Honoring the brave. Remembering the fallen. This Memorial Day, we pause to pay tribute to those who gave everything for our freedom. The Modoc County Vol. 133, No. 9
RECORD Alturas, California
May 22, 2025
$1.00
Serving Modoc Since 1892 16 Pages
More Than Thanks, Turning Remembrance into Action By Jody Boulay Memorial Day is a solemn occasion to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. We attend parades, place flags at gravesites, and take quiet moments of reflection. But beyond the ceremonies and speeches lies another, often invisible war, one that too many of our veterans and active-duty service members are still fighting. Countless veterans struggle with substance use disorders, suicidal ideation, and an increasing risk of drug overdose. It’s a battle that doesn’t make headlines and is waged silently behind closed doors, far from the front lines. Yet, for countless military personnel, the struggle with addiction is as real and as relentless as any combat mission. Service members often endure intense physical and psychological stress. Exposure to combat, traumatic injuries, and
the pressure to reintegrate into civilian life all contribute to an increased risk of developing a substance use disorder. The connection between military service and addiction is not often discussed, but it should be. According to census data, in 2022, 1,292,737 veterans lived in California. While it is challenging to know how many veterans in local communities struggle with addiction and mental health issues, there are some national and state trends among veterans and the general population that offer some insight into the issues. Veteran suicide deaths in California, for example, shows 559 deaths in 2021 among veterans in the state ages 18 and older. Suicide deaths among veterans made up 14% of all suicides in 2021. Among both veterans and non-veterans, suicides made up 1% of total deaths in 2021, according to the California Department of
Public Health. Nationally, the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 6.3% of veterans had a substance use disorder in the past year. Alcohol use, for example, was common among 56% of veterans, while 22% engaged in binge drinking, and 5.2% experienced an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol abuse, in general, unfortunately, is a common precursor for addiction and suicidal ideation and increases the risk of drug overdose. According to the California Health Care Foundation, the death rate from fentanyl increased 10fold from 2015 to 2019. Approximately 2.9 million Californians aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder in the past year. Six percent reported symptoms that met the criteria for abuse of or dependence on alcohol, and about 4% reported meeting the criteria for abuse of or dependence on illicit drugs. We need to normalize
conversations around mental health and addiction within military culture. We should also support communitybased organizations and nonprofits doing critical work in this space. Many of these groups offer holistic, veteran-centered services that go beyond what traditional institutions can provide, from nontraditional therapy and outdoor rehabilitation programs to job training and sober housing. We must also expand access to comprehensive, trauma-informed care, particularly in rural areas where resources are scarce. Fortunately, there are some resources to help, such as the Veterans Crisis Line; dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255 anywhere in the state. Veterans can also contact CalVet at 1-800-9525626 or the VA Benefits Hotline at 1-800-8271000. The Department of Health Care Services provides an automated non-emergency substance use disorder treatment
referral line at 1-800-8792772 statewide. This Memorial Day, while we remember the fallen, let’s also remember those still fighting against the weight of their memories, their pain, and the stigma that keeps them from seeking help. Let’s make it clear that their service matters. Their struggles matter.
And they are not alone. Jody Boulay is a mother of two with a passion for helping others. She currently works as a Community Outreach Coordinator for DRS to help spread awareness of the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Ongoing Predator Debate Sees New Technology The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has launched a new wolf-tracking tool aimed at helping livestock producers respond to growing wolf activity. But with compensation funds stretched thin and predator policies still in debate, many in rural California say the state’s approach still leaves producers exposed. The Wolf Location Automated Mapping System shows the general location of GPS-collared wolves using a grid of hexagon-shaped cells. Each cell marks where a collar last reported, with updates usually coming once a day. If a collar goes silent, the map continues to show its last known location. It’s not live tracking, and it only
includes wolves wearing functioning collars. The tool is meant to help ranchers make informed decisions about where to graze their animals. But not all wolves are collared, and even in packs with collars, not every wolf’s movements are represented. That means actual wolf presence can extend well beyond what the map shows. During denning season, usually from April to August, the map goes dark near sensitive sites to reduce disturbance. CDFW says it may change or shut down the map entirely if it results in wolf harassment or trespassing. Alongside the map, the state has reopened its Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program. As of October 28, 2024,
producers who have suffered a confirmed or probable wolf kill on or after July 1 can apply for direct loss payments. The current round includes $600,000 in state funding, but is limited to Prong 1—livestock losses only. There is no current funding available for nonlethal deterrents or payfor-presence incentives. The original pilot program, launched with a $3 million appropriation from the legislature in 2021, was designed to cover all three prongs: direct loss, deterrents, and presence. CDFW opened applications for Prong 1 in February 2022 and Prong 2 in May 2022. The full three-prong program launched in June 2023 and ran until the funds were exhausted in
March 2024. A total of 109 grants were awarded to producers in known wolf activity areas including Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas and Tulare counties. Participation was voluntary, and applications were reviewed through a multistep process to confirm eligibility. According to the department, all $3 million was distributed. While the department says it is working to reduce conflict, producers continue to raise concerns that state policies ignore the full impact of wolf presence. Those tensions were clear during the May Fish and Game Commission meeting, where over 500 people showed up or called in to speak on a proposed reclassification of coyotes.
The issue wasn’t about wolves, but the message from rural Californians was the same: predator policies are being made without enough input from the people who deal with the consequences. Sheriffs from District 1 drove as long as six hours to attend and urged the commission to take local concerns seriously. Their message mirrored what ranchers have said for years—that whether it’s wolves or coyotes, the burden of coexistence is falling hardest on rural families. The state continues to call for coexistence and encourages the use of non-lethal tools, even as it limits funding for them. Ranchers say they’re being asked to shoulder the cost of a policy they didn’t
ask for and that doesn’t change the daily realities of raising livestock in wolf country. The tracking map and the new round of compensation may help, but they also highlight the core problem: the tools are partial, the support is limited, and the state’s expectations remain high. For many, this isn’t a solution—it’s a stopgap.
Alturas Man Faces 34 Charges Related to Sexual Abuse of Minors A 37-year-old Alturas man is facing more than 30 felony charges after being arrested last week on suspicion of repeatedly sexually abusing minors, according to the Alturas Police Department. Bryant Dennis Reeves was taken into custody May 15 following an investigation by the Alturas Police Department in coordination with the Modoc County District Attorney’s Office and the Modoc County Department of Social Services. The department said it began investigating after receiving a report on the evening of May 14.
Reeves was booked into the Modoc County Jail and is being held without bail. He was arraigned May 20 in Modoc County Superior Court before Judge Randall Harr on 34 counts: • 288.7(a) PC sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child 10 years old or younger • 288.7(b) PC (two counts) oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10 years or younger • 288.5(a) PC (two counts) continuous sexual abuse • 261(a)(2) PC (two counts) forcible rape –
child victim • 289(a)(1) PC (two counts) sexual penetration by a foreign object – victim under 14 • 287(c)(2)(B) PC (two counts) oral copulation of a person under 14 years by force • 286(c)(2)(C) PC sodomy by use of force – victim 14 or older • 288(b)(1) PC forcible lewd act upon a child • 289(i) PC (two counts) sexual penetration with a foreign object • 288(a) PC (three counts) lewd act upon a child • 287(c)(1) (two counts) oral copulation of a person
under 14 years and 10 years younger • 288.2(a)(1) (two counts) distributing or showing a child or youth pornography • 287(b)(1) PC (two counts) oral copulation of a person under 18 years and 10 years younger • 289(h) PC (two counts) sexual penetration by foreign object • 289(i) PC (two counts) sexual penetration by foreign object – victim under 16 286(b)(1) PC sodomy of a person under 18 • 286(b)(2) PC sodomy of a person under 16 • 287(b)(2) PC oral
copulation of a person under 16 years and 10 years younger • 288(c)(1) PC (three counts) lewd act upon a child Prosecutors also filed several sentencing enhancements, alleging that the crimes involved great bodily harm, cruelty and violence, and that Reeves abused a position of trust. The victims, identified only as child victim 1 and child victim 2, were described as particularly vulnerable. The court also found that Reeves posed a serious danger to society. Reeves’ defense attorney
requested that he be released, but the motion was opposed by Modoc County District Attorney Nina Salerno. Judge Harr sided with prosecutors and denied bail. Authorities say additional charges may be filed pending a comprehensive review of the case.