Maybe a lot of folks and some may be mad at me. Maybe even some here in OT.
On the way into town this morning, about 1 mile from my place, I came up on a lot of vehicles on the side of the highway near the turnoff to my nearest neighbor--I figured it was another manhunt underway by law enforcement in the National Forest. Went on in to town, wife was in the car in front of me on her way to school, and about 30 minutes later, I got a phone call on my cell phone. My neighbor with the county sheriff---they needed somewhere to land a helicopter. They originally had planned to use my neighbor's place, but a. He had too much loose crap layng around. b. He didn't really want them there (he's a good guy, but a conspiracy nut) c. Too many tall pine trees and his cleared off place wasn't big enough for a slow deliberate approach with a sling hook load...
Told them to let me talk to my neighbor--told him to unlock the front gate and let 'em in--I'd be there shortly. (I already knew by this time what they were undertaking)
When I pulled onto the blacktop in front of my place, this is what I saw: (My property is on the immediate right)
I stopped and talked to them a little, told them I was happy to help, got permission to come up and watch and even take pictures--then drove on to the house and watched as they began. Took this pic from my back porch:
Let's think about it, you're near a national forest, a flowing water source, probably not too far down to ground water and, some fertile soil. Hmmmm
I could be wrong (it's been a long time) but, isn't that a M model UH1?
------------------ Ron Count Down to A Better America: http://countingdownto.com/countdown/196044 Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
My Uncle Frank was a staunch Conservative and voted straight Republican until the day he died in Chicago. Since then he has voted Democrat. Shrug
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 09-04-2014).]
If you haven't guessed, it's a marijuana eradication operation--a fairly big grow was discovered within 700' of the road across from me next to the river.
Altho they said I was free to take any pictures I wanted, and there was a news guy there as well, I felt it prudent to black out (redact) any faces.
LZ Maryjane...... They discovered a maryjane growing operation and were airlifting it outta there for some reason. You should have told him that they could just make a bonfire on your land.
Too slow, I was typing as you were posting. I didn't think I was right though! Why would they spend the money to lift it out like that instead of burning? Too dry? Or for resale in Colorado?
[This message has been edited by CoryFiero (edited 09-04-2014).]
If you haven't guessed, it's a marijuana eradication operation--a fairly big grow was discovered within 700' of the road across from me next to the river.
I'm guessing here but, I'm betting you'll be spraying for broadleaf next year.
------------------ Ron Count Down to A Better America: http://countingdownto.com/countdown/196044 Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
My Uncle Frank was a staunch Conservative and voted straight Republican until the day he died in Chicago. Since then he has voted Democrat. Shrug
Too slow, I was typing as you were posting. I didn't think I was right though! Why would they spend the money to lift it out like that instead of burning? Too dry? Or for resale in Colorado?
Currently, it's evidence. I'm sure it'll eventually be burned, hopefully by the same authorities that hauled it in. I'm sure there will be many willing to stand as fire guards, downwind of course.
------------------ Ron Count Down to A Better America: http://countingdownto.com/countdown/196044 Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
My Uncle Frank was a staunch Conservative and voted straight Republican until the day he died in Chicago. Since then he has voted Democrat. Shrug
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 09-04-2014).]
They were mature plants, and when I asked, they told me they count the plants before they begin "harvest". Yield was estimated to be 1 lb per plant. They worked all morning, with one team in the field, and the rest at my place. Ended up with 14,800 plants--all dropped on my place, then loaded, and hauled to the incinerator.
About 1/2 way thru, the helo had to go refuel, and get another length of line--some of the grow area was too close to tall pines and they couldn't drop low enough. When the came in with the first load on the long line, it swung a lot and began rotationg in a big sweeping circle and pilot dropped it right down on top of a cedar tree, breaking 1/2 of it off. I told the DPS guy "That was my avorite tree on the whole place, was saving it for a Christmas Tree all these years--gonna cost you $500." He knew I was joking but said "you'll have to take that up with DEA".
Don is that Highway 105 in the picture? It looks familiar. I should have stopped and surveyed the vegetation the last few times I drove through there. Of course it was 4am and could have gotten all I wanted.
Please tell me you got to keep what feel on the ground? It would have been some great feed for the cattle, you would have had the happiest cows in the county !
Did you get to go for a chopper ride or have you already had your fill of ridding in those already?
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
I guess I can see where some people would be mad, because you help facilitate the evil Storm troopers to eradicate the only known source of the cure all medicine to all ills. You are now part of the Grand Government Conspiracy with their plans for a New World Order.
As for me? I would enjoy the show. I also wanna say it was pretty cool for you to allow them to use your land as a temporary heliport. It appears that they were being pretty cool with you too.
I knew lots of them already, since most were local. I took 'em a cooler full of iced down soft drinks--know from experience how hot those nomex suits are. When you live out in the sticks, you know everybody, but I bet all the people at church are gonna be wondering what the heck is going on at Don's.
Please tell me you got to keep what feel on the ground? It would have been some great feed for the cattle, you would have had the happiest cows in the county !
Did you get to go for a chopper ride or have you already had your fill of ridding in those already?
Steve
Heck no--the DPS guy told me "They won't even let US go for a ride", but man it was good again to hear those rotor blades, feel the wind, and smell that JP5!! I sat on the back of my truck one trip, and just closed my eyes and went back 43 years. (If they had a 53, they coulda just made one trip)
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 09-04-2014).]
My goodness, that video brings back some fond memories. Thanks for posting that Don.
------------------ Ron Count Down to A Better America: http://countingdownto.com/countdown/196044 Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
My Uncle Frank was a staunch Conservative and voted straight Republican until the day he died in Chicago. Since then he has voted Democrat. Shrug
After watching the video, WTF did they do just take a machete to the branches and leave the stocks? I got one from an outdoor plant and it was one of the smaller stocks and it is like 2" thick, the center stock was as big as my fist. I made a cane/pipe out of the stock I have, dammed if I know where the hell it is, I smoked out of it once and lost it. It's around here, someplace.
Steve
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 09-04-2014).]
Originally posted by maryjane: but man it was good again to hear those rotor blades, feel the wind, and smell that JP5!! I sat on the back of my truck one trip, and just closed my eyes and went back 43 years.
Whore.
You got high, didn't you! And never touched a single leaf....your brain knew exactly what it was doing when it heard "Can we land a Helicopter in your yard?". Not saying you intentionally did it that way, but......the brain can smell desire a million miles away!
After watching the video, WTF did they do just take a machete to the branches and leave the stocks? I got one from an outdoor plant and it was one of the smaller stocks and it is like 2" thick, the center stock was as big as my fist. I made a cane/pipe out of the stock I have, dammed if I know where the hell it is, I smoked out of it once and lost it. It's around here, someplace.
Steve
Explained to me this way: If it's feds--they want the plant and the roots. If it's state (this was, tho dea was also there) they just want the plant. I didn't ask why.
Heck no--the DPS guy told me "They won't even let US go for a ride", but man it was good again to hear those rotor blades, feel the wind, and smell that JP5!! I sat on the back of my truck one trip, and just closed my eyes and went back 43 years. (If they had a 53, they coulda just made one trip)
They are adding another length of lift line so they can lift it out from an area that had some tall trees around it: My house is in the background:
The guy on the far left is the reporter that posted the vid on youtube and submitted the news article I linked to. The sassy looking girl on the right is my youngest older sister that pulled in on her way from town to see "what the heck is going on here Don??"
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 09-04-2014).]
Oddly enough, my PFF screenname never came up. They were looking for a place to land tho, not a conclusion to jump to.
To bad, they would have gotten a laugh out of it, MAYBE, as many here, myself included have mistaken your screen name as more related to the weed than the wife's name ! Your title also is quite appropriate in more ways than one with maryjane in it !
I still hope you got to save some of the drops for cattle feed, you would definitely have the happiest cows in the county !
Steve
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 09-05-2014).]
You got high, didn't you! And never touched a single leaf....your brain knew exactly what it was doing when it heard "Can we land a Helicopter in your yard?". Not saying you intentionally did it that way, but......the brain can smell desire a million miles away!
I was actually taken back when I read this. My thought was what the heck is he talking about. Then, I thought, well maybe he doesn't understand and it's only through artificial stimulation that he can relate.
I watched the video, it took me back to a place I once loved with absolutely no artificial stimulation. I guess you would have had to actually been there and done that to understand.
------------------ Ron Count Down to A Better America: http://countingdownto.com/countdown/196044 Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
My Uncle Frank was a staunch Conservative and voted straight Republican until the day he died in Chicago. Since then he has voted Democrat. Shrug
In the picture that my sister is in, the man in the straw hat is one of the constables. His real name, is Roy Rogers for Precinct 1. The other constable present real name is Sam Houston.
I know them both--Roy is about my age and I talked to him a good bit yesterday sitting on the tailgate of my truck. "Roy, Sam is my Constable but J---- up on the hill says you are his, but there's a sign on the door of the Valero another 1/8 mile up that says it is patrolled by Sam Houston. The only time I ever had to call the police, dispatch called back a little while later and asked me to go up on the highway and lead the officer in--he couldn't find my place. Where does your precinct start?"
"Naw, my Preciinct starts right there Don--it's kind of vague right in here because of the river and the precinct line".
I saw him and Sam talking, then they got in the truck and left. When they came back, Roy said "Well, we found out something we didn't know. Half your property is in my precinct and half is in Sam's--if you need help--call us both." When they were all done, the different group bosses thanked me and I told 'em --Ya'll know who I am now and where I am--if I ever need help and call 911, I expect yall to come arunnin". They laughed and said they'd be here.
Explained to me this way: If it's feds--they want the plant and the roots. If it's state (this was, tho dea was also there) they just want the plant. I didn't ask why.
"1 lb per plant. Ended up with 14,800 plants" Wow
Wont it grow back? Doesnt make much sense. Do they get paid or get accolades for taking care of it? Is it the pessimist in me that might say would it be so they can get paid to do this again in a few years?
[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 09-05-2014).]
I don't know the answers to those questions except to say with no water being put on it, and this close to fall I don't think it would re-sprout this year being so close to autumn. It was in a 3 acre clearing, with tall trees around it so it gets sun just a few hrs each day as it is--when the sun is directly overhead. I was told "it is an annual, just like the goatweed around here--not a perenial, it won't regrow from the rootstock next spring".
What it looked like in the field ready to be picked up by the helo:
When the initial grid searc is done, they look for specific things here in the forest--trees down. When a storm comes and wind blows trees down, it blows them down all in the same direction. When they are cut down tho, one will fall one way, the next another way--all which a ways, and that's a telltale sign.
I watched the helos and small fixed wing work this place over a month ago, and did notice the helo paused a lot over in that area (actually thought he was looking hard at my front property at the time) DPS told me they very very rarely catch the illegal immigrant workers that are taking care of it--once they see the first pass of a helo, they leave immediately and don't return. They just abandon the plants and any equipment.
The last ones done in this area, was over in Polk County, and only access was by boat. That's about 60 miles SE of me. This is cartel work--they bring in illegals from Mexico, the workers clear an area in a remote section, and set up a rude camp and just stay there--either bringing all their food and supplies with them or resupplied as they need it. It's now easier and less difficult to just bring the illegals across to do the "farming" here in the Big Thicket, than smuggling the stuff accross the border. The actual owner of the plants is never there, thus insulating himself from arrest. http://www.chron.com/news/a...k-County-5729068.php http://www.chron.com/news/h...kings-of-5654052.php
Was this just wild plants on (or next to) your property or cultivated plants? I had a friend in Kansas that told me a story that someone just spread some seed along the road and every year a new crop would emerge. Every year the state would need to "harvest" the wild plants.
In the bigger scheme of things, regarding the War on Drugs, it is indeed a waste of tax dollars inasmuch as the guy behind the weed farm will just move his workers somewhere else. The Big Thicket is a big place.