Big draw First Forest Moon Festival brings crowds of Star Wars fans to Crescent City.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2023
Crescent City, CA
City approves record budget for 2023-24 BY ROGER GITLIN The Triplicate
Crescent City passed a resolution at the Monday council meeting to appropriate a $47.9 million. The discretionary general fund, which includes Measure S spending, is $11.052 million. With the exception of the financing and construction of the sewer treatment plant in 2006, the general fund budget established a record for fiscal year 2023/24. The process in adopting the city’s budget was an arduous, intensive and highly scrutinized one. The city manager, finance director, department heads and the Measure S oversight committee met January 30, March 1, March 29 and April 10 to hammer out how the one percent sales tax increase would be
blended into the budget. The council held two open workshops May 9 and 11 to discuss and advise the public on how funds will be allocated. The general fund of just over $11 million includes public safety (police and fire), community development (code enforcement, building inspection, planning and engineering, streets, economic development), recreation (swimming pool, parks and Cultural Center) and administration. The city reports these services are largely funded through sales tax revenues. In addition to the general fund traditionally expended pre-Measure S budget, the additional two plus million in S funding has been allocated, accordingly. Here
are the disbursements of Measure S funding: • The fire department budget for next year will be approximately $630,000 more, which will include three full time career
fire captain positions. • The police department budget will be bolstered approximately $478 000 and include two new officers, one detective assignment, an expansion of the highly successful K9 program and one vehicle replacement. • A record $935,000 will be allocated for street maintenance and repair. Almost one-half of the sales tax revenue increase will be dedicated to city streets. • Swimming pool budget is allocated at $575,000 City Finance Director Linda Leaver conservatively estimates the anticipated general fund balance on June 30 will be approximately $3.808 million. The city’s Lighthouse Cove
RV Park is anticipated to run an $86,000 deficit, next year. The sewer fund is operating on a $2 million deficit, one-half of the sewer deficit will be addressed in special capital improvement account. The city also passed two additional resolutions selecting annual adjustment factors for calculations for fiscal year 2023/24 and a resolution authorizing the creation of a new fund for volunteer firefighter support. Noticeably absent during Monday’s meeting were public comments. No one in the sparse audience nor through ZOOM offered a comment or opinion on the budget. City Manager Eric Wier shared the hard work credit to his staff and department heads. The city manager called this current budget as transformational and completely transparent.
Kindergarten moto crosser going national BY ROGER GITLIN The Triplicate
Tallan Smith is your normal run of the mill happy kid. The 6-year-old Redwood School kindergartner is quite exceptional. Tallan is a motocross motorcyclist and he’s going national. Tallan has been motocross racing since he was 4 and performing on a dirt bike since he was three. Tallan’s been competing and winning with kids in his age group in events across California, Oregon and Washington. Recently, he raced in the Hangtown MX in Rancho Cordova and took first place in the 50cc four-six age group. Up next was the regional qualifier at Washougal MX in Washington. Tallan advanced to the nationals, coming in third place and receiving an invitation to Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. This event will be held at Loretta Lynn’s ranch, where the top 42 kids in Tallan,’s age group in the nation will compete. The dates of the race will be July 31-August 5. The top 10 finishers will quality for substantial sponsorships The Smith family will be travelling 2,500 miles east to Tennessee, in late July. The family is reaching out to the community in fundraising. Tallan’s dad Tristin started a Go Please see NATIONAL, Page A2
Kirsten Jean King
Crescent City loses a beautiful shining star BY ROGER GITLIN Contributed photo
6-year-old Tallan Smith has already made a name for himself in the moto cross world and will compete in the national race this summer.
Warriors reach state softball playoffs to cap impressive season BY RAY HAMILL For The Triplicate
It was a season to remember in softball for the Del Norte Warriors, who reached the North Coast Section Division-4 championship game and qualified for the state playoffs. After clinching their first Big 5 championship since 2018, the Warriors carried that momentum into the postseason where they won a pair of games on the way to the NCS final and would advance to the NorCal playoffs. The season ended on Tuesday in a 2-0 loss to Capital Christian in Sacramento in the Division-IV CIF NorCal Championships. The Warriors closed out the season with a record of 19-8 and went 10-2 on the way to winning the Big 5. And, according to head coach Jackie Heuberger, it was a total team effort this year. “Everybody knows their role,” the head coach said during the playoff run. “Whether that’s on the field or on the bench they all know how important they are to this team.” Please see SOFTBALL, Page A11
INDEX
Photo by Ray Hamill/For The Triplicate
Outfielder Izabel Schrader prepares to throw a ball back to the infield after recording an out.
Phone Number: 707-460-6727
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“May her spirit guide us as we navigate the journey of grief, always remembering the light she brought into our lives.” Those were the words Mandy Bloomfield wrote regarding the tragic car accident which took the life of her daughter, Kirsten Jean King, 19. Kirsten was an aspiring nursing student who was living with her grandparents, Robert and Barbara Jimenez, and had just established California residency and was poised to enter the nursing program at College of the Redwoods in Crescent City. This shining star was working fulltime at Sea View Memory Care. Grandpa Bob said of Kirsten, “Kirsten just loved to help people.” The details of the tragedy have been released by the Highway Patrol. At approximately 3 p.m. on May 31, Kirsten was driving east on Kristian Lane toward Highway 101. Attempting to turn left and head north, Kirsten’s vehicle was struck by a logging truck heading south on 101. The logging truck was unable to avoid the collision with Kirsten and struck the Mazda broadside. Del Norte Ambulance rushed Kirsten to Sutter Coast where she succumbed to her injuries and pronounced deceased at the hospital. The cause if the crash is under investigation. The shocking grief and funeral costs are more than formidable. A Go Fund Me page has been established by Kirsten’s great uncle, Chris Carpenter. The Go Fund Me account is called the Kirsten King Funeral Expenses account. Kirsten’s remains were transported to San Leandro for possible organ, skin and corneal transplant procedures. The family plans a private service and a celebration of life for Kirsten Jean King on July 16 in Crescent City. In honoring Kirsten’s memory, the family asks the community to “cherish the moments we shared with her and carry forward the love and compassion she embodied.”
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