All posts by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Articles, CC Harbor, Infrastructure, Local Government, Transportation

Crescent City Harbor District Recap For Feb. 25, 2026

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Thumbnail image: Crescent City Harbor commissioners chose a preferred option for Citizens Dock back in 2024. | Image courtesy of the Crescent City Harbor District.

Among the items discussed at Wednesday’s Crescent City Harbor District meeting.

2026 MARAD Grant: Harbor commissioners agreed to contribute 20%, or $2.8 million, toward the construction costs associated with the second Citizens Dock reconstruction phase.

Associated with a $11.25 million U.S. Maritime Administration Port Infrastructure Development Program grant, the Board unanimously approved a resolution agreeing to the match. The federal agency has increased the amount of funding small ports can apply for, Bahr said, but it means that the required contribution is larger.

Continue reading Crescent City Harbor District Recap For Feb. 25, 2026 →
Articles, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Settles Digital Sign Debate, Saves Billboard Discussion For Another Day

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Thumbnail photo by Heather Polen

A month after local bowling alley owner Dr. John Kirk argued that his digital sign is both a service to the community and generates revenue for his business, the Crescent City Council decided it could stay.

Four councilors who attended the Feb. 17 meeting approved an ordinance that sets restrictions on signs like the one on the Tsunami Lanes Bowling Alley. Councilors also agreed that digital signs could advertise other businesses, services or events.

But at the request of Mayor Isaiah Wright, concerns regarding billboards and other off-site advertising will be considered before the full Council at a future meeting. His colleague, Jason Greenough, was absent.

“Based on everything we heard from the public, we probably need to bring back off-site and just general advertising back to the Council for discussion,” Wright said. “We need to talk a little bit more.”

Continue reading Crescent City Settles Digital Sign Debate, Saves Billboard Discussion For Another Day →
Articles, Education, Youth

Five Months After Posting ECE Director Position, DNUSD Officials Consider Changes To Boost Interest

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Thumbnail photo courtesy of Michael Hawkins

Nearly two months after the early childhood education director retired, Del Norte Unified School District officials are considering turning the job into a position that requires a teaching credential.

Superintendent Jeff Harris presented the idea — and a job description for a certificated ECE director — to the Board of Trustees on Feb. 12. The district has been hiring for an ECE director as a classified position since October and has had no applicants, he said.

Harris referred to the proposed certificated ECE director position as another option for the Board of Trustees to consider as it looks to fill the two-month-long vacancy. DNUSD Assistant Superintendent of Education Services Tom Kissinger is currently the acting ECE director.

Continue reading Five Months After Posting ECE Director Position, DNUSD Officials Consider Changes To Boost Interest →
Articles, Infrastructure

Larger ‘Redwood Downtown’ Housing Project Gets Council’s Blessing, Will Go Before Planning Commission in March, City Manager Says

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Thumbnail photo: Crescent City councilors last week viewed an updated Redwood Downtown mixed-use development slated to replace the former Daly’s department store building. | Screenshot

Crescent City councilors learned that a proposed downtown-area development that would include both retail and residential space will offer more housing units than originally stated.

The Redwood Downtown, which is planned to replace the old Daly’s building at 3rd and J streets, will be 36 units instead of 27, City Manager Eric Wier said. It would consist of two buildings — a residential apartment building and a building with both residential and commercial space “with a nice courtyard in between,” he said.

The city manager on Tuesday asked councilors for an amendment to a $1 million loan agreement they had approved with Community System Solutions in December. 

Continue reading Larger ‘Redwood Downtown’ Housing Project Gets Council’s Blessing, Will Go Before Planning Commission in March, City Manager Says →
Agriculture, Articles, Environment, Tribal Affairs

Water Board Scientists Unveil Draft Easter Lily Bulb Order, Public Comment Period Extended

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Thumbnail photo courtesy of Buchio Takano via Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons License.

State water quality scientists unveiled a proposed order they say will lead to a more robust means of monitoring and curtailing pesticide and copper contamination from Easter lily operations in the Smith River plain.

Currently in draft form, the Lily Bulb Order adds to a voluntary framework that growers have participated in since 2021 — which, scientists say, has led to a decrease in pollutants in the area. 

But for conservationists who spoke at a North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board public workshop on Wednesday, the proposed general waste discharge requirements weren’t strong enough. 

Continue reading Water Board Scientists Unveil Draft Easter Lily Bulb Order, Public Comment Period Extended →
Articles, Education

Charter School’s ICE Notification To Families Was An Accident, Principal Says

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Thumbnail photo by James Brooks

Uncharted Shores Academy principal Dan Cartwright has issued an apology after a staff member mistakenly sent out a notification stating that ICE agents were on its main campus.

The notification was issued at about 1:22 p.m. Wednesday through the charter school’s emergency communications system, Cartwright said in a letter sent to families and the greater Del Norte community. Once staff realized the mistake, they sent a brief followup at about 1:31 p.m. informing families that the message was sent in error.

At about 1:57 p.m., school staff sent out a final message providing more information about the incident and apologizing to families, according to Cartwright’s letter.

Continue reading Charter School’s ICE Notification To Families Was An Accident, Principal Says →
Articles, Crescent City, Local Government

Crescent City’s New Pay Structure Provides Raises, Still Lags Behind Market

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After an independent study found that Crescent City’s salaries and benefits were 3-5% behind what’s offered at similar agencies in the region, councilors authorized a pay adjustment for all employees.

But at an annual cost of about $875,000, increasing compensation for city staff so their pay is comparable with the median market is not feasible, City Manager Eric Wier told Councilors on Tuesday. 

Instead of implementing the recommendations Florida-based Evergreen Solutions outlined in its compensation and classification study, Wier and his management team proposed a new pay structure that would cost the city a total of $423,000 spread across its different funds.

Continue reading Crescent City’s New Pay Structure Provides Raises, Still Lags Behind Market →
Community News

City Council Recap, Feb. 17, 2026

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Thumbnail photo: A canoe node is part of the Tolowa Cultural Trail at Beachfront Park. City Councilors approved an additional $50,800 to complete design work for the expansion. | Image courtesy of Crescent City.

Councilman Jason Greenough was absent. Among the items discussed at Tuesday’s Crescent City Council meeting:

Utility Box Art Project: City councilors gave their blessing to a Dirt & Glitter endeavor to paint murals on roughly 10 utility boxes within the city limits. Funded through a Klamath Promise Neighborhood grant, the art project is for local youth ages 14-24, Crescent City Manager Eric Wier said. 

The City Council approved an agreement with Dirt & Glitter, which establishes rules and guidelines for the project — according to Wier, the murals have to have seascape, redwoods or historical themes and must go before the Planning Commission for approval. 

Continue reading City Council Recap, Feb. 17, 2026 →
Agriculture, Articles, Economy, Environment, Science, Smith River

(Updated) Water Board Seeks Comment On Proposed Easter Lily Bulb Order, Public Workshop Set For Today

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Thumbnail photo: Ninety-five percent of the world’s Easter lily bulbs are produced in the Smith River area. | Photo courtesy of the North Coast Water Quality Control Board

Updated at 8:02 a.m. Wednesday to correct the workshop location. The workshop will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Elk Valley Rancheria Sam Lopez Community Center, 2332 Howland Hill Road in Crescent City.

State water quality scientists are seeking public comment on proposed regulations aimed at controlling waste discharge from the Easter lily bulb industry into the lower Smith River basin.

North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board representatives will hold a public workshop Wednesday focusing on Draft General Waste Discharge Requirements for Commercial Lily Bulb operations in the Smith River Plain.

Also known as the Lily Bulb Order, draft discharge requirements seek to “protect and restore beneficial uses, such as cold freshwater habitat in the Smith River Plain,” according to the state agency’s Feb. 5 news release.  

Continue reading (Updated) Water Board Seeks Comment On Proposed Easter Lily Bulb Order, Public Workshop Set For Today →
Articles, Education, Youth

Cal Poly Humboldt Offers Direct Admission to Del Norte Students, Promises Greater Presence At Local High Schools

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Thumbnail photo by Jaradpetroske via Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons License

Cal Poly Humboldt representatives promised a greater presence at Del Norte County’s high schools in an effort to offer a clear path for those seeking a college education.

As part of a statewide initiative to streamline the college admissions process for students and families, the Arcata-based California State University entered into a memorandum of understanding with Del Norte Unified School District about two weeks ago.

According to Dr. Chrissy Holliday, Cal Poly’s vice president of enrollment management and student success, the university will work with DNUSD staff to enact any special programs or supports that will make the choice to go to college easier, especially for first-generation students.

Continue reading Cal Poly Humboldt Offers Direct Admission to Del Norte Students, Promises Greater Presence At Local High Schools →