GIRL SCOUTS DEBUT MURAL on Page 4
SATURDAY October 12, 2019
S E R V I N G O U R C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 1 8 7 9 • W W W. T R I P L I C A T E . C O M
Del Norte ducks California power shut-off Staff Report
U
pwards of 700,000 California residents lost power on Wednesday after Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) implemented a public-safety power shutoff. While much of northern California lost electrical power, Del Norte County’s power was unaffected. On the other hand, local resi-
dents did see some impact from the energy issues facing their neighbors in Humboldt County. At least some local hotels experienced a spike in room rentals when a stream of Eureka residents booked rooms Wednesday night, according to Best Western Inn’s staff. One of the motel’s guests in Crescent City said he had been told there were no additional rooms available. Due to several coinciding weather
conditions, PG&E shut off power as a pre-emptive measure to keep its electrical equipment from sparking wildfires. While power outages occurred in surrounding counties, including Humboldt County to the south, Del Norte County did not experience outages. The county’s power is supplied by Pacific Power Co., not PG&E. Pacific Power spokesperson Drew Hanson said that prior to the
2019 wildfire season, the company adopted a public0safety power outage measure into its safety plan. The measure states that areas susceptible to wildfires would be eligible for fire safety measures, including pre-emptive power shut offs. Pacific Power has not had to implement the power shut offs since adopting the measure, but even if it did, Del Norte County is not particularly susceptible to fire danger,
need for
FLU SHOT
seems to never go away
H
By David Hayes Staff Writer
ealth experts agree that when it comes to monitoring the annual influenza season, the only common denominator is how unpredictable it is. The timing, severity and length of
the season varies each year. Seasonal flu activity often begins as early as October, usually peaks between December and February, and can last as late as May. Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors the severity of the influenza season based upon three indicators: — The percentage of visits to outpatient clinics for influenza-like illness (ILI) — The rates of influenza-associated hospitalizations — The percentage of deaths resulting from
according to Hanson. Regardless, Hanson recommends residents be prepared for a power outage year-round with a plan and an emergency kit. If the area had met certain conditions, the power would have been shut off, according to Hanson. He added power shut offs can also come More Blackout on Page A3
Warriors’ girls soccer coach fired A
By David Hayes Staff Writer
shley Herrera was fired Oct. 1 as head coach of the Del Norte High School girls soccer team, four games into the 2019 season. Assistant coach Brent Coble agreed to take over the reins for the remainder of the season. The Warriors were winless in Humboldt-Del Norte Division play, with an 0-3 record and a 1-4 record overall, this season under Herrera, who was in her second year as head coach. Herrera told The Triplicate that the high school’s athletic director, Robert Hadfield, fired her because of a conflict with her employment at another job. Hadfield did not respond to multiple requests for comment before The Triplicate’s deadline. “He knew I had another job, the girls knew, there had been zero concern over the other job,” Herrera said. Herrera has worked off and on as a behavioral intervention specialist at the school district since 2009. She has also worked as a server at SeaQuake the last three years and admits missing a few Fridays because of her work there.
More Flu Shots on Page A3
More Coach on Page A3
Office hours Meteor showers may light up Halloween sky to change for many in city jobs Staff Report
T
he Crescent City Council approved on Oct. 7 a new schedule that city offices will be open for business hours. The “9/80 schedule” keeps city employees on an 80-hour work schedule for two-week pay periods, but employees will work nine days instead of 10. Week one of the new schedule has city offices open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Employees still work Fridays, but offices are closed to the public. Week two of the new schedule has city offices open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and employees off on Fridays. The new schedule for city offices includes City Hall, the Housing Authority, office staff only at the Police Department and Public Works, not including the lab. City Manager Eric Wier explained to More Schedule on Page A3
This is a view of the 2015 Taurids Meteor shower. Photo courtesy Wade Earle. By Jeremy C. Ruark Staff Writer
Y
ou might see your neighbor laying down outside and looking up at the night sky. Astronomers say that’s one way to get a good view of meteor showers soon to be flying overhead. “The Southern Taurid meteor showers are just getting started,” American Meteor Society spokesman Robert Lunsford tells The
INDEX Crosswords................................................ A4 Crossword Answers ..................................A10 Calendar.................................................... A7 Classifieds......................................... A9 - A10
Triplicate from his home in San Diego. “The Southern Taurids are unusual in that they have three shallow peaks that occur near Oct. 10, Oct 31 and Nov. 15. The peak, near Oct. 31, will not have any interfering moonlight and will be the best of all three this year.” Lunsford said under perfect conditions you might see five to 10 Taurids per hour. Under moonlight conditions, it will be fewer than
FORECAST TODAY
60 48
SUNDAY
59 48
five. “These meteors are notable because they tend to be bright and often fragment during flight,” he said. “While most meteors tend to last less than one second, the Taurids are slower and often last several seconds in flight.” According to Lunsford, the Southern Taurids can be seen all night, but the radiant - the area where these meteors shoot from - is best placed highest in the sky near
2 a.m. no matter what the time zone. Besides lying down to view the meteor showers, Lunsford said the best area to view is at higher altitudes where the sky is more transparent. “The more stars one can see, the more meteors will also be seen,” he said. “This is also true when the moon is out. More Meteors on Page A3
TIDES MONDAY
59 47
LOW HIGH LOW HIGH
Sun Sat Mon 5:25AM 5:55AM -11:40AM 12:05PM 12:33AM 5:51PM 6:24PM 6:24AM 11:55PM -- 12:30PM
$1.50