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SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 Crescent City, CA

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2025

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Harbor board discusses accounting contract, examines tsunami damage appreciate working with astute people.” Moreno asked for 100 percent support, but commissioners Dan Schmidt and Annie Nehmer oppose the contract stating it would be better if Moreno was an employee of the harbor. “Moreno’s position takes a job away from the harbor,” Nehmer said at the meeting. With the board’s 3-2 vote, Moreno will continue as a contracted bookkeeper, earning $75 per hour typically working 18 hours per month on the harbor’s ﬁnances. Commissioners heard a call for unity from the public, even as the harbor works to recover from

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

The harbor board voted three in favor of and two opposed to changing bookkeeper Sandy Moreno’s contract to become a paid employee of the harbor. Moreno is currently an independent contractor, keeping the books for the harbor, a position she asked for board approval to keep moving forward. The vote came due to some board members seeking to retain Moreno as an employee. Prior to the vote, Moreno presented her case to the board. “Some folks like to work in chaos. I don’t,” she said. “I

last month’s tsunami. A member of the audience reminded the board the community is depending on them to row in the same direction. “I had hoped the five of you commissioners would work to move forward to make this harbor a success,” said an audience member. “My observation is, this isn’t happening. You need to figure out what you want to do and need to get with it.” In other business: Recent updates of the July 2930 tsunami inflicted an estimated $1million in damage, according to Harbormaster Mike RadePlease see TSUNAMI Page 2

Diehl Sentenced Modiﬁed

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

Sentencing came last week for Alexandra Danielle Diehl for her role in the hit and run death of Peter Jun Ming Nip. The 80 year old was struck walking across the crosswalk at Northcrest at East Madison St. Mr. Nip was pushing a shopping cart when the vehicle operated by Diehl struck Nip who was thrown into the southbound lanes and was struck again by two other southbound vehicles. Nip was pronounced dead on arrival at Sutter Coast Hospital. The accident occurred around 6pm, December 4, last year. The CHP arrested Diehl at her home around 8:20PM. Both Prosecution and Defense agreed to change the charge from Manslaughter to leaving the scene where a death of injury had

occurred. The mandatory sentence could be from two-three years in State Prison. Diehl had no priors or convictions but over the years, evidence showed she used alcohol and drugs while operating a motor vehicle. The evidence was two DUI stops where she blew a .06 twice. The legal threshhold is .08. The People and Diehl agreed to a one year sentence in County Jail and be assigned three years felony probation. Judge Darren McElfresh acknowledged 17 different factors inﬂuencing the sentence, 12 favored Diehl, six were deemed unfavorable. McElfresh determined his highest priority is to protect the public. The two year prison was suspended, pending the successful completion of all the terms of the sentence.

McElfresh stated, in many ways, the strict program will be more stringent than a prison sentence. The Judge acknowledged nothing can bring back Peter Nip. Defense counsel David Cooper has acknowledged Diehl has already joined an Alcohol Anonymous group and expressed to the Court and the community her deep remorse to the family

Tuesday. The important fact to note is there was no new information disclosed to the supervisors and the public and nothing had been disclosed in the report made previously aware. A special Ad Hoc Committee for the Board was created some 18 months ago. Comprising the Ad Hoc were Supervisors

Darrin Short and Valerie Starkey. North Coast EMS director Larry Karstadt was also part of the Ad Hoc group. Karstadt advised the two Supervisors the idea of supplanting Del Norte Ambulance had no evidence to support replacement. Over the decades, Del Norte Ambulance has earned endorsements from Sutter Coast Hospital, the

and her intent to write a letter to the Nip family. Probation will include at least 15 hours of public service to Del Norte County, no drug or alcohol use. Diehl reports to the jail within seven days of the sentence.

Top right:

Courtesy photo

Alexandra Diehl Top left: Courtesy photo

Peter Jun Ming Nip gravestone

“Del Norte Ambulance Provides Satisfactory Service to the Community”

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

The above quote is attributable to EndPoint Consultants. Funded by an emergency grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, EndPoint Consultants delivered a Phase One review of emergency medical services (EMS) status to the Board of Supervisors, last

Del Norte Sheriff Dept, and customers who’ve experienced DNAMB. Still, the Ad Hoc moved ahead seeking a request for Proposal (RFP) recommending the full board explore options to replace DNAMB. The costs associated EndPoint are approaching $150,000 and heading north from this point.

The question begs to be asked: Is this cost to conduct the EndPoint oversight justiﬁed? Please see AMBULANCE, Page 9

Rain or Shine the Car Show Goes On

Additional Car Show photos on page 8 moist, onerous clouds looming over the annual Beneﬁt Car Show in Smith River last week and lamented, “Third straight year the threat of rain has affected this show.”

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc

Lucky 7 / Partnership for the Performing Arts car show coordinator Tom Lee looked at the

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Opinion

What started off as gloom and doom ended with bloom by Noon. Sunshine peeked through the low clouds. The crowds began to show up…and Voila! The Partnership for the Perform-

ing Arts hosted a great gathering of 72 beautiful vehicles situated behind Lucky 7 Casino. Appreciation and gratitude to the PPA and Nick Rail, the Tsumani Swing band, Tom Lee

and the Curry County Cruisers and you great owners with your superb vehicles truly blessed Smith River.

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

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