Public Agencies Retirement Service representative Matt Spooner repeated a comment he made to county supervisors a month ago, that a Section 115 Trust with his firm was a “savings account on steroids.”
But contrary to a statement one supervisor made at the Jan. 14 meeting, Spooner, County Administrative Officer Neal Lopez and District 5 representative Dean Wilson said Tuesday that Del Norte couldn’t use dollars it places in that trust for anything other than meeting its pension and other post-employment benefit obligations.
Yet, supervisors Valery Starkey and Darrin Short still sought guidance on how the trust funds could be used. Starkey said that any proposal to access money in the Section 115 Trust should come before the Board of Supervisors and be approved with a 4/5ths vote. That way the public could weigh in, she said.
February 13th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from CalTrans District 1; the upcoming Crescent City Council meeting is canceled due to lack of agenda items; the Del Norte County Office of Emergency Services is seeking feedback on their hazard mitigation plan; of Curry County’s $4.4 million in COVID relief funding, less than half is accounted for; Oregon crabbers saw record breaking numbers of whale entanglements last year; Nevada dairy cows display a whole new strain of Bird Flu; the vaccination deadline for Oregon children is right around the corner; California has passed the national average percentage of adults with a college degree; and a $1.5 million grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation goes towards the push to bring back the Southern Sea Otter. 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 newscast image is courtesy of NOAA Fisheries via the Curry Coastal Pilot’s article, which has been edited.
Department of Health and Human Services Director Ranell Brown says a new 60-bed emergency homeless shelter should be finished by June and accepting individuals by September. | Image courtesy of Del Norte County
Efforts to create a pathway out of homelessness on Williams Drive are progressing now that rubble from the county’s old mental health building has been cleared.
In her first update to the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors since August, Department of Health and Human Services Director Ranell Brown said Tuesday the county has purchased container units for the restrooms and commercial kitchen that will serve the micro village and 60-bed emergency shelter. Contractors are expected to finish renovating a modular structure that will house the program’s wraparound supports next month.
Though the county still needs to finalize the agreement with a contractor to build the shelter, Brown said it should be finished by June, weather permitting. She told supervisors that DHHS staff and Del Norte Mission Possible representatives are confident the entire endeavor can be completed by the end of August.
February 12th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from CalTrans District 1; Crescent City City Council meeting cancelled due to a lack of agenda items; DNOES seeks public input on hazard concerns in the county; Curry County tries to figure out what happened with $2.7 million in unaccounted COVID-19 relief dollars; Curry County schedules a Wednesday workshop for an emergency declaration on unmaintained federal land fire hazards; a retrospective on Del Norte’s Night to Shine celebration for the special needs community; Chetco Community Public Library adjusts their monthly checkout limit; USDA announces a new strain of Bird flu in dairy cows; an Indigenous Authors Book Club starts at Crescent Elk Middle School; and a report on California college credentials says the state passes the national average. 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 newscast image is courtesy of Curry Civic TV, which has been edited.
February 11th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from CalTrans District 1; the County’s new Teen Court Program receives its first case; Curry County’s proposition to manage federal lands receives pushback; Del Norte’s Night to Shine shone brightly; Chetco Community Library Adjusts its monthly checkout limit; fishing information from Fishing the North Coast; the Yurok Engine 9462 crew returns home; and information about Crescent Elk’s new Indigenous Authors Book Club and its benefits. 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 newscast image is courtesy of the Yurok Tribe via their Facebook Page, which has been edited.
Del Norte County Supervisors on Tuesday will discuss transferring assets from a California Public Employees Retirement System-managed trust to one managed by a private firm.
Public Agencies Retirement Service (PARS) Senior Consultant Matt Spooner is also expected to give a presentation to the Board about his firm’s 115 OPEB Prefunding Program and Pension Rate Stabilization Program.
The Board of Supervisors last month approved establishing the Section 115 Trust with PARS after Spooner said it would provide greater flexibility when it comes to the county paying its share of its employees pension and other retirement benefits.
February 10th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from CalTrans District 1; the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors puts out a poll regarding their annual strategic plan review and update; the County’s new Teen Court Program receives its first case; Crescent City Councilors discussed turning the Cultural Center into a Redwood Discovery Center; other agenda items discussed at the City Council’s recent meeting; fishy facts & figures from Kenny Priest of Fishing the North Coast; Yurok firefighters return home after aiding in the fighting of the Hughes fire; the Redwood Parks Conservancy announces 2025’s artists in residence; and an announcement from former Del Norte County Supervisor Susan Masten and station manager Paul Critz. 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 newscast image is courtesy of Katrin Bolovtsova via Pexels, which has been edited.
The previous City Council, plus new councilmember Candace Tinkler, cut the ribbon on a reconstructed Front Street in November. | Photo by Amanda Dockter
Crescent City Councilor Candace Tinkler was absent. Among the items discussed at Monday’s meeting:
Front Street Notice of Completion: Four members of the City Council marked the official end of the Front Street reconstruction project, authorizing the city manager to sign and file a notice of completion for the stretch between G and Play.
This action comes about three months after the former Council reopened the road to traffic on Nov. 6. The project was possible through a total of about $2.2 million from multiple funding sources including Measure S, the American Rescue Plan Act, Senate Bill 1 dollars as well as the Del Norte Local Transportation Commission and the city’s general fund.
February 6th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from CalTrans District 1; with federal funding up in the air, Open Door braces for the worst; Walmart recalls contaminated broccoli; CDFW and their partners coordinate a fish evacuation; a Josephine County judge temporarily suspends enforcement of Grants Pass’ homeless ordinance; Brookings announces the promotion of their new fire chief; the Coastal Commission to discuss diverting Smith River water for Alexandre Dairy; Grants Pass organization U-Turn For Christ will be hosting a meeting to discuss ways to combat homelessness; and road safety updates from CalTrans and The California Highway Patrol. 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 newscast image is courtesy of the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT), which has been edited.
February 5th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from CalTrans District 1; retired DNUSD Principal faces accusations of sexual assault; FDA announces a recall for Walmart’s packaged broccoli florets; Del Norte County joins Sacramento and San Diego counties in lawsuit against Tech Giants; the CDFW rescue endangered steelhead trout after Southern California fires; PATH begins providing real-time crisis support for mental health and substance abuse crises; conditions of NorCal and Southern Oregon’s atmospheric river; Yurok Tribal Court officially launch their mobile showers and laundry facility in Del Norte County; California school districts reassure parents on immigration authority raids and student data safety; and weather and road condition updates from local services. 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 newscast image is courtesy of the Yurok Tribe via their Facebook Page, which has been edited.
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