Eager to save a beaver

Working on a story about the first beaver in Eastern Washington to be relocated this season. Ended up talking to state Rep. Joel Kretz (R-Wauconda) about his efforts to sponsor the “Beaver Bill” that was signed into legislation in June. 

Kretz is a rancher in Okanogan County. He raises cattle, horses and dabbles in timber. I got curious why this guy was going against the mold, so I asked.  

Why, as a Republican, would you sponsor an environmental bill and work with the Lands Council to help beavers?

I guess what I’m interested in is functional envirnonmentalism. We can sit in Seattle and feel good about our actions. The biggest threat to the environment is environmentalists. It’s gotten off track and is more about — land use, etc. 

The best stewards are those that live on the land. If the grass isn’t growing, I’m not making a living.

What do you think of his statement? 

Look! A photo of a photo of Ron Paul entering the rally. Now you can all see my awful camera setting.  Here’s the problem with tweeting an event and focusing on photography. You can’t take a photo straight from your big camera and upload that to Twitter. So I improvised.  Clever? Not so much.
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Look! A photo of a photo of Ron Paul entering the rally. Now you can all see my awful camera setting. 

Here’s the problem with tweeting an event and focusing on photography. You can’t take a photo straight from your big camera and upload that to Twitter. So I improvised. 

Clever? Not so much.

Downtown Spokane | KXLY Congressman Paul says he thought the crowd size was much better than four years ago, two or three times as many people as his previous visit. He spoke to media after the rally saying the crowd confirmed one of his many talking points: “I’ve always been told this part of the country and this state is very supportive of liberty. I think that was verified tonight,” Paul said. A campaign staffer collects the attending press together to set the ground rules for the event. Do not touch the stage. Do not climb on top the stage. Pretty much, bad things could happen if one of us violates those rules.  A media availability was set up following the rally. Members of the press could meet with Congressman Paul and ask their questions. Following the rally, we corralled into a gated area. I use corral in its correct usage. The candidate appeared and the crowd of journalists swarm around him. What did I ask him? Well - I got so nervous that I couldn’t think of anything. Don’t judge me.
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Downtown Spokane | KXLY

Congressman Paul says he thought the crowd size was much better than four years ago, two or three times as many people as his previous visit.

He spoke to media after the rally saying the crowd confirmed one of his many talking points:

“I’ve always been told this part of the country and this state is very supportive of liberty. I think that was verified tonight,” Paul said.

A campaign staffer collects the attending press together to set the ground rules for the event. Do not touch the stage. Do not climb on top the stage. Pretty much, bad things could happen if one of us violates those rules. 

A media availability was set up following the rally. Members of the press could meet with Congressman Paul and ask their questions. Following the rally, we corralled into a gated area. I use corral in its correct usage.

The candidate appeared and the crowd of journalists swarm around him. What did I ask him? Well - I got so nervous that I couldn’t think of anything. Don’t judge me.

Downtown Spokane | KXLY

Paul has yet to win a state caucus, always placing in second or third, but he believes he’s still in a good race right now. 

“We believe we’re doing a very good job even in the states that we don’t come out on top on the popular votes,” Paul said. “In other states we’re going to do well for the delegate vote and that’s what really counts for a campaign like this.”

If Paul does not make the primary later this year, he says he does not have any intention to run as an independent. 

What’s it like covering a presidential rally? If you’re a photographer, you can either join the members of the press on the risers in the back. You better hope you have the right zoom lens for that. 

You can also camp out up front just under the podium. Your legs will fall asleep and you will sweat like a pig with the lights beaming down on you.

You’ll also meet new people you wouldn’t have otherwise. Like a photographer for Eastern Washington University’s Easterner or another freelance photographer for The New York Times out of Seattle. 

You’ll also meet some unexpected folks, a writer with the Capital Press. 

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