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SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2025

Crescent City, CA

www.triplicate.com

Changing of the Judicial Guard BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

The official changing of Superior Court judges will take place the first week of January following the March Primary elections. Criminal Defense Attorney Karen Diane Olson will replace retiring Judge Robert F. Cochran. The Honorable Judge Cochran’s last day is January 3 and Judge-elect Olson will tap her first gavel January 6. Judge Cochran began his legal career in 1975, spending 43 years in private practice. Cochran was hired and mentored by Judge

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Retiring Del Norte Superior Court Judge Robert Cochran and family

hopes to become an “Assigned Judge,” following in the footsteps of retired judges Schafer and William Follett. One thing is for certain Judge Cochran will have not be doing is mowing his or anyone else’s lawn. According to older brother Gerald Cochran, as a Senior at Del Norte High. Master Cochran was tasked by his Dad to mow the family lawn. Somehow, someway, the younger Cochran managed to run over his large toe with said lawnmower, severely injuring the big phalange. He recovered but am told Please see GUARD Page 2

Phillip Schafer after graduating from McGeorge Law School and passing the State Bar, Judge Cochran became a Certiﬁed Family Law Specialist in 1980. Cochran was appointed to the Superior Court as a judge in 2018. He successfully ran for the ofﬁce a year later. Upon leaving the Bench, Judge Cochran praised the work of District Attorney Katherine Micks. He cited his greatest challenge was transitioning from a private attorney to an independent-thinking neutral arbiter of justice. After some initial traveling, the retired Judge

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Karen Olson, incoming Del Norte Superior Court Judge

Del Norte Crescent City Names New Mayor, Welcomes New Seats Two New Councilors CHP Commander BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has announced the appointment of Lieutenant James Richards as the new commander of the Crescent City area office of the CHP. Commander Richards appointment is effective January 1, 2025. Commander Richards brings a distinguished 25 year CHP career to Del Norte County. Courtesy photo-CHP After university, Lt. CHP Lt. Commander James Richards Richards served his country in the Air Force, stationed at McClellan Air between Del Norte’s local Force base in Sacramento where communities and insuring the he served two deployments to very highest standards of safety, Saudi Arabia within the 77th Seservice and community. curity Police, Operation Southern Commander Richards highest Watch. Lt. Richards earned the priority is staffing and officer Air Force Achievement medal retention. upon retiring in 1999. From the next Academy gradRichards comes to Cresuation, the Crescent City CHP cent City after a 20 plus year office will welcome at least two multi-level assignment career new officers to fill the half-dozen in Santa Barbara County. Since officer vacancies. 2021, he has assumed a leaderOn a personal note, Commandship role in the Dept. of Unier Richards has embraced his formed Hiring Program, oversee- assignment and has expressed his ing State-wide recruitment in the affection for Del Norte’s beaucadet process, from application to tiful geography and its diverse academy. cultural communities. Commander Richards’ prioriCHP Commander James Richties include reducing the mileage ards plans to introduce himself death rate within the County, to the Board of Supervisors and lowering criminal activity, Crescent City Council in the strengthening the relationship coming days.

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(L-R) Incumbent Jason Greenough, new Councilors Daran Dooley and Candace Tinkler.

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

A standing-room audience at the Crescent City Council meeting paid homage to the retiring Crescent City Mayor Blake Inscore and City Courtesy photo Councilor Kelly Schellong-Feola. Councilor Ray Altman is the Inscore was recognized for his long and distinguished service as a new mayor of Crescent City. Planning Commissioner, councilor and 10 year run as Mayor. For his final meeting and service to the City, the praise for the Mayor was profound. A long line of public speakers from the dias thanked and acknowledged Inscore. Councilor Schellong-Feola was also the recipient of appreciation for her service as a councilor since 2004. After the official recognition, new councilors Candace Tinkler and Daran Dooley took their Oaths of Office also with incumbent Jason Greenough, and were seated for a full four year term. Councilor Ray Altman was nominated and will be the new Mayor of Crescent City.

K9 Juno Survives Surgery, Expect Full Recovery BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

The prognosis for Junor is excellent following surgery on Police Explorer K9 recruit. The 1½ year old future K9 and her handler, Del Norte High Junior Jenna Phillips are both doing very well: Juno for her extensive injuries; Jenna, for sheer relief for her precious pet who is expected to make a full recovery. Juno was struck by a hit and run driver on Washington Blvd, near the ﬁre station. Jenna observed her Juno lying on the curb, with a broken leg and pelvis, and additional internal injuries. The Phillips family rushed Juno to Town and Country Veterinarian, in Harbor where First Aid was administered, saving her life. Juno was transferred to Oregon Veterinary Referral Associates in Springﬁeld where skilled DVMs performed the extensive and costly operation conducted. Volunteers from the CCPD Explorer K9 Program have set up a Go Fund Me Page-Heal Juno Future Canine Hero. $3000 has been raised for Juno’s recovery. In true hero fashion, Trees of Mystery in Klamath doubled that amount, an additional $3000, last week.

A heartfelt THANK YOU, Trees of Mystery. If you would like to help out with a ﬁnancial contribution in any amount, it would be graciously appreciated. Checks may be dropped off at City Hall, the Police Department or the Triplicate Ofﬁce, on Elk Valley Rd. OR the Go Fund Me page. Juno is recuperating nicely. Thanks for helping out with Juno, Jenna and the Police Explorer program. Juno, Jenna and the Police Explorer Program wish you a very Happy New Year.

INDEX

Phone Number: 707-460-6727

Opinion

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Juno and Jenna Phillips, after Juno’s surgery

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CCPD Juno

• Address: 445 Elk Valley Road, Crescent City, CA 95531 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net

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