Category Archives: Articles

Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Environment, Gasquet, Humboldt, Klamath, Smith River

Threat Assessment: Trump Administration V. Redwoods

Leave a comment
Assistant superintendent for the Redwood State and National Parks: Shelana DeSilva

Lavina Brooks, a Yurok tribal member, elder, and descendant of the Karuk and Tolowa people posed a pointed question to the panel of Redwood Park conservationists hosted by the local Democratic committee at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds over the weekend.

Digital Event Flyer

“I want to know: From your perspective — or if you’re allowed to give your perspective — how big a threat is the current administration to the parks in Del Norte and Humboldt County.”

Brooks’ question articulated a sentiment present in many minds. The redwood forests of this region are home to some of the oldest and tallest trees on the planet. Human beings have a long and passionately protective history with this particular classification of tree, including as a UNESCO World Heritage site — the designation for places on Earth that are recognized as having outstanding universal value to humanity, and have been inscribed to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

On March 1, the Trump administration issued an executive order titled “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production” that set a lot of tree-huggers on edge.

Shelana DeSilva, assistant superintendent for the Redwood State and National Parks, stood up from the table and came forward with the mic.

Continue reading Threat Assessment: Trump Administration V. Redwoods →
Articles, Community News, Curry, Local Government

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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 →
Articles, CC Harbor, Community News, Local Government

It’s Official: Mike Rademaker Is The Crescent City Harbormaster

Leave a comment
Mike Rademaker

Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz

Crescent City Harbor commissioners entered into a five-year contract for Mike Rademaker to continue as their harbormaster, Chairman Gerhard Weber announced Wednesday.

Rademaker will receive an annual salary of $114,000, Weber said, reporting from a special closed session meeting before the Board’s regular meeting. The vote on Rademaker’s new contract was 4-1 with the Harbor District Board’s vice chair, Annie Nehmer, dissenting.

Weber said he and his colleagues also conducted a performance evaluation for Rademaker.

“There are still some details that will be worked out,” Weber said. “And those details have to do with the performance component with housing provided, and if housing doesn’t come through, what will be the financial exchange. Those are all details that will be worked out within the next two weeks and then the actual contract will be ratified.”

Continue reading It’s Official: Mike Rademaker Is The Crescent City Harbormaster →
Articles, Community News, Elections

What Does the SAVE Act Mean for Del Norte County?

Leave a comment
Listen to this article!

The California Association of Clerks and Elections Officials (CACEO) has written a letter of concern regarding HR 22, also known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (hence referred to as the SAVE Act.) Broadly the letter addresses the fact that the SAVE Act risks disenfranchising thousands of eligible California voters, significantly increases the cost of election administration at the local level, and may impose criminal penalties on officials who are simply doing their jobs. The full letter of concern can be found here. Del Norte County could also be hit hard by this legislation according to County Clerk/Recorder, Registrar of Voters, Public Administrator Alissia Northrup, a member of the CACEO.

“As written it currently requires voters to appear in person at an elections office to present documentary evidence of proof of citizenship when submitting their affidavit of registration, and that could be to register newly or make changes,” Northrup told Redwood Voice Community News. “So, I mean it could be something as simple as they are changing their party.”

Continue reading What Does the SAVE Act Mean for Del Norte County? →
Articles, Community News, Humboldt, Local Government

Assemblyman Chris Rogers Visits Humboldt

Leave a comment

Thumbnail and other photos by Persephone Rose.

Dozens of constituents cornered Assemblyman Chris Rogers in what would have been an otherwise cozy nook of the Familia Cafe last week. 

They were packed so tightly that even gaining entry to the building proved to be a challenge, let alone getting close enough to hear the assemblyman’s responses to the crowd’s questions. Fortunately, Field Rep. Heidi McHugh asked the crowd to give others a chance to come forward, rescuing those who could hear little more than the murmuring crowd and bustle of a working cafe.

Rogers, former councilmember, and, for a time, the mayor of Santa Rosa, was elected to the California State Assembly’s 2nd district last year. His district covers Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity counties.

Continue reading Assemblyman Chris Rogers Visits Humboldt →