All posts by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Articles, Curry, Law, Local Government

Following Mixed Public Response, Curry County Commissioner Says He Didn’t Intend A Vote On ICE Resolution

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Thumbnail photo by Ken Lund via Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons License

Curry County Commissioner Patrick Hollinger said he didn’t intend for his colleagues to take official action on a resolution honoring detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Taken verbatim from a similar resolution Coos County commissioners have been discussing since January, Hollinger asked his colleagues to consider Oregon’s status as a sanctuary state and the possibility that the Trump administration may cut its federal funding as a result.

“That will directly affect our county as well,” Hollinger said Wednesday. “We use those funds for our DA office. We use those funds for our sheriff’s office. And it’s those two offices that can help with the human trafficking and drug trafficking [occurring] throughout our county.”

Continue reading Following Mixed Public Response, Curry County Commissioner Says He Didn’t Intend A Vote On ICE Resolution →
Articles, Community News, Humboldt, Law, Local Government

Eureka Mayor Says Homelessness Discussion ‘Needs To Happen’ Even If Proposed Ordinance Doesn’t Pass

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Eureka City Councilman G. Mario Fernandez used the phrase “robber baron” when asking his colleagues to postpone consideration of an ordinance that would increase the penalties for people living in unauthorized encampments.

Fernandez urged his fellow councilors to refer the ordinance to an ad-hoc committee on camping alternatives consisting of himself and Councilwoman Renee Contreras-DeLoach rather than consider it on May 20.

This request echoed comments several public speakers made on Tuesday about removing the proposed ordinance from the May 20 agenda. Though a handful of commenters accused the City Council of criminalizing homelessness, Fernandez said speakers were asking him and his colleagues to either let them be part of their deliberations or to bring “those with experience into the discussion.”

Continue reading Eureka Mayor Says Homelessness Discussion ‘Needs To Happen’ Even If Proposed Ordinance Doesn’t Pass →
Articles, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government, Transportation

Crescent City Will Add A Four-Way Stop To 5th and A Streets

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Thumbnail image courtesy of Google Maps

Public Works Director Dave Yeager convinced the Crescent City Council on Monday that a four-way stop sign would urge motorists to slow down as they approach A and 5th streets.

Six reported collisions have occurred at that intersection between June 2021 and August 2024, Yeager stated in his staff report. On Monday, he cited concerns raised by Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin as well as people who have witnessed those collisions.

Yeager also referred to the Del Norte Local Road Safety Plan in his staff report, which noted “one historical collision event”: A rear-end collision with one injury in 2011.

Continue reading Crescent City Will Add A Four-Way Stop To 5th and A Streets →
Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

Charter, Frontier Push Back On Underground Utility Efforts, And Other Crescent City Council News

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Thumbnail photo courtesy of Crescent City

Candace Tinkler was absent. Among the items discussed at Monday’s Crescent City Council meeting.

Underground Utility District: City councilors approved the creation of Underground Utility District No. 1, taking yet another step toward ridding the gateway to Beachfront Park and downtown of most of the overhead electricity and telecommunications lines.

But representatives from Charter Communications and Frontier Communications, which provide cable and Internet service in the area, opposed the proposal, stating that the same work credits available to PacificPower aren’t available to them.

In a May 5 letter to Crescent City, Lisa Ludovici, Charter’s director of government affairs, asks the city not to pursue the undergrounding of its utilities, warning that the cost for the company to participate could be passed onto its customers.

Continue reading Charter, Frontier Push Back On Underground Utility Efforts, And Other Crescent City Council News →
Articles, Community News, Curry, Local Government

Curry County BOC To Consider Resolution To Honor Detainer Requests From ICE

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Indivisible North Curry County has a slew of questions for the Board of Commissioners who are set to discuss — and potentially approve — a resolution honoring potential detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

The Port Orford-based group of progressives also hope to get the public to the commissioners’ meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Gold Beach to protest the resolution.

“REMEMBER — the people’s voice stopped the commissioners’ resolution on managing our public lands,” Indivisible North Curry County leadership stated via email Monday, referring to a February resolution the Board considered to take over stewardship of state and federally-managed lands. “We can stop this one, too!”

Continue reading Curry County BOC To Consider Resolution To Honor Detainer Requests From ICE →
Articles, Curry, Local Government, Regional News

Curry County Finds Way To Fund School Resource Officer

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Thumbnail photo courtesy of Curry Civic TV.

Nearly two weeks after he and his colleagues agreed to help fund a school resources officer position, Curry County Commissioner Jay Trost thanked the Brookings City Council for their own commitment to the program.

According to Trost, who is also chairman of the Brookings-Harbor School District Board of Trustees, the school district is facing “a financial strain right now.” The Curry County Board of Commissioners was able to “pick up that SRO piece that was held by the school district,” Trost told the City Council on Monday.

“The City of Brookings pulls the majority of the weight financially to ensure the SRO position stays intact and is valued,” he said. “So I want to thank you for your commitment to that as well.”

Continue reading Curry County Finds Way To Fund School Resource Officer →
Articles, Community News, Environment

Dems-hosted “Coffee and Conversation” to Focus on the State of the Parks Saturday

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Thumbnail photo by Persephone Rose

More than 100 days into Donald Trump’s chaotic second presidency, Del Norters are urged to bring their concerns about how Redwood National and State Parks will weather the storm to the fairgrounds on Saturday.

The parks’ deputy district superintendent, Shelana deSilva, and Redwood Parks Conservancy Executive Director Sal Moreno are expected to be in the floral building at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for two hours of “coffee and conversation.”

It’s the third such gathering the Del Norte County Democratic Central Committee has hosted since Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 21. Yet, according to Lupe Gutierrez, vice president of the local Democratic Party, it was difficult to organize.

“There are a lot of unknown things out there,” she told Redwood Voice Community News on Wednesday, adding that she approached Six Rivers National Forest representatives about participating and hadn’t heard back. She said she also reached out to the Redwood National and State Parks and the Redwood Parks Conservancy — the “big agencies” in the area.

Continue reading Dems-hosted “Coffee and Conversation” to Focus on the State of the Parks Saturday →
Articles, Community News, Education, Youth

Del Norte Reads Aims To Expand Services To K12 Youth Despite Loss In State Funding; Coordinator Says She Hopes To Rejoin California Literacy Program

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Thumbnail photo: Del Norte Reads Coordinator Terrin Musbach gives away books at the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation’s annual Dee-ni’ Day celebration last September. | Photo by Amanda Dockter

Del Norte Reads has lost its state funding, local library manager Phyllis Goodeill confirmed.

Citing an uncertain amount in unspent California Library Literacy Services dollars over two fiscal years, and no plan to spend those funds, the California State Library wants that money back, Goodeill told Redwood Voice Community News via email last week.

But Del Norte Reads Program Coordinator Terrin Musbach has a plan to outline for the state how the program has grown over the past nine months and how important CLLS support is for it to continue.

“This plan that I’ve made, it’s about advocating for our community,” Musbach said Monday.

Continue reading Del Norte Reads Aims To Expand Services To K12 Youth Despite Loss In State Funding; Coordinator Says She Hopes To Rejoin California Literacy Program →
Articles, CC Harbor, Community News, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Harbor May Charge More For Boat Owners to Moor Uninsured Vessels At Port

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Thumbnail photo by Amanda Dockter

Boat owners may face an increased fee if they want to moor their vessels at the Crescent City Harbor and they don’t have insurance.

As she and her colleagues slogged through an update of the Crescent City Harbor District’s ordinance code on Wednesday, Vice Chair Annie Nehmer pointed out that the port currently charges $180 per month to house uninsured vessels in its marina.

“Our insurance agent says that is simply not enough money for any vessel,” Nehmer told her colleagues.

Continue reading Crescent City Harbor May Charge More For Boat Owners to Moor Uninsured Vessels At Port →
Articles, CC Harbor, Community News, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

Nothing’s Set Yet, But Harbormaster Says Coos Bay Boat Builder May Set Up Shop In Crescent City

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Thumbnail photo: A Coos Bay boat builder has offered the most “realistic concrete plan” for offering ship yard services at the Crescent City Harbor since Fashion Blacksmith closed its doors last year, Harbormaster Mike Rademaker said | Photo by Gavin Val Alstine

Crescent City Harbormaster Mike Rademaker said he’s found a boat builder who could potentially fill the void Fashion Blacksmith left behind when it closed following a legal dispute with the port last year.

Rademaker told commissioners on Wednesday that he’s spent a lot of time with Cory Gottschalk, a boat builder currently operating out of Coos Bay, Oregon. Gottschalk has plied his trade in New Zealand, Australia, Washington and Alaska, and has agreed to “be our principal operator of the boatyard,” the harbormaster said.

Though Gottschalk demonstrated his expertise and has a good reputation, the Harbor District still needs to go through a vetting process before it enters into a contract with the boat builder, Rademaker said. This will involve further reference and credit checks, he said.

Continue reading Nothing’s Set Yet, But Harbormaster Says Coos Bay Boat Builder May Set Up Shop In Crescent City →