It’s no secret that I’ve been cleaning house all winter. For years I ignored layers of dirt and drawers full of clothes never worn and food processors I’d never use. Every flat surface was covered with junk mail and dusty tchotchkes because the drawers were full. I dressed directly from the drier to avoid opening a closet and did dishes only when there was nothing left to eat out of. I was developing that helpless feeling elders get when everything is too heavy to move and we don’t know where to start.

Then last spring I threw out the killer recliners and bought attractive lounges intended for outdoor use and light enough that I could move them. It was hugely empowering! Suddenly I wasn’t helpless anymore. I began exercising, riding a bike and attacking the clutter like a beagle in the bacon.

Most every week I write about players that have played the game and about many people that devote so much time making this possible.

I have not taken the time to recognize those special people behind the scenes that are so important. Having been a coach for 36 years, I know the tremendous amount of time that must be put in to do the job properly. It is not only the time put in for practices and games, but also in preparation. This is all time taken away from family.

From the pages of the Del Norte Triplicate, February 1940.

A curiosity of the sea was discovered this week by “Montana” White, owner of the Fireplace Auto Court. A piece of driftwood, around the center of which is molded a mass of stone of a lava type, indication of a fusion under terrific pressure. This could only have occurred in the bottom of the ocean, where icy water minimized the effect of the molten rock on the otherwise inflammable wood.

The curiosity is on display in the lobby of the Fireside Auto Court and many people have marveled on it.

Seals training squad

“Rocky” Peterson will leave soon for San Francisco to join the Seals training squad to try out with the hope of securing a contract to play ball with the Seals this coming season.

Last year “Rocky” was with the Lewiston Indians, of Lewiston, Idaho, in the Northwestern League, playing the outfield. While in San Francisco he will be a guest at the home of his manager, Claude Goings.

Smith River bridge

Construction work on the new Smith River bridge was started this week when the lumber for the construction of several buildings to house supplies and the engineering department of the contractors was delivered. To date, three buildings are in the process of construction with several more to be erected.

Fight for Klamath road

With the San Francisco Examiner voluntarily joining in the fight for improvement of the Klamath River highway, interest in this scenic route is on the increase throughout northern California, especially in Siskiyou County. The Examiner will carry a series of feature articles on the road down the Klamath River, giving much publicity to this section of the state.

In view of the stand taken by the Examiner, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors at a recent meeting adopted a resolution stressing need for the improvement and extending thanks to the San Francisco daily for the publicity given the project.

Comedy in Klamath

An entertainment scoop for the Klamath Theater is announced for this month by manager J. J. Perry, who has signed one of the greatest screen comedies of the year, “My Little Chickadee,” starring Mae West and W. C. Fields. The film has just been released in Hollywood and is now playing in the big cities where it is a “packing them in.”

Cavemen invite govs

The Oregon Cavemen invited Governor Olson of California to join with them in a feed of tiger meat and dinosaur blood on the occasion of his recent visit to Portland. Due to pressing business at Sacramento, Governor Olson had to decline, but indicated he would be glad to accept at a later date. Governor Olson has informed the Cavemen that he plans to visit Northern California at that time and would be happy to partake of their hospitality.

The Cavemen are planning to make quite an event of the affair, which they hope to stage at Oregon Caves National Park with Governor Sprague of Oregon also a guest.

For years I’ve postponed changing my e-mail address as it appears at the bottom of this column. But as I use it less and the other one more, I forget to check the old one, leaving some messages from readers unanswered, and I’m awfully sorry about that.

This address is the sort that just begs for an explanation, and since mid-winter is the time of storytelling, here’s a story that became an email address and a wonderful forever memory. The e-mail address to use if you actually want to reach me is This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , and our hero is blessed with continued freedom and slow fish.

From the pages of the Del Norte Triplicate, January 1965.

Devastation from the December 1964 flood in Del Norte County was inspected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Col. Robert Alan, chief of the 12th district, San Francisco, assured local authorities the Corps is ready to move in immediately upon authorization and begin debris clearance.

It was found that the Klamath River has cut a new channel, making a new island just below the glen.

Three-thousand people are homeless in Del Norte County due to the floods and damage is set at $40 million, although this figure is very conservative. Gov. “Pat” Brown has said that it is “impossible” to say when roads would be opened in the Crescent City area again.

All logging and salvage operations along Del Norte’s 40 miles of coastline have also been prohibited. This notice went into effect immediately.

Don Olson is one of those special Del Norters that have lived their whole lives in Crescent City, except for his time in college.

He is a 1972 Del Norte High Warrior graduate and was a talented multi-sport athlete. His interest in Del Norte sports goes both before and after his Warrior career. This makes him a real fun person to interview. It was easy to stray from the topic at hand and look at a lot of Warrior history.

January is a hard month, right up there with February only longer. The addition of a couple weeks of serious storms doesn’t help. My muscles are sore from tensing every time the wind hits this dear old house like a fist and things go bump in the night.

I’m wildly grateful to be retired and to have health, a home and food when so many in the world are truly suffering. In January, even those who sleep indoors and have jobs often leave for work before daylight and return home after dark. It’s too wet to play outdoors and too cold to hold still indoors.

This is the time of year when people with cabin fever begin to rethink their choices. Running away to hustle pool in a big city starts to sound like a viable employment option.

From the pages of the Del Norte Triplicate, January 1960.

Crescent City’s disaster of Sunday, Dec. 27, 1959, when the tugboat Celilo exploded and caught fire, might well have been of major proportion had it not been for the quick action and actual heroism of two men.

Keith Richcreek, skipper of the fishing boat Neva D, boarded his boat and went immediately to the rescue of the men aboard the tug.

Chief Everett Burke of the Coast Guard cutter stationed in the harbor and his crew were credited with checking at least three fires aboard the gasoline-laden barge and on one occasion brought their cutter within 30 feet of the burning tug in an effort to halt the fires and then towed the still-burning tug out of the harbor.