Skip to main content

TRP-726

Page 1

A3 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2023

Winner, winner Del Norte County musician wins prestigious statewide contest.

More on this, Page A13

SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 www.triplicate.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2023

Crescent City, CA

Behind the trees lurks a sea of hopelessness What you don’t see behind the bushes is appalling BY ROGER GITLIN The Triplicate

What one cannot see behind the trees off Elk Valley Road at the little known South Bend dirt road is nothing short of harrowing. From obscure roads off Elk Valley Road like Broad, Eau Clair, National, Madison, Minnesota, Michigan and Iowa roads situated in an area known as The Swamp. The main artery splits off into many trails which hide scores of folks living in squalid conditions. The area encompasses several illegal encampments. There are dozens of homeless sites hidden behind these trees. All one need do is follow the trash trail along this sad road of despair. The accumulation of garbage, environmental waste, urine and fecal matter and abandoned vehicles is shocking. Makeshift remnant homes from RVs in a community of

tragic drug abuse, those who suffer from mental illness, alcoholics and criminals exist. These horrific, Third World conditions proliferate among arguably disgusting circumstances; but one does not see this horror because the heavy overgrowth of trees and brush veil this travesty. The assault situates on both private and public lands overseen by the California Coastal Commission and Department of Fish and Wildlife along with many private property owners. When the Triplicate staff decided to venture into this quagmire, we understood the journey was situated in “dangerous no man’s land” and we knew it was unsafe to walk back into the woods without a Del Norte Sheriff escort. With Sheriff Garrett Scott, himself escorting our group through a patchwork of trails,

Contributed photo

Please see TREES, Page A5

Property owner Dave Markel stands beside a abandoned, destroyed trailer that is loaded with trash.

Council Brother Jonathan shipwreck mystery endures directs city on accessory dwelling ordinance BY ROGER GITLIN The Triplicate

One of America’s most intriguing mysteries of lost treasure and human tragedy endures. 158 years ago, July 30, 1865, the Brother Jonathan streamer en route from San Francisco to British Columbia, crashed during a terrific gale on an uncharted rock eight miles north of Crescent City. The Brother Jonathan was heading to Portland when the steamer struck the rock, later named Dragon Rock, fatally dooming the ship. Of the 244 passengers and crew aboard, 19 survived the ordeal on just one lifeboat. Two other lifeboats were capsized during the escape. Help from the mainland could not penetrate the horrific storm surrounding the Brother Jonathan. The tragedy was the worst sea disaster on the Pacific coast at this time of history. Besides the human loss, an estimated $50 million (at today’s value) of $20

BY ROGER GITLIN The Triplicate

Editor’s Note: the proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance should not be confused with established vacation rental units, subject to transient occupancy tax. The ADU ordinance only impacts planned construction where a larger stand-alone property exists.

Please see WRECK, Page A6

The city has a severe shortage of housing units. Addressing critical housing deficiencies, the city council is attempting to increase longterm rental inventory. With very little wiggle room, the city moved forward in formulating an Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance. By consensus, councilors directed the city to comply with state law developmental standards and restrict shortterm tenancy and stimulate long-term occupancy. By consensus, councilors gave direction to staff on two ADU items: • Rental terms per tenant must be at least 31 consecutive days and include deed restrictions. • Separate water/ sewer connections are permissible but not required. The debate on the ADU item was oft-times complicated, with councilors attempting to mitigate the consequences of legislating property restrictions versus the rights and freedom to maximize property

Bike tour bids farewell to Crescent City BY ROGER GITLIN The Triplicate

Some 240 bicycle rides bid goodbye to Crescent City after spending two nights at Beachfront Park. The remaining 60 riders elected to hop on THE BRNW shuttle bus through the Collier Tunnel. The bike tour was a first for the group and considered a huge success. Bicycles Rides began the journey in Winston, Oregon on July 8, biked west to Bandon and south on 101, arriving Tuesday afternoon, July 11, in Crescent City. On Wednesday, cyclists were observed all around the city. Many rode up Howland Hill to Stout Grove and Stephen Bridge on Wednesday afternoon. The event was a big economic driver with riders and crew spending significant dollars in the community. Executive Director of BRNW Photo by Roger Gitlin/The Triplicate

Please see ADU, Page A5

Please see BIKE, Page A6

INDEX

Phone Number: 707-460-6727

Community Calendar

A6

Classifieds Crossword Puzzle

Opinion

Riders assemble for escort up Highway 199 on Thursday morning.

• Address: 501 H Street, Crescent City, CA 95531 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net Latest news can be found online at:

We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Send us your news, photos, and videos and let us know what's going on!

A9

Crossword Answers

Courtesy of the Del Norte Historical Society

The Brother Jonathan crashed and sank near Crescent City more than 150 years ago, and questions about the ship and its treasure endures to this day.

A12 A13 A15

TriplicateNews1@CountryMedia.net

@TheTriplicate

www.Triplicate.com

$1.50


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
TRP-726 by C.M.I. - Issuu