdoors enthusiast today still know the Marble Arms name, though few know the whole story told in the special exhibit “Inventing the Outdoors” at the Michigan History Museum in downtown Lansing.

Running through Sept. 11, the exhibit explores the life and work of Webster Marble, who started the company that would become an outdoor powerhouse, outfitting legions of hunters, anglers, campers and hikers. Read more

Cutlery, General

Reef Restoration at Grand Traverse Bay, MI

Heavy machinery recently was stationed in the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay to assist with a reef restoration project to provide better spawning habitat for several native fish species.

During the last two years, a major cooperative project has placed more than 600 tons of rock in the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay to rehabilitate a degraded reef to increase spawning habitat for several native fish species.

The partners in this effort, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, Central Michigan University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, added 200 tons of that rock during the week of Aug. 1 to implement phase two of this large-scale rehabilitation project. Read more

General
1 … 74 75 76 77 78 … 232