Waterfowl hunting opened in Ocean Ranch Unit in Humboldt County More on this, page A10
SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 www.triplicate.com
FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023
Crescent City, CA
County’s elected officials take their oaths of office BY ROGER GITLIN For The Triplicate
The Honorable Robert F. Cochran, judge of the Superior Court, Del Norte County, administered the Constitutional Oath of Office to county elected officials at noon Tuesday in his Department Two courtroom. Prior to rendering the oath, he thanked each for their “service to the community in an often thankless environment.” Those taking their oath included were Sheriff Garrett Scott, District 3 Supervisor Chris Howard. District 4 Supervisor Joey Borges, Auditor/Controller Clinton Schaad, District 5 Supervisor Dean Wilson (who took his oath four weeks ago), County Clerk Recorder/Registrar of Voters Alissia Northrup, Assessor Jennifer Perry, Treasurer/ Tax Collector Barbara Lopez and District Attorney Katherine Micks. A new state law changing the elected law enforcement cycle to the presidential election four year cycle, allows Sheriff Scott and District Attorney Micks a six year term to 2028. Supervisor Dean Wilson will serve the balance of the past away Bob Berkowitz term through 2024. All elected officially began their terms in office immediately.
Photo by Roger Gitlin
Elected officials sworn in Tuesday were, bottom row, from left, Judge Robert F Cochran, Sheriff Garrett Scott, District 3 Supervisor Chris Howard. District 4 Supervisor Joey Borges and Auditor/Controller Clinton Schaad. Top row, District 5 Supervisor Dean Wilson (who took his Oath four weeks ago), County Clerk Recorder/Registrar of Voters Alissia Northrup, Assessor Jennifer Perry, Treasurer/ Tax Collector Barbara Lopez, District Attorney Katherine Micks.
Housing Local crabbers crabby about crab season Authority approves subsidized vouchers BY ROGER GITLIN For The Triplicate
At the last December Crescent City Council meeting, councilors adjourned as the Crescent City Authority and unanimously and conditionally approved the awarding of 70 project based vouchers to the Battery Point Apartment project. The units are divided into 40 senior and 30 family units. The residential units are all Section 8 approved. The proposal was submitted by the non-profit Synergy. When all funding is secured, Battery Point Apartments will total 160 units with different scaffolding of financial support For tenants. As part of the award, Synergy will need two additional funding components before construction can commence by February 2024. Battery Point Apartments plans to build the units on a vacant five acre parcel located off Gary Avenue and G Street. On other agendized items, Chief Richard Griffin welcomed recent College of the Redwoods Academy graduate Connor Sperling to the Department and congratulated Officer Alex Pearson on his promotion to sergeant. Sheriff Garrett Scott addressed the Council and updated councilors on the status of the Del Norte Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Scott began his new four year term, January 3, when the sheriff assumed Animal Control from county agriculture. The sheriff reported the filling of several open roster positions. Currently there are 15 sworn patrol deputies. Other vacant positions of bailiff, corrections and dispatch are being addressed with strong effort and respectable results. Sheriff Scott is also the coroner; he reported 236 death certificates were recorded this year.
Photo by Roger Gitlin
The Edward Letter is fully loaded in preparation of the start of the Dungeness crab season. Although crabbers were allowed to start fishing last week, many local crabbers have chosen to wait due to uncertainty in the market.
Uncertainty in market makes many wait to start and operating on a fair and level playing field. Many of the commercial vessels have yet to begin the season, instead waiting for Oregon vessels to depart, en masse mid-January. According to the local crabbers, this delay may also present a different set of problems. Commercial vessel captains and owners were reluctant to speak
with The Triplicate and share their concerns for fear of economic reprisal from the contracted, exclusive buyer of commercial crab, Pacific Choice. The fisherman cite the $2 per pound offered price as unreasonable. California diesel fuel is priced at $6 per gallon, while Oregon crabbers can fill up diesel fuel at $2.99 per gallon. Another issue
expressed by the fishermen is the concern of unintentionally snagging a migrating whale. If this happens, the state via the Department of Fish and Wildlife could shut down the season. The mammals began their migration to the warm waters of Mexico, last
Robertson. Acting Warden Smith began his California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation career at PBSP in 1997, after serving five years in the Army. After transferring from PBSP,
Smith developed his career at the substance abuse treatment facility at Corcoran until 2021, transferring to Kern Valley State Prison, until he was assigned to Pelican Bay, last month. Warden Smith reports the PBSP
inmate population at 1,757. CDCR inmate population across the 34 institutions is reported at 92,596. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation projects inmate population to reduce to just under 86,000.
BY ROGER GITLIN For The Triplicate
Dungeness crab season in California opened this past weekend, but you might not have noticed the big vessels departing the Harbor. All crabbers with whom The Triplicate spoke expressed their concern for anonymity, with pricing
Pelican Bay Prison appoints Acting Warden BY ROGER GITLIN For The Triplicate
Pelican Bay State Prison has a new acting warden. Stephen Smith was appointed late last month to replace retiring Warden James
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