FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1879 • WWW.TRIPLICATE.COM
CalFire Patriotic spirit lives in two suspends 4th of July weekend events burning The increasing fire danger posed by dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region prompted CAL FIRE to suspend all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Areas of Del Norte, Humboldt, and Western Trinity Counties effective June 29. As of that date all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris such as branches and leaves is banned. “The last few years saw devastating reminder’s that the public cannot let their guard down. Together, we must continue to adapt and evolve to be able to withstand the intensity of these fires, keeping in mind, that the only way to mitigate the damage they cause is through prevention and preparation,” said Chief Thom Porter, CAL FIRE director. “The potential is great for the dry, hot weather that fueled the massive fires over the last few years will return again this year, so it is up to the public to be ready.” Since Jan. 1, CAL FIRE and firefighters across the state have already responded to more than 2,400 wildfires burning 13,600 acres. While outdoor burning of landscape debris by homeowners is no longer allowed, CAL FIRE is asking residents to take that extra time to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires by maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of defensible space around every home and buildings on their property and being prepared to evacuate if the time comes. Here are some tips to help prepare homes and property: • Clear all dead and or dying vegetation 100 feet from around all structures. • Landscape with fire resistant plants and non-flammable ground cover. • Find alternative ways to dispose of landscape debris like chipping or hauling it to a biomass energy or green waste facility. The department may issue restricted temporary burning permits if there is an essential reason due to public health and safety. Agriculture, land management, fire training and other industrial-type burning may proceed if a CAL FIRE official Please see Burning, Page A6
$1.2 million in cuts for school budget The Triplicate School officials were able to trim $1.2 million from its 202021 budget without implementing staff cuts — subject to approval by the Del Norte Unifed School District Board of Trustees Thursday. Assistant Superintendent of Business Jeff Napier presented the budget June 18 to the Del Norte Unified School District Board of Trustees. The cuts are in response to a projected $1.1 million deficit the school district faces caused by the pandemic’s effect on shutting down the state’s economy. The school board was expected to adopt the budget at its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, after the deadline for this edition. A follow-up report from the meeting will be printed in the July 3 Triplicate.
INDEX Crosswords..............................................A6 Crossword Answers..................................B4 Classifieds................................................B1 Weather....................................................A8
New virus case First to be hospitalized The Triplicate Del Norte County has its first hospitalization due to the COVID-19 coronavirus. According to Kymmie Scott, county emergency services manager, the only information available as of Tuesday, June 23, was that the patient is a middle-aged male who was hospitalized specifically due to the coronavirus, not due to an underlying condition. Scott did not know when or how the patient contracted the coronavirus. Prior to this latest case, the county’s most recent case was reported on June 16. According to the Del Norte County’s COVID-19 Information Hub (www.covid19.dnco.org), as of 3:31 p.m. on Wednesday, the new case was the only active cass in the county. The case reported June 16 was reported to have recovered. A total of 2,425 tests have been administered, 49 cases were confirmed and 48 are inactive, or recovered.
Fireworks safety tips
By David Hayes The Triplicate
With the traditional, annual Independence Day events canceled due to the pandemic, organizers managed to pull together two excellent alternatives to keep people busy and full of hometown pride over the coming holiday weekend. Cindy Vosburg, director of the Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce, said the Independence Day Community Pride Committee has finalized the details of a Fourth of July Weekend Patriotic Decorating Contest and a Hometown Hero Scavenger Hunt. “These two events are just for the fun of doing it with family over the July 4 weekend,” she said. The organizing committee received “22 excellent nominations for hometown heroes last week,” Vosburg said. “Any one of them could be a true hero.” Nominations were whittled down to the top 12. The heroes and a brief reason for their nominations are: • Joe Gregorio— for all his volunteer work. • Douglas Plack — for service to his community and helping to honor veterans at the Point of Honor Memorial. • George Pettit — for rescue work going back to the 1964 tsunami. • Denise Harnden — for service to teachers. • Angela Glore — for service to kids. • Hilary Fahning — for her work towards greater literacy in the community. • YengLo — for serving the Hmong community members. • Margaret Mathews — for preserving Native American history. • Ashley Buckskin — for serving the Native American members. • Shelly Pena — for serving the community’s furry members. • Emily Ricks — for serving community and country and representing our youth. • Kelly Schellong – for tons of work she has done for everyone in the community.
By David Hayes The Triplicate
Photo courtesy of Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce
Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin displays the Championship Belt that will go to the Best in Show winner of the Patriotic Decorating Contest. Vosburg said posters featuring each hero will be hung at historical sites throughout the county. All areas of the county will be included, from Smith River up U.S. Highway 199, Gasquet and Klamath — and quite a few posters will be displayed in Crescent City. Scavengers are then encouraged to submit through social media a piece of information from each site. Individuals who provide correct information about the location of all 12 heroes will be placed in a drawing for prizes. Vosburg said winners will receive a gift basket delivered personally by a hometown hero. The committee is finalizing a map to place on social media that leads to find the locations of each Hometown Hero poster. Vosburg said to check with the chamber’s Facebook page to download a map showing
locations. The hometown heroes also will be featured on a 2021 calendar that Del Norte High School media instructor Ron Gastineau will produce. Vosburg said the calendar will be sold for $10 throughout town and at the Visitor’s Center, located at 1001 Front St., Crescent City. Decorating contest The decorating contest wrapped up registration today (Friday). Vosburg said a map will be made available July 1 for community members to view each entrant’s home or business. The displays are encouraged to remain up July 2-5. The contest will be organized by community — Klamath, Smith River, Fort Dick, Crescent City and Gasquet/Hiouchi. Please see Events, Page A6
Five fireworks stands have popped up since last week in Crescent City to help locals celebrate Independence Day — and are expected to be open during California’s sales period for “safe and sane” fireworks, June 28 to July 6. However, the diminished rainfall level this year has caused the area’s drought levels to rise up, according to Crescent City Fire & Rescue Chief Bill Gillespie, making it more important than ever to be careful with fire. “With the winds we had last week and temperatures, the area is definitely drying out,” Gillespie said. “A lot of the grasses are still semi green, but they’re curing rapidly. With it with any wind, we were already considered in drought condition, so there is a very real fire danger this year.” With that in mind, Gillespie had several safety tips for residents going into next weekend’s 4th of July celebrations. “I like to remind folks in California that only ‘safe and sane’ fireworks are approved for sale and use, purchased through fireworks booths, such as by non-profits and other groups,” Gillespie said. “Anything that flies up in air and goes ‘boom’ isn’t.” He added that parachute flares and signal flares, such as those found on boats, are not fireworks. They can easily go off course and land on top of a building somewhere, Gillespie said. For safety measures, Gillespie recommended to always have adult supervision when lighting off fireworks and to make sure to have good clearance from buildings and tall grass. “Don’t hold fireworks in the hand that have big showers or flame. They can burn anywhere between 1,200 to 2,000 degrees and cause third-degree burns if it gets too close,” he said. Please see Tips, Page A6
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