Concerns about Chemtrails, Drone Surveillance and Election Fraud Take Center Stage at Shasta County Board Meeting
Supervisors hotly debated their differing perspectives on the value of appointing individuals with the right kind of “constitutional ideology”, despite a lack of relevant credentials.
During a marathon nine-hour meeting this week, Shasta County Supervisors deliberated over who to appoint to two of the County’s Commissions and Boards. In the process, they debated to what extent merits like education and experience hold value in comparison to “new insight” and “ideology” and weighed the drawbacks of poor past performance against future promises.
Board highlights on Tuesday, January 28, included the announcement of a new healthcare consultant for the County, a decision to continue the operation of the Shasta County Elections Commission, and appointments to both that Commission and the Shasta County Mosquito and Vector Control Board. An hour-long agenda item on the perceived dangers of “chemtrails” rounded out the day.
County Hires Chriss Street as Healthcare Consultant
County’s CEO David Rickert announced that he had hired a consultant to look into how the Board could work to improve access to healthcare across the region. Rickert, who was previously empowered by the Board to choose a consultant for the role, has hired community member Chriss Street, who will be compensated with an “amount not to exceed $40,000”. According to CEO Rickert, Street’s qualifications for the position include being a local resident with “healthcare management experience” as well as “extensive financial experience”.
In a brief statement to the Board, CEO Rickert said Street’s application for the healthcare consultant position was “the most comprehensive” of those he received. Rickert did not mention how many people applied or how he advertised for the consulting position and has not responded to a request for comment.
Street is the former treasurer of Orange County, whose healthcare-related experience appears to be limited to running a healthcare management company in the 90’s. Last year, Street, who’s also a leader in the secessionist movement New California State, was briefly offered the position of Shasta County CEO. When that offer was rescinded after a review of his background check, Street alleged financial misconduct at the County, a claim that was refuted by Shasta County auditor Nolda Short.
More recently, Street has been working informally with Redding City Council member Dr. Paul Dhanuka on the idea of bringing a medical school and substance use facility to the County. He’s faced some opposition in that role, due to Substack writings which he’s used in part to seek to discredit the local nonprofit Children’s Legacy Center.
The Board’s direction to Rickert indicated that whoever was chosen as the County’s healthcare consultant should work to address two core questions: how to ensure sufficient medical providers in the County, and the most cost-effective ways to reduce premature death. CEO Rickert said Street will report regularly on progress in assessing the answers to those questions, and the Board can expect a final analysis sometime mid-year.
“Fresh Insight” Wins Out Over Education and Expertise for Mosquito Board Appointee
Board members voted 3-2 to to appoint firearms instructor Ted Lidie to the Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control Board, which oversees the critical work of preventing the spread of life-threatening mosquito-borne illnesses within the County. Shasta County’s mosquito control efforts include locating and addressing areas of standing water to prevent diseases including dengue and West Nile Virus.
In a statement to his fellow Board members, Supervisor Kevin Crye indicated that he was a “hard no” on reappointing current Board member Phillip Cramer, given his prior support for the department’s planned use of drones over private property. Crye also objected to Cramer’s appointment on the grounds that the environmental scientist has already served two terms on the Board as the City of Redding’s appointee.
Crye said he had recruited Lidie for the position instead, explaining that he would bring common sense and “a very disciplined Constitutional approach to government,” without indicating how the Constitution would factor into tracking the spread of mosquito-borne illness.
“And . . . he’s new,” Crye continued, saying Lidie’s fresh insight would be of value to the Mosquito Board. Supervisor Corkey Harmon agreed, explaining that he sees Cramer’s relevant academic and professional experience as a “conflict of interest” for the position, emphasizing that the Mosquito Board should be “diversified” by the perspectives of those who know less about the topic at hand.
Supervisor Long, a retired career police officer, strongly disagreed. Just like when he was hiring for the police department, Long explained, he approaches board appointments with an eye for relevant experience, looking for “actual qualifications that (are) very pertinent to the job.”
Cramer is an environmental scientist who works for the state. He answered numerous questions about the work of the Mosquito Board and especially the use of airplanes and drones in detecting and treating areas of standing water across the County. He also assured the Board that drones will not be used to intrusively film private property. Aerial photography is already being used to help detect large areas of standing water in the County that could threaten public health, Cramer clarified. And the new drone program being implemented by the County could be done without any use of cameras at all, he said, as the primary purpose of the technology is the delivery of pesticides.
Lidie was eventually appointed by a 3-2 vote of the Board with Plummer and Long opposing.
The five-member Board already includes Jon Knight, who was appointed to the position in 2023. Knight was selected over the Board’s other candidate, trained epidemiologist and retired Public Health Director, Donnell Ewert. Among his statements to the Board prior to his appointment, Knight shared his concerns that mosquitos might be used as “flying syringes” to mass vaccinate the population.
Shasta County Elections Commission will Continue, with Plumb Still on Board
During an in-depth discussion on the utility of the Shasta County Elections Commission, Supervisors discussed whether the group, which has been in place since late 2023, is accomplishing its purpose of increasing trust in elections.
A staff report indicated the County has spent $120,000 in a combination of direct and staffing costs on the advisory group since its inception.The Commission’s work has contributed to only a single policy change, the addition of security cameras at drop boxes.
After an in-depth discussion, the Board informally agreed to modify the Commission’s structure by capping the total number of meetings per year, holding regular check-in’s on cost and effectiveness, and implementing an annual community survey on trust in elections. The issue will come back to the Board for final approval at a later date.
Supervisors also voted 3-2 to reappoint Patty Plumb to the Commission. Plumb, who was previously appointed by former supervisor Patrick Jones, was selected this time around by new Supervisor Corkey Harmon. Unlike Cramer, her consecutive terms in a government position were not seen as a problem by either Harmon or Crye.
Supervisor Plummer strongly opposed her appointment on other grounds. He pointed out that the Board had agreed just moments before that the Elections Commission has not been effective thus far, and that reappointing Plumb to the same position she had just left would mean retaining the Commission’s ineffective leadership.
Harmon argued that he’s known Plumb a long time and trusts her, dropping a mention of having worked with her to elect Sheriff Jim Pope decades ago. Referring to Plumb as a “perfect lady,” he said that her lack of success on the Commission thus far is the result of the opposition she’s faced from other Commissioners, and because she lacked adequate direction from the Board.
As Plummer pointed out Plumb has had the advantage of both a Commission majority and Board majority who have consistently supported her ideological perspectives. Those perspectives, she freely told the Board during her interview, include overlooking State law as needed in order to “follow the Constitution”. In further statements, she called for Shasta County’s recently-appointed Registrar of Voters Tom Toller to resign, referring to his appointment as a “a great field trip” with “lessons learned” and accusing him of “[caving] under the pressure” of the job. Toller’s commitment to following State-mandated elections procedures, Plumb said, are inconsistent with her goal of election “reform”.
During her time on the Commission, Plumb has actively opposed the work of the County Election’s Office, accusing officials of “torching the way” to commit election fraud, serving as a spokesperson for a lawsuit against the department, and leading trainings and protests in attempt to prevent election certification.
Leading up to Plumb’s reappointment, Plummer said he found it confusing to hear Board members “flip-flopping” on the use of “experience” as a qualifying factor for appointments, depending on who was being considered. He pointed out that when it came to the decision of who to appoint as Board chair or Elections Commissioner, some Board members cited prior experience as a positive metric but during other votes, like the decision on the Mosquito Board appointment, they had indicated that “fresh perspectives” should be prioritized, implying that relevant experience was a negative.
In response, Crye said for him, decisions on appointments “really come down to Constitutional ideology–that’s where it starts and stops.” Plummer rebutted, suggesting that if the priority is rewarding people who align with a specific ideology, Crye should say so transparently, rather than listing experience as a qualifying factor.
“I mean it’s fine if [experience] is actually not the reason, but when we’re giving justification for candidates, let’s not use that,” Plummer said.
“Because if it is actually just constitutional ideology,” Plummer continued, “then let’s make that the reason, and let’s have a transparent conversation about it. But when we’re using (experience) in different ways, and you know, (changing our approach) from decision to decision, that gets confusing.”
“The Constitution (is confusing)?” Crye parried, refusing to acknowledge Plummer’s remarks on transparency.
Board Considers Possible Dangers of “Chemtrails”
The overarching theme of yesterday’s Board meeting was complimented by a presentation on the alleged dangers of chemtrails from a local community member with no scientific credentials.
As part of the presentation, Dane Wigington, who runs the website GeoEngineering Watch, was invited to screen part of a climate documentary he produced. The documentary has been debunked by a climate scientist who called its’ claims “pure fantasy,” a statement which Wigington attempted to challenge in court. The lawsuit was dismissed, leaving Wigington financially liable for the scientist’s legal fees.
Crye, who invited Wigington to speak, studiously avoided making a clear statement on whether he agreed with the chemtrail claims, saying he had brought forward the topic because of his concerns about three children in the Shasta County area who are sick with the same rare cancer. In response to follow-up questions from Supervisor Allen Long, Wigington said he makes no claims about any connections between chemtrails and cancer.
1.29.24 3:33 pm: We have updated the story to correct a misstated name.
Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
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Finally Chris Street has got a job in Shasta Co. Is someone going to dig up the crime he committed in Orange Co. ? Or is Mr. Rickert going to get away with this ? I say send emails galore to Rickert asking him to reverse his decision before the fit hits the shan. Remember it was Street who wrote Measures P & Q for the November 2024 ballot…which failed to pass. He’s one of those quiet dangers who operates under the radar, until boom… surfaces and gets a kush job, payed by us taxpayers.
BTW…have you noticed that a certain two supervisors are getting under the skin of the BoS chair ? He’s trying his best to swat at them, but they just keep on doing the pesterin’…go guys.
Oh Frank! The DRAMA!! This is better than Bravo! I think the fact that Plummer is educated and methodical, and Long is a former clean police officer really unnerves him. They’re on both sides of him too! Kelstrom and Harmon can only shield him for so long. Skeevy con-men get antsy around people who can’t be bullied and who may expose their laundry list of crimes and lies. Hand me the popcorn!!
Google What does a rocket launch put into the air. Lots of stuff. Elon Musk firing 20 at a time, smaller but still rockets. So, there definitely may be something to what airplane chem trails end up leaving on the ground????
Thank you
Did you notice how Chris Kelstrom said his rights to not have drones flying over is far more important than “a bunch of bugs?”
Wow… Just wow
I know a lot of folks have said Corkey is dumb, but not a bad guy. Sorry to say . . . But you were duped. He has now made it crystal clear he has an evil heart.
I plan on telling him how I feel, and recommend you do too. His email is charmon@shastacounty.gov.
Let’s flood him with our thoughts on his decision to blindly follow Crye.
It’s amazing how many commenters on this platform are afraid to use their name.
And show their face in a profile pic (I seem to be the exception).
People are often worried to use their names because of the growing lack of respect by the others in a conversation.
Daryl: Yes. Not everyone wants to face the same level of hostility that journalists and public officials sign up for.
LOL! L’il’ Kevvie might as well have just told Plummer, “Na-na boo-boo, stick your head in doodoo!”
County Supervisors are just adorable at that age!
It is disheartening to live in a community where such strongly held beliefs in election fraud and not chem-trails influences how local government is distracted from serving the needs of their constituents!
*now chem-trails
Hey I saw the Lemurians last week and when I was 7, my best friends dad took us camping to find big foot!!! So chem trails are some what believable! Maybe it’s the tracking, the climate change. Oh, wait Chem trails are real and climate change is fake!
As for the use of drones, they are currently being employed, equipped with AI, in agricultural areas to locate pests, learn of problem areas and much more.
Let’s get up to date with our use of available technology. Drones can map the area they fly over, which in some cases almost unreachable by foot or even ATV’s.
Our BOS meetings are such an embarrassment to Shasta County. So disappointed in Harmon for falling into line with Crye’s agenda.
Excellent recap of the meeting, Annelise. I always appreciate your thorough linking to background information also. Very informative.
here’s some background you may not know. (edited)
Nick: Your comment was edited. We’re not going to use comments to platform anonymous “reporting”.
No shit Sherlock, it was edited?
Good job Annelise with maintaining the integrity of your forum.
I agree – Some damage fine reporting – No opinion Just the facts
You know, I’m starting to think that these chemtrail conspiracy folks might actually be on to something when they say we are all being dumbed down. I mean, look who’s our president. Also look at the BOS.
Mark…Next time you run into Dane W. ask him what he’s done to mitigate forest fires from his mountaintop fortress, out East Hwy 299.
well, here we go, corky, kevin, chris, patti, are just lame ducks which means “an ineffectual or unsuccessful person or thing” and Crye will hopefully lose the 2026 election. I mean if the world has to deal with the convicted felon for 4 years, Shasta County can surely deal with 1 more year of Crye’s nonsense. While it is hard for a former shasta county resident, it is hard to watch the county go up in flames. I’ll burn a wiccan candle, send some good juju your way, maybe voodoo will work?
I mean, are the County Supes even relevant anymore? Trump no longer needs or cares about his base, and they get to watch it all burn down with the rest of us. Once Trump is finished slashing and burning, will we even have the funds to keep the lights on or direct services? Ah, it’s fine!
His toadies will come in here and spew phony stats and try to distract with a barrage of lies, but even ol’ Dicky Gallardo has to pay $12 for eggs. Heard Costco is running out of dog food and bananas, it’s fine! It’s Biden’s/Media/Bureaucrats/Immigrants fault! Yeah! 9 out of 10 social media influencers agree!
Yes, the SCBOS is very “relevant.” They have control over money and have the power to shape county government. Shasta County’s budget is close to a billion dollars…
The Crye (Mr. Pillow JR) and Kelstorm – (Cliven Bundy JR. – Marjorie Taylor Green lover) have had over a couple of years to try their best and shape Shasta County into a tRumpian MAGA Paradise. While we are not New California or S.O.J. yet (and never will be), and although the C.K. Cartel has not fulfilled failed politicians P. Jones’s fantasy of being The Vanguard Of MAGA’s Revolution, that will change all of America’s vote to one day, hand-counted paper ballots, the secessionists have succeeded in spending MILLIONS of hard-earned Taxper dollars trying to do so. Mr. Tanner, you could tell us a lot about how the Cartel has created polarization, division, strife, removal of their political opponents from Shasta County employment, and the threat of harm and safety of Shasta County citizens.
But, hey, step right up folks, welcome to the C.K. Cartel Three Ring QAnon —- Show, staring election conspiracists, chem trail – mosquito vaccine conspiracists, and secessionists (who know as much about the US Constitution as I do about Qutimum Physics), here to entertain, flood the zone with the racist- sexist white nationalist gospel of Trump (a convicted sexual abuse perp, and convicted 34 count felon-fraudster) and normalize Tin-Foil Hats. And… we will let them if we don’t stand up and say enough and demand nonpartisan, Safe and Sane Shasta County governance.
While Trump is working on suppressing the First Amendment, we still have a “free press.” The excellent report by Shasta Scout on last Tuesday’s Three-Ring Circus, brought to us by the QAnon Clown Car Cartel (which probably cost taxpayers around $4 thousand to present), does a great job of showing how deep in the —- we really are. Send Shasat Scout some of those $$. It’s going to be a long 4 years…
Christian: I have edited your comment to remove the word you placed before “mosquito vaccine” The correct reference is “Japanese”. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/28/california-shasta-county-far-right-mosquito-vaccine
Thank you Annelise for the correction. Of course, I fully support all Abrahamic religions that wish to live in peace. My reference, as faulty as it was , refers to well-known Covid conspiracies that blame the Jewish for not only creating covid but creating the vaccine as well, and funding The use of mosquitoes as syringes. Sadly, I’ve heard much of this within our Board of Supervisors meetings. It is never shut down and in fact taxpayers pay for this propaganda.
“The antisemitic conspiracies related to coronavirus can be classified into two broad categories. The first blames Jews or Israel for the spread or creation of the coronavirus to achieve financial or political gain. The claim that Israel invented a coronavirus vaccine is often cited as proof, and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion is mentioned as proof of the plans of the Jews to control the world. Another example used to back this claim is that the conspiracy to spread the coronavirus pandemic was taken at the Davos forum by members of the Rothschild and Gates families to increase acceptance of vaccinations among the world’s population.”
https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/conspiracy-myths/jews-as-creators-of-the-covid-19-pandemic
Christian, I respect your level of indignation and resistance, but I just don’t have it in me anymore. My “Righteous Indignation” tank is on E. It’s time to triage this Country. The United States just got wheeled into the ER with a gunshot wound to the head, and we’re squabbling about the scuffed pinkie finger that is Shasta County? This county won’t matter when there is no Country.
Think Crye will hang around after Trump guts the grants for his Ninja schools? Think Corkey will stay when his multi-million dollar businesses go belly up after he can’t land any contracts? They’re greedy little piggies suckling on the dessicated teat of government, and as a former Elections worker, I can confirm our precious democracy put them there 100% legally and legitimately. We claim to want to preserve this beautiful flower of governance, yet we gripe and fight when it’s working as intended? Great civilizations come and go, it’s the natural order. I’m focusing my energies in surviving this, because truly, the great equalizer will be standing in line for a loaf of bread and some clean water. At that time, feel free to cut in front of Crye and the others. 😉
Dude, fully understand. Let me know where that bread and water line is!
At this point Wiccan Candles and Voodoo might be the only recourse to end this NONSENSE