Category Archives: Articles

Articles, Community News, Law, Local Government

Del Norte Sheriff Retains Ability to Hire At More Advanced Salary Step

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Despite what the county staff report said, Del Norte Sheriff Garrett Scott told supervisors that he has used his ability to hire at a more advanced step in the salary schedule four times in the last six months.

Though they agreed that being able to hire at a level higher than Step A but no higher than Step C is a useful tool — one they allowed to continue on Tuesday — the Board was surprised at the sheriff’s news.

“It was less than three weeks ago when we had this conversation, and at the time it wasn’t a useful tool. As a matter of fact, I think you made some statements that it was a morale killer,” District 3 Supervisor Chris Howard said. “Obviously now you’ve corrected us in the sense you believe it has been used. I’m curious what’s changed with your perception in the last several months since the Board adopted this for you.”

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Articles, Community News, Local Government

Jim Wood Makes Final Visit To Del Norte As Assemblyman; Supervisors Start Building 2025 Legislative Platform

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Though California’s election results aren’t certified yet, Del Norte’s representative in the State Assembly urged supervisors to build a relationship with his successor as early as possible.

During what was likely his final presentation to the Board of Supervisors before a new assemblyman is sworn in on Dec. 2, Jim Wood urged supervisors to make a list of priorities, work with similar counties to build a coalition and reach out “sooner rather than later.”

“I’m not sure if my Assembly seat’s been called, but the numbers favor Mr. Rogers — not the guy in the sweater, but a different Mr. Rogers,” said Wood, who represents California’s 2nd Assembly District and was Speaker pro tempore during the 2023-24 year. “It’s important that a relationship begin as early as possible. I hope he meets with all of you. If he [doesn’t] I’m going to find out and make sure he does.”

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Articles, Community News, Crescent City

Del Norte Says Thank You: Veterans Day Parade Offers Connectivity, Support

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Redwood School’s cheer squad show Del Norte’s veterans some love at Monday’s parade. | Photos by KFUG Station Manager Paul Critz

Lynn Herriott said it took 20 years for her to join a veterans organization, so she understands why some might approach a parade with mixed feelings.

Herriott, who was with the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton during the Gulf War, waited for Crescent City’s annual Veterans Day parade to start. The Gasquet American Legion 548 commander says she’s not super vocal about her service — she understands the holiday may be painful, especially for those who have seen combat — but the parade shows veterans that people care about them.

It also helps connect them with veterans organizations like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Herriott told Redwood Voice Community News on Monday.

“I think maybe they don’t understand what the service organizations do, but we’re here for the veterans,” she said. “It’s good camaraderie because you’re talking to people who understand your language and understand what you’ve been through. It’s a good place to go if you’re feeling like you don’t fit in.”

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Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Council Roundup for Nov. 4, 2024

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Among the items discussed at last week’s Crescent City Council meeting:

Landscape standards: Three councilors approved new parameters dictating the amount of open space housing developers need to provide their residents. 

Councilors Jason Greenough and Kelly Schellong Feola dissented, saying the requirement for developers to set aside 20 percent of their property for usable open space if their project has six or more housing units was too burdensome.

Under the new standards, multi-family developments with six or more units must include one amenity such as a community garden, a picnic or barbecue area or an exercise area, City Attorney Martha Rice said. A portion of it must also be landscaped. For developments with 10 or more units, the usable open space must have one of the amenities listed above plus a play area with a picnic table, Rice said.

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Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

City Council Tweaks Measure S-Funded Projects, Uses SB-1 Dollars For Asphalt Repairs

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Photo courtesy of Andrew Goff, of the Lost Coast Outpost

After their fire chief credited Measure S for his department’s recent Class 2 ISO rating, Crescent City councilors on Monday authorized changes to more projects paid for with revenue from the voter-approved sales tax.

Those changes include using $90,000 in Measure S dollars to start expanding the Crescent City Police Department while waiting on a USDA Community Facilities loan to come through.

Councilors allocated an extra $120,000 as contingency for an HVAC and flooring project at the Fred Endert Municipal Swimming Pool plus an additional $106,000 for other projects that need to be completed during the facility’s three-month closure.

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Articles, Community News, Curry, Law, Local Government

Former Commissioner Proposes Creating A Service District To Rebuild The Curry County Sheriff’s Office

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Former elected official Christopher Paasch appeared before the Curry County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday to make a formal pitch to ask voters to create a service district in an effort to rebuild the sheriff’s office.

Paasch, who retired from the Board following the 2022 election, brought Sheriff John Ward with him, and urged commissioners on Wednesday to declare their intention to form a Curry County Law Enforcement Service District and schedule the first of two public hearings Oregon statute requires to place the measure before voters next May.

The proposed service district would be funded through a property tax of $1.12 per $1,000 of assessed valued property and would generate roughly $4.2 million annually, Paasch said. The revenue would pay for eight patrol deputies, a civil deputy, an administrative assistant, two sergeants, one lieutenant and the sheriff.

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Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Local Government

Crescent City Fire Achieves Second-Highest ISO Rating

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Crescent City Fire & Rescue participates in a local Fourth of Parade. | Photo: Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Kevin Carey said he and his colleagues thought a Class 2 ISO rating was unattainable for Crescent City Fire & Rescue. So when he announced the department’s new designation with the Insurance Services Office Inc. before the City Council on Monday, the fire chief credited a slew of people, most especially the late Steve Wakefield.

Carey delivered the news to Wakefield’s wife Debra after first informing the city manager.

“She was absolutely ecstatic,” Carey said. “She knew that Steve would be super proud of us.”

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Articles, CC Harbor, Community News, Elections

Del Norte Saw A Surge In Last-Minute Ballot Submissions, County Clerk Says; Dan Schmidt, Annie Nehmer and John Evans Lead In Harbor Race

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Thumbnail photo by Eric (HASH) Hersman, via Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons License.

Though she’s not sure if the winners in Del Norte’s one contested race will change, County Clerk Recorder Alissia Northrup is certain that the raw data will change.

Northrup said her office and polling places throughout the county saw a surge in last-minute voters on Tuesday. As a result, Northrup estimated that more than 1,000 ballots were submitted and have yet to be counted.

Continue reading Del Norte Saw A Surge In Last-Minute Ballot Submissions, County Clerk Says; Dan Schmidt, Annie Nehmer and John Evans Lead In Harbor Race →
Articles, Arts & Culture, Community News

DNACA Is Rebuilding After Two Rough Post-Pandemic Seasons; 2024-25 Concert Series Starts Wednesday

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Thumbnail image and flyer courtesy of DNACA

(Updated at 7:55 p.m. Tuesday with input from DNACA’s former executive director Stephanie LaTorre)

Managing an organization like the Del Norte Association for Cultural Awareness is akin to plate spinning, treasurer Catherine Balck says.

Pre-pandemic, the executive director had to find and hire instructors for its visual arts programs, organize public exhibits and book acts for DNACA’s annual concert series. The executive director worked with Pelican Bay State Prison and the William James Association to help coordinate Arts in Corrections — a state-funded program that stopped due to COVID. And they had to fundraise.

But the relief dollars that kept DNACA alive during the pandemic have dried up and donations have dwindled, Balck told Redwood Voice Community News on Friday. Its long-time venue, the Crescent Elk Auditorium, was largely unavailable due to major renovations during the last two seasons.

Continue reading DNACA Is Rebuilding After Two Rough Post-Pandemic Seasons; 2024-25 Concert Series Starts Wednesday →
Articles, CC Harbor, Community News, Economy, Local Government

Ice Plant Saga: Harbor District Weighs Operating Plant As Short-Term Solution, Enlists Help From City, County Leaders

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Thumbnail courtesy of KFUG Station Manager Paul Critz.

After meeting with city and county representatives on Monday, Interim Harbormaster Mike Rademaker says there’s more momentum toward the Harbor District operating the ice plant rather than transporting the ice from Brookings.

The Crescent City Harbor District is still working on establishing a containerized ice plant, but with the commercial Dungeness crab season set to start soon, getting the ice plant on Citizens Dock up and running is a faster option, Rademaker told Redwood Voice Community News on Tuesday.

“Lead time is at least 24 weeks,” he said, referring to the containerized ice plant option, which could cost about $1 million. “It’s not a viable solution for the upcoming crab season or tuna [fishery].”

But local leaders are still figuring out how to address environmental concerns associated with the ice plant itself as well as how much ice the local fishing fleet actually needs, according to Crescent City Manager Eric Wier.

That information must also be weighed against the  costs associated with transporting ice from Pacific Choice Seafood’s plant in Brookings to Crescent City as well as figuring out how to get it onto local fishing boats, Weir said.

“We had an initial meeting in which some more questions were asked, and we need to have the answers to those questions,” he said Thursday. “What are some of the options and what are the impacts? How does this affect fishermen in regards to crab season, which is basically upon us, versus other fishing seasons? We need to have some answers fairly quickly.”

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