YREKA, Calif. — A standing-room only crowd that spilled into the hallway of the Siskiyou County courthouse was on hand Tuesday to voice support for a plan to start over again.

“I’m before you to ask support and an affirmative vote on a resolution to withdraw Siskiyou County from the state of California,” Mark Baird stated, President of Scott Valley Protect Our Water. “We could have a chance to start over, to go back to basic government.”

A pair of similar proposals are circulating. One, to begin again to form a new state from Northern California counties. The other, to withdraw as many counties as possible from the state and its rules, and begin again.

“Over regulation by both state and federal agencies are destroying our economy and our culture and our way of life,” Callahan resident, Liz Bowen, said. “Those who agree with this please raise your hand”.

“I would encourage you to stand up and make yourselves known; nationally, maybe we need to ring the bell for rural communities that we’ve had enough,” Scott Valley rancher, Rich Marshall added.

“There comes a time when we have to stand up and say, ‘No! What you’re doing is wrong!’” county supervisor, Marcia Armstrong, said.

“I don’t want to be here 40 years from now just talking about the State of Jefferson,” county supervisor, Michael Kobseff, declared. “I want it to happen!”

It almost did. On the eve of World War II, in 1941, a provisional governor was elected, but the effort died in favor of uniting the nation for war.

There are actually two parallel proposals, one to reconstitute the county government, and in turn, most of the state government, and the other to go back to the plan that would create a State of Jefferson. Both of those have the same goals in mind, to bring local control back to Siskiyou County.

Supervisors are expected to vote on a resolution in support of the “start over” proposal at their September 3rd meeting.