SECOND SATURDAY ART WALK see Page B1
SATURDAY September 7, 2019
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Crescent City man still missing By David Hayes Staff Writer
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his is Day 8 for the Danztman family. It’s been eight days since Norbert (Tony) Dantzman, who was attending a family centennial reunion in rural Winter, Wisconsin, walked away from his motel room and disappeared. Dantzman, 89, suffers from dementia and other cognitive issues. He had traveled from Crescent City to Wisconsin with his daughter, Cindy Dantzman-Smith, and her husband, Kendall. Granddaughter Haley Smith, who couldn’t attend the reunion, is coordinating
communications for the family with the Sawyer County search efforts in Wisconsin. “I feel so helpless,” said Smith. “They’re trying so hard. The head of the search and rescue team said that after a long day of searching, she goes home and the search area becomes her back yard. “They’ve done an amazing job. I really appreciate their time and effort,” Smith said. The search began at 10:38 a.m. Aug. 30, when the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call reporting Dantzman missing from the Winter Northern Lights Motel in the Village of Winter.
According to the sheriff’s office, surveillance cameras at the motel showed Dantzman leaving his room about 9 a.m. and walking north toward the Norwood Trailer Court. Eyewitnesses at the trailer court said they saw an elderly man fitting Dantzman’s description walking at 9:30 through the trailer court toward County Highway West, the continuing north along the highway. Sawyer County Deputies, Sawyer County Search and Rescue personnel, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Winter Fire Department, and family and community members combed the immediate area, executing
grid searches while utilizing drones and canines. No trace of Dantzman was found. The search efforts were suspended late that evening. Family members said they’re surprised Dantzman would wander off alone. “He’s never wandered off before,” said his oldest daughter, Sandra Garner, who lives in Grants Pass and was unable to attend the reunion because of a broken ankle. “He spent the night a few weeks ago at my house and didn’t wander off. I used to take him dancing
More Search on Page A7
Norbert (Tony) Dantzman, 89, has been missing since Aug. 30. He had been attending a family reunion in Winter, Wisconsin. Photo courtesy the Dantzman family.
They’re showing up for Poy
By Jessica Goddard Staff Writer
he sound intensified in the Arts and Crafts T building at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds as more than 300 local residents filled
the room for a spaghetti feed and silent auction to support Poy-Wuson Aguilar. Aguilar was diagnosed with leukemia two weeks ago. His 16th birthday was last week. Aguilar, a member of the Yurok Tribe, lives a driven, full life. He plays on the football, wrestling and baseball teams at Del Norte High School, has participated in the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office Explorer program for three years, and makes time for many friends. Aguilar works hard in all he does. Now, he must work hard to fight his cancer. “He’s gonna beat it,” said Jakob Sherer, one of Poy’s closest friends. “Poy’s one of the most respected and outgoing kids I know.” Aguilar couldn’t attend Wednesday night’s event in his honor. He was at the University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital in
Oakland, where he’s undergoing chemotherapy. About a week ago, the sheriff’s office decided to host the spaghetti feed and silent auction to help Aguilar’s family cover his cost of staying in Oakland while receiving treatment. Within the event’s first 30 minutes, 150 dinners had been sold. Meals for slightly more than 300 diners had been prepared. They were sold out by night’s end. Tables along one wall were filled with custom T-shirts, hot sauce, cookies and other goodies for the silent auction – all donated by local people and businesses. Area musician Tom Alderman provided entertainment on his guitar while people ate. “This turnout is amazing,” said Ashley Hepburn, the mother of one of Aguilar’s friends. “It brings tears to my eyes. The community has really pulled together for Poy.”
(Top Left) Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office Explorers serve spaghetti to hundreds of attendees at the spaghetti feed and silent auction Wednesday night. Photo by Jessica Goddard. (Top Right) Poy-Wuson Aguilar smiles for a photo on his fundraising Facebook page while at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland. Courtesy “Poy-Wuson Aguilar: Information and Fundraising” Facebook page.
Most of the attendees knew Poy personally. Some simply knew of him; others came to show their support. Throughout the event, friends would More Spaghetti on Page A7
Chasing dragonflies this Sunday T
Staff Report
olowa Dunes Stewards and the Redwood Parks Conservancy have scheduled a field trip for Sunday – “Chasing Dragons” - to learn about Del Norte County’s most
recent dragonfly research. The event will be held at the Lake Earl Wildlife Area Headquarters from 1-4 p.m. Wildlife biologist Sandra Hunt-von Arb will lead the research presentation, then take attendees on a one-mile walk to nearby
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ponds to view (hopefully) some dragonflies. Among other things, Hunt-vol Arb will teach attendees where to find and how to correctly handle the dragonflies. The event is one of several nature programs held, primarily during the
summer months, in the Tolowa Dunes State Park and the Lake Earl Wildlife Area. “The groups that I work with … have done a lot to get this place more More Dragonflies on Page A4
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Wildlife biologist Sandra Hunt-von Arb teaches how to correctly handle dragonflies. Courtesy photo.
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