In observance of the holiday, The Del Norte Triplicate Office will be closed on July 4.
SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 Crescent City, CA
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2024
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City Closes the Door On Tri-Agency…It’s Official BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.
Opting out of the Tri-Agency Joint Powers Authority, the City narrowly passed a motion to negotiate a dissolution agreement with the County and Harbor, including an equal share of the costs of existing litigation, dissolution and any other outstanding debts of the Tri-Agency. The motion to terminate was made by Councilor Isaiah Wright, who apologized for not being in attendance at the joint meeting, seconded by Councilor Ray Altman. Council Members Jason Greenough and Kelley Schellong voted NO. Mayor Blake Inscore broke the deadlock, voting YES.
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Crescent City Council opts out of Tri -Agency
Please see TRI-AGENCY Page 3
Hunter and Panther Creek Bridges Project completed BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media. Inc.
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Requa District Representative of the Yurok Tribal Council Ryan Ray cuts the ribbon celebrating the completion of the Hunter/Panther Creek Bridges Project
The challenges were immense, it certainly wasn’t easy but the long overdue Hunter/Panther Bridges Replacement Project on Highway 101 just north of Klamath has been completed with an appropriate ribbon cutting ceremony. The Project replaced the outdated , narrow corridor long past its 50 year design life expectancy. The new bridges feature wider lanes, separated pedestrian paths, fewer piers in the water and a pedestrian railing design created in collaboration with the Yurok Tribe, enhancing safety, accessibility and aesthetics. Two-way traffic will now resume. The Project was funded by SB1 the Road Repair and Accountability Act at a cost of $29.1
million. A five year post-construction allocation of $430,000 for landscape and vegetation is included. Of note, the Panther Creek Bridge is a first: The colorful steel-tied arch bridge is unique, the first of its kind designed without piers in the water, protecting juvenile Coho salmon and other aquatic species, in Cal Trans District 1. The dearth of piers minimizes impacts to the Klamath River tributary. The installation of a broadband middle mile conduit ensures connectivity with the Yurok Tribal community. Cal Trans Dist.1 Director Matt Brady was on site, praising the teamwork of Cal Trans, Golden State Bridge and the Yurok Tribe. Project Manager David Melendez added, We are proud to Please see BRIDGE Page 2
Happy Birthday, America! Busy July 4th Week-End Celebration Planned BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc
The Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce is poised to celebrate America’s 248th birthday. This year’s event covers three days as the 4th falls on a Thursday. The Chamber and sponsors are hoping visitors will stay in town over the long weekend. Wednesday, July 3: The Deck Party is scheduled from 5-8pm at the Cultural Cen-
ter on Front Street. Elk Valley Casino is scheduling live music GOTCHA COVERED, Raffle, Bar and refreshments. The Deck Party takes only cash (no credit cards) and patrons are asked to bring their own chairs.
Thursday, July 4th schedule: • 7am: RE/MAX Hot Air Ballon Rides at Beach Front Park- FREE • 8am: Streets closed for Parade, H Street, 3rd Street, K St., and Front will be closed. K Street is the designated QUIET AREA !
• 8:30am: Parade lineup at 9th and H. • 10am: Registration for the 5K Fun Run, first turnout, northern end of Pebble Beach Drive. Parade starts with a signal shot from the cannon at 10am. The Chamber of Commerce encourages you to wear your favorite patriotic attire and cheer on the over 100 floats and entries. This year’s Grand Marshals are retiring Judge Robert Cochran and wife, long-time comPlease see JULY 4 Page 2
Del Norte Economic Development JPA Calls It Quits
Three Councilors, Mayor Blake Inscore, Kelley Schellong and Jason Greenough The Del Norte Tri-Agency represented the City, (Counfor Economic Development cilmembers Isaiah Wright Joint Powers Authority and Ray Altman were not (Tri-Agency JPA) has been present). disbanded. All five Supervisors attendIn front of a handful audied the Special Meeting (Valence at last Tuesday’s Special erie Starkey, Chris Howard, Meeting of the Tri-Agency Chairman Dean Wilson, Joey Economic Authority at the Borges and Darrin Short). Veterans Hall, Harbor ComEach elected spoke either missioners, City Councilors in support or in opposition and Supervisors were unable to language incorporating to come to terms with lanoff-shore wind energy and the guage and common goals to position to retain or reject the work for economic prosTri-Agency governance. perity. The effort to salvage Background: the troubled Authority was The Tri-Agency Joint Powboth intense, frustrating and ers Authority for Economic ultimately unsuccessful. Development arose from the Four Harbor Commission- ruins of the 1964 Tsunami ers (Brian Stone, Gerhard We- disaster. In an effort to stimber, Rick Shepherd and Wes ulate a moribund economy, White participated. (Harbor Tri-Agency Authority formed president Harry Adams was in 1976. absent). The JPA accumulated a BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.
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respectable record. Early accomplishments included: Broadband development and various tourist-related events. In 2011, circumstances changed. Tri-Agency moved into the lending business, a fateful mistake. The JPA applied for and received a $400,000 loan From the U.S. Commerce Dept. at a modest one percent interest rate, and assumed the role of “lender of last resort,” proceeded to make numerous and questionable loans to aspiring but financially unqualified borrowers. In short order, Tri-Agency was burdened with delinquent loans, devoid of capital and collateral and out of business, fired all staff, and saddled itself with huge debt. Tri-Agency was essentially inert. And there, Tri-Agency languished, existing in name only for almost a decade.
Phone Number: 707-460-6727 2
Community Calendar Crossword Puzzle Classifieds Crossword Answers
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Del Norte County, Crescent City, Crescent City Harbor comprised the now-defunct Tri-Agency. Tri-Agency’s three members cobbled together and paid off a $290,000 delinquent loan to the Department of Agriculture… and, alas, the Tri-Agency was now back to zero. Last November, Tri-Agency members developed intended identical foundational documents, a new page for a
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$70,000. • City of Crescent City, $30,000. • Crescent City Harbor, $10,000. The public grew suspicious and distrusting of Tri-Agency’s ineffectiveness and alleged malfeasance. Supervisor Borges questioned Please see JPA Page 2
• Address: 445 Elk Valley Road, Crescent City, CA 95531 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net Latest news can be found online at:
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new day to focus on economic development. Both City and Harbor agencies added a specific paragraph, 5.05(e) adding the exploration of off-shore wind power to its foundational document. Each member agency contributed funds to Tri-Agency. • Del Norte County,
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