Reward offered in hay fires

Parker Valley farmers are steaming mad about six stacks of hay that were torched in the evening hours of June 27. Farmers and the Colorado River Indian Tribes Council are offering a reward of $15,000 for the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Farmers affected put up $10,000 and, on Monday afternoon tribal officials, pledged $5,000.

Rudy Buckelew, of Buckelew Farms, told the Pioneer it has been 10 months since the last haystack fire. He estimated in the last three years, farmers have lost approximately $5 million in the valley.

He said the haystacks were in a circular pattern in areas in the valley.

"I guess they (arsonists) want to see fires light up the sky. They are sick and we (farmers) want it stopped," Buckelew said.

The Monday meeting also had tribal law enforcement and county officials involved.

In an e-mail to the Pioneer, Tribal Treasurer Dennis Welsh stated, "Law enforcement and local farm workers will be stepping up patrolling the valley over the holiday weekend as well as throughout the remaining farming season. A campaign to catch the perpetrator(s) will be high priority for CRIT."

Anyone who has information about the fires can contact the Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department at 928-669-1277.