Harney County residents offer views on refuge takeover

Occupation or not, rancher Leslie Odam has work to do. Her horses are hungry.

But just a couple of miles down the road, the eyes of the nation are watching.

And this Harney County resident has a message to the group inside:

“I think the Bundys or militia, or whatever they’re called, should just go home,” Odam said Tuesday. “Just go home and stay away.”

The words echoed across this small, conservative county of about 7,000 people

Strong statements — but behind it, feelings here are more mixed.

Many think the state and country have forgotten Harney County and the ranchers working the land.

“The rules and regulations that they impose on the producers and the environmental groups that are litigating against their permits — sage hen is one of the big issues. They’re wanting to take cattle off the range and just stifle the progress,” said rancher Joe Cronin.

“I don’t really think their message is necessarily bad,” he said. “I understand what they’re saying, but I think they’re going about it all the wrong way.”

Some told us they’re glad Bundy and his followers came to the area.

“They’re very nice people, well-spoken men — they’re sticking up for our constitutional rights,” said rancher Sandy Potter.

But more say Bundy and his followers have made their point. They’re ready to turn off the spotlight and get kids back in school (classes are scheduled to resume Monday after a week out due to safety concerns).

“It’s upsetting to us that our children will either have to make the time up at the end of the year, or they don’t — and either way it’s a lose-lose,” said one Burns man.

But no matter where this community stands on the protesters or the Hammonds, everyone agrees they just hope it ends peacefully

“Go back home, and we’ll just go about our business in our tiny little corner of the world,” Odam said.