DECEMBER 7TH
The Modoc County Vol. 132, No. 37
RECORD Alturas, California
December 5, 2024
$1.00
Serving Modoc Since 1892 14 Pages
December Marks DUI Prevention Awareness Month, Law Enforcement Launches Local Campaign While we know the most precious gifts should be delivered safe and sober, more and more people continue to choose to drive under the influence with drunk driving death rates at an all-time high. With thirty percent of trafficrelated deaths in the U.S. being associated with drunk driving accidents, the highest prevalence can typically be seen during the holiday season. Last year, local law enforcement launched their first joint awareness campaign by circulating posters around the community and in local bars with the slogan “Friends don’t let friends DUI.” Agencies in participation included the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office, Alturas Police Department, Modoc County District Attorney, California Highway Patrol, and Modoc County Victim Services. Additionally, the nationally recognized organization Crime Victims United founded in 1982 by Harriet Salarno, mother of current Modoc DA Nina Salarno, endorsed the campaign. Due to the growing epidemic of DUIs both nationally and locally, the agencies opted to make this an annual campaign, growing their efforts each year. From Nov. 2020 to Nov. 2024, Modoc County has prosecuted 208 DUI arrests with six of those involving injury and
thirteen of them being repeat offenders. Modoc County’s DUI rate has increased twenty-one percent in the last year alone. For the 2024 DUI Awareness Campaign, the slogan “Live to Enjoy the Memory” was chosen in hopes of resonating with people during the holiday season and reminding residents how precious life is. Additionally, people are encouraged to “Tie One on For Safety” by wearing a red ribbon to show their support for DUI Prevention Awareness as promoted by the organization Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) which began their campaign thirty-eight years ago. This year’s campaign will not only include the displaying of posters around the county and in area drinking establishments, but additionally, several local bars including the Brass Rail and the Nile’s Saloon have agreed to utilize DUI Awareness coasters designed and purchased by the District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Office. All agencies involved are hopeful that the campaign will encourage individuals to find alternative transportation rather than choose to drive impaired. Standard DUI Terms in Modoc County without enhancements require individuals to serve 48 hours in county
jail, take DUI classes, serve three years of informal probation, and face license sanctions
through the DMV while those who kill someone in a drunk driving accident could face life
in prison. If you suspect someone of driving under the influence, report it by calling 911 before
someone else becomes another statistic and help someone else to Live to Enjoy the Memory.
Remembering Pearl Harbor: 83 Years Since “A Day That Will Live in Infamy” On Dec. 7, 1941, the tranquility of a Sunday morning in Hawaii was shattered when Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor. Eighty-three years later, the country pauses to honor the lives lost and the heroism displayed on that fateful day, which thrust the United States into World War II. The attack began at 7:55 a.m., local time, and lasted just under two hours. More than 2,400 Americans were killed, including 68 civilians. The U.S. Pacific Fleet suffered significant losses, with four battleships sunk, four others damaged, and hundreds of aircraft destroyed. Despite the devastation, key installations, including fuel depots and ship repair facilities, remained intact, allowing for a swift recovery effort. In a speech delivered the following day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously declared Dec. 7 “a date which will live in infamy,” as he asked Congress to approve a declaration of war against
Japan. The unanimous vote in the Senate and near-unanimous approval in the House marked the United States’ formal entry into World War II. “This day serves as a reminder of the resilience of our nation in the face of adversity,” said Maj. Gen. Albert C. White during a commemorative ceremony at Pearl Harbor on Thursday. “We honor not
only those who made the ultimate sacrifice but also the survivors who carried the torch of freedom forward.” Today, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial stands as a solemn tribute to the lives lost. Among its most visited sites is the USS Arizona Memorial, which spans the sunken battleship that entombs 1,102 sailors and Marines.
Annual ceremonies include wreath-laying, moments of silence, and tributes from survivors and descendants. In Modoc County, local schools and organizations marked the anniversary with educational programs and community discussions. The Modoc County Veterans Affairs Office encouraged residents to reflect on the
sacrifices of the “Greatest Generation.” As the years pass, the number of Pearl Harbor survivors dwindles. Historians and community leaders stress the importance of preserving their stories for future generations. “Pearl Harbor teaches us the cost of complacency and the strength found in unity,” said Joan L.
Parker, director of the Modoc Historical Society. “It’s not just a story of loss but of incredible resilience and resolve.” For more information about Pearl Harbor and its impact on American history, visit the National Park Service’s website at www.nps.gov/perl.