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SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 Crescent City, CA

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2025

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Harbor Pans for GOLD and Plans to Strike It Rich! BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

With two recusals on selecting the new hoists space operator lease, commissioners chose Ocean Gold to assume control of the vital hoists, following the exit of Pacific Seafood, last December. Fathom Seafoods was the alternate bidder. Commissioners Dan Schmidt and John Evans joined Chairman Gerhard Weber in voting AYE in supporting applicant Ocean Gold, after barely meeting minimum quorum requirements. Ocean Gold unexpectedly offered ice house operations during its presentation, and to do so within six months of lease signing. The importance of selecting a hoist operator is vital, according to Harbormaster Mike Rademaker. “The hoist is a heavy duty lifting system that moves Seafood catches from the boats to the docks. The hoist function not only enables critical offloading infrastructure but strengthens the Harbor District’s financial position. The new market lease rate is $3,000 per hoist, per month, and doubles the previous rate. The two Harbor hoists will generate $72,000 annually. The Harbor will also receive an estimated $20,000 per Courtesy logo

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Ocean Gold

year in poundage fees from Ocean Gold. That’s a lot of gold. The partnership aligns with our broader mission to support commercial fishing industry.” The opening of the ice plant within a half year will significantly reduce operating costs by eliminating the need for long distance ice sourcing. The necessity of greater capability to harvest abundant shrimp resources. Commissioner Dan Schmidt praised the new relationship with Ocean Gold. “Though both applicants were highly qualified, I voted for Ocean Gold for two reasons: • The returning of ice plant operations benefits fishermen, the Harbor District and consumers. • Ocean Gold’s desire to restore Harbor status as a premier facility for off loading and processing shrimp. Schmidt stated the vessel to fresh fish market, the process of “efishment” supply is greatly improved. Commissioner Evans echoed his support for Ocean Gold. “Ocean Gold has a strong track record of growth, a robust trucking division and extensive experience in cold storage. The ability to move enormous amounts of product volume will greatly benefit our fishing fleet; and their knowledge of the ice plant will hopefully prove to be invaluable to the CCHD. As we move forward, we will keep an eye on the terms of this agreement and adjust in the future as needed. Please see GOLD, Page 8

California Continues to Del Norte Sheriff Oppose Cooperation with ICE responds to Appeals

Court Decision on Non-Criminal Mental Health Calls

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

The once-Golden State has vowed to defy Federal law prohibiting obstruction of immigration law.

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In support and opposition to Sanctuary State. Illinois. Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, Oregon and Washington all embrace Sanctuary Values, and embracing illegal aliens into the USA. California passed the California Values Act, SB 54, in 2017. At least 16 cities and counties in California opposed Sanctuary State. Crescent City and Del Norte County were NOT among the list of 16. The Triplicate received several queries about enforcement of Federal law in Del Norte County. Sheriff Garrett Scott was clear. “ I will follow Federal law. The

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc

8USC 1373 prohibits cities and States from interfering with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) mission The supremacy clause of the Constitution, Article VI, clause 2 assures Washington DC prevailing Nonetheless, California and 10 other States vow not to cooperate with ICE in turning over illegal alien criminals, the so-called most dangerous of murderers, rapists, drug and sex trafﬁckers… the worst of the worst. California, District of Columbia, Colorado, Connecticut,

Supremacy rule in the Constitution prevails. The Del Norte Sheriff will fully cooperate with ICE.” The same question to Chief Richard Grifﬁn, Crescent City and our local California Highway Patrol ofﬁce did not respond to the Triplicate question, will your agency cooperate with ICE? California bolstered its opposition to ICE by passing a $50 million law to make California Trump-proof. The Governor signed the bill into law, last week. ICE Director Tom Homan underscores his agents are at greater risk working in uncooperative cities and States.

Citing a trend following a recent Ninth District Court of Appeals decision involving qualified immunity on mental health calls, Del Norte Sheriff Garrett Scott will no longer dispatch his deputies to non-criminal mental health calls. The Appeals Court ruled on a 2019 Las Vegas incident where a detained individual called 9-1-1 for help. Responding officers used force on the individual leadCourtesy photo, DNSD ing to rendering the individual Sheriff Garrett Scott unconscious and who later died Courtesy photo in custody. The Court ruled the force was Del Norte Sheriff badge unreasonable and questioned needs belongs with the trained whether officers should have staff from the mobile crisis been involved at all, as no crime units from Dept.of Health and had been committed. Human Services,” continued the Qualified immunity is at stake. Sheriff. Sheriff Garrett Scott respondUnder the new policy, ed, “ There must a crime in prog- dispatchers will ask callers if a ress before our deputies will be criminal element or danger to dispatched. Law enforcement has others is present. been pushed back so far by the Scott underscored his hope Courts, the message is clear: law the U.S Supreme Court will enforcement has no place in deal- take up Ninth District Court. ing with mental health issues.” Training for all staff begins “The responsibility of assistimmediately. ing those with mental health

Comprehensive Review of Ambulance Service in Del Norte Begins BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

The process of considering supplanting Ambulance service in Del Norte has begun. The North Coast Emergency Medical Service (NCEMS) has acquired the services of consultant EndPoint, last month and disbursed $97,000 to the consultant. The funds for this study originated from a 3-2 vote in favoring the consideration of 9-1-1 ambulance service by the Board of Supervisors.

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Many in the community have expressed doubt on the Board authorizing this exploratory project calling the hunt wasteful and frivolous. Over near four decades of service there has been no formal complaints or major incidents of dereliction of service against Del Norte Ambulance. The question lingers: Why is the Board wishing to withdraw the Exclusive Operating Authorizing (EOA) for ambulance service? No clear answers have surfaced. The three assenting AYE votes from

Phone Number: 707-460-6727

Opinion

Supervisors Joey Borges, Darrin Short and Valerie Starkey have yet to explain their displeasure with Del Norte Ambulance. Meanwhile the initial $97,000 comes from an emergency account from the Department of Health and Human Services. DHHS failed to acknowledge the “emergency” associated with the disbursement. It is very possible that Del Norte Ambulance will retain the exclusivity on providing 9-1-1 Ambulance service, but the continuing action may add as much as another $60,000 in fees to consultant EndPoint and the

in-perpetuity of the EOA will be terminated. When Humboldt County was faced with a similar circumstance, Humboldt elected to “grandfather” in its existing service to the existing provider at zero cost to the County. The three phase process will terminate by March 2027 when a Request for Proposal has been formulated. NCEMS / EndPoint kick off meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at the Board Chambers at 2PM. The public is invited.

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

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