Issuu

SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 Crescent City, CA

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2025

www.triplicate.com

Del Norte Gets a Peek at What Congress Will Approve for Fiscal 2026 BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

Del Norte’s Federal advocate, Greg Burns of Thorn Run Associates, Washington, DC. via ZOOM appeared before last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting. In light of the President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, many of cuts were not retained which were encouraging to Del Norte County, reported by Burns. A major program, Secure Rural Schools (SRS) which contributes about $1.5 million per ﬁscal year for Del Norte was pulled from the U.S Senate pulled Secure Rural Schools funding. The President then signed the Bill into law. Secure Rural Schools (SRS) will be reviewed for a September re-vote. Other bullet points are noted • Essential Air Service will continue • Community Development Block Grant has been restored • The Home Program addressing housing needs will be restored • Last Chance Grade funding, the second largest in California’s history, with an already $250 Million invested • Del Norte has already missed a Federal Secure Rural Schools payment, will seek a retroactive reimbursement when it applies for

Courtesy photo

A group calling itself Change Makers, led by Amy Campbell-Blair.attended last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

Please see FISCAL 2026 Page 7

Posse Antique Patrol Vehicle Gets a Bath

Crescent City Council Renews Two Local ROGER GITLIN Marijuana Are we ready for delivery of the newly acquired Del Norte antique sheriff patrol vehicle? Dispensary Merced County Sheriff Verne Warnke replaced the hard-to-ﬁnd gas tank for the 1954 Ford Patrol vehicle and in his own words said, “All need to do is give a bath and exchange the vehicle for the agreed up Operations Iprice ($10,000), and I’ll personally deliver our treasured Posse car to BY Country Media. Inc

E. SCHWARZ

For Country Media, Inc.

The Crescent City Council held its regular session in City Chambers on July 7. While routine business was handled, the meeting also addressed several ongoing local priorities. The meeting, which drew a modest crowd and limited public comment, showed progress on various issues, including coastal policy, infrastructure, and local business regulation. The consent calendar was unanimously approved by the council members. Routine matters included certification of meeting minutes, approval of vendor claims and payroll, validation of monthly financial statements through June 2025, and extensions and approvals for city facility maintenance contracts. These items, though largely procedural, collectively ensure the smooth running of city services and fulfillment of fiscal responsibilities. The main public hearing focused on proposed amendments to the city’s certified Local Coastal Program (LCP). After a brief staff presentation on the new ordinance language, council members heard from a community speaker emphasizing the importance of robust environmental protections. The proposed updates are technical but meaningful. If certified by the California Coastal Commission, they will simplify and clarify Please see DISPENSARIY RENEWALS Page 7

INDEX

Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott.” The Memorial Andy Larson car show on Day One of the Del Norte County Fair. Sheriff Scott is beyond thrilled with the Merced acquisition. The DNSO has already contacted Superintendent Jeff Harris of the DNUSD and arranged incentive awards for K12 students who’ve improved and maintained attendance and academics. The top two students from the DNUSD’s 11 schools will ride in the Del Norte Posse vehicle and driven over to CC Diner’s for an award-winning ice cream cone or cup. Don’t forget the napkins, CC Diner.

Courtesy photo

County of Merced Sheriff Posse, ’54 Ford Merced County Sheriff Vehicle

Sixteen Decades Have Passed Since the Brother Jonathan Tragedy

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc

Today, July 30, 2025 marks the 160th anniversary of the Brother Jonathan paddle steamer ship tragedy when 225 souls lost their lives when The Jonathan crashed upon the uncharted Dragon Rocks, six miles off-shore from Crescent City. 19 individuals survived the ordeal. The Brother Jonathan was en route to Portland, Victoria, British Columbia with a payload of an estimated (at $60 million st today’s gold value) in gold bars and $20 Double Eagle coins to make payments to local American troops and indigenous tribes per treaty agreements. There, the Brother Jonathan rested at the bottom of the Paciﬁc Ocean in perpituity. During the interim, the Government cobbled the funding neces-

Phone Number: (707) 460-8655

Opinion

sary and built the St. George Reef Lighthouse in 1893, undoubtedly one of the most dangerous ingress/ egress lighthouses in the world. The Lighthouse Association and the US Guard operated Lady St. George until 1975 when technology replaced the purpose of the Lighthouse with a radio / buoy that would warn ships of the approaching Dragon Rocks. Technology never stops. A single person submarine hit the market and found the ruins of the Brother Jonathan in 1993. For three years, Deep Sea Research (DSR) scoured the ocean ﬂoor near the site and a mini sub pilot caught a glimpse of gold. DSR retrieved 1,006 $20 Double Eagles. These coins were auctioned off in Los Angeles in 1999. The State sought a cut of the booty, even after losing every court action including the United States Supreme Court. The State

vowed to continue the ﬁght but eventually DSR agreed to 20 percent of the gold coins. Is there more gold temptingly close to the near-shore. Experts believe? Yes! It is estimated just 25 percent

of the coins remain undiscovered.. Read more in the non-ﬁction book, The Treasure Ship: The Legend and Legacy of the S.S. Brother Jonathan by noted marine author, Dennis Powers (2006) Kensington/ Citadel Press, New York. Courtesy photo

Del Norte Historical Society

• Address: 519 Chetco Avenue, Unit 7, Brookings, OR 97415 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net

Crossword Puzzle Community Calendar Classifieds

Crossword Answers