CR Dinner & Auction a big success ........... A3
CASA of Del Norte receives big donation ..... A10
SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 www.triplicate.com
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022
Crescent City, CA
Council votes to support housing project BY DAVID RUPKALVIS The Triplicate
The city council of Crescent City voted unanimously to support a potential affordable housing project in the city, authorizing Mayor Jason Greenough to sign a letter supporting Battery Point Apartments. The letter was at the request of Synergy Community Development Corp., which is hoping to build the apartment complex on a lot between E Street and Gary Street. The plan currently calls for 120 affordable-housing and
workforce units and a separate 40-unit complex for seniors. “As the council is well aware, housing is of the utmost need in our community, and increasing the housing stock is one of biggest goals,” City Manager Eric Weir said before introducing Bill Rice, who was representing Synergy. Rice said he was asking for a letter of support from the council because Synergy was hoping to apply for a grant that would help pay for the infrastructure work at the site. That work would include underground things such as water
and sewer systems. Rice explained if the company can get the infrastructure grant, it will be in a very good position to get other levels of support to build the complex. “We’ve been looking very much for a parcel in the city that can be developed for housing and seniors,” Rice said. “We’ve been looking at the data and a new project that can benefit families and seniors has not been successful for more than a decade.” Rice said the key to making the development affordable is finding outside funding such as the grant and state credits that
50 years after the storm
are offered to a small number of projects every year. “If we’re successful in getting that financing, it works kind of like a magnet,” Rice said. “The state likes to support ideas that have public support and have funding behind it.” Rice said if the grant application is successful, Synergy would apply for state tax credits next year. After hearing about the plans, the council was strongly in support. “I’m excited about it,” Councilman Blake Inscore said. “I appreciate the vision you and
Synergy have for our community. I appreciate seeing all the work that’s been done. It looks fantastic. I want to thank you for the work you are doing, and the investment you are making in our community.” “I support this project wholeheartedly because there’s such a need in our community for all kinds of housing,” Mayor Jason Greenough said. “There’s a huge need for housing in this community, so thank you for stepping up with this project.” After the discussion, the council voted unanimously to support the project.
Tough Truck champion crowned
Photo by Breeana Laughlin/The Triplicate
Pelican Bay storm survivor David Alan Shinkle, visited a memorial at the Brookings Harbor with his grandfather’s name on it on Friday, Aug. 12. Clayton Dooley was one of 13 people who died August 16, 1972.
Survivor remembers Pelican Bay storm tragedy 50 years later BY BREEANA LAUGHLIN The Triplicate
David Alan Shinkle vividly remembers the day he lost his grandfather. It was 50 years ago – on Aug. 16, 1972 – a day that would change the course of his life. It was the day a tragic storm took the lives of 13 fishermen in Pelican Bay. Shinkle, like many young men and women, had the pleasure of spending summers with his grandparents. He remembers beachcombing, shooting guns and just doing the things that young boys do. When he was a teenager, he started fishing with his grandfather – Clayton Dooley. Dooley was captain of the “Dixie Lee,” a 35-foot diesel-powered trawler based out of Brookings. Shin-
“We thought it was better to head on in before that thing hit. We got all the way in and were tacking toward the waves to get in to port and our starboard windows got taken out by a huge wave.”
Derek Kelley of Crescent City overcame stiff challenges, both from the course and fellow competitors to win the Tough Truck contest at the Del Norte County Fair. The Tough Truck contest is an obstacle course and timed event to prove who has the fastest and toughest truck, to survive the course event. The first place prize was $1,000, a trophy and bragging rights. Kelley and his co-pilot navigator (Bailee Drown) are from Crescent City and were sponsored by “Lawn and Order” landscaping, Crescent City ACE hardware and Two Guys. There were 19 entries with only five vehicles surviving to the final heat race. But in the end, Kelley stood alone as the toughest of the Tough Truck competitors.
Contributed photos
David Alan Shinkle
kle took to commercial fishing quickly – so much so that at only 16 years old, he was planning to make a career of it. “I was going to go to a vocational school and go to a navigation course to get my captains license,” Shinkle said. But it wasn’t to be. When he and his grandfather left the Brookings boat basin early the morning of the storm, the skies were overcast and it was lightly raining. They headed
south toward the Saint George Reef Lighthouse and were salmon fishing for several hours when things took a sudden and swift turn for the worst. A tuna boat captain notified boats in the area on the citizens’ hand-radio that strong winds were coming in. “We thought it was better to head on in before that thing hit,” Shinkle said. “We got all the way in and were tacking toward the Please see STORM, Page A2
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Crossword .................................. A2 Classifieds .................................. A5 Crossword Answers ................... A7 Weather .................................... A12 Obituaries ................................... A3
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