SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. Today, we focus on plans to create a 12th Circuit Court. (See the Region-Wide section.)

Region-Wide

Crapo Seeks to Create 12th Circuit Court. JWR’s Comments: This will at least palliate the situation, and hopefully even allow President DJT to appoint additional conservatives to the bench of this new appellate court!

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Reader Mitch X. wrote to ask:

“I was in Grangeville [Idaho] a few weeks ago and paid $10 for a can of mixed nuts at the only [grocery] store in town. I am looking at relocating to Idaho County in a year or so and was wondering if there is a more economical source for buying food?”

I replied: “Most of The American Redoubt is included in the Azure Standard delivery area. Grangeville, Idaho is on one of their routes for “drop points.” I buy many staple foods including nuts (such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts) in big 20-pound or 25-pound boxes from them, and then repack them in jars, and freeze most of them. Their prices are quite economical.  For example they sell perfect shelled walnut halves for less than the price that COSTCO sells broken walnut pieces. You will have to make you schedule line up with their delivery schedule, but the time taken to meet their truck is time well spent. You are also very likely to meet like-minded survivalists waiting at the drop point for their Azure deliveries, and make some great friendships.”

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In The New York Times: Who Gets to Own the West?: A new group of billionaires is shaking up the landscape. An excerpt:

“In the last decade, private land in the United States has become increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few. Today, just 100 families own about 42 million acres across the country, a 65,000-square-mile expanse, according to the Land Report, a magazine that tracks large purchases. Researchers at the magazine have found that the amount of land owned by those 100 families has jumped 50 percent since 2007.

Every Friday, get an exclusive look at how one of the week’s biggest news stories on “The Daily” podcast came together.

Much of that land stretches from the Rocky Mountains down into Texas, where, for some, commercial forests and retired ranches have become an increasingly attractive investment.

Battles over private and public land have been a defining part of the West since the 1800s, when the federal government began doling out free acres to encourage expansion. For years, fights have played out between private individuals and the federal government, which owns more than half of the region.”

Idaho

Another great Idaho flying video with a “forced landing”:  FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD! HOT SPRING HOP / Flight Vlog (Part 2).  JWR’s Comment: You’ve gotta love the ending, with the sheriff’s deputy nonchalantly zipping by their parked bush plane, without even slowing down. Idaho is SOOOO casual, and freedom-loving!

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State of 208: Idaho Broadband Task Force

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As Boise grows, bed bugs become more frequent in the Treasure Valley

Montana

Do you remember the Guy on a Buffalo, who became an Internet sensation, many years ago?  (With more than 13 million views.) Well, now he sold his house and now he is sailing the world, with his family of six. They later transitioned to a big catamaran, that they bought in Greece. I think that Episode 78, on provisioning their boat will be of particular interested to folks who are preparedness-minded.

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Glacier’s premier road opens after late-season snow

Eastern Oregon

Some more details on the Oregon Governor’s attempted round-up of Republican legislators: Oregon is a Fascist State.

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Pilot killed in Deschutes float plane crash identified

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Bend man sues after vape pen explodes in pants

Eastern Washington

Lime launches patrol service in downtown Spokane

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Tribal casino may be coming to Tri-Cities. Colvilles purchase local land

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Spokane: Inside Drag Queen Story Hour; Protesters and supporters back again

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Richland Mayor Bob Thompson arrested for driving drunk near the Kennewick mall

Wyoming

The Winchester Arms Collectors Association Annual Show will be held  at the Riley Arena (Cody) July 12-14, 2019.

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Casper airport to expand after being approved for $2.5M grant

Send Your News Tips

Please send your American Redoubt region news tips and event announcements to JWR. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.




12 Comments

  1. DJT’s court appointments haven’t been all that great, unless you like some Police State authoritah.

    10 bucks for a can for nuts is now the price, even in very cheap TN. Thank California water restrictions that have driven nut prices up. The commies REFUSE to build desalination plants. I don’t think remoteness is the only cause of, specifically, high nut prices, up there.

    The “forced landing” is pretty cool. I love the kind of irreverence of getting gas at a car gas station. Very funny. I think, because they were filming, they made up the high temp ruse and knew that the hot spring was there…at least I hope so.

      1. I didn’t mean to use it that way. If used on the coast for drinking water it would free more water for San Joaquin Valley agriculture. I should have been more precise. Yeah, Desal and pumping costs would be enormous for inland agriculture.

  2. I just realized I commented on the wrong place.

    I have seen no comments about this: “In the last decade, private land in the United States has become increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few. Today, just 100 families own about 42 million acres across the country, a 65,000-square-mile expanse, according to the Land Report, a magazine that tracks large purchases. Researchers at the magazine have found that the amount of land owned by those 100 families has jumped 50 percent since 2007.

    Is no one concerned? If you are, what can we do about it?

    And, if you want to take action, heed the words of Amelia Ehrhart.

    “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.” – Amelia Earhart

    Carry on

    1. @Once a Marine

      I came across this very story posted on another forum based in Idaho.

      https://mopar1973man.com/topic/16326-private-property-a-concept-lost-on-most-americans/

      I fully agree with the original poster. Private property is just that……PRIVATE. If you are interested in a piece of land or wish to control what happens on it……BUY IT.

      I in NO way support or condone blocking, impeading, or harassment of PUBLIC easements/roads.

      That having been said, the previous owners of much of that land was forestry companies who were terrified of angry people wanting access setting it on fire or vandalizing it, so they just let them do whatever they want. Now private buyers are buying PRIVATE property from forestry companies and blocking off and protecting PRIVATE easements & roads. They are doing this because for the most part…..people are pigs and NO respect for private property much less the beautiful natural environment.

      What you are apparently implying in your advocation is pretty much the same as the communists that are running for president like Elizabeth (Pocahontas) Warren and Bernie (The Hypocrite Communist) Sanders.

      If land does NOT belong to you, it belongs to someone else. RESPECT IT, just like you would want YOUR private property respected.

      1. But there is a political component that is not mentioned here. Those large areas of land that are bought up by the rich pay miniscule property taxes. Some of this is intentional because laws were written to protect small farms and ranches. But it makes no sense for a big landowner to pay less property taxes on 1000 acres than a small homeowner pays on their home. I favor an equal application of laws and rights even when the unequalness was intended to do a good deed. If my tax is 3% of property value then everyone in the state should pay 3% of property value too. Simple as that. I suspect that then holding large tracts of land would become less attractive.

        1. I will definitely agree with you on there being a political component at play here. It is people such as yourself who have no idea of how property taxes are levied, work, or are designed to raise revenues for.

          For starters, please define “miniscule” you imply that land owners should be taxed on their raw forest land just the same as a home owner who has a home, perhaps a shop, either municipal water or a well, electric, septic/sewer, etc., etc. which drastically increase the value of the property parcel. Let’s not forget, typically there is a wife and children who are dependent upon public screwels (schools) that require teachers, staff, and an SRO in the sheep class neighborhood schools. Let’s not forget “law enforcement”, firefighters, and all of the rest that comes with “development”.

          Please explain to me how a forest land owner contributes to the cost of “government” like the typical residential home owner does? They use no county services as “law enforcement” sees it as being beneath their dignity to arrest and prosecute trespassers, vandals, theft of game camera’s, etc. In the event of a fire, the state forestry department steps in to fight the fire.

          These “big land owners” DO live in big houses in most cases and pay far more than your imagination can surmise in property taxes, at least the “big land owners” who live in the same county as their “1000 acres”. Have you even bothered to look up the county property assessor data to verify what these “big land owners” actually ARE paying. My guess is FAR, FAR more than you or the next 10 home owners such as yourself.

          I CAN tell you what these “big land owners” DO actually do for the county they pay those “miniscule property taxes” in…….they provide JOBS for loggers, log truck drivers, saw mill workers, they also lease out their land to good paying hunt lease clients who typically bring their children, family, and hunt club groups, who spend money in the county on a myriad of items that stimulates sales tax, and further bolsters jobs for those who work in businesses such as restaurants, department stores, sporting goods stores, wild game meat processors, they buy hunting licenses, fishing licenses, they stay in hotels, bed & breakfasts………I can go on ad nauseum but I hope you get the point.

          If these “big landowners” who pay miniscule property taxes were to sell out, the county and its budget would very likely collapse as they likely pay at least 20 times and probably much more than you do in property taxes for which they get little and more like NO benefit from.

          What you advocate is what drove Williamette, Weyerhauser, Champion, International Paper, and many other forestry companies to sell their forest land. You should be very happy, if you complained about these companies not paying their “fair share”. Those companies sold out and now private individuals and mutual funds are buying up these lands at grossly inflated prices when they realize that it was not such a great deal, they will sell out and companies like Seneca, Beasley Forestry Products, and RSG Forestry Products who will likely come in and clear cut every stick of timber in sight and then leave. They will of course place a “conservation easement” on the now clear cut forest land in order to further suck out any future value and they will cut parcels up into little postage stamps and sell it at grossly inflated prices. These small parcels will quickly become populated with shanty huts, run down single wide trailers, and campers that were “temporary” but just never seemed to move to the next level for years. Of course, drugs, crime, and lots of problems come with them.

          These reply may sound like I have some first hand experience with this kinda thing……I DO. I have observed this very thing go on in my county. The latest example was 1,850 acres of what was once beautiful forest land that ended up just like I stated above. (Mind you, I support their right to do this as it IS the owner’s private property) They caused huge amounts of erosion and managed to contaminate drinking water springs a mile away.

          You should make sure you ARE very informed and be VERY careful what you ask for……..you just may get it. Yes sir! Tax the rich and everything will get better! So says Pocahontas and Crazy Bernie! When will people learn that taxation unless it is apportioned is THEFT?

          1. I fully understand that you don’t want your ox gored. However everyone should be treated equally. land owners should be taxed on their raw forest land EXACTLY the same rate that a homeowner is taxed and based on the value. If your raw land is worth $200K and my home is worth $200K then our property tax should be the same. But as I said I understand your desire to protect your special rights

  3. One Guy makes an important point. Big money people take advantage of conditions designed for the rest of us.

    And, Private Property Owner, you, like many before you, have made an assumption about me based on a few words.

    Tell me this, when Mr. Bigbucks a mile away decides he wants a private lake on his PRIVATE land and dams the river that keeps your cattle herd alive…what then? He can hire more attorneys than I can, maybe than you can. He can also hire people who are much better with firearms than I.

    What then?

    BTW, this has happened more than once in our world.

    Just for the record, I hold big government and big money in equal suspicion. If that makes me a commie in your eyes, so be it.

    Carry on

  4. Re: Azure Standard
    Yes it is awesome. Two or three families can get together and should be able to meet the minimum purchase amount to become their own private drop point. Less travel and and greater OPSEC.

  5. Try to buy anything at Harvest Foods in Bigfork Mt. and you will pay 25 to 40% more than stores in Kalispell which is 25 miles away.The same supply and delivery trucks service most of the stores in the Flathead Valley,yet Harvest Foods prices are considerable higher than even Columbia Falls or Hungery Horse.The fuel trucks pass thru Bigfork on Mt.Hwy. 35 and the price at the pump is 12 to 15 cents higher than other gas stations in the area.Can you say GREED. The companies just don’t care.Fairness is not in their vocabulary.

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