SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2020
Crescent City, CA
Council closes city hall due to COVID Del Norte County moved to Purple Tier By David Rupkalvis The Triplicate
Rising COVID-19 cases in Del Norte County moved the county into the Purple Tier on Tuesday, which led to a unanimous vote by the Crescent City Council to close city hall for the rest of the year. City employees will still be at work and will be available to assist community members but only if appointments are made in
advance. Under the Purple Tier in California, non-essential businesses are forced to close to the public. Restaurants will move to carry-out or delivery service, and businesses are urged to allow as many workers as possible to work remotely. Dr. Warren Rehwaldt, the county’s public health officer, told council members COVID was spreading quickly in Crescent City. “I think it’s pretty clear things have changed a bit,” he said. “We’re probably over 300 cases. Not a good direction to go.”
Rehwaldt said contact tracers have found several major problems as the cases have grown. He said some people are still not taking the virus seriously, with many cases traced back to parties or large gatherings. He also said people have been going to work when sick and infecting others. “Stay home when you’re ill,” he said. “Forego the parties, forego the gatherings. It’s too dangerous now. I’m concerned about the upcoming holidays. I know people made plans. If it’s not too late to alter them, it’s probably the best things to do. Do not gather in large groups and
take precautions in your home. Wear a mask around your family. When you sit down for dinner, don’t sit down next to each other, spread out. Treat each other like you could be the one carrying it into the house.” While the number of cases is not good, there are a few positive notes, Rehwaldt said. “It’s not a good place for us to be,” he said. “It still hasn’t impacted our hospital. I think there’s only one person in the hospital.” Rehwaldt said there have also not been any cases as the city’s lone senior assisted living
facility. While there are new cases at Pelican Bay State Prison, it is slow growth and not a rapid escalation. Rehwaldt said with the move to the Purple Tier, a lot of businesses will be asked to move things outdoors. Councilman Alex Fallman said one thing he is hearing is that the virus isn’t deadly to most, so they aren’t going to make drastic changes. “Well, it’s still deadly,” Rehwaldt said. “Look at our numbers. It’s more deadly than the flu or the worst pneumonia we see. Please see Closure, Page A2
Last Chance Grade project is inching forward
A surprising and very happy birthday
By David Rupkalvis
Before Saturday, Don Johnson had celebrated 91 birthdays and thought he has seen it all. But thanks to his granddaughter and firefighters throughout Del Norte County, Johnson’s 92nd birthday is one he will never forget. As Johnson was celebrating with his family Saturday afternoon, he heard a familiar sound — sirens from the Crescent City Fire Department. A longtime volunteer with the fire department, Johnson has also lived around the corner from the station for decades. But these sirens were different. After the initial sound of sirens, something else began to play out of the fire engine driving down Breem Street. The sounds of “Happy Birthday” soon began to be heard, and Johnson and his family started paying more attention. When the first engine arrived in front of his house, Johnson was clearly shocked. His granddaughter, Vanessa Duncan, and her children jumped out to say happy birthday. For the next five minutes, fire engines and police cars David Rupkalvis, The Triplicate moved slowly down the street Don Johnson waves to a passing fire department engine during his 92nd birthday celebration Saturday. Johnson, who volunwith their lights and sirens teered with the Crescent City Fire Department for 28 years, was surprised with drive-by birthday wishes. flashing, all saying happy police drove by, it took Johnwith the fire department, Johnwas nice just to have his family birthday to one of Crescent son a few minutes to compose son always looked for ways to together. City’s favorite residents. himself. help his hometown. In 1971, “We’ve been sticking so As Johnson watched, he “It was unbelievable,” he the chamber honored him by close to home,” he said. “It was started waving to the emergensaid. “I’ve never heard of such naming him man of the year. very nice.” cy responders and soon was a thing happening.” He said being in Crescent At 92, it may seem like crying openly. Johnson was a volunteer City since 1954 has been Johnson is in the twilight of his “What in the world did you firefighter for 28 years, beginamazing for he and his family. life, but he could have many do,” he asked his granddaughning in 1956. He said he volun“It’s been a good place to birthdays to come. His mom ter as she gave him a hug. teered initially just to help out. raise our family,” Johnson said lived to be 110 and was phys“Hey, I work at the fire “For one thing, at the time as four generations mingled in ically and mentally sharp until department,” she responded. “I they needed volunteers,” John- his yard. “Of course, I love the the very end. know we won’t be together for son said. “One of the people I redwoods right over there and When he celebrates his 93rd Thanksgiving, so I wanted to worked with was a volunteer the ocean right over there.” birthday next year, he said it do something to get us togethand he got on to me to join.” In addition to celebrating his would be difficult to top the er.” In addition to volunteering 92nd birthday, Johnson said it 92nd. After the firefighters and
The Triplicate
Long-awaited plans to move the Last Chance Grade roadway for Highway 101 are moving forward, but a final solution is still likely a decade or longer away. During a town hall on the Last Chance Grade held last week, elected officials and representatives of the California Department of Transportation updated the progress on the project. While things are moving forward steadily, there is still a lot of work to do. Last Chance Grade is a threemile section of Highway 101 between Klamath and Crescent City that is, and has been for years, slowly sliding into the ocean. The road is currently being maintained just enough for traffic to continue, but residents are desperate for other solutions so as not to risk their primary road closing. Families from Klamath commute to Crescent City weekly, even daily, for groceries, school, work and more. Without Highway 101 connecting them, the drive from Klamath to Crescent City could take upwards of six hours, according to State Sen. Mike McGuire. McGuire hosted the town hall meeting and was joined by Congressman Jared Huffman, State Assemblyman Jim Wood, representatives from Del Norte County and Crescent City as well as CalTrans leaders working on the project. McGuire said recent funding will allow the geotechnical and environmental studies to move forward with a deadline of having the studies completed by 2026. Even with the 2026 deadline, McGuire said all parties involved hope to cut a year or
By David Rupkalvis The Triplicate
Please see Project, Page A8
Crescent City dairy farm changes the industry By David Rupkalvis The Triplicate
Blake and Stephanie Alexandre grew up working on family dairy farms and always knew they would one day own and run their own dairy farm. What they didn’t know is they would revolutionize the way family dairy farms can operate. Blake Alexandre grew up on his family’s farm in Humboldt County while Stephanie was working with her parents in Southern California. When they met and got married, they worked together on the farm in Southern California while dreaming of stepping out on their own. In 1992, they made the move, buying 560 acres near Crescent City. Over the years, they have slowly added on when land became available. Today, Alexandre Family Farm is 4,000
INDEX Crossword................................................A5 Crossword Answers..................................B3 Classifieds................................................B1
acres in Del Norte and Humboldt counties. They have also been joined by four of their five children, with their youngest still in college. They graze 4,500 cattle and up to 45,000 chickens on that land, running what was one of the earliest organic farms in the country. “Everything we do is organic,” Blake said. “We raise the chicken from day one up and the cows from day one up as organic.” As they stepped out on their own, the Alexandres became leaders in the environmental movement, not because of politics, but because it made sense on their farm. Blake explained that taking care of the land and animals is just the right way to run their dairy farm. When you run thousands of head of cattle and tens of thousands of chickens on the
David Rupkalvis, The Triplicate
While the dairy cattle at Alexandre Family Farm usually graze in open fields, during bad weather they are brought inside for safety. land, it is imperative that the land produce high-quality grass. So, Blake and Stephanie have become experts on grass, soil and what works best. “We’re big-time grass farm-
ers,” Blake said. “We lean on grass a lot for the cows and chickens. We’re very fortunate that we are in this region where we can lean on grass all year. We can graze 300 days a year.”
And the key to good grass is good soil. So, Blake has become an expert on soil. By treating the land right, it benefits his business and nature as a whole. Please see Dairy, Page A3
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