APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS The Modoc County Vol. 133, No. 2
RECORD Alturas, California
April 3, 2025
$1.00
Serving Modoc Since 1892 18 Pages
Farmers, Freelancers, and the IRS: Rural California’s Tax Reality Tax season hits differently out here. It’s not about clicking through an app on the high-speed internet. It’s about whether your hotspot signal will hold long enough to download a form or if your microwave internet signal is being hindered by fog. Whether the printer at the library still has toner. Whether the post office is still open when you finally finish the paperwork. Most people outside Modoc don’t get it. They think everyone files online. They’ve never had to fill out a 1040 by flashlight during a power outage or drive to a neighbor’s house just to scan a
document. And it’s not just the internet. It’s the work itself. Income around here doesn’t always come with a W-2. It’s side gigs, haying, fence repair, hauling, feeding cattle, —whatever it takes. Some of it’s seasonal. Some of it’s off the books. Some of it the IRS barely seems to understand. The rules don’t make sense when your income shifts with the weather or the harvest. But people in Modoc figured it out. They always have. It’s trading tips at the feed store, calling your cousin who’s good with numbers, using last year’s return as a
template. It’s mailing forms because e-filing crashes or costs too much. It’s printing schedules you don’t understand just to stay on the safe side. It’s patience and persistence—and more than a little grit. For folks looking for help, Leslie C. Gonzalez, EA LLC in Alturas and Gold River Solutions in Reno are both ready to assist. In a time when online tools fail and forms keep getting harder to follow, having reliable, in-person support makes all the difference. Sometimes, sitting down with someone who knows what they’re doing—and knows what life is like
around here—is the only way to get it done right. Tax season shouldn’t be this hard. But until the system changes, folks
here keep doing what they’ve always done: taking care of their own, getting creative, and making it through with
whatever tools they’ve got. Because out here, you don’t wait for help. You find a way.
Two Calves Found Dead in Lassen Public Meeting Announced County; Wolves Suspected
to Address Groundwater Issues
Two more dead calves were discovered this week on a ranch in Lassen County, near the Modoc County line, in what authorities believe is another wolf attack. The Modoc County Sheriff’s Office reported that evidence at the scene strongly suggests wolves were responsible. A radiocollared gray wolf, which recently dispersed into the Ash Valley area, is believed to still be in the vicinity. DNA samples were collected and are being analyzed, with results expected within two weeks. On the same day, a video of a gray wolf walking along a highway was shared in a local Facebook group, drawing mixed reactions. Some users celebrated the rare sighting, while others expressed concern— especially among rural residents. “Wolves don’t respect fences or property lines. They follow hunger,” one rancher said. According to locals, the wolves in Northern California are no longer just passing through—they are establishing territory. Originally confined to higher elevations, recent sightings have shown
A state law designed to improve drought planning in rural California is raising concerns among officials in Modoc County. They say the law creates new responsibilities but lacks the funding and flexibility needed to carry them out effectively. Senate Bill 552, passed in 2021, requires counties to establish drought resilience task forces, identify small water systems at risk, and prepare emergency water shortage plans. The law aims to help communities— particularly those that rely on private wells or have limited infrastructure—better prepare for future droughts. In Modoc County, where many residents depend on
Photos by Modoc County Sheriffs Office wolves moving into lower valleys and ranchlands as wild game becomes scarce. Reports of howling near barns, missing livestock, and wolves lingering near homes are increasing. Meanwhile, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the state has entered Phase 2 of its wolf management plan, following confirmation of multiple breeding packs. The update allows for a formal review of the wolves’ status and opens the door to new hazing methods, including nonlethal projectiles and motorized deterrents. CDFW is also rolling out a GPS tracking tool for collared wolves and plans to release its first statewide wolf report. The agency says these steps are part of a broader effort to balance conservation with growing impacts on rural communities. The CDFW has
confirmed that wolves are present in the region, including the Lassen Pack and potentially six others, which have successfully reproduced in recent years. A study from UC Davis found that 72% of scat samples from the pack contained cattle DNA, suggesting livestock is becoming a primary food source. Ranchers say the losses are mounting. In Modoc and surrounding counties, even small operations reports confirmed wolf kills numbering in the dozens. Some ranchers estimate more than 70,000 pounds of beef lost in a single year. Many say those numbers don’t include open cows, lost pregnancies, or the multigenerational genetic investment in their herds. By the time carcasses are found, it’s often too late to determine cause of death. Ranchers say a pack can strip a 500-pound
calf to the bone in a matter of hours. Advocates for local control are urging counties and sheriffs to take a more active role in response efforts. They argue that rural officials are better positioned to assess risks and protect communities than state agencies based hundreds of miles away. Modoc County Sheriff Tex Dowdy continues to assist local ranchers and coordinate closely with regional and state agencies as part of an ongoing effort to address predator-related livestock losses. Dowdy has been a key figure in supporting ranching communities in Modoc and neighboring counties. Modoc County officials urge residents to report sightings and suspected depredations to the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office to help improve mitigation efforts.
groundwater and private wells, local leaders agree that drought planning is essential. Still, they argue the process should be tailored to the specific needs of smaller, rural counties. Several organizations representing rural areas have called on the state to offer additional funding, simplified planning templates, and clearer guidance to support SB 552 compliance. They say these changes would help counties like Modoc meet the law’s goals without straining already limited resources. Modoc County plans to hold a public meeting next week to discuss its approach to SB 552 and invite input from local residents.