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MIDWEEK EDITION TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1879 • WWW.TRIPLICATE.COM Del Norte County now has 2 confirmed cases Crescent City man was county’s first COVID-19 case David Hayes Health Officer, said in a protects sensitive patient or identify in any other Staff Writer press release on Thursday, health information from way. And then we would April 2, the first patient is a being disclosed without make the conclusion of Crescent City man is middle-aged male, who is the patient's consent or community spread. Going Del Norte County’s in self-quarantine, recover- knowledge. to leave it in the unknown firstA confirmed case of the ing at home. Rehwaldt updated his category for the moment,” COVID-19 Coronavirus. “All steps for isola- information the health Rehwaldt said. The county confirmed a tion of the case have been department had on the case “This is not really un- second person with CO- implemented. We are during an online confer- expected. I really expected VID-19 on Saturday. investigating the possibility ence Friday, saying it was a case before this. From As of Sunday afternoon, of travel as a source but, at unclear yet how the patient our perspective, it doesn’t Microscopic image of the COVID-19 virus. April 5, the number of the moment, the case is still contracted the virus. change very much. We confirmed cases still two classified as unknown,” “We don’t think it’s still want people to do is the same. We just want For now, the level of with results from eight tests Rehwaldt said. travel related. We’re still things we’ve been telling people to sharpen their fo- social distancing guidelines pending. The county stated The man’s identity is classifying it as ‘unknown.’ them. We still need people cus a little more. It’s clear has not changed, according that 111 tests have been being withheld due to the The reason is it is probably to shelter in place. Keep we have a case here and to Bill Steven, Del Norte administered. Health Insurance Portabil- wrong to presume com- doing the social distancing we’re probably going to get Dr. Warren Rehwaldt, ity and Accountability Act munity spread until we see we’ve been talking about. more,” Reywaldt said. More COVID-19 on Page A5 Del Norte County Public (HIPAA), a federal law that more cases we can confirm Pretty much everything Coronavirus Turbulence We’re making changes to get you a newspaper Dear Reader, ine months ago, Country Media savedN the twice-weekly newspapers in Crescent City and Brookings from an uncertain fate by buy- ing them out of bankrupt- cy proceedings. Our goal then was to implement a business model that would sustain those newspapers’ long- Del Norte County Regional Airport and Brookings Airport have not been term business operations hit as hard as other larger airports due to the coronavirus pandemic. and ensure their longevity. Photos by Brian Williams. That goal is unchanged. What has changed is the difficulty of achieving it, given the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, Del Norte’s airport expects which may remain with us for months to come. Longtime newspapers rough skies during pandemic in California and Oregon now are working hard David Hayes However, many questions remain for Del said. “The government would be giving them simply to survive. At least Staff Writer Norte’s airport, as the grant under the AEAS time set up operations, so they could be up and one Oregon daily has be- program was in the process of being renewed running Oct. 1. But with the coronavirus com- gun publishing just three s the airline industry continues to feel the by Sept. 30. An online survey last month sought plications, it’s a moving goal post. But I think days a week. Another has financial squeeze of less travel during public input on priorities for continued and we’re still on track.” reduced its distribution theA COVID-19 pandemic, the Del Norte County future service at Jack McNamara Field. Hooper For now, Hooper said to not expect any from seven days each Regional Airport and the Brookings Airport said the initial date to send those community disruption in service, as aviation is a sub-sector week to six. have so far avoided the economic crunch. comments back to the DOT was April 14. But of transportation, which is considered a “critical And more than one The Del Norte County Regional Airport finds because of complications and health concerns infrastructure sector” by the federal govern- weekly newspaper has itself in a fairly unique situation operationally. over the coronavirus, that’s been pushed out to ment. Thus, the airport is required to remain ceased publication alto- Randy Hooper, Del Norte County Airport May 14. open during emergencies such as this. However, gether. Director, said this is because the airport receives The airport currently has a contract with he urges those who do not need to travel at this As you can see from a federal subsidy through the Department of Contour Airlines to provide flights in and out time to not do so. a quick drive down U.S. Transportation’s (DOT) Alternate Essential Air of Oakland. But Hooper said it’s out of his With fewer flights, Hooper expects the Highway 101, the virus’s Service (AEAS) program. The program guaran- hands whether the federal government decides regional airport can stay operational with fixed impact on local businesses tees service in rural locations through a contract to continue its contract with Contour or go with tenant contracts with Cal-Ore Life Flight and is severe. Many stores with specific carriers. another carrier. Federal Express and additional landing fees have closed their doors, “A lot of the larger airports don’t have an “Either way, we expect an orderly transition, coming in through UPS. some permanently. essential air service agreement, so there are a lot whether it’s another round with Contour, or These local businesses more, bigger questions for them,” Hooper said. through a selection of a new carrier,” Hooper More Airport on Page A2 rely on newspapers to connect them to potential customers. We, in turn, rely on their advertising Students assemble care packages for homeless youth dollars for 90% of our total revenue. Staff Report Harris said the supplies, Business closures from socks to toothbrushes, intended to prevent the hen the sun was were donated from com- spread of the coronavirus shining outside munity organizations and have dramatically reduced Friday,W a group of seniors purchased from the school our advertising revenues. were indoors assembling district’s youth grant While we all hope to care packages for the money. emerge from this situa- school district’s homeless Simone Magarino, ASB tion soon, there’s no way population. president, said she heard to predict the duration or While practicing a safe from her father, DNUSD severity of the pandemic 6-foot social distancing, School Board President on the economy. five seniors from Del Norte Frank Magarino, there We must make some High School created an was a need for volunteers changes to ensure the sus- assembly line to fill care in district projects. So, tainability of the newspa- packages to approximately she partnered with Eliza- per business. So beginning 250 homeless students who beth Ward, School Board the week of April 12, we attend the Del Norte Uni- Student Representative, More Changes on Page A4 Del Norte High School seniors put together care packages for homeless fied School District. youth. Photos contributed. Superintendent Jeff More Students on Page A5 INDEX FORECAST TIDES Tues Wed Thurs TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Crosswords..............................................A4 HIGH 11:52 AM 12:15 AM 12:53 AM LOW 5:46 AM 6:34 PM 7:34 AM Crossword Answers..................................A5 58 63 60 HIGH 12:46 PM 1:41 PM Classifieds...............................................6-7 46 51 48 LOW 6:02 PM 6:43 PM 7:25 PM Weather....................................................A8 $1.50 2- Del Norte Triplicate - Tuesday, April 7, 2020 Coronavirus Turbulence forbid we be in a posi- n tion that happens during Airport our summer peak in Del Norte. That could obviously Continued from Page A1 influence continuation with service,” Hooper said. However, Contour is In the meantime, Hooper experiencing a rough go said to check in with the during these times. Hooper airport’s website, www. said in February, Contour’s flycrescentcity.com, for up- operations were down to dates and guidelines to help 80% from normal. Today, prevent the spread of the that’s down to 10%. He coronavirus, especially by explained they still provide eliminating all but essential flights out of Crescent City travel plans. at 7 a.m. and return flights Meanwhile the Brook- at 7 p.m. ings Airport, as a small “What they did previ- municipal airport, does not ously is after Oakland, the rely on commercial traffic same plane would continue to remain operational. on to Santa Barbara and “We do get a lot of calls then on to Las Vegas and asking how do I get a flight turn around for the return into Brookings,” said Jay Southwest Oregon Regional Airport is not seeing an impact in loss of revenue due to the coronavi- trips. But because of the Trost, Brookings Deputy rus pandemic. Photos by Jillian Ward. drop in demand, the second Director of Public Works leg has suspended because and Development Services. Contour doesn’t get a “I tell them, no, you want to subsidy for that leg of the fly into Crescent City.” Southwest regional airport flight,” Hooper said.

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