Articles, Law, Local Government

Unable to hire a chief public defender, Del Norte County Supes shift tactics, call for traditional indigent defense office

Leave a comment

With Del Norte County still lacking a chief public defender despite creating the position three years ago, District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey urged her colleagues to consider a different model.

Instead of the managed-assigned counsel model the Board of Supervisors approved in 2023, which consisted of a county public defender overseeing a department of contracted attorneys, Starkey hoped that establishing a traditional office would attract more applicants.

“We’ve leaned into a different model that hasn’t really been effective for us. We’ve recruited for it, but we haven’t been able to find someone,” she said Tuesday. “If we were to lean into a new traditional office — and that is the notice that’s going out, that’s what we’re marketing (for) — I feel we would get more of an applicant pool of people that have those career ambitions, to come in and create an office and establish permanency.”

Continue reading Unable to hire a chief public defender, Del Norte County Supes shift tactics, call for traditional indigent defense office →
Articles, Infrastructure, Local Government

Del Norte County To Inspect Sewer Lines North of Crescent City Limits, Initiate a Rate Study

Leave a comment

Thumbnail image: The red triangles are areas within the sewage system within County Service Area 1 north of Crescent City limits that have defects. Image courtesy of Del Norte County Engineer Jon Olson

Noting that staff has identified more than 100 defects in the sewer collection system north of the city limits, Del Norte County Engineer Jon Olson got the green light to get an inside view of the pipes using closed circuit television.

Olson told supervisors on Tuesday that his goal is to document the location of each defect in Assessment District 2 of the County Service Area, or CSA. Assessment District 2 includes the unincorporated part of Crescent City North as well as Northcrest Drive north of Washington Boulevard and the area surrounding Sutter Coast Hospital and Walmart. 

The county engineer showed a picture of one of the classic defects — a mowed-over sewer cleanout cap in a low area of the yard. That defect allows rainwater to enter the system, Olson said. Another photo was from the outside of a commercial building, he said.

Continue reading Del Norte County To Inspect Sewer Lines North of Crescent City Limits, Initiate a Rate Study →
Articles, Crime, Local Government

Del Norte Supervisors Greenlight Narcotics Enforcement Position at the Sheriff’s Office; 33-year Employee Norma Williams Retires; SEIU 1021 Raise Concerns About ICE

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz

District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey joined her colleagues in approving the creation of a narcotics enforcement position at the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office.

But after questioning County Administrative Officer Neal Lopez and Human Resources Director Kerri Vue about the cost and how it will be paid for, Starkey noted that there’s no guarantee the position will be permanent after the three year funding commitment was up.

“I think they were going to do a year-by-year assessment to see the benefits of this particular position,” Starkey said Tuesday, referring to the Community Corrections Partnership.

Continue reading Del Norte Supervisors Greenlight Narcotics Enforcement Position at the Sheriff’s Office; 33-year Employee Norma Williams Retires; SEIU 1021 Raise Concerns About ICE →
Articles, Crime

Sheriff Disputes Use Of Excessive Force Allegation Against Bailiff, Says Woman Caused A Disturbance At Courthouse

Leave a comment

The Del Norte County sheriff is disputing an excessive use of force accusation against one of his bailiffs. 

The allegation was posted on Facebook on Tuesday and is related to the removal of a Reno, Nev. woman from a family court hearing at the Del Norte County Courthouse on Monday. Sheriff Garrett Scott told Redwood Voice Community News on Wednesday that he is asking the Del Norte County District Attorney to criminally charge Amanda Dutton and Jordan Dutton. 

According to Scott, Amanda Dutton was disrupting the proceedings in the courtroom and refused to leave when one of his deputies, Luisa Ahumada, ordered her to. Ahumada escorted Amanda Dutton from the courtroom and into the hallway where they were met by Ahumada’s colleague, Dep. Jeremy Sutton, the sheriff said. 

Continue reading Sheriff Disputes Use Of Excessive Force Allegation Against Bailiff, Says Woman Caused A Disturbance At Courthouse →
Brookings, Community News, Crescent City, Curry, Just For Fun, Klamath, Regional News, Tribal Affairs, Youth

Del Norte, Curry Serves Up Spooktacular Halloween Experiences

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: Storefront of Salty Dog Grooming. Window art by Amber Taney Art. | Photo by Monique Camarena

From Klamath, Calif. to Port Orford, Ore., there looks to be a bowlful of Halloween-themed events happening in Del Norte and Curry Counties this October. Check them out!

Del Norte County

Oct. 15: The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation is hosting its Monster Bash for tribal citizen households from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Howonquet Hall Community Center, 101 Indian Ct. in Smith River. Enjoy food, games, and Tolowa Dee-ni’ community. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call Monica Calvillo at (707) 487-9255 ext. 1191. 

Oct. 16 and 23: The Yurok Tribe is hosting Klamath Halloween Movie Nights from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Ada Waukell Charles Community Center, 225 Klamath Blvd. in Klamath. Light snacks will be provided.  For more information, call Judith Scott at (707) 951-9371 or email Tara Jordan at Tarajordan@yuroktribe.nsn.us. 

Continue reading Del Norte, Curry Serves Up Spooktacular Halloween Experiences →
Articles, Crime, Health

Healthcare District Is Investigating Allegations That Sutter Coast ER Doctors Are Refusing To Test, Treat Sexual Assault Victims

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by Persephone Rose

Editor’s note: The following article includes a reference to the sexual assault of a minor.

Del Norte Healthcare District officials are investigating allegations that Sutter Coast Hospital emergency room doctors have refused to examine sexual assault victims, including those who are minors.

The initial complaint came from Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office Det. Maia Mello, a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team. At the DNHCD’s July 28 meeting, Mello asked the Healthcare District Board to provide the hospital with a “letter of encouragement to follow established federal and state law, locally established and agreed upon protocols and the best practices in the treatment of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.”

“Sutter Coast is the best place for our victims to receive treatment for their acute injuries and conditions,” she said, according to meeting minutes for July. 

Continue reading Healthcare District Is Investigating Allegations That Sutter Coast ER Doctors Are Refusing To Test, Treat Sexual Assault Victims →
Articles, Health, Housing

Last Week’s DNSO Operation To Get Waldo Area Homeless To Move On Raises Questions; Advocates Say It Came On Short Notice

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: Unhoused people living in Waldo area encampments were told to pack their belongings and move along during a Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office operation on Oct. 2. The DNSO went to the area with Behavioral Health Branch staff and Del Norte Mission Possible representatives. | submitted photo

Del Norte County Sheriff’s Capt. Melanie Currie said an operation last week to urge people living in the encampments near Waldo Street to move along wasn’t about kicking them out.

Deputies didn’t arrest anyone on Oct. 2, she said. They arrived with the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office chaplain, specialists with the Behavioral Health Branch and Daphne Lambert, Del Norte Mission Possible’s director of homeless services. The intent, Currie said, was to offer services and get people help.

“Daphne came out with a truck and we were helping people call family members that could come and help them pack,” she told Redwood Voice Community News on Tuesday. “Daphne was offering totes for people to put their belongings in and transportation, the same with Behavioral Health.”

Continue reading Last Week’s DNSO Operation To Get Waldo Area Homeless To Move On Raises Questions; Advocates Say It Came On Short Notice →
Articles, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

City Pilot Project — A Response to State Water Board Fine — Aims To Reduce Groundwater Infiltrating Sewage Pipes, Treatment Plant During Wet Season

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by James Brooks

Noting that Crescent City has five to 10 years to ensure its sewer plant meets stricter regulations governing its effluent, City Manager Eric Wier introduced a pilot project aimed at fixing the system’s defects.

The pilot project involves making spot repairs to a handful of areas within the city’s 17-mile network of sewage pipes to prevent groundwater from getting into the system during the rainy season. 

It’s this groundwater infiltration coupled with aging equipment that prevents the plant from meeting National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit rules governing total coliform and enteral cocci bacteria, according to the city manager. But instead of paying a $258,000 fine, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is allowing Crescent City to apply that figure to the pilot project, Wier said.

Continue reading City Pilot Project — A Response to State Water Board Fine — Aims To Reduce Groundwater Infiltrating Sewage Pipes, Treatment Plant During Wet Season →
Articles, Crescent City, Economy

Crescent City, Chamber and Visitors Bureau Formalize Their Relationship For First Time In Decades

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: Among its contribution to the chamber this year was an extra $5,000 to help pay for the July 4th fireworks. | Photo courtesy of the Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce

Two days after the local chamber of commerce and visitors bureau brought 300 classic cars to Del Norte County, the Crescent City Council approved the first formal agreement the two agencies have had in decades.

The memorandum of agreement between the Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce and the city formalizes its $107,000 total contribution to the chamber. 

But councilors weren’t sure they could swing an additional $3,000 allocation for the visitors center even after Chamber Executive Director Cindy Vosburg said that hasn’t increased in about 11 years.

Continue reading Crescent City, Chamber and Visitors Bureau Formalize Their Relationship For First Time In Decades →
Articles, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Council Recap, Oct. 5, 2026

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo of the Fred Endert Municipal Pool by Andrew Goff

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

City Attorney employment agreement: City councilors unanimously approved a five-year extension to an employment agreement they have with City Attorney Martha Rice.

Rice became the city’s full-time lawyer in January 2022 though she had already worked for the city as a contract deputy attorney and attorney since 2009, according to City Manager Eric Wier. Calling the decision to authorize an in-house attorney a game changer for staff, Wier praised the work Rice has been doing as well as her innate knowledge of the community as a Del Norte County native.

According to Wier, the new agreement will be extended through January 2032. Rice’s continued employment also comes with a step increase in the salary schedule from Step 5 to Step 6, according to a staff report from Human Resources Manager Sara Barbour. 

Continue reading Crescent City Council Recap, Oct. 5, 2026 →

Telling the untold stories of Del Norte and Tribal Lands through amplified youth voices.