Articles, Economy, Infrastructure, Transportation

Local, State, Federal Officials Discuss What’s Next, Urge Continued Advocacy For Last Chance Grade Tunnel

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Thumbnail photo by Monique Camarena

Doug Hecox was hard pressed to provide a concrete answer to what kind of federal funding Caltrans can expect when it comes to building the 1.1 mile-long tunnel around Last Chance Grade.

There isn’t an exact price for the tunnel’s construction yet, the Federal Highway Administration’s acting division administrator for California told Del Norters at an Oct. 27 open house. The project just entered its design and geotechnical engineering phase, he said. 

And, though Hecox described two potential pots of federal funding, one depends on a highway reauthorization bill Congress was expected to approve but didn’t. The other source came from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Biden-era Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that ran out earlier this month. Still, there are ways to obtain federal funding for a project of this size, Hecox said.

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Articles, Elections, Local Government

Del Norte Declines To Respond To USDOJ Demand To Set Aside Ballots They Say Belong to NonCitizens

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Thumbnail photo by Monique Camarena

Del Norte County is declining to respond to a U.S. Department of Justice demand that its elections office segregate four ballots they say belong to noncitizens who are ineligible to vote, County Counsel Jacqueline Roberts said.

Del Norte is following the example of Humboldt, Fresno, Tulare, San Joaquin and other California counties who have received similar USDOJ demands, Roberts told Redwood Voice Community News via email Monday. 

County officials are making this decision after thorough review of the letter Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California delivered to County Clerk-Recorder Alissia Northrup last week. Roberts said her office is also taking into consideration the law and recent court decisions related to similar demands federal officials have made to county elections offices statewide.

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Articles, CC Harbor, Economy, Infrastructure, Local Government

CCHD Mulling State Grant Opportunity That May Lead To Miniature Golf Course And Wheelchair Ramp to South Beach

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The Crescent City Harbor District is considering a grant opportunity that would pay for recreational amenities on land owned by Crescent City Beach Village on Starfish Way as well as an ADA-compliant boat ramp to South Beach. | Images courtesy of Mike Bahr

Crescent City Harbor officials are eyeing a state grant that would pay for recreational opportunities at the port, including, potentially, a miniature golf course, dog park, food court and a ramp providing wheelchair access to South Beach.

A Statewide Park Program Grant could provide up to $8.5 million for the amenities listed above, according to Community System Solutions CEO Mike Bahr. These are items the public has asked for at meetings held in July 2025, Bahr said, and are aligned with Daniel Dahan’s priorities.

Dahan is the developer behind Crescent City Beach Village, LLC, which leases the property that would host nearly all of these public recreation features, Bahr said Wednesday.

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Articles, CC Harbor, Infrastructure, Local Government

In 3-2 Decision, Harbor Commissioners Finalize Public Restroom Location Three Years After Getting State Grant To Build It

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Thumbnail image: The proposed site for a new restroom is shown in green near two new parking spaces in light blue. An alternative location, shown in yellow within the boundaries of Redwood Harbor Village RV park had been rejected. | Courtesy of the Crescent City Harbor District

A month after they were faced with the possibility of having to abandon the project, Crescent City Harbor commissioners chose a site for public restrooms serving the South Beach and the California Coastal Trail.

But a dispute that began at a Sept. 30 special meeting over the proposed location on Starfish Way across the street from Redwood Harbor Village spilled over to Wednesday’s meeting. Commissioner Annie Nehmer argued that the Harbor District “tore down a perfectly good bathroom” to benefit Crescent City Beach Village developer Daniel Dahan. Board President Rick Shepherd said the public isn’t being asked to walk that far from the beach to access a restroom.

Former commissioner Harry Adams also weighed in, urging the Board not to build the restrooms on the Redwood Harbor Village overflow lot due to its potential commercial value to the harbor.

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Articles, Arts & Culture, Community News, Youth

Community Gets First Virtual Walkthrough of Performing Arts Center As Its Plans Head To State For Approval

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Images courtesy of the Partnership for the Performing Arts

“OFIATC –Our future is at the center,” Nick Rail says, using a tagline the Partnership for the Performing Arts is coining for its major project — the Wild Rivers Performing Arts and Civic Center.

Rail has another tagline: “Our future is only as good as the opportunities we provide for our youth.”

Since Rail founded the Partnership for the Performing Arts in 2021, the nonprofit organization has supported the arts and arts education in Del Norte and Curry Counties. Through school district-wide instrument donations, the establishment of a high school instrument repair class, a yearly concert series, and consistent philanthropy towards the arts and local organizations, the nonprofit’s primary goal is to serve youth and provide meaningful artistic experiences to the community.

The facility’s designs are now before the California Division of the State Architect for approval, Rail told Redwood Voice Community News.

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Arts & Culture, Community News

Art Scene: Samhain Dinner, Art in Public Places, Free Art Classes

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Here are this week’s Arts Notes from the Del Norte Association of Cultural Awareness (DNACA):

  • Sunday: The Pacific Music Guild is hosting a traditional Irish Samhain Dinner from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Crescent City Elks Lodge, 359 H Street. This fundraiser will help send the North Coast Chorale to Ireland in June. There will be authentic Irish food made from local ingredients. Tickets are $30 for adults and youth are $15. Kids 5 years and under eat for free. Tickets are available at Del Norte Office Supply or at this link.
  • On display until Dec. 17: As part of its Art In Public Places Program, DNACA presents the scenic California photography of Joshua Tryban at the Del Norte County Courthouse, 450 H St. in Crescent City. The courthouse is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Articles, Environment, Local Government

Despite Seeking Exemption to New State Law Targeting Single-Use Packaging, Del Norte Could Help Expand Program, Solid Waste Director Says

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County supervisors on Tuesday approved the resolution necessary to relieve Del Norte of the burden that comes with a new state law targeting single-use packaging and to-go flatware recycling.

But, though the resolution notes that the county is eligible for a rural exemption to State Senate Bill 54 —the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act — Del Norte is also a good venue for pilot projects as the program expands, Solid Waste Management Authority Director Tedd Ward said.

On Oct. 20, Ward told the DNSWMA Board of Commissioners that the resolution he brought to county supervisors Tuesday would also mention the opportunity for working with the state organization responsible for meeting those recycling targets.

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Articles, Elections, Local Government

USDOJ Demands Del Norte Elections Office Segregate Ballots Belonging to Four ‘Likely Aliens’

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Thumbnail photo by Heather Polen

Del Norte County officials are determining the best way to respond to a U.S. Department of Justice demand that they segregate ballots belonging to four “likely aliens” that are among the more than 20,000 in California the agency says are illegally registered to vote.

In his Oct. 23 letter to Del Norte County Clerk Alissia Northrup, Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, asks for the county’s help in identifying the four “likely aliens” by sending a social security number, a copy of their state ID or driver’s license as well as copy of their voter registration application.

Missakian also asks Del Norte County to set aside the ballots those “likely aliens” submit until their citizenship status can be determined.

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Articles, Elections, Local Government

USDOJ Officials Visit Del Norte County Elections Office

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Thumbnail photo by Heather Polen

Eleven days after the U.S. Justice Department announced that it was suing the State of California over its voter list, two DOJ agents showed up at the Del Norte County Elections Office, County Clerk-Recorder Alissia Northrup said today.

Northrup, who was elected to her fourth term in June, told Redwood Voice Community News, that the two federal agents were “just delivering a package.” Northrup said she consulted with Del Norte County Counsel Jacqueline Roberts, who indicated that they would release portions of the letter the county received.

The two DOJ agents showed up at Northrup’s office right after lunch.

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Articles, Crime, Health, Local Government

County Elected Officials Working With Sutter On Ensuring Sexual Assault Exams Can Be Conducted At the ER

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Thumbnail photo by Persephone Rose

A week after allegations came to light that local emergency room doctors were refusing to treat sexual assault victims, District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey said she and other officials are working with Sutter Coast Hospital to find a resolution.

A resolution may be forthcoming in the form of a memorandum of understanding between the hospital and the North Coast Rape Crisis Team, Starkey said. The MOU may also involve Del Norte County Public Health Officer Dr. Stutz, though it’s still being finalized, Starkey told Redwood Voice Community News on Monday.

“I asked for our county counsel to take a look at that (agreement) as well,” she said, adding that another meeting is scheduled for this week. “I don’t know that it’s necessary, but that was my suggestion at the last meeting.”

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