2007 Moose Anderson Days!

April 28-29, 2007

Flyer (.pdf)

Flyer (.doc)

2005 Photos

4/30-5/1/05

Friends Of Jawbone

Meeting Minutes

Friends of Jawbone meeting 

7/21/04 9 a.m.

The meeting was called to order by President, Ed Waldheim at 9:02 a.m.  Ed introduced his friend Martin Fritz from England.  He is a motorcycle policeman there and has escorted the queen of England.   Members present introduced themselves. 

Ed passed around photos of the outreach program and Robin demonstrated the “talking tortoise.”   Ed noted that he was very impressed with the program when he accompanied Robin last week.  Ed told Robin to give the list of schools where the program is presented to Craig Beck so he can include it in the grant proposal.

Minutes of the June meeting were accepted as written.

Ed discussed the financial sheet.  Ed noted that some of the monies are for staffing, t-shirts, maps, etc.

Paul Kober said he has covered 300 miles of the El Paso mountains and said the trails that he has been on have been excellent.  He had not been on them for a long time and the conditions of 180, 328, 47, etc. have been in unbelievably good shape.  There are a few places that the signing could be improved, but the signs could have been illegally removed.  Paul said 180 needs signing on this side.  Ed asked if Ruby could replace the signs.  Paul said he visited Burro Schmidt’s cabin and was sad to report that the cabin and the site have been vandalized extensively.  All the buildings are wide open.  Paul only went into Schmidt’s cabin and things are being thrown around and destroyed.  Paul turned in some news clips of the first anniversary celebration at the Jawbone Store.  Paul said he hopes the people will support the store.  Paul visited the Randsburg General Store and they have new owners.  Paul has invited them to attend our meetings and to join the Friends of Jawbone.

Ed said he is disappointed that the BLM has not done more to protect Burro Schmidt’s property.  Craig Beck explained that it is still private property and the BLM cannot interfere when this is private property.  BLM cannot trespass on it.

Francis Moore said there is one side with private property owners saying BLM is trying to interfere with our private property, and BLM is trying to get permission to protect the property.   Don Maben said he could take the parcel number and get a code violation that there is an unsecured open building.   Don said a title search would need to be done.  Don said the officials would notify the owner that they are in violation and give them 30 days to secure the building.  It was unanimously voted to take this course of actions.

Paul said he wanted to comment on the old post office in the El Pasos.  Someone has put up doors to keep people out.  Francis Moore said someone in Randsburg did this because people were blatently destroying the property.  Ed said we need to contact Steve Smith to put up signs to this effect.

Paul said he noticed the Jawbone store has a billboard sign just out of Mojave advertising the store.  Maybe we could do a shared sign about the store and about staying on the trails and noting some rules and regulations.  Ed said we will talk to Scott Spencer and see if we can do this.  

Stan Haye called and said he can’t be here today because he has a virus.  Paul Duke cannot be here either because he has a family emergency. 

Keith showed the group the map he received recently in the National Geographic magazine.  He noted that Butterbredt spring is on the map.  It is the only place they specify as important bird migration area in the state of California.   Keith is the conservator of the spring and takes care of it.  He said people come from all over the world to see the spring.   Ed said he had a meeting with Sequoia National Forest and they toured the Cannell Ranger district.  When Ed came back he took Kelso Valley road and he visited Keith.  Keith advised him to come back on 123 by the spring, and it was whooped out extensively. 

Ed said he was really upset about Hyundai’s mitigation costing us Camp C.  So far they have only acquired 1500 acres.  Jack Stewart said they put the fences right across trails so you approach and find barbed-wire fences across the trail.  Ed said this is dangerous to both animals and humans.  He suggested we get hold of Fish and Game.  Don Maben said we should contact Mary Lou Priest and tell her this is a safety violation.  Ed said that in order to Hyundai had to do this.  Center for Ecological Biodiversity sued Fish and Game and California City gave the area away to keep from going to court. 

Bill Dever called Ed regarding the WEMO report.  The Desert News did a fantastic editorial on what camp C is all about.  The US Fish and Wildlife service has put out a notice asking public involvement in the raven management problem.  The deadline for public input is August 16^th.  He encouraged the Friends to give input on this. 

Ed said he is proposing legislation that there be no dumpsters without lids. 

Ed discussed the trail mileages.  He said Steve Smith said there are 286 miles around the Jawbone/Dove Springs area.  Ed said he and Paul came up with 210 miles.  Ed showed the group the inventory book.  He asked if they could add some of the trails to the mileage.  Craig said he has to look at it.  The lines were drawn on a map and that Steve estimated instead of going out and riding each mile.  Ed said single track is what people like and they are riding on some that we are saying are illegal.  Ed said that once we acquire the Rudnick property we will survey it all. 

Jim Wilson said when the WEMO report came out it did not delineate between single track and other trails.  Jim said he wrote to them and said they would have a lot of single track and none of it will be legal.  It will be shown as a road. 

Ed said that Dave Tonkass is coming through on Friday after Thanksgiving on the LA/B to V run.  They found a route to go through the area.  Ed said if they have any problem to write to Dave.  We will have a pancake breakfast at Camp B. on the morning of the 27^th.

Ed said there is a hearing on legislation for northern wilderness proposed by Senator Barbara Boxer.  The hearing is today.  The trails proposed are all legal trails. 

We received our insurance policy for liability insurance.  Kern County is added as insured. 

Don Maben said he is just waiting for Sacramento to come up with a budget so we know what we will get.  There is probably an 8% rollback for all departments.  Don said it is grim.  Don said he laid off one person and reduced another to part-time. 

Eric of the CA City police said the budget trickles down and they will suffer.   Don added they are taking a $55,000 hit, and that if the budget is approved as the governor wants it, there will be millions of dollars lost.  Don noted several instances of how the county will suffer.  Paul Kober said LA county is proposing a half cent sales tax to help the general fund.  Don said they are asking for a half cent for Kern County for road maintenance.  Don goes up for re-election in 2005. 

Jim Welling said he had nothing to report. 

The issue of camping in the Mojave/California City was discussed.  Ed said there will be a campout at California City airport in November. 

Francis Moore said that on July 4^th there were not many people in Jawbone.  There were a lot of folks in the Lake Isabella area.  They issued 18 tickets and recovered one stolen ATV.  He said they had positive feedback from Bakersfield BLM.   As to the rave party in Jawbone canyon they were on Rudnick property.  Rudnicks have given BLM a letter stating that anyone on their property is trespassing.  Francis said it is difficult to enforce when lots of people come out and ride and have alcohol but when rave parties come, they are illegal.  Francis said the parties range from 35-30 people to 3,000-4,000 people.  He said at the rave party they had flaming fireworks and were shooting these into the air.  The party was where 176 and 251 split.  There is a box canyon there.  Francis learned of the party on the internet. 

Francis said Ron Lewis has located the internet sites for rave parties in the area.  The 9^th Circuit Court is very liberal.  He said many of the people had medical marijuana cards.   Francis said you can run them off private property, but if the disperse and camp on public lands you have to allow them to camp there. 

Eric said they had this problem last year.  They found the information on the internet and located their signs, and changed their positions which directed the people back to Mojave instead of to the party. 

Ed discussed the grant that Francis put in.  Francis said they want motorcycles to get to the single track areas because the ATVs tear up the single tracks.   Francis said they will go from patrolling Jawbone/Dove Springs to patrolling the entire county.  He discussed matching funds from Green Sticker and the federal government.  Ed asked if they have heard any more from the funds for Randsburg’s signing grant.  Don said if it is through Parks and Recreation it is usually just a routine approval. 

Francis said they have ride along programs and invited Ed to have his friend ride along. 

Sept, 1^st there will be a hearing on the grants in Ontario.  They are going to vote on the grants on Dec. 3^rd.  The commissioners will be questioning people on the budget items. 

Eric said there were only a couple of hundred people in the California City area on July 4^th due to the heat.  He said they have used up 85% of the 2003 grant.  Eric said they had one arrest last week.  They arrested an ATV rider.  Ed said every day at 4:00 p.m. this dad with his kids on quads comes through where he lives.  Ed admonished them and they ignored him.  Eric said there is an ordnance that you cannot operate OHVs within 600 feet of a residence.  Ed asked if someone could do a newspaper article.  Debbie Padillo is in attendance from the Mojave Desert News and introduced herself.  Ed asked her to do articles for the paper telling people that this is God’s country for OHVers and we shouldn’t blow it.   He asked Debbie to note that Robin goes to the schools with the outreach program.   Francis Moore noted that we need to be careful how they word this in the paper so people can’t come back on the officers with “I read it in the paper – I won’t be ticketed if I go slow.”   Ed said there is a rule that you must go no faster than 15 mph near a campsite.   Francis added people think they can go as fast as they want because it is a dirt road.  Ed said we need to consider air quality and keep the dust down. 

Eric said they have received letters about Camp C, and have responded telling people where they can still camp.  Ed said that the actual site of Camp C is in question.  Jack Stewart has asked the Center for Eco. Biodiversity to put up stakes where it actually is.  Paul Kober said they need to have it surveyed so we know exactly where it is.  Eric added that the Friends of Jawbone map has helped with response time to the area.  

Ed noted that Keith Axelson is in charge of changes to the map to get it ready for the fifth edition printing.  Keith asked that we mark it on a map, give it to him, and he will transfer it to the actual map to be used for printing.   Ed suggested that both Eric and Francis put their numbers on the map as emergency numbers. 

Ed said that Jack Stewart said California City has a volunteer corps.  Eric said they are advertising for a response team made up of volunteers.  They will be trained in first aid, etc.  They hope to have it organized before the season starts in October.

Paul Kober said he would like to ask law enforcement to give him a list of ten of the most troublesome infractions and a ballpark figure of the fines for these.  He will put this in the newsletter to educate people.  Francis said the worst violations are riding double and riding without a helmet.  Ed said we need to come up with a flyer to give to everyone who comes in to Jawbone station.   Eric and Francis will look these up and e.mail them to Paul.

Craig Beck said that there are new Jawbone Station signs with the OHV emblem on them.  They will correct the fact that the address shows 2811 instead of 28111 and this will be corrected.  Ed and Craig discussed the grant request and Craig was advised to show all the expenses.  Ed said that CORVA is proud to be part of five organizations which have hired a lobbyist in Washington DC.  Roy Denner from ORBA has taken the lead in this and hopefully it will help us in the capital. 

Jim Wilson said at the last steering committee he brought up the fact that they are closing areas in the open areas.  We need to get some of the other areas back if they are to close down our open areas.   At the Stevens mine you can ride through it but you can’t race through it.  They have taken Christmas canyon.   Jim asked the status of the archaeological study.   Bob Strub said they were going to bring it up at the executive meeting last week, but the minutes do not show they discussed it.   Ed said tomorrow night they will be discussing Burro Schmidt mine.  He said they should be notified that we are getting a legal description.

Last month Jawbone had 587 visitors.  Sales were brisk.   Robin did three summer programs, one for Kern County and two school programs.  Ed said we need to include the programs in our reports.   Ed said we took kind of a hit when Scott Spencer opened his store.  We knew this would happen. 

Margaret Harris is working on the flyer for Moose Anderson Days 2005.

Redrock Canyon has not yet put out their management plan.

Wood burning was discussed.  Each area has to do their own rules. 

Jim Wilson asked if Red Rock Canyon is going to allow street legal vehicles to go through.  Ed said we need to wait for their management plan.

Closing comments:

Marcia Omo said she has letters to go out thanking people for participating in their open house/marathon event.   She needs addresses.  She said the event was very successful.  They raised about $1,200 which will be given to local charities.  Marcia asked dates for Moose Anderson days and El Mirage days.  Ed said Moose Anderson days will be April 30^th and May 1^st.   El Mirage days will be May 7^th and 8^th.  Marcia said she needs a letter soon requesting a giveaway for 2005.  Robin said she will get this letter out by tomorrow.

Francis said that about six months ago Ed said he received an e.mail from a deputy sheriff in LA who said he was accosted by a Nazi-type officer.  Francis said he made some allegations against the deputy who he dealt with.  Francis said he will no longer respond to Francis and he feels he has done all he can.  Ed said he appreciates Francis trying to rectify this and feels he has indeed done all he can. 

Margaret said she would appreciate suggestions for the 2005 Moose Anderson flyer.

Ed said they need input from law enforcement and from Honda to put in the Friends of Jawbone flyer.  Ed also asked for input to the Friends of Jawbone news.

These need to be received by Robin by Sept. 1^st. 

Amy from California City police dispatch discussed what she does and noted that she uses the Friends of Jawone map extensively. 

Ed said $239,000,000 worth of grant requests have come in and the commission can only give $17,000,000, so they can only give bare bones grants.  Ed said he needs to have information about what percentage of Kern County’s law enforcement budget is spent on OHV problems.  He feels the tax payers should not have to pay for the OHV problems.  Don Maben asked if they could locate which calls are for OHV or for other problems.  Francis said that without the grant the OHV team will have to shut down.  Don Maben said we need to see what the real picture is.   Ed said that Francis needs to fill out the budget form showing what they are actually doing and it will show the needs.   Ed said both Francis and Eric need to fill out what they are actually spending on OHV problems so Ed will have the tools to get the dollars.   Ed noted that Glamis is two million dollars in the hole and they have problems. 

Ed thanked Keith Axelson for coordinating the map.  Keith said he will be in Peru until Oct. 1^st.  Keith said Craig is going to give him some stuff within the next month and he will get it ready before he leaves.  Ed said everything should be brought to the meeting on Aug. 18^th so they can give it to the map company and they can do a draft which Keith can approve Oct. 1^st.   We can approve the final map at the October meeting. 

Erica said many people come in and say they didn’t know this was a visitor center and store.  She wants a sign on the building denoting that it is a visitor center.  Ed said we will try for a sign when the building is expanded. 

Robin said she wants to take the program to 7^th, 8^th, 9^th through 12^th grades.  She does not feel qualified to give the program and wants help to do the program.  Francis noted someone who could help on this program.   Robin said she needs someone who is motorcycle educated to aid her in the program.   Robin said they need the program because locals need to be educated.  Both Francis and Eric said when she comes to their towns they will provide her with personnel to help. 

Ed said they give the younger kids junior ranger badges.  He asked if we want to give each child a certificate showing they passed a motorcycle etiquette program.

Debbie said they would like publicity.  Craig said the publicity or certificate needs to come from the Friends of Jawbone or CORVA rather than from BLM because BLM is usually seen at the “bad guys.”  

Keith said he picked up the copy of the raven article.  Keith is sensitive about ravens.  He noted the comments need to be in by Aug. 17^th. 

Margaret noted that 911 calls from this are go direct to Bishop.  Bishop has requested copies of our Friends of Jawbone map so they can better direct personnel to the incident. 

Meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.

Myrtle Railey, Secretary

The next meeting will be December 15, 2004 - Click through for the agenda.

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