Oregonian reporter Les Zaitz was the first to report on the issue in Burns, giving a detailed story on the background and noting that militia members and local residents were talking Friday night and "the tension in the chilly fairgrounds building seemed to ease."



They had gathered ahead of today's planned rally in downtown Burns.



For days, there have been fears that the militia-led event would turn violent. Some of the militia leaders orchestrating the rally participated in an armed standoff last year in Nevada over a rancher's cattle.

But after a peaceful rally Saturday, things spun out of control.

"A group of outside militants drove to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, where they seized and occupied the refuge headquarters."

Zaitz reported that the group included Ammon Bundy, son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, and two of his brothers.

And with that, the situation attracted national attention.

People, most of whom couldn't locate Burns on a map, quickly wanted to learn more about this community in remote southeastern Oregon.

One bit of information was that Harney County, where Burns is located, has more cattle than people.

But who were those in the militant group or associated with it?

What became a protest turned into a siege.

A 42-year-old Washington woman who has met twice this weekend with men occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters said the group's spirits are high and they are prepared to remain in the eastern Oregon outpost for "many years."

Maureen Peltier, who said she is a disabled veteran, staff sergeant with the Washington Army National Guard and a member of the so-called patriot movement, traveled from her home in Bonny Lake to Burns this weekend to take part in Saturday's protest of the federal government's criminal case against a pair of Harney County ranchers.

Ammon Bundy, meanwhile, said during a news conference Sunday morning that the group has no intention of violence unless the government acts against them.

Harney County Sheriff David Ward on Sunday afternoon said the militants who seized the wildlife refuge are trying to overthrow the local and federal governments.

Here is how Zaitz set the scene Sunday:

Ammon Bundy, the militant leader holed up at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, strolled through the headquarters grounds as if he had no cares.



He looked like any other rancher braving the subfreezing temperatures of the Harney Basin - a brown cowboy hat clamped onto his head, thick gloves on his hands.



But he is presiding over an occupation.

-- Tom Hallman Jr.

thallman@oregonian.com; 503 221-8224

@thallmanjr