All posts by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Articles, Local Government

Comp Study Shows Del Norte County’s Overall Base Salaries 10% Below Market Rate; Supervisors Say Analysis Fell Short Of Expectations

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Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz

Norma Williams summed up SEIU 1021’s assessment of the Gallagher report in four words: We told you so.

The president of the Del Norte County Employees Association told supervisors Tuesday that the results of Gallagher’s compensation analysis — which showed that the county’s base salary is 10% below the market median though its overall compensation package is 2.1% above the market median — is nothing new.

Following a subsequent presentation from Human Resources Director Kerri Vue, who stated that there were 121 staff vacancies out of a total of 482 positions, Williams called for an across-the-board cost of living adjustment. She also urged them to address substandard salaries by ensuring the positions’ pay is in line with the market rate.

Continue reading Comp Study Shows Del Norte County’s Overall Base Salaries 10% Below Market Rate; Supervisors Say Analysis Fell Short Of Expectations →
Articles, Community News, Health, Local Government

Working Group Battling Opioid Calls Using Settlement Dollars to Build Treatment Capacity, Increase Naloxone Access

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Thumbnail photo courtesy of Jermaine Brubaker

Editor’s note: Rx Safe Del Norte and KFUG Community Radio LLP — Redwood Voice’s parent organization — are currently partnering together on TACOCAT, a teen-based program aimed at spreading awareness about opioid abuse in Del Norte County.

Calling the roughly $4 million in opioid settlement dollars Del Norte County is set to receive a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” members of a local coalition stated that it plans to use that money to close the gaps that contributed to the crisis.

The opioid litigation work group’s plan calls for increasing treatment capacity in the jail as well as inside and outside of Del Norte County, according to Behavioral Health Deputy Director Shiann Hogan. The plan also aims to use settlement dollars to better equip law enforcement, emergency personnel and other providers to meet the community’s needs.

According to Hogan, the group’s plan focuses on using opioid settlement dollars Del Norte County currently has.

Continue reading Working Group Battling Opioid Calls Using Settlement Dollars to Build Treatment Capacity, Increase Naloxone Access →
Articles, CC Harbor, Local Government

CCHD Debate Over USDA Loan Continues; Board Rejects Nehmer’s Appointment To Ad Hoc Committee

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Nehmer | ccharbor.com

Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz

Crescent City Harbor commissioners rehashed whether one of their colleagues acted outside her scope for the second day in a row at a meeting that culminated in raised voices and a recall threat from the public.

Ultimately, a motion to appoint Annie Nehmer as one of two commissioners on an ad hoc committee related to renegotiating a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan failed Wednesday with three of her colleagues casting no votes. 

Their decision came ahead of a third special meeting that had been scheduled for Thursday but has since been canceled. Nehmer’s censure and removal from her vice chair position was on the agenda.

Continue reading CCHD Debate Over USDA Loan Continues; Board Rejects Nehmer’s Appointment To Ad Hoc Committee →
Articles, Crime, Local Government

Hooper Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Hit & Run, DUI; Trial Set For October

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Hooper |LinkedIn

Thumbnail photo: Randy Hooper’s hit and run and DUI charges stem from a collision that took place near Sand Mine Road and U.S. 101 on April 19. | Photo by Heather Polen.

Assistant County Administrative Officer Randy Hooper pleaded not guilty to felony DUI and hit and run charges on Tuesday.

Hooper was arraigned before Del Norte County Superior Court Judge William Follett, according to Keith Morris, who is prosecuting the case for the California Attorney General’s office. Follett set a jury trial for Oct. 27 through 30, Morris told Redwood Voice Community News on Wednesday.

Hooper entered his not guilty plea via his attorney, George Mavris, according to Morris. About two weeks prior, Mavris unsuccessfully petitioned Judge Karen Olson to reduce Hooper’s charges from felonies to misdemeanors. 

Continue reading Hooper Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Hit & Run, DUI; Trial Set For October →
Articles, CC Harbor, Local Government

Though Taken Off The Agenda, Potential Censure of Annie Nehmer Dominates CCHD Special Meeting

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Nehmer

Thumbnail photo by Amanda Dockter

Linda Sutter urged Gerard Weber to call the police on Tuesday, refusing to leave the Crescent City Harbor District’s special meeting until she had her three minutes to speak.

Stepping to the rostrum after Weber, the CCHD’s chairman, told the public to stick to items that weren’t on the agenda, Sutter addressed the potential censure of one of his colleagues when he stopped her.

“We should not talk about items that are on the agenda,” he said.

When Sutter protested, pointing out that she is speaking about Harbor District business and accusing Weber of disrupting her right to free speech, Weber called a halt to the meeting. 

Continue reading Though Taken Off The Agenda, Potential Censure of Annie Nehmer Dominates CCHD Special Meeting →
Articles, Community News, Environment, Health

Animal Rescuers Wonder Where Pets Will Fit In At New Homeless Shelter, Micro Village

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Thumbnail photo courtesy of Del Norte County; Above, Camp Berry founder Rhonda Berry says that of the 150 puppies she’s rescued in about a year 80% of them have come from the homeless encampments. | Photo courtesy of GoFundMe

Gloria Bobertz says she understands that for some people struggling with homelessness, their dog is often their only friend.

She doesn’t think they shouldn’t have pets, but after nearly 20 years working as a behavioral health specialist for Del Norte County, Bobertz, who’s now retired and works with cadaver and search and rescue dogs, said she’s seen the conditions some of these animals are in. She said she had a particularly hard time with a litter of puppies she brought to Camp Berry in July

“They were starved,” Bobertz told Redwood Voice Community News. “I don’t know what they were given to eat, but I can tell you it smelled so rotten. And just the look in their eyes — how can you do this to another living creature?”

Continue reading Animal Rescuers Wonder Where Pets Will Fit In At New Homeless Shelter, Micro Village →
Articles, Crime, Law

Del Norte County Sheriff Speaks Out On Randy Hooper Character Reference, Says He Disagrees With How It Was Used

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Thumbnail photo: Randy Hooper’s felony hit-and-run and DUI charges stem from a collision that occurred at Sand Mine Road and U.S. 101 on April 19. | Photo by Heather Polen

Though he provided a character reference for Randy Hooper, who faces felony hit-and-run and DUI charges, Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott said he disagrees with how it was used during an Aug. 26 preliminary hearing.

In an email to Redwood Voice Community News on Aug. 27, Scott said he did not support efforts by George Mavris, Hooper’s attorney, to reduce his client’s charges from felonies to misdemeanors. Scott said he also refrained from using his title when signing the character reference, though he acknowledges that he “inherits the title.”

He said he also took issue with a comment prosecuting attorney Keith Morris made during the hearing, that he was “disappointed that a sitting sheriff submitted a letter.”

Continue reading Del Norte County Sheriff Speaks Out On Randy Hooper Character Reference, Says He Disagrees With How It Was Used →
Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Economy, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Takes First Step On Long Path Toward Revitalizing Its Downtown

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Thumbnail image courtesy of Crescent City; YouTube video by Heather Polen

Karen Betlejewski choked up a little when she described her dad’s impression of Downtown Crescent City as a 40-plus year resident returning home after being away.

“He said, ‘I wanted to cry,’” she told a gathering of business owners, elected officials and other stakeholders with interest in the downtown area.

Betlejewski, who manages the Del Norte County Historical Society’s museum and says “she’s into old,” said she enjoys shopping in Downtown Crescent City and she loves the people. But the vacant buildings make the area look sad.

“You know that it just needs help,” she said. “And I would like to see that.”

Don Arambula agreed. The project manager, principal planner and urban designer for Portland-based Crandall Arambula PC presented a preliminary assessment to Betlejewski and about 80 other residents on Wednesday.

Continue reading Crescent City Takes First Step On Long Path Toward Revitalizing Its Downtown →
Articles, Infrastructure, Transportation

Long-Awaited STAA 197/199 Project To Start Construction In The Spring, Caltrans Says

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Thumbnail image: The 197/199 Safe STAA Access project, which includes widening U.S. 199 and State Route 197 in several areas is scheduled for construction starting this spring. | Map courtesy of Caltrans

The likelihood that further litigation will stall a long-awaited project to widen lanes and modify curves on State Route 197 and U.S. 199 is low, Caltrans District 1 representatives told Del Norte Local Transportation commissioners on Tuesday.

The state transportation department expects to solicit bids for the 197/199 Safe STAA Access project in October with proposals coming in between Nov. 4 and Nov. 7, Project Manager David Melendrez said. Contract approval is expected in December and construction will start some time during the spring, he said.

“It is moving forward. It has support from everyone in our district and it also has support from people in Sacramento [at a] pretty high level up there,” Melendrez told commissioners.

Continue reading Long-Awaited STAA 197/199 Project To Start Construction In The Spring, Caltrans Says →
Articles, Infrastructure, Transportation

Roundabout Not Likely To Be Funded For Elk Valley Cross Road, U.S. 101, Caltrans Says

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Thumbnail photo: Caltrans officials and Del Norte Local Transportation commissioners discussed safety improvements to the intersection of U.S. 101 and Elk Valley Cross Road. | Image courtesy of Google Maps

Though acknowledging that a roundabout would help reduce the number of collisions on U.S. 101 at Elk Valley Cross Road, it’s unlikely Caltrans will receive the funding to construct it, Safety Investigator Clark Davis said.

Davis told Del Norte Local Transportation Commissioners on Tuesday that they agreed with its assessment that the collision rate at the intersection exceeded the state average. But with most of those crashes involving drivers that aren’t seeing the approaching traffic behind the car they’re trying to avoid, there isn’t much Caltrans can do, Davis said.

“We can’t make the cars invisible,” he said. “The best we can do is improve some signing and some delineation, which is what we’re planning to do.”

Continue reading Roundabout Not Likely To Be Funded For Elk Valley Cross Road, U.S. 101, Caltrans Says →