HEAD TO OU
R FACEBOOK PAGE AND
VOTE FOR YOUR
MODOC FOOTBALL FACES THE WEED COUGARS AT HOMECOMING
F A R V E O I T R N I T O E R F
The Modoc County
RECORD
Vol. 133, No. 47 29
Alturas, California
Serving Modoc Since 1892
February 2026 October 9, 12, 2025
16 24 Pages
Community Rallies toStudents Support Boost FamilyFire After Alturas Elementary Devastating Fire FIRE Safety SkillsHouse with CAL A fully engulfed structure expected to arrive Tuesday fire was reported at 12:39 morning, allowing crews a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at access to all areas of the a residence on Crestler structure. Firefighters Street in Cedarville. The anticipate all remaining family escaped unharmed smoke and flames will be but lost their home and all extinguished by Tuesday belongings. evening. According to Barb Hill of Cedarville Volunteer the Cedarville Volunteer Fire Department personnel Fire Department, multiple continue to monitor the engines and personnel from scene. the Cedarville and Lake City “Our thoughts go out to our volunteer fire departments community members who responded to the blaze. As have lost so much,” Hill said of Monday evening, crews on behalf of the department. had logged approximately 13 In response to the fire, Cal Lassen-Modoc hoursFire on scene and used an Unit-Facebook community members have estimated 30,000 of Fire organized a donation Trailer. drive to Prevention The CAL FIREgallons Lassen water. Unit, in collaboration They support the displaced family. gained essential Modoc The thefireModoc continued to knowledge A gift card and clothingsafety, drive on battery with Fire Safe and Council and Alturas smolder Monday night, evacuation is underway strategies, and will accept firethrough preparedness, Elementary School,flare-ups. recently overall with occasional donations Feb. 27. in to learning about led vitalhot Fire Prevention Hill asaid spots remain addition Requested items include of clothing playing Week local the due to program building for collapses new ordangers lightly used fireunderwear, equipmentsocks, and students. Focusing dugouts. on this with and underground such as year’s theme, “Charge into Additional equipment was understanding shoes, shirts, firefighter pants, Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion fitness and gear. This community-focused Batteries in Your Home,” students received hands- initiative, shared by the on training inside the CAL FIRE Lassen Modoc
sweatshirts and jackets. Clothing is needed in girls sizes 12–14; women’s Unit, shows the strong medium and large; and men’s commitment to public safety medium and large, including education, ensuring younger XL, 2XL and 3XL.understand Shoe sizes residents requested fire includeprevention girls size critical 3; women’sBy sizes 7.5 and 8; measures. teaching these and men’s sizesat8.5, crucial lessons an 11–12 early age, the program helps build and 12–13. safer communities through Additional requested items increased awareness and preparedness. Residents are encouraged to follow the CAL FIRE Lassen Modoc
An Alturas man who has donated blood for more than three decades received an unexpected reward last year: $30,000 toward the purchase of a vehicle. Harold was Veterans Montague Day is a time selected in a random for reflection, gratitude and drawing from thousands of community. This November, donors who participated in Modoc Record is preparing Vitalant’s July giveaway, a special guide dedicated held July 9-31. to honoring the men and Montague women who told haveVitalant served he in nearly deleted a voicemail the nation’s armed forces. informing him will of thefeature prize, The guide assuming After profiles ofit was localspam. veterans, mentioning the message community events, support to his wife, resources and she waysurged for him to return call. A residents to gettheinvolved. Vitalant It will representative be printed later and confirmed won. distributedhe had throughout “It and wasn’t until the Modoc Lassen counties. $30,000 sitting in the Stories waswill highlight dealership’s that and we resilience, hands sacrifice
and his wife stayed active through gardening, camping, fishing, traveling, church involvement and community service. Coordinating blood drives became a natural extension of that Submissions can be emailed commitment. He contacted to info@modocmedia.com. his local Vitalant donation Veterans Day is not only center in California and about honoring the past arranged for his church to — about recognizing hostit’s blood drives, including the July ongoing contributions event that coincided of veterans our with the giveaway. in Montague said workplaces he did not neighborhoods, knowfamilies. July was the month of and the vehicle promotion. The guide aims to “Having won provide bothnever inspiration anything bigger than a and resources, couple practical of work-related trips, ensuring local stories of this has been a very surreal courage and commitment experience,” he said. “How are and does a remembered nobody, living in a small rural community in celebrated.
https://www.amazon.com/ hz/wishlist/ls/ BRLKQL 1R1D6W?type=wishlist
include new blankets and pillows, phone chargers with 10-foot cords, toiletries, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Gift cards and certificates are also being accepted from Amazon, Walmart, Target, local grocery stores, Dollar General, local restaurants, Unit on orsocial mediaCash for and Visa Mastercard. ongoing and donations safety are beingtips accepted community locally and updates. will be delivered Now a beloved annual event, the Fire Prevention Week program is something that firefighters, staff,
directly to the family. An Amazon wish list has been created and will be updated as additional needs are identified. Donations may be dropped off at Surprise Valley Schools, front office, 470 Lincoln St., Cedarville, CA 96104. andA QR students alikelinklook code and to forward to wish each list year— the Amazon are an opportunity to learn, available. connect, and celebrate the shared responsibility of keeping their community safe.
Years of Giving Back Pay Off for Alturas Blood Donor Veterans Day guide to honor local service members went from the ‘I can’t believe this is real’ feeling to the elation of, ‘Wow, this is really happening,’” Montague said. Montague has donated blood for more than 30 years and serves as while a blood event drive leadership, coordinator. His qualifying listings will provide donation took place July 15, information on parades, when he gave a Powerother Red ceremonies and donation atReaders a community gatherings. will also blooddetails drive he find on organized. organizations “I started donating blood offering assistance with simply care, to pay it forward,” health education and Montague said.asAswell a high employment, as school Spanish teacher and volunteer opportunities activities drives. coordinator in the donation late 1980s, hemembers used blood Community are drives toto encourage students invited help shape the to give back. his 35guide. If youDuring or someone year teaching career, his you know has served, school hosted to three Modoc Media two encourages blood to drives each year. you submit a photo, Afterand retiring, Montague name years of service.
Image from the Vitalant website
northeastern California where the number of cattle outnumber the human population, actually win something of this magnitude? It’s still hard to believe, but wonderfully crazy things can
happen to anyone.” The vehicle Montague wanted had already been selected, though he had not planned to purchase it for several more years. The Continue on page 2