Sunday, December 17, 2006 Looking Back is a regular feature of the Modoc County record, published weekly in Alturas, California. The following is transcribed from the December 7, 2006 issue. Looking Back 97 Years Ago – 1909 THE TOWN of Alturas during the past few months has been infested, if not infected, by a gang of tinhorns gamblers. They are not gamblers in the true sense. A gambler will take even chances for his money, but these creatures live by fleecing drunks and take the money by fair means or foul. The other day a citizen of the county, under the influence of liquor, was talked into a game. He had $80 on the table. To make short work of him the table was turned over and the money pocketed by the thugs. 92 Years Ago – 1914 DR. AUBLE’S duck team out shot Renshaw’s team 140 ducks to 127 in competition in the Sportsmen’s Club last Saturday evening. There were 12 men on each team and the top shooters were R.B. Ingraham and N. Phillip’s, who both downed 23 quackers in the evening shoot. While all bagged birds, none brought down a limit of 25…. Alturas has been without coal for the past two weeks, but Mr. Bunker says that a new shipment from the mines is on the way…. The Bidwell News is now being published by Orville Decious….A. F. Spicer has purchased the Woods place for $11,000… Cedarville has eight inches of snow and the ground is bare here. 72 Years Ago – 1934 LEON B. LEWIS will lead the MUHS band downtown December 15 to play for the raising of the Christmas tree that will officially launch the Christmas season in Alturas….The Three Flags Highway through Alturas has received federal designation from the state highway executives. In the future the road will be known as US 395….Alturas Firemen are asking that a stone building, two stories high, be built alongside the City Hall for the purpose of housing the fire department and for the fist time provide sleeping quarters for four men who could then be duty 24 hours daily…. Stuart Waite of Dunsmuir formally presented a charter to the 19 members of the Alturas 20-30 club in a banquet at the Niles Hotel. 37 Years Ago – 1969 PRINCIPAL RUSS Stauffer presenting plans this week for a new MHS gym that has a $650,000 price tag. It will be voted on in the district in February…. The newly formed Modoc Boosters have taken on an awards banquet as their first project…. Mayor Neal Phillips has announced that the new Alturas Garbage Disposal grounds will soon be opened…. MHS starters for Bob Cicle this week against Henley will be Kip Lybarger, Pan Shannon, Gary Spicer, Alan Wyatt and Victor Menkee. 32 Years Ago – 1974 SOME NEW attention for Modoc County was gained this week in San Diego where Warren Weber was named Young Farmer and Rancher of the Year and Mary Lou Arreche was crowned Queen of the Farm Bureau Federation during that group’s annual convention. Weber, an Alturas rancher, became the first person to receive the award…. A burglary some time over the weekend resulted in $583.32 worth of merchandise being taken from the Modoc Museum….The new Central California Federal Savings and Loan Association building opened in Alturas with vice president and manager, Jerry Wedel. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. It is cold here in the Valley, but I am sure that northeastern California and Southern Oregon is much colder. Everybody keep warm. Ron Morgan