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News
Snow meant short parade in Davis Creek
By Betsy Ingraham
Davis Creek, CA
Happy New Year from Davis Creek!
Well, our 4th annual parade down Plumb St. was very short this year. The wind was blowing and the snow was blinding. At 9:00 a.m. our phone had already started ringing with people calling to see if the parade was a go. I even had a gentleman from Vya, Nevada call to see if we were going ahead with it. I cautioned he better wait until next year. So did most, but of the few Hardy Creekers who could get out of their driveways and made it to the Little Red School House at high noon, we carried on. At 11:45 two big Popular trees blew down across Plumb St. They knocked out electricity to the East side of Davis Creek.
Lizzie Mendoza showed up with her parade entry and me and my new "driving rig" were the only two entries who made it.
So, with such a blizzard going on and Highway 395 closed to all traffic going north, we thought it might be a good idea to invite the stranded travelers to our pot luck. The lights were out, but we were toasty and warm at the school house, so my husband, Fred, went down on the Highway and invited everyone that was stranded to come eat with us.
There was a family from Lakeview, Buck Creek, Billings, Montana, Idaho, Burns, Oregon, and Washington. About 3:00 p.m. the road was opened and our travelers went on their way.
The weather cleared for about two hours, then it started in snowing and blowing again. We have several people in Davis Creek who depend on electricity to warm their houses and a couple of them live on the east/west roads that had totally drifted full. Brian Ingraham fired up his big red tractor and went in and rescued them. (He didn't ask if they wanted to be rescued, he just did it.) Then he brought them to my house and they spent the night. Dinner was heated on our wood stove and lights by candle. Our fire Chief, John Leslie and Assistant Fire Chief, Shan Lewis, checked on everyone to make sure they had heat. Surprise Valley Electric was here as soon as someone called and worked very hard restoring our power.
So next year's parade, I am not sure if we will call it the fourth or fourth and a half annual, because there certainly were people moving around Plumb St. I know that our story isn't unusual at all if you live in Modoc County, everyone looks out for their neighbors. Happy New Year.
Election '04-- Feb. 17 is final day to register to vote
The final day to register to vote in the March 2 primary elections is Feb. 17. Modoc has approximately 5,200 voters registered at this time.
Modoc County Clerk Maxine Madison stressed that since there are local elections set for March, voters who have moved, or changed their name or marital status need to register. Also, people who haven't voted in several elections should check to make sure they are registered properly.
Local contested races include a challenge by Roy Moore and Ron Sharpless to District Two Supervisor Mike Dunn. District Four's Willy Hagge will run against Canby rancher Ray Anklin. Each term is four years.
Supervisor Pat Cantrall and Superior Court Judges Larry Dier and Fritz Barclay are unopposed. In the City of Alturas, councilmen Joe Coffin, George Andreasen and Jack Ochs will seek another term. City Clerk Cary Baker has also filed for another term.
Challengers for City Council are John Schreiber and Steve Iverson. Baker is unopposed.
There will also be several state issues on the March ballot, including a $15 billion bond measure sponsored by the Governor.
County okays letter to attract feed lot
The Modoc County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved sending a letter to California beef feedlot, packing and slaughterhouse operators, in hopes of attracting one of those plants to this area.
Modoc County Planner Scott Kessler told the board the effort has been tried in the past, and several things tend to work as impediments, but felt another effort was worth the time.
Kessler said transportation, feed availability and distance to markets are generally the downsides of locating in Modoc. But he also pointed out that low cost of land, geothermal resources and even the climate are assets.
What Kessler said may be most attracted to Modoc would be a "niche market" operation, such as organic beef. He figures an operator who already has a stake and place in that market could find Modoc very attractive.
Additionally, the current Mad Cow scare flooding the country could serve as a tool leading to more natural or organic beef production, processing and sales. While the scare has impacted the beef market nationally and statewide, organic meats are not affected. The difficulty is the limited organic market size and just where that market may be located.
The county isn't ruling out any type of meat operation, but understands the problems associated with transporting feed grain into this area and transporting the finished product out.
Kessler said there will be some serious environmental concerns over a feedlot or slaughterhouse, but figures some of those concerns could be addressed or mitigated by just a proper location of a facility.
In any case, the county expects there to be some public opposition to a feedlot or slaughterhouse operation and public meeting and hearings would have to be held long before any approval was granted. Kessler said he doesn't know whether the invitation will bear any fruit.
Shaw will replace Harbaugh at MCOE
The Modoc County Board of Education appointed Dr. Vanston Shaw January 6 to complete the term of County Superintendent of Schools Carol Harbaugh, who is retiring in July.
Shaw currently serves as Assistant Superintendent at MCOE and has held that position for the past two-and-a-half years. He is responsibile for human resources, alternative education, career/technical education, curriculum, facilities and the School Attendance Review Board, (SARB).
Shaw served as Director of Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) for six years prior to being appointed Assistant Superintendent.
As the SELPA Director, he had responsibility for special education programs in Modoc County for children birth though 22 years of age.
Prior to moving to Modoc in 1995, Shaw was in Los Alamos, New Mexico, for four years as an elementary classroom teacher. He worked 19 years for the Stanislaus County Office of Education as a program specialist, staff development specialist, Resource Specialist, and special education classroom teacher. Shaw lives in Thoms Creek with his wife Nuria. His son, Seth, lives in Saratoga, California and works in the computer industry. His mother, Mary Bunce, lives in Alturas.
Harbaugh is retiring after serving as Superintendent of Schools for the past 14 years.
County opposes vehicle insurance rate hike
Modoc County has the luxury of relatively low auto insurance rates, thanks, inpart, to its location and lack of congested traffic areas.
On Tuesday, the Modoc County Board of Supervisors joined with other rural counties in the state to oppose changes in existing regulations used to set auto insurance rates.
A few counties in the state have petitioned Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi to arbitrarily change a regulation that would predominately reduce the emphasis on a driver's vehicle location in determining rates.
According to the County, such a change could result in local auto insurance rates increasing by over 20 percent. In some counties, the rates could go up 60 percent, and would increase from 10 to 50 percent for seven million drivers. According to Californians Against Higher Auto Instance Rates, there would be rate increases in 52 of the state's 58 counties.
The only counties that would see lower rates are those who have heavily congested areas, such as the Bay Area and the cities of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
"It just makes common sense, a driver's location influences the likelihood that you might need to file an insurance claim," the CAHIR states. "After all, drivers who commute on more congested, accident-prone roads, or drivers who live in neighborhoods with more auto theft claims are more likely to have an insurance claim."
Modoc County agrees that ignoring a driver's vehicle location simply subsidizes higher risk drivers in higher risk major cities and more affluent communities. The courts, and past insurance commissioners have ruled that the allowance of a driver's vehicle location in determining rates is legal.
The County is drafting a letter to Garamendi in opposition to the changes in regulations.
Modoc-Washoe Stewardship Committee Meets February 5-6 in Cedarville
Range improvement incentives and proposed changes in Bureau of Land Management livestock grazing regulations are among the items slated for discussion, when the Modoc-Washoe Experimental Stewardship Steering Committee meets Thursday and Friday, February 5 and 6, in the meeting room of the Cedarville Community Church, corner of Center and Bonner Streets, Cedarville.
The meeting is open to the public
On February 5, the session runs from 10 a.m. to about 5 p.m. Committee members will discuss a proposed incentive program for ranchers, hear a report on wildlife populations and conditions on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, discuss long-term monitoring needs for the Warner Mountain Range Project, and discuss a report from the riparian credit subcommittee.
Managers from the BLM will discuss development of a juniper management strategy, while Modoc National Forest managers will present information on the Forest Service's "Four Threats" initiative. Both agencies will provide updates on a variety of activities.
On February 6, the session begins at 8 a.m. Agenda items include a presentation on the BLM's proposed changes in livestock grazing regulations, an update on tuberculosis testing requirements for livestock, and a status report on BLM wild horse and burro management.
The committee will also hear an update on the management plan for the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon-Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area, receive a status report on land use planning for BLM's northeast California Field Offices, and hear an update about safe grouse conservation planning.
The steering committee advises the BLM's Surprise Field Office and the Modoc National Forest's Warner Mountain Ranger District on resource management issues in Northwest Nevada and Northeast California. One of three such committees authorized by Congress in the 1978 Public Rangeland Improvement Act, the committee often focuses on experimental approaches to sustain ranching and healthy, productive public rangelands.
Diverse pubic interests, including ranchers, environmental groups, state wildlife agencies, local government and federal agencies are represented on the committee.
Obituaries:
Ellen Josephine Fulcher
A Memorial service for Ellen Fulcher will be held Sunday, January 11, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at the Church of Christ, 1450 Warner St., Alturas, Calif. Pastor Dewey Potter will officiate.
Ellen passed away peacefully in her home in Alturas, California on Thursday, December 25, 2003, after waging a valiant battle against ALS (Lou Gerig's Disease). During her illness, even on her worst days, she always tried to keep her sense of humor and a smile on her face.
Ellen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. .
She was active throughout her life in her church, the Art Center and the Alturas Garden Club.
Ellen was a gifted gardener and she loved working in her yard and tending her flowers. She was born Ellen Grimes on February 21, 1929 in Whitesboro, Texas.
Ellen is survived by her husband, Don Fulcher of Alturas, Calif.; her son, Tom Yell and his family of Anchorage, Alaska; her son Harley Yell and his family of Eugene, Oregon; her daughter Elaine McMurry and her family of Kodiak, Alaska; her daughter Connie Mitchell and her family of Woodbine, Georgia. She also leaves her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her sisters, many nieces, nephews and a host a friends. Ellen, you are dearly loved and will be forever missed.
Donations in Ellen's memory may be made to the organization or charity of your choice.
Cynthia B. Steward Stefani
A Memorial service for Alturas resident Cynthia Belle Steward Stefani, was held Saturday, January 3, 2004 at 12 noon at the Christian Life Assembly Church, 225 West B Street, in Alturas. Pastor Jerry Chilson officiated
Mrs. Stefani, 47, passed away at Modoc Medical Center in Alturas, Calif. on Tuesday, December 30, 2003. She had been diagnosed in September with cancer and fought a courageous and valiant battle against cancer and pneumonia.
Born Cynthia Steward to a large family in Cedarville, Calif. on March 31, 1956, she attended Modoc High School, then moved to Oklahoma for several years.
She earned her GED and returned to Alturas a number of years later, at the encouragement of her family, to rear her children in Modoc County. Never a person to impose on anyone, she worked hard, was patient and tenacious. Cynthia was pleased to have successfully passed her bus driver test early in the summer of 2003 to become a driver for Sage Stage. Before she became ill, she drove the Sage Stage during the week and was a server at the Wagon Wheel CafŽ in Alturas, on weekends. She had also delivered "Meals on Wheels" for the Modoc Senior Citizens Center program. She loved being around people.
She had a strong faith in God, which was instilled by her mother and father to all her family, from childhood. The youngest of six girls, with one brother two years younger, all the girls were born while the family resided in Surprise Valley. The family moved to Alturas in 1957, when her father Brucie Steward went to work for CalTrans as a mechanic. Her brother was born in Alturas. Cindy's three children, oldest son Dwight and wife Mandy, daughter Keturah and youngest son Kyle were always her pride and joy. She also had two grandchildren from Dwight whom she adored.
Cindy was always doing for others. She was a "sweet baby sister," shared her sisters and she will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her three children Brucie (Dwight) Gene Hayles, 28, and wife Mandy of Pipestem, True West Virginia; Keturah B. Hayles, 26, of Alturas, Calif. and Kyle Randy Stefani, 16, of Alturas, Calif.; her grandchildren Kendal, age 6 and Britany, age 4; five sisters, Dori Shaffer and husband Louis of Alturas, Calif.; Mary Ann Smith and husband Bill of Fort Rock, Oregon; Judy Lynch and husband Richard of Alturas, Calif.; Bonnie Steward of Alturas, Calif.; Pat Matthews of Likely, Calif. and Cindy's brother Hal Steward and wife Lara of Casa Grande, Arizona. She is also survived by 15 nieces and nephews and 15 great-nieces and nephews; plentiful uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Brucie and Jane Steward of Lake City.
Donations in Mrs. Stefani's memory may be directed to the Modoc Medical Center, 228 McDowell Street, Alturas, CA 96101. Kerr Mortuary in Alturas was in charge of arrangements.
Jacqueline Olive Collis
Jacqueline Olive Collis, 82 years old, went to be with our Lord on December 8, 2003, and was laid to rest December 12, 2003 at the Alturas Cemetery, with the wonderful prayers and words from the Rev. Destry Campbell.
Jackie, as she was known to all, was born July 13, 1921 to John and Olive (Smith) Adams in Seattle, Washington. Jackie spent her younger years in the Klamath Falls and Chiloquin, Oregon area until she came to Alturas, Calif. to live with her aunt and uncle, Wallace "Doc" and Martha Dorris, who at that time owned the Brass Rail.
She later met and married Harold "Howdy" Mapes on October 30, 1939; to this union they had three daughters, Nancy, Diana and Mary Lou. The couple later divorced in 1949.
Jackie married Randall Collis on May 29, 1954. They owned the old Porter Ranch which is now known as the Dee Jay Ranch, and they also owned and operated Pepperdine Deer Camp for several years before giving the camp to Don Collis.
After the ranch was sold in 1964, they bought the Leo Gysin place on Parker Creek Road. Jackie was instrumental in starting the Modoc County Side Saddlers and later the Modoc Tee Pee Ride, which is still going strong today. Jackie served on the election board, and was a member of the Women's VFW Auxiliary 3327, under the leadership of Virgie Meyer. She was a long-time member of the Modoc Rock and Mineral Society. She was involved with PTA while her children were in school.
Jackie loved to hunt and fish and camp out. She took her children and later her grandchildren and shared her love of the outdoors. She was an accomplished horsewomen before she married Randall and loved the ranch life.
Jackie worked at Modoc Medical Center for many years, and when her husband had a stroke in 1978, she left her employment to take care of Randall until his death in 1991.
Jackie always expressed her greatest accomplishment was the raising of her daughters, but she did many wonderful things for all the people around her. Her family always came first. She was a great listener and a true friend. She lived life to the fullest with love and laughter. She loved to dance and play pinochle.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Steve and Hubert and sisters June and Hope. She is survived by her three daughters and their husbands, Nancy and Jim Sanford of Langley, British Columbia; Diana and Fred Derner of Alturas, Calif., Mary Lou and Mickey Allen of Alturas, Calif. and two step sons and their wives, Roger and Rose Collis of Roseburg, Oregon, and Don and Joan Collis of Alturas, Calif.; numerous grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Jackie will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Sports
Sports comes back to action this week
Area high school teams will get back in action this weekend, with the Modoc High Wrestling team at the big Anderson Tournament Jan. 9-10. The Braves are expected to do well, but the Anderson event brings together the best in the section.
The Modoc High Basketball teams start league play against Mt. Shasta Jan. 10 and travel to Weed Jan. 13. On Jan. 16, they are home against Burney. Mt. Shasta is expected to be tough, Weed is a question mark and Burney could be good.
January 15, 2004
News
City, county protest new Governor's '04 budget
Arnold Swarzenegger is starting to look an awful lot like Pete Wilson to California cities and counties, and they don't like the resemblance. In the 1990s, Wilson enacted a "property tax shift" that took property tax funds out of local government coffers, placing them into school budgets, saving the state funds.
It's deju vu all over again with Swarzenegger as he pretty much has proposed the same thing, and it will hurt local government and services. The Governor's proposal is proposed to shift an additional 15 percent of the county's remaining property taxes to balance the state budget.
A frustrated Modoc County Administrative Officer Mike Maxwell said the actual property tax take from the state would hit Modoc for just over $205,000, but the total cuts in local government services could be closer to $600,000 when all departments are considered.
City Treasurer Kathie Alves is likewise disappointed, saying total budget cuts for the city from the Governor's proposal would be about $200,000. "This came as a real shock to all of us," said Maxwell. "This just might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. It's not just this additional $205,000 cut, it comes on top of a $750,000 cut last year and a $300,000 cut the year before that. We don't have a lot of room to cut anything."
Maxwell said while counties have been creative and frugal, the problem is the state legislature overspent for years. He said it's just not fair to shoulder local government with this burden, when local government has been operating within its means.
"This budget was a complete surprise to everyone," said Maxwell. "We realize the state's in trouble and everyone has to pay a fair share, but this is not fair. I just don't know how we're going to deal with the cuts, but we're meeting with department heads and trying to come up with something. But, I don't think it's going to be good."
Maxwell said he's going to proceed on the budget issue as a worst-case scenario, not just hope something good happens between now and whenever the legislature adopts the state budget, which has been late the past several years.
"I just don't think it's going to get better and we can't wait and see what happens," he said. "We are going to have to take action now to avoid being further in the hole later. There are going to be some hard choices ahead for the department heads and Board of Supervisors. But we'll do the best we can and it will be a full team effort. Maybe we'll be able to figure something out, but it isn't looking real good right now."
In addition to the state's hits, Maxwell said the county's PERS costs are going up to the tune of over $200,000, and he expects a major increase in insurance fees.
Alves said a $200,000 cut to the city would probably mean a severe impact on police and fire positions. In addition, some funding for street maintenance and repair will also be impacted and no new construction projects will be undertaken.
The League of California Cities and California State Association of Counties are both opposed to the Governor's property tax shift in the proposed budget and we'll be working with legislators to change the formula.
"Recent history has shown that proposals such as this are foolhardy, shortsighted and ineffective," said Steve Szalay, CSAC Executive Director said. "We are shocked that the Administration is willing to travel down the same path, knowing what the outcome will be: elimination of critical services that Californians depend on every day. Although the Governor insisted he 'didn't want to do things the way they've always been done,' his proposal to grab $1.3 billion in property tax revenues from local governments is exactly that: business as usual."
The League of California Cities is strongly opposed and adamant in its criticism of the Governor's proposal.
"Here we go again," said league President Ron Loveridge, Mayor of Riverside. "This isn't a solution; it's a shell game that will force cutbacks in police and fire, emergency services, after-school programs for kids and many other local services."
CSAC, the League of Cities and others are sponsoring a ballot measure aimed for November that, if passed by the voters, would nullify the Governor's action and would protect local revenues from a state grab in the future. It has not yet qualified for the ballot.
Maxwell is planning to meet with county department heads and officials over the next week or two and bring a proposal on how to deal with the possible cuts to the Board of Supervisors at its meeting January 27. He hopes to have some fairly solid numbers to deal with at that time, and stresses things may be difficult.
City aims to redo public works, planning
Tuesday night the Alturas City Council received a formal proposal to reorganize the city's planning and public works departments. No action was taken, and the proposal will come back soon for adoption.
The proposal was presented by councilmen Joe Coffin and Jerry Smith, as the Government Oversight Committee, and they project the new structure would save between $20,000 and $28,000 annually and provide more service. The current organization has a Director of Public Works, an Assistant Director of Public Works, two working foremen and four other employees. The proposal calls for a new position as Director of Public Works, Planning and Economic Development, with a Deputy Director of Public Works and a Deputy Planner and Building Inspector under that position. There would be a Maintenance Worker 3, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator 3, Maintenance Worker 2, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator 2, and two Maintenance 1 positions.
According to the proposal, the goals are to bring the planning and economic development functions of the city under the direct control of the City Council, "where they can be given the necessary emphasis."
"Currently, the Planning and Economic Development functions are contracted to the County of Modoc and are handled by the County's Planning Director. The needs of the City of Alturas frequently are required to take a back seat where the needs of the county demand," the proposal states.
The City has terminated its planning agreement with the county which is effective July 1. That's when the city would like the new plan implemented if it's adopted in full by the council.
The City also agreed to authorize the Mayor or Planning Director to sign all necessary documents for the administration of a $35,000 Travel Plaza Grant, through Community Development Block Grants. They also authorized a cash match of up to $7,700. That grant will be used to study the feasibility of a Travel Plaza on SR 299 in Alturas. Plans include motel, restaurant, bowling center and truck stop.
County okays letter to attract feed lot
The Modoc County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved sending a letter to California beef feedlot, packing and slaughterhouse operators, in hopes of attracting one of those plants to this area.
Modoc County Planner Scott Kessler told the board the effort has been tried in the past, and several things tend to work as impediments, but felt another effort was worth the time.
Kessler said transportation, feed availability and distance to markets are generally the downsides of locating in Modoc. But he also pointed out that low cost of land, geothermal resources and even the climate are assets.
What Kessler said may be most attracted to Modoc would be a "niche market" operation, such as organic beef. He figures an operator who already has a stake and place in that market could find Modoc very attractive.
Additionally, the current Mad Cow scare flooding the country could serve as a tool leading to more natural or organic beef production, processing and sales. While the scare has impacted the beef market nationally and statewide, organic meats are not affected. The difficulty is the limited organic market size and just where that market may be located.
The county isn't ruling out any type of meat operation, but understands the problems associated with transporting feed grain into this area and transporting the finished product out.
Kessler said there will be some serious environmental concerns over a feedlot or slaughterhouse, but figures some of those concerns could be addressed or mitigated by just a proper location of a facility.
In any case, the county expects there to be some public opposition to a feedlot or slaughterhouse operation and public meeting and hearings would have to be held long before any approval was granted. Kessler said he doesn't know whether the invitation will bear any fruit.
Woman arrested after DUI, hit and run
An Alturas woman, Angelique Hanna, age 35, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol Jan. 11 alleging felony driving under the influence and felony hit-and-run.
According to the CHP, Hanna was driving a 2000 Jeep Cherokee northbound on Pencil Road at approximately 55-60 m.p.h., apparently under the influence of alcohol and prescription mediations.
Waposta VanEtten, age 21, Alturas, was driving his 1990 Honda Prelude southbound on Pencil Road at about 35-40 m.p.h. Hanna allowed her Jeep to swerve into the southbound lane, directly into VanEtten's path. He turned the Honda to avoid a collision and the car went off the west shoulder and into a ditch.
Hanna fled the scene and traveled about a half-mile, where her vehicle went off the road, struck a barbed-wire fence and became stuck in the mud. She was detained by a passerby until CHP officers arrived, as she was attempting to move her vehicle.
The Honda sustained minor damage to the undercarriage and radiator. A passenger in the Honda, Wendy Wheeler, age 17, Alturas, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Modoc Medical Center in Alturas.
Fewer Forest Service road maintenance employees to continue work
As part of ongoing efforts to make government more efficient, six Modoc National Forest (NF) employees will be affected by cost effectiveness studies of roads maintenance. Also there are two Lassen NF employees that are stationed in Alturas affected by cost effectiveness studies in fleet maintenance.
A total of 219 employees (139 in road maintenance and 80 in vehicle fleet maintenance) on the 18 NF's in California are affected by today's announcement. The decision follows competitive sourcing studies comparing the costs to those of private sector contractors. The future status of the employees wil be determined through subsequent steps. The Forest Service (FS) will provide assistance to employees throughout the process.
"These detailed studies have found that it is to the government's advantage to continue our road maintenance work in-house through use of a Most Efficient Organization (MEO)," said Stan Sylva, NF Supervisor Modoc National Forest, "MEO's are typically smaller than the existing organization, so changes in our roads maintenance workforce are expected."
"For maintenance of our vehicle fleet, we found that it was more cost effective to contract that work out," said Stan Sylva, NF Supervisor. "The private firm that won the contact is SERCO Management Services an, international outsourcing company."
"I greatly appreciate the professionlism of our employees, including those in fleet and roads maintenance, whose hard work led to completion of these studies," said Stan Sylva, NF Supervisor. "I am very concerned about the effects on our employees. Each affected employee has been personally contacted, and will be provided information about possible transfers to new positions or taking on new duties and other options such as early retirement. We will work closely with each employee to help them make the best possible decision."
Roads and fleet work duties were studied in strict compliance with guidelines established by the Office of Management and Budget, USDA and FS to ensure accuracy, consistency and fairness. The roads maintenance employees will work under a Letter of Obligation, which is essentially the government's contract to accomplish the work. In fleet maintenance, a small residual governmental organization will be set up to implement and administer the SERCO contract, and for any work the contract does not cover.
The transitions are expected to take about six months. More than 5,000 permanet employees work in the 18 NF's and Pacific Southwest Regional Office in California. Most of the affected employees are permanent employees.
Modoc-Washoe Stewardship Committee meets February 5-6 in Cedarville
Range improvement incentives and proposed changes in Bureau of Land Management livestock grazing regulations are among the items slated for discussion, when the Modoc-Washoe Experimental Stewardship Steering Committee meets Thursday and Friday, February 5 and 6, in the meeting room of the Cedarville Community Church, corner of Center and Bonner Streets, Cedarville.
The meeting is open to the public.
On February 5, the session runs from 10 a.m. to about 5 p.m. Committee members will discuss a proposed incentive program for ranchers, hear a report on wildlife populations and conditions on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, discuss long-term monitoring needs for the Warner Mountain Range Project, and discuss a report from the riparian credit subcommittee.
Managers from the BLM will discuss development of a juniper management strategy, while Modoc National Forest managers will present information on the Forest Service's "Four Threats" initiative. Both agencies will provide updates on a variety of activities.
On February 6, the session begins at 8 a.m. Agenda items include a presentation on the BLM's proposed changes in livestock grazing regulations, an update on tuberculosis testing requirements for livestock, and a status report on BLM wild horse and burro management.
The committee will also hear an update on the management plan for the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon-Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area, receive a status report on land use planning for BLM's northeast California Field Offices, and hear an update about safe grouse conservation planning.
The steering committee advises the BLM's Surprise Field Office and the Modoc National Forest's Warner Mountain Ranger District on resource management issues in Northwest Nevada and Northeast California. One of three such committees authorized by Congress in the 1978 Public Rangeland Improvement Act, the committee often focuses on experimental approaches to sustain ranching and healthy, productive public rangelands. Diverse pubic interests, including ranchers, environmental groups, state wildlife agencies, local government and federal agencies are represented on the committee.
MUHS 64-65 reunion in the works
Preliminary preparations are underway for a combined 1964-65 Modoc Union High School class reunion in July or August 2004, in Alturas. Date and place to be announced.
Alumni should send name, address, telephone number or email address to: Betty (Clark) Vaughn, P.O. Box 297, Keno, Oregon 97627, (541) 883-8150, email: riverviewtwo@aol.com; Alice (Mattson) Sisemore, 1903 Lakeshore Dr., Klamath Falls, OR. 97601, (541) 884-0866, email:alicesisemore@charter.net; or contact Hazel (Henson) Looper, 1204 W. 11th, Alturas, CA. 96101, (530) 233-2871; email: looper@hdo.net.
Obituaries:
Lucille Green
Lucille Green, 90, went to be with our Lord on Saturday, January 10, 2004, in Alturas. She is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Warford Green of Alturas, Calif.
Their marriage in 1961 brought together two families consisting of Lucille's four children and Warford's four children.
Warford acknowledges the Lord's blessing in the harmonious blending of the eight children and the addition of their spouses: Grace and Henry Buerer of Orangevale, Calif.; Jeanette and Roger Stone of Redlands, Calif.; Virginia Webb, serving the Lord in Romania; Linda and Tom Carrier of Redlands, Calif.; David and Deon Green of Maumelle, AR; Dwight and Mary Green of Purceville, VA; Duane and Linda Green of Roswell, NM; and Faith and Doug Bettcher of Kirkland, WA. Other survivors include siblings Glenn Lehman, 96, of Grand Rapids, MI; Ruth Westmoreland, 94, of Alturas, Calif.; Dorothy Childers, 84, in Bettendorf, IA; and David Lehman, 74, in Catalina, CA. Preceding her in death are two siblings: Amy Stipe and Harold Lehman, and grandchildren Jim and Darrin Snodgrass and Julianne Carrier. Lucille and Warford have 21 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.
Grace Lucille Lehman was born March 30, 1913, in Langley Township, Kansas. She moved with her daughters to California in 1948. She worked for at time at Norton Air Force Base Commissary and later in the San Bernardino Public School Cafeterias while Warford worked at Halsey Machine Company.
She lived in San Bernardino from 1948-1975, when she and Warford retired to a home they were building in California Pines. They were active in Roving Volunteers in Christ's Service (RVICS) and became members of Faith Baptist Church in Alturas, where they have worked and enjoyed the fellowship of many brothers and sisters in Christ.
The funeral and following potluck dinner will be held at Faith Baptist Church on Sunday, January 18, at 3:00 p.m. with Pastor Rod Bodmer officiating. Kerr Mortuary of Alturas is handling arrangements.
In addition, a graveside service will be held at Montecito Memorial Park in San Bernardino, California, on Thursday, January 22, at 10:00 a.m. for friends and family in that area with Bob Caddel of Campus Crusade for Christ giving a devotional message.
The family extends sincere gratitude for the multitude of expressions of sympathy and love from those who knew and loved Lucille.
Charles E. Reed
Lookout resident Charles E. Reed, 93, passed away of natural causes at Mayers Memorial Hospital in Fall River Mills, Calif. on January 6, 2004. Mr. Reed had moved from Los Angeles to Modoc County in 1978. He was a Chief Radio Technician with the U.S. Navy for 22 years. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. He was born in Centralia, Washington on November 10, 1910.
He is survived by his son Robert Reed of Lookout, Calif.; two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
McDonald's Chapel, Burney will be in charge of graveside services to be held at a later date. Burial will be at the Lookout Cemetery.
Sports
Braves knock off top wrestlers
Modoc's 145-pound Travis Wood placed second in his weight at the huge Anderson Invitational last weekend. He was the highest place-finisher for the Braves, who placed eighth as a team with 105 points. .
Wood knocked off the number one ranked wrestler in the section, Lander Beyer of Shasta, 6-3, in the semi-finals. He lost, in overtime, to Bella Vista's Matt Vigna in the finals.
Cory Bell, Modoc's heavyweight took a third in the division while Jason Jones, at 160 pounds, finished in fourth place and Joey Catania finished seventh at 215 pounds.
Jones lost to Robert Bohn, of Davis, in the third-place match. Reno's Mike Kummer won the weight division. Bell beat Red Bluff's Geoff Drake for third place. Catania beat Orland's Nathan Rinehart for seventh.
According to Max Prep Sports, Bell remain as the number one ranked heavyweight in the north section. Wood has moved into the number one position as well. Jones is ranked at third in his division. Catania has moved up to number four in his weight and Jafar Mirlohi is fourth at 135 pounds. Luke Hammerness sits in the fifth spot at 152 pounds and Brad Bell is ranked sixth at 189 pounds.
Elk Grove won the tournament with 199 points, Red Bluff was second with 166, Wood Creek third with 160, Grants Pass fourth with 137, Willows fifth with 120, Bella Vista sixth with 110, Campo Lindo seventh with 108. The Braves finished ahead of several large schools including Shasta, Foothill, San Leandro, Reno, West Valley, Ukiah, Anderson, Orland, Lassen, and Central Valley.
Modoc remains the top ranked small school in the north section, followed by Durham and Mt. Shasta. Modoc is ranked second among all schools, with Red Bluff in the top spot, Willows, Shasta and Orland round out the overall team rankings.
The Braves are at the Burney Invitational this weekend and will be favored to repeat as that tournament's champion.
"The Anderson tourney was tougher than usual and I was pleased with our performance," said coach Shaun Wood. "We should have nine or 10 guys in the 14 finals matches at Burney and should win seven."
Modoc trips Bears in overtime, 68-67
Modoc's Braves blew an 11-point lead with about two-minutes left in the game, and had to go to overtime to beat the Mt. Shasta Bears 68-67 last weekend.
Modoc coach Mike Martin said his boys varsity team still led by eight with 57 seconds left in the game, but missed a couple of front ends of one-and-ones and the Bears sunk two long three-pointers and forced a turnover to tie it at the end of regulation.
The Braves outscored the Bears 10-9 in the overtime period, as the Bears missed the second of the two free throws in the final seconds.
"We missed some easy early shots in the game and took a while to get going," said Martin. "Those final two minutes were frustrating, and we went just 7-for-15 for the free throw line for the game."
Marty Stevens led the scoring with 22, Zach McKirahan added 15 and Micah Eppler had 14.
The Braves traveled to Weed last night and results were too late for press-time.
The Surprise Valley Hornets basketball teams are in the middle of Evergreen League action, meeting Happy Camp in McCloud Friday. The Hornets boys are 2-0 in league play, and Happy Camp is the top-ranked team in Division six, and remains unbeaten this year.
On January 13, the varsity boys started slowly, down 37-36 at halftime, but came out and outscored the Tulelake Honkers 44-17 in the second half for a 80-54 win. Adam Evans led the Hornets with 23 with Scott Soletti getting 15, Loren Harris 13 and Kevin Konz 12.
The varsity girls fell to Tulelake 76-44. Cara James led the scoring with 24 and Sara Teuscher added 12. The junior varsity boys lost 79-77.
The Hornet boys beat Dunsmuir 50-46 January 10. A poor shooting night for Surprise Valley kept the game close, said coach Arnold DeGarmo. Evans led with 16 points, Loren Harris added 10 and Konz and Soletti each added nine.
The varsity girls lost to Dunsmuir 53-52, in a game where 47 total fouls were called. With Dunsmuir leading 53-51 with six second left, James inbounded the ball to Teuscher who passed back to James. She was fouled on lay-up attempt and made the first free throw, but missed the second. She led the team in scoring with 34, Teuscher added eight, and Patricia Soletti had six.
The junior varsity boys lost to Dunsmuir 53-38.
The Modoc Braves junior varsity boys spent a lot of this week practicing free throws after going just eight-for-33 from the line against Mt. Shasta, and only 1-for-10 in the final minutes.
Modoc lost the game 52-50, and coach Bunk Richardson said all they had to do was hit a few free throws for the win.
The Braves got off slowly, falling behind 18-8 in the first period, but closed the gap to 28-21 by halftime. Mt. Shasta led 38-32 after three and Modoc fought back in the fourth before the free throw curse came up.
Ross Burgess led the scoring with 22 and Taylor Dunn added eight points.
The Modoc junior varsity girls team shot just 20 percent from the floor against Mt. Shasta, losing their opening league game 39-21.
Coach Bill Hall said practcices have been good and he expects a rebound from the poor outing. Amanda Martin led with 10 points and Mary Nardoni pulled down six rebounds for the Braves.
Modoc met Weed last night and hosts Burney Friday.
January 22, 2004
News
Clinic exceeding goals under new operating deal
The Modoc Medical Center Clinic is exceeding projections for the first seven months of operation under the permanent physicians and should continue on solid footing.
According to Hospital Administrator Teresa Jacques, excluding one-time costs of the acquisition, the clinic will make a profit of $141,172 for the first seven months. "With the acquisition costs . . . the projection for the first year is a profit of $46,934."
Jacques told the Modoc County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that the facility was also meeting other goals. The Medical Center purchased the private practice of Doctors Ed Richert and Owen Panner and installed a third permanent doctor, Debra Clyde, on staff in April.
According to Jacques, other goals met include: improving the quality of care for the community; improving the continuity of care for patients; opening longer hours on a routine basis; improving the use of the Emergency Room; having a medical director for the Clinic Emergency Room and Ambulance; and increasing the obstetrical deliveries.
"I had estimated that we would need to average 62 patients a day with the new acquisition to meet our financial goal," said Jacques. "We are averaging 63.52 patients a day. What had not been allowed for in the original proposal was the additional dollars that would be carried in accounts receivable."
The hospital continues to carry more in accounts receivable (money owed it) than Supervisors or Jacques would like. That part of the hospital operation has been a sore spot for years, and a solution is still evasive.
Salvage sale finally comes out of Blue Fire remains
Modoc National Forest officials announced last week the successful completion of a timber sale from the Blue Fire area
"It's the Sunflower fire salvage sale," said Paul Bailey, timber program manager in charge of timber sales in Modoc National Forest. "We negotiated a sale with John R. Wood Trucking of Grants Pass, Oregon." Since there were no other bidders, the sale went for the minimum acceptable bid, set by the Forest Service. Said Bailey, "They came in and picked it up É what we call negotiation for minimum bid. If there's only one bidder, of course, they always take it to the minimum bid."
"We're doing it for a profit, of course É we hope. We've got it figured that way," said buyer, John Wood, speaking tongue in cheek
This is the only Forest Service timber sale completed out of seven originally offered of the Blue Fire area. "I would guess that'll probably be it," noted Bailey. "Although, some saw logs will probably be removed with the chipping operation."
The initial sales, as originally structured and offered last October, proved uninteresting to commercial loggers due to the loss of value in the timber over time. As Bailey acknowledged, so much time had passed that normal processes of disease, decay and insects had rendered the once salvageable, though blackened, trees nearly useless for commercial timber. Repeated attempts by the Forest Service to attract bidders for sales of Blue Fire salvage left officials frustrated. "It was good to finally get something coming off of that hill," said Bailey
The sale, bid at $31,262, entails the logging of about 2.5 million board feet, a small fraction of the 90 million board feet of commercially viable timber left standing in the wake of the Blue Fire over two years ago "If they'd have sold it sooner, they'd have made more money on it," said Wood, explaining that the poor quality created by the two year delay in harvesting the timber made it difficult to find buyers. "We had to research a long way around to sell that type of wood."
"They're (already) logging. Next week should see some logs come down off the hill there," said Bailey, noting that the logs will be hauled to distant mills since there are no longer any in this area
"We're hauling the wood quite a ways," confirmed Wood. Some of the timber will go to Yreka Timber Products in Yreka, some to Murphy Veneer in White City and the remainder to Superior Lumber in Glendale, Oregon. Wood estimates that only 2 to 3 months of operation should be necessary to complete logging operations, unless conditions deteriorate. "It all depends on the weather. If the weather stays cold É keeping it froze up É we can do it. If it warms up, we'll have to shut down."
"They're fighting snow up there now," observed Bailey. "There's about three or four feet of snow they're wallowing around in." The remainder of the timber in the Blue Fire area, about 80 million board feet, will be offered for sale at a much lower value rather than going for the more profitable lumber or other wood products. It will be "chipped," or chopped up for use as biomass
"Well, we don't know for sure," said Bailey about expectations for the chipping sales that his office will offer in the next two week. "We had some interest expressed, so we'll put some out and see how they go."
Asked his view of the logging and forestry industries from his perspective, Wood offered an opinion typical of logger. "Well, they say they're going to change things around. I'm going to have to wait and see. If they keep waiting long enough there'll be no mills left to saw those boards up."
Modoc jobless rate nears 9%
The unemployment rate in Modoc County for December increased to 8.8 percent, up from a revised 8.0 percent in November. In December, 2002, the rate was also at 8.8 percent.
The number of unemployed people went from 280 in October to 390 in December, The workforce in October numbered 4,710 and that dropped to 4,480 in December.
The state unemployment rate for December was 6.1 percent and the federal unemployment rate was 5.4 percent. None of these rates include people who are out of work and no longer on the rolls collecting benefits or who have become discouraged and stopped looking for work.
Modoc is ranked 38 out of the state's 58 counties for highest unemployment. Lassen is ranked 27th at 6.6 percent and Siskiyou is ranked 43rd at 11.3 percent.
New water right fees assessed by SWRCB
Some local water right holders were surprised this month when they received a bill for $100 from the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights.
According to the SWRCB, Senate Bill 1049 was passed in September by the state legislature and amended the Water Code to require the SWRCB to adopt emergency regulations revising and establishing fees to support its water right program. The fee is being assessed on all water right permit and license holders in the state.
The regulations became effective January 1, 2004. The annual water right fee adopted by the SWRCB for permits and licenses is: "Greater of $100 or $.03 per acre foot per annum."
There is no exemption for tax exempt entities, including cities, counties, water districts, irrigation districts, and others. Any entity capable of owning property, and capable of holding a water right is subject to the fee. If a water right holder chooses not to pay the fee, the Board of Equalization will first assess penalties and interest to the outstanding fee amount. If payment is not received eventually, they will seek collection of fees with penalties and interest through other means, such as attachment of wages, liens and so on.
The fee is based upon the face value of the water right and does not depend upon whether a person is able to divert water.
In the past, the state's water rights program was primarily supported by the General Fund. The state cut the General Fund support for the water rights program by 30 percent to help offset the current budget deficit. In addition, the Legislature determined that the funding source for almost half the remaining allocation in fiscal year 2003-04 should be shifted from the General Fund to a special fund financed by water right holders.
The fee is due by February 7, 2004. In addition, the SWRCB will also increase filing fees for water right actions.
Obituaries:
Gerald 'Jerry' Downard
Alturas resident Gerald "Jerry" Boyd Downard, 88, died suddenly from a stroke and heart attack while on vacation in Clearwater, Florida on December 23, 2003.
Mr. Downard had relocated to Modoc County, California in the late 1970s, where he purchased property that had belonged to a relative. He was an active community supporter during his years in Alturas.
Born on October 3, 1915 in Keosauqua, Iowa to Boyd and Dorcus Downard, he was reared in a very musical family and learned to play the steel guitar and the organ. He was a talented musician.
A former pilot and flight instructor, he was a decorated Korean War veteran and served a long and extensive military career. He retired from the military in the late 1960s, as a Master Sergeant. He was a life member of the Alturas Disabled American Veterans Chapter 113.
Mr. Downard was also an accomplished master cabinet maker and carpenter. He and his brother created and built Chris Craft Boats, Inc. Jerry later sold his half of the business to his brother, who later sold the business.
Mr. Downard enjoyed every aspect of life and lived it to the fullest. He loved people and was a great supporter and a fan of the Alturas Country Jam sessions, which he videotaped over the years. He also enjoyed attending the daily lunches, visiting with other senior citizens at the Modoc Senior Citizens Center. His interests were in friends and electronic toys.
He was preceded in death two years ago by his wife Mary Downard; his parents Boyd and Dorcus Downard; son Gerald Don, Daughter Mary Dorcus Sikes; granddaughter Brenda J. Downard and two great- grandchildren.
He is survived by daughter and son-in-law Nell and Jim Orndorf of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; son William Frederick Downard of Byrdstown, Tennessee; grandchildren Teri Downard, Milana Riffe, Dwight King, Adona Frye, Rebakah Flohr and six great-grandchildren, all from Ohio. Pastor Dewey Potter, the Veterans Groups of Alturas and Veterans' Chaplain will conduct a memorial service with military honors and "a celebration of Mr. Downard's life" on Saturday, January 24 at 10 a.m. at the Veterans' Memorial Hall, So. Main St., Alturas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alturas D.A.V. Chapter 113.
A Native American Indian ceremony was also held in Ohio, as Mr. Downard was proud of his Blackfoot heritage.
Nadine Jimmy Phillips
Services for Nadine Jimmy Phillips of Cedarville, will be held Friday, January 23, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Ben Zandstra will conduct the services at the Surprise Valley Community Church in Cedarville. Interment will follow at the Cedarville Cemetery.
Mrs. Phillips, who had made Modoc County her home for the past 11 years, passed away of natural causes at the age of 103 in Cedarville, Calif. on January 17, 2004.
Nadine Jimmy Chappell was born on December 9, 1900 in Tyler, Texas to Anne Elizabeth (McGinney) and Thomas Sidney Chappell. When Nadine was a young girl, her father moved the family from Texas to a small ranch near Tucumcari, New Mexico, where Nadine graduated from high school. She enjoyed participating in sports, especially basketball. She loved to play the piano and loved to dance.
After high school, she worked as a secretary and in the local bank. She married Roy T. Phillips in Tucumcari, New Mexico on April 20, 1922, after he had returned to Tucumcari after World War I. To find better job opportunities, they loaded what few personal belongings they had into their Model T Ford and headed west, first settling in the Los Angeles, Calif. area. They had no money, no jobs, but strong wills. They had driven roads that were made of only two wood planks to accommodate tires across the sands, west of Yuma, Arizona, with no such thing as a paved road.
In June of 1923, Nadine traveled back to Tucumcari, New Mexico to be with her family for the birth of her first child, a son, Roy, Jr. Not long after, she and her son made the long return trip to California. A daughter, Betty Ann, was born in Taft, Calif. in 1925. Roy, Sr. was working in the oil fields and Nadine was a homemaker....... After 58 years of marriage, Roy Sr. died in 1978. Nadine then moved to be near her family, first to Roseburg, Oregon, and then in 1992, to Cedarville, Calif.
Mrs. Phillips is survived by her son Roy Phillips and wife Marge of Cedarville, Calif.; daughter Betty Ann Helmke and husband Virg of Glide, Oregon; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Surprise Valley Community Hospital, P.O. Box 246, Cedarville, Calif. 96104. Kerr Mortuary in Alturas is in charge of arrangements.
Katherine Barry Baalman
The memorial service for former Fort Bidwell resident Kitty Baalman, who died January 15, 2004, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2004, at Ashland Bible Church, 400 Dead Indian Memorial Road, Ashland, Oregon. Pastor Nate Shinn will officiate. Interment will be at Ft. Bidwell, Calif. Cemetery at a later date.
Kitty was born August 27, 1915, in Lakeview, Oregon, to Nicholas Patrick Barry and Eolus Lofftus Barry. She was a granddaughter of James Kane Barry of Rockchapel, Newmarket, County Cork, Ireland, and Katherine O'Connor Barry, of San Francisco, who were pioneers in the Lakeview area, and of Christopher Columbus Lofftus of Warner Valley, Oregon (formerly of Ashland, Oregon) and Edith Ewell Brown of Ft. Bidwell, Calif. James Kane Barry, alone with three of his brothers, were instrumental in bringing most of the original Irish settlers to Lake County, Oregon beginning in 1877.
On June 1, 1941, in Reno, Nevada, she married Eugene Henry Baalman, who died November 16, 1998.
Kitty grew up at Adel, Oregon, attended elementary school there and attended high school in Lakeview. She was the Lakeview Rodeo Queen in 1933. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Southern Oregon College, Ashland, Oregon and her Master's Degree from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York. She served on the Governor's Task Force for Special Education and assisted in the development of the Special Education Program in the State of Oregon. The majority of her career was spent teaching in the Special Education program in the Josephine County School District in Grants Pass, Ore.
She had many hobbies. She was an accomplished horsewoman, an avid reader, and a story writer. She also loved to garden and cook.
After her retirement, Kitty and Eugene moved to Ft. Bidwell, Calif. where they were active in the local church and civic activities. They returned to Medford, Oregon in 1997 due to poor health.
She is survived by a son, Nicholas A. "Tony" Baalman, Sr. of Talent, Ore.; a daughter, Judith Shiron, Portland, Oregon; grandchildren Jolinda Baker, Lynnwood, Washington; J. Richard Baalman, Monroe, Washington; Nicholas Baalman, Jr., Talent; and Michele Marthaller, Portland; six great-grandchildren; sisters Nellie Jane Barry Herringer, Clarksburg, Calif. and Betty Barry Fletcher, Spokane, Washington, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by sisters Ruth Eolus Barry Cox and Edith Barry; brothers Robert James Barry, Nicholas Lofftus Barry, and Franklin Duane Barry.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a contribution in Kitty's memory to Ashland Bible Church, 400 Dead Indian Memorial Road, Ashland, Oregon.
Arrangements: Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives, Medford, Oregon.
Sports
Modoc's top-ranked and powerful wrestling team dominated the Burney Invitational last weekend, with eight individual championships and the team title.
The Braves won with 287 points, followed by Lakeview, 162, Corning 149, Gridley 104, Mt. Shasta 98, Bonanza 84, Burned 65, Tulelake 61, Portola 57, Quincy 55.5, Biggs 55, Chester 55, Modoc II 52, Etna 31, Fall River 24, Bishop Quinn 21, Los Molinos 17 and Hamilton City 13.
Winning individual championships were Nick Hawes at 130 pounds, Jaafar Mirlohi at 135 pounds, Travis Wood at 145 pounds, Luke Hammerness at 152 pounds, Jason Jones at 160 pounds, Brad Bell at 189 pounds, Joey Catania at 215 pounds and Cory Bell at heavyweight.
Brad Bell won the award for most pins in the tourney with four and Cory Bell won the Most Outstanding Heavyweight wrestler of the event.
Modoc placed 10 wrestlers in the finals, out of 14 possible and won eight. In addition, Jesse Harer was second to Jones in the 160 pound division and Mark Main placed second at 171 pounds.
Hank Raabe took a third at 112 pounds, Brian Weed was fifth at 119 pounds, Sheridan Crutcher took a fourth at 125 pounds, Bill Hammerness was sixth at 140 pounds.
Cory Bell and Wood retain the number one rank in their weight divisions from MaxPreps, while Jones is ranked number two at 160, Luke Hammerness number four at 152, Mirlohi number four at 135, and Brad Bell number five at 189.
Modoc remains ranked number two in all size school in the north section, behind Red Bluff and is the top-ranked small school in the north section.
Boys atop SCL with 3 victories
Modoc's Braves boys basketball team is 3-0 in Shasta Cascade League play, having beaten Mt. Shasta, Weed and Burney and face Fall River Friday in Fall River.
The Braves will be at Etna Jan. 24 and will meet Weed at home January 27. The Braves beat Weed 62-53, jumped out to a 19-3 first period lead and leading 29-18 by half. The Braves poured in 20 points in the third to take a 49-35 lead after three. Weed put up 18 to Modoc's 13 in the fourth.
Marty Stevens led the Braves with 26 points, Micah Eppler added 12, Zack McKirahan had eight and Skyler Oates added seven.
Modoc beat Burney 49-46 Friday night.
Modoc leads the SCL with Trinity following at 2-0, Mt. Shasta at 2-1, Burney at 2-2, Etna at 1-2, Fall River at 1-2 and Weed at 0-4.
The Surprise Valley Hornets boys varsity team took the top-ranked Happy Camp Indians to the wire January 16, but came up just short 54-50. According to coach Arnold DeGarmo, the boys got down early by 10, but fought back to lead 27-26 at halftime. In the third and fourth quarters, they trailed by as many as eight, but managed to rally to keep the game close. In the fourth quarter with 2:55 remaining, the Hornets made a 7-0 run and with 2:09 left took a 50-49 lead.
Someone tripped the lights at the McCloud gym, he said, so both teams had to spend 10 minutes waiting for the lights to come back to full power. Happy Camp scored first after a Hornet turnover to lead 51-50 and hit a free throw to lead 52-50 with a minute left.
The Hornets lost the ball on the next possession and Happy Camp called time out with 43 seconds left in the game. The Hornets made a stop with 23 seconds left and DeGarmo called a time out. The Hornets missed a three pointer shot with six seconds left, then Happy Camp went to the line and hit a pair of free throws to end the game. Adam Evans led the Hornets with 15 points, Josh Boneck added 11 and Quick had nine.
The Hornet girls led by as many as seven through the first three quarters, before Happy Camp got hot and outscored them 24-13 in the fourth to win by 56-48 James, Teuscher and Miura led with 30, eight and six points respectively.
The Surprise Valley boys junior varsity won their game. The Hornets are at Butte Valley Jan. 23 and will have Big Valley at home Jan. 28.
Modoc varsity girls team lost the first three Shasta Cascade League games and is hoping to rebound in the next few games.
The Braves lost to Mt. Shasta 49-34, to Weed 58-51 and to Burney 49-39. They meet Fall River Jan. 23 and Etna Jan. 24.
Against Weed, Jennifer Davis scored 19, Kristen Taylor added 12, Hannah Hays had nine and Emily Pence added seven.
The Braves played to a 10-10 tie after one and trailed 25-23 at half. By the end of three, the Braves trailed 42-38 and Weed outscored them 16-13 in the fourth.
Against Burney, Modoc trailed 12-7 in the first and 24-19 by half. By the end of three Burney led 34-28 and Burney scored 15 to Modoc 11 in the fourth.
JV boys lose pair of SCL games in fourth
Finishing a game solidly is hampering the Modoc Junior Varsity Boys team and coach Bunk Richardson is trying to instill some finishing instinct in the crew.
Modoc lost to Weed 62-59, after opening up a 19-3 first period lead and leading 29-22 at half. Modoc remained on top 43-40 after three. A pair of technicals and a flagrant foul gave Weed an edge and they scored 22 to Modoc's 16 in the fourth.
Ross Burgess, Zeke Bonham and Grant Hall each had 17 for the Braves. Modoc had Burney, who has only lost one game, on the ropes through three periods, but lost in the final minutes 48-46. Modoc trailed 10-6 after one and took a 24-21 lead at halftime. The Braves had a solid third period and led 35-27 going into the final stanza.
Taylor Dunn had 12 points and Burgess and Hall each added 10. Modoc has Fall River there Friday and is at Etna Saturday.
Modoc's junior varsity girls beat the Burney Raiders 42-38 Friday night and lost to Weed last Wednesday 35-22.
The Braves got off to a good start, leading 11-5 against Burney in the opening period. Burney fought back and led 21-20 at halftime. Rachel Crosby and Megan Thompson helped pull Modoc to a 27-24 third period lead. In the final period, Tacie Richardson hit four clutch free throws and Crosby scored six to keep Modoc ahead. Crosby led the scoring with 15 and Richardson pumped in 14 points.
Against Weed, the Braves had a common slow start and the Cougars took an 18-5 halftime lead. Coach Bill Hall made some adjustments at halftime and midway through the fourth, Modoc trailed by just five. Weed hit six of seven free shots down the stretch for the win. Marlana Bartram and Mary Nardoni had key steals in the game. Tacie Richardson had nine rebounds and Crosby scored five points to lead Modoc.
January 29, 2004
News
County counsel search on hold
The Modoc County Board of Supervisors put the search for a replacement Modoc County Counsel on hold Tuesday, pending a clearer picture of the budget.
The board has been actively searching to hire a county counsel, but the current state budget crisis is having all counties look very carefully at expenditures and personnel.
Modoc Chief Administrative Officer Mike Maxwell told the board he wanted to have a firmer grip on the budget numbers, and the March 2 bond issue proposed by the governor could have a dramatic impact.
If that bond measure fails to pass the voters of the state, and it is now behind in the polls, it could have drastic effects on local government funding.
According to Maxwell, the costs of the new counsel would also include additional funding for office expense and he wasn't certain that during this budget crisis, those would be funds well spent.
Maxwell said the current situation with outside county counsel services performed by John Kinney is working and will continue. Supervisors Patricia Cantrall, Willy Hagge, Dan Macsay and David Bradshaw were in favor of suspending the search at this time, while Mike Dunn was opposed and wanted an on-board counsel hired.
Maxwell said he and department heads are keeping close tabs on the budget situation at the state level. While the budget picture is not wholly clear, Maxwell said he believes the county has a good handle on the situation as long as there are no major surprises from the state.
Just what the county is going to have to do, department by department, is still in the works, but county officials are working to save funding wherever they can and not make unnecessary expenditures. They are also seeking to secure funding from all applicable sources.
Candidate forums set
The Modoc County Farm Bureau is hosting a Candidate's Night for the County Supervisorial election in Districts Two and Four Feb. 4, 7 p.m. at Alturas City Hall.
District Four's Willy Hagge is facing a challenge from Ray Anklin and District Four's Mike Dunn is being opposing by Roy Moore and Ron Sharpless.
A Candidate's Night for the Alturas City Council election is Feb. 11, 7 p.m., also at City Hall. Incumbents Jack Ochs, George Andreasen and Joe Coffin are running for re-election and are being challenged by Steve Iverson, Cheryl Nelson and John Schreiber.
The election is set for March 2.
Quail Valley Ranch sale to DFG under scrutiny
The directors of the Pit River Resource Conservation District (RCD) and a number of concerned local farmers, ranchers and officials met at the Quail Valley Ranch last Tuesday evening to hear a presentation on the proposed sale of that ranch to the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). John Siperek, the DFG wildlife program manager for eight northern counties in California made the initial presentation, followed by an impassioned speech by Ed Parrish, Quail Valley Ranch owner, for the idea of creating a self-sustaining "youth oriented, hunting and educational facility" on the ranch.
"We think the facility can generate substantial income to maintain it in the condition that it's been maintained," affirmed Parrish. " We think we can generate extra revenue for youth programs."
"I also want to make it very clear right now that the department has not made any decisions whether we're going to acquire this piece of property or not at this time," asserted Siperek, who then called for an "active partnership" between DFG and Pit River RCD to manage the property. "What we'd be looking for is some assistance in contracting out the work. É We have the ability to contract with you directly to do that work. Again, we don't have the staff to do the work, so we're looking for some help here." Siperek outlined a program wherein the operation of the ranch would be placed under RCD management, ensuring local oversight. He pointed to a "master contract" or "master service agreement" currently under development in Yolo County between the DFG and RCDs there to manage farming activities as a roadmap for the proposed Quail Valley acquisition.
"What our vision would be is that this area would not be the traditional wildlife area," continued Siperek. "It would be an area that would be focused on youth activities for educational activities and hands-on activities. É So, it would be a lot different than our traditional wildlife areas."
The proposed acquisition raises many issues among concerned Big Valley residents. "One of the things that we recognized early on," explained Siperek, "is we had to try to deal with some of these issues instead of just moving forward, buying another piece of property, as the department traditionally does."
Explaining that he did not want to present the details of his proposal at the time, Siperek said, "I think it's better to start at the concept level É getting more of the concerns addressed and issues dealt with É then get the details as we move forward and make sure it's something we all want to pursue. "We think that the operations here are fairly wildlife friendly, and that we'd like to see some of those operations continue with the money that would be generated from those operations helping us staff the area."
Parrish gave assurances that the careful and profitable management of his property would continue as it has, even under DFG ownership. "This property is capable of generating enough income to keep it like it's been in the last 20 years and to make major contributions to hunting and education. And so, I'm willing to É help this effort É personally, at no charge.
"I see it as a tremendous positive for the youth and educational purposes," continued Parrish, "and maybe even trend setting for state-owned properties. So I'm extremely excited about the possibilities and extremely excited about staying involved."
First response to the presentations came from Lassen County Supervisor, Brian Dahle. "I applaud you guys for at least getting the community together and starting to talk about this. I think the dialogue is healthy. "The main thing, I think, that's hard for this community to swallowÑand I get around a little bit and talk to a few folksÑis that we have a very, very bad example of management right next door," said Dahle, speaking of the Ash Creek Wildlife Area (ACWA). "We have noxious weed issues, and when you don't take care of those they get to be huge and costly (problems) for the neighbors.
"That's the scary part for the community. We love what Ed's doing here; we don't really like what's happening across the street. And, we don't want to see that happening again."
Fear among locals is that the poor DFG management of the ACWA, also in Big Valley, might also be the fate of Quail Valley once it is acquired by DFG. One rancher said, "None of us are impressed by that. As far as I'm concerned, that's what you're bucking here.
"These people right here are the people who knew what this land looked like before the ACWA was here. It wasn't just a swampland full of grass (as it is now)," continued the rancher. "That was a very productive ranch at one time. It ran 2500 head of cattle right here in Big ValleyÑprobably the premier cattle ranch here. And everybody in this room that's local has been able to see it turn out to be what it is today."
Dahle continued, "Since the Pit River RCD has helped with the Ash Creek, I've seen huge improvements. At least we're grazing out there and doing some haying. It took us (the DFG) ten years to get there before you guys (Pit River RCD) got involved."
"As a Modoc County supervisor, I share the same concerns that Brian doesÑmore so because it (the Quail Valley Ranch) is in Modoc County," offered Dave Bradshaw. "As far as in lieu taxes, I know that you're working toward some solutions for that. Special districts are another concern.
"It makes a big difference to me how the Pit River RCD thinks about this, as a board. Modoc County does have an agreement with Fish and Game. I was glad to hear that they're going to bring this process to the Land Use Committee. That will start the process for Modoc County to take a look at this and give more input."
"I understand there's some misgivings about the way Ash Creek is managed. But overall, I think it's a great addition to the community," countered Parrish. "And I think if the community continues to work through the RCD with Fish and Game, I really believe Fish and Game wants to do a better job. And I can promise you, if this concept is allowed to happen hereÑkeeping the money here and keeping the management here and providing for youth and educationÑthat this is a win/win for Modoc, it's a win/win for Fish and Game and it could be precedent setting in the state. And that could be great. But it's got to be given the chance." Objections to the proposed sale ranged from the loss of tax revenue from the land when it moved to state ownership to the loss of jobs and income in the local economy and a fundamental distrust of the agency's ability to stay the course or keep its promises.
Neighbors asked what assurances they have that the youth idea is not simply a ruse, a "smoke screen" to overcome objections among locals to the state's purchase of private property? "I think it's great if the youth thing comes about," said one observer. "But I don't think much of it if it doesn't." "You talk about making all this money (from the operation of the ranch)," said another observer. "Who manages that money? Does it go directly to the state to pay its bills and pay the people and do away with the jobs if they put all the money in the general fund and spend it?"
"If the money doesn't come into the state's control, the RCD would be able to keep it more of a closed system in that we could recycle the money back into the system," replied Siperek.
"That would happen?" was the next question.
"That's what we're trying to pursue here is to see if we can't develop a system where the money would be recycled directly back into the system," answered Siperek. "If that can't be accomplished, then we can't go forward. That's a very key part of the operation."
"I think everybody needs to be very clear on this point because that's the 'A plus' question of the night so far," injected Parrish. "If this revenue goes into the state general fund, you'd be lucky to see half of it back. If the money stays in the Pit River RCD É for the furtherment of this project, the state general fund never sees the money. The reason I'm excited about this thing is because I'm convinced Fish and Game is not going to do this É unless the money is assured to stay in the project, in the valley, in the community (and) in the youth programs. And, hopefully, the Pit River RCD is the controlling entity of that revenue."
In an effort to deflect criticism of the DFG's plans to acquire more prime ranching and farming property in Big Valley, Siperek insisted that the process was just beginning, that all concerns would be explored in the upcoming process of creating a working framework for the proposed program to go with the Quail Valley acquisition.
Siperek proposed forming a group, a steering committee, composed of individuals that represent various interests involved in both the sale of the property and its management afterward "that would look at the development of this area and steering its direction in the future.
"We didn't come here tonight asking for some kind of a resolution from the group," summarized Siperek. "This is just informational."
A closed meeting to present "the finances É of this operation" to the Pit River RCD board members followed the lengthy public discussion.
Sage Stage rolls into 5th anniversary in fine form
This week marks the fifth anniversary of Sage Stage service in Modoc County. "We rolled out service on January 19, 1999," says Pam Couch, transportation manager and the driving force behind the entire operation. In those five years, the familiar busses have become a permanent fixture in the fabric of life in this community as they wind their way through city streets picking up passengers.
"It absolutely amazes me when I look back and remember that we had 215 passengers É or something like that É in the first six months. And now we carry that many in two days," exclaims Couch. "Our growth has been phenomenal."
A brief analysis of the statistics bears out that observation.
Ridership on Sage Stage busses has increased almost 1,800 percent in the last four years and the miles traveled have more than doubled. In year 2000 operations, Sage Stage carried 1,188 passengers and traveled 56,902 miles. The total passengers figure quadrupled in 2001, burgeoning to 4,717. That figure increased only slightly in 2002, but the miles covered had doubled since 2000. By last year, 2003, total fares had almost doubled again to 8,454, and bus mileage jumped to 123,248.
Since its humble beginnings, Sage Stage has clearly expanded its vital role. "The Sage Stage is public transportation," explains Couch. "The premise behind it is to provide access, mobility and move people aroundÑget them where they need to go."
Sage Stage is not your father's bus company, either.
It features thoroughly modern, comfortable busses and schedules that are much more accommodating and flexible than the ordinary public transportation systems so common in large urban areas. Riders no longer have to waste their time and suffer the inconvenience of waiting at bus stops, locked into rigid schedules, as was true in the past.
With dial-a-ride, intra-city serviceÑdoor-to-door in most casesÑthe bus can take riders anywhere in town within a ten mile radius. "We bend over backwards to accommodate and to do anything for almost anybody," insists Couch.
Noting that their busses routinely transport three or four persons per hour within the city, Couch says, "The bus is busy all the time. We're setting records for the type of service that we have."
Because Sage Stage is also an intercity service, providing transportation to and from distant cities like Reno, Redding and Klamath Falls, those familiar busses can also be seen on the highways, far from Alturas. "We're here for the community," says Couch, thoughtfully. "You may not need us today, (but) you may need us tomorrow. It is our goal É to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to move about and get to the places they need to go."
For many in Modoc County, the Sage Stage is their sole transportation provider. "If you don't have a car, you've got no way to É get to the places you need to go," Couch observes. "The focus of our operation is to provide lifeline transportation, to get people to basic services and needs.
"We have an aging populationÑaging in place," Couch continues. "The poverty level is such that many cannot afford to maintain an automobile that's capable of driving the distances that they need to go to get to the doctor or whatever."
Sage Stage is unique among transportation providers across the country, breaking new ground in the transportation business. "Nobody is trying to do what we're trying to do. But the need is so great here, there's nothing for us but to do it," Couch says.
Couch is lavish in her praise of Niki Witherspoon, her capable assistant, who is responsible for the successful day-to-day operation of Sage Stage. "She deals with the clients on a very personable basis, engages them, and figures their problems out. É She has the heart, the ability to chat with people, to bring her staff together, to make solutions, to always be available and ready, to be kind, to be strong. She actually is now shouldering the operation so I can go out and write the next grant."
For her part, Couch is zealously dedicated to building an unparalleled transportation system in this area. "I'm passionate about my work. I really am."
"I think that she's very motivated. She's out for the good of the people," says Witherspoon of her boss. "She brings in a lot of money to this county, and a lot of good things happen with that. She's done a great job, and works long hours."
Of course, some riders will always complain about public transportation fares. "You have to remember, and what people really don't understandÑalthough many of them complain about the faresÑthe fares are very, very modest. This is funded like a public utility is funded. Ninety percent of our money comes from government subsidy and funding. We get a portion of the quarter percent of local sales taxes collected in Modoc County, and that's directed towards the bus. We have about $135,000 a year (to operate). Period." According to Couch, the remainder of the expenses, by law, must be covered by the fares charged.
Also, some people are unsure about how the Sage Stage operates, thinking that it is much like a taxi or limo service. "They get upset a lot if we can't accommodate them right when they want us to," observes Witherspoon. "It's hard to make them understand that we're trying and that we can only do so much."
"A lot of people ask us things that we just cannot do," Couch adds. "There are limitations that we have."
While prior notice is important to route planning, "Frankly we do accommodate same day service on an as needed basis," explains Couch. "We can't drop everything and come exactly when you want, (and) we can't wait for you while you're in there." However, Couch characterizes their service as "flexible," in that they will make every effort to get riders where they need to go and do it on time.
For those who travel out of town, the four competent, well-trained Sage Stage drivers will make every effort to accommodate their needs. "When we get to the destination city, we bend over backwards to make the connections. We go to all the popular places in all of our destination cities for no extra charge."
Saying, "I've seen people's life change," Couch tells of a neighbor who insisted she would never ride the bus, that she had ample offers of transportation from friends. "She now rides four times a week with us," says Couch, smiling. "She actually gets on the bus andÑjust for an outingÑstays on the bus as it goes to pick up other folks, just to get around and socialize and meet her friends. She (even) gives birthday cards to the children on the bus."
"This is a life-changing thing," echoes Witherspoon. "That's the most rewarding part. There's a young man who lives in Susanville. I think he's under 18. His parents live in Tulelake, and he takes our bus weekly to see them. Without that, he wouldn't be able to see his parents."
Many riders who were largely housebound now regularly use the bus to get around for business and pleasure. "They never got out before. Now they can go when they want, stay out as long as they want, do what whatever they need to do: socialize, meet family and friends, go out to lunch, do all those kinds of things É get there without having to ask somebody and be dependent," Couch says. "And that really makes a difference. We really think that getting people from here to there is really, really important because it gives them more life. It's like a ticket with dignity."
Couch and Witherspoon encourage Alturas residents to avail themselves of the convenience and comfort the Sage Stage offers. "And a lot of people do," says Couch, adding that it is an easy way to make the trip to the airport. "Let someone else do the driving. The fares are extremely reasonable, and it's way more economical than leaving your car parked at the airport or having a motel room. It's much less stressful, and much more economical."
Davis Creek hosts Groundhog Supper
The Davis Creek community will welcome the public to their annual Groundhog Supper on Saturday, Feb. 7. Doors open from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Davis Creek Grange Hall to offer a good time for all ages, with good food and plenty of visiting.
The annual dinner, comes together with solid community effort and will be hosted by the Davis Creek 4-H Club. Dinner is to be served from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Everyone is invited.
Tickets will be available at the door, $6.50 for adults; ages six to 12, $4.50; ages five and under, served free. An auction, games of Bingo and sales of cakes will be included.
The dinner includes freshly grilled sausage patties, mashed potatoes, green salad, green beans, and more.
The hall is set with long tables, seating all who come for the event. 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 community hall as well as 4-H.
The Davis Creek Grange Hall is located within the Davis Creek town limits. The Groundhog Dinner is a community tradition, which draws folks from throughout Modoc County to enjoy the event.
February 2 is official Groundhog Day in the United States, and bears the prediction of an early or late spring. If the groundhog does not see his shadow on February 2, Spring will come six weeks early.
Obituaries:
Ruth E. Westmoreland
Alturas resident Ruth E. Westmoreland, 94, passed away January 28, 2004 at Modoc Medical Center, Alturas, Calif. A Memorial service will be conducted by Pastor Rod Bodmer at the Faith Baptist Church on Carlos Street, Alturas on Saturday, January 31, 2004 at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Building Fund at Faith Baptist Church. A private interment will be held in San Bernardino, Calif., where Mrs. Westmoreland had made her home before moving to Alturas some 16 years ago. She was born in McCausland, Iowa on July 17, 1909.
A complete obituary will be published next week.
Sports
Braves head to big Corning tourney
Modoc's Braves will wrestle in a dual meet with Central Valley Friday and then head to the Corning Invitational on Saturday.
Coach Shaun Wood feels the team will be able to place in the top five at Corning's event, one of the major tournaments of the year. Most of the top wrestlers in the section will be at Corning.
"I think we'll do okay, it will be comparable to the Anderson tourney," said Wood. "It would be nice to get in top five. We'll have the seven guys who are ranked do real well, and we'll hope some others can place."
Modoc had last week off and got some kids healthy, but will be without Mark Main and Ryan Carrithers for this week because of injury.
Next weekend, Feb. 6 and 7, the Shasta Cascade League championships will be held at Modoc. SCL duals will be Friday and Saturday begins the regular tournament.
Modoc meets Mt. Shasta, Trinity and Etna Friday in duals, beginning about 1 p.m. Saturday rounds will start about 9 a.m. and should begin the finals about 1:30 to 2 p.m.
Modoc is heavily favored to win the SCL again, with Mt. Shasta and Trinity following.
Modoc's only female wrestler, Samantha Brush will go to an all-female wrestling tournament in Oakland this weekend to compete. She has not had the chance to wrestle another female this year, so this will be a first. If she does well, she could qualify for a state finals. She wrestles at 145 pounds.
Modoc's Travis Wood is ranked number one at 145 pounds in the section and Cory Bell holds down the number one heavyweight ranks. Jason Jones has moved into the number two rank at 160 pounds and Luke Hammerness is ranked third at 152 pounds. Jaafar Mirholi holds down the fourth spot at 135 pounds and Joey Catania is sixth at 215 pounds.
Etna stuns Braves in SCL, tough weekend ahead
Etna's Lions dropped the Modoc Braves 70-49 Saturday night in Etna. Modoc beat Fall River 45-42 in Fall River Friday night.
Coach Mike Martin said the team shooting percentage needs to improve, and the team was simply flat in Etna. This weekend is going to be tough as the Braves travel to Mt. Shasta Friday night and return home Saturday to face unbeaten Trinity. Saturday's games start at 2 p.m.
"It's going to be a brutal weekend and we just need to play well," said Martin. "Mt. Shasta is tough at their place and Trinity is going to go 100 miles an hour the whole game, offense and defense. We need to play our game."
Against Fall River, the Braves got off to a quick start, leading 21-11 in the first period. The Bulldogs clawed their way back into the game and trailed 29-24 at half-time. Modoc maintained a 36-29 lead after three, but the Bulldogs got closer with a 12-9 fourth period. Micah Eppler led the scoring with 20, Kyle Madison and Marty Stevens each added six.
Etna jumped out to a 19-12 first period lead and lead 33-28 at the half. Etna outscored the Braves 17-10 in the third and 20-11 in the fourth. Stevens led Modoc with 15, Eppler added nine Cam Jeffers and Zack McKirahan had six.
The Braves beat Weed 64-40 Tuesday night in Alturas, jumping on the Cougars early, 21-12 in the first period. Modoc led 33-17 at halftime and 53-31 after three.
Stevens led the scoring with 26 points, Shiloh Pierce added 13 and Eppler had nine.
Modoc JVs win:
The junior varsity boys put together two solid scoring gamesd, beating Fall River 74-57 and Etna 64-30. Coach Bunk Richardson said both outings were solid for his charges.
Fall River got up on Modoc 21-15 in the first period and still led 36-35 by the halftime talks. The Braves came out in a different defense and took a 52-35 lead after three and had a solid 22-points for quarter for the win. Ross Burgess led with 24 points and Grant Hall added 19.
Modoc started quickly against Etna, leading 18-9 after one and 32-19 by the half. By the end of the third, Modoc led 47-25 and closed out strong in the fourth.
Burgess led the scoring with 27, Taylor Dunn had nine and Keith Montague had eight.
Tuesday night, Modoc beat Weed 54-44 at home. Modoc led 13-2 in the first and 29-16 by half. The Braves maintained a 43-26 after three periods. Burgess led the scoring with 24 and Hall added 13.
Modoc's varsity girls team is struggling this year, trying to put a solid game together in league play. Modoc travels to Mt. Shasta Friday night and plays Trinity at home Saturday, with the junior varsity girls starting play at 2 p.m. and all teams following.
The varsity girls lost to Fall River 69-33 Friday night and Etna dropped them 74-20 Saturday. Both games were on the road. Tuesday night the Braves lost to Weed at home 67-31.
Modoc started with a 9-7 first period lead against Weed, but the Cougars outscored them 24-6 in the second period to take a 31-15 halftime lead. Weed put up 36 points in the second half to Modoc's 16. Emily Pence had 12 for the Braves and Kristen Taylor added eight, with Allison Campagna getting six. Against Etna, the girls got behind 22-5 in the first period and 42-9 at halftime. The Lions outscored Modoc 19-8 in the third period and 13-3 in the final stanza.
Taylor led Modoc with 10 points, Pence added five.
Fall River also jumped on Modoc early, taking a 17-10 first period lead and going up 38-16 at hafltime. Fall River scored 15 to Modoc's 13 in the third but blew them out in the fourth 16-4. Pence led the scoring with 13, Brittany Bartram had seven and Campagna added six.
Junior varsity girls: Modoc's junior varsity girls won a low-scoring game against Fall River Friday night, 18-16. Modoc and Fall River were tied at four after one and Fall River led 9-5 at halftime. At the end of three, the Braves trailed 12-11. Amanda Martin hit two buckets in the third and Alysha Northrup sunk a pair in the fourth, with Tacie Richardson and Jessie Harden each hitting late free shots.
Etna beat the Braves junior varsity 45-31. The Braves started slowly and spotted the Lions a 21-7 lead at halftime. Modoc didn't score in the second quarter. Modoc fought back to close within nine at the end of three 31-22. The Braves came to within five, but were outscored 14-9 in the fourth. The jayvees lost a tight one to Weed 40-38 Tuesday night. The game was tied at 8-8 in the first and Modoc led 18-17 at halftime. The Cougars hit some threes in the second half to take the lead and Modoc came up just short. Richardson led the scoring with 12 points, and Rachel Crosby added seven. Richardson also grabbed nine rebounds.
The Surprise Valley Hornets boys basketball team put up 31 points in the fourth quarter, after only scoring 26 in the first half, to beat the Butte Valley Bulldogs, 86-67, January 23.
Surprise Valley meets Dunsmuir at home Saturday, with game time at 1:30 p.m.
Against Butte Valley, the Hornets had three players still fighting a cold, but four of the six players scored in double figures. Adam Evans and Loren Harris combined for 37 points, 18 rebounds, three blocked shots, and two steals. Josh Boneck and Scott Soletti combined for 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 steals. Butte Valley's Shane Cynor led with 18 points.
The Hornet girls were out-hustled by the Bulldogs, according to coach Arnold DeGarmo, and trailed 34-17 at halftime. Butte Valley won the game 54-38. Cara James led Surprise Valley with 24 points and Sara Teuscher added eight points and seven rebounds.
The Hornet junior varsity beat the Bulldogs 57-45. The Bulldogs led 30-23 at halftime.
Hemphill is reserve AA cowgirl
Tulelake's Jessica Hemphill earned reserve All-Around Cowgirl honors at the District One California High School Rodeo January 25 in Red Bluff. Hemphill won the breakaway roping event, placed second in goat tying, ninth in pole bending and tied for fifth in girls' cutting.
Alturas' Chris Brown took a second in bull riding.
The next rodeo is in Redding Feb. 14 and 15 and on March 6, the competitors head to the Red Bluff Fairgrounds for the Interdistrict Rodeo. March 19-21 is the Challenge of Champions Rodeo in Plymouth, Ca, and the District Finals will be held in April.
News
Snowpack for January above area averages
Snowpack is better than average in most of Modoc County, according to the snow survey just released by the federal agencies. Last year at this time, snowpack was just 40 percent of average.
Blue Lake has 26 inches of snow containing 8.9 inches of water this year at 6,800 foot elevation. That compares to just nine inches of snow last year, containing 3.4 inches of water. The 10-year average for the area is 29 inches of snow containing 7.6 inches of water.
Cedar Pass measures 43 inches of snow with 15.3 inches of water. Last year, only 14 inches of snow was at the spot in January, containing 3.4 inches of water. The 10-year average for Cedar Pass is 39 inches of snow with 12.7 inches of water. That snow survey spot is at 7,100 feet elevation. Barber Creek, south of Eagleville, has 37 inches of snow containing 12.4 inches of water. Last year it had just 12 inches of snow containing 4.5 inches of water and the 10-year average at the 6,500 foot spot is 32 inches of snow and 9.5 inches of water.
Last year at this time 49 Mountain (Nevada) had no snow at all. This year there is 22 inches with 4.8 inches of water. The 10-year average at 6,000 feet is 17 inches of snow and 4.5 inches of water.
Jake Coffey of the Modoc National Forest and Tom Hill of the Natural Resource Conservation Service took the surveys last week.
For the month of January, 2004, .96 inches of precipitation was measured. That's up over .75 inches of precipitation last year, but, well below the average 1.40 inches.
No use permit for Canine Country, appeal is planned
The Modoc County Planning Department will not issue a use permit for Judy Ford's Canine Country and has given the facility 15 days to appeal to the Planning Commission or 90 days to close.
Ford has operated Canine Country west of Alturas for several years and takes in stray animals, working hard to adopt them out and care for their needs.
On Wednesday, Ford said she plans on appealing the decision to the Planning Commission, and further explained that her facility is more of a holding area than long term kennel. She said she tries to get the animals to outside agencies, often out of state as quickly as possible. The question of renovations, or buildings she said, comes down to financial ability.
Modoc Planner Scott Kessler issued his opinion on January 29, stating that he had had multiple complaints from neighbors that "clearly demonstrate that this use is detrimental to the health, safety and peace of the property owners in the vicinity. The fact is your current operation removes all speculation about the matter and it is injurious to the rights and enjoyment of property in the area."
Kessler said after visiting the site, he found it consisted of a series of dog pens on concrete pads with igloo shelters and a series of unfenced dog houses with dogs chained to them. When he visited there were 14 dogs, and he said he's been told there have been upwards of 40 at different times. "There is no doubt in my mind that your care of these dogs provides a service to the community and is the humane thing to do," said Kessler. "It is the right thing to do and I am sympathetic to your cause. However, these conditions are unacceptable for such an operation. A series of open air pens on concrete pads does not constitute a kennel."
If Ford chooses to appeal, Kessler makes the following recommendations: design the facility more like a kennel, with indoor and outdoor pens; reduce the barking noise by putting animals inside a building and regulating the number, hours and mix of dogs outside at any given time; limit the number of dogs; changing operational policies to place an overflow of dogs in homes throughout the county until they can be adopted out; and plant a noise barrier with fast-growing hedges such as Austrees.
"The kenneling and adoption of animals is a community issue that extends well beyond one individual's personal and financial resources," wrote Kessler. "I would encourage you to seek assistance throughout the community to construct a facility that will endure beyond your efforts." Ford has run Canine Country for many years, relying primarily on donations and community support. She has wide support in the county from individuals and entities.
BV irrigators hope state's decision could force Hot Spring's hand
Ranchers and farmers along the Pit River reported mixed reactions to the recent "cease and desist" order the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) issued against Hot Springs Valley Irrigation District (HSVID) in the ongoing dispute over releases of water into the river.
"From the water users down here, it's been a good reaction," said Dave Bradshaw, Modoc County Supervisor. "I think that it's brought things to the forefront that showed that Hot Springs was operating, probably, outside of their licenses."
"The way I understand it," said Peter N. Gerig, a Big Valley water user, "is they don't have the right permits so they can't sell water any more. É I'm sure you couldn't talk to a soul that didn't think the decision was right." "I can't say that it's going to do much because, first thing, there's no enforcement," countered John Fitts, a Lookout resident who sees the decision having little effect. "I don't know that any progress has been made."
"We thought maybe they could go a little bit further É the state could É on the decision," said Dean Leventon, chairman of the Big Valley Water Users, making no effort to hide his disappointment in the decision. "We're just going to, I think, probably wait and see right now É what's going to happen."
The dispute centers on HSVID's sale of stored water to the power utilities downstream. Water users all along the Pit River below Canby insist that the water sold for power generation has historically been theirs to use for summer irrigation. "We used to get quite a little bit of water," explained Fitts. "They didn't used to run their system near as efficient. But, now, when there's money involved É at the far end of the season they hold that water back until we can't use it any more, and then they release it and let it go on down to Malacha Power. That has dried us right up."
"It seems like since all this started, we noticed a definite slowdown in the amount of water that came down here," agreed Leventon.
"There's not all that much water to go around to begin with," continued Fitts. "Both Hot Springs and South Fork (irrigation districts) have tightened up their system, and they've made it much more efficient. South Fork hasn't let hardly any water come on down, and there never is any water in the summertime on the North Fork, anyway."
Several complaints about the practice were filed with the SWRCB. "Landes, Monchamp and Big Valley Water Users É we all filed a complaint," affirmed Fitts.
Hot Spring's position that their release of water to the power companies downstream was within their purview has been ruled erroneous in the SWRCB's most recent ruling, issued early in December.
Bradshaw's view is typical of many Big Valley ranchers and farmers. "Water users in Big Valley the last several years have been shorted waterÑmaybe for that reason, or maybe not. At least the Water Resource Control Board has the scrutiny now. And, hopefully, that will work out in the long run, that we'll get our water back down here É or at least everybody in Modoc County will get the water that they have coming."
Gerig is somewhat optimistic about improved water flow as a result of the board's decision. "I think we're going to see a change this year É we're hoping anyway. I'm sure it (HSVID) will allow more down than has come the last couple of years, for sure."
Fitts is much less optimistic. "I don't think they'll do a thing, the Water Board, until the suits that are pending are settled. I think we're going to have to set kind of tight until they settle them lawsuits that's pending." How badly has the lack of water in the Pit River hurt downstream irrigators? "It's been hard to judge on account of the last three years have been (very) dry years," explained Gerig, referring to the diminished flows in the Pit River during the irrigation season. "I'm sure it's hurt us some on the natural flow, even though it would have been real small. Some of it's been nature's (doing), but I really believe it has hurt us some."
For his part, Bradshaw hopes to see immediate changes. "It's a positive thing. The only thing I'm concerned with is I hope that they get their monitoring started and everything started to help this season É for the water users in this area. But they need to get a long-term solution as far as monitoring."
"If they'd put some teeth into it," added Leventon, "I think we'd see some difference."
"They're not even going to give us a water master this next year," objected Fitts. "The state collected our money for the water master fee. For Big Valley Water Users, that's like $34,000 a year. And this is the last we heard: The state was broke, and they weren't going to give us a water master this summer. And I doubt that they're going to give us the money back, either, you know."
Indeed, Fitts seems to have the best grasp of the situation, as it stands. "Big Valley Water Users É I don't know that they will, as a group, be in favor of a lawsuit. Quite frankly, lawsuits cost money, and we don't have any money to spend."
Moreover, explained Fitts, the outcome of a lawsuit could very well backfire. "I retained counsel É oh É 20 years ago when it first came up. We didn't figure that we were being treated quite right. Basically, I was going to jump up and down and sue the guys at Hot Springs and