Fish Springs mourns Wayne Dickey

I'm sad to report that longtime Fish Springs resident Wayne Dickey died on Feb. 14. He has been ill for the last year and he passed away at the too-young age of 60. There will be a memorial service for him at 2 p.m. March 1 at the Fish Springs Volunteer Fire Department.

Wayne and his wife Cynda have been married for the past 19 years and they've lived in Fish Springs for 18 years. Wayne built the horse arena at their Windmill Road home and many exciting cattle sorting and roping events have occurred there. There were always lots kids riding their horses and just hanging out.

He was born and raised in Livermore, Calif., and was very active in high school rodeo. He joined the Army after his high school graduation in 1965 and saw duty in the Vietnam War. Wayne was a jack-of-all-trades, including long haul truck driving. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and also a member of the Modoc tribe and the Lassen County Posse.

Wayne did both amateur and professional bull riding and was the Alaska state champion bull rider in 1978. He made friends everywhere he went and had a very full life. His family and friends will certainly miss him and everyone is invited to his memorial service. Our deepest sympathy goes to Cynda.

Wild horses and golden eagles

We awoke to the sound of barking dogs early last Thursday morning. I looked out a window and saw seven wild horses in our front yard. There were four adults and three smaller horses that looked about 10 months old. They were walking slowly north toward our neighbor Dolly Schreckengost's house. Some hay had spilled in her yard and the horses were drawn to it.

Dolly was eating an apple when she went outside to see why her dogs were barking. That's when the three yearlings walked over to her and started nibbling on the apple right out of her hand. She was very surprised and excited too.

One of the mares appeared to be very pregnant as she walked from the rest of her family and went over the hill behind our house. We're wondering if she was in labor. We'll keep watching to see when the family of seven wild horses becomes eight.

A few hours later we witnessed another little miracle. The pair of golden eagles that we saw last Monday had returned. And once again, they danced in circles over our heads. This was on Feb. 14, the same day of Wayne Dickey's death. I thought of "The Great Spirit Prayer," "When life fades like the fading sunset, let my eyes be clear, my hands and heart free of bloodshed, destruction, hatred or disrespect for Mother Earth, so that my spirit may come to You without shame."

Keep access

to BLM land open

If you're interested in maintaining access to the BLM land to all users in the Pine Nut Mountains, please attend the county commission meeting at 1 p.m. March 6. The public's access has been diminishing rapidly and it's crucial to maintain our access to the BLM land.

-- Linda Monohan may be reached at 782-5802.