Monthly Archives: February 2025

Newscast

The Oregon Nurses Association Returns to Work – Redwood Voice Community News

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February 28th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: road work updates from Caltrans District 1; a special Harbor Fire & Rescue Board of Directors meeting is happening tomorrow; a warning about a tsunami alert system test next month; a weekend weather update from the National Weather Service of Eureka; Supervisor Wilson suggests AI to fill staffing shortages in the County; a profile on Del Norte County’s Poetry Out Loud champion; the Oregon Nurses Association returns to work; Oregon seeks to protect renters from application fees; next month is Red Cross Month; the marine update from Fishing the North Coast; and a blood moon is coming. All this and our regular segments from the Pacifica Radio Network and National Native News.

We’re broadcasting on KFUG 101.1FM and kfugradio.org every day at 12PM, with a rebroadcast at 5PM. We’re also airing on KZZH 96.7FM at 6AM, and KCIW 100.7FM at 6PM!

Today’s news card image is courtesy of KOBI-5 via their article, which has been edited.

Articles, Community News, Emergencies, Environment, Local Government

Federal Funding Freeze Puts Del Norte Fire Safe Council Fuels Reduction Projects In Limbo

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Thumbnail: Del Norte Office of Emergency Services Public Information Officer Bill Steven snapped this photo of the Smith River Complex wildfires burning above Patrick Creek Lodge and U.S. 199 on Aug. 16, 2023.

(Updated at 12:03 p.m. Friday with a correction: The California Climate Investments grant is a state program and Cal Fire is a state department. There is a $70 million federal grant available, though Del Norte Fire Safe Council County Coordinator Aaron Babcock said he’s not sure how it will be distributed.)

Flames from the Smith River Complex crept within 600 feet of Aaron Babcock’s Gasquet home in August, 2023.

A former firefighter, Babcock is the county coordinator for the Del Norte Fire Safe Council. He said he and his wife chose not to evacuate from the smattering of wildfires burning around the Gasquet area. Instead, he and two of his Fire Safe Council colleagues helped clean out gutters and create extra defensible space for about 50 homes threatened by the fire.

“The houses we had worked on definitely got skipped over,” Babcock told Redwood Voice Community News on Tuesday. “Because they had firefighters preemptively clearing around people’s homes in case the fire came through, those homes didn’t have to have anything done [to prevent them from burning], which was great because it lowers the amount of firefighting resources that were needed and helped protect other homes.”

Continue reading Federal Funding Freeze Puts Del Norte Fire Safe Council Fuels Reduction Projects In Limbo →
Newscast

Supervisor Suggests Staffing AI to Combat Vacancies – Redwood Voice Community News

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February 27th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: road work updates from Caltrans District 1; Elk Valley road has a major water main break; Oregon seeks to protect renters from application fees and deposits; Del Norte County Sheriff cracks down to stop a possible July 4th repeat; information on the Del Norte backed AB 1014; the Brookings City Council sees a wave of public support for the municipal pool season; AI is suggested by a supervisor to fill the gaps in county staffing at the Board of Supervisors meeting; environmental groups seek reinstating protections against offshore drilling; and Oregon property owners still have time to fill out their intent to appeal recently released wildfire hazard maps. All this and our regular segments from the Pacifica Radio Network and National Native News.

We’re broadcasting on KFUG 101.1FM and kfugradio.org every day at 12PM, with a rebroadcast at 5PM. We’re also airing on KZZH 96.7FM at 6AM, and KCIW 100.7FM at 6PM!

Today’s news card image is courtesy of Redwood Voice Reporter Aisling Bludworth, which has been edited.

Articles, Community News, Economy, Infrastructure, Local Government

Staff Vacancies Among Top Concern In Strategic Plan Update; County Supervisor Suggests AI To Increase Productivity

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Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz

Norma Williams rejected a suggestion from District 5 Supervisor Dean Wilson that artificial intelligence might allow Del Norte County departments to increase productivity despite struggling to hire and keep staff.

Williams, Del Norte County Employees Association SEIU 1021 president, provided public comment following an update of the county’s 2024-29 strategic plan on Tuesday. She reminded Wilson that many county services are state- and federally-mandated. The technology staff use to provide those services was created by the state or federal government and, therefore, the responsibility to update those systems rests with the state or federal government.

Del Norte’s vacancy rate is still high and AI can’t replace everyone, Williams said.

“I doubt very seriously that the community at large is going to want to talk to an AI,” she told supervisors. “When they walk through the door they want to see a live human being. Someone who can understand them, who can speak with them and who can serve them.”

Continue reading Staff Vacancies Among Top Concern In Strategic Plan Update; County Supervisor Suggests AI To Increase Productivity →
Alerts, Community News, Crescent City

Bertsch-Oceanview Faces Major Water Main Break, Boil Water Notice Issued

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Thumbnail photo courtesy of KFUG Station Coordinator Amanda Dockter.

Crescent City residents in the Bertsch/Oceanview neighborhood awoke this morning to very low water pressure. According to a City Facebook post, this was due to a broken water main on Maiden Lane, off Elk Valley Road. City Manager Eric Wier told Redwood Voice Community News by phone this morning that the twelve inch main is deep, about seven feet below the ground, and will take time for City crews to access. The scope of the break won’t be known until that happens. Tidewater Contractors is assisting City crews at the scene.

The City has advised residents, some of whom may still have low-flow running water, to BOIL that water before drinking. Most of the residents in the Bertsch/Oceanview neighborhood are without water at all. Wier said the City will be setting up a potable water distribution point across the street from KidTown where those residents can fill containers with safe drinking water. He estimated it will be operational by noon and that residents should follow Crescent City’s facebook page for updates.

Once the main is accessed, repaired and recharged, Wier said — and there is currently no estimate available as to how long that will take — it will then be an additional 24 hours for the City to test water safety. During that time, resident will still need to boil water before drinking or cooking with it.

Newscast

Bertsch-Oceanview’s Major Water Main Break – Redwood Voice Community News

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February 26th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from Caltrans District 1; Elk Valley road has a major water main break; Del Norte County Sheriff cracks down to stop a possible July 4th repeat; information on the Del Norte backed AB 1014; David’s Haunted Manor owners suffer from a home fire; Del Norte’s Special Olympics director sheds light on the lack of access to local In-Home Supportive Services; the Brookings City Council sees a wave of public support for the municipal pool season; Environmental Groups seek reinstating protections against offshore drilling; updates on the Eel River watershed and it’s restoration; and Oregon property owners still have time to fill out their intent to appeal recently released wildfire hazard maps. All this and our regular segments from the Pacifica Radio Network and National Native News.

We’re broadcasting on KFUG 101.1FM and kfugradio.org every day at 12PM, with a rebroadcast at 5PM. We’re also airing on KZZH 96.7FM at 6AM, and KCIW 100.7FM at 6PM!

Today’s news card image is courtesy of KFUG Station Coordinator Amanda Dockter, which has been edited.

Articles, Community News, Infrastructure, Transportation

Assemblyman Chris Rogers Introduces Del Norte-Sponsored Speed Limit Bill

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Chris Rogers

Del Norte’s new assemblyman is bringing statewide attention to a problem Tamera Leighton says she’s been working on for nearly two decades — cars speeding through the U.S. 199 communities of Hiouchi and Gasquet at 55-plus mph.

Chris Rogers, representative of California’s 2nd Assembly District, introduced a bill Friday that aims to provide more flexibility when it comes to setting speed limits on state highways. Del Norte County is the bill’s sponsor.

Leighton, Del Norte Local Transportation Commission’s executive director, said she and District 3 Supervisor Chris Howard have worked to address residents’ concerns about unsafe speeds since about 2006. According to her, Rogers’ potential piece of legislation means they’ve pushed the issue as far as they can, though she urged supervisors to continue their advocacy.

Continue reading Assemblyman Chris Rogers Introduces Del Norte-Sponsored Speed Limit Bill →
Newscast

Fighting For Scarce Support Services – Redwood Voice Community News

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February 25th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: road work updates from Caltrans District 1; new discussions on the Crescent City Harbor District’s firework ordinance; the California Commission publicly reprimands a retired Del Norte County Judge on Judicial Performance; disaster strikes the owner-operators of David’s Haunted Manor; the Community’s Struggle with Support Services; information on the third annual Missing & Murdered Indigenous People Summit; the Eel River is on the path to running free once again; and this years winner for the 2024-25 California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest. All this and our regular segments from the Pacifica Radio Network and National Native News.

We’re broadcasting on KFUG 101.1FM and kfugradio.org every day at 12PM, with a rebroadcast at 5PM. We’re also airing on KZZH 96.7FM at 6AM, and KCIW 100.7FM at 6PM!

Today’s news card image is courtesy of Redwood Voice Reporter Aisling Bludworth, which has been edited.

Newscast

The 3rd Annual MMIP Summit – Redwood Voice Community News

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February 24th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from CalTrans District 1; updates from the US National Weather Service; Crescent City Harbor Commissioners set priorities for the boatyard’s revitalization; a retired Del Norte County judge was publicly reprimanded for statements made during a 2023 domestic violence hearing; owners of David’s Haunted Manor receive support after their recent house fire; DNUSD has been experiencing AT&T interruptions; the Humboldt Area Foundation and Wild Rivers Community Foundation is offering scholarships for the 2025-26 school year; the third Missing & Murdered Indigenous People’s Summit is coming up; Bandon’s West Coast Game Safari Park receives citations for it’s mistreatment of animals; Kathy Holeman of The Dalles, Oregon wins the 2024-25 California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest; a proposed California Assembly Bill will make Bigfoot the state cryptid; and fish themed facts and figures from Kenny Priest of fishing the North Coast. All this and our regular segments from the Pacifica Radio Network and National Native News.

We’re broadcasting on KFUG 101.1FM and kfugradio.org every day at 12PM, with a rebroadcast at 5PM. We’re also airing on KZZH 96.7FM at 6AM, and KCIW 100.7FM at 6PM!

Today’s news card image is courtesy of the Yurok Tribe, via their press release, which has been edited.

Articles, Community News, Health

The State of Support Services in Del Norte County is Lacking

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Update at 2/24/25 4:00PM: This article has been edited to differentiate between In Home Supportive Services and the Redwood Coast Regional Center, which are two separate entities.

For Kenna Gavin, area director of the Special Olympics for Del Norte County, answers to IHSS-related questions are hard to come by. She said she’s had to fight for the bare minimum. 

“They want you to give up, sadly a lot of [the clients] do.” Gavin told Redwood Voice.  In order to access IHSS there is “a book of paperwork that you have to get just right, or you’ll be denied care.”

Gavin has been seeking In Home Supportive Services, or IHSS care, for her daughter Skyler,  since she was very young. Skyler, 24, has Down syndrome. 

The first time Gavin tried, the paperwork was too much and she gave up. Now that her daughter is an adult, in order for Gavin to retain conservatorship, they have had to seek the services of both the Redwood Coast Regional Center and IHSS. 

Continue reading The State of Support Services in Del Norte County is Lacking →