Page 10 - Flathead Beacon // 3.30.16

NEWS
Sanders Co. Sheri Urges Supporters of Fugitive to Stay Away Plains man wanted for his involvement in Oregon stando
BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
The Sanders County Sheri is telling supporters of a Plains man wanted for his role in the Oregon wildlife refuge stando to stay away, saying they will “compli- cate” e orts for a peaceful resolution.
Jake Ryan, 25, is accused of disturbing a sacred burial site by digging latrines for protestors at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge during a month-long stando with federal agents earlier this year. Ryan is the 26th person charged publicly following the armed stando and is one of two defendants in the case that have not been arrested.
A federal warrant was issued for Ryan two weeks ago but his family has said on social media that the Plains man will not turn himself in and that “the arrests stop here.”
Since then, some have worried about protestors com- ing to Sanders County and some people on Facebook have already claimed to be in the area.
In a message on Facebook, Sheri Tom Rummel urged Ryan’s supporters to stay put. Rummel said he is working with the Ryan family and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to nd a peaceful resolution.
“I cannot stress enough that this matter is being
handled at the local level,” Rummel wrote. “Outside cit- izen involvement will only complicate the issue for law enforcement and the Ryan family.”
Rummel noted that no FBI agents are working in Sanders County and that there was a misconception on social media that his department was working closely with federal agents.
Supporters of Ryan have called the warrant for his arrest “illegal” and have urged the sheri to protect the local man. Gavin Seim, a self-described “liberty activ- ist” with more than 30,000 followers on Facebook, said supporters would stay away from Sanders County if the sheri “does his job.”
“Sheri Rummel wants patriots out,” Seim wrote online. “But if he does his job the civilianry (sic) does not have to do it for him. There can be no ‘negotiations’ over illegal arrests and false charges.”
Seim has been posting messages online from Ryan’s family, who previously said they do not know where the 25-year-old man is at this time but that they will pro- tect him.
“Please be patient and keep us in your prayers as we try to solve this dilemma, remembering that no man has the right to tread upon another,” the family wrote.
According to court documents led in U.S. District
"I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT THIS MATTER IS BEING HANDLED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. OUTSIDE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT WILL ONLY COMPLICATE THE ISSUE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE RYAN FAMILY."
SANDERS COUNTY SHERIFF TOM RUMMEL
Court in Portland, Oregon, Ryan faces charges of con- spiracy to impede o cers of the United States, posses- sion of rearms and dangerous weapons in a federal facility and depredation of government property.
An unsealed indictment speci cally alleges that on or about Jan. 27, Ryan and Sean Anderson used heavy equipment to damage an archaeological site considered sacred to the Burns Paiute Tribe, resulting in more than $1,000 worth of damage. Media reports suggest that Ryan and Anderson had been digging latrines near a makeshift camping area.
jfranz@ atheadbeacon.com
Scientists to Present Flathead Deep Aquifer Research Hydrogeologists from the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology to visit Flathead Valley Community College
BY TRISTAN SCOTT OF THE BEACON
When Flathead Valley residents turn on their tap water, they often take it for granted.
But with the exception of those living in White sh, most everyone living in the valley relies on groundwa- ter from a series of deep aquifers known as the Flathead Valley deep aquifer.
It’s the most widely used aquifer in the valley, supply- ing high-capacity municipal and irrigation wells in addi- tion to thousands of domestic wells. The deep aquifer is a thick deposit of gravel and sand, the top of which is 75 to over 400 feet deep and separated from shallow units and the land surface by a thick con ning unit.
On April 6, research hydrogeologists John Wheaton
and James Rose from the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology will present their research on the Flathead Val- ley’s deep aquifer and discuss the long-term sustainabil- ity of the area's groundwater resources.
The presentation was organized by the Flathead River Commission, a group formed in 2009 to protect and improve water quality within the Flathead River Watershed.
Bob Storer, chairman of the Flathead River Com- mission, said the presentation is not in response to a recently proposed water bottling plant near Creston, where a company called Montana Artesian Water Co. intends to produce up to 191.6 million gallons of bottled groundwater per year.
But Wheaton said the more the public understands
the science of the local resources, “the better we can manage our resources.”
“This presentation is not about a water bottling per- mit, but it is to help people understand the science and the geology and the hydrogeology in the valley,” Whea- ton said. “The system is a proli c, wonderful system, but someone has to make sure they are managing that system properly. We are not those managers, we are messengers.”
He added, “I think it will be helpful for people to understand the issues around the permit.”
The presentation, free and open to the public, will be held April 6 at Flathead Valley Community College, in the Arts and Technology Building theater at 6:30 p.m.
tscott@ atheadbeacon.com
THE 16TH ANNUAL
MADNESS IN MARCH
ALL REGULAR & SALE PRICED ITEMS!*
HISTORIC MAIN STREET
FINAL WEEK!
Sale Ends
Monday April 4th
Open 7 days a week
*Excludes $100 boot sale and Whites Boots
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MARCH 30, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM