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SPORTS ARCHIVES FOR 2000

2000

JANUARY, 2000

Record news for Jan. 6, 2000
• So, was Y2K a little over amped?
• Gates' long arm assists Modoc Library
• Arrowhead goes into escrow
• Modoc Railroad Academy hosts open house
• Music students selected for honors
• SNF residents have a sparkling celebration

So, was Y2K just a lit tle over amped?

The Year 2000 bug did not turn out to be the menace the government and others thought it could be, and people are breathing a collective sigh of relief nationally.

For Modoc, there were no major glitches because of Y2K and as of Wednesday everything in the county, city, local utilities and agencies were up and running normally.

The county's Y2K guru, Jerry Cook reported to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday that everything in the county was run ning well and its pretty much business as usual.

"There have been no reports of any problems and every thing transcended major problems," Cook said. "Any issue we've had has been very minor and easy to fix. Actually some of the precautions we took may have caused more prob lems than if we'd left them alone."

As an example, Cook said the network was shut down be fore New Year's Eve and when it was turned back on Monday, some computers were being cantankerous. Those problems have been dealt with; are no longer an issue and were not Y2K related.

Cook said he felt the whole Y2K issue was overblown, but also believes the manner in which the county prepared for the potential problem alleviated much worry and fear.

He told the board the county is considered Y2K compliant and is moving forward smoothly into the 21st Century.

Cary Baker, Alturas City Clerk, said the city also sailed through Y2K without any major malfunctions. The city had declared it was Y2K compliant and was only concerned about possible outside problems with utilities or so on.

"We've had no reports of anything going wrong and ev erything seems to have made the date switch fine," said Baker.

PacifiCorp has reported it did not experience any prob lems associated with the Year 2000 date change.

"We are pleased. and not at all surprised, at the ease with which our systems have handled the date rollover," said Alan Richardson, chief executive office for PacifiCorp. "I am delighted for our employees that the rollover went well as they have worked long and hard the past three years to pre pare our systems for this event."

There were also no problems with Surprise Valley Electrification, falling in line with Manager Dan Silveria's conclusion that the co-op had prepared for the Y2K situation. He expressed confidence in the system, which did not let the northwest down.

Both Alturas Chief of Police and Modoc County Sheriff Bruce Mix said there were no major problems because of the year 2000 change and Mix said the communication systems, the 911 system and the jail systems all rolled smoothly into the new year.

"We didn't expect any problems from Y2K because we had prepared for it," said Mix. "And we're happy to report there were no problems and everything's running well. And we're also pleased to report that the public was well behaved for the most part."

Pickett said New Year's Eve in Alturas was pretty quiet and the public acted in a very responsible manner. There was a pretty good show of fireworks from all over Alturas as the year 2,000 arrived at midnight. But, according to Pickett, there were no problems associated with the fireworks or the celebrations.

Gates' long arm helps out Modoc Libraries

Thanks to the hard work of Modoc County Librarian Cheryl Baker and staff and the generosity of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, local libraries are upgrading Internet access and equipment.

Baker told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday that the Libraries had just received a $34,135 grant from the Gates Foundation (Microsoft) that would fund two new computers, including software, providing Internet access at each branch in Alturas, Cedarville, Adin, Lookout, and Davis Creek.

In the outlying branches, one computer will be in English and one will be in Spanish. The two new computers at the Alturas branch will be in English.

Baker told the board the new computers and Internet will be available to the public, not staff, during business hours at each branch.

"One of the goals of this grant is to make information more accessible to people who do not have computers person ally," said Baker. "We're very pleased we were successful. The computers should be in and on line by summer."

This was not a long term grant writing issue. The appli cation for the grants arrived in Baker's office the last part of October and were submitted in November.

Initially, because of the criteria of the Gates foundation, it didn't appear the Cedarville Branch would be eligible. One of the criteria is that within a five miles radius of the branch, based upon the 1990 census, the poverty level of residents had to be at least 10 percent.

Based on the 1999 figures, the five miles (even though the Cedarville Branch serves all of Surprise Valley) only re flected a 9.2 percent poverty level. Baker did some research, using current figures from the state Department of Education and argued successfully that things had changed dramatically in the area over the past 10 years.

She explained in the grant application that there were more students qualified for free and reduced lunch programs now and a larger contingent of non-English speaking people had moved into the Cedarville area.

Baker said this new Internet access increases the avail able free services offered by the local libraries and is a valuable tool for the public.

Modoc Railroad Academy hosts open house

Want to know more about the Modoc Railroad Academy which will be opening first classes January 10? An open house is scheduled Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Academy classrooms in the Dolby Building 1030 North Main Street.

The public is invited to view what will be offered, including a computerized training program and speak with administrators and staff. The public will get the chance to look into the textbooks and will be able to practice on the computer training programs. Refreshments will also be served.

The Academy is called the nation's first vocational railroad training school and will feature courses approved by the industry. It's curriculum, said Suzanne Berdall, executive director, has been approved by the Burlington Northern, Sante Fe, Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific. Its is a member of the Railroad Education Training Association, a professional group of 20 colleges, universi ties and railroads across the United States and Canada.

The school will begin staggered classes on Jan. 10, Feb. 10 and March 10. The first class will have 10 students and the academy expects to train 300 students each year. Each course is 12 weeks long.

For more information of the academy call 530-233-5515. In addition about getting into the academy or for assistance with tuition, contact VeAnn Ambers at 530-233-7710.

Music students selected for high honors

Karen Siegel "hit the ground running on Monday morning," following the hol iday break, when she was notified of several surprise announcements she was happy to make to several middle school and high school music department students, whom she teaches.

Six students from Modoc Middle School Choir and Band have been named to the Northern California Junior High Honor Band and Choir for grades seven through nine. Ninth grade Choir students Zeb Thorn, Kayla Harness and Karlie Bodmer and ninth grade band stu dents Christina Nardoni and Robert Flournoy and seventh grader Nat Futter man will travel to Cal State University, Chico for two days of rehearsals Jan. 13 and 14, culminating in a public performance at Lax son Auditorium on January 15. The local students audi tioned by cassette tape and choir students were selected by Siegel. All entries were submitted to be judged out side the Modoc area.

Modoc High Senior Jeran Brown learned that he will be on the road in February and March for several events including being a part of the Northern Califor nia High School Honor Choir with MHS senior Re bekah Richert, alto and Christina Crawford, so prano, for the Feb. 3 - 5 at Humboldt State University. They will combine their voices with a choir of 120 voices strong for a perfor mance in the Van Duzer Theater on Feb. 5, after two days of intensive re hearsals. Dr. William Hall, professor of choral music at Chapman Univer sity, will lead the choir. Modoc High was able to submit a quartet of their best singers, noted Siegel of the selection process.

Come March 8-11, Brown, will perform as a tenor, un der the direction of Dr. Paul Smith from Cal State Uni versity, Northridge, at Loy ola Marymount University in Westchester, Calif. The event encompasses the Western Division Ameri can Choral Directors Asso ciation High School Multi-cultural Honor Choir for which Jeran taped his pre pared audition solo accom panied by a written evalua tion by Siegel.

The Western Division choir includes vocalists from California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Arizona.

"These are very signifi cant achievements for these students," offered Siegel.

Brown was also selected for the California All-State Honor Choir through live audition try-outs of scales, tonal memory, chords, sight reading and a prepared solo. Brown will perform at the California Music Educators Conference at the Sacra mento Convention Center on March 23-25, under the di rec tion of Rodney Eichen berger from Florida State Univer sity, Tallahassee, Florida. Singers from throughout the state will comprise the 120 person choir. Students will have three days of intensive re hearsal.

Both Rebekah Richert and Brown completed the Re gional Honor Choir com mitment at Consumnes River College, Sacramento Nov. 11-14. The two were members of the 152 member, mixed choir which sang seven songs, three in a for eign language and all but one a cappella, under the di rection of Dr. Donald Kendrick. Rehearsals were intensive up until the time of the performance. Their re quirements included memo rizing the songs within three weeks - a difficult task, stated a proud Siegel, who was working on travel ar rangements to be paid for by the school district.

SNF residents have a sparkling celebration

It was a night unlike any other that brought feelings of joy to staff and residents alike at Modoc Medical Center's Skill Nurs ing Fa cility. The staff had promised to help the resi dents celebrate the coming of the new millennium and the end of a century, in style.

The outcome was even "better than ex pected," shared organizer Sharon Raabe, who in her 17 years working with the hospital said, "In all my years here, it was the neatest thing. It was a blast; we (staff) had a great time and the residents were so happy."

By transforming the din ing room into a candlelight dinner atmosphere for New Year's Eve, everything from the menu to the atmosphere was just what the residents' council had hoped for. The staff wanted to provide a "beautiful evening out" and did just that for the 24 guests who were able to come to the dining room, dressed in their finery and all "dolled up."

Invitations had been sent out to each resi dent the Mon day after Christmas. "They didn't have to RSVP," said Raabe. "We'd planned this for quite a while, but then there was a lot of flu going around, so we weren't ex actly sure how many resi dents would be healthy and able to come down to the din ing room for the special evening. Fortunately, we had more than we antici pated," said the or ganizer. Guests arrived for dinner at 6:15 p.m. and stayed until about 7:20 p.m., linger ing and enjoying the evening.

"It really worked that night. It was beauti ful. The ladies came dressed up and wearing their pearls and those ladies who don't nor mally wear makeup, were all dolled up. Ev eryone was dressed up for New Year's. We figure to be 90 years old and make it to the year 2000, is really something," de scribed Raabe.

"We have several resi dents who will turn 100 this year (2000)," said Terri Sides. "One of our ladies, Susie Murphy, came to the dinner and she will turn 100 in July. She got the biggest kick out of those poppers that throw out the confetti. We'd put them on all the tables for them to have fun with." Sides helped shop for the decora tions and helped with plan ning.

For those unable to leave their rooms, the dinner matched the menu served in the din ing room, with prime rib and au jus and horseradish, baked potatoes with sour cream, butter and chives, green beans with ba con bits, French bread and a slice of both rhubarb and ap ple pie for each guest. In the dining room, tablecloths, silverware and taper can dles were used, and Cham pagne glasses were filled with sparkling apple cider. Blowers, noise makers and pop pers filled with confetti brought fun, first-time reac tions from several of the diners out for the New Year's Eve celebration. Fancy New Year's Eve napkins and confetti graced each setting at round ta bles seating four each.

Six staff members volun teered their time that night to act as dining room servers, so as not to use overtime hours. Sharon Raabe, Delinda Gover, Terri Sides, Tracy Sides, Juanita Wag ner and Ginger Preston were dressed in black slacks, crisp white shirts and black bow ties. They were joined by cook Maria Correa and assistant Renae Burgess. Andy Olsen, one of the younger residents, led the dining room guests in saying Grace be fore their dinner.

"It was superb," Raabe re called. "The res idents asked the cooks to come out of the kitchen at the end of dinner, so they could thank and ap plaud them. The prime rib was kept nice and tender with the au jus, so every one could enjoy it. It turned out wonderful."

The residents' council had asked specifi cally for prime rib and both rhubarb and ap ple pies, for the holi day meal. The council helps choose the holiday meals on a regular basis, notes Raabe.

SNF employee Opal Hammack was elected as the "pie maker for the holi days." Hammack made five of each, much to the ap preciation of the residents. For the past four years, Raabe has been the Dietary and Envi ronmental Ser vices Manager. Sixty-seven dinners were served with two prime ribs to taling 60 pounds this New Year's Eve. "Over at the hospital," the dining room was set up with table cloths to serve six pa tients who were able to go to the dining room for dinner. The rest were served in their rooms, where some family members had joined their loved ones for dinner.

Raabe said she worked the best deals she could to cut down the cost of the prime rib to serve that many people. The staff got a "good deal" having prime rib at the regu lar cost of $3 per meal.

Back in the SNF dining room, Raabe said it made her feel good to hear resi dents emo tionally exclaim, "Oh, this is so nice."

"We really want to thank the staff who were scheduled to be there that night. They were a big help in getting the residents to and from their rooms and working that night," admonished Raabe.

The leftovers didn't go to waste. Raabe said the kitchen crew was busy mak ing veg etable beef soup the next day.

 

Record news for January 13, 2000

 

Deadline for voter registration Feb. 7

The deadline for voter registration for the March 7, 2000 election is Feb. 7, according to Modoc County Clerk Maxine Madison.

It's important, said Madison, that voters make sure they are registered under the correct name and current address. New registers are also encouraged. Madison pointed out that young people who will be age 18 by or on March 7 should reg ister to vote by Feb. 7.

Madison purged the Modoc voter registration list this last winter and the total registration took a dramatic drop, from 5,885 in the Nov. 1998 election to 5,218 now. That's a drop of 667 voters or over 11 percent.

Madison said she went back at least over the past four ma jor elections and purged anyone who had not voted in any of them. Those voters were sent a card saying their names would be removed if they did not respond.

The Republicans hold the majority of registered voters in the county at 2,421 and there are 2,102 registered Democrats. According to Madison the fastest growing area of registra tion is in Non Partisan where there are now 569 registered voters. The breakdown of other parties in Modoc is as fol lows: American Independent, 151; Libertarian, 26; Green, 14, Reform, 14, Natural Law, four, and miscellaneous, 18.

World traveler lands in Alturas as Assistant Superintendent

By Nora Russell

A man who has spent his life traveling the world has settled down in Alturas to be the Assistant Superintendent of the Modoc County Office of Education.

Steve Pine was born in an Air Force family and spent his youth in the Orient. He also lived in several differ ent states and graduated from high school in Japan.

After a short time in col lege proved unsuccessful for Pine he joined the Air Force and spent four years in Eu rope. Upon being dis charged, he returned to Ore gon; his father having re tired in Klamath Falls.

Pine attended and grad uated from Oregon College of Edu cation, which is now known as Western Oregon State College near Salem.

With a degree in Psychol ogy and German in hand Pine still had a difficult time finding employment, so he went back to school and did graduate work in Educa tion. His first job in the edu cation field was in Medford, Or. at McLaughlin High School in 1977.

A job with the Department of Defense in Alternative Education took Pine to Ger many and began a cycle of spending a few years in Eu rope and a few years in Ore gon. During different times when Pine was in Oregon he taught in Seattle and at the Oregon Institute of Technol ogy.

When Pine was working with the Department of De fense he had the opportunity to travel through Europe and at one point was offered a job in Romania in exchange for a pair of tennis shoes a month. On one return trip from Germany, Pine brought his wife, Jeni, with him.

In 1988 Steve and Jeni were in Alaska where he taught grades K-3 at a two teacher school in a village of 60 peo ple. Later, returning to Alaska in 97/98, he was the prin cipal of a school in Twin Hills. To his exciting and eclectic resumé Pine can now add that he spent the turn of the millennium in Alturas.

As Assistant Superinten dent, Pine is the Personnel Director. He deals with fa cilities, vehicles, curricu lum development and Re gional Occupation Pro grams.

As far as living in Al turas Pine says, "I love it; I love the small town nature. people who know people and the friendliness that comes with that. The surroundings, environment and climate are great, there is so much to do out here."

Pine's goal for his time in Alturas is to be come an ac tive community member to the advantage of the com munity.

Modoc Forest has big plans for Hackamore

The are big plans in the works for the Hackamore area of the Modoc National Forest on Devil's Garden, much aimed at increasing wildlife habitat and the public's access to share that habitat.

The Forest has prepared an Environmental Assessment for the Hackamore Ecosystem Watershed Restoration Project and public has 30 days to comment on its contents and plans.

According to forest officials, the plans are to develop ap proximately 1,265 acres of wetland habitat, install 10 guz zlers to provide additional wildlife water sources, and con struct a vehicle pull-off adjacent to Highway 139 for wildlife viewing and heritage resource interpretation at Henski Reservoir.

In addition, there are plans to thin approximately 16,500 acres of overstocked stands of pine over a five-to-seven-year period. This includes treatment within eight northern goshawk nest stands to accelerate stand development into late serial conditions and reduce the likelihood of wildfires.

The forest also intends to "top" approximately 2,000 exist ing snags to prevent blowdown and increase their longevity.

The project includes a plan to obliterate approximately 42 miles of unsurfaced roads and repair and stabilize one mile of the Bark Springs road, prescribe burn approximately 19,000 acres of pine over about a 10-year period, and about 500 acres of decadent brush fields to enhance deer forage.

The forest also plans to protect four bald eagle nests from fire and treat 2,830 acres of potential eagle nesting habitat with vegetative prescriptions designed to grow large diame ter while maintaining existing large trees.

For additional information on the project or for a copy of the Environmental Assessment, contact Curt Aarstad, Modoc National Forest, 800 W. 12th Street, Alturas, Ca., 96101. Interested individuals may also telephone at530-233-5811.

People may also comment on the project on the EA by sending comments to Bernie Weisgerber, District Ranger, P.O. Box 369, Tulelake, Ca. 96134, phone 530-667-2246. Comments must be received by the close of business Feb. 14, 2000.

What projects are on the table at the Modoc National Forest?

There are several projects in the works on the Modoc National Forest and all in are various stages of action.

Two controversial and important issues are the Telephone Flat Geothermal and Four Mile Hill Geothermal Plants Environmental Impact Statements. The final deci sion on both of those Medicine Lake area projects is pending and not expected before spring. The contact person is Randall Sharp at the U.S. Forest Service.

Sharp is also the contact person on the Unified Federal Water Rights Policy at 233-8748.

Public comments are due Feb. 3 on the Draft Directives for Managing Recreation Residents. The contact for comments is Jesse Berner, 233-8734.

Robert Haggard is lead person in Modoc for the Sierra Nevada Framework Environmental Impact Statement. The release of the draft EIS is expected in mid-February. Haggard can be contacted at 233-8740.

Public comments are due in the Special Use Permit Cost Recovery Regulations by Jan. 24, 2000. Contact Jayne Biggerstaff at 233-8740.

Public review of the Forest Service Road Policy is ex pected in mid-January. The contact person for that project is Haggard at 233-8740.

A project that is generating local concern is the Roadless Review EIS. The public scoping on that issue ended Dec. 23. Contact person is Curt Aarstad at 233-8745.

The Proposed Planning Regulations contact person is Haggard and the public comment period on that issue ends Feb. 3. Contact Haggard at 233-8740.

The Draft Strategic Plan 2000 Review is led by Nancy Gardner and public comments will be accepted until the end of January. Gardner's phone is 233-8713.

The Draft EIS on the Survey and Manage project has been released and a 90-day public comment period ends March 3, 2000. Allison Sanger, 233-8836, is the person to call on the is sue.

A draft document on the Warner Mountain Rangeland Porject is expected by mid-March. The lead person on that project is Edith Asrow, 279-6116.

Aarstad is the contact person for the Hackamore Project and a draft document is expected this month on the project. Aarstad can be contacted at 233-8745.

Scoping on the Long-Damon Plantation Release and Site Prep Project should begin this month. Contacts are Bob Carroll at 233-8807; or Anne Mileck at 233-8803.

For more information on any of these projects, please contact the Modoc National Forest or the listed individuals.

Computers still not meeting needs of students and staff

By Nora Russell

Twelve o'clock midnight December 31, 1999 the world sighed in relief as the new millennium began without the computer problems that were predicated all year.

The electricity stayed on, the ATMs dispensed money and computers booted up in 2000 in exactly the same as they had during 1999. Technology was not wiped out in one swipe of the hands of a clock and it seems to be here to stay. Not only in the way that it is familiar to us now, but growing by leaps and bounds. Often so fast that it appears to be rushing ahead of us; we learn one application just as a new one becomes available. This creates an atmosphere where educators are struggling to learn technology and teach it at the same time.

The schools in Alturas are facing these challenges along with the rest of the world of educators. Each school is han dling it in different ways, working to make their computer labs and classrooms as up-to-date and technology friendly as possible.

Alturas Elementary School

Alturas Elementary has a computer lab with 30 IBM com patible computers. Each classroom has at least one computer, in most cases there are two. One computer is for teacher use and one is for the students to use to take Accelerated Reading tests. "The Accelerated Reading programs aren't working well in the classrooms right now," said principal Randy Wise. "We bought upgrades of the Accelerated Reading disks, but they are not working with the old program and are saving files in the wrong directories. Also some of the com puters are being torn down for repairs."

Kindergartners have computer class in the lab once a week, first and second graders twice a week and fourth and fifth graders four times a week. The programs that are available to them now are Corel Word Perfect Suite 8, Typ ing to Learn and Slam Dunk, which is a more advanced typ ing program than Type to Learn.

During the 1998/99 school year the computer lab had many more programs available for the students, but an upgrade of the computers and network over the summer made those pro grams obsolete and unusable. When Susan Slinkard, Com puter Lab Aide, came back to school from summer vacation she was left with only typing and word-processing to teach the students.

Becoming frustrated with the lack of programs to teach with, Slinkard bought six copies of the Slam Dunk program with her own money and installed them on six of the com puter lab computers. "I needed some programs immediately so that the students would have new work to do, I'm going to lose their interest soon if they don't have more to learn on the computers." said Slinkard. Now when students complete as much as they can with the Type to Learn program, they can achieve a higher level of learning with the Slam Dunk Pro gram.

"I'm not sure why she bought programs with her own money," was Principal, Randy Wise's comment. "We do have funding for software and she can put in for reim bursement if she wants to. I don't think she should have put the programs on the computers herself."

"It's her job," said Bert Trevail, MJUSD Computer Tech nician. "As a computer teacher she should be able to main tain the computers and printer herself, I'm a computer teacher, I've been there."

"The printer in our computer lab hasn't been working for quiet awhile," Slinkard added. "Bert fixed it recently and it worked for a day and is not working again, some of the stu dents have been waiting weeks to print out their work."

When asked what Trevail's job description is he stated, "To take care of and repair computers, work on 3-com com ponents, run network, other jobs as assigned, teach people how to run computers."

Fifty new programs have been ordered that are compatible with the network, some of them had arrived before Christ mas vacation and Slinkard was hoping that they would have been installed on the network when the students came back to school on January 3.

They have not been installed and Slinkard has not been given an idea of when they might be. "Every program is unique and different," stated Trevail. "Each program could take from five minutes to five days to install."

Modoc Middle School

The computer lab in the library of Modoc Middle School has 16 computers in it, which teacher, Tim Prim uses to teach a semester long keyboarding class to the seventh and eighth graders.

Keyboarding is reminiscent of the typing classes that peo ple over 30 would have attended, except without the carbon pa per and White Out. In Keyboarding students learn docu ment processing, how to create, save and print documents, formatting and editing, and how to work with multi-page documents, columns, tables, graphics and text boxes. The program used is Corel Word Perfect Suite 8 which includes Quatro Pro 8, Paradox 8 and Presentations 8.

"When we have the Internet available, we will be able to do much more with research and multi-media presentations with the students." Prim said.

The Middle School was also affected by the upgrading of computers and network over the summer. They lost the abil ity to use the encyclopedia on CD and many other programs, which have not yet been replaced.

The library was unable to use the Accelerated Reading program provided at the beginning of the year. "The screen kept freezing in the middle of tests that students were taking and we couldn't figure out what the problem was. Bert told me to use the network to use the copy of the program that the High School uses, but there were copyright problems with that, so eventually we spent library funds to buy a new copy." said Lynette Sturgeon, Modoc Middle School Librarian.

The Science Lab has 15 computers in it which provides one computer to two students in each science class. "So far this year I have not used computers much in my class, simply be cause the curriculum I'm using hasn't called for it yet." said science teacher, Julie Sturgeon.

The computers will be used in conjunction with many ex periments and also dissection. Gone are the days when slic ing into frogs and worms left students queasy for the rest of the day. This is a new millenium when a teacher can per form a virtual dissection on her computer screen and the students can watch from their screens.

"When we do have the Internet I will be posting the stu dents Science Fair projects on a web page," said Sturgeon "The supplemental curriculum and research possibilities are amazing."

As of November, 1999 Kevin Pent has been leading the Gifted and Talented Education program. The program con sists of fourteen students who have been recommended by their teachers and have been evaluated by their Standard ized Intelligence Test scores. The program will provide tools and the environment for students to explore new areas using their strengths and interests.

The G.A.T.E. program has purchased five new comput ers, a printer and scanner. The students will use them, along with the Encyclopedia Britannica, Encarta Delux on CD ROM and the Internet to do research projects. For exam ple they will be asked to create a hypothesis about what the future will be like and find facts from the Internet to support it.

"We will also be creating a web page for the school," stated Pent. "It will have a working cover page, we'll use a panoramic picture of the school and the school emblem. The students will be interviewing the staff and putting their pic tures and information on the page."

Modoc High School

Computer Applications and Typing are taught by Dee Ferguson in a classroom equipped with 28 Pentium-2 Com puters, two laser printers, two color printers, one ink jet printer, two scanners, two digital cameras, an adapter that brings what is on a computer screen onto the T.V. screen for student viewing and a CD Writer. "I feel like a kid in a candy shop," stated Ferguson.

"The yearbook is put together on the computer and the CD Writer is going to be so helpful because in the past we put it all on floppy disks to send to the printer. It took up a lot of disks, with the CD Writer all of the information takes up a small space on the CD." she added. The classroom has In ternet access to one computer at this time which students use in reports where they are required to include Internet sources as part of the report.

"The Network is not where we would like it to be, but it is being refined all the time. Kids are learning how to use it because they have to learn the floppy drive, CD drive, hard drive and network drive." said Ferguson.

High School students who go to the library for research purposes will find five computers available with word-pro cessing programs for writing reports. Also available are Encyclopedia Britannica, Social Issues Recourse Series which includes 500 different periodicals, the entire National Geographic on CD, but no Internet access yet. The library is open and available to students before school, during student break and lunch break.

Students taking classes in the Agriculture Department have access to eight desktop computers and two laptops. They have been connected to the Internet for five or six years ac cording to teacher Mike Kraft. Students have access to the computers for writing reports and juniors and seniors use them projects in products and marketing and creating Pow erPoint multi-media presentations.

"When the network is up and running it is useful in sharing files, especially graphics. Graphic files are so large, they can be saved on the network and not take up room on the computers." stated Kraft.

Funding from the Natural Resource Academy has helped in providing computers to the high school. "With computers, printers and scanner, I would estimate that they've provided 35 pieces of equipment to the school. Most of those would be computers." stated Kraft.

Two common threads run through all three of the schools, the network is unreliable and often not working at all and the access to the Internet is not sufficient for all students who need to use it for research purposes.

Comments like "The network has a headache today," "It crashed again this week," "The network is so unreliable that I don't even bother to log on to it when I turn my computer on" are heard often within the school walls.

"It's going through growing pains," was Trevail's an swer to why the network is unreliable. "I know that you don't understand about computers (referring to reporter), so I won't really go into much, but there are 70 different compo nents to it and with so many components, some of them are bound to go out."

The satellite that will be the down-load and up-load link to the Internet was installed on January 11, 2000. Trevail did not want to give an estimate on when the Internet system would be available to the students, and as of press time calls to Don Demsure, MJUSD Superintendent for comment had not returned.

Minor injuries in roll-over

Minor injuries were re ported in a single vehicle ac cident Jan. 8, 4:40 p.m. on Highway 299 east of Canby.

The California Highway Patrol reports that Donna Drew, 63, Ft. Bidwell, was driving a 1997 Ford Aerostar southbound at about 45 m.p.h. when she apparently fell asleep at the wheel. The van drifted off the south side of the highway and down and em bankment where it over turned, coming to rest on its top. The vehicle sustained moderate damages.

Drew and a passenger Daniel Drew, age 35, sus tained minor injuries. The CHP credits seatbelt use for keeping injuries minor.

Ice on the road was the ap parent culprit of an accident Jan. 11, 2000, 7:15 p.m. on Highway 299 north of Adin. The CHP states that Karen Jean Gurule, 42, Adin was eastbound at an unknown speed and lost traction in her 1991 Toyota. The vehicle spun out of control, hit a fence and overturned. Gurule was seat belted and only sustained minor injuries. She was transported by ambulance to Mayers Memorial Hospital in Fall River Mills.

An apparent hit and run with property damage was re ported in Cedarville Jan. 11, 8 p.m.

The CHP reports that Leland Schmid, 34, was driv ing 1990 Ford Bronco and left the Cedarville Cafe. He al legedly struck a pickup and an adjacent fence. He fled the scene and was later located and arrested at his residence.

 

OBITUARIES

 

Walter Ernest Bailey

Walter Ernest Bailey was a "miracle" child who lived to be 50. Mr. Bailey passed away of natural causes at his home in Alturas, Calif. on January 1, 2000. He had been ill for the past few years.

The eldest child of Mary and Roy "Doug" Bailey, he was born on September 17, 1949, in Alturas, Calif. He lived all of his 50 years in Alturas.

"He was such a joy and so loving," recalls his sister Margaret. "He loved the hol idays and especially looked forward to Halloween and Christmas."

Walter also enjoyed watching wrestling on tele vision and loved listening to music, especially the music of Elvis Presley.

For a time in his life, Walter was a client of the Modoc Work Activity Center in Alturas.

He is survived by his father Roy "Doug" Bailey of Al turas; brother Ken Bailey and family of Pinedale, Wyoming; sister Margaret McCulley and family of Al turas. His mother, Mary Bailey, preceded him in death in 1987.

Mr. Bailey's cousin, Paul Bailey of Alturas, conducted services at graveside on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Alturas Cemetery.

Philo Gardner Winkel

Philo Gardner Winkel, 70, long-time U.S. Forest Service Ranger on the Modoc National Forest, died in Fresno, Calif. on Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999, after a long illness.

Mr. Winkel had many accomplishments during his 33-year tenure with the U.S. Forest Service. He was most proud of "being on the Modoc." The designing and building of the Blue Lake Campground, as it stands to day, is a tribute to Mr. Winkel.

He served with the Modoc National Forest from 1962 through 1969.

Mr. Winkel was born to a prominent Utah family in 1929 in Manti, Utah.

He was a graduate of Utah State University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree with multiple ma jors. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Con flict. He was recently honored as the last member of the Mounted Rangers of the High Sierras. Even after he retired in 1983, his services were utilized by the U.S. Forest Service as a consultant. His duties as a Fire Services Specialist and his experience uniquely qualified him not only as a writer, but as the editor of the environmental impact statement of the High Sierra Mountain Range.

He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Twilia Winkel of Clovis, Calif.; two children, a son Robert Gardner Winkel of Santa Fe, New Mexico; a daughter, the Reverend Karen Winkel of Bountiful, Utah, and their mother Helen Winkel of Clovis.

Graveside services will be conducted at a later time in Richfield, Utah. Arrangements are being handled by the Magleby's Funeral Home in Richfield, Utah.

Remembrances may be sent to the donor's favorite char ity.

Horace E. "Bud" Brown

One of the founding fathers of Modoc Little League, Ho race E. "Bud" Brown, passed away early on the morning of January 3, 2000 at Modoc Medical Center, Alturas, Calif., following a brief illness.

Bud, as he was affection ately known over the 62 years he made Modoc his home, had co-organized youth baseball in Alturas with Don Rachford and Lee Sides, that made the nu cleus for Little League when it was formed in Alturas in 1954.

For over a 44 year period, "Bud" Brown and his smile could be seen behind the meat market counters in Alturas grocery stores.

Born Horace Edward Brown on Dec. 26, 1916, in Big Pine, Calif., his father

died when he was 18 months old and his mother and two sib lings moved in with his grandparents in Bishop. The fam ily relocated to a 12-acre farm near Wood land when Bud was in the fifth grade. He was an outstand ing athlete at Woodland High School in the early 1930s, let tering in foot ball all three years as a guard and end and captain of the team in his senior year. He was also a three-year varsity starter on the baseball team as catcher and earned a letter in basketball the only year he tried out. He was elected as pres ident of the student body in his senior year. His love of sports continued throughout his life.

After graduating from Woodland High in 1935, he went to work as a truck driver, while the Depression was in full swing. His mother remarried and relocated to Cedarville. Bud came to Modoc in 1937 and had never seen a more beau tiful place than Surprise Valley. He decided right then that he would stay and was hired by Walt Hussa, Sr. In the summer of 1938, Hussa asked Bud to work in Alturas in the meat market with Arthadus Rachford at the old Lowell and Williams grocery store. Bud had been playing baseball for the Alturas Tigers since his arrival and he was a member of the Alturas town basketball team.

On January 8, 1940, Bud and Mina Alzada "Jo" Tripp of Surprise Valley, were married in Reno, Nev. A year later they purchased the home in which they have lived for 59 years.

When World War II started, Bud was leasing a meat market from the Gysins (where Walt's Market is today). After the war, nearing age 30 and with two children, he teamed with an old "Tigers" baseball buddy, Arn Hirony mous to purchase the Lowell and Williams store in Alturas. They aptly renamed it the A&B Market, with Bud running the meat department. By 1950, they sold out and Bud went to work for Lindgren and Burrell driving logging trucks. He also purchased a ranch on Shields Creek, but later sold the ranch. In years that followed, Bud was the head butcher at Bowman's Market, Cleo's, Better Buy and leased the meat department at Presty's, all in Alturas, until he retired in May of 1982.

He and wife Jo have always had a deep, mutual respect and love for one another, sharing 60 years of marriage and in rearing their three children. Bud once shared that their children have always been important to them and have brought them their happiest years and fondest memories. After their children were grown, Bud and Jo enjoyed being active in their grandchildren's lives. Bud always enjoyed working with kids and he enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his wife Jo of Alturas; son Jim Brown of Elk Grove, Calif.; daughter Marian Davis of Burney; daughter Kathy Davis of Fremont; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The Rev. Doctor Ben Zandstra conducted a memorial service at the Federated Church in Alturas at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 5. Remembrances may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Lester Frank "Les" Killingbeck

Long-time Modoc resident Lester Frank "Les" Killing beck loved what he did and did what he loved during his lifetime. Mr. Killingbeck passed away in Alturas, Calif. on Monday, January 10, 2000. He had been receiving care at the Skilled Nursing Facility since Thanksgiving, due to his recent declining health. He was 89 at the time of his passing.

Born in Coburg, Oregon on October 14, 1910, he was one of 10 children born to Luther F. and Mary E. Killingbeck. He was raised in Oregon and Tucson, Ari zona as a young child. His family later moved to Tur lock, Calif., where Lester spent his teen years. He then met Lucy Claire Clayton and the two were married in Modesto, Calif. on February 8, 1933.

They began their married life in Turlock and their three children were born there. The family moved to Adin in 1940 and Lester worked for the U.S. Forest Service for several years. During his lifetime he had worked with the State De partment of Forestry, in ranching and in the logging busi ness in a sawmill. He began work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1945 in Madeline, Calif. and moved his family to Likely in August of 1945. Lucy and Lester reared their children in Modoc County. When Lester retired from the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1971, he and Lucy moved to Alturas, where they have made their home ever since. He called Modoc home for 60 years.

Lester loved to hunt and fish and had many fishing friends whom he loved to be with. He and Lucy had shared almost 67 years of marriage. For many years, Lester was an active member of the Rabbit Growers Association and the Modoc Senior Citizens. Tall in stature, Mr. Killingbeck was also a personable and kind man who appreciated the surroundings of Modoc County and loved to be out enjoying all that nature had to offer in Modoc.

He is survived by his wife Lucy of Alturas; daughters Carol Minto, Gerlach, Nev.; Nora Intardonato, Merced, Calif.; son Merle Killingbeck of Alturas; sister Aretha Bishop of Anderson, Calif.; seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and nine-great-great granchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, three sisters and five brothers.

No services will be held according to Mr. Killingbeck's wishes.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

 

 

Record news for January 20, 2000

 

• MJU nearing agreement on Drennan departure
• BLM will change plans on five grazing allotments
• Schwab manager in critical condition after wreck
• Modoc Jobless rate for December at 6.6%
• Voter registration deadline in February 7
• Sierra Business Council to brief Modoc

MJU nearing agreement on Drennan de parture

Following a closed session Tuesday night, the Modoc Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees, actually attorney John Kenny representing the board, announced they were nearing a separation agreement with former Superintendent Craig Drennan.

Drennan was convicted of felony eaves dropping charges by a Modoc jury in September, 1999 and has been on paid admin istrative leave since a hidden video camera was discovered in former Modoc High School Principal Duke Pasquini's office last May.

In the separation agreement, the board is stating that what Drennan did by ordering the hidden camera in Pasquini's office and viewing those tapes, was within the scope of his employment, "without malice" and "in good faith." The board's position is that there is no evidence to prove those things are not true.

The agreement has been forwarded to Drennan, who will consult with his legal counsel and tweak any language that he may disagree with and should come back to the board for ratification Jan. 24.

In addition to the above language, the school district is agreeing to pay Drennan $150,000, continue his benefits for 18 months and pay his criminal defense fees, not to ex ceed $25,000.

In exchange for the agreement, the district will receive Drennan's resignation as super intendent and as a credentialed teacher in the district foregoing his tenure.

Any inquiries for Drennan's future em ployment will be directed to the current super intendent of the district, who will provide the agreement as the answer to any questions.

Under Drennan's current contract with the district, there is a clause that it cannot be terminated without 18 months compensation. In his contract, there is no explicit termina tion clause for wrongdoing. The district's le gal counsel said the district had to adhere to conditions in Drennan's contract.

According to Superintendent Don Demsher, the district has filed a cross-com plaint with the legal firm of Stroup and de Goede, who allegedly gave Drennan advice on planting the video camera. Drennan has maintained that firm advised him the action was legal. They were not called as a defense witness in Drennan's trial.

In addition, said Demsher, Pasquini has filed a complaint against the district.

Modoc Superior Court Judge Larry Dier sentenced Drennan to three years formal probation, a $7,000 fine and 10 days in the county jail. That sentence will be stayed un til an appeal is final.

Drennan's attorney has filed an appeal of the eavesdropping conviction. That appeal is pending.

Drennan was originally charged with felony eavesdropping after a hidden video camera was discovered by Alturas Police in Pasquini's office.

The hidden camera was discovered and removed by the Alturas Police Department May 4 after its existence was re ported to them. Pasquini was not told the camera was in his office. It was in the ceiling and the lens was covered by a false smoke detector. The camera had been in operation for about six months.

School officials reported to police that the camera operated 24 hours per day, five days per week and was turned off in March.

According to Demsher, the state creden tialing board will probably address Drennan's administrative and teaching credentials if the appeal is denied.

BLM to change grazing plan on five allotments

There are some changes in the works this spring for five grazing allotments administered by the Bureau of Land Management's Surprise Valley Resource Area.

In many cases, the changes will mean less or no cattle or livestock grazing on portions of the allotments. Area Manager Susan Stokke, understands the changes will have an impact on the nine permittees who run livestock on those allotments.

"We are hoping to work with the ranchers to develop long term strategies," Stokke said. "But the public wants us to move forward on these issues. We are hoping to continue working with people and come up with solutions that will work for all sides."

Stokke pointed out that five of the livestock allotments un der the SV Resource area administration are not meeting at least one standard for rangeland health because of current livestock grazing.

She said current BLM regulations require that grazing management changes be made to enable the land to improve and those changes must be made before the start of the 2000 grazing season.

Stokke is quick to point out that the problems vary in each of the allotments and the problems are found in parts of al lotment, not all across the landscape. Many of the problem areas, she said, are in riparian (stream and streambank) and meadows.

She also understands the affected ranchers' frustration and impacts, but said the change has been coming and should not be a surprise to anyone.

"We want to allow grazing to continue in these areas at a level the land can sustain without damage," she said. "Changes proposed for next grazing season are short term in nature. We are addressing the problems on the ground to start the areas on a trend to recovery. We are working with the ranchers and others interested in the health of the land to put these changes in place, or find alternative solutions."

Stokke said BLM will likely begin to prepare environ mental assessments on the affected allotments, aimed at addressing the issues and developing long term manage ment strategies to improve range health.

Stokke said the management goals will be designed to provide for better habitat for wildlife and fish, produce more forage for livestock and provide quality recreation experi ences for a variety of visitors.

Some of the changes in management may include rest and rotation of certain areas, short term grazing or in some cases no grazing for this season.

The following summarizes concerns and proposed actions on the allotments, which are all in Nevada, east of Surprise Valley.

Home Camp: ending provisions for "stragglers" to graze in Hays Canyon (cattle left behind when livestock is taken off the public allotment); limiting cattle use to moderate in stream areas; hand cutting encroaching juniper on south slopes of Hays Canyon.

Duck Lake: nearly all perennial streams are function ing-at-risk with less than desirable riparian vegetation; active erosion, and poor habitat conditions for riparian-de pendent species; two actions are proposed, to end provisions for straggler grazing and to limit the maximum allowable livestock use to moderate in riparian areas.

Board Corral: because of heavy use by livestock of bitter brush, riparian vegetation, aspen as well as active cutting in the Cottonwood/ Bald Mountain areas, moderate grazing is proposed as well as more herding to improve cattle distri bution.

Bull Creek: herding has not been effective in keeping cattle out of the Willow Creek drainage. A riparian pasture is being considered for the area with no grazing this season. An option is to allow moderate use in Bull Creek and Willow Creek areas as the maximum allowable, with cattle removed when 40 percent of available forage has been eaten.

Wall Canyon East: the preferred action is no grazing for the 2000 season because of a lack of stream stability and de sirable riparian vegetation in Wall Canyon and Lower Cottonwood Creeks as well as the condition of scattered springs and ephemeral (short-term) drainages. Vegetation is less than desirable at the valley floor.

Schwab manager listed in critical condition after wreck that killed 2

The manager of the Les Schwab Tire Center in Alturas, Bill Allbee, remains in critical condition this week following a three-car accident Jan. 12 on U.S. 395 near Lakeview.

Two Lakeview residents, Wayne Ellsworth Grisel, age 75, and his grandson, Paul Wayne Grisel, 14, were killed in the ac cident.

According to Oregon State Police reports, Duane Umbarger, 52, of Lakeview was driv ing a pickup hauling a flatbed trailer north bound on US 395 about 6 p.m. and was at tempting to make a left turn into a private driveway.

A second pickup, driven by Grisel, was southbound and struck the flatbed. The Grisel vehicle became airborne and landed upside down on the highway. The driver's side of the vehicle took most of the impact. The Grisel vehicle rolled to its roof and was struck head on by a pickup driven by Allbee, age 42.

Umbarger and a passenger in his pickup were not injured.

It took the "Jaws of Life" to extract Allbee from his mangled pickup and he was taken to Lake District Hospital and then flown to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend where he is still listed in critical condition, but has shown improvement over the past few days.

According to Les Schwab Assistant Manager Mark Brown, who visited Allbee in the Bend Hospital, he will be in intensive care for two to four more weeks.

He is listed as having a broken nose and jaw and serious head injuries. He has re ceived a tracheotomy to assist his breathing and has bruised lungs. As of Wednesday, he had shown movement in his limbs and while not fully alert, was showing fairly remark able improvement.

"We are very hopeful," said Brown. "Bill seems to be doing better and healing quicker that most people who have these types of in juries, according to his doctors."

A trust fund has been set up for the Allbee family to cover miscellaneous expenses while he is hospitalized. People may donate to the Bill Allbee Trust Fund at Plumas Bank in Alturas.

A New Pine Creek Oregon man was ar rested alleging driving under the influence following a single vehicle accident Jan. 13, 9:10 p.m. on Highway 395 north of Lyneta Road.

The California Highway Patrol reports that Charles L. Harter, 50, was northbound and allowed the vehicle to drift onto the south bound lane and off the east shoulder. The ve hicle traveled down an embankment strik ing rocks and a barbed wire fence. The wreck caused minor damage to the front end of the 1988 International U-Haul truck.

There were no injuries in a single vehicle accident this week on CR 54 west of Cal Pines Boulevard.

The CHP reports that Brixhilda Daberdaku, 29, of Alturas was driving a 1999 Dodge Durango westbound on an ice-covered CR54 at about 30-35 m.p.h. when she lost control of he vehicle, left the road and struck a fence.

Occupants in the vehicle were properly restrained, which prevented injury.

Modoc jobless rate for Dec. at 6.6%

The December 1999 unemployment rate for Modoc County came in at 6.6 percent, up from November's 6.1 percent. The state's unemployment figure was 4.6 percent and nationally it was 3.7 percent.

Civilian unemployment has been inching up since October, from 200 people, to 240 in November and 60 in December. That's down significantly for December 1998 when the county's jobless rate was 10.8 percent and 420 people were without employment.

Deadline for voter registration Feb. 7

Don't forget the deadline for voter registration for the March 7 election is Feb. 7.

Modoc County Clerk Maxine Madison asks voters to make sure they are registered under the correct name and current address. New reg isters are also encouraged. Madison pointed out that young people who will be age 18 by or on March 7 should reg ister to vote by Feb. 7.

The Republicans hold the majority of registered voters in the county at 2,421 and there are 2,102 regis tered Democrats. According to Madison the fastest growing area of reg istra tion is in Non Partisan where there are now 569 registered voters. The breakdown of other parties in Modoc is as fol lows: American Independent, 151; Libertarian, 26; Green, 14, Reform, 14, Natural Law, four, and miscellaneous, 18.

The Sierra Business Council briefs Modoc

The Sierra Business Council will make its first presenta tion ever to Modoc in an open meeting at the County Supervisor's Chambers January 27, 3 p.m.

Sierra Business Council is an association of businesses working together to secure the "economic and environmen tal health of the Sierra Nevada for this and future genera tions."

Sean Curtis, of the Modoc Land Use Committee, said since the U.S. Forest Service is including Modoc in the Sierra Nevada Famework proposal, the group was invited to share its wisdom and insight. He stresses the meeting is open to anyone interested.

The Council was established in 1994 and is led by a Board of Directors of business leaders representing a spectrum of large and small enterprises from throughout the region. The board oversees the council's work which includes research, policy analysis, public education and leadership develop ment.

"Several of our local folks have heard their presentations and were very impressed," said Curtis. "We don't know what their approach will be in Modoc, but we're certainly anxious to listen."

According to the council's literature, it seeks to provide leadership in a time of transition in the Sierra Nevada. It is working to "define an economic vision of our region that is attractive, achievable, profitable and ecologically sustain able."

"We explicitly reject the notion that our communities must choose between economic and environmental health. On the contrary, we believe that environmental quality is the cornerstone of economic well being," the council said.

The council's approach is decidedly pro-active and stresses the need for private initiative. The vision is long term and aimed region-wide.

The council defines economic and environmental health broadly. "A healthy economy is stable and resilient, rooted in local businesses that support our communities and recog nizes the need to support and invest in the public's education and physical well-being," the council states. "Finally, a healthy economy honors and preserves historical and cul tural resources, enriching its citizens with cultural ride and an awareness of the forebears."

Additionally, it states: "A healthy environment protects its unique natural features for the enjoyment of present and future generations . . . ensures the viability and vitality of indigenous species and recognizes their essential impor tance to the web of life. A healthy environment celebrates the glory and wonder of our streams, forests, meadows and mountains and takes care not to encroach upon areas that are still wild and unspoiled . . . provides peace and solace for the human spirit and refuge from the stresses of modern life."

Membership in the council is open to businesses operating in the Sierra who support the mission of the council and its val ues.

 

Record news for January 27, 2000

 

• Drennan accepts offer from district
• March primary has plenty of questions
• Natural gas finally coming to Alturas?

OBITUARIES:

 

• Walter E. Liston
• Eileen L. Pitsor Cody

Drennan accepts district's offer

Former Modoc Joint Unified School District Superintendent Craig Drennan has agreed to a buyout of his contract, which was ratified by the Board of Trustees Monday.

 

Drennan, who was convicted of felony eavesdropping last September will receive $150,000, plus a continuance of his benefit package for 18 months. The district also agreed to pay his criminal defense fees, not to ex ceed $25,000.

 

Drennan has been on paid administrative leave since last May when Alturas Police discovered a hidden video camera in Modoc High School Principal Dewey "Duke" Pasquini's office. Pasquini had no idea the camera was there or that Drennan had ordered its placement.

 

In exchange for the agreement, the district will received Drennan's resignation as super intendent and as a creden tialed teacher in the district.

In addition to ratifying the buyout of Drennan's contract, the board also authorized the start of a search for a perma nent replacement.

 

Interim Superintendent Don Demsher, who has been steering the district in Drennan's absence, said the search should take a few months. He is hoping the board can wrap everything up and have a new superintendent on board by July.

 

According to Demsher, the board will be seeking advice and input from the community during the search process.

 

March 7 primary will have plenty of decisions

The March 7 primary elections will have plenty of deci sions and plenty of questions to be answered by local voters.

 

Locally, there are races for County Supervisor in District Four between incumbent Ron McIntyre and challenger Willy Hagge. In District Two, incumbent Joe Colt is facing a challenge from Mike Dunn. District Three Supervisor Pat Cantrall is unopposed.

 

City voters will also decide three City Council seats. Incumbents Kerry Merwin, Jack Ochs and George Andreasen are seeking re-election. They are facing a chal lenge from Colin Jameson. Each council term is for a four-year period.

 

The City Clerk, Cary Baker, has also taken out pa pers for re-election. She is going unchallenged for another four-year term.

 

A recall election in the California Pines Community Services District against Directors Marvin Kitchen, Robert LaGabed and John Schneider will be on the ballot.

 

The federal portion of the ballot will contain the primary for President and federal offices. The state ballot will in clude state officers and Propositions 1A, and 12 through 31.

 

According to Modoc County Clerk Maxine Madison, while the presidential primary is open to all parties, each party voter will receive a ballot by party. The voter may still vote for whomever he wants. The political parties in the state wanted the party ballots to track how members of each party voted, especially those who vote outside of party lines. While the parties will not be able to tell how an individual votes, they will be able to chart where their party voters strayed.

 

The propositions on the March ballot include Indian gam ing, library construction, safe drinking water, crime lab construction, Veterans bonds, allowing lotteries and chari table raffles, death sentence for murder involving kidnap ping, arson or lying in wait, enhancing sentences for sec ond degree murder of California State University and Bay Area Regional Transit officers, requiring 50 percent of in creases in lottery revenues to go to school textbooks and instruc tional materials, increases punishment for juvenile gang-related felonies, requiring only marriages between a man and woman be recognized in the state, allowing a "none-of-the-above" selection on a ballot, campaign spend ing limits, require simple majority for local school bond elections, changing term limits for Congressional candi dates, repealing the Prop. 10 tax on cigarettes, approving or rejecting a state Indian gaming compact with 11 tribes, ap proving or rejecting third party lawsuits against insurance companies.

Proposition 24 was taken off the ballot by order of the state Supreme Court, citing it as unconstitutional.

 

The final day to reg ister to vote in the March 7 election is February 7. It's important, said Madison, that voters reside in proper district. If voters have changed anything, includ ing name or residence since the last election, they need to contact the Clerk for a change. As of this week, the county had 5,227 registered voters, down from the last election.

 

Natural gas finally coming to Alturas?

Natural gas service may be coming to Alturas as early as this summer, according to Rock Creek Energy's Ken Teague.

Teague told the Alturas City Council Tuesday night that his company is anticipat ing building the gas line from the Tuscarora main line two miles south of Alturas into Carlos Street and east. Initially, the company plans service to a few large customers.

 

In the beginning stages, the City of Alturas may act as the lead agency for the natural gas service while Rock Creek maneuvers its way through the California Public Utilities Commission.

 

Teague told the council Tuesday night the CPUC hadn't dealt with a new natural gas utility company issue in 70 years. Just how long the approval process will take is un known.

 

Teague said Rock Creek has a goal of bringing natural gas service into Alturas, eventually available to all consumers. He is projecting a price of about 80 percent of propane or heating oil for the same amount of heat output. Heating oil and wood are the primary heating sources in Alturas, with oil's share increasing at a steady rate. New propane stoves are also very popular.

 

Rock Creek has put the construction of the Alturas line in to its budget for this year and fully expects to get it built. The two to two-and-a-quarter mile pipeline from the Tuscarora line will have four "bores" to get it across the forks of the Pit River and under the railroad line.

The council also went ahead on a sewer plant improvement project by requesting quotes from engineers concerning a im provements that will bring the plant into compliance with the state.

 

Funding for the improvements, estimated at from between $250,000 to $500,000 will come through either low interest loans or grants. The city will factor in an increase in sewer rates to offset a loan repayment.

 

Initially estimates to improve the sewer plant ranged in the $2 to $2.5 million level, but that scope of work has been lessened fol lowing consultations with engineers and the state.

 

Some councilmembers feel there is no rush to get the job done as long as the city is moving ahead, while others feel that delay ing it unnecessarily could trigger state im posed fines.

 

OBITUARIES:

 

Walter E. Liston

Surprise Valley native Walter E. Liston of Ventura, Calif. passed away Jan. 14, 2000, at the age of 94.

Mr. Liston was born March 3, 1905, in Cedarville, Calif. to Isaac Newton Liston and Julia Ett Lusk. He graduated from Selma Union High School in 1923, and served in the United States Army in the 47th Engineers Construction Bat talion, Asiatic Pacific Campaign. Mr. Liston was employed for many years by McKenzie Trucking Co. and Foster Sign Co. and retired from the Blue Diamond Gypsum Co. in Las Vegas.

He leaves his nieces Audrey Davis of Sonoma, Calif., Loni Liston of Angwin, Calif. and Barbara Stuart of Om aha, Neb.; and nephew John Hartley of Ventura.

Burial will be in the family plot at the Selma Cemetery in Selma, Calif. Arrangements were under the direction of Charles Carroll Funeral Home.

Eileen L. Pitsor Cody

Former Likely resident Eileen L. Pitsor Cody, 56, died of cancer on January 15, 2000 at Physicians' Hospital for Ex tended Care in Reno, Nevada.

A native of South Dakota, she was born November 2, 1943, to Ralph and Doris (Jeffries) Pitsor. She lived in Modoc County for five years, until she relocated to Reno due to health reasons. Mrs. Cody worked as a cook for the Mc Garva and HC Ranches in Likely. She had also worked as a maid and a bartender in the gaming industry. She loved spending time with her friends in Likely and was fond of horses.

Her husband William Lance Cody preceded her in death in 1979 as did her brother Larry Pitsor in April of 1999 and her mother.

She is survived by her father Ralph Pitsor of Merced, Calif.; son James Brown of Corning, Calif.; daughters Jes sica Cates of Reno and Surette King of Alturas. Two of her eight grandchildren, N'Kea Charter and William Charter are both of Alturas. She also leaves her com panion Doug Clark of Likely.

No services will be held. Cremation was at Sierra Crema tory, under the direction of Northern Nevada Memorial Cremation and Burial Society.

 

 

 

February, 2000

 

Record news for Feb. 3, 2000

 

• County wants Forest planning rule withdrawn
• State issues report card for local schools
• Supervisors approve building projects
• Nor-Cal gets tentative OK for PP&L
• Sage Stage contracts with MV Transportation
• Davis Creek has groundhog dinner fun
• Academic Decathlon in full swing

OBITURARIES:

• Barbara Maud Lazaris
• Mildred Parsons Spomer
• Phyllis A. Pollard
• Dorothea Alice Youngblood

County wants Forest planning rule withdrawn

Modoc County is asking the U.S. Forest Service to drop its proposed planning rule, calling it "the absolute worst pro posal we have ever seen."

Sean Curtis, of the Modoc Land Use Committee, who pre pared comments for the Board of Supervisors on the rule, told supervisors Tuesday that the proposal is not "fixable" through the public comment process and should be with drawn in its entirety. Those comments will be forwarded to the Forest Service.

Curtis told the board if the rule is implemented as drawn up, it could void the multiple use concept of management, would ignore successes in resource management, curtail cutting juniper for firewood, remove much of the public's comment and appeal rights and make the overriding con cept of management environmental-ecological sustain ability.

He also called the proposed rule "cleverly crafted" so that if some parts of it were removed or changed, other areas re mained to get the same desired results.

"The rule would cause great harm to local communities and to the environment," Curtis said. "It would turn the Forest Service into a planning agency with no time or money available for on-the-ground work. It furthers the ef fort to place more and more land in the no-management (preservation) designation, which is harmful long term to most forest land. It greatly reduces currently mandated pub lic involvement and places all collaboration at the discre tion of the Forest Service."

Curtis also said the reduction in appeal rights would lead to more litigation, placing forest management more in the hands of the courts and lawyers.

Curtis' says the rule changes the mission of the Forest Service from multiple-use sustained yield to managing for ecological sustainability. The definition of ecological sus tainablity also creates a problem, said Curtis.

"The rule establishes the ecosystem integrity standard as the estimated pre-European settlement conditions," Curtis argues. "This is unacceptable. These conditions are at best a poor guess. In light if the landscape of much of the unpopu lated west, this is an expensive, unachievable goal."

The county is also arguing the rule would destroy the bal ance between planning and on-the-ground accomplish ments, leaning heavily to research and planning with little money left for projects.

Modoc, which is a "designated planning county" cur rently is ultimately concerned that its input will be negated under the new rules. Currently, the Forest Service is re quired to involve the county in its planning processes and decision making. Curtis said the new rule fully ignores the record of success that "has always followed full cooperation between the Service and local government."

Curtis also said the new rule leans more toward having science stop projects rather than allow projects to move for ward.

"Scientists are well known for never having enough in formation," said Curtis. "At some point, common sense re garding funding and existing data must rule. . . In light of the constant reference to peer-reviewed science, it should be mandatory that the Committee of Scientists report that this Rule is based on or be peer reviewed."

The county believes the new rule will simply put the final nail in the coffin of timber production and stop the removal of juniper for firewood because of the concept of ecological sustainability.

"The most successful, cost efficient program the Service runs, the removal of the invasive, environmentally harm ful western juniper as firewood by the general public will cease," the county says. "By defining fuelwood as timber and preventing timber harvest on lands unsuitable for tim ber production (which by its nature is where juniper grows), the rule prevents the ecologically and socially beneficial removal of millions of board feet of an invasive weed (juniper)."

Curtis told the board one of the major concerns is the new rule allows for more discretion by the local Forest Supervisor and has a chilling effect of limiting public com ment or input on issues. He contends that's opposite of what the rule implies it is intended to accomplish.

Comments on the proposed rule had to be in to the Forest Service today.

State issues report card for local schools

Governor Gray Davis has declared this the 'era of ac countability' for Californi a's public school system.

The first step of that ac countability came in the form of the state's first-ever academic ranking of its nearly 7,000 elementary, middle and high schools. The 1999 Academic Perfor mance Index (API) Report was released on January 25, 2000, and is designed to measure each school's aca demic performance and pro vide a target for school progress in the future.

The API is based solely on the results of the Stanford 9 basic skill test, which was given to approximately 4.3 million public school stu dents last spring. The in terim statewide API perfor mance target is 800, with a possible score of between 200 and 1,000. This will serve as the statewide performance target until the State Board adopts state performance standards.

Alturas Elementary School has an API score of 753, placing them in the top 80% of the statewide rank, Modoc Middle School's API score is 610, placing them at 50% of the statewide rank and Modoc High School has an API score of 620 which places them at 60% of the statewide rank.

Surprise Valley Elemen tary School's API score is 657, placing them at 60-70% of the statewide rank. Sur prise Valley High School was not given a rank be cause it has fewer than 100 pupils.

It was not statistically possible to rate small schools, county-adminis tered schools, community day schools, alternative schools, continuation schools and independent study schools at this time. An alternative accountabil ity system is to be developed for these schools by July 1, 2000.

The API scores are then ranked statewide in 10 groups of equal size from 1 to 10. Schools are separated by type; elementary, middle and high schools and ranked within those cate gories. This is called the Similar Schools Ranking, and it gives each school a rank of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest and 1 being the lowest.

Alturas Elementary has a similar schools ranking of 10, Modoc Middle School has a ranking of 1 and Modoc High School has a ranking of 1. Surprise Valley Ele-mentary's simi lar school ranking is 8.

Each school is given a target growth rate of 5% of the difference between the 1999 API and the interim Statewide Performance Tar-get of 800. California schools that make the pre scribed amount of progress will be eligible for financial rewards. Schools that fail to meet improvement targets could have remedies forced on them and, in extreme cases, face takeover by the state.

The Public School Ac countability Act also pro vides incentives and re wards for schools who achieve and maintain high academic standards. Stu dents will also benefit in the form of scholarships offered for high achievement.

"The test scores for Al turas Elementary are really pretty impressive," said Don Demsher, Modoc Joint Uni fied District Superintendent. "Modoc Middle School and the high school did have lower scores. I think that maybe the test-takers (students) haven't taken the test seriously enough, I can't think of another reason for the disparity in the numbers for a high performing school system like ours."

Because there are so many variables that may have been reported incor rectly and could affect the outcome of the scores; educa tors across the state have been reluctant to accept them as a definitive measurement of the academic achievement of their students.

"The test is new and may not be 100% re liable right now, I'm sure it will be in the future as it is fine tuned," stated Demsher.

"I think we received an excellent ranking for the first go-round," said Henry Bietz, Surprise Valley Joint Unified School District Su perintendent. "It reflects what we've done with the reading program here and by having the Saxon Math program in place for the last few years."

"I'm really happy with the job the students have done and the commitment the staff has made to quality ed ucation. We will easily meet the 5% target growth set for spring," he added.

Supervisors approve construction projects

Modoc Supervisors approved a bid Tuesday that will add space and improve the Social Services building on Main Street in Alturas.

The bid of $412,000 was approved from David Hallman Construction of Anderson. The project includes renovation and prepara tion of the second floor of the Belli Building.

According to Social Services' Fiscal Officer Pauline Cravens, the expansion pro ject will include 11 more offices, add an ele vator, conference room and reception area.

The renovation will be designed much the same as the downstairs offices and will alle viate some seriously overcrowded situations. The fiscal offices and Child Protective Services will move upstairs, making more room for eligibility staff downstairs. Work on the project is expected to start this month and should be finished by June.

The board also passed resolutions approv ing three state-funded highway projects in the county. The $4.8 million overlay projects include all of County Road 87 (the Adin-Lookout Road), the northern part of CR 91 (the Lookout-Hackamore Road) and County Road One in Surprise Valley from Cedarville to Lake City.

County Road Commissioner Tom Tracy said the target start date for that paving pro ject is April, but weather will be the determin ing factor. He doesn't expect the projects to take long once they get started and both are state funded.

Supervisors approved resolutions Tuesday that earmark monies from the Tobacco Company Settlement Funds be directed to a reduction of the Modoc Medical Center cash deficit.

County Administrative Officer Mike Maxwell said the funds are under the control of the board and a paydown of the hospital debt was approved by the board, keeping the funds in a health-related arena.

Over the next 20 years the county is ex pected to receive $3.6 million from the Tobacco settlement. The nation's tobacco companies settled in lawsuits with several states, including California, resulting in these funds becoming available.

According to Maxwell, the county will re ceive about $146,000 this year, $129,000 in 2001, $155,000 in 2002, $157,000 in 2003, $131,000 in 2004-2005 and $133,000 from 2008 to 2017. The settlement amounts are, in part, determined by cigarette sales.

Nor-Cal receives tentative okay for PP&L

In a tentative decision re leased Friday, the Honor able William W. Pangman, a Superior court judge of Sierra County, stated that the Nor-Cal Electric Authority has legal power to acquire, own and fi nance electric transmission and distribu tion facilities necessary to provide service in Pacifi Corp's Northern California ser vice area.

Pangman was assigned to decide the matter by mu tual agreement of the Siskiyou County Counsel and Nor-Cal's attorneys.

The Sierra County judge answered 14 questions. In particular, Siskiyou and Modoc counties asked whether the Nor-Cal Joint Powers Authority can legally pur chase, finance and operate PacifiCorp's service territory, which in cludes Del Norte, Siskiyou and portions of Modoc and Shasta counties.

Although he concluded that cities are authorized to operate retail electric sys tems, Pangman ruled that counties lack this authority. The judge then outlined a course of action Nor-Cal might pursue in order to complete the transaction.

"We still have a lot of work to do, but overall we are extremely pleased by the judge's decision," said Nor-Cal Chair man Clyde Eller. "Many of Siskiyou and Modoc County's questions have now been answered and we would like once again to encourage them to join us. Becoming a member of the Authority will help in sure that there will be no loss of tax revenue or franchise fees to the counties and their res idents."

The City of Yreka and the County of Del Norte formed the JPA in November 1998. Alturas, Montague, Dorris, Tulelake, Ft. Jones, Dun smuir and Weed also have voted to be come members. In all, nine of the 15 cities and counties in cluded in the ter ritory have voted to join the JPA.

PacifiCorp signed a letter of intent to sell its Northern California service area to Nor-Cal on April 9, 1999 and a definitive purchase agree ment was signed by the two entities on July 15, 1999. The California Public Utili ties Commission has com pleted two public hearings in the service territory and is now considering approval of the sale. Nor-Cal will be a public utility operated on a non-profit basis and will not be subject to federal taxation. Nor-Cal's improvements to its electric system will qual ify for tax-exempt financ ing. The purchase is ex pected to be completed this spring.

For more information about the Nor-Cal Electric Authority visit their website at www.norcalelectric.com or call General Manager Don ald Dubay at (707) 464-4667.

Sage Stage contracts with MV Transportation

This week marked two special events for Sage Stage; cele brating it's first annivesary and awarding a contract to MV Transporta tion, Inc. of Fairfield, CA to manage and operate ser vices and to maintain vehi cles through June, 2002.

Founded in 1975, MV cur rently operates twelve loca tions in three states. They provide over 2.9 million pas senger trips annually and employ nearly 1,000 people locally. Ben Bergfelt will provice project management from the MV corpo rate of fices while Site Coordinator, Robert Dolan and drivers, Jack Montgomery and Char lie Young maintain the Al turas Sage Stage operation.

Currently, Sage Stage provides three public transit ser vices: Intercity Routes between Alturas-Susanville every Tuesday and Thurs day (two round trips, one morning and one evening), and one round trip between Alturas-Klamath Falls ev ery Wednesday and Friday (morning departure, af ter noon return).

Community Connections between Alturas-Adin on Tues days, Alturas-Cal Pines-Canby on Tuesdays and Fridays, Alturas-Ced-arville on Wednesdays and Fridays, and Al turas-Davis Creek on Thursdays.

Extended City Loops are available on Tuesdays and Fri days, linking multiple stops in Alturas with Cal Pines and Canby communi ties. General fares are $10 intercity, $4-$6 community; and $4 city per one-way trip. Children, students with school ID, elderly (60 years and older) and qualified disabled persons pay half fare, or $5 intercity, $2-$3 commu nity and $2 city.

In Susanville, Sage Stage connects with Mt. Lassen Cab & Shuttle (530) 257-5187 with daily service to/from Reno, Nevada.

In Klamath Falls connec tions are available to the re gional airport, Greyhound and Amtrak stations, Merle West Medi cal Center, local doctor offices and Klamath Mall.

Because of funding limi tations and low demand Sage Stage operates demand-response service. Customers can make advance reserva tions by calling (530) 233-3883. Per sonal assistance and help with trip planning is available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. If it is necessary to call after busi ness hours, leaving a recorded message with name, request and phone number will ensure a prompt return call during business hours.

To better serve the com munity, the MTA plans to change the Sage Stage fixed-route loops into a dial-a-ride service within the next few weeks. Please send written comments and specific re quests for this planned ser vice to the MTA/Sage Stage, 202 West 4th Street, Alturas. Special public meetings will be held in February and March to receive oral com ments; these will be adver tised.

Sage Stage is adminis tered by the Modoc Trans portation Agency (MTA). The MTA Board of Directors includes three representa tives from both the County of Modoc and City of Al turas. Representing the County are Ron McIntyre, Chairman and County Supervisor Dis trict IV; Joe Colt, Vice Chairman and County Su pervisor District II; and Cit izen Bill Madison. Repre senting the City of Alturas are: George Andreasen, Kerry Merwin and citizen, Jim Porter. Larry Picket and Terry Williams serve as alternates for the City and County. The MTA meets monthly on the third Tues day in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Davis Creek has groundhog dinner fun

The Davis Creek Ground Hog Supper al ways brings about a good time for all ages, with good food and plenty of visiting. That opportunity will come on Saturday, Feb. 5.

The annual d commu nity effort and will be hosted by the Davis Creek 4-H Club on Feb. 5 at the Davis Creek Grange Hall.

Serving freshly grilled sausage patties, mashed pota toes, green salad, green beans, and more, the dinner will be served to the public from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door, $6 for adults; $4 for children, ages six to 12 years old; under five years served free.

The hall is set with long ta bles, seating all who come for the event. Bingo games are of fered during the evening as is an auction and cake auction.

The small group of 4-H members receive assistance from family members and their community to make the event possible as a fund-raiser for the maintenance of the com munity hall as well as 4-H. For further in formation please contact Linda Le Neave.

The Davis Creek Grange Hall is located within the Davis Creek town limits. The Groundhog Dinner is a com munity tradi tion, which draws folks from throughout Modoc County to enjoy the event.

Academic Decathlon in full swing

Modoc County Office of Education will present the Super Quiz and awards at the 13th annual Modoc County Academic Decathlon today, Feb. 3 in Shirley Oxley Hall at Modoc High School.

Selected student teams from Tulelake, Modoc and Surprise Valley High Schools are participating.

Students were tested on Wednesday, Feb. 2 in the ar eas of Math, Economics, So cial Science, Language and Literature, Art and Music. The decathlon reward aca demic excellence by moti vating and preparing stu dents to achieve through competitive events. Three levels of competition are based on grade point aver age and are called Honor, Scholastic and Varsity, making it possible for any student to compete. The final event is the Super Quiz, where parents and commu nity members ac tively pro vide team support and en couragement.

Teams from Modoc High School have been work ing with Coach Donna Jean Wilson and include stu dents Jodi Averett, Melisa Burgess, David Coombs, Christina Craw ford, April Dorton, Tammy Drennan, Rafael Erdmann, Ryan Hagge, Jonathan Richert and Joshua Velasco.

Surprise Valley High School Coach Mike Ray has a team of Dan Clark, Ashley Cockrell, Cassie Cockrell, Megan Farschon, Scherane John son, Mitch Small, Cait lyn Wimer, Christina Wor ley and Jodie Jones-Zand stra.

Tulelake High School Coach Martha Hurlburt is working with students Nancy Bell, Brianna Byrne, David Campbell, Luke Du Val, Brad Frey, Jimmy Havlina, Kevin Marcusson, Jessica Perez, Allen Scott, Mark Thomson and James VanAcker.

Today's event schedule is as follows: Feb. 3, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Speech/interview and demonstrations; 4:30-5:15 p.m. break/dinner; 5:30 -6:30 p.m. Super Quiz; 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. award presenta tion and closure in Oxley Hall at Modoc High.

A host of approximately 50 volunteers are helping to make the event possible by par ticipating as speech, es say, and interview judges, essay and test proctors, super quiz readers and graders, timers, test graders and award pre senters.

 

OBITURARIES:

 

Barbara Maud Lazaris

Former California Pines resident Barbara Maud Lazaris passed away on January 8, 2000 in Olympia, Wash ington, where the Lazaris family had relocated. Mrs. Lazaris had been ill for a number of years.

Mrs. Lazaris, wife of former California Pines Project Director Paul Lazaris, had made Modoc her home during the mid 1960s and 1970s while her husband worked on the Cali fornia Pines development project. The family had relocated from Southern California to California Pines. Mrs. Lazaris was a talented artist, mother of four and homemaker.

She was born August 3, 1928 in Tacoma, Washington.

Family members officiated graveside services and in urnment at the Eatonville Cemetery in Eatonville, Wash ington on Friday, Jan. 14.

She is survived by her husband Paul of Olympia, Wash. and their four children Carson, Chris, Julie and Laura.

Condolences may be sent to Paul Lazaris, 407 Olympic Way SW, Olympia, Washington 98502.

 

Mildred Parsons Spomer

 

Mildred Florence Parsons Spomer, former Tulelake res ident and nurse, died on Thursday, January 27, 2000 at the Glendive Medical Center in Glendive, Montana. She was age 89 and had been a resident of Glendive.

Graveside services with interment will be held on Fri day, Feb. 4 at 1:00 p.m. in the Klamath Memorial Cemetery in Klamath Falls, Ore. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements.

Mildred was born on June 1, 1910 in Santa Rosa, Calif., the daughter of Charles and Lola (Mendenhall) Parsons. She was educated in the La Sierra Academy in La Sierra, Calif. She attended Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, Calif., and had also attended Walla Walla College in Walla Walla, Washington.

On June 10, 1940, Mildred married Isaac Spomer in Las Vegas, Nev. They settled in Tulelake, Calif., where they practiced together - Isaac as a family practitioner and Mil dred as a nurse. Mildred retired from nursing following her husband's death in 1965. In 1968, she moved to Grants Pass, Oregon and in 1993, moved to Glendive to be with her daughter.

Mildred loved horses, gardening and she enjoyed nature. She had been a 4-H leader and had a quick wit and a sense of humor. Mildred had been a member of the Seventh-day Ad ventist Church and had a strong faith in Jesus.

Mildred was a preceded in death by her parents, her hus band and a brother Raymond Parsons.

She is survived by her daughter Sandy Eickmann and her husband Tim of Glendive; her son Chuck Spomer of Pendleton, Ore.; six grandchildren and four great-grand children.

 

Phyllis A. Pollard

Former Alturas resident Phyllis A. Pollard, 85, of Yreka, Calif., passed away January 21, 2000 at the Madrone Hospice Home in Yreka, after a short illness.

Mrs. Pollard was born November 23, 1914 in Santa Bar bara, Calif. She worked for Caltrans for 44 years, 31 of those years at the Alturas office, and the last eight years in the Red Bluff office. Mrs. Pollard retired from Caltrans in 1981 and moved in February 1990 to Yreka.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Deborah Pollard of Yreka; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

At Mrs. Pollard's request, no funeral services will be held.

 

 

Dorothea Alice Youngblood

 

Dorothea Alice Young blood, a long-time Ea gleville and Davis Creek resident, passed away in her sleep January 27, 2000, at the Surprise Valley Community Hospital in Cedarville, Calif. She was 81 years of age.

Funeral services were held at graveside on Satur day, Jan. 29 at the Eagleville Cemetery. Bob Reeves con ducted the service.

Dorothea was born to Pete and Edna (Bethel) Blurton on May 19, 1918 at Fall River Mills, Calif. Her early years were spent in Davis Creek, Calif., where she attended grade school. She started high school in McArthur, Calif. and spent half her freshman year at Fall River Mills. On week ends she would come home to Davis Creek with a friend Juanita Gardner and help on the family ranch. She stayed in Fall River Mills with relatives during the week. It was during the Depression and she had to quit school half way through the year in order to help on the home ranch.

She started cooking for different people for hay crews and apple picking crews. In between jobs, she helped on her par ents' ranch. In 1934, she got a job helping cook for a 35-per son hay crew at the Lakeshore Ranch in Davis Creek. That is where she met Leo Youngblood. There were married September 30, 1936 in Reno, Nev. They worked in Hilder brant, Oregon the first winter they were married, then moved back to Davis Creek where they worked on ranches.

The Youngbloods always had big gardens and apple or chards and Dorothea canned all they needed and they sold the rest.

Three of their four children were born while they lived at Davis Creek. They moved to Eagleville in 1955 and one son was born there.

Dorothea was a homemaker and loved to grow all kinds of flowers. She always had a big garden shared with family and neighbors. In 1970 she cooked for the Bare Ranch for six months. She always kept a nice yard and flowers until her health prevented her from taking care of it. She also enjoyed making craft items.

Her husband of 50 years preceded her in death in 1986 and her brother Jess Blurton in 1996. Her parents also preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughter Florence Bordwell of Cedarville; sons Jim of Minden, Nev., Charles of Crane, Ore., Norman of Christmas Valley, Ore.; a brother Charles Blurton of Redding; eight grandchildren, Bill Bordwell, Donna Roberts, Julie Bordwell, Jayne Youngblood, Creig Youngblood, Christie Kendell, Cassie Youngblood, Colleen Youngblood and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to the Surprise Valley Hospital or to the charity of your choice.

 

Record news for Feb. 10, 2000

 

• BLM, ranchers at odds over grazing restrictions
• Modoc disputes Nor-Cal's version of court ruling
• Condition of tennis courts not luv-able
• Modoc High takes top place in decathlon
• Artist brings spirit out of wood

Obituaries:

• Charles Fred Heart
• Phyllis A. Pollard
• David Holloway

BLM, ranchers at odds over grazing resitrictions

Some Surprise Valley ranchers are at odds over Bureau of Land Management proposed grazing restrictions and have formed an organization, North Washoe Unit, to air their concerns.

One of the spokesmen for the new organization, Bill Benner, said local ranchers "are fighting for their very sur vival" and need to have a unified voice.

According to Benner, about 70 people attended a meeting in Cedarville February 4, following an earlier meeting in Nevada which attracted about half that number.

"The purpose of the meeting and organization was to pro duce a united voice to dispute recent BLM decisions that threaten the viability of several Surprise Valley ranches," Benner said. "New criteria for range utilization was dis cussed by ranchers from California, Oregon and Nevada with a general consensus being that the current trend of ever-increasing government restrictions will eventually affect all ranches with public land grazing permits."

According to Benner, one rancher predicted the end of grazing on the Warner Mountains (a separate issue under the U.S. Forest Service) and many felt the new criteria was unrealistic and designed to drive the cattlemen from the range.

Surprise Valley BLM Resource Area Manager Susie Stokke said she understands the concerns, but stresses there is no underlying effort to permanently remove cattle or livestock from the public lands.

She's hoping to address the facts on the issue at Modoc-Washoe Experimental Stewardship Committee meeting in Cedarville February 24, 1 p.m. The North Washoe Unit is also asking people to show up at that meeting and express their concerns. The meeting will be held in the Cedarville Community Hall.

Stokke pointed out that only five of the 24 livestock allot ments assessed un der the SV Resource area administration are not meeting at least one standard for rangeland health because of current livestock grazing. The grazing stan dards under question went into effect in April, 1997, and have been under discussion with permittees since then. In fact, said Stokke, many of the issues now being addressed have been discussed for the past several years.

She said there are 52 allotments in the SV Resource area and the remaining 28 will be assessed in the near future.

"I do not anticipate huge problems in the other allotments as we assess," said Stokke. "One of the things we're really wanting to do is sustain ranching into the future. We need to be smart enough to address the resource issues and make tangible change to show the world that we know how to man age grazing. This place needs to be a showcase to prove that we can manage grazing and sustain ranching while maintaining healthy habitat, especially in the riparian ar eas."

She said current BLM regulations require that grazing management changes be made to enable the land to improve and those changes must be made before the start of the 2000 grazing season.

"What we're talking about is discreet pieces of the land scape, not entire allotments," said Stokke. "The ranchers are not to blame, science has changed what we know about the range and we need to fix what we know about the land scape. We want to find a way to make it work, but it takes people working together. We've had some great successes over the past five years."

She also understands the affected ranchers' frustration and impacts, but said the change has been coming and should not be a surprise to anyone.

"We want to allow grazing to continue in these areas at a level the land can sustain without damage," she said. "Changes proposed for next grazing season are short term in nature. We are addressing the problems on the ground to start the areas on a trend to recovery. We are working with the ranchers and others interested in the health of the land to put these changes in place, or find alternative solutions."

Stokke said BLM will likely begin to prepare environ mental assessments on the affected allotments, aimed at addressing the issues and developing long term manage ment strategies to improve range health.

Stokke said the management goals will be designed to provide for better habitat for wildlife and fish, produce more forage for livestock and provide quality recreation experi ences for a variety of visitors.

Some of the changes in management may include rest and rotation of certain areas, short term grazing or in some cases no grazing for this season.

The following summarizes concerns and proposed ac tions on the allotments, which are all in Nevada, east of Surprise Valley.

Home Camp: ending provisions for "stragglers" to graze in Hays Canyon (cattle left behind when livestock is taken off the public allotment); limiting cattle use to moderate in stream areas; hand cutting encroaching juniper on south slopes of Hays Canyon.

Duck Lake: nearly all perennial streams are function ing-at-risk with less than desirable riparian vegetation; active erosion, and poor habitat conditions for riparian-de pendent species; two actions are proposed, to end provisions for straggler grazing and to limit the maximum allowable livestock use to moderate in riparian areas.

Board Corral: because of heavy use by livestock of bitter brush, riparian vegetation, aspen as well as active cutting in the Cottonwood/Bald Mountain areas, moderate grazing is proposed as well as more herding to improve cattle distri bu tion.

Bull Creek: herding has not been effective in keeping cattle out of the Willow Creek drainage. A riparian pasture is being considered for the area with no grazing this season. An option is to allow moderate use in Bull Creek and Willow Creek areas as the maximum allowable, with cattle removed when 40 percent of available forage has been eaten.

Wall Canyon East: the preferred action is no grazing for the 2000 season because of a lack of stream stability and de sirable riparian vegetation in Wall Canyon and Lower Cottonwood Creeks as well as the condition of scattered springs and ephemeral (short-term) drainages. Vegetation is less than desirable at the valley floor.

In addition to the concerns over the BLM's change in grazing on the five allotments in question, the North Washoe Unit is expressing serious concern over other pro posals coming down from the Federal Government.

A major fear is the proposed National Conservation Area, NCA, to be established north of Gerlach and east of Surprise Valley. John Estill, a Likely rancher and owner of Soldiers Meadow Ranch, which is located in the proposed NCA said that up to 1.6 million acres will be affected.

He said the establishment of an NCA could mean the ces sation for approximately 10,000 cattle. Stokke said the cur rent legislation would leave the NCA in multiple use and al low cattle grazing. In addition, he said Nevada has spon sored a bill to set aside $5 million for geothermal explo ration in the west and eight of the "most promising sites" are in the proposed NCA.

According to Benner and Estill, a Public Lands Access Network (PLAN) enumerated many of the negative impacts of the NCA including the possible cessation of mining, graz ing, motorized vehicle use, hunting, fishing, and many other activities now allowed under multiple use. They also fear private property owners surrounded or adjacent to the new NCA would see a drop in property values and face new regulations in the management of their own property.

Benner states that Donna Potter, environmental coordi nator of Empire Group, of Empire Nevada, says support for the NCA consists of the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society and Friends of Nevada Wilderness, but that opposition is in creasing in numbers and intensity.

The list of those on record of opposing the NCA as of Monday, February 7, is as follows; 11 county government agencies from California, Nevada and Oregon, 28 busi nesses, three mines, 20 ranches, six sportsman's organiza tions, 11 off-highway organizations, 21 individuals, Modoc County CattleWomen, Nevada Cattlemen's Association, Nevada Farm Bureau, Nevada People for the USA, Walker River Chapter of People for the USA, and Range Magazine.

Estill is requesting that a copy of all correspondence to the state and federal office holders concerning the NCA be sent to Public Lands Access Net, High Desert Coalition, P.O. Box 1742, Dayton, Nv., 89403 or e-mailed to www.high-desert.org.

Modoc disputes Nor-Cal version of court decision on purchase

Modoc County is disputing Nor-Cal Electric Authority's version of a court decision issued by Siskiyou County Superior Court Judge William Pangman January 25.

Nor-Cal stated the decision gave it the legal power to ac quire, own and finance electric transmission and distribu tions facilities necessary to provide service in PacifiCorps northern California Service area.

Modoc County District Attorney Tom Buckwalter said he believes the decision states that counties cannot operate the system and as such places the entire plan in jeopardy.

Nor-Cal Electric is a Joint Powers Authority, JPA, formed by the City of Yreka and County of Del Norte in 1998 for the purpose of purchasing and operating PacifiCorps northern California operations. Modoc County and Siskiyou County he questioned Nor-Cal's ability to legally purchase, finance and operate the electric service.

"Modoc County's position is that the court ruled the JPA as presently configured cannot operate the facilities and sell retail electric power," said Buckwalter. He said that has been the county's original stance and that the courts upheld Modoc's concerns.

Nor-Cal stated last week in a news release that while Judge Pangman ruled that counties cannot operate retail electric facilities, he outlined a course of action Nor-Cal might pursue.

Buckwalter points to the decision, which states: "The Court finds that the County of Del Norte lacks the common power with the City of Yreka to sell electrical power at the retail level. Accordingly, Nor-Cal, as a Joint Powers Authority, does not have the authority to operate the system . . . At this point, resolution of the remaining issues is techni cally moot in light of the Court's ruling on the defective sta tus of the Joint Powers."

Nor-Cal General Manager Donald Dubay contends Judge Pangman left a "roadmap" on how to proceed with the situa tion. Dubay said Nor-Cal will probably have to create a sec ond JPA of only cities to actually operate the facilities, under the owning JPA, Nor-Cal's existing structure.

The court's decision, said Dubay, will cause a delay in the action at the California Public Utilities Commission since it's probable an amended application will have to be pre pared.

Neither Modoc nor Siskiyou Counties have joined the JPA. Nine of the 15 cities and counties included in the terri tory have joined the JPA, including Alturas, Montague, Dorris, Tulelake, Ft. Jones, Dunsmuir and Weed.

PacifiCorp singed a letter of intent to sell its northern California service to Nor-Cal April 9, 1999 and a definitive purchase agreement was signed by the two entities July 15, 1999. The California Public Utilities Commission has com pleted two public hearings in the service territory and is now considering approval of the sale.

Nor-Cal is designed to be a public utility operated on a non-profit basis and will not be subject to federal taxation. Nor-Cal's improvements to its electric system will qualify for tax-exempt financing and Nor-Cal expects the purchase to be completed this year. Whether the court decision mud dies the agreement should be borne out in the near future.

Condition of tennis court not luv-able

The weather has been so agreeable lately that it has been possible to participate in sports not usually associated with winter-time, such as tennis.

Conditions at the Alturas tennis courts have not been as welcoming to tennis play ers as the weather has been.

Years without any kind of maintenance at all have left the courts in disrepair and in barely playable condi tion.

"The courts had some sort of top-coat resurfacing done on them ten years ago, and we painted the back boards six or seven years ago, but since then, there hasn't been any mainte nance done on the courts," explained Public Works Di rector, Stacy Chase.

Cracks have formed in the surface of the court and the net has been vandalized. The lights have been broken and often trash has to be cleaned from the court before players can use it.

"The city really doesn't have park and rec. money," said Chase. "What recre ation money we do have goes to keeping the swimming pool open. By the time we support the pool, which gen erally operates at a deficit, there isn't any money left."

Jim Parker is an avid ten nis player and would like to see the courts in better con di tion so that they could be used more by the commu nity. "Tennis is a great form of ex ercise," he said. "You don't have to be a pro to enjoy the game and it does n't take a whole team to play a game, just two people."

Parker approached the city council about improving the condition of the courts and was told that he should circu late a petition and bring it back to them. Any one inter ested in signing the petition or in playing or learning tennis should contact Parker at 233-3632.

"There are many people who would enjoy playing ten nis on the courts," Parker added. "I know it would be used more if it were main tained; we are also thinking of having a tour nament in the spring with a double elimina tion."

Modoc High School takes top place in student Academic Decathlon rewards

The Academic Decathlon team from Modoc High School in Alturas will com pete in the California Aca demic Decathlon State Fi nals on March 17-19, 2000 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel, Loyola Marymount University and Westchester High School.

The nine-member team, comprised of three "A" (Honor), three "B" (Scholastic) and three "C" (Varsity) students, won their county/district level Aca demic Decathlon in Alturas on Feb. 3 against Tulelake High and Surprise Valley High student teams.

Modoc High's team coached by Donna Jean Wil son, scored 29,655 points out of a possible 60,000, and will go against the best schools from 43 teams throughout California. Tule lake's team, coached by Martha Hurlburt had a total score of 28,667; and Surprise Val ley's team, coached by Mike Ray, scored 23,244.

The California State Championship team will compete in the United States Academic Decathlon in San Antonio, Texas in April.

Each team member par ticipates in ten grueling events in the Academic De cathlon, including eco nomics, mathematics, mu sic, art, language and litera ture and social science. In addition, the contestants per form prepared and im promptu speeches, write es says on a give topic and are interviewed by a panel of judges.

The final event, the Super Quiz, an academic relay, is held before a crowd and was won by Modoc High with Tulelake, second and Sur prise Valley in third place. This year's Super Quiz topic is "A Sustainable Earth."

April Dorton, Modoc High, was the highest scor ing student overall with 5,868 which edged out Bri anna Byrne of Tulelake High with 5,488 and Jodie Jones-Zandstra, Surprise Valley High with 4,527.

Donna Jean Wilson, math teacher at Modoc High took over her first year of Decathlon coaching with the year 2000 Academic De cathlon, after Dick Cartner relinquished his coaching duties with the Modoc High teams after 13 years of De cathlons. Cartner was on hand to witness and the spe cial occasion and cheer the students' successes.

Modoc County Office of Education presented awards at the 13th annual Modoc County Academic Decathlon Feb. 3 in Shirley Oxley Hall at Modoc High School.

The Modoc High School team included stu dents: Jodi Averett, Melisa Burgess, David Coombs, Christina Craw ford, April Dorton, Tammy Drennan, Rafael Erdmann, Ryan Hagge and Joshua Velasco.

Surprise Valley High School team: Dan Clark, Cassie Cockrell, Megan Farschon, Scherane John son, Mitch Small, Christina Wor ley and Jodie Jones-Zand stra.

Tulelake High School team: Nancy Bell, Brianna Byrne, David Campbell, Brad Frey, Jimmy Havlina, Kevin Marcusson, Allen Scott, Mark Thomson and James VanAcker.

Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded in each event in each of the di visions.

Artist brings spirit out in wood

There is a majestic eight foot tall American Indian medicine man standing in the foyer of the Oklahoma Health Science Library.

He has a traditional white buffalo head dress and is holding a medicine staff in one hand and raising the other to the sky, offering healing to the residents of Oklahoma City.

The Medicine Man is a statue carved by Lakeview, OR. resident, Billy Gerber. The glass encased statue stands on a base that is a piece of the federal building that was torn apart in the bomb blast. The foyer where he stands is approximately 150 feet from the federal building.

The journey of the medicine man from Lake view to Oklahoma City started with a heartfelt wish to do something meaningful for the people effected by the bombing, from a man who was there when it happened.

Dr. Bonenger, who is a doctor in Lakeview, was in Oklahoma City to give a speech at the university. He felt the tremors from the bomb explosion and was one of the first doctors at the scene.

"It really emotion ally effected him and he came home with a desire to do something special for the people who had lost loved ones in the tragedy," ex plained Gerber.

"The dedication cere mony for the statue was held on the one year anniversary of the bombing. Members of most of the local Indian tribes were present and I had the opportunity to meet the great-great granddaughter of Quanah Parker," Gerber said. "One of my first carv ings was of Quanah and I had studied his face so much while I was working on it that when I saw her, I imme diately had a sense that I knew her."

Quanah Parker was a Comanche war chief whose mother was Cynthia Anne Parker and father was Peta. Cynthia had been captured by the Comanche as a child when her family was moving from Illinois to Texas. She later mar ried Peta and had three chil dren with him.

"Quanah was a warrior and leader of the Quanaclies before surrendering. He later became wealthy work ing with cattle ranchers in Texas and became a Co manche chief," Gerber added. "He was a great chief and an interesting subject to carve."

Gerber has deep family roots in both Fort Bidwell and Lakeview. His great-grandparents owned the Fort Bidwell Hotel in the early 1900's before moving to Lakeview and opening a boarding house there. "I can remember them babysitting me," Gerber smiled. "And getting to run around and play in the boarding house."

After completing college with a degree for teaching art, Ger ber realized that teaching wasn't what he wanted to do.

He worked as a carpenter and did foundry part time. "I didn't have the money to start a foundry," he said. "So I started working with wood, I started with pine first but now I work mostly with juniper."

The carvings that Gerber most often does are of Native Americans; both male and female, owls, eagles, big horned sheep and deer.

He uses a variety of natural el ements in making the stat ues. "I use leather, bones that I find in the wilderness and shed deer antlers," Gerber explained. "The bone facing can be carved just like ivory and I make feathers from them."

Gerber began using the antlers in his art about 10 years ago. After awhile he was left with the end pieces of a lot of antlers. He began carving eagles and deer on them and creating handles for knives. He now receives many orders for the unique knives.

"I also found a way to use the dust from the antlers. I mix it with resin to create a carving compound that I use in sculpting the fine hairs around a Coyote's or Big Horned Sheep's mouth," Gerber said. "No part of the antler goes to waste. It's cool to find new ways to use things in my art, when I get myself in a corner, I create something that will fix it."

Art Galleries buy Ger ber's art wholesale and he also takes special orders from private collectors. One of his Indian Chiefs is in the Library at the University of Oregon, a Big Horned Sheep is in Harvey's Hotel & Casino in Colorado and a mermaid is gracing the poolside of a woman in New York.

Private collectors who have a specific place in mind for one of Gerber's statues send him photos of where the carving will be and he will custom make it for the space. He recently finished a statue of an In dian whose headdress of feathers reached all the way to it's feet for a client with a home on the rim of Lake Tahoe.

"They were very specific about how the head should be tilted and how it should look," Gerber explained. "I went to Lake Tahoe to set the statue up and it was placed on a lazy-susan type pedestal in a room where all you could see from the windows was the lake and moun tains. When it's turned just right, it really looks as if the statue is gazing out on the lake. It was amazing."

While creating a piece Gerber works several layers of linseed oil into the wood which seals it and prevents any cracks in the wood from growing. "You'll always have small cracks in the wood, that's just part of the wood, but the linseed oil will stop them from expanding." he said. A finished piece is coated with a mixture of lin seed oil and Penetrol.

"I tell people to treat them just like furniture, dust them sometimes and polish them sometimes," Gerber added.

For outdoor pieces, like the statue of three goundhogs that he carved for the new Fort Bidwell Community Center, Gerber works an ex terior stain into the wood to help preserve it.

"Juniper wood doesn't rot, but pine will as time goes by," Gerber explained. "That's why I put posts in that statue to lift it off the ground. I'll go back to Ft. Bidwell to maintain it and coat it with linsead oil and Penetrol when it needs it."

A piece of art created by Gerber is made to be enjoyed for a very long time.

 

Obituaries:

Charles Fred Heart

 

Retired California Highway Patrol Officer Charles Fred Heart, who at one time worked in Modoc County, died Wednesday, February 2, 2000 in Baker City, Oregon. He was 66 years of age.

Mr. Heart was born in Cologne, Germany and moved to the United States at age five. He graduated from San Fran cisco State University and later received a master's degree from California State University, Chico. During the Korean Conflict, Mr. Heart served in the U.S. Air Force.

He joined the California Highway Patrol in 1957 and served in Indio, Corte Madera, Susanville, and Alturas. He retired in 1986 from Alturas with the CHP, and moved to Baker County, Ore. permanently.

He is survived by his wife, Jacquie Heart of Baker City, Ore.; son Leigh Heart of Baker City; daughter Torie Heart; son-in-law William Kline; grandson Carson Kline of An chorage and sister Lilli Heart of Larkspur, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents Ilse and Curtis Heart of San Francisco.

Mr. Heart enjoyed hunting, fishing, building and travel ing to visit family and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth Hospital Auxiliary, 3325 Pocahontas Road, Baker City, OR 97814, or a charity of your choice.

 

David Holloway

A memorial service for William David Holloway, age 40, who died at his Alturas home the morning of February 9, 2000 will be held February 12, 2 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Alturas.

Holloway, a nearly life-long resident of Modoc County, is survived by a daughter, Darcy, age 11, of Alturas, brothers Tim Holloway of Alturas and Leroy "Doc" Holloway of Redding, sisters Nona Vance of Alturas and Marlene Blevins of Klamath Falls, aunt and uncle Ruth and Charlie Holloway of Alturas, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Holloway worked in construction the greater part of his life. A complete obituary will be published in next week's newspaper. Donations can be made to the David Holloway Memorial Fund at P.O. Box 153, Alturas, CA 96101 in care of Tim Holloway.

For information on the services please contact Kerr Mortuary in Alturas at 530-233-5797.

 

Phyllis A. Pollard

 

Former Alturas resident Phyllis A. Pollard, 85, of Yreka, Calif., passed away January 21, 2000 at the Madrone Hospice Home in Yreka, after a short illness.

Mrs. Pollard was born November 23, 1914 in Santa Bar bara, Calif. She worked for Caltrans for 44 years, 31 of those years at the Alturas office, and the last eight years in the Red Bluff office. Mrs. Pollard retired from Caltrans in 1981 and moved in February 1990 to Yreka.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Deborah Pollard of Yreka; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

At Mrs. Pollard's request, no funeral services will be held.

 

Record news for Feb. 17, 2000

 

• Bids for geothermal well at AES keep options open
• County says FS strategic plan is premature
• County candidates set to respond
• Arrowhead Golf Course now under new ownership
• Country jam
• 'The Insider' explais opening books on tobacco industry

Bids for geothermal well at AES keep options open

By Nora Russell

The regular meeting of the Modoc Joint Unified School District's School Board ran smoothly, with hardly a disruption in the motions, discussions and votes.

Until item number 5 was addressed. It called for ap proval to proceed with the Request for Proposals for the geothermal injection well.

The geothermal injection well in question will be lo cated north of the middle school and west of the ele mentary school.

Drilling is planned in close proximity to the 1,935 foot geothermal well that was drilled in September and October of 1991.

Hopes for the 1991 well were high when a six-foot-deep resource was hit at 1,825 feet and a 10 foot pool at 1,831 feet.

It was thought that the well would be able to provide enough geothermal heat for the Modoc Middle School, Modoc Joint Unified School District offices and Alturas Elementary School.

If enough resource was discov ered it was thought that it could be used to heat the Al turas swimming pool and the proposed Western Event Center.

Now, in the year 2000, the board is looking back on a well that turned out not to be a vi able heat source for any thing and is considering taking a risk on a drilling another well.

Superintendent Don Dem-sher, and three mem bers of the board advocate giving the process another try. A $250,000 grant from the De partment of Energy will match school funds to help pay for the project.

"The total project may cost $800,000," Demsher said. "But you have to look at how much en ergy that would buy on the open market. As oil and en ergy prices go up, geother mal energy looks more at tractive. We're look ing at about 20 years for amortiza tion."

Two members of the board, Jeff Bushey and Cindy Culp had concerns about whether another drill-ing would produce a vi able well. Also about the length of time that the bid process has already gone on. This is the third time that bids have been sought for the well.

"The first two times the bids came in too high, D.O.E. wouldn't have cov ered it and the school district would have had to pay 2/3 of the cost," Demsher ex plained. "If the bids con tinue to come in too high this time around, the board has every right to reject them. In that case we'll return the D.O.E. grant and transfer the money that the school has set aside for the project back into the school budget."

The Board voted to accept new bids for the geothermal well 3-2.

Advertising for and ac cepting bids will be the next step. On March 25 the bids will be considered and the lowest ones will be reviewed by the board.

"Accepting these bids will either shut the window on this new well, or open it up," added Demsher.

 

County says FS strategic plan is premature

Modoc County issued comments Tuesday stating the U.S. Forest Service's Draft Strategic Plan is premature since its based upon other proposals that have yet to be fully adopted.

"The county believes this planning document should not be basing decisions on proposals that are themselves only in public review status," the county said. "On many occasions the plan references the Proposed Rule as the justification for an anticipated action or the definition of a term. The Proposed Rule is undergoing intensive scrutiny by the pub lic and clearly its final form is unknown. This is equally true of the Committee of Scientific Report on which the Proposed Rules is based."

In essence, the county is arguing that the strategic plan is difficult to comment on since the other issues out for com ment now have not been brought to fruition or through the public comment period. Some of those items include the pro posed Planning Rule and current Roadless Review.

The county is stating the plan needs to address local gov ernment and community input and coordination, which the county contends is downplayed.

"The county is concerned that there appears to be more emphasis being placed on international concerns than on those of citizens directly addicted by National Forest man agement," the county comments. "The heavy reliance on proposals still in the public arena for comment is not an ap propriate foundation for building a strategic plan. The county urges the service to set their objectives based upon their current mandated responsibilities before aiming for loftier goals."

The county is concerned about changes in rangeland def inition and management, basing planning decisions on predominately ecological sustainability, non-collaboration with local government, reducing land in multiple use in cluding recreation and grazing, wildfire prevention mea sures and placing more emphasis on listing endangered species.

Land Use Committee's Sean Curtis, told the board to expect more public land use issues requiring public comment from now until the end of the year and he hopes the committee will be able to address the issues and get comments to the Board of Supervisors in a timely fashion.

The county also agree to send comment on the proposed listing of the Cowhead Tui Chub that stresses support of the conservation agreement signed by the Fish and Wildlife and the users of the area that is designed to protect the fish and prevent its listing.

County candidates set to respond

The four candidates running for two Modoc County Supervisor seats have been sent questions from the Modoc Record and the answers to those questions will be published in the Feb. 24 issue.

The county election is in conjunction with the state's pri mary election on March 7. District four incumbent Ron McIntyre is challenged by rancher Willy Hagge and District two's Joe Colt is challenged again by Mike Dunn.

In addition the county election, four people are running for three seats on the Alturas City Council. They are incum bents Kerry Merwin, Jack Ochs and George Andreasen and challenger Colin Jameson.

A recall election in the California Pines Community Services District against Directors Marvin Kitchen, Robert LaGabed and John Schneider will be on the ballot.

Challenging Kitchen is Charles Green and Wayne Milliron will opt to unseat Kitchen. Two candidates have filed against Schneider, Henry "Hank" Drury and William "Bill" Roland.

There are two questions on the recall ballot. The first asks whether each director should be recalled and the second asks to vote for a replacement. If there is not a majority vot ing in favor of recall, the second question is moot.

The federal portion of the ballot will contain the primary for President and federal offices. The state ballot will in clude state officers and Propositions 1A, and 12 through 31. Prop. 24 was taken off the ballot by the state Supreme Court.

According to Modoc County Clerk Maxine Madison, while the presidential primary is open to all parties, each party voter will receive a ballot by party. The voter may still vote for whomever he wants. The political parties in the state wanted the party ballots to track how members of each party voted, especially those who vote outside of party lines. While the parties will not be able to tell how an individual votes, they will be able to chart where their party voters strayed.

Alturas golf course goes under new ownership

With the city's sale of Arrowhead Golf Course now com plete, it is scheduled to open under private ownership in the next few days.

One of the new owners, Ann Logan, of Lakeview, said the course will be run initially without any major changes and on the same level as the Lakeview course, which the Logans, Ann and Frank also own. The Alturas course will be man aged by co-owners Monica and Jamie Fisher.

Logan would not release the new costs of green fees, sin gle or family memberships to the newspaper. She said the current members of Arrowhead will receive a letter in the next few days detailing the new costs, which will also in clude costs of cart storage and locker rental. Logan said the prices will be the same as the Lakeview course.

Escrow on the sale closed Tuesday. According to City Clerk Cary Baker, the sales price was $330,000. The terms were $80,000 down, $40,000 at open of escrow and $40,000 in June, with the city carrying the contract at 7.5 percent over the next 20 years.

Baker said the contract includes a provision that the fa cility must remain a golf course open to public play.

Baker said the city will be refunding unused portions of current city membership fees, cart storage and locker rental fees to golf course members in the very near future. None of those memberships were transferred to the new ownership.

'The Insider' explains opening books on the tobacco industry

Modoc County students and residents will get the chance to listen to and talk with one of the real gutsy people in the battle to expose the tobacco industry's way of doing business.

This Friday, Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, the man upon whose life the 1999 movie "The Insider" was based will speak to Modoc Middle School students from 1:20 to 2:02 p.m. and with Modoc High School students from 2:25 to 3:05 p.m. He will also speak to a com bined meeting of Modoc Rotary Clubs during a cocktail-dinner session at the Brass Rail which begins at 6 p.m. with the talk sched uled for 7:30 p.m.

Wigand, who was a top research scientist at Brown and Williamson, gained national attention when he went on "60 Minutes" in 1995 as an effort to expose the inner workings of the tobacco industry and the addictive na ture of nicotine.

The movie chronicles Wigand's con frontation with the tobacco giant and the tac tics used to intimidate and discredit Wigand's comments from his "60 minutes" interview. Wigand's life turned into the in credible journey during the period, when CBS hired bodyguards to protect him, and Brown and Williamson went into a suppression of valuable health information. He was a cen tral witness in numerous states' lawsuits against the tobacco industry.

The movie has been nominated for Best Picture in this year's Academy Awards, was named Best Picture by the Los Angeles Film Critics, received five Golden Globe nomina tions. Russell Crowe's portrayal of Wigand earned him a Best Actor nomination. The movie starred Al Pacino.

"Modoc County residents will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to learn what it's like to work for one of the most secretive and destructive industries this country has ever seen," said Modoc Tobacco Education Program Coordinator Karen Kahusi. "It will be an honor to have this health hero in our community."

Wigand will meet with members of the Tobacco Education Coalition during a noon luncheon session at the Modoc County Office of Education and a press conference will be held Friday, 4 p.m. at the Office of Education.

Kahusi points out that Phillip Morris Tobacco Company is currently running ad vertisements pointing to a better tomorrow and safer products. She said Wigand's experience will point to a more accurate por trayal of the tobacco industry.

"It will be a vivid reminder for everyone in attendance that the tobacco industry can't be trusted with the health of Modoc County's residents," said Debbie Mason, chairperson of the local coalition.

Wigand was hired by Brown and Williamson in 1988 as vice-president of re search and development, to develop a safer cigarette. His career was cut short when he took issue with the company's policy to con tinue using a controversial additive.

He is currently the president and founder of Smoke-Free Kids, a non-profit organiza tion dedicated to preventing the effects of childhood use of tobacco products.

 

OBITUARIES:

 

Marjory Elenor Branson

Marjory Elenor Branson, 76, of Idaho Falls, Idaho and a former Eagleville native, died of natural causes February 15, 2000, at Life Care Center in Idaho Falls.

She was born July 25, 1923, in Eagleville, Calif. to Willis Grant Warren and Dorthy Elenor Hotchkiss. She grew up in Eagleville on the family ranch and at tended grammar school in Eagleville and high school in Cedarville. She married Oscar Ervin Branson of Ea gleville on November 16, 1939.

Marjory and her husband were avid square dancers and enjoyed traveling to many dance get-togethers throughout California and the western states. Together, they also en joyed fishing and other outdoor activities.

She enjoyed gardening and took special delight in wild flowers and other wildlife wherever she and her family were. Mrs. Branson was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mrs. Branson had also lived in Chico, Calif. before mov ing to Idaho Falls. She was preceded in death by Oscar, her husband of 53 years; two brothers Harold and Willis; a sis ter Gertrude and her parents.

She is survived by her two sons Grant and wife Cass Branson of Chico; Gary and wife Cindy Branson of Idaho Falls, Idaho; daughter Connie and husband Jim McVey of Oroville; sister Gloria Ward of Cedarville; eight grand children and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday in Idaho Falls with graveside services set for Saturday, Feb. 19 at 1:00 p.m. at Eagleville Cemetery in Eagleville, Calif.

 

Susan Server Canterbury

Modoc native Susan Lee Server Canterbury died Febru ary 10, 2000 in Washoe Medical Center as a result of compli cations to cancer. Services will be held at Freda's Funeral Home in Yerington, Nev. on Friday, Feb. 18 at 1:00 p.m.

Susan was born August 18, 1946 in Alturas, Calif. to Maude and E.R. "Buck" Server. She was six years old when she contracted polio in 1952. She graduated with the class of 1964 from Modoc High School, Alturas.

Susan was an accom plished artist, like to crochet, read and use the Internet chat rooms.

She was preceded in death by her father E.R. "Buck" Server in 1990, her mother Maude Server in 1971 and her brother Johnny Server in 1997.

She is survived by her husband Bill Canterbury of Yer ington, Nev.; sons Greg Canterbury of Sacramento, Leland Canterbury of Washington, and William "Billy" Canter bury of Germany; daughter Jolene Halgraimson of Yering ton; brothers Kenneth Server, Prescott City, Ariz. and Micky Server of Alturas. She also leaves six grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Washoe Med ical Center Oncology Section, 77 Pringle Way, Reno, Nv 89509 or a charity of your choice.

 

John Harvey Crabtree

John Harvey Crabtree, a former Alturas business owner and barber, who had been ill over a period of years, passed away at the Veterans' Hospital in Reno, Nev. on February 12, 2000 at the age of 64.

A barber for 35 years, Mr. Crabtree owned and operated John's Barber Shop on Main Street, Alturas, where he worked solo for most of those years.

Relatives describe Mr. Crabtree as a straight-for ward, "said what he felt," kind of person.

A native of Modoc County, John was one of six boys born to Ruby (Howard) and Leo Crabtree on March 7, 1935, in Likely, Calif. His parents had moved to the Ravendale-Madeline Plains area ranch in 1928. His father died in 1934, before John's birth. The family relocated to Davis Creek in 1940.

John graduated from Modoc High with the class of 1954 and chose to work in the railroad industry in Modoc County and then moved to work in Sacramento for several years, be fore entering the U.S. Army on April 9, 1957.

On January 30, 1964, he retired from the Army and en tered barber school at Molar Barber College in Sacramento. He began his trade first in Sacramento and then moved to Susanville and eventually to Alturas where he remained barbering until his retirement in 1998.

John and Gloria Nolan of Alturas were married in 1972. The marriage was cut short after four years when Gloria passed away in March of 1976.

John was an avid music lover and enjoyed listening to all kinds of music including Cajun music, recalls his brother Loren "Shorty" Crabtree of Alturas. He could also play the accordion. Although reared on a ranch, John chose a different path and according to family members, John was the only family member who chose not to go into the ranch ing business.

Mr. Crabtree was a member of the Alturas Elks Lodge 1756 and Disabled American Veterans.

He was preceded in death by two brothers Howard and Gordon and his parents.

He is survived by his brothers Neil Crabtree of Anderson; Leo Crabtree of Alturas; Loren Crabtree of Alturas; Clarence Crabtree of Willows; nephews Carl Crabtree of Grangeville, Idaho; Laurence Crabtree of Austin, Nev.; Ray Crabtree of Nampa, Idaho; John Crabtree of Fernley, Nev.; Bob Crabtree of Susanville; nieces Arline Huhtala of Cot tonwood and Gail Green of Willows.

The family suggests any memorial donations be directed to the Disabled American Veterans.

Veterans groups of Alturas conducted services at grave side on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Alturas Ceme tery.

 

William David Holloway

William David Holloway was born in Alturas, Calif. on November 18, 1959 and resided in Alturas until 1972, when he moved to Fernley, Nev. to live with family members fol lowing the death of his father Theron Holloway.

David moved back to the Alturas area in 1976, com pleting his high school edu cation in 1978 and began his career in the construction industry. Although he worked the majority of his time locally, his trade car ried him throughout North ern California, Oregon and Nevada, and even led him to Alaska for several years, until his return to Alturas in the mid 1980s.

Upon recovering from a bout of cancer in 1993, David studied for and obtained his California General Contractors License, continuing his occupation in construction until he died. He passed away in his sleep Feb. 9, 2000 at his home in Alturas, Calif. He was 40 years of age.

David enjoyed his times with his family and friends, of which there were many. "He was absolutely nuts when it came to fishing," shared his brother Tim.

He is survived by his daughter Darcy, age 11, of Alturas, his brothers Tim Holloway of Alturas, Leroy "Doc" Hol loway of Redding, Dennis Sanders of San Francisco and Terry Sanders of Redding; sisters Nona Vance of Alturas and Marlene Blevins of Klamath Falls, uncle Charlie and aunt Ruth Holloway of Alturas and uncle Adrian and aunt Irene Holloway of Yreka, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his mother Eljalou Holloway.

The family attended a graveside service, officiated by David Wroe on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Alturas Cemetery. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. at the Al turas Elks Lodge with the Holloway Family officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the David Hol loway Memorial Fund, c/o Tim Holloway, P.O. Box 153, Alturas, CA 96101 or directly to the Alturas Branch of Plumas Bank, 510 North Main Street, Alturas, CA 96101.

 

 

Record news for Feb. 24, 2000

 

• Modoc lose voters for March election
• Alturas supports plan for new pool
• Snow survey has interesting results
• City has support of Props. 12 and 13
• MJUSD ups ante on 'F' grades

Modoc loses voters for March election

Where have all the voters gone? Modoc's voter registra tion has dropped from a high in November, 1996 of 6,004 to 5,309 for the election March 7, a loss of 695.

Modoc County Clerk Maxine Madison said some of the loss, but by all means not all, is attributed to a purge of the voters list. Madison purged the list by taking off voters who had not participated in the past four major elections. Those voters were mailed cards asking if they wanted to continue their registration.

In November, 1998 Modoc had 5,885 voters and on June 1998, there were 5,958. Interestingly, the number of voters in the City of Alturas dropped from 1,889 in 1998 to 1,575 now.

According to Madison, the breakdown of voters by party is as follows: Republican 2,465; Democrat 2,023; non-partisan 580; American Independent 161; Libertarian 29; Green 15; Natural Law 5, Reform 14 and miscellaneous 17.

The race for County Supervisor has District Four incum bent Ron McIntyre challenged by rancher Willy Hagge and District Two's Joe Colt is challenged again by Mike Dunn.

In addition to the county election, four people are running for three seats on the Alturas City Council. They are incum bents Kerry Merwin, Jack Ochs and George Andreasen and challenger Colin Jameson.

A recall election in the California Pines Community Services District against Directors Marvin Kitchen, Robert LaGabed and John Schneider will be on the ballot.

Challenging Kitchen is Charles Green and Wayne Milliron will opt to unseat LaGabed. Two candidates have filed against Schneider, Henry "Hank" Drury and William "Bill" Roland.

There are two questions on the recall ballot. The first asks whether each director should be recalled and the second asks to vote for a replacement. If there is not a majority vot ing in favor of recall, the second question is moot.

The federal portion of the ballot will contain the primary for President and federal offices. The state ballot will in clude state officers and Propositions 1A, and 12 through 31. Prop. 24 was taken off the ballot by the state Supreme Court.

According to Modoc County Clerk Maxine Madison, while the presidential primary is open to all parties, each party voter will receive a ballot by party. The voter may still vote for whomever he wants. The political parties in the state wanted the party ballots to track how members of each party voted, especially those who vote outside of party lines. While the parties will not be able to tell how an individual votes, they will be able to chart where their party voters strayed.

Madison stresses the final day to make application for absentee ballots is Feb. 29 and all ballots, absentee and mail must be in to her office by close of polls March 7, 8 p.m. To insure those ballots get to the clerk's office on time for counting, Madison suggests mailing them early.

All registered voters should have received sample ballots and election information by now. If not, contact Madison at 233-6201.

Alturas supports plan for new pool

The Alturas City Council expressed seri ous interest Tuesday night in helping on a committee to investigate the feasibility of building a recreation, health and fitness center in Alturas.

At the center of the complex would be an indoor heated swimming pool, used for recreation, competitive swimming and ther apy.

Spearheading the effort to get the center built is Modoc Medical Center's Physical Therapist Gavin Kleiman. He feels the cen ter is needed for his patients, as well as the entire county.

Kleiman told the council Tuesday night that he envi sions a health and fitness center that could accommo date a variety of activi ties, from swimming, to therapy, to a gym for workouts, racquet ball court or even a com mu nity gym for basketball.

Kleiman is currently inviting agencies and indi viduals to form a committee and as sess the viability of the project and the proba bility of funding. Grants are viewed as the prime funding source.

An organizational meet ing for the project is scheduled March 9, 7 p.m. at the Modoc County Office of Education on Henderson Street in Alturas.

Kleiman told the council that a pool con struction firm from Redding had given him a ballpark estimate of between $400,000 to $500,000 for con struction. He cautioned that was a loose estimate. He also said the YMCA regional di rector has volunteered to help with the project, although not in terms of funding.

Kleiman suggested that people who would like to see what type of facility the city could have check out the YMCA in Klamath Falls. Whether the existing Alturas Pool will be a part of the com plex or refurbished is one of the questions that will be ad dressed.

The city will send repre sentatives to that organiza tional meeting and Mayor Dick Steyer said Kleiman could expect enthusias tic sup port from the city.

Kleiman is hoping to get all agencies and organiza tions involved in a coopera tive ef fort on the project to see it through to fruition.

In other business Tuesday night the City agreed to sup port the Alturas Community Theater, Inc. (ACT) with $2,500 from the Business en hancement fund and $2,500 from the Community Projects Fund.

ACT is a non-profit corpo ration that owns and operates the Niles Theater on Main Street.

ACT Board member Russ Milton ex plained to the coun cil that ACT was running on a very slim budget and needed the funds for repairs, operation and upgrades to the theater building.

Snow survey shows interest ing results

The January 2000 snow surveys came in with some inter esting results, varying in different areas with some highs and some lows.

Ken Romberger, of the Big Valley Ranger District mea sured the snow at Sweagart Flat at 34.2 inches containing 9.6 inches of water. That's above the overall average of 28.77 inches of snow and 8.53 inches of water.

He said the total precipitation between July 1, 1999 and January 31, 2000, at Big Valley is 7.97 inches. According to Romberger, the av erage for his same period is 8.59 inches, showing the current situation to be 93 percent of average.

Sue Becker, Modoc National Forest Hydrologist in Alturas, reported the total pre cipitation for 1999 in Alturas was 9.76 inches, compared to a major wet year in 1998 of 20.89 inches. The precipitation in January, 2000, was 2.10 inches, in from January, 1999's 1.47 inches.

Cedar Pass had 35.2 inches of snow this January, con taining 8.8 inches of water. Last year, the same area had 35.4 inches of snow with 10.7 inches of water. The 10-year average for the area is 35.6 inches with 11.2 inches of water.

The Blue Lake area has 25.3 inches of snow containing 5.3 inches of water. Last year the same spot had 26.5 inches snow and 8.1 inches of water. The 10-year average is 26.8 inches of snow and 7.5 inches of water.

Mt. Bidwell has 60 inches of snow contain ing 16.4 inches of water. In January, 1999, that area had 48.9 inches of snow and 16.3 inches of water. The 10-year average is 50.2 inches of snow and 16.4 inches of water.

Hays Canyon has a 10-year average of 13 inches of snow containing 3.2 inches of water and this January was higher at 15.4 inches of snow with 2.8 inches of water. Last year, the area had 10.8 inches of snow containing 2.8 inches of water.

The snow survey at 49 Mountain also had a surprise. The 10-year average for that area is 15 inches of snow and 4.1 inches of water. This January it measured 20 inches of snow and 3.6 inches of water.

Barber Creek measured 35.1 inches of snow in January containing 7.3 inches of water. The 10-year average is 28.7 inches of snow and 8.2 inches of water. Last year the area had 28.5 inches of snow and 8.2 inches of water.

Cooperative surveys are done in the Warner Mountain and the Hays Range of Nevada by the U.S. Forest Service's Jake Coffey and Doug Schultz and Natural Resources Conservation Service's Tom Hill.

The measurements show fairly high east of the Warners and less to the west of the mountain range. According to Schultz, the snow depth was 153 percent of all year aver age and water content at 104 percent. Schultz explained that the survey was conducted right after a fresh storm and the snow had not yet compacted.

The snow surveys are taken at the follow ing locations: Blue Lake, 6,800 feet; Cedar Pass, 7,100 feet; Mt. Bidwell, 7,200 feet; 49 Mountain 6,000 feet; Hays Canyon, 6,400 feet and Barber Creek, (south of Eagleville) 6,500 feet.

City asks support of Props. 12 and 13

The City of Alturas is asking for local voter support of Propositions 12 and 13 on the March 7 primary election ballot.

Mayor Dick Steyer said the council voted to support both of those initiatives at a meeting February 2 and sees a positive potential if they pass.

"Approval of Prop. 12, the Park, Water and Coastal Protection Act, will provide the city with a per capita grant of $30,0000 and the county with a grant of $150,000," said Steyer. "In addition, this measure will provide for competitive grants that could be used for such things as the Alturas Railroad Museum, improvements around the wetlands west of the airport as a park and others projects."

Steyer said Prop. 12, the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection and Flood Protection Act, will provide grants and loans for making improvements to wastewater treatment plants, watersheds and flood protection.

"We believe that this might be a source of funding for some future improvements at the city's wastewater treatment plant and possibly some flood control measures within the city."

Improvements to the city sewer plant has been on the drawing board for years and a project is now underway that could use additional funding if it becomes available.

MJUSD ups the ante on 'F' grades

The Modoc Joint Uni fied School District upped the ante on "F" grades during its February 15 meeting.

The highlights of the meeting include the unani mous approval of final adoption of the Appropriate Student Placement, Promo tion/Acceleration/Retention/Supplemental Assistance policy.

"This policy sets the bar for success and not failure," stated Steve Iverson, princi pal of Modoc Middle School.

These changes will effect how many F's a student will be allowed to have and still be promoted to the next grade level.

This school year a student can have three F's during each semester grad ing pe riod, regardless of whether the F's are in core classes or not.

Next year, with the im plementation of the new pol icy, a student will only be al lowed to receive two F's per semester grading period with one of them being in a core subject.

Reading is being added to the list of core subjects which include; math, english, sci ence and social studies.

The board unanimously approved the hiring of the California Education Legal Authority.

In a memoran dum to the Board of Trustees from Don Demsher, Interim Superin tendent of MJUSD, it states that "There is no doubt that with impending issues such as negotiations, per sonnel and normal legal questions which must be an swered, the District's costs could be at least the amount we would be paying to the California Ed ucation Legal Authority."

It was unanimously agreed by the board to employ assistance in selecting a Su perintendent through the consultant of the Small School District's Association (SSDA).

SSDA will agree to recruit qualified candidates for the position, to collect and pro cess applications and com municate with persons ap plying for the position.

They will also assist the board in preparing for can didate interviews (for exam ple, developing questions, scheduling candidates for interviews, etc.) And they will represent the district in negotiating a contract with the selected superintendent.

The district will agree to pay $2,000 upon the execution of the agreement by both par ties. The remaining portion of the fee and expenses will be due and payable by the district to SSDA for an amount not to exceed $5,000.

An emergency authoriza tion was approved by the board so that a $72,000 tempo rary building could be bought and set up within the next four to six weeks for the Community Day School.

A search for a state ap proved building to rent had been done, but none were found. At the present time the Day School has three stu dents en rolled.

 

 

 

OBITUARIES:

Ethel Izerna Dark

Ft. Bidwell resident Ethel Izerna Dark passed away of natural causes at the age of 85 years on Feb. 9, 2000 in Cedarville, Calif. Friends who knew Mrs. Dark called her the "sweetest person you'd ever want to meet and a very tal ented person."

Pastor Craig Klatt of the Seventh-day Adventist Church conducted a graveside service at the Fort Bidwell Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 23.

She was born to Ethel and Ray Kirk in San Jose, Calif. on Monday, Feb. 1, 1915. Af ter she graduated from high school in Campbell, Calif., she was employed in food service with the Stockton Unified School District for three years. On December 18, 1935, Ethel married Leslie Irving Dark in Stockton, where they made their home until 1943, when they moved to Cedarville. Irving became a dairyman and also raised turkeys for a time.

They later returned to Stockton until 1972, when they re tired and moved to Ft. Bidwell.

Mrs. Dark worked most of life as a homemaker and de veloped her artistic talents through the "Famous Artists" correspondence art courses with such painters as Norman Rockwell, at the time. She enjoyed painting landscapes with oils and using charcoals for drawing as well as painting with watercolors. She also wrote poetry and "her yard looked like a park with lots of flowers," recall her family and friends. She enjoyed cooking, baking pies, knitting, cro cheting and sewing and loved reading the Bible and Bible study. She was a member of the Surprise Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church and both of her sons are veterans.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Irving Dark of Ft. Bidwell; son and daughter-in-law Hudson Irving and Arline Dark of Stockton; son Robert L. and daughter-in-law Jerilyn Dark of Cherry Valley, Calif.; daughter Gayle Ar line and son-in-law Grover C. Smith of Ft. Bidwell.

O'Hair & Riggs Funeral Chapel in Klamath Falls was in charge of arrangements. Cremation was by Klamath Cremation Service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests any memorial do nations be directed to the Surprise Valley Community Hospi tal, Cedarville.

Floyd Delbert Gooch

Cedarville native Delbert Gooch passed away January 22, 2000 at his Santa Rosa, Calif. home.

Known as "Deb," he was born July 18, 1917 in Cedarville to Catherine and Frank Gooch. he was the youngest of a family of six. After graduating from high school, his trav els included Los Angeles, where he was accepted as an ap prentice at Walt Disney Studios.

In the meantime, he was a dental technician and a some time singer at small gatherings. The Army interrupted his plans in 1941. His service took him to Ireland, France and England where he met his wife of 56 years, Maureen.

When Deb and Maureen returned to the states in 1945, they settled in San Francisco, where they lived for 11 years before settling in Santa Rosa in 1956. While in San Fran cisco, Deb began a career in construction which continued until 1976. He also did a term as welding instructor at Sonoma State College.

After retiring, he concentrated on his artwork, jewelry making and his favorite pastime, fishing.

He is survived by his wife Maureen; daughters Caroline Archuleta and Suzanne Gooch, and a son Donn Gooch. He was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Clyde and William Gooch, Emma Beckman, Frankie Facer, and Kay Hussa.

He will be fondly remembered as an avid participant in the community flea markets and as a member of the Ma sonic Lodge and the Rock and Gem Society. Although he lived in Santa Rosa, he always enjoyed coming to Surprise Valley to visit, hunt, fish and referred to the valley as "home." At his request, there were no services.

Virgie Elschene Vaughn

Long-time Surprise Valley resident Virgie Elschene Franklin Vaughn passed away at Surprise Valley Commu nity Hospital in Cedarville, Calif. on Tuesday, February 15, 2000. She was 92.

Dr. Ben Zandstra conducted services at the Surprise Val ley Community Church at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 18.

Virgie Elschene Franklin was born in Eagleville, Calif. on December 28, 1907 to Delia Augusta Hanks and John William Franklin. Her early childhood was spent in Lake City. After marrying Clifford Vaughn in 1925, they lived in Surprise Valley, Idaho, Washington and returned to Ce carville, where Mrs. Vaughn lived her remaining years.

In earlier years, Mrs. Vaughn was quite active in Se niors Citizens and the hospital auxiliary and served in the various offices in both organizations.

She loved to do crafts, crocheting, embroidery, cloth paint ing and raise house plants. After her eye sight failed, she was unable to enjoy doing crafts and most of the joy went out of her life, say family members, but she retained her love for her family, kindness to others and her sense of humor. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Clifford; four brothers, four sisters and most of her contem poraries.

She leaves to grieve her, one son Delbert Vaughn, who cared for her many years; five daughters, Arlene Newman and Arthada Schoonover, both of Anderson; Lois Cain of Alturas; Carol Jochim and Jean Stimson of Likely; numer ous nieces and nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchil dren, great-great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

March 2000

 

Record news for March 2, 2000

 

• Clerk expects good turnout for March 7 election
• BLM, ranchers meet on grazing issues
• Jobless rate is up in Modoc
• Black Bear Diner on way to Alturas
• Art show has some new ideas
• Daffodil Days a prediction of hope

 

Clerk predicts good turnout for March 7

 

Modoc County Clerk Maxine Madison expects between 60 and 65 percent of the voters to turnout for the March 7 primary election, down from 1996 when 73 percent turned out.

In fairness, the 1996 primary had a very heated race for Modoc Superior Court Judge and other issues that brought people to the polls, said Madison.

The race for County Supervisor has District Four incum bent Ron McIntyre challenged by rancher Willy Hagge and District Two's Joe Colt is challenged again by Mike Dunn.

In addition to the county election, four people are running for three seats on the Alturas City Council. They are incum bents Kerry Merwin, Jack Ochs and George Andreasen and challenger Colin Jameson.

A recall election is being held in the California Pines Community Services District. Directors Marvin Kitchen, Robert LaGabed and John Schneider will be on the ballot.

Challenging Kitchen is Charles Green. Wayne Milliron will opt to unseat LaGabed. Two candidates have filed against Schneider, Henry "Hank" Drury and William "Bill" Roland.

There are two questions on the recall ballot. The first asks whether each director should be recalled and the second asks to vote for a replacement. If there is not a majority vot ing in favor of recall, the second question is moot.

The federal portion of the ballot will contain the primary for President and federal offices. The state ballot will in clude state officers and Propositions 1A, and 12 through 31. Prop. 24 was taken off the ballot by the state Supreme Court.

According to Modoc County Clerk Maxine Madison, while the presidential primary is open to all parties, each party voter will receive a ballot by party. The voter may still vote for whomever he wants. The political parties in the state wanted the party ballots to track how members of each party voted, especially those who vote outside of party lines. While the parties will not be able to tell how an individual votes, they will be able to chart where their party voters strayed.

Absentee and mail ballots must be in to the clerk's office by close of polls March 7, 8 p.m. To insure those ballots get to the clerk's office on time for counting, Madison suggests mailing them early.

According to Madison, the breakdown of voters by party is as follows: Republican 2,465; Democrat 2,023; non-partisan 580; American Independent 161; Libertarian 29; Green 15; Natural Law 5, Reform 14 and miscellaneous 17.

 

BLM, ranchers discuss grazing issues

 

About 35 ranchers and lo cal residents attended last Thursday's meeting of the Modoc/Washoe Experimen tal Stewardship Steering Committee in Cedarville.

Changes proposed by the Bureau of Land Manage men t's Surprise Field Office for five northwest Nevada public land grazing allot ments with rangeland health issues were key topics of interest.

"We appreciate the high level of concern about the pro posed grazing decisions, and the interest shown by folks who want to work with us to find workable solutions to the identified issues," said Susie Stokke, manager of the BLM's Surprise Field Of fice. "I appreciated the oppor tu nity to fully discuss range land health needs for each al lotment. I believe every one left the meeting with a better understanding of the nature of these resource health is sues, and BLM's commitment to work with everyone in terested to cor rect the problems."

Stokke said grazing management changes will affect five of the 24 grazing allotments assessed since 1998 for resource health con ditions. Problems were found on parts of riparian (streamside) areas, and grazing manage ment chan-ges will primarily re quire movement of live stock when 40 to 60 percent of the avail able plants have been con sumed. Other changes will require more fre quent herd ing of livestock, and elimi nation of "strag gler" per mits which allowed some cattle to remain on some al lotments after the end of the grazing season.

"The problems we are ad dressing are found on small parts of the landscape. Be cause these areas are impor tant for all range users, in cluding wildlife, is it our re sponsi bility to keep them healthy," Stokke said. "Maintaining healthy pub lic ranges is important for sustaining public lands grazing into the future."

The BLM staff from Cedarville has completed a series of meetings with af fected ranchers, members of public lands interest groups, and elected officials, in which the proposed decisions and alternate proposals were dis cussed. Under the BLM's Healthy Rangeland Regula tions, adopted in 1997, all BLM offices are required to as sess rangeland health and make changes if current graz ing management is al lowing resource damage to occur. Decisions for the Sur prise Field Office will be is sued soon.

In northeastern Califor nia, the Surprise Field Of fice will complete the as sessment process during the next three years on the re mainder of the 52 grazing allotments it administers. Stokke said her staff does not expect to find widespread livestock related problems.

The BLM's Eagle Lake and Alturas field offices have also been at work on rangeland health assess ments and will be working on proposed grazing man agement changes where grazing use is impacting range health.

Management changes proposed for Surprise Field Of fice allotments are in tended to be short term - in place for the next grazing season - while the BLM works with ranchers and interests to develop long-term strategies.

The Modoc-Washoe Ex perimental Stewardship steer ing committee will be helping with the long-term plan ning through its Tech nical Review Team (TRT) process. Last week the com mittee agreed to name TRTs (groups of technical experts representing a broad range of interests) to begin develop ing proposals for the Wall Canyon East and Home Camp allotments. Long-term courses of action have also been outlined for the Bull Creek, Duck Lake and Board Corral areas.

Additional information on the rangeland health as sessment process and other aspects of public rangeland management is available from BLM offices in Cedarville, Alturas and Su sanville.

 

Jobless rate up in January

 

The unemployment rate for Modoc County in January, 2000 went up to 11.1 percent, from December, 1999's rate of 7.7 percent, but remains lower than a year ago when January showed a rate of 13.1 percent.

Higher unemployment rates during Modoc's winter months are not unusual because of unpredictable weather patterns. The county's unemployment rate climbed from November, 1999 at 6.2 percent.

The state unemployment rate for January, 2000 was 5.3 percent and the jobless rate nationally was 4.5 percent.

Modoc ranked 41st out of 58 counties in the state for highest unemployment rate in January. Lassen County had a jobless rate of 9.4 percent, ranking it 37th and Siskiyou showed a rate of 13.4 percent, ranking it 49th.

 

Black Bear Diner moving to Alturas

 

By Nora Russell

Jerry's Restaurant man ager, Russell Oliver, re cently returned from Jerry's corporate offices in Sparks, NV, where plans tor trans form Jerry's in Alturas to the Black Bear Diner had been finalized.

The original Black Bear Diner is located in Mt. Shasta. "There's a whole story about the owner being at tacked by a Black Bear and that's why he named the diner he was opening the Black Bear Diner," Oliver said.

Homestyle cooking and an emphasis on community outreach made the diner a huge success. The owners opened two more diners before selling the licens ing rights to Jerry's for use of the Black Bear Diner name.

The original owners maintain creative control so that the unique qualities of the first diner will be pre served through the future ones.

"It's good for both par ties," Oliver offered. "It helps them to expand and it helps us get a fresh, new con cept."

Jerry's will close on April 3 for remodeling and redec orating and will reopen as the Black Bear Diner on April 12.

Steve Andrews from Palo Cedro, CA is the contractor who will be overseeing the renovation.

"He has already done a couple of these change-overs," stated Oliver. "So he knows what it takes to get it done. They're going to be in and out of here in 10 days."

The outside of the restau rant will get a new roof and a fresh coat of paint.

"I'm not sure what they'll be do ing about landscap ing," Oliver said. "But the sign will change and there will be wooden black bears in the front."

On the inside of the restaurant, some walls will be torn out and others put up.

A gift shop will be added to the front of the restaurant where mugs, shirts and hats will be offered; and bear carvings can be special or dered.

The kitchen will be more enclosed than it has been and a baking area will be built. New equipment will be added to accommodate the expanded menu, including freshly baked cobblers and pies.

New carpeting will be put down and the decor will change to reflect the Black Bear Diner atmosphere.

Oliver will be returning to Sparks to receive four weeks of training. He will learn all of the details that go into changing the diner from Jerry's to the Black Bear; from cooking new dishes to running the new cash register.

When the Black Bear Diner opens on April 12, their hours will be 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. "During the hunting season we may de cide to open earlier," added Oliver.

The diner will employ between 30 and 40 people, up from the 18 now employed by Jerry's.

"Black Bear Diner is re ally oriented toward pleas ing the customer," Oliver said. "Making the meal a home made experience with large portions and reason able prices."

Art show has some new ideas

A number of years ago artists Kay Minto of Eagleville and Michael Giampaoli of Su sanville pulled off a very suc cessful first-time fine arts show featuring their work in re mote Eagleville. It was a show that brought in over 300 to view their works of sculpture and painting.

The duo will combine their talents for an other one-of-a-kind show this Friday night, March 3, with the opening of their month-long "Reflections on Vanity" art show at the Art Center, 317 So. Main St., Alturas.

A public reception will open at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Gi ampaoli will give a talk at 6:00 p.m., about his work, the symbology and meaning, vanity and mythology in art his tory and the theme. Everyone is welcome and admission is free.

"Michael shares his good sense of humor and we both share art as a form of communi cation," offered Minto. "Art has been a mir ror for me in my life and I have worked in a serious series "Self Confrontation" for quite a while. I needed some comic relief and we all need humor to keep us balanced, so the works I will show in this new show, are whimsical and serve as counter balance to the serious work. The birds and beasts the public will see, strut, preen and unashamedly proclaim their self-confi dence. Is this van ity? or is it beauty?" queries Minto. "The lava animals have an attitude we can identify with and students and kids re ally enjoy this art form."

One such work, Minto's "Lava Dude," will take center stage in all his glory, dreadlocks, sunglasses and all, standing over five feet, created with molten lava rock and molten TIG-welded aluminum, colored with a rain bow of metal dyes; the dyes are a new twist for Minto.

"This is not sofa art," she describes. "Michael uses a lot of satire and has a unique way of painting."

Minto hails originally from Oklahoma and is currently building her studio in Ea gleville. Giampaoli hails from Cloverdale, Sonoma County, Calif. and earned his Studio Arts and Art History degrees from Univer sity of California, Berkeley. As art instruc tor at Lassen College, Susanville since 1983, he also taught art for a year at the California Cor rectional Center there. Now a resident of Janesville, Gi ampaoli once gave wine tours in the wine country in which he was reared.

"I have always felt that painting is more than a means of decorating walls; it is a method of expressing ideas," he says.

Of the latest series on which he and Minto have collabo rated, he has painted fifteen works, one inspired, he says by the Jimi Hendrix song "Room Full of Mirrors" and another inspired by the "Venus of Willen dorf," among the earliest works of art done by humans.

"Two pieces incorporate actual mirrors. Some are seri ous, provoking thought, and some are humorous, eliciting laughter," he describes.

Minto, known as the creator of the beauti ful and thought provoking "Nike of Mastec tomy" sculpture displayed upon the opening of the San Francisco Main Library "Art.Rage.Us" show and for the "Healing Legacies" exhibi tion in Washington, D.C. and throughout the U.S. and Canada, says she has enjoyed doing the whimsical pieces.

Her latest thoughts are turning toward a whimsical piece for someone special.

A recent meeting with Patch Adams in Reno, has moved Minto to envision creating a sculpture of a whimsical, tall, long-legged bird, complete with what she calls Patch Adams' looks: a broad, bold tie, glasses and a long mustache.

It was at a speaking engagement that Minto attended on short notice that she had opportunity to hear Patch Adams speak. The doctor for whom the movie of the same name was based, operates his hospital in West Vir ginia, which takes no money for services provided.

"He thought it would take him five years to be where he wanted with his hospital, but it has taken him 20 years," said Minto. "I waited to talk with him after he had finished his program and slide show and found him to be such an inspi ration. I think he would re ally get a kick out of a Patch Adams bird. He is so off the wall and has such an amazing sense of humor."

Minto is in the midst of constructing her new art studio in Eagleville.

Daffodil Days a prediction of hope

Beautiful cobalt blue glass vases and bright, cheery yel low daffodils are the Ameri can Cancer Society's way of heralding hope for cancer patients and the hope of Spring's renewal of life.

Modoc residents can give the floral "Gift of Hope" to anyone they please by plac ing an order between now and March 10 with Cancer Society volunteers in the area.

Whether it's any one of the four differently sized vases available this year from the small vase to the large corporate-sized vase, with or without flowers, the cost of the gift delivery bene fits the American Cancer Society and the Modoc Unit of the American Cancer So ciety.

Delivery date is March 27 and Jeanne Cain is grateful to her returning volunteers who will be taking orders and making deliveries this year.

Prices: bouquet (10 flow ers), $10; bouquet with small vase, $15; Vision bouquet, two bouquets with an artistic glass vase, $30; Corporate arrangements range from $55 to $110. The order forms depict color photographs of the vases and flowers ar rangements. Several order forms are available at the Modoc Record.

Orders may be placed with the following Daffodil Days representatives in Modoc:

Alturas: Jeanne Cain, 233-4492, Pioneer Auto Body; Mi chon Kessler at Kaleidoscope Family Hair Salon, 233-4321; Val Flournoy, 233-3111, TEACH, Inc.; Nikki Seev ers, 233-6508, Social Ser vices; Dottie Houghtby, 233-5131, Modoc Medical Center; Hazel Looper, 233-2288 at Steven's Parkview Health care; Terri Tvrdevich, 233-4281 at Alturas Elementary; Diana McCulley, 233-6200 at Modoc County Clerk's office

Surprise Valley: Angie Benner, 279-6146, Cedarville.

Likely: Shirley Flournoy, 233-4748

Davis Creek: Jerry and Bev Palmer, 233-3758, Davis Creek Mercantile

 

OBITUARIES:

James W. Barrington

Former Alturas resident James W. Barrington, 51, of Burney, passed away Feb. 8, 2000 at Mayers Memorial Hos pital in Fall River Mills, Calif., following a short illness.

He was born Feb. 13, 1948 in Lakeview, Ore. and moved to Burney in 1954, from Alturas, Calif.

He was a communication technician for PG&E in Bur ney for 31 yeas.

He was a member of the Burney and Fall River Boosters, a Little League coach, Trustee on the Fall River Joint Uni fied School District Board, Mountain Cruisers Car Club, and 4-H leader and trustee on the Mosquito Abatement District in Burney.

Survivors include his wife M. Casey Barrington of Bur ney; daughters April Thompson of Burney, Faith Hailin of San Diego, Noel Barrington of Hawaii, Katie Ellis of Bur ney; brother Norman of Winston, Or.; sister Glenda Hal yard of southern California; parents Jim and Edna Bar rington of Red Bluff; three grandchildren, Isaiah, Jessica and Zachary.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Jewel Ranch, 527-960 Little Valley Road, McArthur, CA 96056. Ar rangements were handled by McDonald's Burney Chapel.

 

Kenneth Wayne "Ken" Goslin

Former Alturas Creamery owner Kenneth Wayne Goslin of Alturas, journeyed home to be with Jesus after a long battle with cancer on Friday, February 25, 2000 in Lakeview, Ore.

A celebration of life was held at the Christian Life Assem bly of God Church in Alturas at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, with Pastor Jerry D. Chilson officiating. Concluding grave side services were held at the Alturas Cemetery with mili tary honors. Desert Rose Funeral Chapel of Lakeview was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Goslin was born to Theodore and Lollette (Smith) Goslin at High Rolls, New Mexico on July 5, 1929. He grew up in New Mexico, where he graduated from Alamagordo High School. Shortly after graduating, he enlisted in the Navy and served four years. During his military term, he served aboard the U.S.S. Valley Forge and honored his country in the Korean Conflict.

He fell in love with Rose Marie Fisher and wed shortly after on June 12, 1954. They celebrated each of the 46 years they were blessed to spend together.

Mr. Goslin worked at Foremost Dairies for 19 years be fore purchasing the Alturas Creamery. He operated the Creamery for 24 years. After his many years of hard work, he and Rose retired.

Mr. and Mrs. Goslin were blessed with four loyal sons, that were the joy of his life.

Ken loved to garden with his wife, and enjoyed watching their garden flourish throughout the summer. He found pleasure in attending church on Sundays and listening to Pastor Jerry Chilson's sermons. Above all, he loved his family. His passion was spending time with them and watching the kids and grandkids grow. He pleasured in watching them experience life, and learning to live it to the fullest.

Loved ones left behind include his wife, Rose and family, Mike and Tuesday, Dan and Sue, Gary and Scot; grand children Justin, Nick, Malanie, Christopher, Lacey, Ky and Cedar Goslin. He is also survived by brother and sister-in-law Roy and Tressie Goslin; sister-in-law Jenny Weed and special friends Michelle, Brad, Brandon, Lacey, Jason, Christy and Alex.

 

Robert Nelson

Robert Nelson, former Alturas Postmaster, City Coun cilman and Alturas Mayor passed away February 24, 2000 at the Modoc Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility in Al turas, Calif., where he had been a resident for a number of years.

He was born September 18, 1921 in Haines, Ore. and graduated from Modoc High School and Western School of Business in Sacramento. He served in the U.S. Army dur ing World War II and was discharged in December 1945. He had worked as a bookkeeper at Superior Lumber, South ern Pacific Railroad and Alturas Building. He married Jeanne Hanssen in Grand View, Idaho on May 18, 1971. She survives him. Mr. Nelson was a life member of the Veter ans of Foreign Wars. Interment was at the Alturas Ceme tery Feb. 24. A complete obituary will be published next week.

 

Record new for March 9, 2000

 

• Bad Tuesday for incumbents in county, city, Cal Pines
• Modoc hospitals join the future of telemedicine
• Niles Theater gets help for city chamber
• Plan out to stop land grab
• Get on board for Duck Race

Bad Tuesday for incumbents in Modoc County

It was a black Tuesday for incumbents in Modoc County as voters chose to elect chal len a recall in the California Pines Community Services District.

Modoc County Supervisor incumbents were unseated by large margins. In District Two, Mike Dunn picked up 446 votes to in cumbent Joe Colt's 282, for a 60.8 percent to 38.4 percent win.

By Precinct, Davis Creek voted 42-23 in favor of Colt; Willow ranch went 36-11 to Dunn; North Fork went 158-97 for Dunn; Alturas C went for Dunn 159-82.

District Three's Ron McIntyre was de feated by chal lenger Willy Hagge, 461 votes (61.1 percent) to 292 votes (38.7 percent).

Hagge won Canby by a 60-53 margin, Hot Spring favored Hagge 117 to 42; Cal Pines came in 71 Hagge and 60 McIntyre; and Alturas B went to Hagge 92-70.

County supervisors will take their seats January 2, 2001 and city councilmen on March 14, 2000.

The three city council positions were filled by Jack Ochs, with 623 votes, George Andreasen with 611 votes and Colin Jameson with 502 votes. Incumbent councilman Kerry Merwin was unseated, getting 413 votes.

In the recall of the embattled directors at the California Pines CSD, incumbents Marvin Kitchen, Robert LaGabed and John Schneider were all removed from office by voters.

Kitchen was recalled by a margin of 106 to 48, 68.8 per cent; LaGabed was removed by a 112 to 43 vote margin, 72.3 percent; and Schneider was removed by a 95 to 61 vote mar gin or 60.9 percent.

In the only contested race to replace a di rector, Schneider, Bill Roland narrowly won 49-47, 50 percent of the vote. Wayne Milliron will replace LaGabed and Charles Green will replace Kitchen.

Modoc voters favored George W. Bush in the presidential primary, giving him 1,409 votes. John McCain picked up 951 votes, Al Gore had 494 and Bill Bradley finished with 224. Other candidates in the race did as fol lows: Alan Keyes, 82; Ralph Nader, 25, Steve Forbes, 15; Orrin Hatch 11, Donald Trump 13; Harry Browne 19; Howard Phillips 7; Charles Collins 2; Robert Bowman 3; George Weber 2, Lyndon LaRouche 5; L. Neil Smith 2; Larry Hines 3; John Hagelin 4; Dave Lynn Hollist 2; Joel Kovel 1; Gary Bauer 7; John Anderson 1.

Overall voter turnout was down at 63.1 percent and only 47.6 percent of city voters went to the polls.

On the state Proposition ballots, Modoc agreed and dis agreed with state voters on the issues. The following is how the county voted and how the issues did statewide.

Prop. 1A, Indian gambling, slot ma chines: In Modoc, yes, 1757 and 1,467, no. Statewide it passed 4,295,280 (64.4 percent) to 2,359,478, (35.4 percent).

Prop. 12. Parks bonds: in Modoc it failed by a margin of 2,260 (70.5 percent) to 947 (29.5 percent). Statewide it passed by a large mar gin, 4,197,188 (63.2 percent) to 2,453, 032 (36.8 percent).

Prop. 13, safe drinking water, flood con trol: the issue was not supported by Modoc vot ers 2,113 (66.6 percent) to 1,059 (33.4 percent); but it passed statewide by 4,280,481 (64.8 per cent) to 2,328,656 (35.2 percent).

Prop. 14, California library construction: it failed Modoc's test 2,086 (67.2 percent) to 1,020, (32.8 percent). Statewide voters favored it by a margin of 3,874,107 (59 per cent) to 2,697,320 (41 percent).

Prop. 15, police crime lab upgrades: Modoc voters said no by a 2,332 to 725 margin and it failed statewide by 3,396,654 (53.6 percent) to 2,946,673 (46.4 percent).

Prop. 16, veterans bond act: passed in Modoc by 1,866 to 1,234 and in the state by 3,978,616 (62.5 percent) to 2,397,619 (39.5 per cent).

Prop. 17, legalizing raffles: passed in Modoc by 1,761 to 1,339 and passed statewide by 3,702,053 (58.6 percent) to 2,617,334 (41.4 percent).

Prop. 18, murder in special circum stances: favored by Modoc 2,553 to 605 and passed statewide 4,594,813 (78.4 per cent) to 1,670,892 (26.5 percent).

Prop. 19, murder of BART, college offi cers: favored in Modoc 2,357 to 768 and passed statewide by 4,613,078 (73.5 per cent) to 1,670,862 (26.5 percent).

Prop. 20, lottery funds for textbooks: failed in Modoc 1,707 to 1,414 but passed by state vot ers 3,356,341 (53.1 percent) to 2,973,399 (46.9 percent).

Prop. 21, juvenile crime increases: passed in Modoc by 2,467 to 721 and at the state level 4,040,544 (62 percent) to 3,478,824 (38 percent).

Prop. 22, limit on marriages: favored by Modoc 2,520 to 602 and passed statewide by 4,160,706 (61.4 percent) to 2,617,838 (38.6 per cent).

Prop. 23, none of the above: failed in Modoc by 1,895 to 938 and statewide 3,734,489 (63.5 percent) to 2,151,839 (36.5 per cent).

Prop. 25, campaign reform: Modoc said no by a 2,150 to 845 margin while statewide it failed by 4,091,783 (64.6 percent) to 2,249,266 (35.4 percent).

Prop. 26, the school construction bond vote change to a ma jority vote: it failed in Modoc by 2,006 to 1,064 and at the state level 3,332,361 (51.2 percent) to 3,178,036 (48.8 percent).

Prop. 27, voluntary term limits: Modoc voted against by 1,866 to 1,168 while the state rejected it 3,617,129 (59.3 percent) to 2,490,747 (40.7 percent).

Prop. 28, repeal of tobacco tax: Modoc vot ers said no by a 1,771 to 1,381 margin while the state rejected the issue by 4,646,272 (71.2 percent) to 1,882,280 (28.8 percent).

Prop. 29, Indian gaming compacts: passed in Modoc by 1,553 to 1,507 and by the state by 3,293,597 (53 percent) to 2,921,789 (47 percent).

Prop. 30, insurance lawsuits: Modoc said no by 2,442 to 666 while the state voters re jected it 4,314,564 (67.6 percent) to 2,070,661 (33.4 percent).

Prop. 31, insurance claims practices: Modoc voted no 2,396 to 558 yes and the state rejected it 4,368,274 (70.3 percent) to 1,849,529 (29.7 percent).

Modoc hospitals joins future of telemedicine

 

By Nora Russell

Telemedicine is the wave of the future in the medical field and has become avail able to rural areas through the cooperation of Blue Cross of California, U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacra mento and MediCal.

Blue Cross received a $1.8 million grant from Medi-Cal to fund a study in telemedicine. The grant will be used to train and equip health care providers in more than 20 locations with the capability to com municate with medical spe cialists at four "specialist hubs" across the state.

Telemedicine will enable a patient to have an appoint ment with a specialist from U.C. Davis Medical Center, Redding or any of the "specialist hubs" without the inconvenience of driving to those distant loca tions.

During the appointment either the patient's local physician or a health care provider will accompany him in the examining room.

A computer, camera and mi crophone at both locations al low the specialist and pa tient to view and communi cate with each other.

Any medical records or pertinent updates on the pa tient will have been faxed to the specialist for review prior to the appointment.

"This type of appointment is especially helpful for a heart patient who may need to see his specialist once a week after heart surgery," said Virginia Hassler, family nurse practitioner. "By using this technology, he will be spared from long drives that can be so wearing."

According to Hassler most major insurance carriers cover the cost of this type of high tech doctor appointment, including Medicare, MediCal and Blue Cross.

The referring phys cian will bill the insurance for a regular office visit and the specialist will bill the in surance for a specialist's visit.

The teleconferencing ca pabilities of the technology provides more options. "It will be used for educational purposes as well as medical," stated Marty Shaffer, telemedicine coordinator for Modoc Medical Center.

Doctors and nurses will be able to take continuing education courses without traveling long distances.

Time and money will be saved when information can be given to all six medical facilities in the Northern Sierra Rural Health Net work at the same time.

The Northern Sierra Ru ral Health Network was formed by the medical fa cili ties in Cedarville, Al turas, Canby, Bieber, Su sanville and Fall River Mills.

The network banded to gether to write a grant re questing funds for the equipment and training that would bring telemedicine to the northeast corner of Cali fornia.

"In the beginning the technology wasn't available here," said Hassler. "There wasn't enough bandwidth to transmit. Then the network met with Citizen's Tele-commu nications and a dedicated T-1 line was put in."

The technology for telemedicine has been on line at Modoc Medical Cen ter since the first part of Jan uary. It has not been used for appointments yet because Redding Medical Center is still forming a network of specialist consultants.

When a recent poll of spe cialists in the Redding area was conducted, 80 doctors re sponded that they were inter ested in participating in telemedicine.

Surprise Valley Commu nity Hospital is also equipped and trained to use their telemedicine equip ment. "We haven't had a case to refer to a specialist yet," stated Danette DePaul. "We're ready to use this when the situation arises." Surprise Valley will make use of the U.C. Davis spe cialist hub.

The U.C. Davis Tele-medicine Program of fers specialist consultations in the areas of Psy chiatry/ Psychology, Der matology, Endocrinology, Gastroenter-ology, Infectious Disease, Nutrition, Pain Manage-ment, Ortho paedic/Sports Medicine and more.

As the saying goes, "We have seen the future, and the future is now."

Niles Theater gets help for city, chamber

The Niles Theater got some much needed finan cial help from the City of Alturas and the Alturas Chamber of Commerce last month, but is not yet out of the woods.

The Alturas City Council approved a dona tion of $5,000 split evenly between business en hancement and commu nity projects funds. The Chamber of Commerce added $2,500 to aid for im provements and operation of the facility.

The Niles Theater is owned and operated by a non-profit corporation, Alturas Community Theater, Inc., (ACT).

"To say that we operate as a non-profit is probably an understatement," said Rick Holloway, of ACT and the Niles. "The fund ing from the City and Chamber pulled us out of the pit a little and we'll be out seeking more help, through fund-raisers throughout the year."

In addition to the City and Chamber, the Modoc Performing Arts Theater (MPAT) donated nearly $800 to cover one of the build ing's monthly pay ments.

MPAT is the popular lo cal live perfor mance the ater group which uses the Niles as its home base. While MPAT and ACT are not connected officially, they are working on an ef fort currently to work more cooperatively for the benefit of both entities.

"One of the big reasons our group pur chased the Niles Theater in the first place was to give MPAT a home and to keep the movie theater open for our youth and the pub lic," said Holloway. "We're manag ing to stay afloat. We sin cerely appreciate the City, Chamber and MPAT's do nations."

The Niles Theater shows movies most weekends. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. It has been fortunate to obtain movies that are on the top of the movie lists nation ally in good time. The theater also hosts sev eral perfor mances by MPAT, the Modoc County Arts Council and musical produc tions from the schools.

MPAT's next perfor mance is Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe, a mu sical satire, set for March 23, 24, 25, 31 and April 1 at 7:30 p.m. and special Sunday matinees March 26 and April 2 at 3 p.m. Tickets for the perfor mance are $8.50 for adults and $6 for students and se niors.

"We consider the Niles Theater a real cultural center for Alturas and Modoc County," said Holloway. "It is also a big part of downtown Alturas that we certainly do not want to see vacant."

A couple of new fund-raisers will be get ting un derway in the next few days. The first, which will be ongoing, will be the Niles' Penny Collection. The community will have the opportunity to donate its pennies to the theater by simply dropping them in the jar at the theater or at businesses around the city. All the funds raised through the Penny Collection will go into the operation and ren ovation of the theater.

Pizza and Pasta Place is also holding a Beer Fest which will be a fund raiser for the Niles Theater this month.

"We also have a large group people who continu ally support the theater and we are very appreciative of their support," said Holloway. "Many of them purchased seats initially and their names are on the seat plaques. We'll be try ing to provide a variety of performances this year that will serve both as enter tainment and as a fund-raiser. We are expecting a good year and will be work ing hard to garner addi tional support, while mak ing sure we recognize and thank those folks who have been the mainstay the whole time."

The Board of Directors of ACT includes Holloway, Russ Milton, Seab McDonald, Chip Massie, Fritz Barclay, Ken Franklin and Karen Hays. The manager of the Niles Theater is Sharon Lee Carey.

The public is invited to call any director or Carey with suggestions, ideas or to volunteer to help.

Plan out to stop land grab

By Bill Benner

Representatives from Public Lands Ac cess Net work (PLAN), North Washoe Unit, Steens Moun tain Oregon ranchers, and a wide spectrum of other con cerned citizens met in De nio, Nevada on February 26 to dis cuss combining their efforts in opposition to what was termed as the "Federal Land Grab".

Among the participants numbering about 80 were county commissioners from Oregon and Nevada, a col lege professor from Ore gon Institute of Technology, a Harney County Oregon judge, and active and re tired ranchers from California, Oregon, Idaho and Nevada.

Chairman of PLAN, Tibeau Piquet, out lined the various actions currently be ing undertaken by the fed eral agencies. Be sides the proposed Black Rock Na tional Conservation Area (NCA) which may elim inate as much as 1.1 million acres from public use, the USFWS wants to double the size of the Sheldon Game Refuge which will border the NCA and cover additional thou sands of acres. Combined, these two areas would eliminate most multi-use activities from a huge area with exten sive impact on the region. Piquet then went through a litany of ongoing govern ment activities that together paint a bleak picture for all with interests in public lands.

The Chairman stressed the need for all those con cerned with access to public lands to join together in op position to the mis guided and destructive policies now being pushed at an accelerat ing pace by the Clin ton ad ministration. The Conser vation and Reinvestment Act (CARA), soon to be before Congress, was singled out as potentially more destructive than any other law or reg ula tion in existence. CARA contains bil lions for land acquisitions and our current land use rights will "vapor ize" if it passes according to Piquet. All present were urged to call their legislators and express their op position to the CARA proposal. An other topic of concern was the apparent intent to list the sage grouse as a threatened or endangered species. In either case, the additional limi tations on land use were seen as inevitable.

The struggle of the Steens Mountain ranchers with Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, was discussed with the gen eral consensus that some sort of federal des ignation of the area would be imposed in spite of the fact that cooperative manage ment has worked well. Bab bitt said he was concerned for the future and therefore sup ported some sort of fed eral designation.

Bob Skinner of the Oregon Cattleman's Assn. briefed the gathering on the ongoing problem in the Owyhee River area where 27,000 AUM's are in jeopardy. BLM banned cattle from 18 miles of the Owyhee River corridor even though the 1988 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act specifi cally allowed grazing. Ac cording to Skinner there are only a few places were cattle can descend the canyon wall to the river and the problem could be eliminated by a minimal amount of fencing which the ranchers are will ing to build. BLM, in a classic catch 22 situation however, will not allow fences in the area.

Having just returned from a two-day session in a Portland District Court where he was trying to help resolve the Owyhee grazing issue, the much beleaguered Mr. Skinner expressed shock and amazement at the blatant underhanded tactics of the en vironmentalists' lawyers who tried playing one rancher off against an other and seemed to operate unencumbered by ethical or moral restraints.

Stu Brown, a past presi dent of the Cali fornia Cat tleman's Assn. and a rancher who has operated in California, Oregon, and Nevada, expressed deep con cern for the future of public lands access in the west. Mr. Brown named the Wild lands Project, which has as its ultimate goal the setting aside of 50% of the area of the United States into reserve wilderness areas, as partic u larly radical and danger ous. A good exam ple of the trend toward radicalism in our federal agencies was the appointment of Dave Fore man, who was convicted of blow ing up a power line in Arizona, to head the Re gional Biodiversity Center in Tucson, Mr. Foreman was author of instructional pamphlets on monkey-wrenching, tree spiking, and various other sabotage tech niques. Brown went on to say that regional coali tions under the Public Lands Access Network could spread throughout the coun try which he felt would go a long way in combating gov ernment usurpations in the west. Angry and deter mined, he said, "We have drawn a line in the sand." He further stated that a large scale demonstration was planned in Reno toward the end of March to show opposi tion to the Black Rock NCA.

Get on board for the year 2000 Duck Race

Anyone who would like to help with the Alturas Rotary Clubs' Great Pit River Duck Race can get on board, but jump on in the near future.

"We need local business help," said Bill Madison, Co-chairman of the event with Mike Mason. "There are two ways in which you may contribute to this year's Duck Race. You may elect to put a coupon in the book or donate a major prize."

The annual Duck race has been the major fundraiser for the Rotary Youth Park on Fourth Street in Alturas. The top prize in the race is a new vehicle. The Youth Park houses baseball, softball and basketball courts. It may also be used for soccer. The fields may be playable this summer. Each year the Duck Race has netted over $30,000. Plans this year are to fund the purchase of bleachers and the construction of restrooms.

"If you submit a coupon idea, we ask that you give careful consideration based upon value, usability and ex piration date," said Madison. "The Duck Race Committee will then select the prizes and coupons. We are extremely grateful to the businesses who have supported this project, that participation has been an essential element of our success. The community's generosity has always been amazing when it comes to our youth."

The Duck Race is held the Saturday of Fandango Days in July each year. The Rubber Duck tickets go on sale April 15, and are limited to 3,000 at $25 each. The 3,000 ducks have sold out prior to the race each year.

Anyone interested in continuing your support or be coming a new supporter of this community effort should contact Madison at 530-233-3432 or mail your coupon or prize suggestion to Madison at Modoc Insurance, 326 N. Main Street in Alturas

 

OBITUARIES:

 

Robert S. Nelson

Robert S. Nelson, former Alturas Postmaster, City Coun cilman and Alturas Mayor, passed away February 24, 2000 at the Modoc Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility in Al turas, Calif., where he had been a resident for over 14 years. Graveside services, with military honors conducted by the Veterans Group, were held on February 28.

Mr. Nelson was born to Benjamin and Winnie (Simon) Nelson on Septem ber 15, 1918 in Haines, Ore. He moved with his family to Alturas in 1931, and gradu ated from Modoc Union High School in 1936. Di rectly thereafter, he headed for Western School of Busi ness in Sacramento, where he studied bookkeeping and accounting for two years.

Upon returning to Alturas, he worked as bookkeeper for Superior Lumber Company for two years, followed by three and a half years as roundhouse clerk for Southern Pacific Railroad. In January 1943, he was inducted into the U.S. Army, and as an Amphibian Engineer served two years in the South Pacific and one year in the states until his dis charge in December 1945. He received numerous medals for serving his country during World War II.

When Mr. Nelson returned home, he went back to work for the railroad for a year and a half, and was then offered a job at Alturas Building Materials, where he worked the next nineteen and a half years. He also served on the City Coun cil from April 1950 to 1954, and as Mayor of the City of Al turas from 1952 to 1954.

In March 1966, Mr. Nelson was hired as Acting Postmas ter of the Alturas office, and a year later was officially ap pointed as Alturas Postmaster by then President Lyndon Johnson. He performed his duties with dedication and pride, and was well-known in the community for his thoughtful and caring ways. He retired in September 1983.

Bob Nelson was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of International Order of Oddfellows for over 25 years. Although he had no children of his own, he believed in the importance of instilling solid moral princi ples in our youth, and was therefore a strong supporter of the local Boy Scout program. Bob was also known for his kind ness to the older residents and homebound of the community, going out of his way to help them whenever necessary. If one of the came in to the post office and needed help with writing a letter, Bob would get the information from them, type up the letter on the spot, and give it back to them to be reviewed and mailed.

Even though Bob was not a member of the Catholic Church, he counted "Father Mike," the former priest of the Alturas Parish, as one of his closest friends. Since the priest did not drive a car, Bob took him wherever he needed to go, whether it was on occasional trips out of town, or over to Surprise Val ley every Sunday for services. He performed this service of love every week for many years.

Bob enjoyed collecting stamps, coins and exploring for arrowheads. He also went on trips in search of antique lamps, bottles, often trading with other collectors. An avid rockhound, he spent many satisfying hours gathering and cutting stones to create lovely tables and other objects as gifts for his family and friends. He was well-loved by his brother Reid's family, and shared many happy times with them in years past.

Survivors include his wife Jeanne (Hanssen) Nelson of Alturas; sister-in-law Lorraine Nelson of Alturas; nephew Mike Nelson and wife Marlys of Great Falls, Montana and their children Kindee, Torre and wife Michelle, and Megan; nephew Monte "Toot" Nelson and wife Karoline of Alturas and children Jeff, Randy and wife Annette, Misty, and Jennifer.

Donations in his memory may be made to Alzheimer's prevention; please call 233-2229 for more information.

Richard Verle Pratt

A memorial service for Richard Verle Pratt of Alturas will be held on Saturday, March 11 at 2 p.m. at Christian Life Assembly in Alturas. A native of Alturas, Richard passed away March 4, 2000 of liver failure at the age of 49 in Alturas, Calif.

The popular member of Modoc High School's class of 1968, was born to Ed and Dolly Pratt on October 6, 1950 in Alturas. He attended Shasta College in Redding for a year and liked most all sports. He participated in bull riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding in rodeos throughout the west.

He was a member of the Likely Roping Club and at one time owned a plumbing business in Modoc County called Pratt's Plumbing.

He is survived by his mother and father Dolly and Ed Pratt of Alturas; sister Betty Johnson of Philomath, Ore.; brother Jim Pratt and wife Michele of Val Verde, Calif.; two step-children Shawna Richardson of New Plymouth, Idaho; Donny Richardson of Ridgecrest, Calif.; aunts and uncles Frank and Joyce Perkins of Waldport, Ore.; aunt Vickie Savage, Susanville; Charles and Sharon Vadnais, Ham mer, Idaho; uncle Frank Pratt of Elk Grove; uncle Marion Campbell of Al turas and numerous cousins and friends.

The Rev. Dr. Ben Zandstra will conduct the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

 

Record news for March 16, 2000

 

• DFG expresses concern over gravel quarry
• County in good shape at mid-year review
• Steyer to serve new term as mayor
• Census count will bring needed funds to Modoc
• Unemployment rate at 11.6%
• Iolanthe filled with 'rich humor

DFG expresses concern over gravel quarry

The Department of Fish and Game is expressing serious concern over a new proposed Fitch Sand and Gravel, Inc. gravel pit on Cedar Pass.

The Modoc County Environmental Review Committee agreed to continue its meeting last week, to give proponent Tony Cruse, of Fitch Sand and Gravel, time to discuss the project and mitigation efforts with the DFG. That meeting is scheduled next week in Redding.

The proposed Hogsback Quarry gravel pit site is located about nine miles east of Alturas, going up Cedar Pass just south of SR 299. What's planned on the site includes hard rock mining, sand and gravel extraction, on a year-round basis, weather permitting. It is anticipated that about 100,000 cubic yards of material will be removed annually. In the future, asphalt processing and other operations may be moved to the site.

According to Fitch's application the mining and process ing operation will not be visible from the highway, but the Environmental Review Committee wanted more informa tion.

The real concern comes from the DFG. The site is in a long-identified critical wildlife habitat for antelope and deer, which the DFG says the Fitch application does not fully ad dress. The DFG stresses an Environmental Impact Report should be required for the project.

On Wednesday, Cruse said he hopes the meeting with DFG officials next week will help mitigate some of the wildlife issues and allow the pit to move forward without having to do a full, and expensive, EIR. Cruse said Fitch Sand and Gravel has hired a professional biologist to ad dress the issues and try to supply DFG with additional and current information.

Cruse sincerely believes that the county planning de partment is treating him unfairly as compared to other gravel pit applications and operators in the county. He said he's being asked to "jump through more hoops" than other op erators on similar applications.

County Planning Director Scott Kessler said the Fitch ap plication is being treated fairly and according to current re quirements and regulations. Kessler said the DFG has ex pressed serious concern about impacts to wildlife. Those concerns, he said, were not major issues in the other applica tions.

"We believe what we're planning at this pit will be a bene fit to wildlife and the information our biologist is supplying will increase the DFG's knowledge," said Cruse. "Our goal is to work with DFG and take some measures that don't im pact wildlife. We're looking to find a common middle ground. We think our evidence will be helpful."

The DFG is concerned about impacts to the habitat, pri marily of antelope and mule deer.

"The Likely Tables antelope herd is the largest in California with the current number estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 animals," the DFG's Regional Manager Donald Koch stated in a letter to the county planning department. "A ma jor portion of this herd makes a biannual migration through the project site to summer range on the Devil's Garden and returning to winter range on the Likely Tables. A high po tential exists for this project to adversely impact migrating antelope. Maintaining unrestricted functional migration corridors to seasonal ranges is critical to the survival and reproductive success of antelope."

The DFG states that to reduce the negative impacts on mi grating antelope the mining operations should be avoided from November 1 to December 15 and from March 1 to April 30 each year.

"Antelope kidding grounds occur on the site and could be disturbed by mining operations and removal of preferred vegetation," said the DFG. "The kidding period is critical to the reproductive success of antelope and disturbances from this project may reduce antelope survival and population productivity. Vegetation found on the project site including low sage, bitterbrush, forbs, perennial and annual grasses are important to the reproductive success of antelope. These species provide highly nutritious vegetation of lactating fe males and hiding cover for kids."

The DFG states the impacts to kidding cycles can be re duced by avoiding all mining activity between April 15 and June 30.

In addition to the impacts on the antelope, the DFG said there could be a serious impact to mule deer winter range. The removal of high value vegetative species used for forage and thermal cover include bitterbrush, sagebrush and ju niper through mining will greatly impact the wintering mule deer, said the DFG. To reduce those impacts, they rec ommend all mining activities be avoided from November 1 through April 15.

"The reclamation phase of this project is important for re ducing impacts to wildlife by providing minimal distur bances and reseeding disturbed soil," Koch stipulates. "Mined areas should be held to five acres annually with reclamation of these areas immediately following the cessa tion of mining and before the next year's operation begins."

The DFG further stresses the need to avoid impacts to bit terbrush and not to clear-cut junipers.

"The above recommendations will reduce but not fully mitigate the potentially significant impacts of the project," wrote Koch. "This project will contribute to the reduction of wildlife populations and habitats in Modoc County."

Cruse said DFG mitigation measures would only allow for about a four month operation per year and that is just not economically feasible or realistic. He's hoping his company and DFG will be able to come to terms on the required miti gation measures.

County in good shape mid year

Modoc County's fiscal health is good at the mid-point of this year's budget year.

County Administrative Officer Mike Maxwell told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday that results of the mid-year budget review showed no red flags and the county's rev enues and expenditures were within projections.

"There were no surprises," said Maxwell. "Overall, we're in pretty good shape and the departments are manag ing well. Expenditures are actually lower in some cases. The review went well."

Chairwoman Nancy Huffman complimented the de partment heads for the day-to-day awareness of their bud gets.

Also at Tuesday's meeting the board discussed the skate boarders at Veteran's Park and opted to draft a letter to the City Police and County Sheriff to help make sure those ac tivities do not result in excess trash or litter.

The county did not want to ban skateboarding or rollerblading at the park, but was concerned that current skaters are using the picnic tables and other equipment as take off points. In addition, said Rick Hironymous, of Public Works, they are bring ing old plywood and ramps into the park and not remov ing them.

The board discussed the situation and simply will try to get the skaters to clean up and not leave their litter or old wood around the park, They are also being asked to stay off the tables and not to hang on the basketball rims.

The board also approved Librarian Cheryl Baker's re quest to spend the $34,135 of a Gates Foundation Grant on the computer equipment and related work at each library site. Baker was successful last fall in the grant applica tion to the Gates Foundation. The new computers go into all five li brary sites for use by the public.

Modoc Medical Center Administrator Teresa Jacques told the board the hos pital collection rate was im proving un der the new billing system and that more than $700,000 was collected in February. She expects the new billing process to vastly im prove the payments.

The county agreed to hire a controller at the facility and to pay for a mammography training technician to help the fa cility pass its certification.

Steyer to serve another term as Mayor of Alturas

 

By Nora Russell

During the Alturas City Council meeting held on the evening of March 14, 2000 Richard Steyer was nomi nated and elected as the Mayor of Alturas.

John Kerr was nominated and elected as the Mayor Pro-Tem. of Alturas.

A resolution was adopted declaring the results of March 7, 2000 Consoli dated General Municipal Elec tion.

The Deputy City Clerk administered Oath of Office to Cary Baker, City Clerk and George Andreasen, Jack Ochs and Colin Jame son, City Councilmembers.

A short speech was given by Kerry Merwin thanking the councilmembers and City of Alturas for the oppor tunity to serve as coun cilmember and Mayor Pro-Tem.

A request was made of the council by Rod Gately and Brad Server, former man agers of Arrowhead Golf Course, for reimbursement for the $4,100 balance of bank loans incurred during their contracted tenure as man agers.

"Since we were required by the city to start a business (Pro-shop and restaurant) and the city caused the busi ness to shut down with the sale of the golf course, we feel that we should be reim bursed for the balance of the loans that we had to take out to start the business," Gately stated. "We got the loan to fulfill the contract that the city required of us."

"Both of you willingly entered into a contract that you knew could be canceled with a 30 day notice," Kerry Merwin said. "Only you made the decision to borrow the money, it was not a city council action that put you into debt."

The council voted unan imously to deny reimburse ment to Gately and Server for the balance of their loan.

Census count will bring needed funds to Modoc

 

By Nora Russell

It's census taking time again; time for every resi dent of the United States to stand up and be counted.

Census questionnaires will be arriving in the mail to all homes in Modoc County and around the country. The difference between this piece of mail and junk mail that is idly tossed into the trash can be found printed on the out side of the envelope, "Your response is required by law".

In rural areas every other person will receive the long form, which asks 53 questions of the head of household and fewer questions of other members of the household. The other half of the rural population will receive a short form which asks eight questions of the head of household and six questions of other members.

The United States gov ernment is spending more money on this census than it has spent on any other peace time project.

Aside from doing a head count of the population of the country, what is the purpose of the census?

The results of the census count are necessary because the number of seats in the House of Representatives are evenly divided based on state population. The figures are also used to distribute ap proximately $200 billion per year in federal funds to sup port schools, employment services, housing assis tance, highway construction, hospital ser vices, programs for children and elderly and more.

According to the Census Bureau the census informa tion is used by: The federal government to plan federal programs for housing, transportation, education, and job training. Federal dollars are allocated based on census numbers.

State, local, and tribal governments use the num bers to plan programs for jobs, housing, schools, transportation, etc.

Citizen groups and local organizations use them to plan work, identify needed facilities, and measure our area's problems and progress.

Business and industry to locate new markets and build new factories, housing, hotels, shopping centers, etc.

With all of this sharing of information going on, are the answers given by indi viduals who fill out the cen sus form confidential?

Yes, the census question naire is seen only by Census Bureau employees, who are sworn to keep information confidential. The census in formation may only be used for statistical purposes. The personal information will be held by the Census Bureau and will not be seen by any one else for 72 years after it is collected. During those 72 years no one will have ac cess to that information, in cluding the IRS, FBI, Wel fare, Immigration or any other agency of the federal government.

In an effort to make sure that all residents of the United States are counted in the census, the forms are printed in 12 languages, with assistance guides printed in 37 differ ent lan guages.

Official Census 2000 Question Assistance Centers have been opened to assist with the filling out of the question naires. There is one located in Alturas at New Directions, 802 N. East Street. A Census 2000 em ployee will be avail able Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. until April 15 to assist with filling out the forms. No appoint ment is needed and confi dentiality is guaranteed by law.

While some questions like "occupation" may seem straight forward and the an swer of "nurse" seem appropriate, the Census Bureau is looking for more specific an swers such as: registered nurse, nursemaid, practical nurse, vocational nurse, nursing aide, etc.

The census employee at the Assistance Center is trained to help answer any of the questions on the form. There is also a large print copy of the form available and envelopes if the original envelope is lost. If a census form is not received by April 1, forms can be obtained at the As sistance Center.

Unemployment rate at 11.6%

Modoc's unemployment rate for the month of February stood at 11.6 percent, up slightly from January's level of 11.2 percent. The jobless rate is down from February, 1999's 14 percent.

Modoc ranked 43rd out of the state's 58 counties in highest unemployment. Lassen County had an unemployment rate of 9.5 percent, ranking it 37th and Siskiyou's jobless rate was 12.5 percent ranking it 47th.

Iolanthe filled with 'rich humor

The Modoc Performing Arts Theater's latest musi cal is going into the final weeks of production, and it looks as if MPAT will have another hit on its hands.

The Gilbert and Sullivan comedy classic, Iolanthe, is the offering this year, and the rich humor, memorable songs and a plot full of sur prises will make for an en joyable evening.

"Gilbert and Sullivan plays have always been pop ular with our audience," says Stage Director Sandy Boldon. "MPAT has pro duced Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore, and I've heard people say they were our best shows. Iolanthe will be no exception. Even during the cast's first read-through of the script back in January, the room was filled with laughter. It's a great show."

The play takes place in England and involves a ro mance between a shepherd, Strephon, and Phyllis, a ward of the Chancellor of Parliament. The Lord Chancellor doesn't see a shepherd as being a fit per son to marry one of his ward, and to make things worse, Strephon is unable to reveal his parentage because he is the result of a marriage be tween a mortal man and a fairy. When the Lord Chan cellor sets his sights on Phyllis for himself, Strephon takes action and calls in the Queen of the Fairies and her court for help. When the fairies show up in the House of Lords, the English Government will never be the same.

The cast includes Bill Tierney as the Lord Chan cellor, Sally Clark as Queen of the Fairies, Rebekah Richert as Iolanthe (Strephon's Mom), Heather Gregory as Phyllis, David Ash as Strephon, Kevin Pent as Sergeant Willis, Larry Shippen and Dee Green as two Lords who are also vying for Phyllis' affection, and Kerry Davis, Karen Hays and Eleanor Dorton as lead fairies. The chorus of fairies also includes Midge Dier, Mary Bauer, April Dorton, Caitlin Kraft, Marya Gates, Scherane Johnson and Jodie Jones. The House of Lords will be represented by Steve Johnson, Gary Bell, David Cohen, Landon Flournoy, Ryan Hagge, Raphael Erd man and Jeran Brown.

The production team is headed by Nancy North-Gates, Musical Director; Sandy Boldon, Stage Direc tor and Jodee Roberts, Assis tant Director.

Iolanthe opens Thursday, March 23 and will run March 24, 25, 26 and March 31, April 1 and 2. Show times are 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinees will begin at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $8.50 for adults; $6 for students and senior citizens and will be available at Pizza and Pasta Place or at the door at the A.C.T. Niles Theater, So. Main Street, Alturas.

 

OBITURARIES:

 

William Stuart "Bill" Kloepfer

Fort Bidwell resident William S. "Bill" Kloepfer, 78, died Thursday, March 9, 2000 at the Surprise Valley Community Hospital in Cedarville, Calif. A memorial mass was cele brated at the Fort Bidwell Peoples' Church building on Mon day, March 13 with Father Salvador Brinngas officiating. Private inurnment was at the Fort Bidwell Cemetery.

Bill was born to Harold and Jesse (Stuart) Kloepfer at Pueblo, Colorado on January 16, 1922. He grew up on a ranch between Florescent and Cripple Creek, Colorado and grad uated from Cripple Creek High School in 1940. He enlisted with the Army Air Corps and served during World War II as a B-24 pilot. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and moved to Pittsburg, Calif. where he met and later married the love of his life, Beverly Dally, on August 31, 1947 in Oak ley, Calif.

He worked as a machinist in a paper mill in Antioch un til he moved to Sacramento as a machinist with Aerojet. He later transferred to Hillsboro, Ore. and worked for Techtron Instrument Company until 1969, when he moved to Montana to fly for the U.S. Forest Service until he retired in 1979 and moved to Fort Bidwell where he became the local appliance repairman.

His greatest source of enjoyment was flying. He was a member of St. James Catholic Church and the Fort Bidwell Volunteer Fire Department.

He is survived by his wife Beverly of Fort Bidwell; sons Mark of Hillsboro and Harold of Yuma, Ariz.; daughters Ivy Stadleman of North Pains, Ore. and Zoeann Cook of Aloha, Ore.; brother Robert Kloepfer of Gustine, Calif.; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was pre ceded in death by a brother Jim and sister Patricia Benner.

Those wishing to honor the memory of Mr. Kloepfer may do so by sending a donation to the Surprise Valley Hospital, P.O. Box 246, Cedarville, Calif. 96104 or to a charity of the donor's choice. Desert Rose Funeral Chapel of Lakeview was in charge of arrangements.

Ellen Rachel Tandy

Eagleville native Ellen Rachel Tandy died in her home in Winters, Calif. on Sunday, March 5, 2000 at age 96-1/2. A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, March 18 at Countryside Church, Fremont and Grafton Streets in Esparto, Calif. A private interment will follow at Cottonwood Cemetery.

Born Ellen Rachel Bailey in Eagleville, Calif. August 21, 1903, she lived most of her early years in Cedarville, where she met Albert Tandy when he was teaching.

In June of 1937, Albert and Ellen moved to the Madison area of Yolo County on his parents' farm. She was a member of Countryside Church for 61 years, being active in Ruth's and Ladies Auxiliary, Women's Farm Bureau and the Ru ral Study Club.

Mrs. Tandy is survived by her sister Esther Marsh of Cedarville, Calif.; daughters Ellen A. Peckham of Winters and Janice M. Walthers and husband Bob of Cedarville; brother-in-law Bill Tandy and wife Iola of Winters; sister-in-law Terry Bailey of Citrus Heights. She is also survived by grandsons Jack Peckham, Whitney Bittle, Cameron Bit tle and wife Liz Rambo, granddaughters Deb Peckham, Myrna Spiva and husband Joe, Darci Peckham-Lewis and husband Napoleon; great-grandsons Nathan Covington and Demetrius Lewis; great-granddaughters Nichole and Jen nifer Peckham, Lela Spiva and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a grandson Gerald Peck ham, husband Albert and brother Melvin.

Remembrances may be sent to Surprise Valley Hospital, Cedarville or the donor's choice of charity.

Ellen Rachel Tandy

Eagleville native Ellen Rachel Tandy died in her home in Winters, Calif. on Sunday, March 5, 2000 at age 96-1/2. A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, March 18 at Countryside Church, Fremont and Grafton Streets in Esparto, Calif. A private interment will follow at Cottonwood Cemetery.

Born Ellen Rachel Bailey in Eagleville, Calif. August 21, 1903, she lived most of her early years in Cedarville, where she met Albert Tandy when he was teaching.

In June of 1937, Albert and Ellen moved to the Madison area of Yolo County on his parents' farm. She was a member of Countryside Church for 61 years, being active in Ruth's and Ladies Auxiliary, Women's Farm Bureau and the Ru ral Study Club.

Mrs. Tandy is survived by her sister Esther Marsh of Cedarville, Calif.; daughters Ellen A. Peckham of Winters and Janice M. Walthers and husband Bob of Cedarville; brother-in-law Bill Tandy and wife Iola of Winters; sister-in-law Terry Bailey of Citrus Heights. She is also survived by grandsons Jack Peckham, Whitney Bittle, Cameron Bit tle and wife Liz Rambo, granddaughters Deb Peckham, Myrna Spiva and husband Joe, Darci Peckham-Lewis and husband Napoleon; great-grandsons Nathan Covington and Demetrius Lewis; great-granddaughters Nichole and Jen nifer Peckham, Lela Spiva and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a grandson Gerald Peck ham, husband Albert and brother Melvin.

Remembrances may be sent to Surprise Valley Hospital, Cedarville or the donor's choice of charity.

Norma Thompson

Alturas native Norma Thompson passed away in Rancho Cordova, Calif. on March 10, 2000. A memorial service was held Wednesday, March 15 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church on Zinfandel Drive in Rancho Cordova. Miss Thompson had been an active member of that church.

Born April 1, 1907 in Alturas, Calif. to Albert Thompson and Margaret Pope, she is survived by her sister Phyllis Thompson of Rancho Cordova; cousins Judith Waegell and Dawn King and numerous family members. Donations may be made to the United Methodist Church in her memory or to a charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements by the Neptune Society of Northern California, Sacramento.

 

Record news for March 23, 2000

 

• Big plans for SR 299 into Alturas
• County assessing needs for local bus service
• Get checked out for good spring health
• Squirrel Roundup means open season on squirrels
• MPAT opens new play this weekend
• Migratory bird festival comes to Modoc
• Spring concert at Modoc High

Big plans for SR299 highway into Alturas

There are big plans in the works for State Highway 299 coming into Alturas from the west, with actual construction set for 2003 or 2004.

CalTrans has presented the Local Transportation Commission with a set of three alternatives (A,B, and C) that cover SR 299 from the intersection of US 395 in Alturas west to Mill Street.

Alturas Public Works Director Stacy Chase said al ternative C has the received the most favor from a local committee now working with CalTrans. That project makes the highway three lanes from Mill Street to Juniper Street and five Lanes from Juniper Street to Main Street.

One of the other alternatives, "A" would make the high way five lanes from Mill to Main and the other, "B", would make the highway three lanes from Mill to Main.

The five lane alternative was deemed too expensive and the committee felt it could fund alternative C. The preferred alternative has a projected cost 3.3 million.

Basically, the preferred project has one eastbound and one westbound lane, with a left turn lane in the middle from Mill to Juniper and then goes to two eastbound and two west bound lanes with a center turn lane from Juniper to Main. Chase said right hand turn pockets may also be included at intersections of various streets. Curb, gutter and sidewalk are also planned, but to just what distance has not been de termined.

The CalTrans consultants will listen to the committee and the LTC's preferences and then come back with a plan that will be open to public comment.

The new highway structure will make the entry into Alturas more efficient and safer, said Chace. Additionally, he said, the changes will make it easier for business devel opment on that corridor.

He feels the center turn lane as well as right hand turn pockets will make some intersections, especially Warner and SR 299, much safer. Additionally, said Chase, some current water drainage problems will be addressed in the project and he feels the project will alleviate some of the pre sent problem areas.

The LTC and committee have been meeting for several days on the project and once the final plans are proposed, the public and especially those businesses, agencies and resi dences along the highway will be able to address those issues which may have some impact. Nothing, said Chase, is writ ten in asphalt at this time and public input will be important.

County addressing needs for local bus service, routes

So just what are the real and perhaps unmet public trans portation needs of Modoc County residents? Anyone who has an opinion will have ample opportunity to make it public.

The Modoc County Local Transportation Commission (LTC) will be holding a series of public meetings to identify transit needs and determine which needs are reasonable to meet with available funding.

The first public meeting is set for tonight, March 23, at Sons of the Pioneers meeting hall in Modoc Recreational Estates, 7 p.m. The workshop will explain unmet transit needs, road funding, maintenance and rehabilitation is sues and the development of Modoc's 20-year Regional Transportation Plan.

Two other public meetings are scheduled, April 13, 3:30 p.m. at the County Road Department Conference Room, 202 West 4th Street, and May 16, 6 p.m. at Alturas City Hall, 200 North Street.

The LTC and Sage Stage operator, Modoc Transportation Agency, are obliged to coordinate and consolidate trans portation services in Modoc and to modify existing bus ser vices to best serve reasonable needs. Oral testimony may be given at public meetings and workshops and written com ments may be sent to Transit Needs 2000, 202 West 4th Street, Alturas. 96101, or faxed to 530-233-6424 or by email to couch@hdo.net. Deadline for written comments is 4 p.m. May 5.

The LTC receives Transportation Development Act fund ing through local sales and fuel taxes. State laws and regu lations control how TDA funds are used. For the year 1999-2000, the LTC allocated $91,000 to Sage Stage public transit operation. Sage Stage may receive up to $15,000 reimburse ment from the Federal Transit Administration. A special $30,000 grant from Modoc County CalWORKs Employment Program will allow Sage Stage to develop and implement public dial-a-ride services in the greater Alturas area.

In June, Sage Stage will start dial-a-ride services offer ing door-to-door transportation within a 10-mile radius of Alturas. Reservations will be required for each trip, which means transportation between home or pick-up location and one destination. Routes and availability will vary accord ing to demand. Each dial-a-ride bus has eight seats and one wheelchair tie-down.

Sage stage is saying passengers will be picked up within 15 minutes (before or after) confirmed reservation times. The cost will be $4 per trip with a 50 percent discount to se niors, the disabled and youth. Current funding allows for the service to be operated with one bus, 20 hours per week.

In order to assist the LTC, in its decision making process, the public needs to inform the agency of needed or wanted destinations, why the bus is needed and why the trips are needed. Those reasons may include lack of a driver's li cense, disability, limited income or legal restriction, medi cal appointment, personal or family business, shopping, recreation and so on. The LTC also wants to know how often to schedule routes and what routes and days of the week are the most preferred. In addition, the public is asked whether local or long distance travel represents the largest need.

For more information contact Transportation Manager Pam Couch at 530-233-6422.

Get checked out for good spring health

This Saturday is a good time to get a physical tune up for spring as the sixth annual Modoc Health Fair takes place at the Griswold Gym in Alturas from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

In addition the the regular health fair a Children's Mini Health Fair is also held that day at the same times.

Adults can have blood pres sure, hearing, diabetic tests as well as participate in breast cancer education, dental and ortho information, depression and health awareness, HIV/AIDS prevention, addic tion education and screen ings, telemedicine, tobacco education, hypnotic weight reduction, and others.

In addition, there will be games, raffles and plenty of give-a-ways plus consultation on a variety of issues.

There is also the chance for a blood screen panel for a modest $10 charge.

The Health Fair is spon sored by Modoc County Public Health, Modoc County Alcohol and Drug Services, Modoc County Health Department, Modoc Medical Center, Modoc Indian Health Project and Families Matter.

The children's portion of the Health Fair is for toddler to elementary age youngsters. Some of the stations to be of fered include: Dress up as a Doctor, Art, Tooth Care, Hand Washing, Nutrition, Exercise, CLOAK-After School Program and other in formation.

Parents are encouraged to accompany their children and also visit the regular health fair booths. Information will also be available on the Healthy Families Insurance Plan.

The Children's mini health fair is sponsored by "Families Matter" Child Abuse Prevention Council, Early Head Start, Even Start, Welcome Baby, RAINBOW, CLOAK and the Alturas State Preschool.

Squirrel Roundup means open season on squirrels

 

By Nora Russell

During the ninth annual Squirrel Round-up it will be open season on squirrels in Surprise Valley.

This unusual event was the brain child of the Sur prise Valley Chamber of Commerce. The idea came about soon after ranchers were no longer allowed to poison the squirrels in their fields and squirrel over-population was becoming a huge problem.

"This event works well for everyone," said Chamber President Candy Maidens. "It helps ranchers with the squirrels and it brings peo ple into the valley."

The name "Squirrel Roundup" could conjure vi sions of rounding up the lit tle varmints on horseback, but it is actually a squirrel hunt.

"The first year we called it 'Squirrel Wars'," Maiden said. "But the 'wars' part of it created a bad impression of what it really is, so we came up with 'Squirrel Roundup'."

Squirrel shooters come to the valley from such far away places as Los Angeles, Washington state and Idaho.

"We've advertised the Roundup on the Internet and also in varmint maga zines," stated Maidens. "But word of mouth has been our best advertisement."

There haven't been very many objections to the shoot ing event by animal rights activists.

"There were some in the beginning," said Maidens. "But we bring up the fact that if a horse or cow steps in a squirrel hole and breaks a leg, the animal then has to be destroyed."

Aside from a minor in jury from a bullet that rico cheted during a shoot, there have been no injuries dur ing all nine years of the Roundup.

After a squirrel hunter has registered for the Roundup, they are given a list of 15 ranchers who want to have the squirrels hunted on their land. It is then up to the hunter to contact the rancher and arrange the time and place where he will hunt.

"Some of the hunters have been coming up here all nine years," said Maidens. "They've developed long lasting friendships with the ranchers."

When a squirrel is shot the tail must be preserved by the hunter for the tail count at the end of the day.

During the first year of the Roundup the hunters were required to bring in the carcasses of the shot squir rels. That left a large collec tion of squirrel bodies to be disposed of by taking them to the desert where they were consumed by wild animals.

Once the day of squirrel hunting is over the hunters will meet at the fairgrounds in Cedarville for the tail count at 4:00 p.m.

A $100 prize will be awarded to the hunter in each category that kills the most squirrels. Those cate gories include Adult, Women, Youth and Bow and Arrow.

The hunters will then be treated to a steak dinner and there will be a drawing for more prizes.

MPAT opens Iolanthe tonight with comedy, memo rable songs

Students from area schools were invited to sit in on the fi nal dress rehearsal for Modoc Performing Arts Theater's new musical Iolanthe, Wednesday morn ing.

Almost 380 students from Surprise Valley, Al turas, Likely and Canby schools were expected.

"We first opened the final dress rehearsal to the schools about five years ago," said Stage Director Sandy Boldon. "Last year, we filled nearly every seat in the Niles Theater for our per formance of Fiddler on the Roof, and this year, the re sponse was overwhelming."

Over the last two months, area teachers have been contact ing Boldon and other members of the production staff to find out details about the play that might help them in the class room. According to Boldon, Iolanthe is a great play to dis cuss in class.

"Gilbert and Sullivan plays always offer unique insights into British culture, and Iolanthe turns its spot light on Britain's House of Lords, a governing body whose seats are obtained by heredity, not by election," describes Boldon.

"Gilbert and Sullivan thought this was a pretty ridiculous way to run a gov ernment, even back in 1882, when the play was written. Yet, it wasn't until last year that the House of Lords was reformed and the Lords of Peers, had to go on the cam paign trail and get elected."

The reform of the House of Lords in Iolanthe is not brought about by law or pub lic outcry, however. It hap pens when a band of meddle some fairies try to help two lovers marry against the wishes of the lady's guardian, who hap pens to be the Lord Chancellor of Par liament. When the fairies intervene, the Chancellor accidentally insults the Queen of the Fairies, and the consequences are every politi cian's nightmare.

Sally Clark who portrays Queen of the Fairies and Re bekah Richert as Iolanthe "are worth the price of ad mission alone," says Boldon, "and having Kevin Pent back in a play is a real joy, with his deadly sense of humor that really comes out in this one. We also have three high school girls who are in their first play with us. They really light up the stage and make me remem ber what community theater is all about. This one is so much fun."

The cast includes Bill Tierney as the Lord Chan cellor, Sally Clark as Queen of the Fairies, Rebekah Richert as Iolanthe (Strephon's Mom), Heather Gregory as Phyllis, David Ash as Strephon, Kevin Pent as Sergeant Willis, Larry Shippen and Dee Green as two Lords who are also vy ing for Phyllis' affection, and Kerry Davis, Karen Hays and Eleanor Dorton as lead fairies. The chorus of fairies also includes Midge Dier, Mary Bauer, April Dorton, Caitlin Kraft, Marya Gates, Scherane Johnson and Jodie Jones. The House of Lords will be represented by Steve John son, Gary Bell, David Cohen, Landon Flournoy, Ryan Hagge, Raphael Erd man and Jeran Brown.

The production team is headed by Nancy North-Gates, Musical Director; Sandy Boldon, Stage Direc tor and Jodee Roberts, Assis tant Director.

Iolanthe opens tonight at 7:30 p.m. with music, com edy and surprises and will run through the weekend, March 24 - 26 and also March 31 - April 2 at A.C.T. Niles Theater, So. Main St., Alturas. Show times for the evening performances are 7:30 p.m. with Sunday mati nees starting at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets are available at Pizza & Pasta and at the door, $8.50 for adults; $6 for students and senior citizens.

Migratory Bird Festival comes to Modoc

The First Annual Modoc Migratory Bird Festival will be held May 13, 2000, with the theme "Birds in our Water shed".

This fun filled event, sponsored by the Modoc County Natural Resource Education Committee, will be held this year at the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, just south east of Alturas, California.

The sponsors have an nounced that an art show, featuring local artists, will kick off the Festival on Fri day, May 12, at the Art Cen ter on Main Street, Alturas. Later that evening spectators can enjoy a night time wildlife walk with Birds, Bats and the Stars on the Refuge.

The following day, Satur day, promises to be full of fun and education for all ages, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 3:00 p.m. Some of the day's activities include a fun run, building bird and bat boxes, birding tours, native plant talks, hands-on workshops, booths, exhibits, and much more. A children's area will give youngsters the opportunity to read, color, and make craft items. Food and refresh ments will be available throughout the day.

So mark calendars and plan to be a part of this unique event to learn and enjoy the birds and other wildlife that are so impor tant to Modoc's way of life.

Spring concert at Modoc High

Music will fill the Gris wold Gym for the annual Spring Music Festival to feature about 300 students from fourth through twelfth grades in Modoc District Schools.

The public is invited to the free performance on Wednesday night, March 29 starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Modoc High School Griswold Gym on East Eighth Street, Alturas.

Music directors Ethan Walker and Karen Siegel will lead participating groups to include fifth and Sixth grade Bands, choirs from fourth, fifth and sev enth and eighth grade, Modoc Middle School and Modoc High School Choirs, Modoc Middle School A.M. and Modoc High Jazz Bands and MHS Concert Band.

The finale will feature MHS Concert and Jazz Bands and all student in strumentalists and vocalists leading the audience in "Sing for America."

Hear music from Beauty and the Beast to Ave Maria, with a wide repertoire planned for the evening per formance.

 

OBITUARIES:

Byron C. Caldwell

Byron C. Caldwell will be laid to rest at the Adin Cemetery on Friday, March 24 at 2:30 p.m., near where so many of his family members have been interred.

Mr. Caldwell, died at U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, Calif. on March 21, 2000.

He was born August 27, 1909 in Pittsburg, Calif. and moved to Williams in 1948. He owned and operated Caldwell's Flying Service from 1948 to 1989 when he retired. He held his pilots' license and owned his own plane. He served many years with the Williams Fire Department.

Preceded in death by his sons, Robert B. and Ronald J., he is survived by his wife of 64 years, Evelyn Caldwell of Williams, grandsons Ian and Brett Caldwell of Oregon and Ronald F. Caldwell of Texas and great-granddaughter Olivia Caldwell of Williams.

Visitation will be at the McNary-Moore Funeral Chapel in Corning tonight, March 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. Services will be held Friday, March 24 at 9 a.m. at the Williams Community Church.

Those wishing to, may contribute to the Williams Community Church.

LaVon Cecelia Coffin

Alturas resident, LaVon Cecelia Coffin passed away on the morning of Saturday, March 18, 2000 at her home, at the age of 70. A memorial service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 24 at Faith Baptist Church in Alturas.

LaVon was born to Harold Campbell and Pauline Dinsmore Campbell in Toledo, Ohio on August 19, 1929, and was raised in both Ashtabula and Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in Bowling Green University where she majored in Art with a minor in English.

Upon graduation, LaVon enlisted in the U.S. Army working as an occupational therapist during the Korean War. It was during her service to her country that she met Joe Alden Coffin. They were married on December 22, 1955 in San Antonio, Texas, where both were stationed at Fort Sam Houston. LaVon continued to serve her country until June of 1956, when she left the service to begin her family. After adding three children to their family, the Coffin's left San Antonio for Southern California.

It was in California that LaVon began work in teaching. While raising a large family of five children, LaVon taught as a substitute while continuing her education toward a teaching credential in Special Education. She worked as a Special Education teacher for many years in Garden Grove, California. However, LaVon's real love was the mountains and when a teaching position came open at Modoc High School, the Coffin's pulled up stakes and moved to Alturas in January of 1977. She taught Special Education there for many years, developing a simple form for the Individualized Education Plan that was used throughout the District. Before her retirement in 1987, she also taught Art and English. However, retirement did not slow down her life.

LaVon was very active in community affairs. She was a staunch supporter of the Modoc County Free Library and spearheaded the campaign for the library tax that makes it possible for Modoc to enjoy the resources the library provides. Her efforts earned her the Citizen of the Year award. LaVon also served on the Alturas City Council and the Northern Cal-Neva Resource Conservation and Development Council. She was an active Toastmaster and has earned several Paul Harris Fellowships through the Alturas Rotary Club. She was also a member of the Alturas Garden Club where she enjoyed many years of gardening and fellowship. With all of this to keep her busy, she still found time for her true love . . . art.

LaVon was an active calligrapher and has created many illustrated manuscripts such as the Lord's Prayer and other scriptures. She became involved in the art of Ukrainian Eggs as well. She took great joy in making stationery, cards and book makers and spent most of her free time drawing and coloring with colored pencils.

LaVon is survived by her husband Joe Coffin of Alturas; daughters Cheryl Ford of Alturas, Kimberlee Aldana of Monterey, Stephanie Coffin of Salinas and son Jim Coffin of Oak Harbor, Washington. She was preceded in death by her son Robert. She also leaves nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Those wishing to honor the memory of LaVon Coffin may do so by sending contributions to the Alturas Garden Club or the Rotary Foundation.

 

Donald Ray Gillespie

Services for Donald Ray Gillespie, 66, a resident of Modoc County, will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 24, 2000 at Kerr Mortuary Chapel in Alturas. Ken Ward and Don Young will conduct the services with interment to follow at the Alturas Cemetery.

Don Gillespie passed away at his home in Alturas, Calif. on March 19, 2000, following a long battle with several health problems.

Don was born on November 13, 1933, in Bell, Calif. to Lawrence and Dorothea Gillespie and graduated from Huntington Park High School, Huntington Park, Calif.

He married Patricia Ann Lawver on December 2, 1950 in Kingman, Arizona. They made their home in Southern California where he worked as a millwright in furniture manufacturing for many years. During this time, Don was an Elks Greeter for the Huntington Park Elks Lodge and traveled throughout Southern California as a member of this group.

In 1969 the Gillespies purchased the Rancho Steak House and moved to Alturas. Many new and lasting friendships were created in their new Modoc home. A reputation as one of the "best cooks" around remained a source of personal pride for Don throughout the rest of his life. Among his specialities was the ability to make "good soup."

After the sale of the restaurant in 1976, Don returned to Southern California where he opened a new furniture business designing and showing bedroom furnishings. According to family members, he designed and manufactured the first distressed maple waterbed furniture. With his health failing, he re turned to Modoc in 1991, making his home near family and friends in Canby.

Don looked forward to fishing and camping and spent many happy days in pursuit of "catching the Big One." An other favorite past time was his gardening and auto racing. He was delighted when he won many blue ribbons at the Modoc District Fair. In 1996, his love of people and cooking motivated the opening of "Don's Kitchen" and "Crafters" on Main Street in Alturas. Again the friends and compliments filled his day with pride and joy. "Sadly in 1998, the store closed due to his continued health problems," recall family members. "His time here with us was extended with the help and support of many compassionate and caring medical staff and friends. Don surely felt he had very special care from all."

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife Patricia of Alturas; a brother Clifford and wife Sandra Gillespie of Fountain Valley, Ca..; four daughters, Cynthia and husband Chuck Lauer of Susanville, Ca.; Donna and husband Ron Bellamy of Alturas; Bonnie and husband Jimmy Sherer of Canby; Chris tine and husband Kenneth Ward of Alturas. Stepchildren Sean and wife Jackie Saville of Erie, Colo.; Cecilia and husband Sean McKee of Anaheim; adopted son James and wife Leo Hogan of San Clemente. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. today, March 23 at Kerr Mortuary in Alturas.

 

Charles Wistos

Alturas native Charles Wistos passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2000 at the Skilled Nursing Facility in Alturas, Calif. Visitation will be Saturday, March 25 at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart, followed by a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am. Committal will follow at the Alturas Cemetery.

Mr. Wistos was born in Alturas, Calif. on May 6, 1906 to John and Elizabeth Wistos.

Mr. Wistos' wife Dorothy of Alturas survives, as do many family members who will be named in a complete obituary to be published next week.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Modoc Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility, McDowell St., Alturas, CA. 96101.

 

Record news for March 30, 2000

 

• Conservation efforts succeed in protecting trout
• Railroad school moved during the night
• Information meeting for Forest Service Roads
• MJUSD to survey kids on health, habits
• Modoc Recreation Park nearing reality
• Job Fair coming soon

Conservation efforts succeed in protecting redband trout

An effort that could be used as a model for future wildlife conservation has apparently succeeded in preventing the listing of the Goose Lake redband trout as an endangered species.

The news is not only good for the conser va tionists and the trout, it also comes as a wel come announcement for ranchers in the northern part of Modoc County and southern Lake County Oregon who were instrumental in the project.

Modoc Land Use Committee's Sean Curtis said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's announcement that the fish will not be listed as an endangered species is considered a major success in land use management.

"This is historic and the results are what we wanted from the conservation efforts," said Curtis. "A lot of work went into this pro ject and we're now seeing positive results."

The future of the Goose Lake Redband Trout was brought into question with the se vere drought of 1992 when Goose Lake pretty much dried up. A population of the lake's red band trout was lost, but there were still popu la tions of smaller redband trout in the small tributaries to the lake. Goose Lake drying up during severe drought years is not unusual, according to the U.S. Wildlife Service. The FWS was petitioned by environmental groups to have the trout listed as endangered.

The possibility of that endangered species listing and its resulting land use restrictions brought together a group of local ranchers, led by Modoc County cattleman Herb Jasper, in an effort to protect both their livestock opera tions and the fish. That group was called the Goose Lake Fishes Working Group, which included ranchers, wildlife agencies and others who aimed their efforts at overall habitat improvement and changes in cattle grazing management.

Jasper was credited with spearheading the effort to get the local private land owners to allow the agencies onto their lands to do as sessments and to become a part of the im provement process.

In 1994, the working group signed a Memorandum of Understanding to protect and reestablish native fishes in the Goose Lake Basin in California and Oregon. And in May, 1995 the Goose Lake Fishes Conservation Strategy, which was designed to conserve all native fishes in the lake by reducing threats, stabilizing fish population and maintaining the ecosystems, came into play.

Much of that effort was aimed at manag ing cattle grazing along stream banks by fencing the cattle out and by rotating grazing from pasture to pasture. In addition, willows were planted and other streambank protec tion measures were taken in the mountains.

"Based on the conscientious efforts of the GLFWG, threats to the redband in the Goose Lake basin are being addressed," the FWS states. "Recent projects have substantially benefited redband trout but more resources and time will be needed to complete all of the projects identified."

In 1997, the Oregon Natural Desert Association, Oregon Trout, the Native Fish Society and the Oregon Council of Trout Unlimited originally petitioned the FWS to list the Great Basin redband trout as threat ened or endangered and provided substantial information that the listing might be war ranted.

That petition primarily cited the destruc tion, modification or limitations of the habi tat for the trout. The threats cited came mainly from habitat destruction by livestock graz ing, irrigation, removal of water from streams, fragmentation of streams, stream channelization and timber harvest.

The decision not to list the fish as endan gered was prompted by the efforts that have been undertaken to protect those fish and im prove habitat. In addition to the conservation efforts, several wet weather years in succes sion have helped the habitat and fish recover.

According to the FWS, there has been a substantial improvement in fish numbers. "The increase in numbers and distribution of these fish and the ongoing conservation actions are reason enough not to list the species, but they do not mean that the FWS is no longer concerned about redband trout," said Antonio Bentivoglio, a fisheries biolo gist for the Oregon State Office. "Habitat and redband trout populations in places where conservation and restoration actions aren't happening yet may be less resilient to future impacts or changing conditions. We can still do lots of work with landowners and agencies to improve more habitat."

The redband trout is native to southeastern Oregon's Great Basin and small parts of California and Nevada. It is identified by a distinctive red stripe down its side and is a relative of the rainbow trout.

One of the key elements found in the re cent studies of the redband trout is their adaptability to short periods of warmer water that would normally kill other rainbow trout. The trout will still grow better, spawn and be healthier in colder water.

While the decision not to list the fish is good news for the livestock producers, the en vironmental groups are not so enamored with it. They say the redband is extinct over 72 percent of its normal range with strong populations remaining in only 10 percent.

Staff ecologist Joy Belsky of the Oregon Natural Desert Association stated: "We're relieved to find out that the trout populations are doing better than expected and not head ing toward extinction. It is unfortunate that it takes an ESA petition and a lawsuit to force federal and state agencies to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the populations of this once wide-spread species."

She points out that Great Basin redband populations have been disturbed and their habitat destroyed by a century of livestock grazing, which has denuded stream banks, reduced water quality, and altered stream flow patterns by damming and dewatering streams for irrigation and stock ponds and by logging in stream headwaters.

"All the adverse habitat conditions affect ing these fish that were presented in the peti tion are still valid and will likely worsen in the future," said Jim Myron, director of Oregon Trout.

The tributaries to Goose Lake, specifically Lassen Creek and Davis Creek have been off limits to fishing for several years and there appears to be some relief in sight for fisher men and the redband trout. Lassen and Willow Creeks will be open from the Saturday before Memorial Day through November 15 to a catch and release only, bar bless hooks and artificial lures. Davis Creek is the same as Lassen and Willow this year for redband, except there is a five-fish limit for brown trout out of that creek.

According to Belsky, the recent survey on the fish found most were in the headwaters of streams. She said the valley bottom segments of the streams have been altered by agricul ture activities so that they no longer contain the four to five pound redband that once helped make up a world-class fishery.

"We may not be losing the fish, but we have lost quality of life and commercial op portunities when we lose the large fish that were abundant in this area," she said.

The Goose Lake Working Group and the federal and state wildlife agencies are moni toring the situation and are continuing to stress habitat improvement. One of the main concerns of the FWS is when another drought year or series of dry years occurs.

Railroad school spirited away during the night

The Alturas Railroad School, under the direction of Dave Rangel and Suzanne Berdall, was spirited away during the night March 25, following a revelation that Rangel was al legedly responsible for a potentially libelous postcard sent during the March 7 local election.

The City of Alturas, suspicious of Rangel's activities fol lowing the election, sent some of the postcards to a handwrit ing expert in Redding. That expert, Larry C. Liebscher, said he identified the writing positively as Rangel's late last week and would testify in court to that finding. The post cards attacked councilman Kerry Merwin and County Supervisor Joe Colt, both of whom where unseated in the March election.

On Tuesday, Rangel denied any connection or involve ment in the postcard. He called the city's hiring of the hand writing analyst a waste of time and money since there is nothing criminal contained in the postcard. He said the postcard, regardless of who sent it, was an expression of opinion covered under freedom of speech.

"I could provide a handwriting expert and verify the post cards were from Bill Clinton," Rangel countered. "I deny I had anything to do with the postcard."

The postcard had been mailed from Marysville and falsely accused Merwin of taking bribes from Bethel's Propane to keep natural gas out of the city and for supporting an AIDS clinic in Alturas. It also accused Colt of supporting a prison project near Alturas. There was absolutely no truth in any of the accusations.

Rangel said the railroad school was moved because "the city forced us out" by locking the railroad museum. The city counters that while the locks were changed at the museum to protect city property, Rangel and the school were told they could have access whenever they requested.

City Councilmen Jack Ochs and George Andreasen, who have been instrumental in the Alturas Wrymoo Railroad Museum and the Railroad School fully supported the hand writing analysis to put the issue to rest.

"We were confident in our suspicions but we needed proof to move forward," Andreasen said. "There are some other things going on as well and right now our goals are to protect the interests of the city. There is more to this than just the postcard."

The Alturas City Council will be holding a work session Monday, 1 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the future of the rail road projects and the public is invited to comment. Currently, the city is looking into the museum operating contracts and inventory lists.

Andreasen stressed that the railroad school was not locked out of the museum for its classes. "That's just a smoke screen and a lot of garbage by Rangel to divert atten tion from the real prob lem," said Andreasen. "The city will be working to move forward with the railroad museum and with the railroad school, with out Rangel's involvement."

The Railroad School graduated its first class this last week, and according to Andreasen, the three graduates were inter viewing for jobs with railroads in central Oregon.

It was assumed that Rangel and Berdall were planning to move the school and open it in another city, but Andreasen said there are several issues in the works that need clear ing up before the school re-opens. He said he would like to see the school re-opened in Alturas, without Rangel or Berdall's in volvement.

Tuesday, Rangel said the railroad school and museum is a dead project at this point. He said one of the necessary components of the school was the hands-on experience stu dents could obtain at the museum. Rangel said he doesn't see either the museum or school re-opening in the Alturas area.

According to Andreasen, the city is cur rently assessing both the school and railroad museum project and is not about to let either project die without a fight.

"There has been an awful lot of good work done on the museum and the school, and most of it by local volunteers," said Andreasen. "We believe it is still a good project, we just need to get things lined out. The city has been insulted by Rangel's actions, but we haven't really lost anything. The volunteers are very disappointed and disheartened, but we be lieve the concept for the school and the mu seum is still ex cellent."

While still denying any involvement in the postcard, Rangel set an analogy of the city's action. He said it would be like the Rotary Club sending out something objec tionable to the city and the city locking them out of their hall. Andreasen said the issue goes well beyond just objection able.

"I can't figure out the connection with the postcard," Rangel said. "We're the losers in this. We understand there are no guarantees in anything. It's tough, I spent a lot of money and effort marketing the school."

He further said that the postcard is "not the central issue" in this situation, he said it was a smoke screen and that there are some state and federal issues that may come up and come back to bite the city.

Andreasen said there may, in fact, be some federal and state issues popping up, but feels that Rangel is on the hot seat, not the City of Alturas. "He's right, the postcard is not the end of this, it's probably more the tip of the iceberg," said Andreasen. "We don't be lieve the city has anything to hide."

On March 22, the city council held a spe cial meeting and rescinded a motion of January 25 which authorized the transfer of Locomotive 4031 from the City of Alturas to Wrymoo. The locomotive will remain in the hands of the city. At this point activity at the Railroad Museum has come to a halt as the city goes through contracts and inventory lists to determine final disposition and the future of the project.

In addition, the council confirmed by vote that Wrymoo, Berdall and Rangel have no authority to represent the City of Alturas in any property acquisition or disposition of city property. The council expressed concern over equipment and cars at the Railroad Museum in particular.

Paul Dolby, who owns the building where the Railroad School was housed, said that in dividuals came in last Saturday night about 8 p.m. and removed most of the equip ment and supplies from the school rooms. He said no one from the Railroad School had told him they were moving. There was no activity at the school Monday morning and only scat tered equipment remained.

Rangel said he intends to settle whatever rent remains on the Dolby building.

Information meeting on Forest Service road management policy

A public meeting is scheduled to provide infor mation and an opportunity to comment on the Forest's Service's proposed road management policy.

This policy is designed to help the agency determine how best to manage the more than 380,000 miles of roads in the national forest roads system.

The Modoc National For est has scheduled a public meeting Wednesday, April 5, 6:30 p.m., City Hall, Al turas, to provide information about the proposed road management policy, and to explain how the policy is re lated to President Clinton's roadless initiative, an nounced in October 1999. An update on the roadless plan ning process will also be given.

Wayne Chandler, Acting Forest Supervisor says the proposed road management policy will affect the approx imately 3,000 miles of exist ing roads on the Modoc Na tional Forest. The policy would shift the emphasis from building new roads to maintenance and recon struction of existing roads. Under the proposed policy, each national forest would work with the public to iden tify heavily-used roads that require maintenance or up grade, and roads that are unused or environmentally damaging that can be de commissioned or converted to other uses.

Public comments on the proposed road management policy must be received by May 2, 2000. Comments should be addressed to CAET-USFS, Attn: Roads Project, P.O. Box 2230, Salt Lake City, UT 84122. Forest Service will present the pro gram to local groups. Con tact Robert Haggard, 233-8840 or Nancy Gardner 233-8713.

Public Information Meet ing, City Hall, 200 West North, Wednesday April 5, 2000 at 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Modoc Recreation Park; becoming a reality

By Nora Russell

The planned recreation park in Alturas that has been tentatively known as the "Skateboard Park" now has the official name of Modoc Recreation Park (MRP).

The new name and the creation of an official logo are just two of the steps al ready taken out of many that will lead to a state-of-the-art recreation facility in Al turas.

The recreation park will be lo cated on the north side of 4th Street, east of the Boy Scout Hall. The City of Alturas was gracious in donating the land.

A wide variety of activi ties will be available in the fence enclosed park includ ing; skateboarding ramps, in-line skating, free style biking, BMX biking and an area designated for free skating.

The park will be designed with the beginner, interme diate and advanced skater or boarder in mind. A fenced toddler playground area makes the park a recreational opportunity for the entire family.

There will be an elevated spectator area because events such as workshops, competi tions and demonstrations are planned.

Grants like the Gang Risk Intervention Grant and Waste Tire Recycling Grant are being sought to help fund the park.

To date a grant from the National Recreation and Park Asso ciation has been awarded to MRP for its BMX facility. It will provide a starting gate valued at $1,500, A Rapid gate valued at $850, a Sure Start system valued at $750, A Moto maker software package valued at $150 and an opera tor and equipment to build the track for a period of five days valued at $2,000.

Another source of funding for the park will come from fundraising projects put on by the MRP Committee, made up of 12 middle school and high school students along with adult sponsor, Matt Barnreitter.

A St. Patrick's Day dinner and silent auction was hosted by the committee on March 17.

"The students did every thing for the fundraiser themselves," Barnreitter said. "They served dinner, bussed tables and ran the auction."

Future fundraising ideas that the committee has are a Bike-a-thon and a Skate-a-thon and selling t-shirts bearing the offi cial Modoc Recreation Park logo.

The t-shirts will be available to the public after April 6. They will be white with a black and blue logo. For price and ordering in formation call Barnreitter at 233-2828.

The MRP Committee will go to Redding the first weekend of April to meet with the architects de signing the BMX track.

"The kids are very in volved in the entire design of the park," Barnreitter said. "They will get to meet with the architect and also even tually meet with Tony Dwyer."

Dwyer has ridden BMX bikes as a pro fessional and now travels across the country consult ing and building skate parks.

While in Redding the committee will also visit a Board Mart store so that they can learn how a skate supply store is run. The committee is exploring the possibility of having a collection of skate supplies that could be checked out and used by visi tors of the recreation park.

Job Fair coming soon

The Regional Job Fair will move into its second year on April 12 and promises to be an even big ger event this year, say or ganizers.

The Griswold Gym at Modoc High will accommo date youths and adults be tween 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12 who will have the opportu nity to interact with repre sentatives at more than 70 booths--asking questions and examining visual ma terials and tools of the trade.

Sponsored by a collabora tion of public agencies, and made possible by the efforts of dozens of local businesses and organizations, the Job Fair is designed to show participants what kinds of jobs are available in com munities and what kinds of skills are necessary to suc ceed in today's workforce. Individuals will also learn where they can obtain the ed ucation, training and voca tional skills they need to ac complish their career goals.

"Anyone who is looking for work, considering changing careers or contin uing their education, should plan on attending the event. It will be a prime opportunity to meet with local employers, several of who will be accept ing applications," says VeeAnn Ambers, Program Manager, Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc.

Business and community organizations will staff over half of the booths. Some of the vocations they will be repre senting include auto me chanics, construction, draft ing, computers, forestry, law enforcement, medical and health care, food service, ranching, communications, commerce, retail and ser vice businesses.

Several public agencies like the Modoc Public Health Department, Modoc Child care Council, Head Start, TEACH, Inc., Modoc Crisis Center, California Employ ment Development Depart ment and the Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc. will also be on hand to share information.

Local and regional col leges, universities and training institutions will staff almost 20 booths. Re cruiters with the United States Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, Army and Marines will be present.

Several outdoor hands-on exhibits will revolve around ambulance, fire truck, trac tor and tractor-trailer, bass fishing, horseshoeing and veterinary demonstrations. Interested participants will have a chance to try their hand at removing dents from a car compliments of No Shortcuts Auto Body.

"The Regional Job Fair has something for every one," offers Ambers. "It is a valuable opportunity for job seekers of all ages to interact one-on-one with employers and presenters. Participants will learn what employers expect from employees, how businesses and organiza tions operate, what specific jobs entail, what career op tions are available, and per haps most importantly, what it takes, realistically, to suc ceed."

Employers and busi nesses who would like to share career information or accept job applications at the Regional Job Fair should contact VeeAnn Ambers at New Directions, 233-7703 or Julie Miller at 233-3111 by April 5.

The Regional Job Fair is a collaborative effort of the Alliance for Workforce De velopment, Inc., Modoc Joint Unified School District, Modoc County Office of Edu cation, California Employ ment Development Depart ment, School to Work, Al turas Rotary Club and Al turas Sunrise Rotary Club. For more information, call New Directions at (530) 233-7703.

 

OBITURARIES:

 

Mary K.Woodward Paulson

Alturas native Mary Kathleen Woodward Paulson, known as "Kay" to her friends and family, passed away March 18, 2000 in Petaluma, Calif. from Alzheimer's dis ease. She was 81.

Born in Alturas, Calif. on November 10, 1918, she was one of two children born to Philip and Lula Woodward. She attended Alturas Ele mentary School and gradu ated with the class of 1936 from Modoc Union High School in Alturas. She con tinued her education study ing two years at San Fran cisco School of Fine Arts.

Mrs. Paulson was very artistic and "always very gener ous in giving her knitting, weaving, embroi dery and cook ing," recalls her brother Karol of Alturas.

She worked on a loom at home and was also very adept at making pine needle baskets, several of which were avail able at the Modoc County Museum over the years.

In May of 1948, she married Richard Paulson in Reno, Nev. They lived in Alturas and Tulelake where they reared their three children. Mrs. Paulson was an accomplished pi anist and played the organ at churches in both Tulelake and Alturas, and gave piano lessons for many years.

She became interested in wild flowers of Modoc County and had over 500 colored slides including identifying some rare wild flowers species she had discovered in Modoc. She was called on and invited to give numerous programs show ing her slides. She could give the botanical names as well as the common names of all the flowers, without referring to notes. Traveling through the county searching for different wild flowers was a favorite pastime, and she was always elated to find the first buttercup in the Spring. Mrs. Paulson served as president of the Modoc County Historical Society and as president of the Alturas Garden Club. She was a member of the Federated Church in Alturas.

She leaves to mourn her passing, Richard Paulson of Yountville, her husband of 51 years; her children Linda Reck of Petaluma; Bill Bruno of Visalia and Elizabeth Bamford of Vancouver, B.C.; brother Karol Woodward and wife Mary of Alturas; eight grandchildren and numerous friends.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to an Alzheimer's organization or the charity of the donor's choice. The Alzheimer's Association address is 919 North Michigan Ave., Suite 1100, Chicago, Illinois 60611.

Charles Wistos

Charles Wistos, 90, passed away in Alturas, Calif. March 21, 2000.

He was one of four sons born to John and Elizabeth Wistos who had moved from San Francisco to Alturas, just after the big San Francisco earthquake. Elizabeth returned to her sister's home in San Francisco, Calif. to await the arrival of Charles' birth on May 6, 1909, before returning to her Alturas home where Charles was reared. He finished the eighth grade in Modoc County, where his father was a well-known and well thought of tailor who operated a tailor business in Alturas.

Through the years that followed, Charles worked for the U.S. Forest Service on the Modoc National Forest in road construction and many areas. But, his first love was always in ranching.

He and Dorothy Madeline Macdonald were married in Alturas, Calif. on October 28, 1933 and shared 65 years of marriage and reared two sons and two daughters.

They lived for a short time in a cabin near Perez, while the family was young, while Charles worked with a road construction company building the highway between Al turas and Tulelake. He later went into ranching and oper ated a ranch in Standish, Calif. for a little over 20 years. He traded the ranch for the Bazinette Hotel, complete with bar and restaurant, in Angels Camp which they owned and op erated for 20 years until they sold the hotel and semi-retired. Mr. Wistos also served as a Calaveras County Supervisor for six years.

The Wistos' moved to Chester for a few years, before re turning to Alturas about 10 years ago. Mr. Wistos loved to hunt and fish and was able to do just that when he returned to Modoc County.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy of Alturas; sons George Wistos and wife Linda of Alturas; Ed Wistos and wife Lynn of Chester; daughter Claudia Schena and hus band Frank of Angels Camp and Charla Wistos of Sacra mento; his brother Steve Wistos and wife Ila of Alturas; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his brother John and wife Dorothy Wistos; brother Joe and wife Jeneva Wistos and his parents John and Elizabeth Wistos.

Visitation was Saturday, March 25 at 10 a.m. at Sa cred Heart Catholic Church in Alturas, followed by a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Commit tal followed at the Al turas Cemetery.

Contributions in Mr. Wistos' memory may be made to the Modoc Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility, McDowell St., Alturas, CA. 96101.

 

April, 2000

 

 

Record news for April 6, 2000

 

• City mulls future of Railroad museum
• US Senate deals with forest receipts
• Search for new MJU super going well
• SAT9 test scores chart MJU student progress
• MTA needs to know where to go with bus
• Art show features students' art
• City mulls future of railroad museum

The City of Alturas met in a work session Monday to discuss the future of the Alturas Railroad Museum and the railroad school and will have the subject on next Tuesday's council meeting agenda for action.

The probable action the council is leaning toward will be to sever its contractual relationships with Wrymoo, the railroad historical society which helped start the project. The city intends to continue the operation of the museum, under a new organization. That organization will certainly include volunteers who have been involved from the beginning of the project.

The railroad museum is now at a standstill and the railroad school was moved out of Alturas last week after a handwriting expert identified David Rangel, the school's deputy director, as the sender of a March 3 postcard falsely attacking then councilman Kerry Merwin and Supervisor Joe Colt. Both men were defeated in the March 7 election.

While that postcard created some question as to the overall city-Wrymoo relationship, subsequent investigation has revealed there may be deeper problems, according to City Attorney Fritz Barclay.

Barclay said the city is currently tracking and detailing inventory and acquisition of equipment by Wrymoo and more specifically Rangel. The city's concern is whether Rangel was representing himself or the city when equipment was acquired from government surplus.

Barclay said the city has a handle on the inventory, which includes locomotives and rail cars, but has run across some irregularities in some instances. For instance, some equipment acquired by the city is not at the local railroad museum, but its location is known.

Rangel has denied having anything to do with the postcard. Sending the postcard is not a criminal act and no charges are pending. He said the decision to close the railroad school was made because the city locked the school out of the museum, which was used for hands-on instruction. The city calls that claim ludicrous, saying that Rangel and school officials were specifically told they had access to the museum at any time. The locks had been changed to protect city property, but city officials were available to open the gates for the railroad school.

City officials believe the overall railroad project is viable and vow to continue the operation.

US Senate deals with Forest receipts

A U.S. Senate Bill that would "guarantee" a good level of funding from national forests for county schools and roads is currently in the working stages and could be brought to vote in the next couple of weeks.

According to Modoc County Superintendent of Schools Carol Harbaugh, who has been instrumental in the drive to maintain Forest Receipts for rural areas, there is hope the bill will pass the Senate. It does face an uncertain future once it reaches President's Clinton's desk. The Administration supports a different remedy to the funding issue.

Historically, 25 percent of National Forest receipts have been returned to the counties of origin and those funds have been split evenly between the county schools and road departments. By far, the biggest chunk of those receipts came from timber harvests.

With the near death of the timber industry in this area, the level of those receipts have been going down. They have, however, been kept artificially high for the past few years thanks to a "spotted owl" designation by the federal government. That designation allowed Modoc to receive averages over certain years and the payments were not massed up actual timber receipts. Had the payments been based upon actual timber harvest, the county would have received very little.

Harbaugh said the current Senate Bill (1608) would provide a level of funding somewhere near the peak timber harvest years of the 1980s. She suspects Modoc County's annual share would be between $2 and $3 million. The county's last payment totaled $1.9 million. If not for the spotted owl designation, it would have been just a fraction of that amount.

An organization called the National Forests Counties and Schools Coalition has been working on the forest funding issue and is lobbying for Senate Bill 1608 primarily as a way to stabilize funding levels and preserve the relationship between the national forest and local government.

While the coalition is willing to admit it is not tying actual forest receipts to timber harvests any longer, it says the government still needs to help fund local roads and schools because of the federal government's dominance of land ownership.

Modoc County property, for instance, is more than 70 percent federally owned and that land is not subject to property tax.

Harbaugh said the forest systems still need to follow the 1908 Congressional mindset that helped offset federal land ownership by sharing in forest receipts. "We're not getting any property tax funding from the federal lands," said Harbaugh. "If those lands were not tied up in federal ownership, they could be developed and generate local revenue."

The impact of dipping forest receipts affects rural counties more than their metropolitan cousins and if legislation isn't passed that will take over once the spotted owl reprieve is finished, counties stand to lose millions of dollars. Congress is now wrestling with where those funds will come from if the forests are not generating income from timber harvest.

Search for MJU new super going well

The search for a new Modoc Joint Unified School District Superintendent is going well and should be wrapped up by early May, according to interim superintendent Don Demsher.

Demsher said the district sent out 45 packets to interested individuals and from those received 14 applications, which he characterizes as a "strong field" of candidates.

The applications are being screened today by a committee made up of board members, staff and members of the public. That committee will recommend from five to seven people for interviews.

Demsher said interviews will take place April 15 and a recommendation will be made for hire after the site visitations of those top candidates. He expects an offer to be made in early May and hopes a new superintendent will be on board this spring. Demsher intends to spend some time assisting the new superintendent with the transition.

Demsher took over the district last year when former Superintendent Craig Drennan was charged and then convicted of eavesdropping on then High School Principal Dewey "Duke" Pasquini. Drennan had ordered a hidden video camera placed in Pasquini's office.

SAT9 test scores chart MJU student progress

S.T.A.R. (State Testing And Reporting) is a two-year-old system in which the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT9) scores of students in grades two to eleven are evaluated and compared on a statewide level.

Students in the Modoc School District will be given the SAT9 test during the May 1 to May 12 window of time provided. There will be two days available to take make-up tests after May 12 for those students absent during the original testing days.

"Previous to the S.T.A.R. System school districts had four different tests that they could choose from to evaluate student's progress," said Jim McLaughlin, Dean of Students at Modoc High School.

Concerns over the quality of education that students were receiving in California prompted the governor and education officials to mandate a standardized test so that students could be evaluated statewide as well as at the district level.

"This test is not the SAT test that is required for college entrance," McLaughlin said. "This is a basic skills test that evaluates student progress."

"It is the best way to really tell how well we're doing," McLaughlin added. "It will help us chart each class as it progresses over the next five years."

When the Academic Performance Index (API) Report was released in January it showed Modoc High School with an API score of 620 and Modoc Middle School received 610 out of the possible 800.

"There were some circumstances with last years test that we hope to rectify," McLaughlin explained. "The SAT9 involves five and-a-half hours of testing and last year the students took the entire test in one day. Under those conditions students get tired and restless and don't do as well as they can."

This year the SAT9 will be given in smaller segments over a period of days so it will not seem overwhelming to students.

Only 86 percent of Modoc High students took the test last year because no make-up tests were given to students not present when the test was given.

"This year we want to be sure that all the students take this test," McLaughlin said. "That is the only way to get a truly accurate picture of student and class progress."

The state of California is offering incentives to schools and students for growth in academic performance.

"What those incentives will be hasn't been firmed up yet," McLaughlin explained. "But an exciting one for students is if their test score is in the top 10% statewide or in the top 5% schoolwide, they will receive a $1,000 scholarship."

MTA needs to know where to go with bus

The Modoc Transportation Agency (MTA) wants to know where you need to go.

The MTA hopes to provide transit services to meet your reasonable transportation needs. Please take a few minutes to answer the survey inserted in the edition of the Modoc Record. Return the completed form to "Transit Needs" 202 West 4th Street, Alturas, CA 96101, or hand to Sage Stage driver. Respondents giving their name and address will receive a "Free Ride".

Every year the Modoc County Local Transportation Commission must identify transit needs in Modoc County. Then, figure out which needs to meet with the funding received. The Commission sends letters to individuals requesting input. Also, the Commission publishes notices in newspapers, and holds public meetings. Sadly, only a few folks usually respond. This year, the Commission is really reaching out to the community, in hopes of learning where people need to go.

Because the Commission and MTA Board are made up of the same city and county representatives, three from each, they're combining tasks to address unmet transit needs and make Sage Stage service changes. The hope is to get more public comments, and hopefully to encourage more people to use public transit. In rural areas, fare collections must equal ten percent (10%) of operating costs to be able to use available funding. You see, state laws provide 90% of public transit costs through the Transportation Development Act. The Act earmarks 1/4% retail sales tax and smaller portion of gasoline and diesel taxes to provide public transit. These taxes are proportionate to population and spending; they have collected in Modoc County and returned to Modoc County for public transportation.

It's no secret that ridership is very, very low on local fixed-route service. So, the MTA Board will consider eliminating some routes. Targeted for cuts are the City Loop (Tuesday & Friday) and Alturas-Davis Creek (Thursdays). And, unless riders increase, the MTA Board may need to eliminate some Alturas-Cedarville service too. In place of these routes, Sage Stage hopes to offer public Dial-a-Ride. What's "Dial-a-Ride:? It's transportation-for-fare taking passengers where they want to go during certain days and times. Before any changes, the Commission and MTA Board need your input! Tell them what you think are reasonable guidelines to start Dial-a-Ride. More important, tell them exactly what you need and will use!

Public Dial-a-Ride typically provides door-to-door transportation between home (trip origin) and some destination. Routes change according to requests for service. Reservations are required because Dial-a-Ride is designed to meet specific transportation demands. So, pick up and drop off times sometimes vary. To begin, the MTA Board is considering offering Dial-a-Ride within 10-miles radius of Alturas. What service area do you think is reasonable to meet your needs? Unless more funding comes in, the MTA Board is limited to operating Dial-a-Ride about 20 hours per week. What days and hours are best for you? What fare do you think is reasonable? How long are you willing to wait (past reservation time) for pick up, and how long are you're willing to ride while other passengers are picked up or dropped off? The only way to get what you want is to let these agencies hear from you. Please fill out the survey, write a note, or tell Commissioners and MTA Board Members what you and the community need.

The Commission and MTA Board consist of three members and an alternate each appointed by the County Board of Supervisors and City Council. County members include Chairman, Supervisor Ron McIntyre; Vice Chairman, Supervisor Joe Colt, citizen Billy Madison representing the County at Large; and Alternate, Supervisor Terry Williams. The City of Alturas recently appointed Mayor Dick Steyer and citizen Kerry Merwin representing City at Large. Continuing, as City representatives are Councilman George Andreasen and Alternate, Police Chief Larry Pickett. The Commission meets on the third Tuesday of most months in the Coun cil Chambers at City Hall from 6:00 p.m. Staff to both agencies is Pam Couch, Transportation Manager and Niki Witherspoon, Transportation Assistant.

April show to feature local students' art

The work of more than 100 local students will be featured by the Art Center in April. An open house kicks off the show Wednesday, April 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Art Center is located at 317 So. Main St., Alturas, across from the Niles Hotel.

The day of the week and the date are a departure from the Center's usual show on the first Friday of each month. Everyone is invited to the opening of this popular annual student art event. Refreshments will be served.

High school and middle school students from Modoc County and Surprise Valley Joint Unified School Districts will display work in many mediums. Some of the work will be for sale. All of it will be entered in a juried show.

Ribbons will be awarded in several categories, and the winners of those categories will compete for Best of Show.

Paintings in oil, oil pastel, acrylic and watercolor will be entered. Drawings will include works in pen and ink, pencil and colored pencil. Sculpture and ceramics will also be represented.

A special feature of the April 12 opening will be a drawing for a wooden semi-truck model created by the late Les Donaldson, a well-known Alturas wood artisan and painter.

Tickets are limited to 50 and may be purchased for $5 each at the Center, where the truck is on display. Proceeds from the drawing will benefit the Art Center's art scholarship fund.

The annual student art show is sponsored by the Modoc Joint Unified School District, represented by Ann Wise and the Surprise Valley Joint School District, represented by Pete Petford. Co-sponsoring the event are the Modoc County Arts Council, represented by Ken Franklin and the Art Center.

 

Sports

 

Modoc spring sports in full swing

The Modoc High School sports calendar weekend with the baseball and softball teams playing doubleheaders in Burney, the track team in Redding, and the golf squad hosting their own three-team meet.

There's more action again in the coming week. The baseball and softball teams will be hosting Fall River tomorrow afternoon. Double-headers in both sports begin at 2:00 p.m. The track team will attend the Lakeview Invitational on Saturday and the golf team will play Lassen High in Susanville on Tuesday, April 11.

The Braves got key runs in the late innings in both ends of a double-header at Burney. Modoc swept the Raiders to up their record to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the Shasta-Cascade League, where every team has at least one loss so far.

Modoc manager Brad Server pointed out that while Burney fielded a talented squad that will surely play a spoiler role in the SCL, "We had a little more depth. That's why we won. We had more to work with up and down the order."

Game one was a pitching duel between Modoc's Josh Conner and Burney's Robert Pearson. Server called it Conner's "best game in two years." The senior lefty went the distance on the hill while striking out six and al lowing only one earned run on three hits.

The Braves opened the scoring in the fourth inning when Glen Christensen singled, stole second and came home on a Brett Spicer RBI.

The Raiders then took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but Modoc came back to tie it in the top of the fifth. Kaylon Benson got on with a bunt and went around to third on a throwing error before Anthony Northrup drove him in.

Modoc got the tie-breaker in the top of the seventh when Anthony Silva singled and Lucas Tramontanas followed with a double to bring him home.

Server said the first game was the best the team had played since their victory over Hayfork in the championship game of the Liberty Christian Tournament.

Game two was a much uglier affair, with hot and windy conditions leading to five Modoc errors. This was also another come-from-behind win, with the Raiders taking leads of 4-1 and 7-5 before the Braves exploded for seven runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead for good.

The highlight of the big inning was a grand-slam by Anthony Northrup on a 390 foot homer that landed in the back of a pick-up truck.

Northrup wasn't the only one wielding a hot-stick in Modoc's 14 hit attack. Blake Thorn was 3-4 with a double and Kris Server was 2-5 with a double. Benson and Spicer both went 2-4.

After Tramontanas had a double and triple in game one and two more hits in game two, the Raiders decided it might not be a bad idea to quit pitching too him. Tramontanas drew intentional walks on his last two at bats. He also pitched all seven innings in game two.

Nine errors in 12 innings made for a rough afternoon in Burney for the Modoc softball team. The Braves dropped to 2-2 after losing to the Raiders by scores of 5-0 and 11-1.

"Some of those fielding errors came at the wrong time and really ended up costing us," Modoc manager Dennis Banister said. "They (Burney) were a really good team and took advantage of our mistakes."

It also didn't help that the Braves managed just seven hits for the double-header. Banister said that while Modoc did hit well, the ball often went right at Burney fielders.

In game one, Molly Busby went 2-3 and Charlene Stevens whacked a double. Stephanie McMaster pitched six innings, allowing just seven hits.

She also scored the lone Modoc run of the day, in game two. Busby, Sara Howell, Jessica Kern and Laura Toaetolu also added hits in that game.

The Braves finished second in a three-team meet played at Arrowhead Golf Course in Alturas. Mt. Shasta led at 490, followed by Modoc at 508 and Fall River at 572.

Jack Britton and Michael Bates both finished at 92, just one stroke behind the top score of 91. Jerry Wheeler shot a 99 while Shawn Sherer finished at 111 and Scott Knuepel came in at 114.

Modoc participated in the Eagle Classic Relays at West Valley High School. All of the races were relays and the field events were judged on team totals when a school had three or more athletes in that event. The event was made all the more complicated for the Braves because of illness and injuries that kept some team members home.

The trio of Tatum Dunn, Colleen McElwain and Rachel Gover combined to jump 79 feet six and one-half inches in the triple jump and 37-11 and one-half in the long jump. Those same three also teamed up with Dawnelle Gaskey to run a 56.88 in the 4 x 100 relay and a 2:14 in the 4 x 200 relay.

In the boys field events, Aaron Wishart and Chris Lauppe both cleared 11 feet in the pole vault, while Richard Tate tossed the shot 62-5 and three-quarters and threw the discuss 64-9.

At the JV level, the team of Todd Clark, Clinton Tate and Ryan Lieurance combined to throw 91-9 and one-quarter in the shot. The JV boys also had a sprint medley team of Justin Ulrich, Keith Wishart, Clark and Clayton Broman that registered a time of 5:23.

For the JV girls team, Jamie Kuhn threw the shot 23-10 and one-half and Roxsanne Gladu tossed it 19-8 and three-quarters.

Big valley

It took just three games for the first ever softball team at Big Valley to get their first ever win. The Cardinals showed they have strong offensive potential in a 16-8 victory over Tulelake in the first game of a double-header.

Senior Michelle Terry led the batting attack with three hits, including a double. The Cards also got two hits each from Jamie Hawkins (the winning pitcher), Emily Kelly and Jennifer Dowell. Sophomore Tristen Salters also slugged a double.

The Honkers came back to win game two by a score of 18-8 despite two more hits from Dowell.

The Big Valley baseball team got solid pitching from David House and Jimmy Perez, despite losing two to Tulelake by nearly identical scores of 7-1 and 7-0. House held the Honkers to just five hits over seven innings while Perez allowed only six hits in five innings in game two.

Both the baseball and softball teams play at home tomorrow. Doubleheaders against Dunsmuir begin at 2:00 p.m. for both teams.

The Big Valley track team is also in action this weekend. Their first meet of the year will be at the Lakeview Invitational on Saturday. Many of the athletes on the track team are also playing baseball and softball.

Wrestlers do well at home meet

Modoc schools' Youth Wrestling team finished its season in good fashion Saturday as several young grapplers won their division in their home tournament.

According to coach Shaun Wood, about 160 wrestlers were involved in the tourney and Wood called it one of the toughest events of the year.

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be the toughest tourney for Modoc's wrestlers, however, as several of them head to the World Tournament of Champions in Reno.

Wood is taking high school wrestlers Robert Flournoy, Wayne Sanders, Landon Brown and Matt Main, along with his three sons, Travis, Josh and Tyler Wood.

Taking first places for Modoc at the home tournament were: Blake McGarva, Jackson Nay, Joey Catania, Ross Cockrell, Brad Bell, Casey Poindexter (2), Travis Wood (2), Josh Wood (2), Ian Jacques, Chris Miller, Brandon Veverka and Tyler Wood.

Second place finishers were: Jaafar Mirlohi, Cory Bell, Nick Hawes, Brad Groff, Adam Pence, Tyler Stains, Neil Mohr and Justin Estes.

Third places were earned by Jason Jones, Breanna Fogerty and Garrett Chapman.

Fourth places went to: Megan McCulley, Will Mohr, Hank Raabe, Jack Veverka, Brittany Barnes, Jalen Estes, Chris Houghtby and Thomas Simmons.

Likely Links kick-off is April 15

April 15 may be tax day, but it's also a good day as the Likely Links Golf Course hosts its kick-off scramble.

The event will be a four-person scramble at $10 each and a tri-tip dinner, at $8.95 will follow the tournament. Golfers are asked to call ahead to be a part the tourney at 233-6676.

April 15 will also be the opening date for the diner at the course, and until then snacks and drinks are available at the clubhouse.

 

 

 

Record news for April 13, 2000

 

 

• City terminates contract with Wrymoo
• County, City cool to Nor-Cal rates
• Natural gas may be getting closer
• Chisholm is new forest supervisor
• Roads open to Nelson, Delta Lake fishing holes
• Black Bear Diner finds a home in Alturas

 

City terminates contract with Wrymoo group

The Alturas City Council Tuesday night voted unanimously to terminate its contract for with the Wrymoo Railroad Historical and Education Society concerning the railroad museum and the railroad academy.

City attorney Fritz Barclay told the council there was sufficient cause, basically lack of performance by Wrymoo to terminate the contract and move forward with the museum. In addition to a lack of volunteer help from Wrymoo, as was promised, Barclay said there were some irregularities in the acquisition of some equipment, primarily by Dave Rangel of Wrymoo.

Barclay said the significant issue at this time is to prepare a detailed inventory of equipment, especially rolling stock at the Railroad Museum and other places. He said it's vital that the city and Wrymoo come to terms on what belongs to whom.

Scott Kessler, City/County Planner told the council that moving Wrymoo out of the picture may be a benefit in the long run. He suggested the city rename the museum the Alturas Railroad Museum and move forward with current plans and establish the Alturas Railroad Academy in a proper and licensed manner. Both ideas, said Kessler, are solid in concept and can work well.

While a postcard attacking councilman Kerry Merwin and Supervisor Joe Colt, sent out to some voters during the March 7 election raised a red flag, Barclay stressed that wasn't the reason for the termination of the contract. A handwriting expert informed the council that some of the postcards, which were filled with false charges, were addressed in Rangel's handwriting. Rangel has denied having anything to do with that postcard and in a press release this week charged that either councilmen George Andreasen or Jack Ochs knew of and approved the mailing of the postcard. Both councilmen called that charge "hogwash" and said terminating the contract would a major benefit to the city and the museum, even though it will be a setback initially. According to Barclay, one "irregularity" discovered recently was the acquisition of a locomotive from government surplus. The locomotive was acquired by Rangel, represent ing the city. It had to be moved from its location immediately, so Rangel apparently made a deal with Yuma Valley Railroad in Arizona to move the engine and the deal allowed that railroad to use the locomotive for a period of time. The big question in the deal is not whether the Yuma Railroad should use the locomotive, but the actual ownership of the locomotive.

Barclay said there is no doubt the locomotive belongs to the City of Alturas, but the letter agreement with Yuma contains language that places its ownership with Wrymoo. Barclay will send a letter to Yuma, at council's direction, informing them of the ownership issue and explaining that the city has no trouble honoring the contract for its use. Yuma, said Barclay put out funds to transport the engine and entered that contract in good faith. Eventually that locomotive will be returned to the Alturas museum.

Barclay and Andreasen also explained that city-owned tank cars are housed by the McCloud River Railroad and those people have been informed that they are city property. There appears to be no problem with the ownership issues, but the city wants to insure that equipment Rangel obtained representing the city remains in city's hands.

Once the inventory lists and the disposition of all rolling stock and equipment is complete, the city will be working to get the museum back in working order.

Kessler said he would like to see the project jump-started by selling a couple of the city's locomotives and buying a steam engine and passenger cars with the proceeds. He feels the city could be running quality tourist passenger service in the not too distant future.

Mayor Dick Steyer also pointed out that Kessler was responsible for the concept of the Railroad Academy's push to educate students for entry level positions rather than an engineer school as initially proposed by Wrymoo. Kessler's research indicated, said Steyer, that the railroad job market was good in the entry level arena and that has proven true. Kessler said the plans are to reinstate the school in a different manner and ensure that it becomes accredited and licensed this time around. Kessler also feels that with Wrymoo out of the picture, negotiations with the Lakeview Railroad for passenger and shared service may be more fruitful.

In Wrymoo's press release, it contends the society is exploring its options and expects the issue to remain alive for many years.

City, County cool to Nor-Cal rates

The City of Alturas and County of Modoc attitudes are pretty cool considering the NorCal/Jefferson Public Power Authority purchase of PacifiCorp's Northern California property, especially when a 10-year study of electric rates is considered.

On Monday, the city and county held a joint work session to allow it's consultant from R.W. Beck, Dean H. Park, to air his point of view and also for representatives from NorCal to present their case.

Neither the city nor the county has joined the Nor-Cal/Jefferson Joint Powers Authority and had plenty of questions following the work session.

One of the main points brought out during the work session was the fact that Nor-Cal/JPPA predicts electric rates for Modoc customers will rise about 45 percent over the next 10 years. The rates are frozen at current levels for 2000 and 2001, and increases in rates are predicted from 2002 on. Nor-Cal is predicting PacifiCorp rates could be much higher over the same period.

While all local representatives wanted some specifics, the Nor-Cal/JPPA plan relies on financial and operational assumptions and predictions that the local elected officials are having trouble buying. The city and county have asked Park to come back with a recommendation in the near future.

Tuesday night the City Council opted to table the issue until it hears from park. The city and county are considering adopting resolutions to join Nor-Cal.

PacifiCorp (now owned by Scottish Power) agreed to sell its northern California properties to Nor-Cal Electric Authority in July, 1999. NorCal, with lead entities the County of Del Norte and City of Yreka, initially planned to acquire, own and operate the electric system. In August, 1999, PacifiCorp filed an action with the California Public Utilities Commission to transfer the electric system from PacficCorp to Nor-Cal.

A curve was thrown into the mix in August when a "validation" judgment in Del Norte Superior Court ruled that Nor-Cal did not have the legal authority to operate the electric system. In response to the judgment, the cities of Yreka and Dunsmuir organized a new joint powers authority, Jefferson Public Power Authority, to operate the system. Nor-Cal would remain in the mix, but counties can not be involved in the operation of the system, while cities can. All cities within the service territory have been invited to join Jefferson. Alturas, and other cities, have not yet been convinced. Several cities in the north state have joined the JPA.

While the new organization with the two JPAs looks good on paper, Modoc District Attorney Tom Buckwalter, queried the Nor-Cal representatives as to why they haven't sought a court validation of the new JPA structure. Nor-Cal attorney Dean Criddle, said they felt the judge in the first validation case gave them a roadmap that they followed. Additionally, he said, the validation action would be expensive and time consuming. He said the purchase of PacifiCorp facilities is on a rather tight time line, with the deal hopefully wrapped up this summer.

In addition to the rates, financial situations and legal questions, the city and county are also concerned about franchise fees and property taxes. Currently PacifiCorp pays franchise fees and property taxes. Their property is assessed by the State Board of Equalization.

The issue of taxes and fees may come down to a simply question that wasn't clearly answered at Monday's session: If neither the county nor the city join the JPA are they eligible for the taxes and fees? The tax issue is a major concern of county assessor Josie Johnson.

Natural gas may be getting closer

The possibility of natural gas service in Alturas may be getting closer as long as proposal by Rock Creek Energy pans out. Rock Creek has a franchise agreement with the city.

Tuesday night Ken Teague, of Rock Creek, suggested that the city become the billing agency for the natural gas service, enabling the service to get started without going through the two years of California Public Utilities Commission hearings and studies.

As a municipality, the city is not subject to the CPUC rate regulations and related studies and costs. Teague told the council Rock Creek was not afraid of going through the CPUC for rate regulation, since it usually benefits the utility more than the customers, but felt that by going through the city, the time frame and costs would be lessened. He felt the rates would be lower. Rock Creek plans on charging 85 percent of the local prevailing propane rates.

He said Rock Creek would build, maintain and operate the system and deliver the gas to the meter. From there, the city would take care of billing and so on. Rock Creek is planning to build the line, connecting to the existing Tuscarora pipeline just south of Alturas. Tuscarora left a connection for Alturas off that main line.

The council opted to have a contract prepared to go along with Teague's suggestion and insure that everything is legal and above board.

Teague said the company would like to start building the line in September. He said Rock Creek would have trained personnel in Alturas to handle the operation and maintenance of the system. He hopes to have natural gas available for Alturas next winter.

Also on Tuesday night, the council accepted a 300 name petition from Jim Parker, in support of rehabing the Alturas tennis courts. Parker and Richard Belarde gave the council some ideas and costs for the project.

The council is supportive of the tennis court upgrades, but Mayor Dick Steyer said raising or finding the funds will be the difficult part. Parker said the group will be forming a tennis club in the near future. That club, said Parker, would be involved in fundraising efforts.

The council re-appointed City Planning Commissioners Dan McKernan and VeeAnn Ambers to four year terms expiring in April, 2004.

Chisholm is new forest supervisor

The Modoc National Forest will have a new supervisor, Daniel K. Chisholm, who comes on board May 7. Wayne Chandler is now serving as interim Forest Supervisor.

"Chisholm brings more than 16 years of Deputy Forest Supervisor and Forest Supervisor to the Modoc National Forest," said Pacific Southwest Regional Forester Brad Powell. "I am looking forward to working with him on his new assignment."

Chisholm holds a Bachelor's Degree in Forest Management from the University of Minnestoa and a Masters Degree in Systematic Analysis from Michigan State. His experience includes positions on eight national forests including the Nez Perce, Clearwater and Panhandle Forests of Idaho; Beaverhead and Lewis and Clark National Forests in Montana; San Juan National Forest in Colorado; and the National Forests of North Carolina. Previous jobs include District Ranger, Planning Team Leader, Planning Staff Officer, Resource Staff Officer and Deputy Forest Supervisor.

Chisholm is currently Forest Supervisor of the Mendocino National Forest, headquartered in Willows.

"My wife, Wanda, and I are very excited about coming to Modoc County and the Modoc National Forest, Chisholm said. "I have spent most of my life in small towns and especially enjoy rural community life. The Modoc National Forest has a well-known reputation for working together with the community to resolve issues. This is a busy forest with experienced and professional employees. I'm anxious to begin my new assignment."

Roads opened to Nelson, Delta Lake fishing holes

In news that will make local anglers happy, the roads to Delta Lake and Nelson Corral have been opened by the Bureau of Land Management.

The roads had been closed because of possible road damage during the wet and muddy conditions. "The roads dried out early this year and vehicle use should not pose a problem," BLM Alturas Field Manager Tim Burke said. "There are still a few wet spots on the flat between Bayley Dam and Delta Lake, but if people drive responsibly, we can avoid damage that we have seen the past. People also need to remember that spring storms could cause conditions to deteriorate."

In addition to the recent warm, dry weather, Burke credits a patient public for allowing the re-opening of the roads early.

"Everyone has been very cooperative in observing the use restriction," said Burke. "The roads are in excellent shape.

Burke said repairs completed by the BLM on the Nelson Corral Road last fall held up well through the winter, and the road is in good condition.

BLM placed the seasonal vehicle closures on the two roads as a way to limit natural resource damage during muddy spring conditions. The BLM worked with area outdoor enthusiasts and groups to come up with a seasonal road closure that would limit vehicle use during the muddiest periods, while still allowing spring fishing access to Delta Lake and Nelson Corral.

Black Bear finds a home in Alturas

 

By Nora Russell

Watching the ten-day transformation of Jerry's Restaurant into the Black Bear Diner has been a recent spectator sport in Alturas.

A new roof and a fresh coat of paint were the early signs of change. Soon bears began appearing; bears in a mural on the wall, black bears along the border of the roof and then carved bears began popping up around the landscape. A cowboy bear with a lariat, a hunting bear carrying a rifle and a large bear standing on its hind legs bearing a sign that says "Feed the Bears".

By April 12 when the Black Bear Diner opened its doors for business, bears had taken over the decor of the restaurant.

"The bear theme wasn't just a glitzy corporate idea for a restaurant," explained Bob Manley, one of the three partners behind the Black Bear Diner success. "It has been developing from the time I killed my first, and last, bear at the age of 12. I've been a guide in wilderness areas around bears and I started the Black Bear Gallery in Mt. Shasta before getting together with Bruce Dean 5 years ago to start the Black Bear Diner."

Manley is not a stranger to the northeastern part of California. His father was coach in Cedarville in the early 1940's. In the process of transferring to a coaching job in Oregon he drove by Mt. Shasta and fell in love with it. Wanting to stay in Mt. Shasta he asked if a coach was needed at the high school, coincidentally their coach had just quit and the family stayed in Mt. Shasta.

Following in his father's footsteps Manley also became a coach, many times coming to Alturas with his teams to play sports.

One of the claws of the bear that he killed hangs on a chain around his neck. "Before each game the team members would touch the bear claw for luck," Manley said.

The Black Bear Diner in Alturas is the eighth one opened by the three partners; "Papa Bear" Bob Manley, "Sugar Bear" Bruce Dean, and "Worry Bear" Dave Doty. The other diners are located in Mt. Shasta, Redding, Willows, Salinas, Sparks, Yreka and Susanville.

Manley attributes the success of the diners to the desire to become a part of the communities where they are.

"All of the contributing dollars from the diner go to kid's programs in the community," stated Manley. "We sponsor the Player of the Week for school athletes."

A kid's room called "Braves Country" has been created inside the diner and is equipped with a TV and VCR for coaches who want to watch a game with their players. The walls are decorated with pictures and memorabilia of various Modoc athletes.

"We just really want to honor the achievements of kids," said Manley. "It also creates a connection for adults, a place to remember who you were and where you came from."

A jukebox filled with Country and Western music and Oldies has been added to the diner. "We want this to be a safe environment for kids, and hopefully to remind people of times when things were simpler. When kids could just be kids," he added.

A small "Cubby Hole" gift shop carries a wide selection of Black Bear merchandise. From Black Bear steak sauce, beer and wine to t-shirts with a bear paw that say "Talk to the Paw".

The menu has been broadened to include homemade cobblers and specialty items. Bob's Big Bear Burger has become a popular menu item, it is a 3/4 pound burger so big that buns had to be made especially for it.

"That's why it comes with a steak knife stuck into it," said Manley. "It's so big people usually have to cut it to eat it."

"We just want to create our own niche in Alturas," explained Manley. "We didn't come here to take business away from other restaurants. A community that has lots of choices for people to stop and eat ends up becoming busier, and that's good for all of us."

 

Sports

 

Modoc baseball, softball split with 'dogs

Stephanie McMaster put on a remarkable pitching performance for the Modoc softball team in their double-header loss against Fall River. McMaster threw the entire 14 innings the two teams played on the afternoon, striking out 22 (over half the outs) while only allowing nine hits and one walk.

Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for the Braves to sweep the Bulldogs. Modoc lost the first game 5-4. The two teams were tied 0-0 heading into the sixth inning, when a costly fielding error allowed FR to put together a five-run rally in the top of the sixth.

Modoc came back with a scoring run of their own in the bottom of the seventh. Tara Northrup, Amanda LaPlante and Jennelle Jacques all reached base and came in on a Jessica Kern double. Molly Busby followed with a single to bring Kern in and make the score 5-4.

However, the rally ended there and the Braves had to settle for getting their revenge with a 7-2 win in the nightcap.

Modoc capitalized on walks and Fall River errors to score five runs in the fourth to put the game away. Busby had a double while Jacques and Kern also registered hits.

The softball team, 3-3 in the Shasta-Cascade League and 6-5 overall, is off until April 28, when they will host Mt. Shasta.

The Braves are 4-2 in the SCL and 9-2 overall after splitting with Fall River last Friday. In the first game, a six-run third inning gave the Bulldogs a lead that Modoc couldn't quite make up, as Fall River won 8-6.

Modoc still pounded out 10 hits in the opener, including three hits by Kris Server (two of them doubles) and two singles each by Ramon Molina and Anthony Northrup.

The Braves bounced back in the nightcap to take a 7-6 win. Six of those runs were driven in by sophomore outfielder Blake Thorn. He gave Modoc an early lead in the second with a three-run dinger.

The Bulldogs came back to take a 6-4 lead before Thorn drove in two more in the fifth to tie the game up. The score would remain 6-6 through the seventh, so Modoc had to win the game in extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, it was Thorn once again, this time singling in the only run the Braves needed to claim the win.

Server added two hits, one a double, while Anthony Silva also knocked a pair of singles. Molina, Server and Lucas Tramontanas combined for eight innings on the mound.

Lost River will visit Alturas this afternoon to scrimmage the Braves at 4:00 p.m.

Aaron Wishart and Luke Hughes both had second place finishes at the Lakeview Invitational on Saturday. Wishart was second in the 110 high hurdles at 17.35, fourth in the pole vault at 11 feet, and fourth in the high jump at 5 feet 6 inches.

Hughes ran a 4:35.29 in the 1,500 meters to take second in that event, and also grabbed third place in the 800.

Cody Holloway placed fourth in both the 100 meters and the long jump.

As a team, the varsity boys took sixth out of 13 teams competing in Lakeview.

In the girls varsity events, freshmen Colleen McElwain and Rachel Gover combined to place in five different events for the Braves. The pair teamed with Tatum Dunn and Dawnelle Gaskey to run a 56.37 in the 4 x 100, good enough for sixth place.

The Braves took fourth, fifth and sixth in the long jump. Dunn flew 13-4 while Gover and McElwain both finished just one-quarter of an inch behind. McElwain also took sixth in the 100 and 200, while Gover finished sixth in the triple jump.

Senior Rebekah Richert placed fourth in both the shot and the discus, while Tamara Drennan was sixth in the shot.

The girls JV squad had the top team score of the 13 schools competing. The Braves finished with 65 points, followed by Henley at 57 and Burns at 51.

Kayla Harness won both the 1500 (5:54.12) and the 400 (1:12.84) and took fourth in the 800. Vanessa Thomason was right behind her in the 1500 and 800. In the 400, Jamie Kuhn and Katrina McCaffrey followed Harness to make it a 1-2-3 sweep for Modoc. Kuhn also took third in the shot-put.

Amy Gentry took third in both of the hurdling events.

In the boys JV races, Tyler Belarde took third in the 800 and fourth in the 1500. Ryan Lieurance was fifth in the 800 and Justin Ulrich was fifth in the 400.

The track team will compete on Saturday at the John Frank Meet at Shasta College.

Modoc's linksters took on both the Lassen High varsity and JV in a nine-hole match. While the Lassen varsity shot a 197 to win the match, the Modoc squad, composed mostly of freshman, beat the Lassen JV by a score of 248-257.

Freshman Jack Britton had the low score for the Braves. His round of 42 was also the fourth lowest score overall. Britton has also qualified for the CIF Sectional Tournament in May by having averaged under 90 over a three-round period.

Against Lassen, Michael Bates shot a 48 and Jerry Wheeler finished at 49. Andrew Bushey used 53 strokes while Shawn Sherer and Bill Moriarity both finished the day at 56.

The Braves play Portola this afternoon at the Gray Eagle course. Next Monday, they will take on Henley at the Rheams course.

BV's Hawkins wins shot put in Lakeview

Big Valley sophomore Jamie Hawkins had a busy two days last weekend. On Friday afternoon at the softball diamond, she went 6-8 at the plate with a homerun against Dunsmuir. On Saturday, she won the shot put at the Lakeview Invitational with a toss of 33-1, and also took sixth in the 300 hurdles.

Calvin Jackson also placed in two events at the track meet. He was fourth in the 300 in termediate hurdles and fifth in the 100 meters. He got Friday off since the Dunsmuir baseball team had to forfeit their double-header with the Cardinals.

The Big Valley softball team used a powerful hitting attack to come very close to winning their second game of the season on Friday against Dunsmuir. Besides Hawkins' numbers mentioned above, Kelsey Hunsaker was 7-8 with a double and a triple, Emily Kelly was 4-8 with two doubles, Jennifer Dowell was 5-8 and Holly Baker was 2-3 in the second game.

In the first game, the Cards led 11-9 and stranded two runners at third before the Tigers came back in the last inning to take a 12-11 win. Game two was a 23-10 win for Dunsmuir.

BV coach Matt Hunsaker pointed out that the loss in the first game may have been due in part to the fact that the Cardinals are playing their first ever season.

"We made some mistakes that a team that's already been playing four or five years wouldn't have made," he said. "There are some scenar ios that are pretty in depth that we're still learning about."

Hunsaker, who's football teams have won three straight section titles, is also learning that, "coaches don't have as much control in softball as they do in football."

The Big Valley softball and baseball teams will play double-headers this afternoon at Happy Camp. The track team is off until April 22, when they compete in the Bonanza Invitational at the Oregon Institute of Technology.

Likely Links kick-off is Saturday

April 15 is the day the Likely Links Golf Course hosts its kick-off scramble.

The event will be a four-person scramble at $10 each and a tri-tip dinner, at $8.95 will follow the tournament. Golfers are asked to call ahead to join the tourney at 233-6676. Tournament tee-off is at 10 a.m. and the tourney will be played unless the weather is too bad.

April 15 will also be the opening date for the diner at the course.

 

Record news for April 20, 2000

 

• County schools, road funds in hands of Senate
• Principal is model for reading program success
• Forest Service in middle of major planning projects
• Lions host annual Easter Egg hunt
• Canada goose hatch cracking up on Refuge
• MHS Classs of 1950 looking for folks

 

County schools, road funds in hand of Senate

Senate Bill 1608 that would provide a stable level of funding from national forests for county schools and roads has come out of committee and will be voted on by the entire Senate in the near future.

Modoc County Superintendent of Schools Carol Harbaugh, says the bill stands a good chance of passing the Senate muster but does face an uncertain future once it reaches President's Bill Clinton's desk. The Administration supports a different remedy to the funding issue.

Since 1908, 25 percent of National Forest receipts have been returned to the counties of origin and those funds have been split evenly between the county schools and road departments. Historically, the biggest chunk, by far, of those receipts came from timber harvests. Timber no longer plays a dominant role on the Modoc National Forest.

Since the demise of the timber industry in this area, the level of those receipts has been going down. They have been kept artificially high for the past few years thanks to a "spotted owl" designation by the federal government. That designation allowed Modoc to receive averages over certain years and the payments were not made up of actual timber receipts. Had the payments been based upon actual timber harvest, the county would have received very little.

Harbaugh said current Senate Bill 1608 will provide a level of funding somewhere near the peak timber harvest years of the 1980s. She suspects Modoc County's annual share would be between $2 and $3 million. The county's last payment totaled $1.9 million. If not for the spotted owl designation, it would have been just a fraction of that amount.

An organization called the National Forests Counties and Schools Coalition has been working on the forest funding issue and is lobbying for Senate Bill 1608 primarily as a way to stabilize funding levels and preserve the financial relationship between the national forest and local government.

The coalition says the government still needs to help fund local roads and schools because of the federal government's dominance of land ownership.

Modoc County property, for instance, is more than 70 percent federally owned and that land is not subject to property tax. Since those lands are in federal ownership, they are not open for future development.

Harbaugh said the forest systems still need to follow the 1908 Congressional mindset that helped offset federal land ownership by sharing in forest receipts.

"With the creation of the U.S. Forest Service in 1908, the U.S. Government created a compact with the people of forest counties whereby they would receive Forest Reserve funds in perpetuity in exchange for the government removing the lands from further private development," said Harbaugh. "If this legislation is not passed, or if it is amended, projected future funding could be less than $600,000 annually."

According to Harbaugh, Modoc County received $2,941.553 in 1987/88 and $3,734,925 was the high in 1990/91, inflated because of forest fire related harvests. The payments have been on the decline since 1991 as follows: 1991/92, $2,719,580; 1992/93, $2,455,757; 1993/94, $2,316,932; 1994/95, $2,316,932; 1995/96, $2,235,153; 1996/97, $2,153,379; 1997/98, $2,071,199; and 1998/99, $1,907,616.

According to Harbaugh, if the county loses two-thirds of forest receipts, it could have dire effects on sports, bussing, class size, supplies, electives, music and so on.

She said the Forest Counties and Schools Coalition now has over 1,000 local organizations in more than 25 states.

The impact of dipping forest receipts affects rural counties more than metropolitan areas and if legislation isn't passed that will take over once the spotted owl reprieve is finished, counties stand to lose millions of dollars. Congress is now wrestling with where those funds will come from if the forests are not generating income from timber harvest.

According to Congressman Wally Herger, the house was successful in adding a significant increase in funding in the Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Resolution which would increase Modoc's share to $3,170,980,72. That funding must still survive the Senate and the veto pen of Clinton.

While Herger touts the passage of the funding measure, he doesn't come up with where those funds will come from since actual national forest receipts will not be able to cover the cost.

Principal is a model for the reading program

 

By Nora Russell

Surprise Valley Elementary Principal Mel Soletti made a promise to his students at the beginning of the school year; if they became a Model School through the Accelerated Reading Program he would dye his hair the school colors of gold and maroon.

The students far surpassed their end of the bargain; instead of settling for the five Model Classrooms needed to become a Model School, each classroom in the school met the (AR) requirements. The crowning achievement was the certification of the school library as a Model Library.

The afternoon of Monday, April 17 Soletti sat in the chair at The Little Hair Shop in Cedarville to have his hair dyed and live up to his end of the deal.

Soletti originally anticipated having his "salt and pepper" hair colored with something that could be washed out in a couple of days. But since a true maroon color couldn't be found in the temporary dye, he agreed to have his hair permanently dyed. "The kids worked hard at their reading," he said, "the least I can do is go the whole way with this thing."

Before Soletti's hair could be permanently dyed it had to be bleached with peroxide so that the dye, or stain, would adhere to the hair. Virginia Ray and Jennifer Vermillion painted the peroxide onto his hair and made sure it didn't become over-processed.

The bleaching process took longer than expected, but Soletti spent the time laughing and talking with the steady stream of students coming in and out of the shop to watch his transformation. "We're going to see a new Mr. Soletti at school tomorrow," a second grader said excitedly.

Parents expressed how much the reading program had helped their children with reading. "It has helped my daughter so much," Vermillion offered. "She is more enthusiastic about reading and she takes the responsibility for her reading goals instead of it being a full time job for mom and dad."

"I think that kids enjoy doing things that allow them to be successful," added Soletti. "In the AR program with hard work every student can succeed because each student works at their own level."

In a survey of 743 Accelerated Reading educators 99.2% of them agreed that the program motivates students to read more and better books. Ninety three percent said that it improves student abilities in all academic areas such as reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Ninety six percent said that it helps students to love reading.

"Reading is a skill; the more the students practice it the better they will become at it," Soletti explained.

Once Soletti's hair was completely bleached, Ray and Vermillion painted on the colored dye, bright gold on top and deep maroon on the bottom. Twenty minutes later his hair was rinsed and blow dried.

While the school colors could stay in Soletti's hair until it grows out naturally, he has to be at an Adminis tra tors meeting in Reno in two weeks. "I don't want to show up at the meeting with my hair like this," Soletti said.

"When you explain why you dyed it, they'll probably admire you for it," offered Ray.

"I'll take pictures," he responded.

Forest Service in middle of major planning projects

The Modoc National Forest is in the midst of several major projects, some of which may have some impacts locally. Many of the projects are nearing decision or comment period deadlines.

The comment period for the Forest Service Road Policy ends May 2. There is currently an 18-month moratorium on new road construction in unroaded areas. During the moratorium, the Forest Service will develop a long term road policy for the National Forest Transportation System. In addition to minimizing environmental damage, the Forest Service will establish new policies to guide decisions on identifying nonessential roads, recommending roads to be eliminated or maintained to reduce environmental damage, and assessing roads that need to be reconstructed and maintained so they are safe and can sustain public use. The contact for the project is Robert Haggard, 233-8840.

Haggard is also the contact person the Sierra Nevada Framework Environmental Impact Statement with the draft of that document scheduled for release in May.

The framework would amend 11 National Forest Plans, including the Modoc and is focused on five problem areas: old forest ecosystems; riparian, aquatic and meadow ecosystems; fire and fuels; noxious weeds; and lower Westside hardwood forests. A draft EIS that outlines alternatives for addressing these problems is currently being developed for publication. Publication of the draft EIS will be followed by a public comment period which will help shape the final EIS and Record of Decision.

Public information meetings and comment meetings will be scheduled in Adin and Alturas concerning the Sierra Nevada Framework.

Curt Aarstad is the contact person for the Roadless Review EIS. The roadless proposal has two parts. First, the proposal would restrict certain activities, such as road construction and reconstruction in the unroaded portions of inventoried roadless areas. And second, the proposal would establish procedures and criteria to be used by each forest to determine what activities are consistent with the important values associated with roadless areas of all sizes -- inventoried or not--that maintain or enhance social or ecological attributes. Local forest plan amendment and the NEPA processes, both of which require active public participation, could be used to implement the procedures and criteria developed in this part of the proposal. The final rule would delineate the framework for this forest-by-forest implementation process.

Part one of the rule could affect about 50 million acres of inventoried roadless areas with 45 percent of those already in management designations that do not allow road construction. The amount affected by part two of the rule will be determined in the future through local forest planning. Contact Aarstad at 233-8745. The release of the draft EIS is scheduled for May.

A public information meeting is scheduled at the Alturas Forest Service Office May 23, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the Roadless Review EIS. A public hearing is scheduled on the issue June 22, 6:30 p.m. at the same location.

Another project creating some local concern is the proposed planning regulations with the final rule scheduled for release late this summer. The Forest Service is in the process of revising the way land and resource management plans for the 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands are developed. The agency has developed a proposed regulation that is based upon many years of experience, the recommendations of a distinguished group of natural resource scientists and feedback from the public. The Forest Service believes the final result will be a good product that will be improved after close scrutiny by all people who have an interest in the way forest lands are managed. Haggard is the contact person at 233-8740.

Final decisions are pending on a couple of controversial geothermal plant developments in the Medicine Lake area. The contact person on both EISs for the Telephone Flat Geothermal Plant and the Four Mile Hill Geothermal Plant is Randall Sharp at 233-8748.

The Warner Mountain Rangeland Project draft management plan is expected to be released in June.

Lions host Kids' Egg Hunt Saturday

The Alturas Lions Club will generously sponsor their annual Easter Egg Hunt for all children on Saturday, April 22 starting at 1:00 p.m. sharp in Veterans' Memorial Park, South Main Street, Alturas.

Children from one to 10-years-old are welcome to bring their baskets to join in the hunt. There will be prizes for specially marked eggs, which will be among the many dozens of colored eggs, scattered across the park lawns. No matter what the weather, the "hunt" is always held.

Lawn signs will help adults and children locate the five designated age category areas for the hunt. The area will start on the lawn in front of the Veterans' Hall and encompass the lawn area next to the new playground area.

A small group of "Lions" start their Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. preparing the eggs for the event. They boil 200 dozen eggs at Kelly Hot Springs near Canby, then color them in large tubs. The eggs cool on the return to Alturas by noon. The Leos Youth Club members pitch in to assist and help set the eggs out on the park lawns, which takes about an hour, described Lions' Egg Hunt Chairperson Pat Schluter.

Finding a specially marked goose egg, donated by Rob Flournoy to the Lions Club for many consecutive years, will win a child an Easter basket or plastic egg filled with candy.

"Three Easter baskets will be given per the five different age groups and we will have plastic eggs filled with candy as prizes too," said Schluter.

It doesn't take the young ones long to scoop up the eggs. Three years ago, the Lions clocked the event as taking one minute and 10 seconds.

Moving the Egg Hunt project from Sunday to Saturday has allowed the Lions to celebrate Easter with their own families and also does not conflict with local family celebrations and church services.

Canada Goose hatch cracking up on refuge

The goose hatch on the refuge is beginning just in time for Easter.

Broods have been seen on Duck Pond and Teal Pond for the past week. Also hatching already are the Great-Horned Owl chicks which are growing rapidly to attain the same size as adults before they can fledge (grow feathers) and fly. Sandhill cranes and the early nesting ducks such as mallards are also on their nests.

The refuge asks that visitors to the refuge and fishermen at Dorris Reservoir please remember to avoid nesting sites. If a goose is scared off the nest, it is best to pull the down in the nest over the eggs and move back from the site to around 100 yards. This will help protect the eggs from the elements until the goose comes back to the nest. Also please remember to have pets on leash at all times.

The west road at Dorris Reservoir may be closed on wet days when driving may be hazardous or cause damage to the roads. The road will remain open once the weather conditions improve. Visitors may still access the west side on foot.

Feel free to come and view the new goose broods but remember to keep a safe distance between you and the birds.

MUHS Class of '50 looking for folks

Modoc Union High School Class of 1950 is planning a reunion for August 5, 2000, in Alturas.

To make the reunion complete, addresses are needed for the following people: Margaret Parker, Lloyd Severe, Bob Powers and Michael Rolins.

Should anyone have information about the whereabouts of the above folks, please call James Souther at (530) 233-2737 or Betty Russell at (530) 233-2561.

 

Record news for April 27, 2000

 

• Search continues for missing men
• Charges dismissed against former DA
• Warner Mountain streams open later
• Only home health provider closing
• MJUSD near new superintendent offer

 

Search continues for 3 fishermen lost at Ballard

Three fishermen were lost and presumed drowned when they did not return home from a trip to Ballard Reservoir south of Canby last Thursday. The search was continuing as of Wednesday.

According to Modoc Undersheriff Mark Gentry, the men are Edwin Robinson, 39, of Alturas, Rodney Ruskell, 50, Alturas and Ruskell's 13-year-old son Jordan, of Salinas. According to Gentry, Jordan Ruskell was visiting his father for Easter break.

Gentry said the trio was reported missing by family members Thursday when they did not return home from fishing on time. Modoc Sheriff's Deputies initiated the search Thursday evening and searched through a very cold night, said Gentry, finding no sign of the men.

Gentry said Thursday night had turned cold and eerie. A layer of fog had covered the reservoir. When deputies arrived at Ballard, Gentry said they saw the fishing boat partially submerged in the lake with the bow pointing vertically. Fishing poles on the bank with baited lines were still in the water, said Gentry. The trio was using a seven-and-a-half-foot flat-bottomed aluminum boat.

The trio's vehicle was still at Ballard and deputies found some items of clothing. According to Sheriff Bruce Mix, the vehicle was not disabled and food items remained with the pickup.

Searches throughout the weekend yielded no results and as of Wednesday afternoon the search was continuing. Scuba divers from Washoe and Lassen Counties, helicopters, search boats, fish finders and special search dogs have been employed in the search.

Gentry said the water conditions were murky and deputies were unable to see very far into the depths. The visibility of the divers was limited to 18 inches and an underwater camera with its

own light increased visibility to only two feet. Spring run-off is keeping the water murky and winds are obscuring the view from the surface.

On Tuesday, new drag lines were being developed. There are a lot of old tree stumps and boulders in Ballard, which makes dragging difficult. Mix, at the scene on Tuesday, said the use of the dogs was giving searchers some hope of finding the bodies. Mix said the specialized dogs, a variety of breeds, are trained to locate human scent coming off the water. He said they are very helpful in finding the location of drowned individuals. Tuesday morning the dogs had reacted to several hits near the same area, and boats were concentrating on those spots of Ballard. Ballard is estimated to be about a mile long and one-quarter mile across in places.

The Modoc Sheriff's main rescue boat has a Global Positioning System (GPS) Unit installed and it was being used during the search to track what parts of the reservoir the boat had covered. The print out from the Sheriff's office shows an exact map of Ballard and surrounding areas, and shows by line the path of the boat. As of Tuesday, the main boat had covered much of the north portion of Ballard.

The drownings are the first at Ballard, which is a very well used recreation area about four miles south of Canby.

 

Charges dismissed against former DA

Criminal charges against former Modoc District Attorney Hugh Comisky and Alturas resident Jim Nelson were dismissed Monday by Chris Stromsness, a judge from Siskiyou County.

The judge said the charges were dismissed because "the people (county) interfered with due process" in a property line dispute involving Nelson and Omar Adrana on Estes Street, Alturas.

The basis for the criminal proceedings (involving trespass and malicious mischief) came from the fact that Nelson removed some wooden survey stakes from a disputed piece of property claimed by Adrana, and Adrana claimed he was intimidated or threatened by the Nelsons. Comisky was involved because as Nelson's attorney, he had advised him to pull out the stakes.

Alturas Police Sergeant Ken Barnes, turned in the initial investigative report, and Modoc District Attorney Tom Buckwalter filed the charges based upon a belief that removing survey stakes was illegal.

Judge Stromsness said that Barnes had "overstepped his role as a peace officer and chose sides" in the incident.

Buckwalter told the court Monday that he would be appealing the decision to dismiss. On Tuesday he said the Judge erred in his decision and he would be able to prove Adrana was the legal owner of the disputed property.

Adrana, the new owner of the property, had the official survey done to establish the legal property line. That line, it turned out, was 12 to 13 feet into property where the Nelson's had parked their vehicles.

A conflict arose between Adrana and the Nelson's over the placement of the stakes. Nelson contended that the property remained his because he had used it since purchasing it in 1986 and the existing fence was thought to be the boundary line. Adrana's survey indicated a different property boundary that took up the portion of what Nelson thought was his. Adrana had planned to build a fence on the new boundary line.

According to the judge, the case should have gone through the normal civil court proceedings to determine the actual ownership boundaries.

Comisky filed a motion Monday asking that Modoc District Attorney Tom Buckwalter be recused (removed) from the case because he felt Buckwalter's filing the criminal charges was a "political payback" from the last election. Buckwalter was successful in unseating Comisky for Modoc District Attorney. Stromsness never ruled on the recusal since he dismissed the charges.

The property boundary case between Nelson and Adrana is going to civil proceedings. Those proceedings have been started and are not a part of the criminal case dismissed Monday. Stromsness said Monday's decision should have no bearing on the civil case.

Warner Mountain trout streams open later

The traditional trout stream opening day for the Warner Mountain drain-ages that normally opened the last Saturday in April will open the Saturday preceding Memorial Day during the month of May this year.

This regulation change was the result of a recommendaion of local anglers that was adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission with support from Department of Fish and Game Fisheries Management personnel. The recommendation for the change was based on allow ing the stream trout an opportunity to spawn in the spring before being har-vested. All the streams affected, except the South Fork Pit River, rely on natural reproduction to maintain catchable populations of trout.

The regulation includes all streams in Lassen and Modoc Counties east of Highway 395 and North of Clarks Valley Road at Madeline. The 2000 stream opener for trout on these waters will be May 27. Consult the California Sports Fishing Regulation 2000 booklet, Sierra District, on page 13 for the text of this regulation.

Three waters containing Goose Lake Redland Trout that have been closed to protect that species will be opened this year on May 27 to catch and release angling only. The three streams, all Goose Lake tributaries, are Cottonwood Creek and tributaries, Lassen Creek and tributaries and Willow Creek. Anglers are restricted to artificial lures with barbless hooks only on these catch and release waters.

Please consult the 2000 Sport Fishing Regulation booklet available at license agents for further explanation of these regulations or contact your local game warden. In Alturas you may contact Warden Albright at 233-3263 or Lt. Wolter at 233-3718. Regulation information can also be obtained at the Fish and Game Regional office in Redding at 225-2300.

Only home health provider to close

 

By Nora Russell

California Health Professionals, Inc. (CHP), which has been providing in home health care for patients in Modoc County since 1994, will close its doors for the last time on Friday, April 28.

"We're sorry to be closing," said Nancy DeForest, an RN who has worked for CHP for the last two years. "When we're gone, there won't be any more in home health care in Modoc."

CHP has been in business for over 20 years and its closure will affect the many communities that had been served by the company in northern California. Modoc County will be affected more seriously than most because CHP was the last of three in home health providers to go out of business in the last decade.

In a letter sent to the Alturas CHP by its main office in Chico, the reasons for the closure were explained, "There have been changes in the home care industry since President Clinton signed the 'Balanced Budget Amendment' of 1997. CHP has been deeply impacted by those changes....Unfortunately we have lost money in the last three years and can no longer remain as a viable business."

The high number (28%) of Modoc residents between the ages of 55 and 75 makes the impact of the loss of in home care even greater.

Registered nurses making housecalls provide patients not in need of 24 hour surveillance by medical staff, the comfort

and convenience of medical care in their own home.

"It means that more people will be in the hospital when they don't need to be," explained Lisa Griffin, P.A.

 

MJUSD nearing new superintendent offer

The Modoc Joint Unified School District is nearing a selection for a new superintendent, and could make a choice within the next 10 days.

According to interim Superintendent Don Demsher, the interviews last week with four candidates went well and two of those people are being seriously considered.

Demsher said the district is now making site visitations to those individuals' school and districts and the offer of the position will come after those visitations.

The visitations will give local administrators and officials a good view of each candidate's strengths and possible weaknesses, said Demsher.

Both candidates are viable, according to Demsher, and he said all recommendations received so far have been positive.

 

May, 2000

Record news for May 4, 2000

 

• Search scaled back for three missing men
• EIS released on Sierra Nevada Framework
• Alturas Elementary honored for programs
• Dr. Go Forth is educator of the year
• Migratory bird festival promises learning
• Duck Race tickets flying out quickly

 

 

Search at Ballard Reservoir scaled back for three missing fishermen

The search for three fishermen lost and presumed drowned when they did not return home from a trip to Ballard Reservoir April 20 has been scaled back by local authorities.

The last major day of searching was Saturday when a search and rescue team including divers was dispatched to Ballard from Washoe County. That team failed to find any of the men.

The missing men are Edward Robinson, 39, of Alturas, Rodney Ruskell, 50, Alturas and Ruskell's 13-year-old son Jordan, of Salinas.

According to Modoc Undersheriff Mark Gentry, a cloth elastic wristband was found at Ballard during the search and that band has been identified as belonging to Robinson.

Gentry said the Sheriff's Office will continue to patrol Ballard by boat and on foot, and suspects the bodies will surface sometime in the near future. Just how long that will be, said Gentry, is unclear because of the current situations and water temperature.

The trio was reported missing by family members April 20 when they did not return home from fishing on time. Modoc Sheriff's Deputies initiated the search that evening.

Gentry said deputies found the fishing boat partially submerged in the lake with the bow pointing vertically. Fishing poles on the bank with baited lines were still in the water, said Gentry. The trio was using a seven-and-a-half-foot flat-bottomed aluminum boat. The search effort has recovered the anchor.

The trio's vehicle was still at Ballard and deputies found some items of clothing. According to Sheriff Bruce Mix, the vehicle was not disabled.

Searches throughout the 11-day period ending Sunday yielded no results and officials decided to scale back the effort.

Scuba divers from Washoe and Lassen Counties, helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, search boats, fish finders and special search dogs have been employed in the search.

Gentry said the water conditions were murky and deputies were unable to see very far into the depths. The visibility of the divers last week was limited to 18 inches and an underwater camera with its own light increased visibility to only two feet. Spring run-off is keeping the water murky and winds are obscuring the view from the surface. Searchers are hoping the clear and warm weather will allow the water to clear and warm up some.

Ballard is estimated to be about a mile long and one-quarter mile across in places. According to Mix, the reservoir covers 110 acres. The drownings are the first at Ballard, which is a very well used recreation area about four miles south of Canby.

Draft EIS set for release on Sierra Nevada Framework

A massive document that could have some serious impacts on the management of 11 national forests, including Modoc, and the Sierra Nevada is scheduled for release to the public this Friday.

Wayne Chandler, Acting Modoc National Forest Supervisor, told county supervisors Tuesday that the draft EIS is 1,500 pages long and that informational meetings will be held locally on the EIS.

The Draft EIS examines the environmental effects of possible future management scenarios for the Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Tahoe, Eldorado, Stanislaus, Inyo and Sequoia National Forests and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management unit and the portion of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in the Sierra Nevada. The EIS does not impact private land.

According to Chandler, there will be a 90-day public comment period on the EIS. The four informational meetings for Modoc are as follows; June 1, in Adin, 1 to 3 p.m.; June 6, in Alturas, 1 to 3 p.m.; June 7 in Cedarville, 1 to 3 p.m. and June 8 in Tulelake, 1-3 p.m.

In addition to the public information meetings, there will also be official public hearings where testimony can be received in July. Local officials have stressed the management plans in the Draft EIS should be taken seriously and comments should be specific.

The Draft EIS describes eight alternatives to address five identified urgent problem areas for Sierra Nevada national forests: old forest ecosystems, aquatic; riparian and meadow ecosystems; fire and fuel management; noxious weeds; and lower westside hardwood ecosystems.

The eight alternatives range for a going along with what's happening now, to a pair of "preferred alternatives" which will mean changes in management policies and activities. Those alternatives are listed as numbers six and eight.

Taking out the "no action" alternative, the remaining seven reflect diverse approaches to improving forest management relative to problem areas while addressing social, economic and cultural concerns, roads and recreation.

Chandler points out that all seven alternatives are based on science in the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project and more recent studies. Each action alternative is built around a different theme and has a related set of land allocations and associated standards and guidelines governing management activities.

"This process, affecting more than 11 million acres of treasured public lands, has been underway in various forms since 1991," said Brad Powell. Pacific Southwest Regional Forester. "The issues involved are ripe for resolution, and I am very pleased to announce this significant step. I encourage the public to help us refine and improve our analysis as we move toward a final decision."

Kent Connaughton, the Framework Project Manager, feels the final decision will require some "well-reasoned" tradeoffs between fuel reduction (to reduce fire risk) and wildlife habitat protection.

"While alternatives six and eight both reduce fuels and protect wildlife habitat, alternative six has more opportunity to fully implement measures to reduce the fire threat in Sierra Nevada," said Connaughton. "Alternative eight limits fuel reduction until further study of the effect on wildlife habitat. We are highlighting both alternatives to give the public an opportunity to focus their input during the 90-day comment period, and to help us reach the best possible final decision."

It is important to note that all eight alternatives protect water quality and the ecosystems in and near streams, lakes and meadows. Alternatives six and eight rate highest in those areas. All the alternatives protect large trees and increase the amount of old growth forest conditions, protect and restore lower westside hardwood forests and provide strategies for dealing with noxious weeds. And all action alternatives improve habitat for selected species, some more than others. Differences in how the alternatives benefit all of these identified problem areas are mainly a matter of strategies used to reach the goals. The degree of benefits differs mainly in the complex areas of fuel reduction and wildlife habitat protection.

None of the alternatives provide for a regulated timber supply, meaning that the traditional measure of Allowable Sale Quantity would not apply. Timber production would be a result of improving forest health and reducing fire danger, and would result mainly from thinning stands of smaller diameter trees. Under five of the seven action alternatives, timber sale offerings on all 11 National Forests would decline in varying degrees from recent levels (which are themselves significantly lower than the levels of the mid-1980s). Alternatives six and eight are among the five that would cause a decline.

All seven alternatives would decrease the amount of timber offered in the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Pilot Project Area, on the Lassen and Plumas National Forests, and the Sierraville Ranger District of the Tahoe National Forest/ The amount of decrease varies widely among alternatives, allowing different levels of implementation of the pilot project. In another area of public interest, the degree of flexibility for local Forest Service managers varies from high to low among the alternatives.

As far as public land grazing issues, there would be no immediate impacts, instead changes would come on a case-by-case basis as grazing permits are considered for renewal. In general, all the alternatives reduce the acres of rangeland considered suitable for grazing. This stems from the emphasis in the alternatives for additional protections of riparian areas and aquatic environments.

Full details are available in the document itself, which is being mailed this week to those on the Framework Project mailing list. Anyone wanting a copy of the Draft EIS, or a 40-page summary, can obtain one by writing to: USDA Forest Service--CAET; Sierra Nevada Framework Project; P.O. Box 7669; Missoula, Mt. 59807. Copies will also be available at libraries throughout California and western Nevada. The entire Draft EIS will also be on the Internet at www.r5.fs.fed.us/sncf.

The Draft EIS Notice of Availability is scheduled for Federal Register publication on May 5. To ensure a comment period of at least 90 days, input will be accepted until a postmark date of August 11, 2000. Comments from the public, state and federal agencies, tribes, elected officials, organizations and others should be sent to the above address in Missoula. The Forest Service team then will record the comments on a database

 

Alturas Elementary honored by state for programs

Alturas Elementary School is one of the 233 elementary schools out of more than 5,000 in California to be recognized as a California Distinguished School for the year 2000.

The California Department of Education recognizes exemplary elementary and secondary schools in alternate years. The 1999-2000 state recognition program focused on elementary schools.

To be eligible for the 2000 School Recognition Program, Alturas Elementary School's 1999 SAT 9 assessment results had to place in the upper half of the statewide distribution.

Other standards that were considered during the application evaluation were: visionary and collaborative school leadership; implementation of state-adopted academic standards; a strong curriculum in all subject areas that includes content knowledge, application of basic skills, problem solving, and comprehension; reduced class size; comprehensive professional development that reflects the California standards for the teaching profession; modern technology to support student learning; special assistance for students who are learning the English language, who are at risk, or who have physical or learning disabilities; a safe and clean learning environment that communicates the importance of education in our society; strategies that promote healthy behaviors and positive character traits in students; extensive family participation in the school; and partnerships with business and community groups to enhance student learning.

After Randy Wise, Alturas Elementary Principal, was notified of the school's eligibility, an eleven page application describing the school's programs and accomplishments was submitted for review.

The applications were screened in Sacramento and 233 schools out of 681 that applied were selected to receive site visits.

A team made up of two representatives from Sacramento, a principal from Redding and representatives from Modoc County Office of Education and Tulelake conducted the site visit on March 28. They visited classrooms, met with parents and members of the community and talked with the teachers of Alturas Elementary. Their goal was to validate the accuracy of the information presented in their application, and to ensure that the school is viewed positively by the community.

A statewide awards ceremony will be held on the evening of Friday, May 5, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. A delegation from Modoc will attend to accept the Distinguished School Award for Alturas Elementary School.

The delegation will be made up of the Superintendent of Modoc Joint Unified School District, Don Demsher; Alturas Elementary School Principal, Randy Wise; MJUSD Board Member, Cindy Culp; computer aid, Susan Slinkard; second grade teacher, Donna Johnson; first grade teacher, Kim Parker; first grade teacher, Barbara Moklestad; fourth grade teacher, Beverly Carstens; reading teacher, Susan Younger and Reading Recovery teacher, Carla Ratcliff.

The State Board of Education president and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction will greet each principal and present him with a Distinguished School flag and award plaque for the school.

Dr. Go Forth receives top honor in education

Dr. April Lea Go Forth, Director and Founder of the Resources for Indian Student Education Center based in Alturas, was honored by being named and awarded the "Distinguished Educator" plaque at the 23rd annual American Indian Education Conference at the Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim on April 15.

Actor Floyd Crow Westerman was the keynote speaker for the Educators' luncheon and later interviewed and filmed Dr. Go Forth for a documentary that explores the history of educating Indians in the United States.

As participants at the conference, Medicine Wheel Youth Trainers from RISE, presented 90 minutes of project goals, purpose and outcomes to 20 education professionals during the first strand of workshops on April 14. The team included Jacie Matzke, Lillian Toaetolu, Michael and David Parrish and Dana Knighton.

HAWK Peer Educators from RISE who have been sought as presenters for upcoming events, says Dr. Go Forth, followed in the second strand of workshops with a presentation on HIV/STDs. Twenty-one participants received current information on risk behaviors, transmission and prevention related to sexually transmitted infections. The highly-interactive workshop was delivered by Lisa Craig, Posh VanEtten, Robert Parrish, AnnMarie Sanchez and Laura Toaetolu.

Accompanied by 22 RISE students, staff and chaperones, the group visited the magic kingdom of Disneyland on Sunday. RISE gives thanks to the Cedarville Rancheria for assisting in the transportation of the large group.

Dr. Go Forth thanked her students, "for what is a teacher without students," she told the Record, with a smile.

Migratory Bird Festival promises learning

The 2000 Migratory Bird Festival is being held in Alturas Saturday, May 13.

The action packed event will begin with a "breakfast with the birds" tour at 7:00 a.m. and continue throughout the day with activities that include tours, an art show, bird watching, free bird houses for kids, ranch tour, wildlife drawing and much more. A story time and other activities will be available throughout the day in a special area for children.

Booths and workshops will include wildlife photography, waterfowl identification, sage grouse biology, and many other demonstrations including bat biology and basic birding tours for adults and children. T-shirts featuring the logo de signed by Modoc High School student Christina Crawford will be for sale, as will refreshments.

Don't forget to bid on the Silent Auction of wildlife art items during the festival. Silent bids will close at 2:30 p.m.

Also, free transportation is being provided to the festival by Sage Stage. The shuttle service will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. between the Veteran's Park in Alturas and the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge. One bus will travel back and forth, carrying riders on first-come, first served, space-available basis to and from the Modoc Migratory Bird Festival.

With advance notice, special curbside pick up from your home within Alturas City limits can be arranged. Call Sage Stage at 233-3883 for reservations, personal assistance and trip planning Monday through Friday only.

This fun and informational day is sponsored by the Modoc County Natural Resource Education Committee. The location is Modoc Wildlife Refuge, just south of Alturas. Make plans for your family to be a part of this unique event to learn and enjoy the birds and other wildlife that are so important to our way of life. Directions to Modoc Wildlife Refuge: from Highway 395 (Main Street) take County Road 56 east past the museum to County Road 115, then south to the Refuge. Transportation will be available from the park off County Road 56 via Sage Stage bus.

For further information, call the Refuge at 530-233-3572 or visit the web site at www.r5.fs.fed.us/modoc/naturalhistory/bird_festival/birdfest.htm.

Duck race tickets flying out quickly

Modoc County Little Leaguers flooded the new Alturas Rotary Park ballfields last weekend to open the season with several games going on at the same time.

The new ballfields are the fruit of the Alturas Rotary Clubs' Great Pit River Duck Race fund raisers. Duck Race chairman Bill Madison said seeing all the Little Leaguers playing ball last weekend on the new fields was pretty exciting and very gratifying. A grand opening of the park is planned for June 3.

"Just watching the kids fill up those fields made all the work on the Duck Race very worthwhile," said Madison. "The community should be very proud, as well, that the park was funded through its donations to youth. It's a very positive monument to our commitment to youth activities."

While the kids are now playing, the work is not done and the year 2000 version of the Duck Race is now going hot and heavy. Tickets went on sale in April and according to Madison, sales have been better than usual.

"We're really pleased and if people want to make sure they get a Duck Race ticket, we'd advise them to purchase them early," said Madison. "Don't forget, the grand prize winner last year bought just one duck."

The top prize this year is a really cool 2000 Volkswagen Beetle. Other prizes include a fishing boat, Monitor Stove, a Rally Scooter, set of tires, riding lawn mower, refrigerator and much more. A full list of prizes and sponsors will be published next week.

There are 3,000 tickets available for the Duck race, for $25 each. The coupon book that comes with the race ticket is full of great bargains.

This year's Duck Race will be held July 1 during the Alturas Chamber of Commerce's Fandango Days celebration.

What happens is 3,000 numbered rubber ducks are dropped into the Pit River at the Estes Street Bridge. The ducks float down to the Main Street Bridge where they're gathered up in order of finish. Each duck's number corresponds to the ticket holder. The first duck across wins the top prize.

Tickets are available now at Seab's True Value, Belligerent Duck, Walt's Market, Les Schwab Tires, 4-Corners, Holiday Market, Alturas Tire, Likely Store and Cafe, Williams Texaco and Plumas Bank.

 

Record news for May 11, 2000

 

• Ballard releases 2 of 3 bodies
• Sheriff investigating shooting death of teen
• City opts to contine effort on railroad museum
• Migratory bird festival set this weekend
• MMC welcoming new medical director
• Modoc Museum opens with exiting displays

 

Ballard Reservoir gives up 2 of 3 bodies

Two of the three bodies of men drowned at Ballard were discovered over the weekend, floating in the reservoir south of Canby.

The body of Jordan Ruskell, 13, of Salinas, was found by Deputies Mark Pearce and George Semenko while they were patrolling the reservoir on Friday. The young man's body was found across the reservoir from the boat launching area.

On Sunday, about 3 p.m. a pair of local fisherman discovered the body of Eddie Robinson, also floating in the reservoir across from the boat launching area, but not close to where the boy's body surfaced. The body of Rodney Ruskell, age 50, is expected to be recovered in the near future.

According to Undersheriff Mark Gentry, there are no signs of foul play on either of the bodies and both have been sent to Shasta County for routine autopsy. An autopsy on Jordan Ruskell has revealed the cause of death as drowning.

The three fishermen were lost and presumed drowned when they did not return home from a trip to Ballard Reservoir April 20.

The last major day of searching was April 30 when a search and rescue team including divers was dispatched to Ballard from Washoe County.

Gentry said deputies found the fishing boat partially submerged in the lake with the bow pointing vertically. Fishing poles on the bank with baited lines were still in the water, said Gentry. The trio was using a seven-and-a-half-foot flat-bottomed aluminum boat. The trio's vehicle was still at Ballard and deputies found some items of clothing. According to Sheriff Bruce Mix, the vehicle was not disabled.

Scuba divers from Washoe and Lassen Counties, helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, search boats, fish finders and special search dogs have been employed in the search.

Ballard is estimated to be about a mile long and one-quarter mile across in places. According to Mix, the reservoir covers 110 acres. The drownings are the first at Ballard, which is a very well used recreation area about four miles south of Canby.

Sheriff investigating shooting death of teen

The Modoc County Sheriff's department is investigating the May 6 shooting death of a local teenager.

According to Undersheriff Mark Gentry, the victim, 15-year-old Cory Hewitt, and a friend, age 16, were out shooting squirrels in the area of County Road 75 about 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

As they arrived back at the victim's house, and were getting off an ATV, the .22 caliber rifle discharged. The bullet struck the 15-year-old in the back. He was pronounced dead by local ambulance technicians when they arrived at the scene.

The Modoc District Attorney's Office has filed involuntary manslaughter charges in juvenile court against the 16-year-old. He will not be treated as an adult in the case.

In another case, the Sheriff's office is treating the death of a 22-year-old Adin woman as an apparent suicide.

Gentry said the woman was found by her sister May 6 and reported to the Sheriff's Office who responded. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Gentry, there is no evidence of foul play.

City opts to continue rail museum work

The City of Alturas Tuesday night opted to continue its efforts on an Alturas Railroad Museum, but has agreed to working with an entity other than Wrymoo.

A group formerly know as Friends of Wrymoo has been reorganized officially as the Warner Mountain Gandy Dancers and asked the council Tuesday for recognition and permission to continue work parties and fundraising efforts for the museum. The council approved that request.

The council has canceled a contract with Wrymoo and is currently in the process of identifying property and ownership of railroad equipment. Wrymoo and the city had originally cooperated on the effort to build and maintain the Railroad museum, but that arrangement went afoul during the last election. The Gandy Dancers' President Jill Porter, said the new group's intent is to continue interest and work on the railroad museum and bring the ideas and dreams to fruition.

In other action Tuesday night, the council opted to relax enforcement of an ordinance basically prohibiting merchandise and other items on Main Street sidewalks while it and the Alturas Chamber of Commerce come to terms on an amended ordinance.

While the current ordinance is ambiguous in many areas, its basic premise that the sidewalks will not be obstructed remains intact. Businesses will have to use more of a common sense approach to placing items on the sidewalks during the interim.

Chamber President David Mason said the problem coming up with language for a new ordinance is in making it fit the situation and treat all businesses fairly. He said he and the Chamber will be working with City Planner Scott Kessler to come to terms on the language.

The council also agreed to extend franchise negotiations with Charter Cable another 60 days to hammer out some small details of the agreement. The franchise expires May 31.

The council also approved a $1,300 expenditure from Community Project funds to complete the trash barrel project for Main Street. The attractive wood surrounds were constructed last year by Summer Youth Employment workers under direction of VeeAnn Ambers. Those trash bins should be placed on Main Street by summer.

Migratory Bird Festival is set for top flight weekend

There could not be a better time than now to hold the 2000 Migratory Bird Festival in Modoc. Canada geese are parading with their young broods throughout the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge and the scenes are excellent.

The festival is being held in Alturas this Saturday, May 13. There will be plenty of interesting indoor activities and the event will be held regardless of weather conditions.

The action-packed event will begin with a "breakfast with the birds" tour at 7:00 a.m. and continue throughout the day with activities that include tours, an art show, bird watching, free bird houses for kids, ranch tour, wildlife drawing and much more. A story time and other activities will be available throughout the day in a special area for children.

Booths and workshops will include wildlife photography, waterfowl identification, sage grouse biology, and many other demonstrations including bat biology and basic birding tours for adults and children. T-shirts featuring the logo designed by Modoc High School student Christina Crawford will be for sale, as will refreshments.

Don't forget to bid on the Silent Auction of wildlife art items during the festival. Silent bids will close at 2:30 p.m.

Also, free transportation is being provided to the festival by Sage Stage. The shuttle service will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. between the Veteran's Park in Alturas and the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge. One bus will travel back and forth, carrying riders on first-come, first served, space-available basis to and from the Modoc Migratory Bird Festival.

With advance notice, special curbside pick up from your home within Alturas City limits can be arranged. Call Sage Stage at 233-3883 for reservations, personal assistance and trip planning Monday through Friday only.

This fun and informational day is sponsored by the Modoc County Natural Resource Education Committee. The location is Modoc Wildlife Refuge, just south of Alturas. Make plans for the family to be a part of this unique event to learn and enjoy the birds and other wildlife that are so important to our way of life. Directions to Modoc Wildlife Refuge: from Highway 395 (Main Street) take County Road 56 east past the museum to County Road 115, then south to the Refuge. Transportation will be available from the park off County Road 56 via Sage Stage bus.

For further information, call the Modoc Refuge at 530-233-3572 or simply visit their Internet site located at www.r5.fs.fed.us/modoc/naturalhistory/bird_festival/birdfest.htm.

MMC Clinic welcomes incoming Medical Director

 

By Nora Russell

On August 1 the position of Medical Director for the Modoc Medical Center Clinic will be filled by Dana Lewis, OD.

Lewis is currently serving an OBGYN fellowship in San Bernardino where she splits her duties between two hospitals, River side County Regional Medical Center and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

Labor and Delivery, Clinic, and Night Float are three areas of responsibility that Lewis manages. Lewis has experience with high-risk pregnancies and has delivered more than 40 babies through C-Section since the beginning of the year.

"We are very glad that Dr. Lewis will be joining our staff," said Teresa Jacques, Modoc Medical Center Administrator. "We are planning to redo the OB rooms and provide additional OB training for the nurses now that we have a doctor with such extensive OB experience."

"I always wanted to be a doctor," Lewis said. But it wasn't until after receiving a degree in Biological Sciences at the University of California in Irvine and a Masters Degree in Public Health at Loma Linda University, specializing in En vironmental Health that Lewis got serious about becoming a family doctor.

In January of 1991 Lewis entered the Western University of Osteopathic Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 1996.

San Bernardino Medical Center is the hospital where Lewis spent her internship. She participated in a transitional year-round program with electives in community medicine and family med-icine. Lewis went to the University of Southern California Department of Med-icine for two years and was Chief Resident for one year. She graduated in 1999 with the first group to graduate from that particular program.

Moving away from her mother, grandmother and brother will be difficult, "But my mom is already trying to figure out a way to move up here too," laughed Lewis. Her mother works in the education field and has a doctoral degree in education. Lewis' father is a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff living in Santa Barbara and does security work up and down the state of California.

Lewis will take the place of the fly-in doctors group at Modoc Medical Center four days a week and will be in charge of the emergency room, hospital patients and the nursing facility patients.

"We're planning a community meeting and barbecue to introduce Dr. Lewis to the community," explained Jacques. "We'll also talk about other improvements that are planned for Modoc Medical Center. The date is tentatively set for the third week in July."

Lewis enjoys plays and dramatic acting and would like to become involved in MPAT. She is looking forward to settling into a routine that will allow her the time and opportunity to pursue her interests of softball, arts and crafts, playing piano and going to the movies.

Modoc Museum opens with exciting new displays

 

By Nora Russell

Spring time has arrived, and with it the re-opening of the Modoc County Historical Museum on May 3.

Even though the museum had been closed to the public since October 31, 1999, a lot of activity was going on behind the scenes.

New carpet was put down in the lobby and offices, a new storage area was created and the floors were stripped and wax