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SATURDAY August 17, 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
No-shows in court confound local officials By Linda Pinkham For Staff Writer
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el Norte County officials say they remain perplexed as to why the local traffic court systems are experiencing a high rate of no-shows, especially with a stiff pen-
alty for those facing minor citations. “About half of the people cited each week don’t show up for court,” said Esperanza Esparza, Del Norte Superior Court’s executive officer. The county’s traffic court is in session Mon-
days and Thursdays, with 25 to 30 people each day coming before the commissioner. Monthly, that’s up to 270 people who face higher fines, a failure-to-appear citation, a hold on their driver’s license, and collection actions for not
showing up. If for some reason people miss their court dates - for example, the ticket blew out of the car window - they aren’t immediately at risk. “They should try to contact the court within 15 days,” Esparza said.
She said the court uses a three-step process to give people a chance to clear up a citation: 1. After waiting 15 days, the court sends a courtesy notice. 2. If that doesn’t result in a response, the next step is to review whether the
address for the courtesy notice was correct. 3. As a last step, the commissioner reviews whether all the notices were correct, after which the court sends another More Court on Page A4
WANTED: Families for felines and canines
Starr is a Husky mix that’s been awaiting adoption at the Del Norte County Animal Control Shelter since January. Elis Dickson, the rescue and adoption director for Dogs of Del Norte, encourages Starr to stretch his legs in the tennis-ball run during an adoption event Aug. 10 at the shelter. Photos by David Hayes.
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By David Hayes Staff Writer
he Triplicate carries an Adopt-a-Pet full-page ad on alternating weeks that features photos of four-legged friends looking for a family. Why are there so many photos? Because local animal shelters are filled to capacity with rescued animals. “We have 32 dogs right now,” said Justin Riggs, director of Del Norte County Animal Control. “That puts our building at absolute capacity. An optimal capacity would be 24. “We reached double our capacity twice last year.” Riggs said the Crescent City shelter’s staff keeps the dogs on site as healthy and as long as they can. He said animals are euthanized only for health or severe behavior problems. He estimated that 300 to 400 dogs are taken in over the course of
a year, with only three or four needing to be euthanized. The Del Norte County Animal Control Shelter, at 2650 West Washington Blvd., accepts dogs abandoned by their owners – say, when an owner is relocating and can’t move with the pet – as well as strays. Especially this time of year, Riggs said: “We get a lot of tourists that see a wandering dog and scoop it up and bring it to us.” For the last couple of years, the shelter has seen a run of Nordic dog breeds, shepherds, Huskies and pit bull mixes. Not to mention the “bully” breeds that are harder to adopt out: pit bulls, dobermans and rottweilers. “They’re good dogs,” said Riggs, “they can just be a little animal aggressive, needing extra-care handling or training.” Riggs said the region’s stray-dog problem stems from More Pets on Page A3
Gasquet American Legion works to bolster its ranks J
By David Hayes Staff Writer
amie Brassard is eager to get the word out about the Gasquet American Legion, especially thanks to recent actions of President Donald Trump. Trump signed the LEGION (Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service) Act on July 30, which declares the United States has been in a state of war since Dec. 7, 1941. While the declaration honored about 1,600 U.S. service members who were
killed or wounded during previously undeclared periods of war, it also opened the door for some 6 million veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which they previously had not been eligible. “Congress originally set up the charter that in order to join the American Legion, you had to have served during war periods. This act opens it wide up as to who can join the American Legion,” said Brassard, the adjutant at Gasquet American Legion Post 548. Now, new members need to have served during World
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War I, World War II, or from 1946 to present. Located at 1555 Gasquet Flat Rd., about 14 miles northeast of Crescent City on Highway 199, Brassard said the Gasquet American Legion is the only one remaining in the region after the branches in Crescent City, Smith River and Brookings all closed from a lack of membership. That’s why she’s planning a membership drive Sept. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Veterans Service Office, 810 More Gasquet on Page A5
American Legion District Commander Rick Cooper swears in officers Aug. 3 at Gasquet Post 548. Photo courtesy Gasquet American Legion Post 548 Facebook page.
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