Chief
05-06-2008, 04:46 AM
Via e-mail...
-----Original Message-----
> From: alert@landrights.org [mailto:alert@landrights.org]
> Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 7:53 PM
> To: alra@landrights.org
> Subject: Corps And WA Ports Threaten Colf Family Farm With Eminent Domain
>
> Land Rights Network
> American Land Rights Association
> PO Box 400 - Battle Ground, WA 98604
> Phone: 360-687-3087 - Fax: 360-687-2973
> E-mail: alra@pacifier.com
> Web Address: http://www.landrights.org
> Legislative Office: 507 Seward Square SE - Washington, DC 20003
>
>
> Corps And WA Ports Threaten Colf Family Farm With Eminent Domain
>
> Action Items below:
>
> The Corps of Engineers is in the middle of a shipping channel dredging
> project of 106 miles of the Columbia River from its mouth to the cities of
> Portland, Oregon and Vancouver Washington.
>
> As part of the project, the Corps must mitigate damage to wetlands caused by
> the project. They have chosen to take 70% of what they need from one
> family, the Colf Family of Woodland, Washington.
>
> The Colf farming family is actively led by 91-year-old Margaret Colf.
> Nancy Colf, Margaret's daughter, is head of the Family farming operation.
>
> The Colf Family has been farming the area since 1870. They don't want to
> sell. They are farmers. They want to keep the land in agriculture. The
> Colf family is not now and never has been a willing seller. They are now
> and have continued to talk to the Corps of Engineers to discuss various
> options and solutions because the Corps has placed a gun at their head by
> threatening eminent domain.
>
> The Colf Family has been through nine years of hell dealing with the Corps
> of Engineers. The Corps is now threatening eminent domain using the
> Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to carry out their
> eminent domain threat on behalf of the Ports of Vancouver, Woodland,
> Longview and Kalama along the Columbia River. The Ports would eventually
> end up with ownership of the Colf Farm land.
>
> The Corps has identified eight other sites along the Columbia that are
> appropriate for this wetlands mitigation. There are lots of willing sellers
> of land that can be used for wetlands mitigation along the 106 mile affected
> area of the Columbia River. That does not seem to matter to the Corps.
> They have targeted the Colf Family and plan to take their land and destroy
> an active and historic family farm.
>
> The Colf Family has repeatedly offered compromise and alternate solutions.
> Often they have not been able to get the Corp or port officials to even talk
> to them.
>
> It is ironic that the Ports have lots of land that could be used for
> mitigation purposes. Those lands don't seem to count. They would rather
> destroy farmers.
>
> Agriculture is important to America. Small farms are disappearing every
> year. It is easy to see that the Corps of Engineers is part of the reason
> for this loss. They have been heavy handed and threatening in the process.
>
> It is important that every farmer and agriculture advocate stand up and
> fight for proud farm families like the Colf. It is only by farmers standing
> together and working in unison to protect farming and family agriculture
> operations is there a chance to save and protect productive family farms.
>
> Action Items -- What You Can Do:
>
> -----1. Please tape a copy of this e-mail to the front of your
> refrigerator door so you can make at least three or four calls a day, and
> send three e-mails or faxes a day.
>
> This is your refrigerator to do list.
>
> -----2. Call your Congressman and both Senators and urge them to reduce the
> budget of the Corps of Engineers. They'll have a hard time using eminent
> domain if they don't have the money. You may call any Congressman at (202)
> 225-3121. Call any Senator at (202) 224-3121.
>
> -----3. Call, fax and e-mail the local Congressman, Brian Baird (D-WA).
> Phone: (202) 225-3536. Fax: (202) 225-3478. E-mail: Andrew Dohrmann -
> andrew.dohrmann@mail.house.gov and Hilary Cain - hilary.cain@mail.house.gov.
> Vancouver Office: Phone: (360) 695-6292. Fax: (360) 695-6197. E-mail:
> kelly.love@mail.house.gov.
>
> Your message to Rep. Baird and Senators Murray and Cantwell below is that
> Congress should deny the Corps and local ports any funds to use eminent
> domain against the Colf Family Farm. All Federal funding for any of the
> Ports should be shut off. The entire Corps budget should be examined
> closely for other abuses like this one that is taking place against the
> Colfs.
>
> ALRA is informed by knowledgeable people that the Corps is doing the same
> thing to many other families that they are doing to the Colf Family. It is
> time the Corps and its officials got the credit they deserve. The Corps of
> Engineers needs to become good neighbors or get their funding cut or
> eliminated as much as possible.
>
> -----American Land Rights is interested in hearing back from anyone who
> knows of other examples of abuses and threats by the Corps against other
> farmers and landowners. ALRA wants to hear about any eminent domain actions
> by the Corps. We just need a name and location of the victims. A phone,
> fax and e-mail would also help. The more we publicize these horror stories,
> the more difficult it will be for the Corps to get money from Congress.
>
> -----4. Call and e-mail Dino Rossi, Candidate for Washington State
> Governor. Ask for Renee Maher, Coalitions Director. (425)-498-2008.
> E-mail: renee@dinorossi.com. Urge Rossi to make saving farms, agriculture
> and the Colf Family Farm an issue in the coming campaign.
>
> -----5. Call, fax and e-mail the following officials of the Corps of
> Engineers in Washington, DC.
>
> John Paul Woodley, Assistant Secretary of the Army (703) 697-8986 Fax:
> (703) 697- 7401
>
> Kathleen McGlynn (703) 697-7401 - Fax: (703) 697-7401 - E-mail:
> kathleen.mcglynn@hqda.army.mil
>
> Elwyn Darden (703) 697-8987 - E-mail: elwyn.darden@hqda.army.mil
>
> George Dunlop (Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary) (703) 675-1370 - Fax:
> (703) 697-7401 - E-mail: george.dunlop@hqda.army.mil.
>
> Kevin Edwards (703) 697-3365 - Fax: 703 697-7401 - E-mail:
> Kevin.Edwards@hqda.army.mil
>
> -----6. Corps of Engineers - Portland area, Oregon and Washington. Laura
> Hicks, Project manager. Phone: (503) 808-4703. E-mail:
> laura.l.hicks@usace.army.mil. Col. Thomas O'Donovan is in charge of the
> Corps in the Portland area and has been transferred. Hicks bears most of
> the responsibility for the abuses against the Colf family. She has been
> involved in the Columbian Dredging Project from the beginning.
>
> -----American Land Rights will alert people everywhere Col. O'Donovan goes
> in the USA about the abuse of the Colf family. Corps officials should not
> be able to abuse the rights of landowners and simply walk away. They need
> to get full credit for their actions. They need to be held responsible
> for their intimidation and threatening tactics. E-mail:
> Thomas.E.O'Donovan@usace.army.mil.
>
> -----7. Call, fax and e-mail U. S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). Phone:
> (202) 224-2621. Fax: (202) 224-0238. E-mail:
> carrie_desmond@murray.senate.gov. Vancouver office: Thersea Wagner -
> thersea_wagner@murray.senate.gov. Does Senator Murray support farmers and
> agriculture? She can answer by helping save the Colf family.
>
> -----8. Call, fax and e-mail U. S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Phone
> (202) 224-3441. Fax: (202) 228-0514. E-mail:
> katie_kirking@cantwell.senate.gov. Vancouver Washington office: Bob
> Dingethal - (360) 696-7838, bob_dingethal@cantwell.senate.gov Does Senator
> Cantwell support farmers and agriculture? She too has a chance to show her
> support for agriculture and family farms by stopping the Corps and ports
> from using eminent domain on the Colf Family.
>
> -----9. Call the key officials listed below with the following Columbia
> River ports. They are going to use eminent domain against the Colf Family.
> They need to hear from you and thousands of other people that they should
> not abuse eminent domain against the Colf Farm family. They should only
> buy from the many sellers who are willing to sell.
>
> American Land Rights will be sending you more information about the ports,
> their commissioners, their election districts and what you can do to keep
> them from abusing eminent domain with the Colf family. We'll likely send
> letters to all voters residing in the port districts to get them to stop the
> abuse of eminent domain by the ports.
>
> Port of Portland:
>
> Even though the Port of Portland will not be involved in the eminent domain
> at this time, the key representative for all the Columbia River Ports in
> dealing with the Corps of Engineers and the Columbia River dredging project
> is Dianne Perry from the Port of Portland. (503) 944-7226 -
> dianne.perry@portofportland.com. She should get deluged with calls and
> e-mails.
>
> Call, fax and e-mail all the ports telling them no eminent domain, period.
> Get your friends to call also to help save the Colf family.
>
> Port of Vancouver (USA):
> Executive Director: Larry Paulson - (360) 693-3611 - Fax: (360) 735-1565
> -- E-mail: lpaulson@portvanusa.com Commissioner Brian Wolfe:c
>
> Port of Woodland:
> Executive Director: Erica Rainford - (360) 225-6555 Fax: (360) 225-6556 --
> portofwoodland@worldaccessnet.com
>
> Port of Longview:
> Executive Director: Ken O'Hallaren - (360) 425-3305 Fax: (360) 425-8650 --
> kohollaren@portoflongview.com
>
> Public Affairs: Ashley Opsahl-Scibelli - (360) 425-3305 -
> aopsahl-scibelli@portoflongview.com
>
> Port of Kalama:
> Phone: (360) 673-5017 - Fax: (360) 673-5017 - E-mail: pok@portofkalama.com
>
> Executive Director - Lanny Cawley - lannycawley@portofkalama.com
>
> Manager of Planning - Mark Wilson - markwilson@portofkalama.com
>
> -----The Ports in Washington have an agreement with the Washington State
> Department of Transportation (WSDOT) under Governor Chris Gregoire to carry
> out eminent domain on behalf of the Corps of Engineers and the Ports. You
> need to call and e-mail WSDOT at:
>
> Paula Hammond, Department of Transportation, (360) 705-7054 -
> hqcustomerservice@wsdot.wa.gov
>
> -----10. You should also call Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire
> through the following staff people: (It appears from the agreement between
> the ports and the State Department of Transportation that she supports the
> use of eminent domain to take private farmland. She has done little to head
> off the eminent domain of the Colf Farm.)
>
> Chief of Staff: (360) 902-4111 cindy.zehnder@gov.wa.gov
>
> Deputy Chief of Staff: (360) 902-0486 joyce.turner@gov.wa.gov
>
> Governor Gregoire has been told in the past that if the acquisition of the
> Colf Family Farm does not continue, it could stop the entire dredging
> project on the Columbia. That is complete nonsense. There are willing
> sellers all along the river. The Colf Family will fight every inch of the
> way in court and in Congress. The Corps and the ports will only delay the
> dredging project if they insist on destroying the historic Colf Family Farm.
>
>
> The key to success in fighting for private property rights and against an
> agency like the Corps of Engineers who is mistreating people is for all
> farmers, ranchers and people who care about agriculture to work together.
> Teamwork.
>
> By you making a few phone calls now, sending a few faxes and e-mails, you
> create the critical mass to cause Congress to consider forcing the Corps of
> Engineers to become better neighbors. You may get Congress to take away
> their funding and limit their ability to use eminent domain and cause
> trouble. So your calls really count.
>
> This is your chance to send the Corps of Engineers the message that the days
> of beating up and threatening farmers and landowners is coming to a close.
> And you can help make it happen.
>
> Your help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Chuck Cushman
> Executive Director
> American Land Rights Association
> (360) 687-3087
> ccushman@landrights.com
>
>
>
>
> -----Background:
>
> The Colf Family has farmed in the Woodland, Washington area since 1870. The
> matriarch of the family, Margaret Colf Hepola, is 91 years old and still
> active in the Colf Family Farm. The Colf Family owned land and has
> continued to add more to continue farming. They are active members of the
> Woodland and Vancouver (USA) area communities. They have never sold any
> farmland.
>
>
> Another Challenge
> By Margaret Colf Hepola
> April 1, 2008
>
> During my nine decades on this earth challenges do not seem as shocking as
> they pass through the years ---especially the latter ones.
>
> The challenge with the Columbia River Channel Deepening Project with the
> taking of our farmlands has lasted for nine years. That is quite a long
> time to be involved in a situation that cannot be settled and seems so
> unfair. Your faith in your country is somewhat shaken with the loss of
> property rights which is included in our Constitutional Rights.
>
> Two days from now on April 3, 2008, we will know the decision by the Army
> Corps of Engineers or if they are considering studying the problem more and
> will tell us later. We have studied this acquisition of land for mitigation
> very thoroughly for several months. We feel we have been very fair on the
> proposal we will present.
>
> At this time, our family will provide over 70% of the land needed for the
> whole Columbia River Dredging. We purchased this land to farm and love the
> islands in the river. We have family and historical ties with Martin Island
> which is part of the land to be taken.
>
> This situation has been very upsetting to me as it reminds me of the unhappy
> years as a small child crying myself to sleep fearing my birthplace would be
> covered with water so that a hydro-electric dam could be built.
>
> This threat started when I was five and my home was finally covered with
> water when I reached the age of 13. I did know why this had to be as it
> would provide electricity to the northwest for homes and industry.
>
> But in this proposed "taking" of land now, I cannot understand the reasoning
> of such a move. There is land at other places with owners willing to sell
> and it is not productive farm land. And why is so much land taken in one
> area and from one family?
>
> I have read and been told of how land is taken from people under the guise
> of environment. We are not the first ones to be treated in this manner. We
> can survive the taking of this land but I fear the future of this country.
> I have seen so many changes in the way our government has handled
> situations.
>
> The farmers and other landowners are the ones that realize how our rights
> are being taken from us. Another change in the population is the lack of
> taking part in our life around us and trying to make the world a better
> place to live. So many citizens do not use the privilege of voting which is
> a wonderful right given to us in this democracy.
>
> Our lives are so more complex now than in past years. We have so many more
> comforts in life than the pioneers before us. Have we had too much in these
> past three or four generations? We will find out soon after we face the
> Colonel from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday - we already have
> been told by a "little bird" they have made a statement they will
> "steam-roll over the top" of us.
>
>
>
> -----Editors Note: Col. Thomas O'Donovan, Portland office commander of the
> Corps of Engineers in Portland said to the Colfs that the Corps and the
> ports would begin eminent domain proceedings while they continued to
> negotiate. Some negotiations.
>
> Your immediate action is vital to stopping the ports and the Corps from
> carrying out their eminent domain against the Colf Family.
>
>
>
>
>
> If you wish to unsubscribe, reply to this e-mail with "unsubscribe" in the
> subject line. If you know of others who would like to receive these alerts,
> reply with their e-mail addresses.
>
>
> Please forward this message as widely as possible. If each recipient
> forwards this message to at least five other people, we'll reach over
> 2,000,000 recipients. So please take the time to forward this message.
>
>
>
> The Corps of Engineers has been threatening family farmers and other
> landowners for years across the country. They must be stopped. Congress
> must force them to become good neighbors.
>
> They cannot be allowed to simply run over our American freedoms on a regular
> basis as they are currently doing.
>
>
> Please make your calls, send your faxes and e-mails.
-----Original Message-----
> From: alert@landrights.org [mailto:alert@landrights.org]
> Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 7:53 PM
> To: alra@landrights.org
> Subject: Corps And WA Ports Threaten Colf Family Farm With Eminent Domain
>
> Land Rights Network
> American Land Rights Association
> PO Box 400 - Battle Ground, WA 98604
> Phone: 360-687-3087 - Fax: 360-687-2973
> E-mail: alra@pacifier.com
> Web Address: http://www.landrights.org
> Legislative Office: 507 Seward Square SE - Washington, DC 20003
>
>
> Corps And WA Ports Threaten Colf Family Farm With Eminent Domain
>
> Action Items below:
>
> The Corps of Engineers is in the middle of a shipping channel dredging
> project of 106 miles of the Columbia River from its mouth to the cities of
> Portland, Oregon and Vancouver Washington.
>
> As part of the project, the Corps must mitigate damage to wetlands caused by
> the project. They have chosen to take 70% of what they need from one
> family, the Colf Family of Woodland, Washington.
>
> The Colf farming family is actively led by 91-year-old Margaret Colf.
> Nancy Colf, Margaret's daughter, is head of the Family farming operation.
>
> The Colf Family has been farming the area since 1870. They don't want to
> sell. They are farmers. They want to keep the land in agriculture. The
> Colf family is not now and never has been a willing seller. They are now
> and have continued to talk to the Corps of Engineers to discuss various
> options and solutions because the Corps has placed a gun at their head by
> threatening eminent domain.
>
> The Colf Family has been through nine years of hell dealing with the Corps
> of Engineers. The Corps is now threatening eminent domain using the
> Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to carry out their
> eminent domain threat on behalf of the Ports of Vancouver, Woodland,
> Longview and Kalama along the Columbia River. The Ports would eventually
> end up with ownership of the Colf Farm land.
>
> The Corps has identified eight other sites along the Columbia that are
> appropriate for this wetlands mitigation. There are lots of willing sellers
> of land that can be used for wetlands mitigation along the 106 mile affected
> area of the Columbia River. That does not seem to matter to the Corps.
> They have targeted the Colf Family and plan to take their land and destroy
> an active and historic family farm.
>
> The Colf Family has repeatedly offered compromise and alternate solutions.
> Often they have not been able to get the Corp or port officials to even talk
> to them.
>
> It is ironic that the Ports have lots of land that could be used for
> mitigation purposes. Those lands don't seem to count. They would rather
> destroy farmers.
>
> Agriculture is important to America. Small farms are disappearing every
> year. It is easy to see that the Corps of Engineers is part of the reason
> for this loss. They have been heavy handed and threatening in the process.
>
> It is important that every farmer and agriculture advocate stand up and
> fight for proud farm families like the Colf. It is only by farmers standing
> together and working in unison to protect farming and family agriculture
> operations is there a chance to save and protect productive family farms.
>
> Action Items -- What You Can Do:
>
> -----1. Please tape a copy of this e-mail to the front of your
> refrigerator door so you can make at least three or four calls a day, and
> send three e-mails or faxes a day.
>
> This is your refrigerator to do list.
>
> -----2. Call your Congressman and both Senators and urge them to reduce the
> budget of the Corps of Engineers. They'll have a hard time using eminent
> domain if they don't have the money. You may call any Congressman at (202)
> 225-3121. Call any Senator at (202) 224-3121.
>
> -----3. Call, fax and e-mail the local Congressman, Brian Baird (D-WA).
> Phone: (202) 225-3536. Fax: (202) 225-3478. E-mail: Andrew Dohrmann -
> andrew.dohrmann@mail.house.gov and Hilary Cain - hilary.cain@mail.house.gov.
> Vancouver Office: Phone: (360) 695-6292. Fax: (360) 695-6197. E-mail:
> kelly.love@mail.house.gov.
>
> Your message to Rep. Baird and Senators Murray and Cantwell below is that
> Congress should deny the Corps and local ports any funds to use eminent
> domain against the Colf Family Farm. All Federal funding for any of the
> Ports should be shut off. The entire Corps budget should be examined
> closely for other abuses like this one that is taking place against the
> Colfs.
>
> ALRA is informed by knowledgeable people that the Corps is doing the same
> thing to many other families that they are doing to the Colf Family. It is
> time the Corps and its officials got the credit they deserve. The Corps of
> Engineers needs to become good neighbors or get their funding cut or
> eliminated as much as possible.
>
> -----American Land Rights is interested in hearing back from anyone who
> knows of other examples of abuses and threats by the Corps against other
> farmers and landowners. ALRA wants to hear about any eminent domain actions
> by the Corps. We just need a name and location of the victims. A phone,
> fax and e-mail would also help. The more we publicize these horror stories,
> the more difficult it will be for the Corps to get money from Congress.
>
> -----4. Call and e-mail Dino Rossi, Candidate for Washington State
> Governor. Ask for Renee Maher, Coalitions Director. (425)-498-2008.
> E-mail: renee@dinorossi.com. Urge Rossi to make saving farms, agriculture
> and the Colf Family Farm an issue in the coming campaign.
>
> -----5. Call, fax and e-mail the following officials of the Corps of
> Engineers in Washington, DC.
>
> John Paul Woodley, Assistant Secretary of the Army (703) 697-8986 Fax:
> (703) 697- 7401
>
> Kathleen McGlynn (703) 697-7401 - Fax: (703) 697-7401 - E-mail:
> kathleen.mcglynn@hqda.army.mil
>
> Elwyn Darden (703) 697-8987 - E-mail: elwyn.darden@hqda.army.mil
>
> George Dunlop (Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary) (703) 675-1370 - Fax:
> (703) 697-7401 - E-mail: george.dunlop@hqda.army.mil.
>
> Kevin Edwards (703) 697-3365 - Fax: 703 697-7401 - E-mail:
> Kevin.Edwards@hqda.army.mil
>
> -----6. Corps of Engineers - Portland area, Oregon and Washington. Laura
> Hicks, Project manager. Phone: (503) 808-4703. E-mail:
> laura.l.hicks@usace.army.mil. Col. Thomas O'Donovan is in charge of the
> Corps in the Portland area and has been transferred. Hicks bears most of
> the responsibility for the abuses against the Colf family. She has been
> involved in the Columbian Dredging Project from the beginning.
>
> -----American Land Rights will alert people everywhere Col. O'Donovan goes
> in the USA about the abuse of the Colf family. Corps officials should not
> be able to abuse the rights of landowners and simply walk away. They need
> to get full credit for their actions. They need to be held responsible
> for their intimidation and threatening tactics. E-mail:
> Thomas.E.O'Donovan@usace.army.mil.
>
> -----7. Call, fax and e-mail U. S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). Phone:
> (202) 224-2621. Fax: (202) 224-0238. E-mail:
> carrie_desmond@murray.senate.gov. Vancouver office: Thersea Wagner -
> thersea_wagner@murray.senate.gov. Does Senator Murray support farmers and
> agriculture? She can answer by helping save the Colf family.
>
> -----8. Call, fax and e-mail U. S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Phone
> (202) 224-3441. Fax: (202) 228-0514. E-mail:
> katie_kirking@cantwell.senate.gov. Vancouver Washington office: Bob
> Dingethal - (360) 696-7838, bob_dingethal@cantwell.senate.gov Does Senator
> Cantwell support farmers and agriculture? She too has a chance to show her
> support for agriculture and family farms by stopping the Corps and ports
> from using eminent domain on the Colf Family.
>
> -----9. Call the key officials listed below with the following Columbia
> River ports. They are going to use eminent domain against the Colf Family.
> They need to hear from you and thousands of other people that they should
> not abuse eminent domain against the Colf Farm family. They should only
> buy from the many sellers who are willing to sell.
>
> American Land Rights will be sending you more information about the ports,
> their commissioners, their election districts and what you can do to keep
> them from abusing eminent domain with the Colf family. We'll likely send
> letters to all voters residing in the port districts to get them to stop the
> abuse of eminent domain by the ports.
>
> Port of Portland:
>
> Even though the Port of Portland will not be involved in the eminent domain
> at this time, the key representative for all the Columbia River Ports in
> dealing with the Corps of Engineers and the Columbia River dredging project
> is Dianne Perry from the Port of Portland. (503) 944-7226 -
> dianne.perry@portofportland.com. She should get deluged with calls and
> e-mails.
>
> Call, fax and e-mail all the ports telling them no eminent domain, period.
> Get your friends to call also to help save the Colf family.
>
> Port of Vancouver (USA):
> Executive Director: Larry Paulson - (360) 693-3611 - Fax: (360) 735-1565
> -- E-mail: lpaulson@portvanusa.com Commissioner Brian Wolfe:c
>
> Port of Woodland:
> Executive Director: Erica Rainford - (360) 225-6555 Fax: (360) 225-6556 --
> portofwoodland@worldaccessnet.com
>
> Port of Longview:
> Executive Director: Ken O'Hallaren - (360) 425-3305 Fax: (360) 425-8650 --
> kohollaren@portoflongview.com
>
> Public Affairs: Ashley Opsahl-Scibelli - (360) 425-3305 -
> aopsahl-scibelli@portoflongview.com
>
> Port of Kalama:
> Phone: (360) 673-5017 - Fax: (360) 673-5017 - E-mail: pok@portofkalama.com
>
> Executive Director - Lanny Cawley - lannycawley@portofkalama.com
>
> Manager of Planning - Mark Wilson - markwilson@portofkalama.com
>
> -----The Ports in Washington have an agreement with the Washington State
> Department of Transportation (WSDOT) under Governor Chris Gregoire to carry
> out eminent domain on behalf of the Corps of Engineers and the Ports. You
> need to call and e-mail WSDOT at:
>
> Paula Hammond, Department of Transportation, (360) 705-7054 -
> hqcustomerservice@wsdot.wa.gov
>
> -----10. You should also call Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire
> through the following staff people: (It appears from the agreement between
> the ports and the State Department of Transportation that she supports the
> use of eminent domain to take private farmland. She has done little to head
> off the eminent domain of the Colf Farm.)
>
> Chief of Staff: (360) 902-4111 cindy.zehnder@gov.wa.gov
>
> Deputy Chief of Staff: (360) 902-0486 joyce.turner@gov.wa.gov
>
> Governor Gregoire has been told in the past that if the acquisition of the
> Colf Family Farm does not continue, it could stop the entire dredging
> project on the Columbia. That is complete nonsense. There are willing
> sellers all along the river. The Colf Family will fight every inch of the
> way in court and in Congress. The Corps and the ports will only delay the
> dredging project if they insist on destroying the historic Colf Family Farm.
>
>
> The key to success in fighting for private property rights and against an
> agency like the Corps of Engineers who is mistreating people is for all
> farmers, ranchers and people who care about agriculture to work together.
> Teamwork.
>
> By you making a few phone calls now, sending a few faxes and e-mails, you
> create the critical mass to cause Congress to consider forcing the Corps of
> Engineers to become better neighbors. You may get Congress to take away
> their funding and limit their ability to use eminent domain and cause
> trouble. So your calls really count.
>
> This is your chance to send the Corps of Engineers the message that the days
> of beating up and threatening farmers and landowners is coming to a close.
> And you can help make it happen.
>
> Your help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Chuck Cushman
> Executive Director
> American Land Rights Association
> (360) 687-3087
> ccushman@landrights.com
>
>
>
>
> -----Background:
>
> The Colf Family has farmed in the Woodland, Washington area since 1870. The
> matriarch of the family, Margaret Colf Hepola, is 91 years old and still
> active in the Colf Family Farm. The Colf Family owned land and has
> continued to add more to continue farming. They are active members of the
> Woodland and Vancouver (USA) area communities. They have never sold any
> farmland.
>
>
> Another Challenge
> By Margaret Colf Hepola
> April 1, 2008
>
> During my nine decades on this earth challenges do not seem as shocking as
> they pass through the years ---especially the latter ones.
>
> The challenge with the Columbia River Channel Deepening Project with the
> taking of our farmlands has lasted for nine years. That is quite a long
> time to be involved in a situation that cannot be settled and seems so
> unfair. Your faith in your country is somewhat shaken with the loss of
> property rights which is included in our Constitutional Rights.
>
> Two days from now on April 3, 2008, we will know the decision by the Army
> Corps of Engineers or if they are considering studying the problem more and
> will tell us later. We have studied this acquisition of land for mitigation
> very thoroughly for several months. We feel we have been very fair on the
> proposal we will present.
>
> At this time, our family will provide over 70% of the land needed for the
> whole Columbia River Dredging. We purchased this land to farm and love the
> islands in the river. We have family and historical ties with Martin Island
> which is part of the land to be taken.
>
> This situation has been very upsetting to me as it reminds me of the unhappy
> years as a small child crying myself to sleep fearing my birthplace would be
> covered with water so that a hydro-electric dam could be built.
>
> This threat started when I was five and my home was finally covered with
> water when I reached the age of 13. I did know why this had to be as it
> would provide electricity to the northwest for homes and industry.
>
> But in this proposed "taking" of land now, I cannot understand the reasoning
> of such a move. There is land at other places with owners willing to sell
> and it is not productive farm land. And why is so much land taken in one
> area and from one family?
>
> I have read and been told of how land is taken from people under the guise
> of environment. We are not the first ones to be treated in this manner. We
> can survive the taking of this land but I fear the future of this country.
> I have seen so many changes in the way our government has handled
> situations.
>
> The farmers and other landowners are the ones that realize how our rights
> are being taken from us. Another change in the population is the lack of
> taking part in our life around us and trying to make the world a better
> place to live. So many citizens do not use the privilege of voting which is
> a wonderful right given to us in this democracy.
>
> Our lives are so more complex now than in past years. We have so many more
> comforts in life than the pioneers before us. Have we had too much in these
> past three or four generations? We will find out soon after we face the
> Colonel from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday - we already have
> been told by a "little bird" they have made a statement they will
> "steam-roll over the top" of us.
>
>
>
> -----Editors Note: Col. Thomas O'Donovan, Portland office commander of the
> Corps of Engineers in Portland said to the Colfs that the Corps and the
> ports would begin eminent domain proceedings while they continued to
> negotiate. Some negotiations.
>
> Your immediate action is vital to stopping the ports and the Corps from
> carrying out their eminent domain against the Colf Family.
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
>
> The Corps of Engineers has been threatening family farmers and other
> landowners for years across the country. They must be stopped. Congress
> must force them to become good neighbors.
>
> They cannot be allowed to simply run over our American freedoms on a regular
> basis as they are currently doing.
>
>
> Please make your calls, send your faxes and e-mails.