Category Archives: Youth

Articles, Education, Youth

Route Cancellations, Delays Prompt Parents To Take Bus Woes To School Board

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Thumbnail photo by Persephone Rose

Melissa Endert went before the Del Norte Unified School District Board of Trustees two days after bus service to her children’s school was canceled.

Endert, who lives in Crescent City while her kids attend Smith River School to be near their father who is a special education teacher, said finding out at the last minute that the bus wouldn’t be showing up was a sacrifice for her and left many parents scrambling.

“That’s a hardship for community members who are not like myself, who don’t have a spare car or don’t have time set aside to get their kids to school,” she said. “The district stresses that students should come to school every day. If buses aren’t running they can’t attend school. If they come to school an hour late, they’re missing breakfast, they’re missing time and they’re stressed, they’re hungry, they’re anxious and they’re worried and it’s already a long bus route.”

Continue reading Route Cancellations, Delays Prompt Parents To Take Bus Woes To School Board →
Articles, Arts & Culture, Community News, Education, Just For Fun, Youth

DNHS Music Department Turns Up The Heat This Memorial Day Weekend

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Slideshow: Screenshots from the last Chili Pepper Fundraiser video | Courtesy Dan Sedgwick

Two years ago for Christmas the Del Norte High School music department attempted an unconventional fundraiser. Students from band and choir teamed up to play and sing “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”… with a twist. Part way through the concert, participants were challenged to eat a chili pepper before continuing their musical fare. The event was a hit with students and donors alike, ultimately raising around $10,000.

This year, the school’s music department hopes to match that figure as they revive the chili challenge for a spicy take on “America The Beautiful” as part of a Memorial Day fundraising blitz.

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Articles, Health, In Media Res, Youth

Del Norte’s Drug Problem

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I recently accepted an invitation from Jermaine Brubaker to join Rx Safe Del Norte Coalition’s quarterly call. During the call, Michelle Greene from the Del Norte County Coroner’s Office presented opioid overdose data that challenged many of my own misconceptions. 

Del Norte’s Drug Problem –  2024 By the Numbers:

  • 198: calls to emergency services for suspected overdose 
  • 65: times Naloxone was administered to reverse a suspected overdose
  • 24: drug-related deaths in Del Norte County
Continue reading Del Norte’s Drug Problem →
Articles, Health, Youth

Meeting New Medi-Cal Requirements For Incarcerated Youth Is Challenging Even With A $1.5 Million Grant, Del Norte’s Chief Probation Officer Says

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Though his office was awarded a $1.5 million grant that will allow youth in their care to either connect or reconnect with Medi-Cal upon release from a detention facility, Lonnie Reyman isn’t thrilled.

Reyman, Del Norte County’s chief probation officer, told supervisors on Tuesday that he’ll likely use the CalAIM PATH 3 grant to hire a consultant to help create a plan for implementing the state-mandated program. But having to suddenly navigate the nuances of the “healthcare world” while relying on technical assistance from those who are also still figuring the program out is irritating, he said.

Reyman used a conversation he had during an October technical assistance call with teams from the University of California, Davis who, he said, were working with the state to help guide him and other counties through the program.

Continue reading Meeting New Medi-Cal Requirements For Incarcerated Youth Is Challenging Even With A $1.5 Million Grant, Del Norte’s Chief Probation Officer Says →
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 →
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.

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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, Arts & Culture, Community News, Education, Local Government, Youth

DNUSD Discusses AI Policy

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The AI Task Force Steering Committee came back to the Del Norte Unified School District Board of Trustees with a draft policy on the acceptable use of Artificial Intelligence, or AI, April 10. 

The policy is meant to outline the acceptable uses of AI within schools, with goals to foster safe and ethical use, enhance learning and teaching, and develop digital literacy. It also outlines guidelines for use by teachers, staff, and students. The criteria needed to vet AI tools, frequently asked questions, and the consequences for violating the policy are also included.

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Articles, Arts & Culture, Videos, Youth

Youth Take to the Trees at Roots and Wings Dance Camp

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“An extremely liberating and expansive and challenging flight,” said Lauren Godla of DiRT and Glitter when asked what vertical dance is. “A totally new perspective on gravity and reality and what kind of movement is possible.” 

Godla has been doing vertical dance for 10 years with several productions under her belt and has shared that experience with youth in Del Norte County through the Roots and Wings Dance Camp. 

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Articles, Arts & Culture, Community News, Crescent City, Youth

Library Director Fights To Maintain Access

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Phyllis Goodeill sidles around the desk in her office at the back of the Del Norte County Public Library, stepping between cardboard boxes as she does. Her desk is a mess. Piled high with binders, papers and books, it looks exactly how you’d expect the desk of a busy library director to look: Like there are other things more important than an orderly workspace. 

“At this point,” Goodeill says, “I don’t have any answers. We’re all just waiting to see what the fallout will be.”

Goodeill, like many others in the world of non-profit, quasi-government agencies, is waiting for the funding waters to clear. Back in Washington, D.C., programs are being cut with abandon, entire agencies shuttered at a moment’s notice, and it’s up to people like Goodeill to translate all the budget slashing into realities on the ground in the often poor, rural communities where the funding cuts will be felt the most. 

“It’s concerning,” Goodeill says, taking her seat behind the desk. “Of all the things they could monitor or investigate, why the libraries? Why the museums?”

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