All posts by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Articles, Curry, Local Government

Oregon Judge Weighs In On Dispute Between Curry BOC, Sheriff, Sets Trial For Oct. 28

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Ward

Thumbnail: An Oregon circuit court judge weighed in on the Curry County Board of Commissioners’ dispute with Sheriff John Ward. | Screenshot

An Oregon circuit court judge has issued an opinion outlining where the Curry County Board of Commissioners and the sheriff stand when it comes to their respective roles.

However, one aspect of the county’s complaint against Sheriff John Ward — whether he’s required to provide “all records, information and supporting documents” to the Board of Commissioners upon request — will be the subject of a trial on Oct. 28.

“Personally, I’m grateful to have this judgment determination in front of us,” Board Chairman Jay Trost told Redwood Voice Community News on Thursday, adding that the opinion may have implications that apply to other communities besides Curry County. “It just provides a path forward in clarifying some of the roles and responsibilities that have been in question.”

Continue reading Oregon Judge Weighs In On Dispute Between Curry BOC, Sheriff, Sets Trial For Oct. 28 →
Articles, Local Government

Del Norte Supes Weigh In On Salary Placement, Juvenile Custody Issues, Prop. 50

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Among the items discussed at Tuesday’s Del Norte County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Salary Schedule and New Hires: Though she said new employees are welcome, the president of the Del Norte County Employees Association pointed out that the county is establishing a standard when it comes to placement on the salary schedule.

Norma Williams referred to the proposed hiring of four employees at Step C on the salary schedule — items that appeared on the Board’s consent agenda and were approved without comment.

Continue reading Del Norte Supes Weigh In On Salary Placement, Juvenile Custody Issues, Prop. 50 →
Articles, Elections, Local Government

Weber, Evans Signed Notice Of Intent To Recall Harbor District Colleagues; Effort To Oust Nehmer, Schmidt On Hold, Gitlin Says

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Weber | Courtesy ccharbor.com

Thumbnail: Roger Gitlin told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that he has paused his recall effort against Harbor commissioners Dan Schmidt and Annie Nehmer until it can coincide with the November 2026 election. | Screenshot

Crescent City Harbor commissioners Gerhard Weber and John Evans have officially endorsed Roger Gitlin’s now-stalled campaign to recall their colleagues Dan Schmidt and Annie Nehmer.

Both confirmed that they had added their signatures to Giltin’s notice of intent to recall with Weber, the Board’s chairman, telling Redwood Voice Community News on Wednesday that he feels guilty for urging the local Republican Party to endorse Nehmer. He called her smart and hard-working, but said she’s focusing on “minute rule things” instead of directing her energy in a way that is more positive for the harbor.

Weber also said that Schmidt, who purchased the Del Norte Triplicate from its previous owners last month, had revealed information about Harbormaster Mike Rademaker that had, up until then, been stated in closed session meetings. Most recently, Weber said, Schmidt is now claiming in the Triplicate that Rademaker was accused of sexual harassment.

Continue reading Weber, Evans Signed Notice Of Intent To Recall Harbor District Colleagues; Effort To Oust Nehmer, Schmidt On Hold, Gitlin Says →
Articles, Community News, Gasquet, Smith River, Transportation

Del Norte-Sponsored Traffic Calming Bill Nets Governor’s Signature; New Law Would Increase Safety in Hiouchi, Gasquet, Smith River, Howard Says

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Thumbnail photo: District 3 Supervisor Chris Howard said that newly-enacted AB 1014 will increase safety in Smith River, Gasquet and Hiouchi. | Photo by Akampfer via Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons License.

A Del Norte County-sponsored assembly bill that aims to tame traffic speeding through rural communities gained the California governor’s signature earlier this month.

District 3 Supervisor Chris Howard on Tuesday thanked Assemblyman Chris Rogers for taking Assembly Bill 1014 through the legislative process and before Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed it into law on Oct. 3. 

Howard also urged his constituents to look toward a pilot project taking place in Orick, which involves crews putting up “large flexible cones” in the center turn lane to prevent people from using it to pass slower vehicles. 

“That’s exactly what we’re seeing in the townsite of Gasquet also,” he said. “People come into the town of Gasquet off the four-lane stretch (of U.S. 199). They’re doing 65-plus mph and they hit slow traffic and they want to pass people in the middle of the lane.”

Continue reading Del Norte-Sponsored Traffic Calming Bill Nets Governor’s Signature; New Law Would Increase Safety in Hiouchi, Gasquet, Smith River, Howard Says →
Articles, CC Harbor, Local Government

CCHD Commissioner Introduces Colleagues To His Brother Amid Nepotism Accusations

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Dan Schmidt | ccharbor.com

Three months after the Del Norte Triplicate accused Dan Schmidt of “introducing nepotism” to the Crescent City harbormaster, his fellow commissioners met the man Schmidt says could help right the Harbor District’s ship.

Dennis Schmidt, Dan’s “better-looking, nicer, funnier brother,” came to the podium Wednesday with 32 years’ experience working in the utilities, human resources and city manager’s departments for Anaheim. He’s got a Master’s degree in public administration, a Bachelor’s degree in organizational development and says he’s the guy top administrators bring in to help fix damaged systems.

Now that he’s retired, Dennis Schmidt, whose home alternates between Crescent City and the Mojave Desert community of Apple Valley, says he wants to help the Harbor District. But after a tepid reception from his brother’s colleagues, he said he thinks the Board of Commissioners was “looking for a reason to say no.”

Continue reading CCHD Commissioner Introduces Colleagues To His Brother Amid Nepotism Accusations →
Articles, Education, Elections, Local Government

Michael Greer’s Prop. 50 Opposition Resolution Fails Twice With School Board Colleagues

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Greer | DNUSD

Thumbnail photo: Under new proposed Congressional District boundaries, Del Norte County would share a representative with Shasta, Siskiyou and Modoc counties, which are currently in District 1. | Photo courtesy of the Senate Election and Constitutional Amendments Committee.

Michael Greer made two unsuccessful attempts Thursday at getting his fellow school board members to officially oppose Proposition 50. 

Greer’s resolution before the Del Norte County Office of Education Board of Trustees and a similar resolution before the Del Norte County Unified School District Board had the same outcomes — dying due to lack of a second.

“I brought this (forward) because I believe that local communities, local school boards, local county offices of education, the county Board of Supervisors and the city itself needs to take part in a political process especially when it affects our California Constitution,” Greer said during the DNUSD Board meeting after acknowledging that the resolution he presented before the County Board failed to get a second motion. “The proposition takes away the opportunity to have that community support.”

Continue reading Michael Greer’s Prop. 50 Opposition Resolution Fails Twice With School Board Colleagues →
Articles, CC Harbor, Infrastructure, Local Government

Harbor Commissioners Direct Staff To Obtain Insurance Quotes For Inner Boat Basin

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Thumbnail photo by Gavin Van Alstine

Though the district’s loan payment negotiations with the U.S. Department of Agriculture are on hold due to the federal government shutdown, Crescent City Harbor commissioners directed staff on Wednesday to obtain quotes for insuring the inner boat basin.

The Harbor District Board’s new vice chair, John Evans, encouraged Harbormaster Mike Rademaker and Fiscal Officer Sandy Moreno to continue exploring “alternative ideas” with the federal agency.

Moreno said having the insurance quotes, and finding out whether the Harbor District can afford insuring the marina or not may help in its negotiations with the USDA, particularly if those quotes address tsunami coverage.

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Articles, Brookings, Curry, Economy, Infrastructure, Transportation, Tribal Affairs

US DOT Secures Funding to Keep EAS Service Going Till November; Local Airport Authority Still Assessing ‘Best Options’

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Thumbnail photo courtesy of Andrew Goff

Though the federal government shutdown continues, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted a reprieve that will allow commercial air service in Del Norte County to continue through November.

In a notice Border Coast Regional Airport Authority Director Sean Rosenthal said he received Wednesday morning, the DOT stated that it has secured additional funding to support both the Essential Air Service and Alternative Essential Air Service programs. As a result, air carriers and communities receiving those subsidies must continue to fulfill their obligations “until such time as the Department notifies them otherwise.”

According to the notice, carriers who serve rural communities under the Essential Air Service — including Advanced Air, which flies from Crescent City to Oakland and to Southern California  — will be able to provide service through Nov. 2.

Continue reading US DOT Secures Funding to Keep EAS Service Going Till November; Local Airport Authority Still Assessing ‘Best Options’ →
Articles, Environment, Health, Smith River

Water Board Hosts Meeting Focusing On Smith River’s Easter Lily Bulbs

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Thumbnail photo: Ninety-five percent of Easter lily bulb production in the United States occurs in the Smith River coastal plain. | Photo courtesy of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

Conservationists seeking to eliminate pesticide use in the Smith River Easter lily bulb industry are urging residents to tell water regulators how they have been impacted on Wednesday.

The California Northcoast Regional Water Quality Control Board isn’t expected to take action, Senior Water Resource Control Engineer David Kuszmar told Redwood Voice Community News. Instead, staff will present findings from a local water quality monitoring study and provide an update on the development of water quality regulations for lily bulb growers.

“This meeting represents an important opportunity for interested members of the public to speak directly to the Board about water quality issues that concern them, Kuszmar said. “Board members are free to offer suggestions and/or provide direction to staff at any time based on information provided and comments received.”

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Articles, Curry, Economy, Local Government, Transportation

Government Shutdown Threatens Commercial Air Service In Del Norte, Curry Counties

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Thumbnail image courtesy of Border Coast Regional Airport Authority

A day after finding out that commercial air service to Del Norte County may be a casualty of the federal government shutdown, Sean Rosenthal says he’s still searching for answers.

Less than two months after the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority hired him as airport director, Rosenthal said the U.S. Department of Transportation notified him on Monday that if the government shutdown continues, Alternative Essential Air Service funding will end Sunday. 

In an email to BCRAA members Tuesday morning, he said he had hoped to have some information to share, but he’s still working to “fully understand the impact this situation will have on us.”

Continue reading Government Shutdown Threatens Commercial Air Service In Del Norte, Curry Counties →