TRP531 by C.M.I.

Library open

Del Norte Library spruces up just in time to fully re-open.

More on this, Page A2

SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 www.triplicate.com

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023

Crescent City, CA

EMS splits vote on Del Norte Ambulance agreement ambulance service in Del Norte County. Del Norte and Humboldt counties voted in favor in initiating a competitive bid process. Lake County voted against the process. Lake and Humboldt will make no changes in its ambu-

BY ROGER GITLIN The Triplicate

The North Coast Emergency Medical Services governing board split its three member votes in support of initiating a competitive bid process for

lance services. Members considered three options: • Option one, make no changes to the agreement which runs through June 30, 2027. • Option two, proceed with plans to conduct the requested

and planned non-competitive exclusive operating area process with Del Norte Ambulance, also referred as a grandfather clause. • Option three, initiate a competitive bid process. At the May 18 meeting, by a 2-1 vote, members selected

option three. Ron Sandler, principal of Del Norte Ambulance expressed his disappointment with initiating a competitive bidding process for three reasons. Please see AMBULANCE, Page A11

Councilors mull replacing Hmong monument Skepticism surrounds board’s approval of public defender position BY ROGER GITLIN The Triplicate

The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors is looking to appoint a public defender, but not without some doubters. After receiving a questionable Photo by Roger Gitlin/The Triplicate evaluation by the state office of Members of the Hmong community celebrate the memorial honoring Hmong soldiers who served in a secret war in Laos. Below, the monument before it was vanadalized earlier the public defender for indithis year. gent defense services, the board selected a managed assigned counsel (MAC) option at its May 23 meeting. Two positions will be offered: office of the public defender and a legal secretary I/ II classification. The appointed damaged last year. BY ROGER GITLIN public defender will serve at the The Triplicate The cost of the original pleasure of the board. Hmong monument was approxSupervisor Dean Wilson, who Crescent City has amended its imately $7,000. An enhanced was not present for this unanibudget for this year by adopting new Hmong monument may cost mous vote, expressed his opposia resolution on how to allocate approximately $12,000. The city tion on money needed to operate over $20,000 to be utilized speholds an insurance policy with a the office. cifically for maintenance of the $1,000 deductible. “We’re heading into tough Point of Honor, at the S curve. The cost to the city could be as times. This is not the time to The Del Norte County Veterans high as $6,000. make this move,“ Wilson said. Memorial Monument Committee City Manager Eric Wier plans Instead, Wilson recommenddeveloped the concept, raised to meet with Hmong leaders for ed the hiring of a fifth public funds, built the monument and their input. defender. donated Point of Honor in FebruCouncilors were overwhelmThere are few who remember ary of 2022. ingly in support of using the Del Norte used to have an office Last week’s decision included maintenance fund to replace the for the public defender. Wendy a line item to set those funds vandalized monument as well Kim served in the position in aside as maintenance exclusively as more modest maintenance 1981. for monument upkeep. The coun- improvements. One who is qualified to render cil voted unanimously to allocate Volunteers conducted a litter an opinion on defense of the the $20 052.84 residual funds left cleanup this past week at Point of indigent is attorney Dohn Henion. by the monument committee. Honor. Henion served as a contracted Two issues arose from the With deep appreciation and public defender for nine years discussion: thanks from the city, those wishback in the ’80s with Kim, was • The city would continue ing to purchase an in-perpetuity Crescent City attorney for 15 to sell memorial bricks to the memorial brick to replenish the years and Del Norte County public, through city clerk Robin maintenance fund are encourcounsel for four years. Altman. aged to contact clerk Altman at “It would need to be proven to • The city will replace the realtman@çrescentcity.org or by me the office of public defender vandalized Hmong monument, telephone at (707) 464-7483. would be cost-effective,” he said. “The addition of the office will not solve the problem of overworked and underpaid legal staff. The appointment by the board won’t fix the problem. UltimateBY ROGER GITLIN The Triplicate ly, the Superior Court will make those decisions. I also observe “It’s like we had to start over.” many cases with multi clients Those were the words of Karen charged and the need for an alterBrohmer, president of Habitat for Photo by Roger Gitlin/ nate public defender is required, Humanity, after a several years The Triplicate as provided in larger counties.” hiatus on building homes for Habitat for HumanHenion agreed remuneration to those in need. ity civil engineer contracted attorneys is artificially “Many of our volunteers Mike Young at the low but said the public defenders moved on and our base of Nickel Avenue do an excellent job in providing members has changed,” Brohmer property that will be- legal services to indigent clients. stated. come the site of the Qualifications for the newThe long COVID era has sixth Habitat home ly-created public defender include passed, and Habitat for Humanity in Crescent City. • Bachelor’s degree from an celebrated the groundbreaking of accredited four-year college or its sixth home, Sunday, May 21. university Present at the ceremony was • Possession of a law license the Bridget and Diego Wilson from California

Councilors support idea of replacing damaged monument

Habitat for Humanity to build sixth home

Please see DEFENDER, Page A2

Please see HABITAT, Page A12

INDEX

Phone Number: 707-460-6727

Community Calendar

Opinion Crossword Answers

Crossword Puzzle