MIDWEEK EDITION
TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 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 COVID-19 case returns negative T
Staff Report
he results of the suspected case of COVID-19 that the Del Norte County Public Health and Human Services announced last week have come back and are negative. There was no evidence of coronavirus according to a press release Sunday from the health department. It was the first known presumptive case in Del Norte County. The individual presented themselves to a local healthcare facility last week. Del Norte Public Health worked with the California Department of Public
Health (CDPH) to coordinate sample delivery to one of the approved state laboratories. Testing was conducted by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Contact tracing is currently underway and exposed contacts are being quarantined at home and monitored for symptoms. Details about the patient will not be made public to protect patient privacy.
on Wednesday declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19. The proclamation comes as the number of positive California cases rises and following one official COVID-19 death. The proclamation builds on work already underway by the California Department of Public Health, California Health and Human Services Agency, Governor’s Office of
State of Emergency As part of the state’s response to address the global COVID-19 outbreak, Governor Gavin Newsom
City hires firm to update Beachfront Park master plan
Emergency Services and other agencies which have been on the front lines of the state’s response to COVID-19 since January. “The State of California is deploying every level of government to help identify cases and slow the spread of this coronavirus,” said Governor Newsom. “This emergency proclamation will help the state further prepare our communities and our health care system in the event it spreads more broadly.” More COVID on Page A4
Words abuzz
By David Hayes
T
Staff Writer
he future use and look of Beachfront Park got a little closer as a firm was hired to craft the city’s vision of the popular public space. Holly Wendt, Recreation Manager, told the City Council March 2 that staff selected PGAdesign, Landscape Architects to update the master plan for Beachfront Park. Wendt said staff selected the Oakland firm over three other presentations originating from a Jan. 22 request for proposals (RFP). The City Council unanimously approved the bid application. Mayor Pro Tem Heidi Kime was not present. “Their presentation was unique,” Wendt said. “Rather than an objective list with funding at the end before applying for grants, they said before we do all these design alternatives, why don’t we look at funding opportunities and do a funding analysis before we come up with plans and designs and incorporate some themes and projects together. That was really insightful.” Wendt recounted the recent history of Beachfront Park’s plans. In February of 2019, staff had a strategic priorities meeting and was advised by the City Council to actively work toward being competitive for upcoming funding opportunities for Beachfront Park, primarily through Prop. 68. The city was awarded $20,000 through a California Endowment Grant for comprehensive community outreach. Then Greenway Partners, Inc., began working with city staff and finalizing a community outreach project in mid-March. The city was then awarded a $90,000 grant from California Coastal Conservancy to update the master plan. Staff interviewed the four firms Feb. 20 and chose PGAdesign’s bid of $89,995. Wendt said PGAdesign was more experienced with parks (70 parks and 44 park master plans). In addition, they recommended the city look into alternative funding sources to implement the master plan from California Endowment of the Arts, Inclusionary Play Grants, California Cultural Heritage, Endowment California Conservation and land/water and conservation funds. Wendt said also in the firm’s favor was its experience incorporating downtown connections, working with tribal communities and national parks. Plus they presented the best alternative plans. “And they demonstrated they’re committed to telling the story of a community through the park design,” Wendt added. PGAdesign will work with Hattin Construction Management for cost analysis. They typically come within 5% of bid, better than a lot of other cost estimators, Wendt said. She said PGAdesign came with a unique approach: — Promoting coastal access — Creating a framework for long-term development — Establishing a design statement for Beachfront Park
Del Norte Unified School District’s Spelling Bee champions, eighth-grader Darcy Glore (left) and seventh-grader Dave Perreault display their medals March 3. Courtesy Photo.
Darcy Glore wins sixth straight district spelling bee D
el Norte Unified School District hosted its annual Spelling Bee March 3. A familiar name was atop the field, as eighth-grader Darcy Glore won for the sixth year in a row in his grade level. He will be moving on to the state competition along with the seventh-grade winner Dave Perreault. District Spelling Bee co-chair Jamie Cohen said the tournament went better than expected. “The turnout was great; everybody had a great time. The families were all there to watch the kids compete,” Cohen said. “And the whole thing was facilitated by volunteers. We had a lot of teachers volunteering to make this happen and without them, it wouldn’t have.”
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Calendar.................................................A10 Classifieds................................................A7
Fourth Grade 1st — Rhylin Taylor, Uncharted Shores 2nd — Logan Woods, Mary Peacock 3rd — Josh Fletcher, Mary Peacock Fifth Grade 1st — Uriah Lee, Smith River
Sixth Grade 1st — Marco Gonzalas, Redwood 2nd — Kailey Thor, Crescent Elk 3rd — McKenzie Costa, Redwood Seventh Grade 1st — Dave Perreault, Castle Rock 2nd — Saydee Cronk, Crescent Elk 3rd — Ryleigh Bennett, Crescent Elk Eighth Grade 1st — Darcy Glore, Mountain 2nd — Michael Murphy, Crescent Elk 3rd — Riley Schauerman, Crescent Elk
By Kelly Troyna Special for The Triplicate
unset High School students Alex Armstrong and Noah Kuntz will be traveling to Sacramento for the California Poetry Out Loud finals March 15-16. Poetry Out Loud is a national competition that encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. Students are challenged to study, memorize, and recite poetry from an anthology of more than 1,100 classic and contemporary poems. Armstrong and Kuntz both progressed through classroom competition, school-wide competition, and then to Del Norte’s County Competition. Now as Del Norte County’s Poetry Out Loud Champion, Armstrong will compete in California’s State Finals. He’ll join more than fifty other county champions who will also be competing to be named California State Champion. As County runner up, Kuntz will attend the state finals More POETRY on Page A4
INDEX
Crossword Answers..................................A8
Third Grade 1st — Kayla Neibert, Joe Hamilton 2nd — Leah Hamilton-Land, Pine Grove 3rd — Jaxon Ramox, Bess Maxwell
2nd — Layton Owen, Redwood 3rd — Wyatt Patton, Mary Peacock
Poetry Out Loud inspires Del Norte youth
More PARK on Page A4
Crosswords..............................................A6
List of winners Second Grade 1st — Jacob Woods, Mary Peacock 2nd — Abdul Al-Ogaidi, Mary Peacock 3rd — Kailey Baker, Redwood
FORECAST
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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Sunset High School Principal Tony Fabricius (left) and teacher Kelly Troyna (right) congratulate school-wide Poetry Out Loud Champion Noah Kuntz. Photo contributed.
TIDES
SUNDAY
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Tues
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6:47AM 7:38AM 8:30AM
HIGH
12:56AM 1:33AM 2:11AM
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7:14PM 7:55PM 8:36PM
HIGH
12:50PM
1:43PM
2:38PM
$1.50