By Ray Wolf

Sometimes the simplest things can impact the rest of your life in some small or large way. Often, you don’t even know the significance of the event until years later.

Over 30 years ago, while I was attending Yreka High School, I took a summer school course called Anthropology of Siskiyou County taught by Jim Eckman and Terry Anderson. As part of the course we camped at the Lava Beds National Monument near Tulelake, CA, where we explored numerous lava tube caves, and learned about the Modoc Indian War. I didn’t know it then, but it was the genesis of a lifetime fascination with history and anthropology.

Recently, my eleven-year-old son Carlos who also has an interest in history and science visited me from El Centro, CA. It seemed natural that we should take a trip, along with my wife, Letty, to the Lava Beds and do some exploring.

We entered five caves, and visited Captain Jack’s Stronghold. The first cave was Mushpot. This is a great cave to start your day. It has a string of small red lights illuminating the path, and several lighted stations along the way that explain the geologic features of he cave. It gives anyone who’s not familiar with caves, or a little apprehensive, a chance to get acclimated. (more…)

YREKA – Applications are now available for the Siskiyou Golden Fair Junior Fair Board. The fair is seeking youth between the ages of 13 (and in the 8th grade) and 19 to serve in a volunteer capacity as youth ambassadors for the fair.
The Junior Fair Board will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, perform community service and become aware of the business and operations of the 10th District Agricultural Association. The deadline for applications is August 22, 2008.
Junior Fair Board candidates must live within the 10th District Agricultural Association boundaries which includes all of Siskiyou County, except for the northeastern portion (Dorris to Tulelake) and must have a GPA of 2.0 or above.
The board member duties include providing outreach in the members’ communities and schools as well as providing input to the fair staff and Fair Board as to what their age groups would like to see at the fair. Board members put in many volunteer hours at the annual fair, and help out at interim events throughout the year. The Junior Fair Board is under the direction of one Fair Board member, one fair staff member and two community advisors. Each Junior Fair Board member will serve a term of one year and may reapply each year if they wish.
Applications are available now at the Siskiyou Golden Fair office at 1712 Fairlane Road, Yreka or on the fair’s website at www.sisqfair.com. They can also be found in the Livestock Office during the fair, Aug. 6-10. For more information, contact the fair office at 842-2767 or info@sisqfair.com.

ETNA – The Rachel Hanna Swim Olympics will be held on Saturday, August 16 at the Etna Pool. There will be games for all ages, and the finale of the day will be the Biggest Splash Competition. There are sportsmanship awards, and there will be a BBQ put on by the Fort Jones 4-H swing group. The event is free for everyone to attend and ribbons are given out to all participants.
Sherri Hanna recently explained the origin of the Swim Olympics.
“The year that Rachel (the daughter of Sherri and Greg Hanna) passed away, our good friends Sheryl Towne, Dana Bradford, and Kerry Towne decided to have the event. Sheryl was managing the pool at the time and the pool staff organized it all–decided on the games, decorated, got ribbons and awards, etc. We just showed up. It was wonderful”
Sherri says the idea behind the event is for families to spend the day together and just have fun, laugh, and play.
“It all revolves around ‘perspective.’ Families are so busy these days that time with the kids just relaxing seems like a lost art. Parents need to appreciate time and family more,” said Sherri. “Just spend time with your kids! Such a simple thing!”
More information and a full schedule of events will be posted soon on this website.

During the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 9, the Scott Valley Swim Team Sharks held their annual Lap-A-Thon fundraiser at the Etna Community Swimming Pool. Sixty-two team members participated in the event, and the swimmers obtained sponsors prior to the event with pledges of a flat rate or a per-lap fee. When the two hour event was done the swimmers had completed a total of 4,747 laps. Emily Travis of Fort Jones swam a total of 146 laps, the most of the day. There were a total of 21 swimmers who completed over 100 laps and the youngest swimmer of the day was Trinity Andrews, age 7.
The members of the Shark team are still collecting donations for the event and any one interested in making a contribution can make a flat rate donation, or contact any member of the SVST Sharks and sponsor a per lap rate. Contributions can be sent to P. O. Box 243, Greenview, CA 96037, or contact SVST Board Member Gwen Hampton at 468-5338 for more information.
The Scott Valley Swim Team Sharks have membership of over 90 swimmers this year. The team earned third place at the Sharkfest, and fourth place at the Mt. Shasta Invitational Meet in June. The team will be competing in Red Bluff on July 12 and 13, and in Anderson on July 19 and 20.

YREKA – from interactive computer games to the internet, text messaging and email, information technology is fast becoming the way of the world. The Siskiyou Golden Fair will be helping the people of Siskiyou County get to know this method of communication a little better, both the good and the bad, at the new Pacific Power Technology Pavilion.
Located inside the Ag-Hort Building, the Pacific Power Technology Pavilion will feature something for all ages. Each day of the fair there will be exhibits, hands on activities and contests to bring fairgoers closer to the latest and greatest in information technology. There will also be demonstrations and mini-seminars on how to use the technology.
A real highlight will be interactive computer games for the teenagers (more…)

YREKA – After a successful first year in 2007, the 10th District Agricultural Association Friends of the Fair will be holding a Mutton Busting Qualifier competition at the Siskiyou Golden Fair again this year.
Mutton Busting is a fun-filled event that puts a child on the back of a sheep–rodeo style–and they try to hold on for six seconds. It is a very popular opening event at rodeos throughout the nation.
To meet the mutton busting contestant demand, the Friends of the Fair will take 50 entries to compete in the Mutton Busting Qualifier on Friday, Aug. 8 in Collier Pavilion. The top six contestants will then advance to the Scott Valley Bank Pro Rodeo on Saturday night where each contestant will win a buckle sponsored by Friends of the Fair.
Those wanting to participate must be between the ages of four and seven years-old by Aug. 6, weigh 55 pounds or less, and be a resident of Siskiyou County. There is a $5 entry fee for the qualifier event.
Applications can be picked up at the fair office and Scott Valley Feed in Yreka; Cowley D & L and Siskiyou Pellet Mill in Grenada; Scott Valley Feed in Greenview; Feed & Supply in Montague; and Mt. Shasta Feed & Supply, Noah’s Ark Feed Barn and Thrifty Mart in Mount Shasta. All entry forms must be turned in at the fair office by July 25. The first 50 entries received will get to compete in the qualifier event.
The 2008 Siskiyou Golden Fair, “A Mountain Fair with Country Flair,” runs August 6-10 in Yreka. For more information contact the fair office at 842-2767 or info@sisqfair.com.

YREKA— The Siskiyou Golden Fair is will present Hollywood Animals’ Jungle of India Tiger Show. Hollywood Animals’ Wild World of Animals brings you a journey where kids and adults can “tame” their curiosity for “wildlife.”
This new show combines education and entertainment into a dynamic adventure into the wilds of India. The show will excite and entertain, and at the same time foster a desire to preserve and learn about the endangered species, Panthera Tigris, the tiger and the planet around them.
“This is a brand new show coming from Hollywood Animals and we are thrilled that they will be performing at our fair,” said fair CEO Rebecca Desmond.
The trainers will demonstrate their affection training methods while showing the audience what the beautiful creatures are capable of doing, when put in a caring and mutually-respectful environment. Experienced and knowledgeable trainers will discuss why the populations of these beautiful creatures are declining in the wild.
All of these animals have been bottle-raised, since they were small cubs, with the trainers that work with them every day. The importance of a strong bond and mutual respect is necessary when dealing with animals of this caliber. This bond and respect is easily seen by any member of the audience from the interaction between the trainers and the tigers.
There will be three 30-minute shows each day of the fair featuring the natural beauty, grace and agility of the tigers, while working in concert with one trainer. There will be demonstrations of how the tigers are affectionately trained with positive reinforcement to “act” in films and television. The tigers will also be visible in their arena between show times. The Jungles of India show is sponsored by Foothill Distributing and Budweiser.
The 2008 Siskiyou Golden Fair, “A Mountain Fair with Country Flair,” runs August 6-10 in Yreka. For more information, contact the fair office at 842-2767 or info@sisqfair.com.

A-Division
Matt Dooley: 37:16 (1st lap 18:30)
Kristi Green: 43:18 (1st lap 21:24)
Gregg Nietsch: 44:03 (1st lap 21:37)
John Fernandes: 44:07 (1st lap 21:38)
Jeremy Ravenscroft: 44:13 (1st lap 21:36)
Brian Foster: 45:45 (1st lap 22:21)
Curt Dooley: 45:59 (1st lap 22:31)
Cara Ravenscroft: 48:09 (1st lap 23:38)
Chet Collins: 50:58 (1st lap 26:11)
Scott Gliatto: 52:31 (1st lap 26:03)
Aaron Keno: 54:51 (1st lap 26:10)
Margy Marshall: 56:01 (1st lap 27:19)
Jim Freeze: 58:28 (1st lap 27:54)
Teri Callison: 1:01:57 (1st lap 30:36)
Faith Dooley: 1:04:05 (1st lap 30:51) (more…)

YREKA—The Siskiyou Golden Fair recently announced its “Give Away A Smile” program that donates homemade toys to the Siskiyou Domestic Violence and Crisis Center for a child in need.
Participants can enter handmade stuffed animals, soft toys, blankets or pillows in Division 242 of the Clothing and Textiles Department. The items will be judged and displayed at the fair, and then all will be donated to Domestic Violence. The deadline to enter is July 11.
“The fair and Domestic Violence are very pleased to be partnering on this great project” said fair CEO Rebecca Desmond. I encourage everyone who can sew, knit, crochet or simply create a comforting toy for a needy child to enter them in the fair. It is a very rewarding and worthy endeavor.”
More information on the Give Away A Smile program can be found in the 2008 Exhibitor Handbook which can be found at the fair office, on the fair’s website, or at the following locations: PremierWest Bank branches; Scott Valley Bank branches; Scott Valley Drug in Etna; (more…)