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SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 Crescent City, CA

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2025

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Are there Lessons to be Learned on the Southern California Fires? BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

The devastation wrought by the Santa Ana winds, last week was horrific. At least 24 dead, 12,000 plus buildings destroyed, thousands more left with nothing, their homes are gone. Did Del Norte learn anything from the havoc and desolation left behind? The fire itself, at the time of publishing, has yet to be anyway near containment. The Triplicate asked those in the know if this horrific devastation could have been avoided. Fire Chief Kevin Carey, past Board of Supervisors Chair Dean Wilson, the Del Norte Office of Emergency Services all agree, the horrific Santa Ana winds were unstoppable. The area stretching from Malibu to Pacific Palisades to Altadena looks like a war

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Devastation along with Malibu beach

zone, the post World War II Dresden of what was once the beautiful Golden State. Golden no more, estimates to rebuild may cost upwards of $150 billion and may take decades to bring this once iconic area back to quasi- normal. Will it ever be the same. No! There is culpability here. For years, the State has been cutting back funding and services at Cal Fire. Los Angeles City represents Paciﬁc Palisades. Administration at both the State and local level has been bereft. Dysfunctional ﬁre hydrants with no water pressure sat functionless, as the City of Los Angeles diverted precious funding to DEI and homeless, instead of precious water to those with homes. Mayor Karen Bass, who vowed in a campaign promise never to travel out of the country, broke that promise in short order by travelling overseas at least four

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Santa Ana winds times since being elected, the most recent on a junket to Ghana, all on the beleaguered public dole. Gov. Newsom was also culpable cutting funding for ﬁre and law enforcement and spending $24 billion on the homeless. When confronted by a

woman who just lost her home in the Palisades, Newsom feigned he was on the phone with lame duck and arguably mentally challenged President Biden. Turned out Newsom was not speaking with Please see LESSONS?, Page 7

Students Bid Sayonara, “til We Meet Again”

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(L-R) Nobutoshi Kuwata, City Official, DNHS student, president of the Japan Club, Guming (Ming) Xiong, Kennosuki Kumagai, student, Rio Oikawa, student, Kiyoshi Murakami, Senior Foreign Affairs Ofﬁcer, City of Rikunzentakata

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Students gather for a group photo at Ocean World BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

From Konnichiwa (Hello) last Monday evening to Sayonara (Good Bye) Thursday afternoon, 10 Japanese foreign exchange students and four staff from the Komome Foundation / Sister City Program experienced good ‘ole Crescent City hospitality and a whole bunch of new friends, thanks to the Japan Club at Del Norte High School. Here’s the list of our esteemed guests: • Mr. Yuki Asama, teacher at Rikunzentaka High School • Mr. Nobutoshi Kawata, City Ofﬁcial • Ms. Yuwa Matsuo, Teacher

• Ms. Towa Sasaki, student • Ms.Kano Sato, student • Ms. Mai Onodera, student • Ms. Yuna Namura, student • Mr. Kontaro Murata, student • Ms. Rio Oikawa, student • Mr. Kennosuki Kumagai, student • Ms. Mui Kanno, student • Ms. Riko Okada, student • Kiyoshi Murakama, Senior Foreign Affairs Ofﬁcer, City of Rikuzentakata • Takumi Kuroiwa, Vice Consul, San Francisco Consul-General Ofﬁce Student Kennosuki (Ken) loves Pepperoni pizza, seeks

to study engineering at University level, plays volleyball, plays the 900 year old traditional Tanabata drums. Rio (Oikawa) hopes to study International Relations and hone her English skills. She loves cheeseburgers, especially from CC Diner. Both were keenly curious of American values and asked me what Americans love to talk about. Sheepishly, I told them politics is a hot topic, followed by sports The students brought up Major League Baseball. Baseball? Who’s your favorite team? Each responded the Los Angeles Dodgers… and your favorite player? Shohei Ohtani (Duh)!! The Komome Foundation greatly appreciated ﬁnancial support to continue its overseas outreach.

Supervisors Elect New Chairman Hit and Run Fatal Courtesy Photo

4th District Supervisor Joey Borges is the new Chair

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

The Board of Supervisors elected Vice Chairman, 4th District Supervisor Joey Borges to Chairman of the 2025 Del Norte Board of Supervisors. 1st District

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Supervisor Darrin Short was elected Vice-Chair. Past Chairman Dean Wilson thanked his colleagues and constituents for their support during his 2024 term. The Board approved 19 Consent Agenda items, on a 5-0 vote

Phone Number: 707-460-6727

Opinion

with no discussion on any items. Supervisors also adopted resolution, establishing a Section 115 Combination Trust and authorizing participation in the Public Agencies Post-EmployPlease see NEW CHAIR, Page 7

Supect Enters Plea

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc

Alexandra Danielle Diehl,33 entered a plea of not guilty after being charged with felony Hit and Run, VC 20001(a 192), Vehicular Manslaughter in the December 4 incident which killed Jun Ming Nip, 80. The CHP investigation reported Diehl was driving her 2019 Nissan on Northcrest Drive at Madison, when she struck the victim who was walking across the marked crosswalk at approximately 6pm. The impact hurled the victim to the number 1 lane of southbound trafﬁc. Moments later, a Toyota 4-Runner travelling northbound structure the shopping cart of Mr. Nip. A third vehicle, a white Kia travelling south on Northcrest, noticed the victim laying in the road,

swerved but was unable to avoid hitting him. Del Norte Ambulance expediently transferred the victim statements Sutter Coast Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The CHP received information the suspect vehicle was located. Ms. Diehl was arrested at 8:35PM. Ms. Diehl will appear in Dept 2 of Del Norte Superior Court for her Preliminary Hearing

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CHP

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

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