Kevin Jenkins

kevin@thespectrum.com

Dozens of well-wishers gathered at the Veyo Park Saturday to raise money for the families of Southern Nevada ranchers facing trials on criminal charges stemming from their battles with federal government land management policies.

The dinner-dance fundraiser for the families of Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy and his sons Ryan, Mel, Ammon and Dave was the brainchild of EllaMay Walther, a Bunkerville-area resident who lives by Cliven and babysat his sons when they were younger.

“They are like family to me, and I am trying in a way to help the family,” Walther said. “The wives of the guys who are in prison and jail, they do not have any income coming in and they need help at this time. (Their husbands) have been in there for over eight months. … They have babies that they have at home (and are) taking care of.”

The Bundys are in federal custody as jurors in Oregon hear evidence related to a January armed rebellion at the state’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, which arose in January after Oregon ranchers were criminally charged with illegal burning on the federal land. Bundy family members and Arizona Strip rancher LaVoy Finicum appeared prominently in media coverage of the standoff, and were active on social media as well.

Finicum was shot to death in a tense confrontation with law enforcement officers who moved to arrest people allegedly involved in organizing or sustaining the armed occupation of the refuge in defiance of federal authorities.

The trial for Ammon and Ryan Bundy and Kanab resident Shawna Cox is scheduled to enter its 12th day Monday and is expected to continue until November, at least.

The Bundys were also arrested in connection with an armed standoff in 2014 against federal officials who had moved to impound Bundy cattle grazing in the nearby area of Gold Butte — a swath of public land that conservationists hope will become protected as a national monument.

Cox wrote a book that offers her perspective of that confrontation, and she has gained notoriety for capturing the events surrounding Finicum’s death on cell phone video as she rode in the vehicle he was driving.

The Bundys are expected to receive a trial on the Nevada charges beginning in February.

Walther said money raised at Saturday’s event will be divided equally among the five Bundy families to use however they wish, whether for legal bills, food supplies or other necessities.

Jeanette Finicum, LaVoy’s widow, was also present at the event and raised some funds by selling a novel her husband LaVoy wrote about a family’s “struggle to come together and survive in the midst of national crisis,” as well as copies of Cox’s book on her behalf.

Diamond Valley resident Kirk Bastian picked up copies of both books while expressing his sympathies to Jeanette.

“I’m aware of all this stuff that’s going on (but) I can’t claim to be real knowledgeable about it and I’d like to know more,” Bastian said. “I just wanted to come and support these people. I think they really got railroaded. … I think these folks were trying to look out for themselves and the government took advantage.”

Jeanette said she has been paying attention to the trial and has chatted with Cox while continuing to pursue her own interests, which include a planned lawsuit against law enforcement officers involved in what she regards as the “murder” of her husband and participation in a ranchers’ association scheduled to meet Friday night in the Hurricane Community Center to discuss property allotment rights.

Visitors to her table Saturday picked up stickers with LaVoy’s LV-Bar brand and signed a petition asking Congress to launch its own investigation of LaVoy’s death.

“I sure hope (the trial) turns out well for all of (the accused). I’m praying that it does,” Jeanette said.

“They’re in there … for our freedom and to keep the Constitution,” Walther said. “They are here fighting for us. … I think (the dinner-dance) has done great. There’s been a lot of people willing to help and donate.”

Follow reporter Kevin Jenkins on Twitter, @SpectrumJenkins. Call him at 435-674-6253.