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SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879

www.triplicate.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021

Crescent City, CA

Two more in county have died with virus

ZACK DEMARS The Triplicate

Two Del Norte County residents died from complications with COVID-19 earlier this month, according to the county’s public health department. The deaths were reported April 12, and the department announced them April 15. “That was the first time that we have lost two persons over such

a short time frame. Both persons were elderly and had underlying health conditions, but it shows that it can still happen,” Dr. Warren Rehwaldt, the county’s public health officer, wrote in an announcement about the deaths. Both individuals were in their 70s and died at Sutter Coast Hospital, according to the department. The additional deaths mean seven have now died with the virus. Meanwhile, the county is en-

tering its 11th week in the red tier of virus restrictions, where it has remained longer than any other county in California. After state health officials changed the requirements to drop to the strictest tier of restrictions, Rehwaldt said last week the county would be unlikely to return to the purple tier any time soon. As of Tuesday, the county had reported 58 new cases of the virus in the past two weeks. The same

day, the county was reporting 27 active cases in the community, one of the lowest rates in several weeks. Cases are down across the state, with average new cases, hospitalizations and virus-related deaths approaching their lowest rates in months. As of Tuesday, the state’s seven-day average daily case rate was down 11% from two weeks prior, the LA Times reported. On the vaccination front, around 12,800 doses of a COVID-19 vac-

cine have been administered in Del Norte County, according to state health officials. As of Tuesday, administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine remained paused state- and nationwide as federal officials review the use of the vaccine. County health officials are still holding weekly vaccination events on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at

Please see COVID, Page A11

Volunteers live it up as lighthouse keepers Council

considers tobacco retail licenses

By KNOX KERANEN The Triplicate

Photo by Knox Keranen/The Triplicate

Kittie Harrison (left) and Donna Butchino (right) are the current live in volunteers at the Battery Point Lighthouse.

By KNOX KERANEN The Triplicate

Rising high above the surf, the Battery Point Lighthouse has been a fixture of Crescent City since it was built in 1856. But, who lives there? Meet volunteer keepers: Donna Butchino and Kittie Harrison. As the current live-in keepers, Butchino and Harrison are responsible for maintaining the lighthouse and its grounds. Beyond replacing the beacon lightbulb once every couple of months, keeper duties include landscaping, painting and in non-COVID times — lighthouse tours and gift shop duties. For now,

they give keeper talks instead, which provides visitors with the history of the lighthouse, without the actual tour. The keepers live in the two-bedroom lighthouse for one month, and then a set of new volunteers take their place. Harrison decided to get involved after she and her husband visited Battery Point from Southern Oregon. “We came here on a trip and the gal at the gift shop told us about it and I thought, ‘What the hell, I’ll put in for it,” said Harrison. When she heard she landed the position for July, Harrison was ecstatic. While she had planned to do the volunteering with her husband,

she soon found out the lighthouse keeper’s life was not for everyone. “First time here, you just fall in love. Well, you either like it or you don’t. My husband couldn’t stand it,” said Harrison. After her husband dropped out, Harrison called Butchino to ask if she would be willing to fill in — she was. “I said, ‘Sign me up. Absolutely.’ I didn’t even know it was on my bucket list, and it is now,” said Butchino. The last paid lighthouse keeper, Wayne Piland, moved out in 1953. Since then, Battery Point has been run exclusively by volunteers, except for a stent from 1965 to 1969 when

the Coast Guard operated it. Now, the Del Norte Historical Society is responsible for the lighthouse and finding volunteers to run it. Turns out they are pretty easy to find. “There’s people from all over the country who volunteer to come and do this. There’s a four year wait list, and I think they closed it down now,” said Butchino. While their work at the lighthouse can be a lot of fun, it comes with challenges also, said Harrison. They put their lives on hold to come to Battery Point and work long days, usually with swarms of Please see LIGHTHOUSE, Page A11

Officials urge waterway safety JEREMY C. RUARK The Triplicate

April’s early summery weather attracted many who flocked to area waterways over the weekend. But the early jump on summer recreational activities has also prompted safety concerns from first responders and the Oregon Marine Board. In the following conversation, The Triplicate speaks with board representative, Ashley Massey, about how to best protect yourself, family and your friends as you head to the local waterways to enjoy the natural beauty of our state. The Triplicate: What do you find is the mentality when such a first hot sunny weekend arrives and folks head to the waterways that could lead to injury or even death? Ashley Massey: The impulse to “get out there” after bouts of cabin fever. It’s a natural impulse, but recognize it for what it is. Then pause and take the time to plan ahead. Decide ahead of time where you want to put in/take out and learn if there are any reported waterway obstructions like snags, fallen trees, and strainers. Use the Marine Board’s interPlease see WATERWAY, Page A12

INDEX Crossword................................................A2 Crossword Answers..................................A7 Classifieds................................................A5

Courtesy photo from Ashley Massey

Children are naturally attracted to water and keeping a sharp eye on them at all times is very difficult. Having children wear life jackets helps remove some of the worry.

The Crescent City Council is considering requiring gas stations, vape shops and other tobacco retailers to get a tobacco retail license with the city. Amber Wier, project director for NorCal 4 Health — a California Health Collaborative project focused on reducing tobacco influences — spoke to the council about ways to limit youth tobacco use at a Monday meeting. Weir suggested imposing tobacco retail licenses. Much like a liquor license, a tobacco retail license would set a cap on the amount of tobacco retailers in the city, as well as, limiting tobacco flavors and advertisements near schools, said Wier. Some members of the council were not in favor of imposing more restrictions on tobacco retailers. “It feels like we are going to be licensing businesses right out of town,” said Councilman Beau Smith. “I’m all about a healthier tomorrow and protecting my kids from tobacco, but I am my kids’ parent and I feel like it’s my duty to warn them about that stuff.” Mayor Jason Greenough said citizens should have the right to make their own decisions about smoking. He also expressed concerns about damaging retailers selling tobacco products. “I don’t smoke. I don’t support smoking, but I do support people’s right to choose,” said Greenough. “This seems like it’s both limiting a person’s ability to do business and limiting a person’s choice at the same time...when it comes to limiting the number of stores that carry tobacco, it just seems like you’re trying to pick the winners and losers here.” Greenough added he would not support any future actions on a measure like this. Councilman Ray Altman was in support of a move to create a tobacco retail license. He said it would not really impact local businesses, just as a liquor license does little to impact a liquor retailer, unless they are caught selling to minors, he said. Then, the discussion heated up when Mayor Pro Tem Blake Inscore criticized Greenough for jumping to conclusions. “Frankly Mr. mayor, if you have specific research you’ve done about this topic that you would like to express to this council, I would be welcome to hear that, but the idea of already identifying where you would stand on a policy standpoint without even having a broader system of research and investigation and discussion seems very inappropriate,” said Inscore Greenough clarified he was open to further discussion, and ultimately Please see TABACCO, Page A11

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