DNUSD Leaders Adopt 2025-26 Budget Amid Warnings Of A Structural Deficit, More Cuts

July 2, 2025 Jessica Cejnar Andrews 1 Comment

_{Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz}

(Updated at 5:41 p.m. to clarify that Elizabeth Calleja is a parent of Redwood School students. Calleja said Wednesday afternoon that while she’s a long-time teacher with Del Norte Unified School District, she currently teaches at Castle Rock Charter School.)

Superintendent Jeff Harris pointed to another single-county school district to illustrate what could befall Del Norte Unified if its financial situation didn’t improve.

During a budget presentation where trustees learned that DNUSD faces a structural deficit over the next three years, Harris said the other single-district county took out a state loan and, five months later, was facing state receivership.

“What that means is the Board loses a lot of [their] authority. Everything is directly reported to the state,” Harris told trustees Monday, adding that student enrollment and revenues have declined statewide. “So it’s really critical that we all keep an eye not only on what’s going on next year, but the two years after that because they ended up owing $10 million on a $40 million budget and they didn’t have enough cash left to cover any of it.”

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Alerts, Crime, Law

DNSO Releases Name Of Subject Killed In Friday’s Officer-Involved Shooting

July 1, 2025 Jessica Cejnar Andrews Leave a comment

_{Thumbnail photo by Heather Polen}

The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the male subject who was shot by a California Highway Patrol officer near the Crescent City Harbor and pronounced dead at Sutter Coast Hospital on Friday.

The deceased is 44-year-old Patrick George Selvage, Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott told Redwood Voice Community News on Tuesday.

A Del Norte County Sheriff’s deputy and two California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched to Anchor Way west of U.S. 101 for a report of a male subject covered in blood at about 10:55 a.m.

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Alerts, Articles, Weather

Crews Working Four Fires Within the Gasquet Ranger District; Six Rivers Officials Report 282 Lightning Strikes On National Forest

July 1, 2025 Jessica Cejnar Andrews Leave a comment

_{Thumbnail photo courtesy of Kristen Peterson}

Firefighters are working to douse four lightning-caused fires within the Gasquet Ranger District, the Six Rivers National Forest reported Tuesday.

The blazes were caused by a series of thunderstorms that passed through the region Monday evening, resulting in about 282 lightning strikes as of about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a news release. In addition to the four blazes within the Gasquet Ranger District, firefighters are also responding to a fire reported in the Marble Mountain Wilderness within the Orleans/Ukonom Ranger District, according to the release.

Within the Gasquet Ranger District, the blazes include the Myrtle Fire at about 0.1 acres northeast of Crescent City on Low Divide Road near Forest Route 17N21 near top of the ridge. According to the press release, firefighters have the blaze under control and are “in patrol status.”

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Articles, Local Government

Compensation Study Continues as Del Norte Supervisors Begin Budget Process

July 1, 2025 Jessica Cejnar Andrews Leave a comment

_{Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz}

The county’s latest compensation study isn’t yet finished, but from what she’s seen of the preliminary data, Norma Williams said it validates much of what the Del Norte County Employees Association SEIU 1021 has been saying for years.

Still, speaking with Redwood Voice Community News nearly a week after county administration began the 2025-26 budget process with the Board of Supervisors, Williams, the association’s chapter president, said she would urge the public to ask their own questions.

“Regardless of wage increases, Del Norte County is still under market when compared to other similar counties, or the counties they chose to compare ours against,” she said Monday. “We’re still below average. At some point, the rubber has to meet the road and you have to figure out what path you’re going to drive on.”

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Articles, Community News, Health

“29 and Time to Shine” 2025 Community Health Fair

June 30, 2025 Redwood Voice Leave a comment

A press release from the Department of Health & Human Services Public Health Branch:

Hello Del Norte County Community Members,

The Del Norte County Public Health Branch is excited to announce our 29th annual Health Fair! This year’s theme is “29 & Time to Shine!” Together, we can transform lives, foster hope, and create a healthier future for our community.

The Health Fair is more than just an event—it’s a movement. It’s about bringing people together to share resources, connect with one another, and inspire change. Families show up for the free resources and giveaways, but they leave with so much more: knowledge, connections, and a renewed sense of community. Let’s make this year the most impactful yet by coming together and providing the tools and services that truly make a difference.

This year, we are introducing the Puzzle Piece Project, a unique opportunity to showcase the incredible community-based programs that help Del Norte County thrive. We invite you to partner with us at Public Health to record short videos that highlight how your program or service contributes to the health and well-being of our community. These videos will symbolize how all of us—like puzzle pieces—fit together to build a stronger, more united Del Norte County. If you are interested in being part of the Puzzle Piece Project, please reach out to Anna Porter.

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Newscast

Harbor Drops Property Insurance on Marina Docks to Cut Costs – Redwood Voice Community News

June 30, 2025 Redwood Voice Leave a comment

June 30th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from Caltrans District 1; Crescent City Harbor drops property insurance on the marina docks; the Del Norte Office of Emergency Services reminds you about illegal fireworks; Crescent City Harbor retains harbormaster’s five year contract; the marine update from Fishing the North Coast; Oregon Coast Dance is moving to a bigger studio; the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation seeks resource families for native foster youth; California reaffirms birthright citizenship; California sees an increase in gas taxes; and Oregon slashes funding for programs that protect against extreme weather. All this and our regular segments from the Pacifica Radio Network and National Native News.

We’re broadcasting on KFUG 101.1FM and kfugradio.org every day at 12PM, with a rebroadcast at 5PM. We’re also airing on KZZH 96.7FM at 6AM, and KCIW 100.7FM at 6PM!

Today’s news card image is courtesy of Redwood Voice Reporter Gavin Van Alstine, which has been edited.

Articles, Arts & Culture, Community News, LGBTQ

Best-Selling Author Joanie Lindenmeyer Spoke on Authenticity and Resiliency as a Kick-Off to PRIDE 2025

June 30, 2025 Monique Camarena Leave a comment

“Be you, be the sparkle, and have faith!”

Joanie Lindenmeyer, retired Del Norte High School teacher turned best-selling author, shared stories of authenticity and resiliency as an LGBTQ+ person at the library June 19 as a kick-off to DNATL PRIDE 2025. She also spoke on the three books she wrote and co-wrote: Nun Better, Joyously Free!, and Healing Religious Hurts.

Lindenmeyer was a health education teacher at DNHS for 25 years until she retired in 2018. Before that, she worked in health education at Rural Human Services for two years. She now lives in Brookings.

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Articles, CC Harbor, Infrastructure, Local Government

Harbor District Board Drops Property Insurance On Marina Docks To Save $181,500

June 29, 2025 Jessica Cejnar Andrews 1 Comment

_{Thumbnail photo by Gavin Van Alstine}

Crescent City Harbor commissioners took Sandy Moreno’s advice and decided not to renew property insurance that covers damage to the docks in the marina from fire and collision.

Moreno, who became the Harbor District’s financial advisor in April, urged commissioners to hold off on renewing the Commercial Property — Inner Boat Basin Docks portion of their coverage with Redwood Leavitt Insurance Agency. She proposed taking the $181,500 premium it would have cost, putting $50,000 of it toward maintenance and using the remainder to keep the Harbor District solvent through the fiscal year.

“I’m giving you guys a year to get your shit together and if we do this one thing it does that,” she said Wednesday. “We will get through a year and if revenue generation and our cost savings and all the things we’re looking at doing — you will be in a really good place come July 1 of next year.”

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Articles, Community News, Crime, Law

Unidentified Man Fatally Shot By Law Enforcement; Incident Originated As A Medical Aid Call, Del Norte Sheriff Says

June 27, 2025 Jessica Cejnar Andrews Leave a comment

_{Thumbnail photo: Law enforcement continue an investigation into an officer-involved-shooting that took place near Anchor Way and U.S. 101 on Friday. | Heather Polen}

Updated at 11:16 a.m. Saturday:

From the California Highway Patrol:

On June 27, 2025, at approximately 10:55 A.M., California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers assigned to the CHP Crescent City Area responded to a 911 report of a male subject covered in blood, on Anchor Way west of US-101.

Emergency medical personnel also responded to the scene. The male subject was carrying a knife and aggressively approached medical personnel. Medical personnel backed away from the male subject.

One Del Norte Sheriff’s Office (DNSO) deputy and two CHP officers arrived on the scene and ordered the subject to drop the knife. The male subject was non-responsive to verbal commands.

The subject aggressively approached the deputy and officers. The DNSO deputy deployed his electronic control device, which proved to be ineffective. The subject continued to aggressively charge at the officers with a knife, and out of fear for his safety and the safety of others, a CHP officer involved shooting occurred.

The subject was arrested at the scene, and emergency medical aid was rendered. The male subject was transported to Sutter Coast Hospital and succumbed to his injuries.

No injuries were sustained by CHP officers or Allied Agencies.

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A criminal and an internal affairs investigation is underway in connection with an officer-involved-shooting that claimed the life of an unidentified man, and took place at the intersection of Anchor Way and U.S. 101 on Friday.

The incident started as a medical aid call, Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott told Redwood Voice Community News. Shortly after arriving at the scene — the grassy area near the Crescent City Harbor entrance — personnel from Crescent Fire and Del Norte Ambulance requested help from law enforcement, saying the patient was attacking them with a box cutter.

A Del Norte County sheriff’s deputy and a California Highway Patrol officer arrived on scene at about the same time, Scott said. The suspect was shot and later pronounced dead at Sutter Coast Hospital, the sheriff said, though the details surrounding shots being fired are still under investigation.

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Newscast

Rademaker Remains Harbormaster After 3-2 Vote – Redwood Voice Community News

June 27, 2025 Redwood Voice Leave a comment

June 27th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from Caltrans District 1; Curry County Commissioners and Sheriff’s office reach a compromise; despite concerns from two Crescent City Harbor Commissioners, the Harbor Master’s five-year contact still stands; an investigation over human remains found in Crescent City is underway; the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office has setup a dedicated Illegal Fireworks Hotline; Residential outdoor burning will be suspended in State Responsibility Areas due to increased fire danger; Route 36 sees delays in reopening after a large landslide; the Oregon Coast Dance Conservatory is relocating to a new building with plans for construction; the Oregon State Marine Board announces their participation in Operation Dry Water; the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation is looking for families to become homes for their Native Foster Youth; Oregon seeks to expand its water recycling system; two California nonprofits aim to make school boards more effective; an upcoming gas tax increase will soon go into effect for Californians; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture rescinds the Roadless Rule, ending a safeguard for millions of acres of national forestland. All this and our regular segments from the Pacifica Radio Network and National Native News.

We’re broadcasting on KFUG 101.1FM and kfugradio.org every day at 12PM, with a rebroadcast at 5PM. We’re also airing on KZZH 96.7FM at 6AM, and KCIW 100.7FM at 6PM!

Today’s news card image is courtesy of Redwood Voice Reporter Gavin Van Alstine, which has been edited.

Telling the untold stories of Del Norte and Tribal Lands through amplified youth voices.