Local Art Scene .................................... A2
Police Blotter .......................................... A9
SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 www.triplicate.com
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022
Crescent City, CA
Council approves bonus plan for police hires By DAVID RUPKALVIS The Triplicate
The city council in Crescent City unanimously approved a lateral hiring program that will pay experienced police officers a $10,000 bonus to move to the Crescent City Police Department. The vote goes hand-in-hand with a similar decision a week earlier to pay the cost of the police academy for recruits. “A lateral transfer is just as important to build that police department staff,” City Manager Eric Wier said. “Can we incentiv-
ize someone to laterally transfer? This program would not be unique to Crescent City. It’s just a sign of the times.” In fact, almost every police department and sheriff’s office in Northern California has similar programs with bonuses ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. Wier said Crescent City can afford the effort thanks to increased funding from Measure S. “This would work for us,” Wier said. “We would give the person $5,000 on their hire. They would receive $2,500 at the end of their FTO (field training) and they
would receive $2,500 at the end of probation. The entire program would be about a year.” Wier said the city was also proposing $2,000 in relocation assistance for any officer moving from outside Del Norte County. Police Chief Richard Griffin said the challenge of hiring police has made it necessary to think creatively when hiring. “This is the next step to complete our marketing plan that makes us a destination place to come,” Griffin said. “To have a program like this will allow us to be competitive with those agencies.
It is hard to be competitive with Humboldt, Eureka when they’re down there by the academy, and they have the bonuses. Hopefully this will allow us to find one or two people who want to move in from out of the county to here. “The pool of applicants for being police officers anymore is dwindling. To those that want to be police officers and want to stay in it, it’s a good time. They can move anywhere in the nation because everyone is hiring.” The resolution approved by the council would only kick in if applicants have finished the academy
O’Sullivan wins Del Norte Poetry Out Loud title By Stephanie La Torre Special for The Triplicate
Sunset High School student Kevin O’Sullivan is the newest Del Norte County Poetry Out Loud Champion. As champion, O’Sullivan will be competing in the California Poetry Out Loud state finals virtually March 11. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 16. Poetry Out Loud is a national competition for high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance and competition. Students are challenged to study, memorize and recite poems from a curated anthology of more than one thousand classic and contemporary poems found online at poetryoutloud.com. O’Sullivan progressed through classroom competition, school-wide competition and then to Del Norte’s fourth annual County Competition, held earlier this month. As Del Norte County’s current Poetry Out Loud Champion, O’Sullivan will compete via pre-recorded video in California’s state finals against more than 50 other county champions, all hoping to move forward to the National Finals in April. “Del Norte County is fortunate to have teachers, volunteers and teaching artists dedicate time and energy to bringing Poetry Out Loud into our high school classrooms,” says Patty Brunsing, board member of Del Norte Association for Cultural Awareness, Contributed photo which coordinates the program. “This is an excellent program that helps high school Kevin O’Sullivan competes in the Del Norte County Poetry Out Loud competition. The Sunset High School student won the county students build confidence, public speaking skills, and learn that their words can have title and will compete for a state title.
impact and meaning.” This is the fourth year in a row that a Sunset High School student has been awarded the title of Del Norte County Poetry Out Loud Champion. The previous Del Norte County Champions have been Yanahlea Robinson (2019) and Alex Armstrong (2020 and 2021). At the state level, students must prepare three poems each from the Poetry Out Loud anthology. O’Sullivan will be reciting “Not Waving but Drowning” by Stevie Smith, “Amor Mundi” by Christina Rossetti, and “Acquainted with the Night” by Robert Frost. These poems can be viewed at poetryoutloud.com. “The goal for next year is to have even more students participate in the program,” said Brunsing. “The program is open to all high school students, including homeschooled students. Students whose schools are not participating, but who wish to participate in Poetry Out Loud, should reach out to DNACA so we can work with them as well.” DNACA, the California Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts have brought Poetry Out Loud to Del Norte county since 2018. DNACA’s funding for Poetry Out Loud programs helps pay for program-related materials and allows teaching artists to coach participating students, help them understand the poems, and work on their recitations. For information on Poetry Out Loud, visit poetryoutloud.org. To learn more about DNACA visit DNACA.net.
CDFW Announces a Statewide Fleet Advisory for the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery The California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a statewide fleet advisory for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery due to a recent humpback whale entanglement, approximately 5 miles west of Cypress Point near Monterey Bay (Fishing Zone 4). The entanglement was first reported in late January involving heavy line from unknown fishing gear and CDFW is encouraging the commercial fleet and all mariners to be on the lookout for any entangled whale in this area and across California waters. If anyone sights an entangled whale, do not approach or attempt to disentangle, but please immediately report it to the U.S. Coast Guard or call the Entanglement Reporting Hotline at (877) SOS-WHAL or (877) 767-9425. Based on recent surveys and historic migration patterns, overall entanglement risk remains low across California waters. CDFW is however issuing this fleet advisory for all fishing zones and reminds all in the commercial and recreational fisheries to implement best practices, as described in the Best Practices Guide. California is leading the way on the West Coast in its efforts to minimize risk of entanglement in our commercial fisheries. “These efforts are supported
Contributed photo
Several Dungeness crab caught inside a net and being hauled aboard a commercial fishing vessel. by a strong collaboration with the fishing community, partner agencies and scientific advisors,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “We appreciate this ongoing collaboration and
are committed to protecting our natural heritage while providing fishing opportunities to the citizens of California.” For a map of all fishing zones, for more information related to
the risk assessment process, visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page or more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit CDFW’s Crab page.
and have one year of experience with another agency. “What we’re getting is the more qualified person,” Griffin said. “That’s why I think it’s a really good addition that we can attract people like that.” Griffin said the plan proposed to the city council was based off a program with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. While there is no requirement an officer stays, Griffin said he is confident they will. “The key is to be able to attract Please see POLICE BONUS, Page A10
Supervisors support plan to upgrade Saxton boat ramp By DAVID RUPKALVIS The Triplicate
The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support a project that will repair the Saxton Public Boat Ramp on the Smith River. Supervisors also agreed to have Del Norte County take over maintenance of the public boat ramp after work is completed. Phillip Barrington, senior environmental specialist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told supervisors the state is willing to pay for the upgrades at the location, but only if the county agrees to take over maintenance when the work is done. The Smith River is a popular destination for fishermen seeking trophy salmon and steelhead,” Barrington said. “As you know, the state record for steelhead, 27 pounds, came out of the Smith River.” The Saxton boat ramp is very popular because there is easy access from Highway 101 and it is the first location where motorized boats can enter the river. Access upriver from the ramp is off limits to motorized boats because of the wild and scenic rivers destination. Barrington told supervisors while the location is very popular, it does need a lot of work. The last significant investment in infrastructure at the boat ramp was in 1985. “It’s been a long time,” Barrington said. “It’s held up pretty well, but it does need a lot of repairs.” Barrington showed photos of the ramp, saying that the asphalt is degrading, parts of the actual boat ramp is falling apart and the restroom was permanently closed several years ago after a tree fell on it. The repair work is budgeted at $806,000 with work scheduled to begin in May 2023. The entire project should be finished by 2025. “In our concept of this, we have three picnic tables and a covered pavilion in case of inclement weather,” Barrington said. There would also be bear-proof trash cans, a new restroom facility, new signage as well as ADA compliant parking and trails. “We think this project is just a dandy project to upgrade a dilapidated facility and expand use of the facility to a wide range of participants,” Barrington said. Patty McCleary with the Smith River Alliance said the alliance fully support the project. I’m absolutely delighted we can work with CDFW on the best river in California,” McCleary Please see BOAT RAMP, Page A2
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