Issuu

SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 Crescent City, CA

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2024

www.triplicate.com

BABY B

Is Going Home!

The Lupan family calls three year old Billy “the miracle child.” suffering from second and third degree burns over his small body. The three year old is now walking out of the hospital. Miraculous! The journey to full recovering is as a marathon, not a sprint. Physical and speech therapy continues and major skin grafting is on the horizon, but he’s going home with his family. The Lupan family has been by his side every minute of this ordeal. The family expresses profound appreciation for all

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

Baby B was struck by an explosion of illegal ﬁreworks, mortars and assorted other ordinance on South Beach, July 4th evening. En route to Sutter Coast Hospital, then airlifted to pediatric intensive care at Oregon Health and Science University, Billy coded out and slipped into cardiac arrest, His tiny lungs collapsed. Fighting off inﬂuenza infection and strep, Billy was intubated for 14 days and was

those who played a role in saving Billy’s life and also thanks the public for prayers, ﬁnancial assistance but most of all love. Keep up your great recovery, Billy. You are a true hero.

Photo credit, the Lupan family

Dogs, Dogs and More Dogs BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

The Del Norte dog pound is overwhelmed with an explosion of dogs. “There’s just no more room to house and care for these pups,” says Animal Control Director Eileen Bennett. She reports 47 dogs of which nine are smaller breeds and can be housed in the main ofﬁce are individually caged at the time of printing of this report. Bennett’s message is clear: “Care for the dogs starts with responsible dog ownership.” Bennett has plans for outreach to Del Norte schools to teach responsible pet ownership to the kids. Oversight of the Pound falls under Del Norte Sheriff Garrett Scott who is reaching out to the public to please adopt a dog. “We need the public to come out to Please see DOGS Page 10

Margaret Keating School is Re-named and like the name they came up with. I’m glad we are returning the name of the village. It’s the right thing to do.” Yurok Tribe Language Program Manager Victoria Carlson, a parent who teaches language at, ‘O Me-nok shared the name change signiﬁes “…DNUSD support and recognizes the Indigenous Yurok community and ancestral territory of our tribe.” The school occupies the O Me-nok village site, incorporat-

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media, Inc.

At last week’s Yurok Tribal Council Meeting, the Del Norte Uniﬁed School District (DNSUD) announced a name change for the Margaret Keating Elementary School in Klamath. The new name of the school is ‘O Me-Nok Learning Center Elementary School. Dr. Walt Lara, a Tribal elder said, “ I support the name change

ing the name. ‘O Me-nok Learning Center is the largest public school on the Yurok Reservation. More than 60 percent of the student body are Tribal citizens. Next week’s Triplicate will honor and recognize Margaret Keating, retired Del Norte Unified Certificated teacher and administrator whose name adorned her beloved school and the children she so selflessly served.

Courtesy photo

DNUSD / Yurok Tribal Council group photo

INDEX

Phone Number: 707-460-6727

Community Calendar Police Blotter Classifieds Crossword Answers

Crossword Puzzle

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The Board of Supervisors addressed County Roads Division challenges and disparities at its Tuesday’s meeting. In the wake of learning Roads gas tax revenues were not being fully utilized, the Board of Supervisors has authorized Department heads to bypass current level salary steps and hire desperately needed employees to ﬁll longterm vacancies. Supervisors will now be able to hire up to Level C step for positions deemed hard to ﬁll, especially experienced operators of heavy equipment. The challenge to hire is particularly egregious and problematic within County Roads and Sheriff’s Departments Supervisors acknowledged the authorization to bypass entry level to higher step levels is a tool to hire Roads Department staff allowing imperative work to be initiated and completed. $1.5 million in the last two years in SB 1 State funds. Accumulated gas tax funding remains substantially unspent due to lack of experienced staff. Retired Roads Superintendent Jeff Daniels worked for

Courtesy photo

Retired Roads Superintendent Jeff Daniels urges Board to pay higher salaries for experienced staff recruitment over 30 years in Del Norte Roads, addressed the Board stating, “ It comes down to safety. There needs to be a salary increase and (the increase) needs to be significant. Roads maintenance is a difficult and dangerous job. I’ve been there when (a Roads worker) someone has lost their life. People get hit by cars doing their job.” Sheriff Garrett Scott commended the effort for flexibility Please see CHALLENGES Page 7