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SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 www.triplicate.com
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021
Crescent City, CA
Mask mandate to remain in Del Norte County By Diana Bosetti The Triplicate
The Del Norte County mask mandate will remain in effect until COVID-19 numbers decrease enough to put the county within the orange tier, though the county’s public health officer en-
dorsed upcoming holiday events and said recreational swim time at the Fred Endert Municipal Pool will be considered. On Nov. 1, Public Health Official Dr. Aaron Stutz spoke before the Crescent City City Council, saying “I decided not to do away with it immediately,
mostly because in looking at our previous numbers from last year, we had a significant increase in the number of cases - probably due to the change in weather.” he said. “So, I’d like to extend the mask mandate just a little bit further into the holiday season.” For the week prior, Stutz said
Del Norte County experienced 53 active cases of COVID, with 12 of those happening over the weekend of Oct. 30. On average, there have been 4.5 daily cases of COVID, and two people were hospitalized at Sutter Coast Hospital on Nov. 1. Stutz expressed concern about
the impact the virus has had on the younger population, citing 50% of new cases in individuals under the age of 20, and 70% under the age of 49 since the pandemic began. “At least one-fifth of the
Please see MASKING, Page A9
Council postpones decision on mayor By Diana Bosetti The Triplicate
Photos by Diana Bosetti/The Triplicate
Above: Michael Mavris reads his essay that led to him being chosen to light the Capital Christmas tree. Below: Hundreds of people lined up in Crescent City to see the tree and to pen notes that will go with the tree to Washington D.C.
Hundreds see Sugar Bear in Crescent City By Diana Bosetti The Triplicate
Sugar Bear, the 84-foot white fir selected as this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, made its first stop in Crescent City where hundreds of local residents posed in front of the tree, listened to the Del Norte High School band and choir, posed with Big Foot and listened to an essay reading by fifth-grader Michael Mavris. The day’s event also included lines of local students who passed through educational booths, before stopping to pen a
note and take a picture in front of Sugar Bear - which was carefully nestled and decorated inside a 102-foot-long cab and trailer. For the next 10 days, the tree will travel and make several stops in California before heading eastward towards Washington D.C., which is located 2,500 miles away. “One of the reasons for a project like this is to connect people to public lands and the national forest,” said Samantha Reho, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Please see SUGAR BEAR, Page A9
By Diana Bosetti/The Triplicate
This vacant piece of land could be turned into six to eight rental units after the Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit.
New housing could be coming to Crescent City By Diana Bosetti The Triplicate
A vacant piece of land located at 1080 4th Street is currently in escrow and recently received approval from the Crescent City Planning Commission for the construction of up to 10 residential units. “Realistically, it will be about six to eight units,” said William
Groom, a semi-retired contractor who is purchasing the land for development. Groom said the 27,599-squarefoot lot allows for higher density, but he doesn’t want to “jam pack the lot or be a slumlord developer.” Groom said escrow is expected to close soon. According to Groom, once escrow closes, he will begin working with an architect to complete
the architectural drawings, which would then be turned in to the city’s planning and building department hopefully within six months. “This lot is at a good location and is close to downtown,” said Groom. “From everything I’ve seen, there is a lack of housing in Crescent City, making this a good investment.” If all goes well, this will be Groom’s second project in
Rower sets off on nine-month journey. Fire-fighters stop Redwood Fire at six acres. AT TRIPLICATE.COM
Crescent City. He currently lives with his wife in a home he built on A Street in 2008. For several years, that property was a vacation rental, but Groom and his wife settled roots here after he decided to sell his Red Bluffbased companies: F.C. Bickert Company, Inc., and Red Bluff Stucco, Inc. Please see RENTALS, Page A3
All four members of the Crescent City Council present at the Nov. 1 meeting voted to postpone the selection of a new mayor and mayor pro tempore to allow Councilmember Beau Smith to tend to a recent family passing. The matter was postponed to November 15, at which point the full council will hear a recommendation from city staff, receive public input and motions will be made to fill the governing positions. The mayor and mayor pro tempore are chosen annually by a majority vote of the council, and the offices are taken at the beginning of the following meeting. The mayor presides over meetings of the city council, and the mayor pro tempore takes on that responsibility in the mayor’s absence. Additionally, the mayor and mayor pro tempore are authorized signers on any bank or financial institution accounts held by the city, along with the city manager and finance director. The mayor also makes appointments to boards, commissions and committees with council approval, and signs all documents that require an official signature unless the city manager has been authorized to sign such documents. Monday’s postponement followed requests from members of the public to allow Smith to be with family as they mourn the untimely passing of his daughter. “The election of the mayor of this community is pivotal and has far reaching consequences to the city and the community,” stated Thomas Barnes in a pre-submitted letter, but who also made the request in person. “I too know how painful it can be to a family to lose a child,” said Donna Westfall. At the end of the meeting, council members expressed their condolences to Smith and his family. “I appreciate the sentiments that the public has shared for Councilmember Smith tonight,” said Mayor Pro Tempore Blake Inscore. “Beau asked me to share his appreciation to this community as a whole, to city staff and to those people who have reached out and gone that extra mile to make sure that he and the whole family know that the community cares.” “My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family as they are dealing with this very difficult situation,” agreed Mayor Jason Greenough. Bicycles Donated by Walmart Prior to adjournment of the meeting, Chief Richard Griffin announced that Walmart doPlease see COUNCIL, Page A3
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