All posts by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

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 →
Articles, Economy, Infrastructure, Local Government, Transportation

Del Norte Airport Officials Say Flights To Portland May Boost Use, But Will Advanced Air Agree?

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Thumbnail photo by James Brooks

With another runway project pending, more passengers need to fly into and out of Crescent City for the Del Norte County Regional Airport to be sure of the federal dollars needed to make that happen, Director Sean Rosenthal said.

The Federal Aviation Administration provides grant funding every year for capital improvement projects, Rosenthal told Redwood Voice Community News on Thursday. Increasing the number of enplanements from 7,485 to 10,000 annually could not only speed up the process, it could convince the FAA that the airport needs a longer runway.

Convincing Advanced Air, the airline that serves Crescent City, to offer flights to Portland is a viable option for boosting those numbers, the airport authority director says. But there are caveats.

Continue reading Del Norte Airport Officials Say Flights To Portland May Boost Use, But Will Advanced Air Agree? →
Articles, CC Harbor, Infrastructure

Crescent City Harbor To Pursue 2026 MARAD Grant To Complete Citizens Dock Project

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The preferred alternative among six options Harbor commissioners chose for the Citizens Dock project in 2024. | Image courtesy of Moffatt & Nichol

Thumbnail photo courtesy of Andrew Goff

Federal officials are urging the Crescent City Harbor District to pursue the grant dollars needed to finish the Citizens Dock reconstruction.

The U.S. Maritime Administration is offering about $11.25 million in 2026 Port Infrastructure Development Program dollars, Community System Solutions CEO Mike Bahr told harbor commissioners on Wednesday. Bahr, who manages the Harbor District’s grants, said he and Harbormaster Mike Rademaker are nearly finished with the new application and will have to go before commissioners before submitting it.

If the Harbor District is successful, that money would pay for the second dock the Citizens Dock reconstruction project calls for, Bahr said.

Continue reading Crescent City Harbor To Pursue 2026 MARAD Grant To Complete Citizens Dock Project →
Articles, CC Harbor, Law, Local Government

Municipal Law Attorney Says CCHD’s Insurance Policy Satisfies Faithful Performance Bond Requirement

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Thumbnail photo by Gavin Van Alstine

Harbor commissioners thought the word of a highly credentialed attorney would put the faithful performance bond issue to bed.

But while Michael Colantuono, who has practiced municipal law since 1989, pulled back the covers and plumped up the pillow, at least one commissioner and two members of the public weren’t quite ready for sleep.

Commissioner Annie Nehmer, who obtained an individual faithful performance bond and filed it with the county in December, said she had been asking to see proof that the Crescent City Harbor District has protection against crime and fraud for its elected officials for months.

Continue reading Municipal Law Attorney Says CCHD’s Insurance Policy Satisfies Faithful Performance Bond Requirement →
Articles, Emergencies, Infrastructure

Del Norte Teams Up With CalOES, Crescent City On Tsunami Education Kiosks For Visitors

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Tsunami information kiosks like this one will be at seven locations popular with visitors throughout Del Norte. | Image courtesy of Del Norte County Office of Emergency Services

Thumbnail photo: H Dock damage at the Crescent City Harbor from the July 30, 2025 Kamchatka tsunami. The harbor will host one of seven tsunami information kiosks throughout Del Norte. | Photo courtesy of Mike Rademaker

Del Norte County is stepping up its tsunami preparedness efforts, focusing on visitors who may not be aware that they’re in a hazardous location or how to evacuate.

Seven kiosks will be installed in areas popular with visitors. They will highlight the natural warning signs that a tsunami is imminent, the immediate actions to take as well as a simplified evacuation map leading folks to a safer spot, Emergency Services Coordinator Jessica Seaman said Tuesday.

“Each evacuation map will be site specific and developed with assistance from the subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity for the exact location,” she told the Board of Supervisors. “The kiosks will also include a QR code that links directly to Know Your Zone and Prepare Del Norte (which has) additional preparedness information.”

Continue reading Del Norte Teams Up With CalOES, Crescent City On Tsunami Education Kiosks For Visitors →