FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1879 • WWW.TRIPLICATE.COM
CDCR again shuts down transfers due to statewide virus concerns By David Hayes The Triplicate
More than three months into the pandemic, the Del Norte County health officer, Dr. Warren Rehwaldt, says he has increased confidence in the ability of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to keep COVID-19 cases out of Pelican Bay State Prison. But some don’t share his optimism. Del Norte Healthcare District President Dr. Kevin Caldwell has sent three letters asking the state to halt inmate transfers to PBSP, the latest dated June 23. In that letter Caldwell questions the adequacy of measures taken to quarantine inmates and staff during transfers. He is afraid the spread of the coronavirus in California’s prison system could overwhelm the surrounding community. And in a hearing before the Senate Committee on Public Safety in Sacramento Wednesday, lawmakers focused attention on an escalating outbreak at San Quentin after inmates from the California Institution for Men at Chino were transferred there. According to a report of the hearing published in the Sacramento Bee, Clark Kelso, the federal receiver overseeing prison health care, said the department relied on negative test results that were several weeks old when it moved 122 inmates to San Quentin. Once they got there and were retested, 25 people came back positive for COVID-19. Caldwell expressed concern that inmates were subsequently
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Of about 1200 people who work at Pelican Bay State Prison, about one-third live in Curry County. So far, no inmates and only two staff have tested positive for COVID-19.. transferred from San Quentin to the California Correctional Center at Susanville, a small remote community in Lassen County that, like Del Norte County, is served by a single hospital. The transfer of four inmates from San Quentin to Susanville is believed to have resulted in an outbreak at that prison, which the health officer there says may spread into the community and nearby Plumas County. Since those events, CDCR has stopped most inmate movement and again suspended intake from all county jails through July 29. At Wednesday’s hearing in Sacramento, CDCR Secretary
Ralph Diaz defended the department’s response throughout the pandemic. “We have had setbacks such as the San Quentin outbreak but we remain steadfast in our response and dedication to meet the moment to protect our population, staff and the community,” he said. “... We can do better, and I know we will do better.” “As a lower-security prison, (CCC) has more inmates doing maintenance, thus pose a greater chance to bring the virus into their situation,” Rehwaldt told The Triplicate. “From my perspective, I’m more worried about an outbreak locally outside of
Pelican Bay State Prison, where it would most likely be brought in by a staff member who may not be symptomatic.” Only two staff members had tested positive for COVID-19 in May, who have since returned to work. There have been no cases among the inmate population, according to CDCR’s patient testing tracker. The latest information on Del Norte County’s COVID-19 dashboard report shows three active cases with one hospitalized person, 51 total confirmed positive test results and 2,560 tests completed. One case requiring hospitalization has resolved.
Tattoo artists happy to have clients back By David Hayes The Triplicate
Growing up, Moises Montanez never liked much being in class. He’d rather sit in the back and draw. “The teacher looked at my drawings and said I’d never amount to anything in life with that,” Montanez said. Today, the walls of Starboard Tattoo Parlor are adorned with samples of his drawings, and Montanez has successfully inked them onto human canvases over the last decade. He and other tattoo artists in Crescent City are back at their craft thanks to the state lifting the social distancing ban on the industry. The State Health Department (CDPH) and the governor’s office now allows Del Norte and some other counties to further relax restrictions, allowing more businesses to reopen. In addition to tattoo businesses, the order allowed massage, facial and manicure services to resume June 19. Levi Prince, owner of another Crescent City shop, Fine Line Design, said he was surprised the ban was lifted on tattoo parlors. “Shocked, to be honest,” Prince said. “I didn’t think we’d see any work until next year.” Both Prince and Montanez said because there are already so many regulations on the tattooing industry to keep a sterile environment, just about the only thing they’ve had to add is to have the artists and customers wear masks. Prince said social distancing guidelines have been implemented, with only one artist and one client allowed per workstation and no bystanders. The lobby has also been set up to keep those waiting six feet apart at all times. Montanez works solo in the tattooing area, but has
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Photos by David Hayes, The Triplicate
Moises Montanez works on Matt Pincombe’s shoulder tattoo recently at Star Board Tattoo Parlor. plans to expand in the upcoming months. Both shops are also only taking clients by appointment, although Prince said he’s willing to work with walk-ins if they have no symptoms of the virus. Matt Pincombe came down from Brookings to be one of Montanez’s first customers since the reopening. “I was stoked,” Pincombe said as Montanez worked on his second tattoo, this one on his shoulder. “I messaged Moises every couple of weeks, asking, ‘Are you open? Are you open? Are you open?’” Annelise Huppert was excited to get back into a Fine Line Design chair so her fiance Shaugn McEvoy could finish her 12th tattoo, another on her left arm dedicated to their son Odin. “I was happy he went back to work,” Huppert said. McEvoy, new to Fine Line, had just set up a client list and finished two tattoos when the shutdown went into effect. He spent the downtime with family
and working on planning future projects. Prince, who’s owned Fine Line Design for more than 11 years, said since tattoo artists are independent contractors, they were ineligible for regular unemployment (although they may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance). “Luckily, the building owner hadn’t charged me rent. I’ve got great landlords, really understanding,” Prince added. Also, luckily for Montanez, he had a second job as a life coach for the mentally disabled to help keep up with out of pocket payments for his shop’s bills. Montanez is looking at the bright side of the shutdown. With a full schedule, he reevaluated his priorities and decided to commit full-time to his first love. “I just gave my two-week’s notice at my other job,” he said. “I know this is what I want to do. I told myself I should have done this a lot sooner.”
Annelise Huppert gets finishing work done on a tattoo by her fiance Shaugn McEvoy recently at Fine Line Design.
‘Fair food,’ heroes and cruise for the holiday Although many traditional July 4 events were canceled for this year because of concerns related to transmission of COVID-19, legal fireworks are for sale in both Curry and Del Norte counties through July 6, although officials urge extreme caution in using them. Some local activities are planned, including: Cruise 101, Crescent City to Brookings It’s an unsanctioned, unofficial cruise (as it was over the Memorial Day weekend), but local car groups and individuals are planning another “Cruising 101” event with classic cars, trucks, modifieds, the family car and cycles enjoying the ride together. It’s a way to spread some cheer a we drive by those staying home this holiday. “This cruise isn’t a political statement,” one of the organizers said.” Please no signs or banners to that effect.” But patriotic decorations are encouraged. This time, the cruise will begin in Crescent City, with a “shown-shine” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the grass field behind California Auto Image on the corner of California and Washington. Organizers are asking that people bring cash or canned and boxed food donations for the Brookings and Crescent City food banks. At 1 p.m., the cruise will begin, with vehicles following a route around Crescent City, then up 101 and around Smith River and on to (and around) Brookings, ending up where the Memorial Day cruise started at the Church of the Nazarene on North Chetco Avenue (101) in Brookings. A map packet and directions is available online: http://tiny.cc/ j2irrz Crescent City This year’s Del Norte County Fair was canceled, but if you’re looking for some fun food for the holiday weekend, check out the Fair Food Frenzy, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds. Watch for decorated businesses and homes around town. Check the Crescent City Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and website for winners and also for a map for the scavenger hunt to find poster of “Hometown Heroes” at locations throughout the county. The “heroes” also are featured on calendars. Enjoy reading about our 12 Del Norte County Hometown Heroes all year long! 12-month calendars from July 2020 to June 2021 featuring all 12 Del Norte County Heroes for only $10 available at the Crescent City/Del Norte Chamber of Commerce office. Each Hero will be featured on a different month, along with beautiful scenic shots taken in the county. Chamber office hours 9 am to 3 pm 707-464-3174 or email Director Cindy Vosburg director@ delnorte.org Best of all you’ll be supporting your local Del Norte High School Media Class and the Chamber of Commerce with this fun fundraiser. The 12 heroes, in no particular order, are: Margaret Mathews, George Pettit, Angela Glore, Shelly Pena, Officer Yeng Lo, Kelly Schelllong, Joe Gregorio, Hilary Fahning, Ashley Buckskin, Douglas Plack, Emily Ricks and Denise Harnden. Fort Dick Fort Dick fire personnel will be doing a small parade on the 4th of July for Fort Dick residents. Check their Facebook page on Friday, July 3, for the time and route.
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