Friday, December 30, 2005 Looking back is a regular feature of the Modoc County Record, a weekly newspaper published in Alturas, California. The following is transcribed from the December 8, 2005 issue. Looking Back 97 Years Ago 1908 THE TOWN Christmas tree will be held in the opera house Christmas Eve. Santa Claus will be there with treats for all the kiddies and the soliciting committee and others deserve much credit for their work in continuing this annual event. 87 Years Ago 1918 THE WAR is over but it was learned today that two more Modoc boys have died in France and another was wounded .Bounty hunters can make good money in Modoc these days trapping coyotes. Besides the high price being paid for pelts, the county bounty is $17 . Temperatures ranged from five above to 48 above this week. 67 Years Ago 1938 EVERY DAY LIFE on a Cattle Ranch is the name of the film being made on the Vic Christensen ranch at Likely . Pres Dorris and W.B. Williams are trying to round up 250 head of cattle for a big barbecue in Sacramento honoring Governor Wilson. So far they have been given ten head . All local help will be employed in the construction of the new Modoc High School next year. 42 Years Ago 1963 THE MODOC High school band is all set to travel to the East-West Shrine game to perform at half time . Dan Hill took over as Modoc Fair manager, replacing Hippy Burmister . The Modoc Braves took both the varsity divisions at the seventh annual Holiday Basketball Tournament . Christmas hams were on sale in Alturas for 53 cents per pound. In the 1938 column are mentioned two ex-employers of this person. I worked for W. B. (Ben) Williams, school and on Saturdays in the Lowell and Williamss Grocery for several years. Then I went to work for Vic Christensen at his ranch and spent some of my most enjoyable teen years there. Ben was most anxious to have the big barbecue to thank the Governor for appointing him to the State Fish and Game Commission. Those two individuals were quite unlike in physique and nature. Vic was a large man; about six feet three in height and maybe weighed 300 pounds. Ben was slight and maybe weighed in at 140 pounds. He was light hearted and easy to get along with even when not doing your job in the best possible way. Vic was a serious man, and believe me when I say, he demanded perfection in what you were doing. I learned a lot from both of those gentlemen about life and work in general. Those lessons are still with me to this very day. (My grandkids think that I am really old fashioned and out of touch with the mainstream of America today). See you all again next week and have a very happy and safe New Years. Ron Morgan