A Crescent City police officer has been cleared of wrongdoing in connection with the shooting death of 67-year-old John Spencer at the Surf Apartments on Feb. 17, Del Norte County District Attorney Katherine Micks concluded.
Officer Ethan Miller acted in justified self defense and in defense of others, Micks said in a written statementon Friday following an investigation led by California Highway Patrol Officer Adriana Warner. Micks stated she ascribed no criminal liability to Miller’s conduct during the Feb. 17 incident.
According to a summary of the officer-involved shooting, dispatch sent CCPD officers to Surf Apartments, 108 H Street, after receiving a report of a male subject in his apartment with a firearm possibly intent on harming himself. Miller and Sgt. Ed Wilson arrived on scene at about 4:20 p.m. and made contact with Spencer in his apartment.
Thumbnail photo: Fish tacos were on the menu for Del Norte High School students in this file photo from last year. Julie Bjorkstrand, Del Norte Unified School District’s director of nutrition services, presented an updated wellness policy and guide to the DNUSD Board of Trustees last week. | Photo courtesy of Josh Mims
Julie Bjorkstrand’s attempt to clear up confusion surrounding a wellness policy and accompanying guide turned into a plea for community involvement after questions about classroom birthday parties, cupcakes, pizza and other treats persisted.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires school districts participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs to adopt a school wellness policy. Such policies are required to include guidelines that set nutrition standards around food and drink sold or provided to students on campus during the school day.
Treats for classroom parties fall into the latter category, said Bjorkstrand, Del Norte Unified School District’s director of Nutrition Services, but it doesn’t mean having to give them up entirely.
June 10th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from Cal Trans District 1; the suspects in the recent Safeway shooting were arrested in Citrus Heights; the Brookings-Harbor School District is offering Free Summer Meals; construction of a Youth Center adjoining the Weitchpec Tribal Office will soon commence; the Yurok Tribe nearly double their land holdings following the buyback of the Blue Creek watershed; a warning against fawn-napping from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife; KALO is aiding Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities against food insecurity in Oregon and Washington; Oregon US Senators raise alarm over the Trump Administration’s proposal to cut federal funding for the US Integrated Ocean Observing System; and information from GOAL about upcoming free camping opportunities. 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 the Yurok Tribe via their Facebook Page, which has been edited.
June 9th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from Cal Trans District 1; Crescent City Councilors continue to throw around ideas for a new gateway to Front Street; more on the ongoing quarrel between Curry County Commissioner Hollinger and the Sheriff; the suspects in the recent Safeway shooting were arrested in Citrus Heights; nautical news from Kenny Priest of Fishing the North Coast; construction of a Youth Center adjoining the Weitchpec Tribal Office will soon commence; the Yurok Tribe nearly double their land holdings following the buyback of the Blue Creek watershed; and a warning against fawn-napping from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. 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 KFUG Station Coordinator Amanda Gracie Dockter, which has been edited.
Thumbnail photo: Russell Walters Jr. and Russell Walters Sr. were arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide in connection with a May 28 shooting near Safeway. | Photo courtesy of CCPD.
The 17-year-old suspect in last week’s shooting at Jedediah Smith Shopping Center, along with his father, are in custody in Citrus Heights, Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin told Redwood Voice Community News on Sunday.
Citrus Heights police arrested Russell Walters Jr. and Russell Walters Sr. after serving a search warrant at a home just before 5 p.m. Sunday, Griffin said. The two attempted to flee out a backdoor, but were taken into custody.
Officers also identified a female subject who drove them to the Sacramento area and will likely ask for accessory charges to be filed against her, Griffin said.
June 6th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from Cal Trans District 1; Del Norte County cracks down on illegal fireworks this 4th of July; the Downtown Crescent City Farmers & Artisans Market held their ribbon cutting ceremony; what was discussed at Monday’s Crescent City Council meeting; the marine update from Fishing the North Coast; Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation encourages 2025 graduates to provide their information for the tribal newsletter; Crescent City pursues a new gateway design; Curry County Commissioner Patrick Hollinger fights back against supposed intimidation; a new California policy will subject all prison visitors, staff, and attorneys to a canine search; and Sutter Health receives an anonymous $110 million donation. 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 Ken Lund via Wikimedia Commons, which has been edited.
A defiant Patrick Hollinger accused the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) and Curry County Sheriff John Ward of trying to intimidate and silence him “through the deliberate twisting of state law.”
The Curry County commissioner’s statement Wednesday comes after the sheriff’s association issued a letter stating that a presentation Hollinger gave at a May 20 Board of Commissioners meeting incorrectly implied that OSSA supported the commissioners in their ongoing conflict with Ward.
“This is an attempt to discredit an elected official advocating for accountability and transparency, which is all I have ever done,” Hollinger said. “Oregon law is intended to ensure justice and fairness. What we are witnessing is a deliberate distortion of the law intended to discredit an elected official and erode the public trust in those who are sworn to uphold it.”
Thumbnail: Consultants Don Arambula and Gill Williams convinced the new Crescent City Council last month that the gateway should incorporate redwoods into the design. | Screenshot
Crescent City leaders have scrapped the nautical theme they chose late last year for a gateway, listening to a new consultant who urged them to incorporate redwoods into the design.
Don Arambula, co-founder of the Portland-based architect and urban design firm Crandall Arambula, pointed out that 2.5 million tourists don’t necessarily visit the North Coast for the beach, though it’s important to the local community.
“There’s an expectation for those visitors who are coming from across America and sometimes internationally to see things that they associate with the redwood parks,” he told Councilor Jason Greenough who had misgivings about the new gateway proposal being constructed largely of wood. “If you’re building things in metal and it’s colored and doesn’t reflect that, you’re losing a big opportunity to reinforce this idea that your downtown is the gateway, or the starting point, for any journey that goes into Redwood National Park that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”
June 5th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from Cal Trans District 1; increased fines and penalties for use and possession of illegal fireworks go into effect this 4th of July; the weekly update from DNUSD Superintendent Jeff Harris; the Downtown Crescent City Farmers & Artisans Market held their ribbon cutting ceremony; Del Norte County Search and Rescue pick back up the search for Deng Vongphachan; the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is also searching for a missing 12-year-old girl; items discussed at Monday’s Crescent City Council Meeting; Del Norte County’s Probation Chief enlists help for youth marijuana prevention and intervention programs; Tolowa Dee-ni’ Fire Crews responded to a driftwood fire near Howonquet Indian Cemetery; the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation encourages 2025 graduates to provide their information for the tribal newsletter; Curry County Commissioner Patrick Hollinger gets in trouble for recording in a classroom setting; a new California policy will subject all prison visitors, staff, and attorneys to a canine search; and Sutter Health receives an anonymous $110 million donation. 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 Aisling Bludworth, which has been edited.
June 4th, 2025 – For Redwood Voice Community News, a production of Redwood Voice Youth Media, today’s news: roadwork updates from Cal Trans District 1; Elk Valley Road is temporarily closed north of Howland Hill; Brooking’s Harbor Farmers Market location was deemed unsafe; the Seamless Summer Food Program is keeping Del Norte’s kids fed this Summer break; new Firework Ordinances will be in effect this 4th of July; updates from the Del Norte Unified School District; Del Norte Department of Health and Human Services walk for Mental Health Awareness Month; Crescent City Police continue their search for the Safeway shooting suspects; Del Norte County Search and Rescue pick back up the search for Deng Vongphachan; the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is also searching for a missing 12-year-old girl; Del Norte County’s Probation Chief enlists help for youth marijuana prevention and intervention programs; Tolowa Dee-ni’ Fire Crews handle driftwood fire near Howonquet Indian Cemetery; the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation also wants to celebrate its 2025 graduates; CDFW seeks public comment for Guidelines for Recovery Planning; California’s State Senate considers a bill to extend the California’s Habitat Conservation Fund; conservation groups push back on a timber industry lawsuit to protect endangered Northern Spotted Owls; and new Grey Wolf packs spotted in Northern California. 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 Monique Camarena, which has been edited.
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