All posts by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Articles, Community News, Just For Fun

Charley Tygart Volunteered in Peru, Returned With A New Best Friend

Leave a comment
Charley Tygart visited Peru to volunteer at an animal rescue organization and brought Camila home to Crescent City. | Photos courtesy of Billie Kaye Tygart

As she prepared to take Camila home, Charley Tygart took Maite’s parting words to heart: “Never abandon her. You’re with her forever.”

Camila was one of about 20 dogs at El Refugio Privado de Perritos Soy Callejerito in Cusco, Peru. Maite had rescued her about seven years prior after her owner had gouged out her eye for attacking a rabbit. 

Charley, who had spent 10 weeks volunteering at the animal rescue, said she knew she would have a special relationship with the dog when she kept coming up to her asking for belly rubs.

“Those first four to five weeks when I was by myself, I was with her every day,” Charley said. “Once we got more volunteers, I wasn’t seeing her as much. But when I finally made the decision that I want to adopt her, (Maite) made it an effort for me to spend more time with (Camila) daily.”

Continue reading Charley Tygart Volunteered in Peru, Returned With A New Best Friend →
Articles, Parks, Tribal Affairs

Tolowa Salmon Ceremony Prompts Temporary Closure of Some State Park Access Points, Trails

2 Comments

Thumbnail photo by Tim Rochte via Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons license

Portions of Tolowa Dunes State Park will be closed to the public to allow the region’s original inhabitants space to celebrate a cornerstone of their nutritional health and culture.

The Lhuk Rite Ceremony signifies the importance of salmon and celebrates its annual return, according to the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation website. Occurring before any fishing takes place, Tolowa Dee-ni’ adults attended the ceremony to pray for a plentiful harvest.

The partial park closure will take place from 7 a.m. Saturday through 5 p.m. Sunday, according to a Superintendent Order from the North Coast Redwoods District of the California State Parks. It will impact access points at Pala Road, Silva Lane and the Kellogg Trailhead Road, according to the order. 

Continue reading Tolowa Salmon Ceremony Prompts Temporary Closure of Some State Park Access Points, Trails →
Articles, Crescent City, Emergencies

City Council Approves Moving Incentive For New Fire Chief, Increased Stipends For Volunteer Firefighters

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo courtesy of Crescent City Fire & Rescue

Though two members of the public, including a Del Norte County Supervisor candidate, criticized the additional expense, Crescent City councilors authorized a moving incentive of up to $10,000 to recruit a new fire chief.

That incentive will be split between Crescent City and the Crescent Fire Protection District, Human Resources Manager Sara Barbour told councilors Monday. It will be paid to the new recruit as a reimbursement for their moving costs, she said. The cost to each agency will be about $5,000 maximum, Barbour said.

In response to county resident Sam Strait and District 4 Supervisor candidate Margaret Sargent, who asked why the community should pay for the new fire chief’s move, Mayor Pro Tem Candace Tinkler said such assistance is standard practice for her previous employer, the federal government.

Continue reading City Council Approves Moving Incentive For New Fire Chief, Increased Stipends For Volunteer Firefighters →
Articles, Crescent City, Housing, Infrastructure

DANCO Communities To Take Over The Redwood Downtown Mixed-Use Development

Leave a comment

Thumbnail image courtesy of City of Crescent City

DANCO Communities President Chris Dart said his company is trying to alleviate parking concerns associated with the 36-unit residential development that is expected to replace the old Daly’s building in Downtown Crescent City.

Dart noted that Community System Solutions had already done a lot of design work on The Redwood Downtown. It will now be up to Crescent City 3rd Street LP, a DANCO Communities limited partnership, to move the project forward. 

The new developers will be open to “any changes that make sense,” Dart said, including parking.

Continue reading DANCO Communities To Take Over The Redwood Downtown Mixed-Use Development →
Articles, Crescent City, Housing, Infrastructure

Developer Says Construction Will Resume on Battery Point Apartments

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by James Brooks

The Los Angeles-based nonprofit developing Battery Point Apartments has obtained the additional grant dollars it needs to pay its subcontractors and resume construction, its president told Crescent City councilors Monday.

Bill Rice told councilors that Synergy Community Development Corporation closed on an additional $9.7 million in federal HOME Investment Partnership Program dollars from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. 

In addition to paying its subcontractors by the end of the week, Synergy is bringing in additional construction management to help its general contractor get back to work on the 162-unit affordable housing development at Gary and E streets, Rice said.

Continue reading Developer Says Construction Will Resume on Battery Point Apartments →
Articles, Crescent City, Crime

Dog Shot During Scuffle Between Crescent City Man, CCPD Officers, DNSO Deputy

Leave a comment

A joint investigation is underway following an officer-involved shooting of a dog during an encounter between two Crescent City Police Officers, a Del Norte County Sheriff’s deputy and a 40-year-old man Tuesday evening.

The dog received medical attention following the incident and is doing well, Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin told Redwood Voice Community News on Wednesday. The animal was released to another subject that was on the scene.

Officers encountered Crescent City resident Kevin Watson and a 42-year-old woman at about 11:04 p.m. in the parking lot at the Chevron South gas station on U.S. 101. They had two dogs in the vehicle with them, Griffin said. According to him, one appeared to be a pit bull.

Continue reading Dog Shot During Scuffle Between Crescent City Man, CCPD Officers, DNSO Deputy →
Articles, Education, Youth

‘Kids should be getting to school on time every day’; Klamath Parents Say Chronically Tardy School Buses Have Led to Lower Grades, Stress

1 Comment

Thumbnail photo: A school bus drops off students at Del Norte High School on Friday. Klamath parents say the bus to take their kids to school has been late 37 days this year, causing their kids to receive tardy notices. | Photo by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Before informing parents that the school bus has been late picking up Klamath students 37 days this school year, Chrystal Helton asked parents if their child’s grades in their first period classes had suffered.

One parent said her son is getting a C-minus in first-period math and was removed from theater and put into general studies to make up his work. Another said her daughter’s dance grade dropped and, because of the late bus, she’s relying on video recordings from her friends to learn the routine.

Helton, whose kids go to Del Norte High School and ’O Me-nok Learning Center, said her sophomore and junior years have history during first period. One has eked out a C-minus because he “busted his butt,” she said, the other is failing, though he loves history.

“This isn’t normal,” Helton said. “Kids should be getting to school on time every day.”

Continue reading ‘Kids should be getting to school on time every day’; Klamath Parents Say Chronically Tardy School Buses Have Led to Lower Grades, Stress →
Articles, CC Harbor, Economy, Local Government

CCHD’s Pick For RV Park Developer Operates A Resort in Smith River, Has More Money Behind Him, Commissioners Say

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: Bayside RV Park is one of two RV parks at the Crescent City Harbor that developer Daniel Dahan and his company BSD Property Management will revitalize and manage. | Photo by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Daniel Dahan’s relationship with local engineer Lee Tromble and his company’s management of White Rock Resort in Smith River stood him in good stead with the Crescent City Harbor District Board.

Despite skepticism from the public, who urged them to go slow, warning that the Long Beach-based developer has a history of judgments against him, commissioners unanimously selected his firm, BSD Property Management, to revitalize and operate Bayside RV Park and Redwood Harbor Village RV Park.

The Board submitted their votes on paper to their clerk Kristina Hanks on Tuesday. Hanks then read their decision into the record.

Continue reading CCHD’s Pick For RV Park Developer Operates A Resort in Smith River, Has More Money Behind Him, Commissioners Say →
Articles, CC Harbor, Infrastructure, Local Government

Decision Expected on CCHD RV Park Leases Following Public Hearing

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz

Commissioners are expected to reach a decision, finally, on who should develop the Crescent City Harbor District’s two RV parks.

A special meeting will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Harbor District Office.. The open session will follow a closed session meeting scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

“Tuesday’s the drop-down deadline,” Board President Rick Shepherd said at CCHD’s April 22 meeting. “We’re going to make a vote and the winner will be the lessee of the RV parks.”

Continue reading Decision Expected on CCHD RV Park Leases Following Public Hearing →
Articles, Housing, Local Government

Councilors Are Reticent About Supporting State Housing Bill Though Hopeful About Its Promise Of Greater Flexibility

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: The Redwood Downtown is a 36-unit residential and retail development that’s slated to go in space that’s currently occupied by the vacant Daly’s department store building in Downtown Crescent City. | Image courtesy of Crescent City.

At least one city councilor said he would support a bill that would allow local governments to “claw back” authority from the state. 

But, while representatives of State Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, author of State Senate Bill 1216, say Crescent City would be eligible for the greater discretion his proposed legislation offers, councilors were reluctant to offer their support just yet.

Though he liked the idea of regaining some of the authority he feels is lost to state government, Councilor Jason Greenough on Monday recommended that he and his colleagues table the proposed letter of support. Mayor Isaiah Wright seconded this recommendation, saying he didn’t have a full grasp of what SB 1216 would do.

Continue reading Councilors Are Reticent About Supporting State Housing Bill Though Hopeful About Its Promise Of Greater Flexibility →