Category Archives: Community News

Articles, Community News, Health, Law

Law Enforcement Leaders Discuss Challenges When Responding To Non-Criminal Mental Health Calls; Del Norte’s PATH Crisis Team Launches With Limited Hours

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: Concept art of the Del Norte County’s Providing Access to Hope mobile mental health crisis response van. Above: Supervising Behavioral Health Specialist Mariah Coats and two of PATH’s team members, Certified Peer Support Specialist Ryan Downs and Behavioral health Specialist Aaron Matthess. | Photos courtesy of Shiann Hogan

Del Norte County’s Providing Access to Hope, or PATH, program has responded to 27 calls for help since it launched nearly two months ago.

In a majority of those cases, the staff manning the new mobile mental health crisis unit have helped those individuals come up with a safety plan and have followed up with those folks, Behavioral Health Branch Deputy Director Shiann Hogan told Redwood Voice Community News.

But, while it’s a resource anyone, including law enforcement, can call upon, PATH is currently only available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday due to staffing issues.

Continue reading Law Enforcement Leaders Discuss Challenges When Responding To Non-Criminal Mental Health Calls; Del Norte’s PATH Crisis Team Launches With Limited Hours →
Articles, Community News, Education, Infrastructure

Del Norte County, Education Officials Lobby For Century-Old Funding Source

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by Amanda Dockter

Pointing out that Del Norte County’s apportionment is a significant part of its general fund, District 3 Supervisor Chris Howard said continuing to lobby hard for the Secure Rural Schools program is important, even though Congress didn’t include it in the budget it approved last month.

Howard, whose district includes the Smith River National Recreation Area and parts of Redwood National and State Parks, called the loss of nearly $1.4 million to the community huge. It’s huge for Del Norte County and huge for Del Norte County Unified School District, he said.

But, while he urged Del Norters to let their elected representatives know where they stand on funding for infrastructure and schools, DNUSD Superintendent Jeff Harris said the district has learned not to count on those SRS dollars.

Continue reading Del Norte County, Education Officials Lobby For Century-Old Funding Source →
Articles, Community News, Education, Health, Youth

DNUSD Spared From Cuts To USDA School Nutrition Programs

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: DNUSD’s Nutrition Services Department fresh fish tacos to Del Norte High School students last year courtesy of the Community Food Council’s Sea-to-Market program. | Photo courtesy of Michael Hawkins

(Updated at 8:27 a.m. to correct an error. Julie Carter Bjorkstrand, Del Norte Unified School District’s director of nutrition services, will travel to Sacramento as part of the California School Nutrition Association’s legislative action committee.)

Potential changes to a federal program that offers free meals to socio-economically disadvantaged schools will impact 2.4 million Californian students, but those in Del Norte County won’t be among them, according to Julie Carter Bjorkstrand.

Bjorkstrand, Del Norte Unified School District’s director of nutrition services, also said that a $660 million cut to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Food For Schools program won’t impact Del Norte schools.

“It’s actually not going to impact us because I didn’t apply for that grant,” she said. “I didn’t like the reporting. They didn’t have it fully fleshed out and so I didn’t feel all that comfortable applying for it.”

Continue reading DNUSD Spared From Cuts To USDA School Nutrition Programs →
Articles, Community News, Education, Transportation, Youth

DNUSD Is Getting New Vans, Training New Bus Drivers, Transportation Director Says

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by Persephone Rose

Del Norte Unified School District is putting four new vans on the road, replacing an aging fleet that drew concerns from parents and staff who said they weren’t safe for students.

But since it will take  two or three weeks to be retrofitted to meet the district’s needs, DNUSD is still relying on those older vans, transportation director Chris Armington told the Board of Trustees on Thursday.

Providing an update  four months after parents and staff complained of warped brake rotors, leaking brake fluid and school bus seat belts held together with duct tape, Armington said his department had implemented a check-in check-out system for use of the vans.

Continue reading DNUSD Is Getting New Vans, Training New Bus Drivers, Transportation Director Says →
Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Education, Health

FRC Showers Moms with Gifts, Resources, and Support

Leave a comment
Video Courtesy of Monique Camarena

Expecting parents were showered with love, gifts, and resources at the Family Resource Center of the Redwoods’ semi-annual Community Baby Shower on March 15. Through the generosity of Crescent City Elks Lodge #1689 and many community partners, moms four months along or further were able to receive free diapers, diaper bags, baby wipes, books, food, information, and much more.

Along with diapers and diaper bags, the Elks Lodge donated car seats, strollers, playpens, and bouncers that would be up for raffle. RE/MAX Real Estate donated beautifully decorated diaper cakes that would also be raffled off.

  • Photos Courtesy of Family Resource Center of the Redwoods via Facebook
  • Photos Courtesy of Family Resource Center of the Redwoods via Facebook
  • Photos Courtesy of Family Resource Center of the Redwoods via Facebook
  • Photos Courtesy of Family Resource Center of the Redwoods via Facebook
Continue reading FRC Showers Moms with Gifts, Resources, and Support →
Articles, Community News, Education, Infrastructure, Local Government

School Board Signs Onto SitelogIQ Proposal After DNUSD Admin Says Potential $65k Fee Won’t Impact Staff

Leave a comment

Thumbnail: DNUSD logo

Despite hearing from two skeptics who balked at the possibility that Del Norte Unified School District would be on the hook for $65,000, trustees endorsed a proposal from SitelogIQ to conduct energy audits of DNUSD campuses.

Del Norte Teachers Association President Amber Tiedeken-Cron was one of those skeptics. On Thursday, she pointed to the names of teachers that had been posted on the wall at the district office, asking trustees to keep them in mind when they think about spending money.

“We had put the names of every one of the teachers that received pink slips on the board,” she told Redwood Voice Community News on Friday, “and asked that the School Board keep our students and the names of the staff who have been given preliminary layoff notices at the forefront of every decision they make.”

Continue reading School Board Signs Onto SitelogIQ Proposal After DNUSD Admin Says Potential $65k Fee Won’t Impact Staff →
Articles, CC Harbor, Community News, Law, Local Government

Though He’ll Enforce State Law, Sheriff Advises Harbor District To Hold Off On Administrative Fines For Illegal Fireworks This Year

Leave a comment

Thumbnail: Illegal fireworks on South Beach rivaled professional display Crescent City put on near the North Jetty in this July 4, 2018 photo | Photo by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Crescent City Harbor commissioners on Wednesday broke off pursuit of an agreement with the county enabling them to levy fines aimed at curtailing illegal fireworks within their jurisdiction, taking advice from their harbormaster and, through him, the Del Norte County Sheriff.

Sheriff Garrett Scott said his deputies and officers from other agencies will still enforce state law prohibiting fireworks that explode, go into the air and move erratically on the ground this Independence Day. This includes citing and arresting anyone selling, displaying or possessing illegal fireworks in violation of the California Penal Code as well as confiscating dangerous fireworks.

He said he also wanted to see how his office handles enforcing Del Norte County’s new fireworks ordinance, which was established in October and also includes a fee structure.

Continue reading Though He’ll Enforce State Law, Sheriff Advises Harbor District To Hold Off On Administrative Fines For Illegal Fireworks This Year →
Articles, Community News, Infrastructure, Local Government

Del Norte CAO Says Federal or State Loans May Be An Option To Finish Jail, Pyke Field Rehab Projects

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: Despite receiving about $3 million for much-needed improvements to the jail, Del Norte County Administrative Officer Neal Lopez says additional funding is needed. | Photo courtesy of the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office

Del Norte County officials are looking to state and federal loan programs to complete needed upgrades to the jail and to the Pyke Field Sports Complex despite receiving roughly $3.5 million in Congressionally Designated Spending funds last year.

During a presentation on capital improvement projects that are either finished or ongoing, County Administrative Officer Neal Lopez said staff is working on applications for a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and a potential loan through the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, or Ibank.

Staff have also decided that tackling the Pyke Field rehabilitation project in phases would be the best path forward, he said.

Continue reading Del Norte CAO Says Federal or State Loans May Be An Option To Finish Jail, Pyke Field Rehab Projects →
Articles, Community News, Local Government

Del Norte County Board of Supervisors Roundup, March 25, 2025

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz

District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey was absent. Among the items discussed at Tuesday’s Del Norte County Board of Supervisors meeting:

Emergency shelter: Supervisors approved a budget transfer of nearly $2.9 million to build the 60-bed emergency shelter that’s part of a larger project to address homelessness in Del Norte County.

The funding, which comes from a $10 million Encampment Resolution Funding grant Del Norte received in 2023, will allow Adams Commercial General Contracting Inc. to start building the shelter. The 6,700 square-foot emergency shelter and a 50-unit micro village, along with restroom and commercial kitchen structures will be housed on county property on Williams Drive. This joint venture, which includes wraparound services and case management, is being spearheaded by the county Department of Health and Human Services and Del Norte Mission Possible. Individuals could begin occupying the emergency shelter and the micro village by September, according to DHHS Director Ranell Brown.

Continue reading Del Norte County Board of Supervisors Roundup, March 25, 2025 →
Articles, Community News, Infrastructure, Local Government

County Engineer Presents List Of Repairs Planned For Del Norte’s Unmaintained Roads, Proposes Long-Term Options For Residents

Leave a comment

Thumbnail: Rock delivery and minor grading on Childs Avenue is among a list of planned repairs to unmaintained county roads for the upcoming fiscal year. | Photo courtesy of Del Norte County

Four Del Norte County supervisors on Tuesday agreed to finance repairs to public roads the county doesn’t maintain for a second year. They also supported a proposal to use that allocation as an incentive to get residents to take on that responsibility themselves.

That policy pitch came from County Engineer Jon Olson. He acknowledged that residents weren’t receptive to a proposed benefit assessment to pay for those repairs about 15 years ago, but, he said, an up-front investment might get them to change their minds.

“This Board is spending $50,000,” Olson said. “That could be the leverage or the carrot that we need to get people to take responsibility long term for the roads that they’re responsible to maintain instead of just spending out $50,000 each year.”

Continue reading County Engineer Presents List Of Repairs Planned For Del Norte’s Unmaintained Roads, Proposes Long-Term Options For Residents →