Category Archives: Regional News

Articles, Klamath, Tribal Affairs

Search Continues For 23-Year-Old Man Last Seen Near Old Klamath Townsite

Leave a comment

Thumbnail: Brandyon Salazar was last seen heading to the boat ramp at the old Klamath townsite early Sunday morning. | Courtesy of the California Highway Patrol

Yurok Tribal police are leading an investigation into the whereabouts of a 23-year-old man who was last seen heading to the boat ramp at the old Klamath townsite early Sunday morning.

Brandyon Salazar, a Pulikla Tribal member, was with a group of people at the Country Club Bar and Grill on Klamath Boulevard at about 2 a.m. when he drew the attention of law enforcement. According to YTP Chief Greg O’Rourke, Salazar had been drinking and was becoming aggressive, forcing his officer to make a determination to either arrest him for public intoxication or give him a ride home.

Before the officer could take action, however, Salazar fled on foot. O’Rourke said his officer followed Salazar, who had crossed U.S. 101 near Ehlers Avenue, before losing sight of him. Salazar’s family reported him missing later in the morning, the police chief said.

Continue reading Search Continues For 23-Year-Old Man Last Seen Near Old Klamath Townsite →
Articles, Crescent City, Local Government

Developers Working To Get Project On Track After Cost Overruns, Water Damage Halts Construction At Battery Point Apartments

Leave a comment

Updated at 10:39 a.m. Wednesday to correct who the general contractor is for the project.

Water damage and cost overruns have halted construction on Battery Point Apartments — the 162-unit affordable housing project being built near Joe Hamilton Elementary and Crescent Elk Middle School.

Three days after a former Del Norte County supervisor told the Crescent City Council that the project disturbed him, Bill Rice, president of the Synergy Community Development Corporation, acknowledged the work stoppage. But his description of who the building’s tenants will be is different from Roger Gitlin’s “completely Section 8 assisted living project” characterization.

It’s true that the complex’s senior apartments will be offered to those receiving project-based housing vouchers through the Crescent City Housing Authority, Rice said. The remaining 120 units will go to families, including those who are not very-low income, but who can’t afford market-rate rent.

Continue reading Developers Working To Get Project On Track After Cost Overruns, Water Damage Halts Construction At Battery Point Apartments →
Articles, Crescent City

Chamber To Move To A Temporary Home Ahead of Cultural Center Project

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by Persephone Rose

Crescent City’s transformation of the Cultural Center into a more inviting, easier place for the public to visit will be underway this spring, but for that to happen the local chamber of commerce needs a temporary home.

The Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce is looking to move its gift shop and offices into Suite 2 at the Mason Mall likely by May 1, Executive Director Cindy Vosburg told Redwood Voice Community News on Friday. The organization hopes to be back home some time in November, “but you know how construction is,” she says.

“Nobody likes to move, it’s always a disruption, but this is a good workaround,” Vosburg said, adding that parking is plentiful for visitors at the new location. “And when we get to move back, Front Street will be done and it will be beautiful and even more beneficial for people who come to Del Norte County and Crescent City.”

Continue reading Chamber To Move To A Temporary Home Ahead of Cultural Center Project →
Articles, Community News, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Council Recap, March 16, 2026

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo: Crescent City Council | Photo by James Brooks

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

Digital sign ordinance: Before he ducked out of the meeting early to go to his job, Councilor Jason Greenough cast the sole dissenting vote on new digital sign regulations. They’re unnecessary, counterproductive and “not business friendly,” he said.

Introduced on Feb. 17, the ordinance restricts a digital sign’s size to 32 square feet and states that they are only allowed in the commercial zone along the city’s highway corridor. This includes L and M streets, U.S. 101 from 9th Street north to the city limits and Northcrest Drive and Washington Boulevard. Digital signs must also be 1,750 linear feet apart, according to the new ordinance.

Continue reading Crescent City Council Recap, March 16, 2026 →
Articles, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Area Residents May See Water, Sewer Bills Increase; Rate Studies Cite Increased Costs, Needed Maintenance, Structural Deficits

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo by James Brooks

Aging infrastructure, increased costs and expenditures outpacing revenues are prompting Crescent City staff to seek a rate increase for water and sewer customers.

Representatives from Rural Community Assistance Corporation and Willdan Financial Services presented study results that reached similar conclusions for both utilities. 

On the water side, sales won’t be enough to cover the system’s operating and maintenance costs, RCAC Assistant Field Manager Samantha Ryan told the City Council on Monday.

Continue reading Crescent City Area Residents May See Water, Sewer Bills Increase; Rate Studies Cite Increased Costs, Needed Maintenance, Structural Deficits →
Articles, Crescent City, Economy, Local Government

New Housing Developments Spark Controversy; For Some Residents, It’s Too Many Too Fast

Leave a comment
Crescent City and Del Norte County residents on Monday spoke both for and against the various housing developments underway within the city limits. | Video and photo by James Brooks

Megan Miller sought to counter what she said was misinformation concerning the housing developments underway in Crescent City. But few stuck around past the public comment period at Monday’s City Council meeting to hear it.

Miller, Crescent City Housing Authority executive director, specifically spoke to Battery Point Apartments — a 162-unit complex that will house seniors and families — and the narrative that its tenants won’t be from Del Norte County.

“The waiting list for Battery Point Apartments, the senior units… there are 78 applicants on that list (and) there are 40 units,” she said. “Out of those 78, 72 of them are local residents. All 72 applicants are automatically ahead of those six who are from out of the area because anybody with a Del Norte County address steps ahead of somebody without one regardless of the application date.”

Continue reading New Housing Developments Spark Controversy; For Some Residents, It’s Too Many Too Fast →
Articles, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

Crescent City Planning Commissioner Says She Was Barred From Commenting On Housing Development

Leave a comment
Above: A 14-unit townhouse development is under construction on 708 J Street in Crescent City. | Image courtesy of the City of Crescent City.
Thumbnail: Crescent City Planning Commissioner Shawna Hyatt spoke before the City Council on March 2. | Screenshot

A Crescent City planning commissioner whose home and business are near Sam Schauerman’s 14-unit townhouse development says she was barred from making public comment at a recent meeting.

Shawna Hyatt is accusing city staff of directly swaying the outcome of a Planning Commission decision on Feb. 12 approving the architectural design review of the townhouse development at 708 J Street. 

She said that City Attorney Martha Rice emailed her after the meeting, stating that she was in error and apologizing. But Hyatt says what occurred isn’t an isolated incident.

Continue reading Crescent City Planning Commissioner Says She Was Barred From Commenting On Housing Development →
Articles, Crescent City, Local Government

Crescent City Council Recap, March 2, 2026

Leave a comment

Thumbnail photo courtesy of Andrew Goff

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

Swimming Pool Score Board:

Recreation Director Kelly Feola looked to Medford’s Rogue X aqua center to show Crescent City Councilors what the new LED display will look like at the Fred Endert Municipal Pool.

With the Crescent City Swim Club spearheading the purchase, the new Colorado Timing System and digital score board will enable them to hold professional meets, Feola said. She also envisioned using the display for movie nights and, potentially, a Del Norte High School swim club. 

Continue reading Crescent City Council Recap, March 2, 2026 →
Articles, Crescent City, Infrastructure, Local Government

(UPDATED) Crescent City’s Sewer Plant Needs $50 Million Upgrade, City Manager Says

4 Comments

Thumbnail: Crescent City has five, up to 10, years to bring its wastewater treatment plant up to date, City Manager Eric Wier said. | Photo by James Brooks

Updated at 10 a.m. Thursday to make some corrections. Crescent City hasn’t been under a cease and desist order since 2011 and it didn’t receive a cease and desist order in August, though it was fined. City Manager Eric Wier also said that the rotating biological contactors aren’t able to meet the stricter NPDES standards on total Coliform.

Crescent City Manager Eric Wier blamed aging infrastructure and stricter pollutant discharge limits for the $228,000 fine the cease and desist order the sewer plant received last August.

But he differed from a member of the public who argued that the city’s 76 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit violations were due to new connections.

The sewer plant can meet new NPDES permit requirements governing total Coliform bacteria limits during dry weather, the city manager told Councilors on Monday. When it storms, however, the plant’s rotating biological contactors — equipment installed in the 1970s — are overwhelmed can’t produce effluent that complies with those stricter standards, he said.

Continue reading (UPDATED) Crescent City’s Sewer Plant Needs $50 Million Upgrade, City Manager Says →
Articles, Crescent City, Local Government

Crescent City’s New Pay Structure Provides Raises, Still Lags Behind Market

Leave a comment

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 →