FRIDAY November 15, 2019
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A sticky issue for the county By David Hayes Staff Writer
D
el Norte County’s only cannabis retailer didn’t move its store location … but will no longer be considered too close to a nearby educational facility. Presented with several options, the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors directed its staff on Tuesday to split in half the parcel on which the Del Norte County Juvenile Hall Facility sits.
This action changes the official distance of the adjacent Sticky Grove marijuana dispensary from 450 feet to 600 feet. Joel Campbell-Blair, the deputy county counsel, said state law stipulates that a retail cannabis operation cannot be licensed if its within 600 feet of a school, unless the local jurisdiction specifies a different radius. Rather than measuring that distance from door to door, Campbell-Blair said, the distance is mea-
sured from parcel line to parcel line. District 1 Supervisor Roger Gitlan clarified the problem that arose after retailer Robert Derego was authorized a permit within the 600 feet boundary. “Technically, the juvenile hall is a school. So, (the cannabis store’s) current location at the present time of 1071 U.S. Highway 101 is in violation of the current code allowing its existence being there in relationship to the juve-
nile hall facility,” Gitlan said. Campbell-Blair agreed. “At the time Robert got the permit in February, it was just really not on anybody’s mind that there might be a school in there. “I don’t think that’s what the state meant by schools; it’s actually a penal institution. But looking at a definition of what a school is, probably if Robert’s permit More Cannabis on Page A5
The Sticky Grove cannabis retail store, located at 1071 U.S. Highway 101, technically sits within the 600-foot setback from the Del Norte County Juvenile Hall. Photo by David Hayes.
By Linda Pinkham Staff Writer
‘B
etter late to the party than never’ was the theme of the day when Chetco River chinook salmon finally kept their date for a free ride to the hatchery. Earlier on Tuesday, Dave Kuehn of the Oregon South Coast Fishermen of Brookings admitted, “We are starting to get pretty worried,” after talking about how the fish failed to show up Oct. 29 during the group’s last attempt to capture some for the hatchery program. The water was quiet, with few signs of any fish, as the boat began to let a net out in a big loop at Social Security Bar. But the quiet didn’t last long as the net was hauled in by a dozen volunteers, plus Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) staff. State fish-seiner-in-chief Andrew Wells was both surprised and ecstatic to see more than 50 fish turn up in the first setting of the net. It took just one more set of the net to get the 80 fish needed for the ODFW hatchery program. “We use that many to diversify the mix,” said Leonard Krug, president of Oregon South Coast Fishermen of Brookings. “It’s a really well-run, conservation-minded hatchery program.” Each year, the group releases 40,000 to 50,000 fingerlings back into the Chetco River. On Tuesday, it took quite some time to corner, tail, measure and decide which of the numerous fish to keep. Volunteers spent that time wrestling the fish and running them in relay teams to the truck. The captured fish were a good mix of hatchery and native chinook, with several measuring longer than 35 inches. Three coho, a federally protected species, were released unharmed from the net. According to Krug, the fish are not widely known to be in the Chetco River, although they showed up this day.
Leonard Krug lifts a beauty from the measuring box, and prepares to slip it into a rubber boot, to be carried to a waiting fish transport truck. Photo by Linda Pinkham.
THEY SWAM BACK,
AFTER ALL
Yurok PD hosts ‘Pizza with the Police’ 2020 Olympics T
gains attention in Crescent City
Staff Report
he Yurok Tribal Police Department hosted an interagency “Pizza with the Police” event Wednesday at Margaret Keating Elementary School in Klamath. It’s the first installment of what Police Chief Greg O’Rourke expects to be a long-term community outreach program. “We’re building a community-based police force,” said O’Rourke. “It’s so important to reach out to everyone in our community and let them know we are all working together. Getting to meet kids in a positive environment helps build mutual understanding and a sense of trust.” The police department provided the food and prizes, and talked about the
A
job of law enforcement with students. “Our officers are excited to be deeply involved in the community and be proactive,” said O’Rourke,
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“instead of just responding to calls. Being a real, helpful part of the lives of local residents is something our department plans to embrace, and this is a great
step in achieving that goal.” He said “Pizza with the Police” events also are being scheduled in 2020 for Weitchpec and Hoopa Valley.
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By David Hayes Staff Writer
fter receiving a pledge from Crescent City officials last week, the Crescent City/Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce met this week with other organizations to secure commitments for the city’s plan to market the region’s tie to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Last week, the Crescent City Council authorized $15,000 toward hiring a marketing consultant who would work with chamber executive director Cindy Vosberg. This week, Vosberg was able to secure another $10,000 from the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors and $9,500 from the Crescent City Harbor District. City staff had tapped Rob Holmlund of Malex Consulting to outline the duties and responsibilities of the More Olympics on Page A3
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