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WEEKEND EDITION

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1879 • WWW.TRIPLICATE.COM

COVID-19: Total rises to 15 cases Total has tripled in the past week By David Hayes The Triplicate

David Hayes Photos, The Triplicate

Angela Rosencrans drove from Brooking with Sam, Calvin and Jack Brunson (from left) for a meal at SeaQquake Brewery Wednesday.

Virus restrictions eased By David Hayes The Triplicate

Matt Wakefield got the news Friday, May 15, he and the other co-owners of SeaQuake Brewery have been waiting six weeks to hear — the state gave the green light to restaurants and other businesses in the county to open early. Del Norte County Health Officer Dr. Warren Rehwaldt submitted a local variance and attestation plan to the California Department of Public Health on Thursday and heard right back Friday the request was granted. The state outlined which businesses could reopen from the shutdown due to the COVID-19 emergency. Due to Del Norte County’s isolation and low numbers of confirmed cases, the state allowed the following businesses to open early as long as they had COVID-19 Operations Plans in place to meet mitigation measures:   Clothing stores   Thrift stores   Furniture Stores   Auto dealership   Childcare   Golf courses   Public parks, non-congregate

portions and trails

Office-based businesses, though

telework is still encouraged whenever possible

Mia Dawn Ansell opened the doors to her boutique Tsunami Beach Company on Monday.   Limited services of landscape

gardening, pet grooming, and tanning facilities   Dine-In restaurants

“We’re excited and ready to open,” Wakefield told The Triplicate on Friday. “We’re getting all our tables adequately spaced, disinfected. But we’re going to wait until Tuesday. What we are following, technically we could open now, but we’re getting everything squared aware over the weekend since we’re closed Sunday and Monday anyway.” Before businesses can reopen, they must submit a coronavirus mitigation plan that gets approved by the county health

office. Wakefield said as a member of The California Restaurant Association, the organization provided a template plan that has already been approved by the county. He said staff have been trained on sanitation procedures, have a supply of gloves and masks and know all the additional rules for the limited dine-in services. To accommodate the 50% limit on diners, Wakefield spaced tables six feet apart, eliminated bar seating and the large community dining tables. Their outdoor patio seating also remains open. Wakefield said customers also need to know what to expect as well.

“We’re asking customers to wear masks when they come into the building. Once they’re seated, they would be taking them off to eat and drink,” Wakefield said. “While they’re not necessarily required to wear masks to step in, unless the state gives us further guidance, we’ll adhere to current social distancing rules.” According to the state reopening guidelines, other businesses that can open include laundromats, dry cleaners, auto repair shops, car washes, landscapers, pet grooming, dog walking. Also, residential services that can open early include residential and janitorial cleaning services, appliance repairpersons, handymen, electricians and plumbers. On Monday, Mia Dawn Ansell took the poster with the governor’s mandatory shutdown declaration out the front window of her boutique, Tsunami Beach Company. She said it was great that the county was finally relaxing shutdown order. “We’re small enough downtown with the boutiques we don’t get a huge influx of customers at any given time. So, for us, I think it was a little more difficult having to be closed and seeing Walmart open,” Ansell said. “For us, it’s our only source of income. We don’t have a lot of emPlease see Restrictions, Page A6

Animal shelters see rise in adoptions Oregonian travels 260 miles to find perfect canine companion By David Hayes The Triplicate

Lynnette Hayes had been looking for a canine companion since her last pit bull mix Cutter recently died of cancer. But, after the coronavirus shelter-in-place mandate, it became more difficult to find the right fit. “I wanted to find another companion, mostly to help me get through my medical issues,” Hayes said. “I live alone, enjoyed having a dog and want another one. Then COVID-19 came and it became harder to find one. Because, it seemed like more people were getting one because they’re home alone, too.” Hayes was indeed a part of

INDEX Crosswords..............................................A4 Crossword Answers..................................B4 Classifieds................................................B1 Weather....................................................A8

David Hayes, The Triplicate

Lynnette Hayes takes Stewie for a walk around the Del Norte Animal Control compound. a national trend seeing lonely citizens seeking to fill the void left by travel and social-distancing restrictions. Humane Society of the United States President and CEO Kitty

Block told NBC News that the organization has worked with its 400 shelter partners to spread the word about the need to clear shelters by placing pets with foster and adoptive homes.

“The call has been answered,” Block said. Hayes began her search through her local Humane Society, then expanded it to nearby counties and eventually outside her region. Then, her research of canine adoption databases discovered a possible match through PetFinder.com – 4 ½ hours south of her home in Albany, Ore., or 263 miles as the crow flies in Crescent City. Among Del Norte County Animal Shelter’s population was Stewie, with way too many similarities to her last pet to be a coincidence to Hayes. She made immediate plans to travel south, safely with mask and hand sanitizer, to hopefully adopt her next companion. Justin Riggs, Del Norte County Animal Control Director, said adoptions have been up locally. “We have had an increase in adoptions, although not on the Please see Adoptions, Page A6

The number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Del Norte County has more than tripled since Friday. Del Norte Emergency Services Manager Kymmie Scott said the county’s public health department has identified two clusters of infection. Four cases were identified over the weekend and another four on Monday. Scott said they don’t know if there is an association yet between the two clusters. “Most of the folks on there, outside initial presenters, we found through aggressive contact tracing,” Scott said. “There have been no hospitalizations. They are all either asymptomatic or at home recovering.” As of Wednesday afternoon, out of 660 tests administered, there have now been 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 611 negative results, 34 pending and four recovered. Public Health Officer Dr. Warren Rehwaldt told the Crescent City Council at its regular meeting Monday the increase in cases has partially to do with Public Health staff urging people to get tested. He also urged residents not to be too alarmed by the significant jump in positive cases. “Some of this is just disease showing up at our border. Some of it is sending people to get tested,” Rehwaldt said. “People should expect to see more of it. There will be more cases.” On Friday, the state health officer granted Del Norte County a variance to move more quickly into Phase 2 opening of businessPlease see Virus, Page A6

School district, teachers union strike deal By David Hayes The Triplicate

The negotiations impasse between the school district and the teachers union experienced a breakthrough May 7 with the two sides reaching a tentative agreement. Marshall Jones, Del Norte Teachers Association president, said the membership will meet twice this week to discuss the 2019-20 contract with a vote probably next Wednesday or Thursday. Jones said the resolution to the negotiations came down to getting past the current uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m glad to have some closure to it. It’s unfortunate, due to COVID, what that has done. At least this is settled,” Jones said. “I would have loved to settle this 15 months ago. But we do need to move on. There are some extreme challenges yet we need to get through.” In the end, Jones said the union representatives accepted the district’s last one-year proposal. The details of the tentative agreement include:   A 2 percent increase to the

salary schedule effective July 1, 2019.   An increase from $10,700 to $11,700 in the district’s contribution to DNTA members’ health benefits.   A 2 percent increase to flat-dollar stipends.   A one-time 0.5 percent

Please see Teachers, Page A7

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