Print Version
Email this story
Comment
Country living is part of town’s charm
 |
| H&N photos by Todd E. Swenson Alturas Mayor John Schreiber, left, is also the only barber in town, opening up his shop every afternoon for clients like Glenn Nader of Canby, Calif. |
Wednesday, June 25, 2007
John Schreiber’s customers mill around his barbershop before taking seats.
On this dreary day, the quaint shop with one barber chair surrounded by waiting room seats is a refuge from the unseasonable July rain.
One of Schreiber’s customers is the former Alturas police chief. A more-than-30-year Alturas resident, Larry Pickett is a regular at John’s Barber Shop.
Another customer sits across from Pickett. He’s Deeth Harney, a rancher who lives 40 miles east of Cedarville. He comes to Alturas once a week for grocery shopping, haircuts and to eat at his favorite restaurant, the Brass Rail. He goes mainly for the lamb chops.
The two chat while they wait.
Schreiber is more than town mayor and barber. The 72-year-old knows all his customers by name, knows their families, knows their history.
“It’s nice to come to a place where it’s not paved over,” says Glenn Nader, another customer, of Alturas. He lives in Sacramento, but has a ranch in Canby and often takes the trip to Alturas and gets a haircut.
Seasonal employment
This is part of Alturas’ charm. The town of just under 3,000 people is dubbed “Where the West still lives” by locals for its abundant countryside and traditional approach to cattle ranching. Still, it’s an economically depressed town, and some residents rely heavily on welfare.
“Even in our best of times, most of our employment is seasonal,” says Dixie Server, Modoc County Museum historian.
But it’s a town with friendly folks, who are more likely to know others’ homes by their family name than their address.
They are residents, who still stop to assist motorists with a flat tire and often put on family barbecues and community functions. They are residents who don’t ask for much, content to live the life they’ve lived since birth, locals say.
“You know everybody,” Pickett says. “It’s a place to raise your kids.”
The remote location of Alturas in Modoc County ” the most northeastern county in California ” lends to country living. Occasionally, some move in and can’t tolerate being surrounded only by wildlife, Schreiber says, with deer and, at night, howling coyote.
“They fall in love with it,” he says. “If they don’t, they move right away.”
Alturas used to rely heavily on its timber industry and ranching. But since the 1970s, the economy declined and today most residents rely on city, county or federal government jobs to get by. Others farm or ranch.
Town issues, future
The biggest issue facing Alturas, the mayor says, is its health care system. He sees the town growing steadily, but its hospital provides limited resources, and patients are flown to other medical facilities for surgeries.
“There’s a demand for doctors that you didn’t have before,” Schreiber says. “I don’t know if we’ve determined what kind of health care needs to take place in a rural area.”
Law enforcement officials say they see little violent crime in Alturas.
The last murder was in 1992 when 14-year-old Betty Lou Parks was killed and her body hid under a board at a remote subdivision.
Minor domestic disputes are the top crime and substance abuse issues rank second, Pickett says.
City officials put $500,000 this year toward beautification efforts ” $137,000 of those funds went toward remodeling a swimming pool in downtown Alturas. It’s Schreiber’s goal to make Alturas look nicer, more accessible and prepared for an influx in people.
“We hope since we’re slow growing, we can foresee the problems before they take place,” he says.
Main Street Alturas
Old storefronts and new businesses greet residents on Main Street in Alturas. Shops include clothing, hardware, a pharmacy, home accessories stores, hotels and restaurants.
Schreiber says new businesses are sprouting up, including Subway and Quiznos restaurants slated to open sometime in the next couple years.
Downtown, murals of western life adorn sides of buildings. One depicts a cowboy on horse herding cows and another shows elks in front of mountains.
A couple blocks from Main Street is one of the oldest buildings in Alturas, and a national historical site: the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The rock structure was built in 1883, before Alturas’ incorporation as a town.
Father Ben Raze, who’s served as the parish’s priest for three months, says the church often attracts out-of-town visitors, who’ve heard of its history and beauty. A figure of Jesus Christ greets those at the doors, and inside are wooden pews, and stained glass windows adorn walls on both sides of the parish. At the head of the building is a crucifix next to a Virgin Mary statue.
Raze opens his doors every Sunday to visitors with masses in both English and Spanish. Anyone is welcome to attend services at the 100-year-old church nestled along the sprawling hills in the town where the West still lives.
” Laura McVicker
John Schreiber’s customers mill around his barbershop before taking seats.
On this dreary day, the quaint shop with one barber chair surrounded by waiting room seats is a refuge from the unseasonable July rain.
One of Schreiber’s customers is the former Alturas police chief. A more-than-30-year Alturas resident, Larry Pickett is a regular at John’s Barber Shop.
Another customer sits across from Pickett. He’s Deeth Harney, a rancher who lives 40 miles east of Cedarville. He comes to Alturas once a week for grocery shopping, haircuts and to eat at his favorite restaurant, the Brass Rail. He goes mainly for the lamb chops.
The two chat while they wait.
Schreiber is more than town mayor and barber. The 72-year-old knows all his customers by name, knows their families, knows their history.
“It’s nice to come to a place where it’s not paved over,” says Glenn Nader, another customer, of Alturas. He lives in Sacramento, but has a ranch in Canby and often takes the trip to Alturas and gets a haircut.
Seasonal employment
This is part of Alturas’ charm. The town of just under 3,000 people is dubbed “Where the West still lives” by locals for its abundant countryside and traditional approach to cattle ranching. Still, it’s an economically depressed town, and some residents rely heavily on welfare.
“Even in our best of times, most of our employment is seasonal,” says Dixie Server, Modoc County Museum historian.
But it’s a town with friendly folks, who are more likely to know others’ homes by their family name than their address.
They are residents, who still stop to assist motorists with a flat tire and often put on family barbecues and community functions. They are residents who don’t ask for much, content to live the life they’ve lived since birth, locals say.
“You know everybody,” Pickett says. “It’s a place to raise your kids.”
The remote location of Alturas in Modoc County ” the most northeastern county in California ” lends to country living. Occasionally, some move in and can’t tolerate being surrounded only by wildlife, Schreiber says, with deer and, at night, howling coyote.
“They fall in love with it,” he says. “If they don’t, they move right away.”
Alturas used to rely heavily on its timber industry and ranching. But since the 1970s, the economy declined and today most residents rely on city, county or federal government jobs to get by. Others farm or ranch.
Town issues, future
The biggest issue facing Alturas, the mayor says, is its health care system. He sees the town growing steadily, but its hospital provides limited resources, and patients are flown to other medical facilities for surgeries.
“There’s a demand for doctors that you didn’t have before,” Schreiber says. “I don’t know if we’ve determined what kind of health care needs to take place in a rural area.”
Law enforcement officials say they see little violent crime in Alturas.
The last murder was in 1992 when 14-year-old Betty Lou Parks was killed and her body hid under a board at a remote subdivision.
Minor domestic disputes are the top crime and substance abuse issues rank second, Pickett says.
City officials put $500,000 this year toward beautification efforts ” $137,000 of those funds went toward remodeling a swimming pool in downtown Alturas. It’s Schreiber’s goal to make Alturas look nicer, more accessible and prepared for an influx in people.
“We hope since we’re slow growing, we can foresee the problems before they take place,” he says.
Main Street Alturas
Old storefronts and new businesses greet residents on Main Street in Alturas. Shops include clothing, hardware, a pharmacy, home accessories stores, hotels and restaurants.
Schreiber says new businesses are sprouting up, including Subway and Quiznos restaurants slated to open sometime in the next couple years.
Downtown, murals of western life adorn sides of buildings. One depicts a cowboy on horse herding cows and another shows elks in front of mountains.
A couple blocks from Main Street is one of the oldest buildings in Alturas, and a national historical site: the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The rock structure was built in 1883, before Alturas’ incorporation as a town.
Father Ben Raze, who’s served as the parish’s priest for three months, says the church often attracts out-of-town visitors, who’ve heard of its history and beauty. A figure of Jesus Christ greets those at the doors, and inside are wooden pews, and stained glass windows adorn walls on both sides of the parish. At the head of the building is a crucifix next to a Virgin Mary statue.
Raze opens his doors every Sunday to visitors with masses in both English and Spanish. Anyone is welcome to attend services at the 100-year-old church nestled along the sprawling hills in the town where the West still lives.
” Laura McVicker
 |
 |
|
| Herald and News update | Focus shifts to boundaries |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
leesa wrote on Jan 23, 2009 12:37 PM:
" these things should never happened in this world. the world should be safe. "
samantha r. wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:12 PM:
" this article is So true when your a teen girl and your pregnant It seems to feel like your life is over and there is no way you can fix it but that's not true if your young and your going to have a child then stay focused in school your child wants you to succeed in life so he/she can succeed in life my name is Samantha R. I'm 14 years old i live in Klamath falls and i might be pregnant :] If so I'm determined to make sure my child has a better life then i did :] "
Babe wrote on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM:
" I think that chiloquin people do need help and not just the teens but i have also seen places that are alot worse i moved from L.A to chiloquin and ive been back there since and trust me chiloquin is nothing. I also think that crime and drugs etc. are noticed more because it is so small compared to other places and there is no form of disaplin at all "
Tony P. wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:55 PM:
" I remember the night the plane went down.. My mother crying and my dad in tears.. his dad searched for him for years...
"
"
RSS
Jane D. wrote on Apr 10, 2009 12:00 AM:
I Love You Bobby
May your soul Rest In Peace
-Deems "