Category Archives: Regional News

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

Threat Assessment: Trump Administration V. Redwoods

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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.

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“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

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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 →
Crescent City, Guest Submission, Youth

Warrior Wrestlers Will Continue Their Careers

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Thumbnail: Pictured (from left to right) Curtis Bartley, Braydan Johnson, Colton Schaad, Alex Osborne, James Gensaw Jr.

This article is a guest submission. To submit your own work for consideration, send your piece to redwoodvoicedn@gmail.com.

Written and submitted by John Pritchett.

A fifth member of the powerhouse Del Norte High wrestling program has signed a college letter of intent to continue his grappling career.

Colton Schaad announced this week he will wrestle at the University of Jamestown, a NCAA Division II school located in North Dakota. This follows a standout career at Del Norte High, where he won a North Coast Section championship as a junior and finished third this past season.

Continue reading Warrior Wrestlers Will Continue Their Careers →
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 →
Articles, Community News, Humboldt, Local Government

Assemblyman Chris Rogers Visits Humboldt

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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.

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Articles, Community News, Curry, Local Government

Curry County Commissioners Appoint Alcorn’s Replacement, Choosing Meeting Regular Lynn Coker

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Lynn Coker \ Photo courtesy of NAICascade

Jay Trost and Patrick Hollinger once again deferred to Brad Alcorn when it came to selecting his replacement on the Curry County Board of Commissioners.

Alcorn abstained from voting, but his colleagues appointed his pick — Gold Beach resident Lynn Coker — to the Board after agreeing with Alcorn that the commissioner position is, for now anyway, a full-time job.

“When you look at the totality of all of the people who have applied, the candidate that rises to the top is clearly Lynn Coker,” Alcorn said Wednesday, “and I would be very comfortable knowing that he stepped into my role and took my place.”

Continue reading Curry County Commissioners Appoint Alcorn’s Replacement, Choosing Meeting Regular Lynn Coker →
Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Youth

The Child Abuse Prevention Council’s Candlelit Vigil & Flag-Raising Ceremony

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Thumbnail Photo by Bryce Evans.

On Wednesday, April 9th, the Del Norte Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) gathered community members at the Family Resource Center for a candlelight vigil and flag-raising ceremony. The ceremony was focused on honoring the lives of those affected by child abuse, remembering those lost, and raising awareness of prevention efforts within the community. It also marked the beginning of Child Abuse Awareness month.

The ceremony started off with the introduction of council members, and opening remarks followed by the lighting of candles symbolizing the past, present, and future of child abuse prevention. Members of the audience were handed electric tea candles before two local youths took the stage to read a short speech while the real candles were lit. Next was the raising of the Children’s Memorial Flag by the Crescent City Police Department Explorers, accompanied by a moment of silence. The original flag was designed by a 16 year old student from Alameda County. According to the CAPC Facebook page, “The Children’s Memorial Flag honors each lost child and serves as a symbol for the protection of children and young people from all forms of violence.”

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Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

Del Norte Supervisors Agree To Work Credit Transfer, Moving City One Step Closer To Utility Project

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Thumbnail photo: Matthew Paul Argall via Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons license

Del Norte County supervisors gave Crescent City the financial boost it needs to proceed with a project to underground most of the utility lines at its southern gateway.

Four members of the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized the transfer of $2.4 million in Rule20 work credits the county has with Pacific Power to the city before they expire in about six weeks.

“Improvements to the city are improvements to the county,” District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey told City Manager Eric Wier, who went before the Board with City Attorney Martha Rice to provide a brief overview of the city’s plans for using those work credits. “We don’t have a current project earmarked for this and so I’m very much for this and hope that you meet the deadline.”

Continue reading Del Norte Supervisors Agree To Work Credit Transfer, Moving City One Step Closer To Utility Project →
Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Council Recap: Proposed Housing Legislation, New Police Officer, Donation of K9 Cage From Yurok Tribe

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Thumbnail: Del Norte County supervisors Valerie Starkey and Dean Wilson join the former Crescent City Council at a groundbreaking ceremony of the new Battery Point Apartments in September 2024. | Photo by Jessica Cejnar Andrews

Among the items discussed at Monday’s Crescent City Council meeting:

Opposition to Housing Bill: Though nearly 300 new housing units are being constructed in Crescent City, the City Council opposed a bill the League of California Cities says streamlines development at the expense of local environmental and public review.

Assembly Bill 647 would allow for up to eight housing units — only one of which would be set aside for affordable housing — on lots housing single-family homes, City Manager Eric Wier said, citing the nonprofit organization that advocates for local municipalities.

Introduced by Los Angeles-area assemblyman Mark Gonzalez in February, the legislation would supersede “a lot of our planning ordinances,” Wier said, and would allow those housing units to be developed without review by the Planning Commission or the City Council.

Continue reading Crescent City Council Recap: Proposed Housing Legislation, New Police Officer, Donation of K9 Cage From Yurok Tribe →