Issuu

SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 Crescent City, CA

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024

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Paciﬁc Seafood Pull-Out Complicates Ice Production in Harbor BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

September 5th, per its lease agreement with the Harbor, Pacific Choice Seafood issued a 30 day notice it would close down its ice plant in the Harbor. The company attributed its exit to declining ice sales, escalating cost s and operational expenses. The company is in the process of removing critical equipment from the plant and deploying that equipment to its operations in Oregon and Washington. The move dismantling the Crescent City facility complicates the transition of shaved ice production to CCHD oversight. In its Defense, Pacific Seafood has complained verbally about declining ice sales, since May but commissioners did not act on those verbal statements bcause there was no written acknowledgement. Commissioners’ first (and last) written communication was the September 5th letter abrogating the month to month agreement in effect since 2016. During this Holiday season, Harbormaster Mike Rademaker has

Courtesy photo

Crushed ice

Lean and Mean… Harbor Cuts the Fat

Fatal Pedestrian Accident Remains Under Investigation in Del Norte County spokesperson for the Del Norte Sheriff’s office. Preliminary findings indicate that drugs and alcohol did not play a role in the crash. However, CHP officers are still working to piece together the circumstances leading to the crash. Investigators are examining factors such as road and weather conditions, visibility at the time of the accident, and the actions of both the driver and the pedestrian. US-101 is a heavily traveled roadway in Northern California, and the area near Crescent City can present challenges for drivers and pedestrians, particularly during evening hours. Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has additional information to contact the CHP at (707) 2182000.

E. SCHWARZ

For the Triplicate

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is continuing to investigate a fatal pedestrian accident that occurred on the evening of Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The incident happened at approximately 6:00 PM on US-101, south of Humboldt Road, near Crescent City. The collision involved a 2023 Ford Transit Van driven by Robert Rodriguez. Joshua Mark Girard, age 69, Eureka was the bicyclist /pedestrian fatality on the 101 Highway, near Humboldt Rd, south of Crescent City. Rodriguez has not been cited or arrested for the incident, but the CHP will continue to explore the circumstances, according to Ofﬁcer Pete Rodriguez of the CHP. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity, pending notiﬁcation of family members, whom they are continuing to try to contact, according to a

Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.

been seeking both short and long term solutions. The why’s and the wherefor’s of declining ice sales can be directly attributed to onerous Government regulations. California’s palpable thumb on the fishing industry has driven 75 percent of the commercial fleet out of the Harbor to Oregon whose regulations are far more lenient than the Golden State. Dept of Fish and Wildlife outright banning of many species claiming these species are depleted due to claims of overfishing, a claim vigorously challenged by California anglers. The latest crackdown by the Evironmenral Protection Agency (EPA) on ammonia-based refrigerant in producing ice has driven the fleet and ice producers to the Beaver State, where regulations are far more relaxed. Nonetheless, Pacific Seafoods has pulled out and the beleaguered harbor is reeling. The short-term rabbit out the hat solution is the CCHD will purchase and truck tons of shaved ice from the Brookings Please see SEAFOOD Page 3

File photo

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc

In an environment of serious austerity, the Lame Duck harbor commission is cutting the fat with profound cost-cutting authority. It’s do or die for the $1.5

million District in major restructuring seeking greater efﬁciency and sustainability, with limited revenues. Here’s the menu: • Consolidation of upper level management: The Commission originally consisted of three key management personnel: Harbormaster/ CEO, assistant

harbormaster and comptroller. The new Harbor will have a Harbormaster and Director of Operations, only. The projected annual savings in salary and beneﬁts is estimated to be $191,000. Harbormaster Mike Rademaker underscored, “Leadership is top Please see HARBOR CUTS, Page 3

Dan Schmidt, Crescent City.

“Mother Nature Speaks” follow horrific winds and rain in Crescent City. Fallen tree collapses over Front Street.

INDEX

Opinion

Phone Number: 707-460-6727

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

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