Happy The Modoc County
RECORD
Vol. 133, No. 23
Alturas, California
August 28, 2025
Serving Modoc Since 1892 24 Pages
Day of Action Organized to Save National Parks By Janice Prince Betian A Day of Action was held Saturday at the Tule Lake National Monument, formerly the site of the Tule Lake Segregation Center, where more than 30,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. The event was organized by the Tule Lake Committee, whose mission is to preserve and educate the public about the history of incarceration at Tule Lake, and the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), which is leading nationwide efforts to raise awareness about threats to the National Park System and to urge Congress to protect parks from drastic funding cuts. Go Sasaki, who traveled from Boston to take part, was born in Oregon and had family members incarcerated at Tule Lake. He welcomed attendees and urged their support to preserve the site and protect other national parks. Hiroshi Shimizu, a camp survivor, greeted about 75 visitors from as far away as Boston, San Francisco, and Idaho. “This is the home of the Modoc people,” he reminded the audience. “They were told they did not belong here.” He also asked
how many in the crowd had attended the Klamath Tribe Restoration celebration the previous day, and several raised their hands. Shimizu described the “loyalty questionnaire” that was given to incarcerated Japanese Americans during the war. “Those who were unruly, disloyal, troublemakers were placed in Tule Lake,” he said, explaining how suspicion and fear even caused prisoners to turn against one another. Although many of those imprisoned were U.S. citizens, they were told that if they were not happy, they could “self-deport.” More than 5,000 signed to emigrate to Japan. Some later sought to rescind their decisions, citing coercion and duress, but the U.S. government refused to restore their citizenship. Another survivor, Yiroshi Shimizu, shared that she was born in the Topaz internment camp in Utah. At six months old, her family was transferred to Tule Lake, and after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they were moved again to Crystal City Internment Camp in Texas, where she remained until age five. Kay Sasaki of Klamath Falls spoke of her parents,
Presenters and Protesters gather for a historical photo.
Displaying 3,000 paper cranes Protesters sharing their signs made for the event. for the event who were forced into Tule Her mother was a U.S. shipped from one camp to Lake before she was born. citizen, while her father, an another. They were shaped The family had owned a immigrant from Japan, was by the experience… How prosperous farm but were deported. “The trauma of horrific is that?” she said, ordered to leave with only this left scars on Japanese what they could carry. American men, being Continue on page 8
Modoc County jury convicts man in domestic violence case A Modoc County jury has found a man guilty on multiple charges stemming from a domestic violence case, the Modoc County District Attorney’s Office announced. Adam Doig was convicted of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, a felony, as well
as misdemeanor counts of domestic violence and possession of a dirk or dagger. Jurors also found true an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury during an act of domestic violence. Doig was acquitted of other charges: misdemeanor vandalism, and an
additional felony count of criminal threats. The case was prosecuted by Modoc County Assistant District Attorney Richard Cotta. “We are proud of the courage shown by the victim in this case. Coming forward is never easy, but it is vital to holding offenders
accountable,” District Attorney Nina Salarno said in a statement. “This verdict sends a clear message that domestic violence will not be tolerated in Modoc County. I commend ADA Cotta for his commitment to victims of domestic violence.” Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20 at 11 a.m.
Mugshot provided by Modoc County Sheriffs Office