Members of a group that lobbies for lengthy salmon seasons on California’s North Coast and in Southern Oregon are optimistic that the sport fishing season will last all summer on the ocean.

The Klamath Management Zone Fisheries Coalition held a meeting Monday in Smith River to discuss its recommendations for federal fishery managers. 

The coalition will send a representative to the five-day meeting of the Pacific Fishery Management Council in Tacoma, Wash., which starts Wednesday, to advocate for seasons in the Klamath Management Zone, which includes the ports of Crescent City, Brookings, and Eureka. By next Monday, the council will issue upcoming ocean salmon season alternatives for public review.

“From the recreational side, it’s a cakewalk,” said Richard Heap, coalition chairman, regarding the likelihood of favorable fishing seasons for the region this summer.

From the commercial side, it’s unlikely there will be significant quotas allotted to the region, according to Ben Doane, the coalition representative at the upcoming council meeting. 

The banner ocean and in-river recreational season last year and a limited commercial season in the KMZ was enough to motivate more interest at this year’s coalition meeting. The group has largely focused on recreational fishing interests in recent years because of the drastic decline of the commercial season.

Imperial stormtroopers capture Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) during the filming of “Return of the Jedi” in 1982 in a privately owned redwood grove that has since been logged near Smith River. Lucasfilm Ltd.

It would help visitors find set locations for well-known films like “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” and “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial,” said Film Commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine. 

It will also include locations for lesser-known films and even music videos.

“Tim McGraw’s music video ‘Not a Moment Too Soon’ (was) filmed at Battery Point Lighthouse,” Hesseltine said. “We’ll include that on the tour because that’s an iconic spot and he’s a well-known musician.”

Hesseltine pitched the map of the stars idea to an advisory group consisting of government and tourism industry representatives from Del Norte and Humboldt. It would be a successor to one developed by Humboldt County resident Tom Murray in 1997, the same year the second “Jurassic Park” movie was filmed in Redwood National and State Parks, she said. 

Clyde Eller shows his “Jedi” souvenir rock at Fort Dick Market in 2008. Del Norte Triplicate file / Bryant Anderson

Manager Andy Van Scoyk at Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery: Raising and releasing about 150,000 juvenile chinook salmon and steelhead every year. Del Norte Triplicate / Bryant Anderson

They’re presenting united front as legal confrontation looms

A lawsuit has been filed against state and federal agencies affiliated with Mad River Fish Hatchery for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act, and Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery may be next.

The local hatchery received a “notice of intent to sue” letter at the same time as Mad River and is partnering with Smith River Rancheria on a legal response to the possible suit.

The litigation, filed by the Arcata-based Environmental Protection Information Center, stems from accusations that hatchery-raised salmon and steelhead negatively affect endangered and threatened wild fish (coho in the Smith River; chinook, steelhead and coho in the Mad) by preying upon juvenile wild fish and competing with wild fish for food, rearing habitat and spawning areas.

Besides these examples of “incidental take” under the Endangered Species Act, the lawsuit accuses Mad River’s operations of “direct take” because of the capturing of listed wild steelhead to use for spawning hatchery fish.

The notice of intent to sue letter that EPIC sent to Rowdy Creek only accuses that fish hatchery of “incidental take,” since the hatchery does not spawn coho salmon, the only listed fish in the Smith River basin.

The defendants listed in the Mad River complaint include officials with California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which manages Mad River Fish Hatchery, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which helps finance Mad River hatchery operations.

Shop classes hampered by theft of expensive equipment

Burglars have stolen almost $40,000 worth of equipment from Del Norte High School in the past week and a half.

The latest in the string of burglaries happened early Friday when tools were taken from the agricultural department, said Principal Coleen Parker.

On Feb. 17, a group of three people wearing masks entered the auto shop at the high school and stole two welding machines — one that was purchased just three days prior, Parker said. They used an early ’90s black Ford Explorer to haul them away, she added.

“We believe it’s somebody that has keys,” said Parker.

A lone burglar returned Feb. 19, stealing more tools from the auto shop, Parker said.

“They cleaned us out,” said Jeff Van Pelt, who is the instructor for the auto mechanic vocational program at the high school.

In addition to the welding machines, they took hand tools, air tools and saw drills, Van Pelt said.

Crescent City Police have interviewed several people, including one on Friday who authorities suspect is linked to the burglaries, said Police Lt. Garrett Scott.

More money could eventually be coming to Del Norte County schools under Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to change K-12 education funding. But local officials are wait to see how state lawmakers weigh in on the issue.

In the meantime, cutbacks loom on other fronts.

Under Brown’s proposed local control funding formula, released in January, all California schools would receive at least what they get currently. If approved, education funding would be allocated based on a district’s percentage of low-income students, English language learners and foster children, according to the Associated Press.

Brown has said a change is necessary to provide more help to low-income schools, but some lawmakers are concerned that the funding model would short-change wealthier districts.

“In California there’s a great discrepancy in how schools are funded,” said Don Olson, superintendent for Del Norte County Unified School District.

Some districts receive roughly $5,000 per student while others get as much as $25,000 per student, Olson told School Board members Thursday.

“The philosophy is (we’ll) keep rich districts where they are and enhance the other, more rural, less fortunate districts,” he said.

In the Del Norte district — where 64 percent of its 3,307 students qualify for free and reduced meals and 10 percent are English language learners — funding per pupil would rise from $6,497 this year to $10,740 if the governor’s proposal were fully implemented. But it may take one to two years for the new formula to be put in place even if it is approved, Deputy Superintendent Rodney Jahn said.

The Del Norte County fair is looking for a theme for this year’s 120th annual fair.

The first fair was held in Smith River in 1893. This year’s event will be Aug. 1-4 at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds.

All theme suggestions need to be received by March 15 at the fair office, 421 U.S. Hwy. 101 North, Crescent City,  or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it The  submitter of the winning entry will receive four carnival wrist bands and four admissions.

Here are excerpts from the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office call logs for Feb. 20 –Feb. 28.

Thursday, Feb. 21

• At 11:31 a.m. a search warrant was served on the 2400 block of Kelly Avenue.

• At 1:36 p.m. a report of a pursuit near Lake Earl Drive and Yonkers Lane.

Friday, Feb. 22

• At 2:31 p.m. a report of a pursuit at the Elk Valley Rancheria.

• At 3:01 p.m. a report of a vehicle hitting a tree on U.S. Highway 101 near mile-marker 20.

Saturday, Feb. 23

• At 10:47 a.m. a search warrant served on the 100 block of Gensaw Road.

Sunday, Feb. 24

• At 9:38 a.m. a report of a boat in distress around rocks near Pebble Beach.

Here are excerpts from the Crescent City Police Department call logs for Feb. 20–Feb. 28. 

Wednesday, Feb. 20

• At 4 p.m. a report of a robbery on the 1000 block of 3rd Street.

Thursday, Feb. 21

• At 9:06 p.m. a report of a stolen vehicle on the 1000 block of Pacific Avenue.

Friday, Feb. 22

• At 1:30 a.m. a report of a fight at the B Street Pier.

• At 11:50 a.m. a report of a vehicle theft on the 900 block of Pacific Avenue.

Saturday, Feb. 23

• At 11:00 a.m. a person arrested for disorderly conduct on the 800 block of Northcrest Drive.

In response to parents’ concerns, the School Board on Thursday unanimously approved adding a sixth grade at Margaret Keating Elementary School.

The school’s four fifth-graders will have the choice of going to Crescent Elk Middle School or staying at the Klamath school for sixth grade next fall. And the board will consider bringing the seventh and eighth grades back to the school next year.

The board’s decision comes after district officials conducted two community meetings in Klamath, surveyed students and parents and collected input from Margaret Keating’s principal and teachers. Education officials from the Yurok Tribe also provided input, saying they were always in favor of having a middle school in Klamath.

In two surveys, 18 parents were asked how the district should go about returning grades six through eight to Margaret Keating. In the first survey, which netted 10 responses, most parents were in favor of returning grades seven and eight for the 2014–15 school year, said Steve Godla, the district’s superintendent of instructional and educational services.

In the second survey, which netted 13 responses, more parents were in favor of returning grades six, seven and eight to Margaret Keating, Godla said. District officials and Margaret Keating teachers believe the best way to reintroduce middle school in Klamath is to bring back the grades a year at a time, he said.

Even if all three grades were returned to Klamath, parents could still choose to send their middle-schoolers to Crescent Elk by bus, Godla said.

Del Norte County Superior Court felony and misdemeanor sentencings for the week of Feb. 22-28 include:

• Meaggan Crabb, 27, Crescent City, was sentenced to 61 days in County Jail for two probation violations

• Jessie Jasper, 25, Rio Linda, was sentenced to 10 days plus 96 hours in County Jail, three years probation and fined $2,900 for driving under the influence with a high blood alcohol level and a hit and run

• Christine Fecht, 38, Crescent City, was sentenced to 48 hours in County Jail, three years probation and fined $2,494 for driving under the influence

• Sheri Evanow, 33, Hiouchi, was sentenced to one year probation and fined $750 for disturbing the peace 

• Jade Green, 22, Crescent City, was sentenced to 20 days in County Jail, three years probation and fined $560 for theft/larceny

• Wayne McCovey, 39, Hoopa, was sentenced  to 30 days in County Jail, three years probation and fined $1,734 for wet and reckless driving and battery on a non-cohabitant

• Patrick Rankin, 52, Crescent City, was sentenced to 30 days in County Jail for failure to comply with mandatory supervision