Big Thank You toFACES MODOC FOOTBALL Our First THE WEEDResponders COUGARS AT HOMECOMING The Modoc County
RECORD
Vol. 134, 133, No. 14 29
Alturas, California
June 25, 2026 October 9, 2025
Serving Modoc Since 1892 16 24 Pages
Revitalizing Alturas: New Plans for Main Street Alturas Elementary Students Boost Fire Safety Skills with CAL FIRE counties, presented the “Downtown Revitalization Playbook” to city leaders. The initiative, funded by a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation, is designed as a practical first step for rural communities struggling with aging infrastructure and business vacancies. Alturas, along with Weaverville, has been selected as a “demonstration Image from sced.org city” for this project. As part Two major economic of the initiative, officials development initiatives are conducting a detailed are underway in Alturas, inventory of 51 buildings signaling a concerted effort in the downtown core, by local and regional leaders stretching along Main Street to address the challenges between 8th Street and facing the city’s downtown Carlos Street. Cal core. Fire Lassen-Modoc Unit-Facebook “We need to know what’s These Trailer. The CAL FIRE projects, Lassen Fire actuallyPrevention there,” Richardson spearheaded Superior They gained Modoc Unit, in by collaboration said, noting that essential the goal California Economic on battery safety, with the Modoc Fire Safe knowledge is not to create a restrictive Developmentand(SCED) and evacuation strategies, and Council Alturas master plan or a construction the reorganized Modoc overall Elementary School, recently project, fire butpreparedness, to provide in a Economic to learning led a vital FireDevelopment Prevention addition foundational database.about The Commission (MEDC), aim the dangers will of playing Week program for local information include to revitalize the on district fire students. Focusing this with building size,equipment ownership, and throughtheme, structural analysis firefighter year’s “Charge into understanding structural condition, serving and targeted for fitness and Fire Safety: support Lithium-Ion as a tool forgear. future decisionsmall businesses. This community-focused Batteries in Your Home,” making. Ryan Richardson SCED, initiative, sharedprocess by the students received of handsThe inventory is a regional FIRE Lassencommon Modoc on training development inside the CAL designed to overcome organization covering Shasta, obstacles, such as identifying Trinity, Modoc and Siskiyou absentee property owners
and developing outreach strategies to encourage building renovations. Richardson emphasized that the project comes at no cost to the city, with the Wells Fargo Foundation covering the expenses for research and development. The resulting playbook will offer policy options and incentive models based on successful strategies from other communities, providing a roadmap for local officials to pursue if they choose. Complementing the structural focus of the SCED playbook, the Modoc Economic Development Commission (MEDC) is pursuing a different facet of Unit, shows the strong economic recovery. Shane commitment to public Starr, vice chair of the safety newly education, younger reorganizedensuring commission, residents announced that understand the MEDC critical prevention is seeking fire a $70,000 USDA measures. By teaching these rural business development crucial at an early grant lessons to address the age, the program build “business side” ofhelps downtown safer communities through revitalization. increased and While theawareness SCED project preparedness. Residents focuses on property and are encouraged to follow the commercial structures, CAL Modoc MEDCFIRE grant Lassen would fund a comprehensive inventory of Main Street businesses.
Starr explained that the project would identify the types of services currently available, assess the specific needs of local entrepreneurs, and help create a business assistance network. “We’d like to be able to have an opportunity to start working directly with the businesses and our community, focusing very acutely on downtown Main Street,” Starr said. The MEDC, currently operating as a working board of seven volunteers, plans to use the potential grant funding to provide entrepreneurs with better access to capital and financial planning resources. By collecting both qualitative and quantitative data on local business needs, the commission aims to create a stronger foundation for future economic growth, Unit on the social for allowing citymedia to better ongoing tips and compete safety for additional community updates.business grants and external Now a beloved annual assistance. event, Fire Prevention Both the initiatives mark a Week programa ismore something shift toward datathat firefighters, staff, driven approach to economic development in Alturas. By pairing structural data
Alturas Indian Rancheria’s Veterans Day is a time top leaders are pushing for reflection, gratitude and back hard against explosive community. This November, claims that they diverted Modoc Record is preparing more than 25 million dollars a special guide dedicated in federal, state, and to honoring the mentribal and funds, outside women pointing who havetoserved in audits and threatening legal the nation’s armed forces. action Sacramento The against guide awill feature political news site that first profiles of local veterans, published allegations. community the events, support But newly and released federal resources ways for documents, residents toand getunanswered involved. questions aboutprinted a 4 million It will be and dollar Hawaii throughout home tied distributed to the and chairman, the Modoc Lassen show counties. controversy far from settled. Stories iswill highlight In a 55‑minute on‑camera resilience, sacrifice and
Rosa later wrote, citing prior Submissions can be emailed Environmental Protection to info@modocmedia.com. Agency findings against both. Veterans Daythat is not only She maintains current about honoring the past leadership is cleaning up — it’s about recognizing problems they inherited, not creating new ones. the ongoing contributions that argument, ofTo support veterans in our Del Rosa provided a June neighborhoods, workplaces 22 families. letter from national and accounting firm Wipfli LLP The guide aims to confirming the firm has provide both inspiration completed audits of the and tribe’s practical Grants and resources, Contracts ensuring of Fund for local 2022, stories 2024, and courage and commitment 2025. In that letter, Wipfli are and states itremembered issued “unmodified (‘clean’) opinions” on those celebrated.
fund financial statements, concluding they presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with
from the SCED with the entrepreneurial insights of the MEDC, city leaders hope to transform downtown Alturas from a collection of vacant storefronts into a more vibrant hub of local activity. For the City Council, the proposals offer a collaborative pathway forward. Officials confirmed that both the SCED’s property inventory and the students alike look MEDC’s business forward to eachcarry year— support strategy no an to learn, directopportunity costs or mandatory connect, and celebrate the obligations for the city, shared responsibility of positioningtheir the projects as keeping community low-risk opportunities to safe. spark meaningful progress in the local economy
Veterans Day guide to Audits, Hawaii House Purchase, and Federal honor local service Warnings members Fuel Alturas Tribal Money Fight interview with The Modoc leadership, while event County Record, Chairman listings will provide Phillip Del Rosa and Vice Chair information on parades, Darren Rose flatly denied ceremonies and other stealing tribal money and gatherings. Readers will also said the tribe is current on its find details on organizations grant and casino audits. They offering assistance with argued that controls health care,financial education and are in place, that required employment, as well as reports have been filed with volunteer opportunities and federal agencies, donation drives. and that the real misconduct lies with Community members are former officials accusing invited to helpnow shape the them of Ifembezzlement. “The guide. you or someone misappropriation funds you know has of served, was doneMedia by Wendy Del Rosa Modoc encourages and Wayne Smith,” tribal you to submit a photo, spokesperson Del name and yearsSarah of service.
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The firm reported one material Continue on page 2