Humboldt Sentinel

For the curiously aware of Humboldt County…

By Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

SNIPPETS, RUMORS, HEARSAY MURMURS, AND THE LINKS:

THE MEDICAL POT BUSINESS CO-OP:  There have been so many marijuana busts lately one doesn’t know what to think. Does Humboldt County supply half the country in weed? It seems that way.  Having more than its fair share of problems with arrests, massive seizures, structure fires, diesel spills, rip-offs and home invasions, one wonders if the entire county is criminally going to pot.

Too many people, too many problems.  Which is why we can appreciate the Tea House marijuana growers collective. Originally called the Thanksgiving House, their name was shortened to T-House, and then to Tea House. What a long journey they’ve had from the past to the present day.

From the Tea House Collective history:

As The Back to the Land Movement of the late 1960s brought young idealistic people to Humboldt, they dug in to grow their own food, build their own shelters, and begin an experiment in self-sufficiency and sustainability. As part of their self-sufficiency they grew their own medicine, healing herbs that included cannabis as a medicine for both body and mind. Their challenge to themselves led to one of the longest lasting experiments in civil disobedience in American history. With the passage of Proposition 215, Humboldt’s persistence and creativity created the foundation for the emerging medical cannabis industry. What a long, strange trip it’s been!

Indeed. But we called it pot, not medicine, back then.

Using family farms, organic and sustainable methods, and a better than average business conscience, the Tea House grows medical marijuana the right way: legally. Complying with the law, filling out the forms, and paying their taxes, they’re bringing agricultural ‘farm revenues’ to Humboldt. Staying above the illicit fray, the Tea House Collective represents the new breed of American farmer toiling in the open sunshine and working the land.

A far cry from the moonshiners of yore and the clandestine black market growers of today, you can see for yourself the Tea House webpage and their astounding collective of 21 Humboldt farms producing an equal number of exotic strains for sale.  During the past 40 years Humboldt’s horticultural breeders and growers developed the region’s most notorious and famous export–marijuana–  that is known throughout the world. The Tea House represents a cooperatively unique and different way of doing that business today.

In the Collective’s own words,

Our cannabis is grown naturally and slowly in the sun, with a loving, conscious attention to our environment. It is never artificially manufactured in warehouses….

Sustainable cannabis is grown outdoors, strictly avoiding energy intensive, high carbon footprint methods. We care about the health of Humboldt’s precious watersheds, and avoid fertilization techniques that affect ground and stream water, and conserve every drop we can for salmon and wildlife.

We unite small family farmers of Humboldt’s best medical cannabis with patients concerned about the safety and purity of their medicine as well as the health of their environment. We actively support education and incentives for sustainable farming.

Humboldt is internationally famous for breeding and cultivating the finest herbal medicine in the world. Expert growers in our unique micro climate have created heirloom seed strains and innovative cross breeds, bred for potency and efficacy. As medical cannabis ‘comes out of the closet’, we are proud to say our growers represent the best of Humboldt’s long history of both cannabis and environmental activism.

The Tea House growers have chosen to do things properly by staying statutorily within California law while using environmentally sound methods.  Looking after business, the environment, and their families, the Tea House Collective may very well be Humboldt and the nation’s model for marijuana’s future. Just keep it away from the kids.

It has been a long, strange trip from 1969 to 2012. This is for you, Tea House families.

MORE WEED:  Now let’s take a journey to the Emerald Triangle seeing another side. When Humboldt County Sheriff Officer Hansen resignedly says marijuana should just be legalized, you know something’s got to give.

WHY WE LOVE HUMBOLDT: Hippie child Ben, strange people and their melodies, space cadets, and, of course, the outdoor scenery. Only 120 days until summer, folks.

AN AMAZING PLANET STILL HAS ITS DISCOVERIES:  A species of chameleon amazingly small enough to easily perch on a match head has recently been discovered on a tiny island off Madagascar.  It’s a beautiful planet and small wonders never cease to amaze us.

LOOSE NUKES AND MORE WAR?  John Hardin’s blog brings us some whacked out, far-fetched conclusions with a good dose of humor that only he can pull off. OK, Ketchup-flavored potato chips is one a few could stomach and ‘The Founding Fascists’ was a bit of a stretch.

But come on now, John. Pakistan carting around its nukes in unsecured Econoline delivery vans? To safeguard them from being stolen by… us? That’s quite a wild story, don’t you think? So, somewhere on a highway, around, say, Karachi, is the world’s most dangerous 1-800-FLOWERS delivery van filled with a nuclear bomb or two or three and driving merrily down the road, John?

Quit pulling our leg. You know we’re smarter than that.  What would you have us believe next?

Oops, uh-oh, and d’oh. There’s a problem. A big one, Dear Reader.

Looking into this nuke-doom wild flight of a fancy tale a bit more, we discovered Mr. Hardin was right. Not only once, but twice. Good Lord, it was even reported by the Atlantic Monthly. That’s it; we’re simply doomed as a species– there’s no hope. But, hey,  thanks for bringing the Ford ‘Econolines of Doom’ to our attention, John, and brightening our day as you usually do. We’re sure Harvey Harper and Henry Ford would have been amused. ‘Built Ford Tough’ brings on a whole new meaning for the nuclear age.

Now, let’s move on from Pakistan to… oh say,  bombing Iran. Iran has been a sore point lately, in case you hadn’t noticed.  Conservative war hawks, politicos, and presidential candidates have been hammering on us to bomb Iran for some time now. We’ll have to put that on our to-do list.  There’s just no end to the military and foreign interventions we can have when we put our mind and businesses to it.

All Along the Watchtower is for those who’ve forgotten our past.  We have this one, too,  if you really need to remember. Need more? Paint it Black, friends, and remember our not-so-long-ago history of such affairs.

BRIGHT LIGHTS AND APPS: Kids grow up fast and smart these days. We told you in our last piece on GMOs about 11-year old Birke Baehr’s presentation …and then we found another smart kid to tell you about.

Thomas Suarez is a 6th grade student at a middle school in the South Bay of Los Angeles. Fascinated by computers and technology since kindergarten, Thomas developed two applications for the iPhone and started his own company, Carrot Corporation. Don’t ask us why, we don’t know. We guess he really likes carrots.

When Apple released the Software Development Kit (SDK), Thomas began to create and sell his own applications. He pointed out it’s hard to learn how to make an app on your own.

“For soccer you could go to a soccer team … but what if you want to make an app?  How do you learn that?  Teachers only know so much, ” Thomas said. So he started a club at school for fellow students where he shares his knowledge of programming.  The students, in turn, teach the teachers.

Thomas explained that students are a valuable new technology resource for teachers– and students should be empowered not only to offer assistance in developing the technology curriculum but to help in delivering the lessons. Learning programming was good, his apps were kinda cool, but Thomas’s idea of developing apps for his school district to freely use– and then selling them to other districts– is brilliant, we believe, especially for an 11-year old.  After all, what were you doing when you were 11?

Can Thomas Suarez’s bright idea transfer over to Humboldt County schools? Decide for yourself after watching his short and articulate presentation here.

Check your kid. Sometimes they grow up just fine without problems, like Thomas. Sometimes they don’t.  Sometimes, like this video, The Kids Aren’t Alright.

HUMBOLDT HISTORY:  February marks the expulsion of the Chinese from Humboldt County in 1885. Eureka’s entire Chinese population of 300 men and 20 women were rounded up after a gunfight between rival Chinese gangs that resulted in the wounding of a 12 year old boy and the death of a Eureka City Councilman. After the shooting, an angry mob of 600 Eurekans met and then informed the Chinese that they were no longer wanted in Eureka and would be hanged if they were to stay in town longer than 3 p.m. the next day.

Chinese residents were told they had 24 hours to leave town and to assemble at a warehouse near the Eureka wharf for transport to San Francisco by steamship. A makeshift gallows was erected on Fourth Street at the edge of Eureka’s Chinatown.

Eureka’s Reverend C.A. Huntington gave this startling account of Charley Lum, one of his parishioners, on that infamous day:

In the afternoon about two o’clock Charley called at the parsonage on his way to the wharf. I was absent at the time but my wife and two daughters were there. Immediately our backyard was filled with an excited crowd of men and boys.

They gave a loud rap at the back door which was opened by Mrs. Huntington, and with a loud voice they inquired, “Where’s that Chinaman?” She said, “Charley is here on his way to the wharf; he barely called to say goodbye and ask the prayers of the family in his exile.”

“We want him now!” And they rushed in and seized him by his queue. Mrs. Huntington meanwhile pleading with them, “don’t hurt him; he’s a good boy and on his way to the warehouse.”

But they dragged him to the gallows, a hundred hoodlums following with jeers and insults.

Mr. Huntington continued:

They took him to the gallows and put the noose around his neck in the presence of hundreds of people without a word of remonstrance from the police or anybody else until Rev. Mr. Rich of the Methodist church approached the scaffold and with stentorian voice said, “Boys, take that rope off that boy’s neck! If you hang him you’ll hang him over my dead body!”

The effect was like a clap of thunder. They dropped the rope, seized him by his queue and hauled him five blocks to the warehouse and herded him with the rest of his countrymen under guard.

I set off for the warehouse. As I passed the crowd near the gallows, a loud voice out of the crowd said, “Any man that sympathizes with a Chinaman ought to be hung, and I would like to hold the rope and help draw him up.”

I went to the warehouse and after a long parley with the guard I was allowed to pass in. I found Charley in a remote corner of the room crying, with his classmates around him.

As I gave him his things, he said, “ They scared me almost to death, Mr. Huntington.” I comforted him as best as I could… and left him with my prayers and benedictions.

The next morning they all embarked to San Francisco.

And for nearly 70 years with few exceptions, Humboldt County and its white citizenry kept all Asians out of the county. 

The Chinese expulsion from Eureka occurred 25 years after the Indian Island massacre in 1860– also in the month of February– when a small group of men sailed into Humboldt Bay, landed on Indian Island, and attacked an encampment of Wiyots. Many were killed, mostly women and children, butchered with knives and axes within earshot of Eureka’s residents.  Later, citizens expressed outrage but did nothing; the Indian Island massacre and other massacres carried out in nearby communities virtually exterminated the Wiyot tribe in the space of 48 hours.

GIVE PEAS A CHANCE:  War is like love, it always finds a way.  Antoine De Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince, said, “War is not an adventure.  It is a disease.  It is like typhus.” On that final note, keep it away from the kids. We said back in the day that war is not healthy for children and other living things. It’s still true.

We have so much more to offer.

THE WEEKEND CALENDAR:

Happenings, events, groups, walks, hip or rad stuff

Friday, February 17

Saturday, February 18

Sunday, February 19

Other entertainment can also be found here.

Movies, reviews, times and trailers are here.

Mark Your Calendars and Help:

Southern and Northern Humboldt County organizers will be joining the statewide coalition of 150 groups gathering 800,000 signatures for the ‘Right to Know’ GMO labeling effort starting February 21. Community members are invited to join together, meet other volunteers, watch a short film about the importance of labeling GMO foods, and receive signature gathering training, instructions, and petitions.

The Southern Humboldt branch will have a signature gathering workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 5 to 6 p.m. at Calico’s restaurant in Garberville. Call Rosa Rashall at #986-7469 for more information.

The Northern Humboldt group is hosting their signature gathering orientation at the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) on the Humboldt State University campus, 1 Harpst Street, in Arcata on Friday, February 25, at 5 p.m. The Northern Humboldt group also holds campaign initiative meetings every Sunday at 4 p.m. at Sun Yi’s Academy of Tae Kwon Do in Arcata. Call #707-223-0424 for more information.

For more details on the local campaign and how to participate, visit http://www.labelgmos.org/humboldt or find them on Facebook.

WORD

Jon Stewart said,

“We spend so much money on the military, yet we’re slashing education budgets throughout the country. No wonder we’ve got smart bombs and stupid children.”

Lance Lorenzen allegedly ran operation out of Foster Avenue apartment

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

In the latest in a string of pot busts in Arcata, an apartment running what police called a “concentrated cannabis ‘has’ manufacturing operation” was taken down yesterday.

According to Arcata Police Department sergeant Todd Dokweiler’s press statement, law enforcement had received information over the past month about the home in question, located on the 1600 block of Foster Avenue. After a lengthy investigation, APD obtained a search warrant.

Upon their arrival, the cops located about two-and-a-half pounds of hash and six-and-a-half pounds of processed bud. They arrested resident Lance Christian Lorenzen, 27, on charges of hash possession, marijuana possession and marijuana sales. He was booked into county jail without incident.

Members of the public who want to snitch out their neighbors in Arcata are asked to call APD at (707) 822-2428.

Sheriff’s probation search hits jackpot of pot, meth, coke. weapons and more

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

Three Arcata men are in the local lockup after a probation search on one of them turned up pounds of pot.

At about 11 a.m. today, the Community Response Unit of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office descended on a house on the 200 block of Alder Grove Road in Arcata. The man on probation, 31-year-old Colin Baldridge, was at home, along with cohabitants Paul Cohen, 56, and Jimi Suma, 37.

Upon conducting their warrantless search, deputies found 171 growing marijuana plants and 200 pounds of processed marijuana bud, which they valuated (improbably) at $400,000. The cops also found a half gram of cocaine, one-and-a-half grams of methamphetamine and 451 grams of hash, which they (more probably) estimated to be worth $3,000. Packaging materials, scales, pay and owe sheets and over $3,000 in cash were all found, suggesting a drug sales business.

In the process of their search, HCSO personnel discovered that Baldridge had another home on the 2400 block of Eye Street in the Sunset neighborhood of Arcata. Upon arriving at the house, the cops found another 20 pounds of processed bud, again improbably estimated at $40,000. Three large garbage bags of pot leaves and two handguns were also discovered — with one of those guns reported stolen, according to a press statement by HCSO lieutenant Steve Knight.

Charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, cultivation and possession for sale of pot, drug house and narcotics possession were all leveled on Baldridge; Suma was booked on an outstanding felony warrant for violating a probation issued by the Superior Court in Mendocino County; Cohen was popped for possession of meth. All three were transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility without incident.

Members of the public with information regarding this case or related criminal activity are encouraged to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or their Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Jury also finds McKinleyville man guilty of threatening witnesses

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A notorious murder trial ended today with the conviction of a McKinleyville man who killed his friend in a drunken rage last year.

The jury in the courtroom of Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Marilyn Miles issued a guilty verdict for second degree murder against 23-year-old Jacob Charles Steele. He was found to have intentionally killed Jerry George by shooting him with his handgun during an argument at Steele’s McKinleyville apartment on Jan. 22, 2011.

The convicted man was also found guilty of criminal threats, stemming from statements he made to a witness who testified against him in the case.

“I am grateful for the hard work of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department, the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office Investigative Bureau and the jury,” Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos stated in the release. “And I extend my deepest condolences to Jerry George’s family.”

The DA prosecuted the case personally, and will be on hand for Steele’s sentencing on Mar. 13 at 2 p.m. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Bartender, five patrons taken down; decoys pop two other establishments

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A local pool hall drawing complaints of disorderly conduct, fights and assaults received a visit from undercover cops this weekend.

At about 1:17 a.m. early Saturday, the Eureka Police Department teamed up with the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to deploy “plain clothes enforcement” personnel to Ragg’s Rack Room on Fifth Street. Not surprisingly, the investigators saw drunk people — however in this case, the patrons were being served even while having difficulty navigating the barroom itself, a violation of state law.

After sitting around through last call to observe the “numerous extremely intoxicated individuals in and about the business,” EPD arrested five patrons for public intoxication. They also charged the bartender, Eureka resident Stormy Marinella, with suspicion of serving an obviously intoxicated individual, a violation of California Business and Professions Code 25602(a). During her arrest search, the cops found Marinella to be in possession of prescription narcotics which did not belong to her.

With all six arrestees transported to county jail, the administrative investigation into Ragg’s by ABC is ongoing, according to the EPDs Ed Wilson.

This late-night bust came on the heels of an ABC sweep on Friday where 29 local businesses were subjected to undercover stings; the “minor decoy” tested whether store clerks would sell to an underage customer, while the “shoulder tap” sought adults who purchased alcohol for a minor upon request. The sweep was funded by a grant project from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Only one “shoulder tap” turned up an arrest, where a Eureka resident was popped for furnishing the decoy with an alcoholic beverage after being approached outside an area establishment. The suspect was cited and released with a notice to appear in Superior Court.

At the Patriot Gasoline station on Highway 101 near the south end of Eureka, as well as at Babetta’s Restaurant on Myrtle Avenue, minors were able to purchase alcohol, leading to the citation of those businesses’ employees. They face a maximum of a $250 fine and/or 24-32 hours of community service, while the establishments may face administrative action against their liquor license from ABC.

These 27 businesses passed the test and did not furnish the decoy minor with alcohol:

1). Performance Fuels (1125 4th Street)
2). Shell Gasoline (1310 5th Street)
3). N&S Liquors (1505 5th Street)
4). Chevron (2806 Broadway)
5). Texaco (3505 Broadway)
6). Broadway Gas-N-Deli (4050 Broadway)
7). Performance Fuels (1007 Broadway)
8). Patriot Gasoline (1723 Broadway)
9). Stop and Shop Market (39 Wabash)
10). C&V Market (1634 F Street)
11). Handee Market (3500 F Street)
12). Harris and K Market (3103 K Street)
13). Harris Street Market (411 West Harris)
14). Shell Gasoline (1434 Myrtle Ave)
15). Gas-N-Go (1711 4th Street)
16). Courthouse Market (905 4th Street)
17). Fourth Street Shell (2111 4th Street)
18). Plaza 76 / Circle K (2480 6th Street)
19). 14th Street 76 (1411 Broadway)
20). California Market (2100 California)
21). Safeway (2555 Harris Street)
22). Walgreens (2525 Harris Street)
23). United Gas (1679 Myrtle Ave)
24). Three Corners Grocery (5945 Myrtle Ave)
25). Harris Street Shell (111 West Harris)
26). Round Table Pizza (2810 E Street)
27). Winco Foods (636 West Harris)

For the curiously aware of Humboldt County…

By Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

SNIPPETS, RUMORS, HEARSAY MURMURS, AND THE LINKS:

WARM AND DRY and the cotton is high.  The weather has been unusually pleasant.  Now is the time to prepare your garden soil for planting next month.  Don’t put your plants in too early.  You can give them all the care and love you want, but the garden simply won’t grow until conditions become warmer.  There’s still a few frost days left.

REEFER MADNESS HOME INVASION:  From the HCSO Press Release Bureau and Bad Karma Division:

On Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 5:53 AM, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a 911 call from a male victim reporting a home invasion robbery that just occurred at his residence, 3000 block of Thomas Road, Salmon Creek.

Deputies were dispatched to the residence and arrived at the remote home at about 6:15 AM. Deputies interviewed the victim and discovered the following: At about 4:30 AM, the male victim was sleeping in his bed beside his wife. They both were awaked when their dog began barking and noticed four (4) men had entered the residence. The men were all wearing combinations of ski masks and hoods, each wearing latex type gloves.

As the suspects entered the home, they were yelling, “It’s the police, get up!” One of the suspects removed the male victim from the bed and forced him to the floor. The suspect “zip tied” the male victim’s hands behind his back. The suspects then began demanding to know where the marijuana and money was located. The male victim led the suspects to approximately thirty (30) pounds of dried marijuana.

The suspects continued to demand money from the victim, who led them to a small security safe. When the victim could not remember the combination to the safe, he was struck in the face with an unknown object or fist, causing a moderate injury near his eye. Ultimately the safe was opened and no cash was found. During the entire event, the suspects threatened to kill the victims and/or burn down the house. The suspects were estimated to be in the home for about an hour. During that time, they rummaged the house and took an estimated $3,000 to $4,000 in cash.

Prior to leaving the residence, the suspects used duct tape to bind the female victim. They next used duct tape and bound the male victim. The two victims were then bound together (back to back) in a seated position on the floor with duct tape. The suspects then entered the victim’s newly purchased Subaru and drove approximately 1.5 miles to the locked gate on the victim’s property. The suspects were not able to get the stolen vehicle through the gate and left it abandoned in the roadway.

The male victim was able to unbind himself within minutes of the suspects leaving his home and call 911 for assistance. There is no description of the suspects or description of a vehicle that may have been used to travel to the victim’s residence.

At this time there are no evidentiary leads to the identity of the suspects, but the case remains under investigation. The Sheriff’s Office is reaching out to the residents of the Thomas Road area to contact the Sheriff’s Office with any information regarding this robbery (707-445-7251).

BUSTED IN RENO AGAIN.  At least you weren’t stuck in Lodi.  The HSU Lumberjack and Kaci Poor fills us in with their student  pot piece du jour. That bust paled in comparison, however, to the one in Mendo County. A hundred pounds and a hundred grand just doesn’t seem like very much nowadays.  Some people got to have it.  Some people really need it. What we do for the love of Money on the dark side of the moon. 

HOW LOW WOULD YOU GO?  Scoundrels and skullduggery know no limits, especially when it comes to stealing garbage,  Mr. Sims reports.  Share the love but take out the trash. Too many have become another brick in the wall,  Comfortably Numb and not giving a whit about others or themselves.

THE BIG LITTLE COMMUNITY we’re impressed with. The Willow Creek Community Services District tackled many issues in their first meeting of the year, as this extensive article by Kay Heitkamp shows. The complexity and issues taken on by the members was nothing less than astounding. One citizen remarked, “The WCCSD accomplished more in one meeting than Humboldt County planners do in three or four meetings.”

Many things caught our eye: notice that Redwood Region Economic Development Commission Director Gregg Foster is retiring; ambulance services from Hoopa to Mad River Hospital costing the Hoopa Valley $500,000 annually, resolving complaints of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s reportedly slow response times (or was it the lack of communication? Opinions vary), infrastructure upgrades and repair monies needed, and a wide variety of other issues. One trait consistently illustrated in Ms. Heitkamp’s article is that this community pulls together. Everyone chips in what they can offer.

Humboldt County 5th District Supervisor Ryan Sundberg should be proud of the Valley, the WCCSD, and the community’s efforts getting more things done with less. More self sufficiency and less bureaucracy, that is.

A CENTURY OF BUSINESS:  The Times-Standard articles by Donna Tam and Grant Scott-Goforth report that Harper Motors and the Minor Theatre have hit 100 years of being in business.  To curiously note, there are others who have done the same thing:  the hardworking dairy families of the Eel River Valley.  Why is Ferndale the second wealthiest region per capita in Humboldt County, behind Trinidad?  Their farms, houses, mortgages and herds were paid off long ago– and they’ve enjoyed 120 years of steady milk money coming in.

HELPING HOOPA: Two Rivers Tribune’s Allie Hostler penned a thoughtful memoriam for Dr. Karl Fisher, who passed away January 24. Well known in Humboldt County’s counseling and mental health circles, Dr. Fisher loved Hoopa Valley and everyone he met along the way.

Ms. Hostler wrote, “Because of the hundreds of lives he touched in the Hoopa community, the Human Services Division has arranged a remembrance get-together to be held on Friday, February 24 at noon at the Community Center (formerly Church of the Mountains) on Loop Road in Hoopa.”

Ms. Hostler also included a reprint of Dr. Fisher’s article, “12 Steps to Take If Your Child Has Problems at School, “ aside with her column regarding bullying issues.

ONE MODEL FOR ENDING HUNGER: Dr. Josh Strange, in his article for the Two Rivers Tribune, wrote:

Being able to keep food cheap and accessible for the poor while increasing the income of farmers, especially small scale family farmers, appears to be opposing goals.

But what if I told you that a city with over four million people had found answers and achieved these opposing goals? What if such a city made chronic hunger a thing of the past and allowed small family run farms to thrive like never before?

Hard to imagine right, especially when you can see lots of destitute people in modern, wealthy cities like San Francisco, or heck even here in Humboldt County. And yet it’s true—such a place really exists—it’s called Belo Horizonte, the fourth largest city in Brazil.

You can catch his story—and that of Belo Horizonte—in his article here. Ending hunger at a penny per day per resident seems like a good return and a worthy investment.

It’s a Beautiful Day and a Beautiful World if we make it so.  Don’t let it get away.

TIME TO START RUNNING: Eric Kirk’s SoHum Parlance II site reminds us that Yes, Rex Bohn Does have an Opponent for the race of 1st District Supervisor. Her name is Annette De Modena. She has a website.

Mr. Kirk suggests, “If she wants to win this race, she had better start running. Or walking. Kerrigan beat Rex by walking to every home in Eureka. If you don’t have the money, that’s a pretty good way to meet people.”

Well said, Mr. Kirk. And we thank you for adding the Sentinel to your site.

THIN MINTS, SAMOAS, AND TAGALONGS: Expect the Girl Scouts and their cookies coming by to a location near you, starting on February 13 and continuing through March.

ONE LOVE, ONE HEART: Let’s get together and feel all right.

Reggae on the River tickets go on sale March 1st.

The Mateel Community Center organizers say, “This year’s festival will take place on Saturday & Sunday July 21st and 22nd, 2012 at the Benbow Lake State Recreation Area. Advanced tickets go on sale March 1st, and prices and artists will be announced soon.

Set before a backdrop of ancient redwoods on the banks of the majestic Eel River, this 2-day celebration of the best in reggae and world music has been a favorite festival tradition for over a quarter century and offers attendees an opportunity to soak up the irie northern Cali vibes while enjoying a diverse array of top-class international artists, vendors, and kids activities in a family friendly environment. We look forward to seeing you at the 28th annual Reggae On The River!”

Right on. Yah Mon. We suggest reserving/making your lodging/camping accommodations now and getting your tickets March 1st while they last. Folks, we have two kinds of people: the quick and irie-less. One love and all. Peace, Humboldt.

ONE LOVE, AGAIN: Love has been showered by the Ambrosini School and the Cuddeback Kids Care Club. Nice. Sudents taking flight,  Learning to Fly with their own wings.

MORE LOVE AND NOTE TO SELF: don’t forget Valentine’s day like you almost did last year.  Get your garden ready, sign the GMO ballot initiative, don’t jeopardize your family or get ripped off, lock up your garbage if you must, buy girl scout cookies, look after your business, help the poor and your community, and remember your loved ones.

Yeah, that’s about it.  The moral of the story?  Easy.  One world, one love, and do the right thing.

You only have so much Time.
 

THE WEEKEND CALENDAR:

Happenings, events, groups, walks, other hip or rad stuff

Friday, February 10

Saturday, February 11

Sunday, February 12

Other entertainment can also be found here

Movies, reviews, times and trailers are here.

WORD

Woody Allen said,

“To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer. To suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy then is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer, or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you’re getting this down.”

Five arrested, nearly 1,000 pounds of garbage removed

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

Old Town got a bit cleaner today with the new Neighborhood Oriented Policing unit already swinging into action.

In cooperation with the Eureka Police Department’s Old Town Foot Patrol officer and others, NOP swept the greater business district in response to numerous complaints from residents and business owners. Primary targets on the hit list were public intoxication, prostitution, illegal dumping and unlawful camping.

Donavan Powers

By the end of the day, 15 suspects were cited on various code violations, with five arrests made, including one against a repeat offender that’s been arrested for causing mischief in Old Town before — Donavan Powers, 42, a Eureka transient whose prior convictions include child molestation. He also goes by the aliases of Donavan Anderson and Donavan Adairs.

Also arrested were 3o-year-old Robert Moon on an outstanding arrest warrant for resisting arrest and 34-year-old Jillian Burke on outstanding drug possession charges; 27-year-old Hamzah “Adam” Garay and 39-year-old Christopher Morgan were popped for violating the terms of their probation.

Just about 1,000 pounds of garbage were removed from an illegal campsite as well, according to a press statement by EPD sergeant Adam Laird.

Jillian Burke

Adam Garay

Christopher Morgan

Robert Moon

EPD position to focus on ‘quality of life’ complaints about growers, squatters and partiers

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

Taking down meth dealers and escaped parolees apparently isn’t enough for one Problem Oriented Policing officer.

The Eureka Police Department announced today that they’ve kicked off a new Neighborhood Oriented Policing program to compliment the POP unit — a force which has landed a number of high-profile busts across the city leading to the arrest of over a dozen suspects charged with serious or violent felonies. Interim Police Chief Murl Harpham stated in a release that the expansion was made possible by the transfer of a POP-assigned officer to become the new NOP investigator, along with a reserve officer also reassigned from POP to NOP.

Yet unlike the POP, the NOP doesn’t seem quite as interested in hard-core criminals.

POP served a search warrant on an Elizabeth Street house in 2010. Property was subsequently cleaned up with "problem tenants removed," according to EPD.

“Their primary focus will be on solving neighborhood nuisance, crime, and quality of life problems not sufficiently being addressed by standard patrol-based responses,” Harpham stated in a release today. “It is anticipated NOP will focus much of its attention on Eureka’s West Side, which has been the origin of many such complaints.”

Although complaints about Eureka’s “tweaker” problem, lack of pedestrian safety and a recent rash of robberies are ongoing, the NOP apparently looks to go after nonviolent, low-level violations such as loud parties with excessive noise, squatters in abandoned buildings, transient camps and “homeless issues,” not to mention the ubiquitous references to grow houses and medical cannabis.

Harpam also says the NOP will work as the enforcement arm of the City’s Community Improvement Team (which includes the City Attorney’s office and a building inspector from the Community Development Department), and will tackle all sorts of general “nuisance and quality of life problems.” They’ll even hold community-based meetings to “improve neighborhood health.”

The return of three EPD cops from overseas military deployment by the California Army National Guard was credited for freeing up the manpower needed for the NOP — as one of the returned officers has resumed his EPD duty as a POP unit member.

A NOP/POP investigator investigates a homeless camp behind the mall in December 2011.

Harpham anticipates that, given sufficient funding for increased staffing levels, the department will hire a full-time NOP investigator, and return the current NOP officer to his original duties in POP.

Charges mostly concern drug, probation and parole violations

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A total of 15 suspects were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday on various misdemeanor and felony warrants in an anti-gang sweep coordinated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Part of their Safe Streets Violent Crime Initiative, the FBI North Bay Regional Gang Task Force descended on Humboldt County in coordination with the U.S. Marshall’s Office, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation/Parole, the Humboldt County Probation Department, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the Eureka Police Department — in all, 22 agents and investigators executed a series of parole and probation searches all around the county to target previously identified members of violent street and prison gangs.

“SSTFs focus primarily upon street gang and drug-related violence and address specific violent crime problems through the teaming of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors,” EPD sergeant Steve Watson stated in a release.

The SSVCI was established in 1992 by the FBI to allow its field offices to address street gangs and drug-related violence through long-term, proactive task forces. There are now 160 such task forces operating across the country, primarily focused on racketeering, drug conspiracy and firearms violations.

Of the 15 suspects, arrested on various controlled substance possession, drug paraphernalia and parole or probation violation charges, ten of them were documented gang members, allege law enforcement. Those arrested include:

Jeremy Dean Wildman (moniker: Looney”), age 35 of Eureka, was arrested for possession of marijuana for sale after investigators found nearly 5 pounds of processed marijuana and multiple digital scales in his apartment on the 100 block of West Del Norte Street, Eureka.

Scott Ryan Campbell (moniker: “Droopy”), age 35 of Eureka, was arrested for a felony warrant alleging violation of his post release community supervision.  Campbell was contacted with Wildman at his West Del Norte Street residence.

Anthony Manuel Burgess (moniker: “Creeper”), age 19, was arrested for violation of his probation at a cottage on the 2900 block of California Street, Eureka.

Corey Allen Cole (moniker: “Sinner”), age 29, was arrested for violation of his parole at the same cottage where investigators encountered Burgess.

Zachery Jacob Chapman, age 34, was arrested in McKinleyville for a violation of his parole.

Michael Thomas Meyers (moniker: “Flaco”), age 34, was arrested for violation of his parole at an apartment on the 700 block of 10th Street, Eureka.

Cessna reportedly stalled, then took a dive at Dinsmore Airport

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

The pilot of a light aircraft was airlifted to the Central Valley for medical treatment after his plane crashed at Dinsmore Airport midday today.

At about 12:30 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a nose-first crash of a plane with two people aboard. Deputies and medical personnel were immediately dispatched to the remote rural airport, along with a Trinity County Sheriff’s deputy due to the proximity of the airport to the neighboring county.

Upon their arrival, HCSO personnel learned that the plane, a 1963-vintage Cessna Model 172 E, crashed as it was landing, possibly due to an in-flight stall. Two Caltrans workers on Highway 36 witnessed the crash, rushing to aid the injured pilot and passenger, pulling them both from the plane before it caught fire and burned.

The pilot, a 65-year-old flight instructor from Garberville, was airlifted to Redding Mercy Hospital for treatment of his broken bones; the 30-year-old passenger was a student pilot from Redway, and according to HCSO lieutenant Steve Knight, he received only minor injuries.

Short-lived success at Bear River Casino ends in assault, robbery

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A local man’s successful night of gambling ended with a trip to the hospital yesterday, with several suspects involved in a vicious assault under Fernbridge.

At about 11:10 p.m. yesterday, emergency service personnel and a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the Renner Fuel Station, where a 42-year-old man was found bleeding from his head and face and also had a swollen left eye.

According to the unnamed victim, he had enjoyed some cash winnings while gambling earlier at Bear River Casino, and called a friend named “Brodie” at 10:50 p.m. for a ride. When his supposed friend arrived, the victim got into Brodie’s grey 1980s Toyota Celica, which was also occupied by an unknown blond female. Although the victim asked to be driven to Fortuna, “Brodie” drove as far as Fernbridge and told the victim to get out of the car, after which “Brodie” drove off.

A short time later, according to the report disclosed by lieutenant Steve Knight in a press statement, an unknown male and two females contacted the victim and forced him to walk under Fernbridge. Once underneath the bridge, the male assailant struck the victim with a bat while the females kicked him repeatedly. After assaulting him, the assailants stole the victim’s wallet with his cash and cell phone — they also allegedly threatened to shoot the victim if he got up, although no firearm was displayed by the suspects.

Further descriptions of the attackers were not forthcoming due to the darkness, and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Members of the public with information regarding this case or criminal related activity are encouraged to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or their Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

For the Curiously Aware of Humboldt County…

By Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

THREE SIDES OF THE SAME COIN:

Investigators are continuing to investigate an explosion and fire Tuesday night that burned a Church Street apartment building in Eureka leaving an 18-year-old in critical condition with severe burns on 60 percent of his body and a female inhabitant suffering from inhalation burns, the Times-Standard reported. They were transported by helicopter to a medical burn unit at UC Davis Medical Center. Much of the building burned, leaving 8-10 individuals homeless and damages of nearly $500,000. Humboldt Bay Firefighters fighting the blaze came upon several butane canisters and a device for extracting concentrated THC from marijuana inside the residence.

Fire investigators don’t think the hashish extractor was the source of the actual fire but noted any spark or flame could have ignited exposed gas within the apartment. A hashish extractor device is filled with marijuana and butane is forced through it removing the THC. The substance that drips out of the device is the concentrated THC, or hashish. Individuals using these extraction devices often work in areas with poor ventilation, and the butane fumes can pose very dangerous hazards.

The source of the blaze is under investigation.

* * * * * * *

$2.9 million in drug asset seizures for the past three years has the Humboldt County Drug Task Force basking in some serious money. Where does all the confiscated drug dough go? Perhaps the $170 per night poolside hotel accommodations for Drug Task Force members and their families near the Happiest Place on Earth—Disneyland– was a reasonable bon voyage training venture. Or the $400 custom-made boots? How did the DTF spend the rest of the $1.5 million in seized funds over the past five years anyway?

The North Coast Journal’s Zach St. George looked into the spending records and the expensive highlife of Humboldt’s drug cops in his article, Drug Money. Humboldt County seized 12 times more money per capita in forfeiture than California does as a whole. Two-thirds of that money goes to local law enforcement agencies in the County, St. George says.

“Last year the Sheriff’s Office took home $200,000, the District Attorney’s office $100,000, and The Drug Task Force got $500,000,” St. George reported.  The North Coast Journal also kindly listed the names and amounts of Humboldt County’s 25 largest seizures  for you to know.

* * * * * * *

On a similar note, exactly how large is the impact of marijuana on Humboldt County’s economy? How much money does a marijuana grower make? What’s life like for “trimmers” – the itinerant farm workers of the marijuana world? A lot of figures have been bandied about.  Humboldt’s readers and listeners demand answers for their enquiring minds.

These questions and supposedly more are explored in “The Humboldt Chronicles,” a radio documentary series from Lost Coast Communications starting February 2. Hosted by Southern Humboldt journalist Kym Kemp and produced by Mike Dronkers and Chuck Rogers, the series explores how marijuana cultivation plays a role in Humboldt County life – as economic driver, a touchstone of culture, an environmental burden (or boon), a source of violent crime, and a medical cure-all, depending on your point of view.

If you missed the Humboldt Chronicles debut, you can catch the interviews with a banker, grower, business owner, and economist in the podcast replay here.

* * * * * * *

SNIPPETS, RUMORS, HEARSAY MURMURS, AND THE LINKS: “Money”

Money doesn’t talk. Talk is cheap. Money screams.

OCCUPY THE OCCUPY: Time for a counter-revolution? According to the Times-Standard, “A rally is being held Friday afternoon, February from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Humboldt County Courthouse by community members who want the front of the courthouse cleaned up and unfenced. Organizer Julie Salminen said the purpose of the rally is to show the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and Eureka City Council that people want the area restored. ‘We want it cleaned up over there,’ Salminen said.”

“More than 250 people are anticipated to attend the rally. Salminen said people are tired of the occupiers that have taken over the courthouse entrance. She said courthouse workers have been accosted and some have even been assaulted. She said people should be allowed to protest but that things have gotten out of control. ‘It’s costing a lot of money with everything that’s going on,’ Salminen said about the fencing and law enforcement patrols.”

We hope protesters and counter-protesters keep a safe distance from one another and cooler heads will prevail. Protesting, like politics, has become the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.

WHO KNOWS WHAT’S GOING ON: KINS radio’s Brian Papstein sat down and interviewed Eureka citizen and business magnate Robin Arkley. You can listen to it here . According to the Humboldt Herald’s take of the talk shop interview, Mr. Arkley says the Marina Center will see Coastal Commission progress by fall and Security National will be hiring 100 more employees over the next 18 months. He also offers his view on unions, the Keystone pipeline project, Mitt Romney, and liberals taking advantage (though the words ‘rape’ and ‘nailing’ were reportedly used) of today’s youth. We suggest listening to the interview and making up one’s own informed assumptions.

A big mountain of sugar is too much for one man. We can see now why God portions it out in those little packets for the rest of us.

ERNIE’S Place gives readers a brief progress report for restoring some portion of Southern Humboldt’s $450,000 in school bus transportation funding following last week’s road rage protest by residents, students, and staff at the State Capitol. Don’t mess with the SoHum parents. They’re not about to let schooling interfere with an education.

RAIL RECALL: Fred’s Humboldt Blog thinks “Governor Brown should face a recall over his continued fiscal support of the High Speed Rail project. The state has a continuing large deficit and supposedly can’t pay for what many consider essential government services, yet he steadfastly supports HSR,” Fred says. Originally voter approved to the tune of $9 billion, the High Speed Rail project could skyrocket upwards of $133 billion if it gathers traction. Meg Whitman will undoubtedly foist another media blitz of obnoxiously expensive radio and television ads upon us again should Fred’s recall efforts succeed. Thank you, Fred.

JUST SAY NO to unincorporated kids. The McKinleyville Community Services District voted Wednesday not to designate Pierson Park as the site of a skate park for kids, much to the consternation of supporters. The MCSD said it’s simply keeping all of its options available for a skate park site to be located anywhere the District deems worthy. Skate enthusiasts who raised almost $100,000 in donations are understandably confused by the adult’s setback. You can be young without money, but you can’t be old without it. Where’s major domo skate park politico Jeff Leonard when you need him most?

CO-OPTED: The North Coast Co-op General Manager David Lippmann reported the Eureka and Arcata stores have been experiencing annual losses of $275,000. He reports there’s still nearly $1 million in long-term debt from the construction of the Arcata store “ten or twelve years ago.” Payroll expenses, taxes, and benefits consume almost $4 million per year, or 26% of operating expenses. Profit margins on food are a slim 2 percent at best after the bills have been paid, Mr. Lippmann reports. The good news is the Co-op is a $30 million a year business. The bad news is sales are $600,000 below target. Their 2011-12 year-to-date earnings—profit—amounted to a paltry $59,000.

Relax, Co-op members, it’s much worse than you think. Given the consistently exorbitant price of the Co-op’s food and worker’s benefits, they’ll do what they’ve always reliably done:  stay cool, calm, …and collect. Money flies like an arrow and fruit flies like a banana.

OUCH, THAT SMARTS: Forgoing your PG&E smart meter may cost you up to $195. And that’s just for starters. The California Public Utilities Commission approved a proposal Wednesday to charge residential customers an initial fee of $75 plus $10 each month if they don’t want to have the wireless ‘smart meters’ installed in their homes. Low income customers would pay $70, an initial fee of $10 plus an extra $5 per month to avoid installation of the wireless devices.

Money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately, PG&E loves your money and their smart meters.

BETTER NEWS FOR JOB SEEKERS IN 2012:  Companies are saying the job market is getting better and workers are saying it’s already kicked into high gear.  Friday’s jobs report showed a national gain of 243,000 jobs and a separate survey using households to determine the unemployment rate showed far stronger job gains.  2 million jobs have been added in the past six months, the best job gain since August 2005 and preceding the Great Recession beginning in late 2007.  The unemployment rate has dropped for the past five consecutive months.  Friday’s Dow Jones Industrial Average roared to 12,862 making it the highest close since May of 2008.

When pressed, Newt Gingrinch begrudgingly told reporters, “If it makes you happy, give him (Obama) some credit.”  Misery loves company.

SPANK THE BANK AND STASH YOUR CA$H: In response to November’s call for a nationwide “Bank Transfer Day,” about 610,000 consumers switched from a big bank to a credit union or smaller community bank. According to a recent research survey, roughly 11 percent of the 5.6 million people switching banks during the three-month period cited “Bank Transfer Day” as their reason. While it certainly didn’t produce the mass exodus of customers that many banks may have feared, it was nonetheless significant. The number of “angry bank-switchers” leaving their bank was nearly triple for those walking out for similar reasons in 2010.

Although one credit union reporting the November publicity prompted a jump in inquiries and customers opening 1,500 new accounts– a 30 percent increase compared to 2010– it’s not clear exactly how big banks were affected by Bank Transfer Day. None are releasing figures. Wells Fargo reported a 3.2 percent net increase in consumer checking deposits for the fourth quarter last year, compared with 2010. Bank of America didn’t even bother to report transfer details for consumer checking accounts and declined to comment.

Analysts say banks are still set to raise fees increasing their bottom line. Banks will still loan you money if you can prove you don’t need it. Raises and bonuses for everyone– except you.

FOLLOW THE MONEY:  The City of Eureka was awarded a $26,000 judgement from notorious slumlords  Floyd and Betty Squires. We hope they don’t raise the rent.  From the City’s press release: 

The Humboldt County Superior Court has granted the City of Eureka’s motion for Attorneys’ Fees against Floyd and Betty Squires. The City was awarded the entire amount requested of $26,521.26. The City requested reimbursement of the fees it had incurred when it was forced to defend a lawsuit filed by the Squires against the City claiming that the City had no basis to enforce code violations for substandard housing at numerous properties owned by the Squires.

The City continues to move forward in its lawsuit against the Squires for substandard housing at numerous properties within the City of Eureka.

ABOVE IT ALL: Fortuna’s local blog, Above the Fold has come up with their ‘possible solution’ for dealing with the unsightly houseless issue in the Friendly City: “Send the building inspector out to the houseless camps on Fortuna Boulevard and levee fines for the many rule infractions–including improper tent installation and lack of plumbing.” Yup. Fees, fines, and money will certainly do the trick for those tentees not having any. We pine for the good old days when tar paper shacks and real wood shanties were in vogue.

A SLUMBER TO REMEMBER: Don’t snooze overnight in your vehicle in Arcata. Not only is it a crime, it’s a business, too.  An expensive proposition for snoring scofflaws who’ve had it too good for too long, it’s time to wake up, smell the coffee, and pay up for drowsy misdeeds and sleepytime misbehavior. Just ante up like these visitors did, posting their Humboldt forty-wink memories on the Ollie blog site. Their $35 fine—each—mushroomed to $155 after the gratuitous fees were tacked on shamelessly by the scales of justice:

The Criminal Justice Business

As we mentioned in a previous post, we recently got tickets (one each) for sleeping in our vehicle in Arcata. $155 each. We called the phone number on the ticket immediately, and were told that our information wouldn’t be uploaded into their computer system for at least two weeks — we’d have to stay in Arcata and try again. Two weeks passed, and we called back. We scheduled a date to appear in court, hoping to have the fine reduced.

We appeared at the Superior Court in Eureka yesterday, and the clerk (who was friendly, at least) informed us that we’d be able to meet with a court-appointed attorney before seeing a judge. Upon entering the courtroom, however, the judge told everyone– about 10 people with different infractions– that we did not have the right to a court-appointed attorney, and that we each had two, and only two, choices:

1) plead guilty and pay the fine in full, or,

2) plead not guilty and schedule another court appearance in a month or so.

We were, needless to say, really ready to leave Humboldt County, so we pled guilty and were charged $155 each.

Oddly, when we spoke with the judge, he told us that the fine for “camping in a vehicle- first offense” was no more than $50. Why are we being charged $155, then? Court fees. What court fees? Well the friendly clerk broke it down for us, and because I’m pissed, I’m going to type it all out for you:

$4.00 Surcharge

$1.76 County general fund

$3.92 DNA Add’l (?)

$3.92 St Crt Facility

$3.92 EMS Add’l

$1.96 DNA Add’l

$1.96 DNA Funding

$5.88 SB1732 Penalties

$13.72 State Penalty Fund

$5.88 County Penalty Assessment

$3.92 Courthouse Construction Fund

$5.88 Criminal Justice Facilities Fund

$3.92 Emergency Med Services

$17.84 Arcata General Fund

$1.52 State Automation Fund

$40.00 Court Security

$35.00 Criminal Infraction (the actual fine for sleeping in a vehicle)

I was last on the judge’s list, so by the time I was done speaking with him (which took about 30 seconds), the room had totally cleared out. As I joined Max and we walked toward the doors, the judge leaned over his desk and said cheerily to his staff, “Well, that went well!” Yeah, in about 10 minutes those jerks made several thousand dollars.

In case you are curious, we have never had this problem before. Ollie (the bus) was parked on a busy public street on Capitol Hill in Seattle for two weeks, and cops never bothered us; our only night-time callers in that spot were two drunk neighbors who thought Max and I were the coooolest people they’d ever met — they cooked up a whole dinner in their apartment across the street and delivered it to the bus, where we ate with them and drank wine and exchanged gifts and stories.

-Rachel

LET’S PUT MONEY ASIDE, FORGET OUR WORRIES, AND LEAVE YOU ON A HAPPIER NOTE

Proof positive that pets do love and  remember you.  Christian the lion does.  Whether you’re rich or poor, it doesn’t matter.

Outside of a dog, a book is probably Man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read anyway. The great pleasure of a dog is that you can make a fool of yourself and not only will he not scold you, he’ll make  a fool of himself, too.

THE WEEKEND CALENDAR:

Friday, February 3

Saturday, February 4

Sunday, February 5

Movies, reviews, times and trailers are here.

WORD

Reminiscing on his early Vaudeville days traveling with family, Groucho Marx said,

“We had a budget. That’s a way of going broke methodically. Because we were a kid act, we traveled at half-fare to save money, despite the fact that we were all around twenty. Minnie insisted we were thirteen. ‘That kid of yours is in the dining car smoking a cigar,’ the conductor told her. ‘One is in the washroom shaving. And another is drinking whiskey at the bar.’ Minnie shook her head sadly. ‘They grow up so fast.’”

Bayshore Mall branch’s cash grabbed by allegedly armed man

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

The Criminal Investigative Services unit of the Eureka Police Department is on the lookout for a suspect who robbed a local credit union at the Bayshore Mall today.

At about 3:33 p.m. today, a suspect approached a teller at the Coast Central Credit Union branch with a note stating that he was armed — although the exact words used are being withheld from the public for investigative purposes, according to a press statement by detective Ron Harpham.

Despite the fact that no weapon was seen, the teller complied with the note’s instructions and the suspect fled with an unknown amount of cash north in the Bayshore Mall interior towards Sears, then east through the exit hallway between Sears and the bank.

Witnesses describe the suspect as a 30-year-old white male, 150 pounds and about 5’5″ in height. He was also described as clean shaven with medium-length brown hair and black rimmed, square glasses. He was wearing a black ball cap, black leather dress jacket, a bluish button up shirt with a black tie, dark slacks and dark running shoes.

Members of the public who know the suspect or witnessed him, either at the mall or around town, are asked to contact Harpham at (707) 441-4305.

Guns, pot, 141 empty butane bottles near day care center

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

Three Hydesville residents are in the slammer on half a million dollars bail after an alleged drug manufacturing house was taken down yesterday morning.

At about 7:45 a.m. on Jan. 31, the Community Response Unit of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant issued by the local Superior Court at a residence at the 3100 block of Greybrook Lane in Hydesville. Law enforcement acted on a series of complaints about drug activity at the home, which is located near a daycare center, according to a press statement by lieutenant Steve Knight.

Upon entering the residence, deputies found 113 growing marijuana plants, 33 pounds of bud packaged for sale, a scale, a rifle, a handgun and $3,800 in cash, along with items consistent with hash manufacturing, including 141 empty butane bottles.

The charges stacked up against the three residents included manufacturing of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale. Arrested and imprisoned in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility were 31-year-old Matthew Gary Caston, 58-year-old Thomas Dennis Miranda and31-year-old Sarah Rachel Miranda, with $500,000 in bail set.

Members of the public with information regarding this case or criminal related activity are encouraged to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or their Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Suspect Nu Yang’s meth and $3,000 cash seized, along with his girlfriend

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

The Problem Oriented Policing unit of the Eureka Police Department rounded out January with another drug sales bust today.

During one of their narcotic sales investigations, POP detectives were tipped off concerning suspected methamphetamine sales by a 33-year-old Hmong male named Nu Yang. When contacted by phone by an undercover cop earlier today, Yang, a Eureka resident, expressed his willingness to meet up to sell meth, according to a press statement by sergeant Steve Watson.

Yang was found at about 3:30 p.m. outside a business on the 1600 block of Myrtle Avenue, dutifully arriving on-time with the presumed drug buyer. Arriving to meet him instead were a team of POP investigators, who located the suspect seated in his car. Yang was detained on suspicion of attempted controlled substance sales.

Yang’s girlfriend, 22-year-old Sierra Lee Camilli, was inside the business when detectives arrived and tried (but failed) to hied in the bathroom. She was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant, namely the revocation of her post-release community supervision agreement.

To handle the drug detection duties, EPD called in a K-9 handler with Maggie, the narcotic detection dog on duty. As the canine proceeded to sniff the exterior of Yang’s car, she suddenly diverted to where Yang was seated in the backseat of an EPD cruiser, alerting upon his person. The cops subsequently searched the suspect, locating a large plastic baggie containing 1.65 ounces of meth under Yang’s clothing. The drugs were seized, along with over $3,000 in cash as evidence of suspected illicit drug sales.

Both Camilli and Yang were transported to county jail; the later was booked on possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation and attempted sale of a controlled substance, and felony conspiracy charges.

Members of the public with information concerning suspected drug sales activity occurring in Eureka are encouraged to call the POP unit at (707) 441-4373 or the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at (707) 444-8095.

“No Pass Rock” was passed, with discomfiting consequences

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

Three Southern Humboldt residents were lifted to safety in a 22-hour rescue over the weekend after becoming stranded in a ravine south of Shelter Cove beach.

At about 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a cell phone call from stranded hikers who had gone for a walk along the beach south of the town of Shelter Cove, where they went past “No Pass Rock” and the tide came in to block their return. Upon their attempt to hike up and over the rock when it became dark, the three hikers slipped down a hillside into a ravine, which they were unable to climb up or down to escape.

The HCSO immediately initiated a Search and Rescue call out, as well as requesting assistance from the Shelter cove Volunteer Fire Department, which activated the Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team, who responded to the area with volunteers from Shelter Cove.

Upon their arrival, rescue personnel evaluated the situation and spoke with the rescued hikers, who were uninjured and determined to be in a safe place. They decided to wait until daybreak to attempt a rescue due to safety concerns; a helicopter could not be used in the rescue due to weather conditions and the terrain. Instead, a high-angle rope rescue was initiated at dawn on Sunday by the rescue team and fire department; 27-year-old Timothy Philips of Redway, 25-year-old Whitney Hacket of Briceland and 24-year-old Pierce Shippan of Sutter Creek were all safely pulled out of the ravine by 3:00 p.m.

A total of twenty rescuers were involved in the effort and none were injured, according to a release from HCSO lieutenant Steve Knight.

Suspect Scott Boudreaux currently held on $100,000 bail

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

An assailant accused of robbing a woman at a local business is in county jail after Eureka Police Department personnel hunted him down.

Police got the call at about 6:37 p.m. on Friday, responding to a laundromat on the 2900 block of E Street, where the found a female victim who said a suspect had approached her and ripped her wallet out of her hands. The victim told EPD investigators that she attempted to follow the man, who fled out the back door of the business, but lost sight of him in the area of Henderson and D Street while she was on her cell phone with EPD dispatch.

The cops searched the area and a suspect closely matching the assailant’s description, 21-year-old Scott Darrell Boudreaux of Eureka, was found and detained without incident. According to a release from sergeant Patrick O’Neill, the victim was brought to Boudreaux’s location, where she positively identified him as the man who robbed her. The EPD search also turned up the victim’s wallet in the back yard of a residence near to where the victim had originally lost track of Boudreaux.

The suspect was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on robbery charges, with his bail set at $100,000.

For the Curiously Aware of Humboldt County…

By Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

SNIPPETS, RUMORS, HEARSAY MURMURS, AND THE LINKS:

THE BIG BUS OR BUST :  Nearly 400 students, parents, staff, and Ernie from Southern Humboldt Unified School District carried signs and marched on the State Capitol Tuesday persuading legislators to restore $450,000 in transportation funding for school buses.  Senator Noreen Evans and Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro said, “It was the largest crowd of community members they’ve ever seen in the building that weren’t lobbyists.”  500 of the district’s 700 students use the bus to get to school— costing $900 per student.

Rural SoHum students need the buses. California is going broke.  Richard Marks had to ask the touchy question on everyone’s mind of whether Southern Humboldt’s wealthy marijuana growers should pony up for their community– and his readers responded with equally tangy commentary.

CASUALTIES OF COST CUTTING:  Further fiscal cuts to the tune of $1.6 million for College of the Redwoods may mean layoff notices in March for tenured faculty due to statewide trigger measures.  CR’s Board of Trustees will meet again Monday in a special meeting to discuss the matter further.   California is reaching new lows tightening the community college money belt.  Parents, however, should encourage their children to become better educated so they can get into a good college that they can’t afford.

SUICIDE IS FOREVER:  Following the tragic suicidal leap off Eureka’s Masonic Lodge building Tuesday by a 35-year old man, both the Times-Standard and Highboltage report that over the past 90 days the coroner’s office has responded to 15 suicides compared to only five in the previous quarter.  “It’s just an eye-opener to us to see that amount of suicides happening,” Humboldt County Coroner Dave Parris said.

If you know someone who needs help, suicide prevention services are available through Humboldt County Mental Health Crisis Services (#445-7715), Redwood Community Action Agency (#444-2273) and 24-hour suicide crisis lifelines (#800-273-8255, 888-849-5728).

COLD-HEARTED ABUSE:  Being aware of events as they relate to social justice is important and that’s why we’re linking to Highboltage’s Something is Rotten in Eureka and Verbena’s letter. We also want to know why Charlie, the dog, was shot and what happened.

DANNY RAY’S LAST DAYS an obit by the Journal’s Heidi Walters. Sigh.

BUILDING COMMUNITY DIGNITY:  Green Diamond Resource Company just sold 15.3 acres and gave $25,000 to Hospice of Humboldt for their planned inpatient hospice health care facility, a 12-bed, 14,560 square-foot project near the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds.  The new Hospice House will provide end-of-life care, grief counseling, and enable patients and families to spend time together in a home-like setting of private bedrooms and bathrooms, communal living and dining rooms, a chapel, and a children’s play room.  “It will be a home away from home when home is no longer an option,” said Executive Director Marylee Bytheriver.

Hospice of Humboldt has been serving families locally for over 33 years with a staff of 80 and 125 volunteers.  The organization provided end-of-life care to 584 patients last year who, as a result, were able to die with dignity and in comfort.  Hospice is ramping up a capital fundraising campaign towards breaking ground of the $10 million project in 2013.

WAITING ON THE WATERFRONT:  What’s been happening with Eureka’s new Fisherman’s Terminal project? On the Waterfront by Jennifer Fumiko Cahill explains whether the newly finished Redevelpment project is going forward– or drowning in the water.  With redevelopment funds going the way of the dodo, a bird in the hand is safer than one that’s flying directly overhead.  More money and several more years will make the Fisherman’s Terminal an overnight success, some believe.

NO MORE WEED:  The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to abolish their medical marijuana program allowing collectives to grow 99 plants at a time with County approval.  Under the permit program the Mendocino Sheriff’s Office monitored marijuana farms and tagged plants with zip ties for compliance.  Apparently the Board of Supervisors felt the heat coming from U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag warning they were in conflict with the Fed’s position that growing marijuana is patently illegal.  The Mendo Board of Supervisors were advised by their legal counsel to drop the program like a cold stone.   Ms. Haag has been striking fear into the hearts of many and killing the buzz of most.

RETREAT:  Meanwhile back at the ranch, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to extend a temporary moratorium on new medical dispensaries for an additional 10 months– and will discuss the future of outdoor medical marijuana growing in the County.  That is, unless Ms. Haag sends another sharply worded letter implying that all who participate get thrown in the pokey.  In that case, all bets are off as we run away.

THE EEL DEALS:  Not the most exciting news unless one is headlong into community policy wonkiness. Nonetheless, Virginia Graziani reports four Southern Humboldt volunteer fire departments cleared another hurdle to become full-fledged Fire Protection Districts with the ability to stabilize their revenue through special parcel taxes.  Mary Bullwinkel updates us on “State of the City: Fortuna Residents Hear Updates on Projects and School District Consolidation.”  Wonk away.

CRAB GRAB ‘N GO:  These Rotarians are smart people.  Sure, you’ll hear more about the Fortuna Sunrise Rotary Club’s Crab Fest happening in February: you know, all the crab, drinks, band, and silent auction that you can stomach under one roof.  But whoever came up with their uniquely crabby  idea of “Eat In, OR Drive Thru and Take Out” deserves a medal and standing promotion. What will these Rotarians think of next?   Their motto is Building Communities and Bridging Continents.   Crab take out and home delivery to China?   Sorry, but Wild Planet Foods’ Bill Carvalho already thought of that.  The Rotary gears of ingenuity grind on.

STATISTICS LIE:  14% of people know that.  But has it really been that dry?  The Fortuna monthly rain report states we’ve had 8.18 inches of January rain compared to 1.35 inches last year.  We’re also 2 inches over the year-to-date average.  Well, that’s what it claims.  We don’t make this stuff up, we just report it.  68% of everyone knows that.

SONIC BOOM : Conservationists and Native American tribes are suing over the Navy’s use of sonar in training exercises on the Pacific coast, saying the noise can harass and kill marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions.  The Navy has been conducting exercises in the training range for 60 years but increased weapons testing and submarine training has raised the environmental ire to a whole new level and, conservationists claim, the National Marine Fisheries Service has failed its mission in protecting marine life from going belly up due to the harmful effects of sonar use.

GMO REALLY MEANS ‘Get Me Out.’  150 groups throughout California are working on a landmark 2012 initiative identifying what’s in the Frankenfood you eat.  The petition’s release date calling for the labeling of GMOs (genetically engineered food) has been pushed back to the middle of February for the gathering of signatures.  We can’t get to the top by sitting on our bottom.

Southern Humboldt folks wanting to see the GMO labeling initiative on the 2012 ballot can help by learning how to gather signatures.  The Humboldt County Signature Gathering Workshop for the California GMO Labeling Initiative is happening on Thursday, February 2nd, at 5 p.m.-6 p.m.at Calico’s restaurant, 808 Redwood Drive in Garberville.  For more information call Rosa at # 707-986-7469.

Northern Humboldt folks should link to the Northern Humboldt Label GMOs Facebook site for getting involved.

BLAST FROM THE PAST pictures of yesteryear, Humboldt, and places beyond.  We like Shorpy.com  for their high-end resolution work, and that of a Rio Dell local known as The Old Photo Guy  for his vintage historical pieces.

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER:  Who lives where, what do they do and eat, and why do they live so long?  Contributing writer Dr. Jerry DeCapua and the Two Rivers Tribune have an intriguing article regarding the Who, Where, and How of health longevity.  The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age.

FAR AWAY PLACES flung on the face of the earth.  We always wondered what goes on at Orlean’s Sandy Bar Ranch and in Orick.  Now we know.

FACT CHECK:  We like facts.  All sorts of them.  Banal and inane and everything in between.  But oh my word and Heavens to Betsy what did we let loose here?  OK, pull our finger.

THE WEEKEND CALENDAR:

Friday, January 27

Saturday, January 28

Sunday, January 29

Movies, reviews, times and trailers are here.

WORD

Will Rogers said,

There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

Everything is funny as long as it’s happening to someone else.

Carter Daniels accused of robbing Blue Lake Museum to pawn seven hats

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A break-in early this morning at a local museum led to the arrest of a Eureka man at a pawn shop.

Carter Daniels, 30, is in county jail after his arrest on possession of stolen property charges this afternoon.

Police caught up with him after a chase which started at 5:15 a.m., when an alarm was set off at the Blue Lake Museum on Railroad Avenue. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office personnel were immediately dispatched, and while en route a local resident called the HCSO dispatcher to say they could see someone was inside the museum; they later said they saw a suspect dressed in black flee on foot towards Hatchery Road.

Law enforcement found the front door of the museum forced in and damaged, with glass case display cases smashed. Deputies immediately began notifying pawn shops and local organizations of the incident, along with the description of the stolen property, namely woven hats from the Yurok Tribe and Hoopa Tribe — estimated to be over 100 years old and worth anywhere from $1,200 to $3,500 each according to museum staff. An initial release from lieutenant Steve Knight said that 11 hats were missing; this was later adjusted to seven hats.

At about 11:45 a.m. came the break in the case — the Eureka Police Department was notified by Heritage Antiques that someone was at their business attempting to sell Native American hats which matched the description of the stolen relics. EPD responded and detained two subjects until HCSO personnel could arrive.

Upon interviewing the two men, they determined that Daniels was the one in possession of the hats. He’s now awaiting arraignment, with bail set at $25,000.

Follow-up investigation into this case continues, with additional charges and arrests possible. Members of the public with information regarding this case are asked to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or their Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Renewed public engagement process to be headed up by insiders

By Charles Douglas
Humboldt Sentinel

Humboldt County has enjoyed for the last thirteen years the fruits of Prosperity!

At least, prosperity in terms of grant funding from a plan titled “Prosperity!” which furthered the prosperity of county government and allied non-profits, to the tune of $55 million in federal, state and local funds managed by the Economic Development Division of Community Development Services.

Supervisors voted unanimously this morning with little fanfare and even less critical analysis on a staff proposal to re-write the Prosperity! plan for a new decade — the punchline being a grant application for more federal funding to be sent to the Economic Development Division and affiliated agencies to do so.

The $65,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is supposed to construct a plan which brings together the public and private sectors to analyze the regional economy, establish goals and plans of action, and identify investment priorities and funding sources. Yet part of the federal guidelines stated that such a process must be developed with broad-based and diverse participation, and so far, such outreach has been mostly to insiders in local banking, real estate and financial interests — the so-called listening tour by Headwaters Fund Board coordinator Dawn Elsbree which the Sentinel broke down in October.

Maintaining an upbeat stance despite the dire economic numbers emerging out of the last few years, Jacqueline Debets, Humboldt County’s Economic Development Coordinator, told Supervisors that a new economy was continuing to emerge out of the targets of opportunity (diversified health care, investment support services, building and systems construction and maintenance, management and innovation services, specialty food, flowers and beverages and niche manufacturing)  identified by Prosperity! in 1999.

“There’s been a sustained, structural shift in our economy from the one our parents grew up in,” she said.

Debets pointed to the growth in the number of jobs, the number of firms and the growth of wages in the six major industry clusters in her initial 1990-2004 report — but when the 15-year span shifted to the years 1995-2009, an 8.8% decline in the number of firms was revealed. Tourism remained the second largest employment sector in the region, but with annual average wages of $13,685, these jobs are often part-time in nature and usually do not pay a living wage. The timber industry went from 5,700 to 2,100 jobs, shrinking from 10.6% to 4.3% of the region’s employment.

The only public comment came from Bob Judevine, who works as an associate director with the Northern California Small Business Development Center Network (the SBDC works hand in glove with the Economic Development Division and has received numerous grants from the Headwaters Fund). Unsurprisingly, he enthusiastically endorsed Debets’ presentation and said he was worried that his kids would be able to find work in Humboldt County.

Third District Supervisor Mark Lovelace defended the public resources expended on these sorts of planning processes as well — he claimed that College of the Redwoods had modified their course offerings based on the targets of opportunity study.

“It really shows that this isn’t just some abstract planning process, it’s something we can actually use that can be of benefit in the community,” Lovelace said. “This is valuable work.”

Supervisor Virginia Bass of the Fourth District was thankful that there was at least some effort to study the actual job impact of economic development planning, given the past public critiques that such undertakings mainly employed the people conducting the planning.

“It’s hard to quantify, but I’m glad that’s a focus because that’s a question we get a lot,” she said. “With the Headwaters Fund, how many jobs does that really result in?”

In an e-mail to the Sentinel later this afternoon, Elsbree underlined that the public, beyond the 100 handpicked for the initial listening tour, would be welcomed into the series of drafting meetings on the new Prosperity! document.

The first of these will be the convening of an Industry Leader Council, which will take place on Monday, Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. at the North Coast SBDC office, located at 520 E Street in Downtown Eureka. The next will be a joint meeting of her Headwaters Board along with the Workforce Investment Board (the “official strategy committee” in the grant proposal) and the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, to take place on Friday, Feb. 17 at the Annex of the Humboldt County Office of Education, located at 901 Myrtle Avenue in Eureka.

“We are still designing the year long process but are also hoping that members of the participating boards and interested community members will help spread the word about what we are doing and invite others into the process,” Elsbree stated.

She also suggested the public keep track of the Prosperity! website (www.northcoastprosperity.com) where documents related to the update would be regularly posted, starting with a list of “Action Teams” intended to brainstorm projects “related to specific issues,” as yet unspecified.

Debets invited Supervisors to a Gallery Walk hosted by HFB, RREDC and WIB, to take place at the former Cin Cin restaurant in Old Town Eureka during the Feb. 4 Arts Alive!

EPD catches up with Jules Dawson; Miles Sharp still eludes capture

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A third suspect in last year’s notorious strong-arm robbery in the Humboldt State University dorms was arrested yesterday.

Late Monday, the Eureka Police Department apprehended 23-year-old Jules Aubrey Dawson, also known as “Jay Doss,” and booked him into county jail. While Dawson is not a college student, the other three suspects are, and 20-year-old Miles B. Sharp remains at large on a $100,000 warrant.

The University Police Department caught up with the other two suspects shortly after the Dec. 2 incident, which took place in Sunset Hall. Eric Schneekluth, an HSU sophomore from San Diego, was taken into custody on Dec. 13 and is still sitting in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. Benjamin Beilin, an HSU freshman from Valencia, was picked up on Dec. 9, booked and subsequently bailed out of jail.

Members of the public with information on the whereabouts of Sharp are asked to contact the Anonymous Tip and Crime Report section of UPD at www.humboldt.edu/police/ or (707) 826-5555.

Glenna Morrison also had hash, 15 pounds of bud

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A resident of Hydesville, subject to unannounced police searches due to her probation status, was popped for drug possession and sales just after dawn today.

At about 7:45 a.m., the Community Response Unit of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office conducted a probation search on 55-year-old Glenna Morrison at her residence on the 3200 block of A Street. The HCSO had been tipped off by local residents concerning allegations of drug sales occurring at the home.

In the course of their search, deputies found over 15 pounds of processed marijuana, an unspecified amount of hash and two grams of methamphetamine. While Morrison told the cops that the cannabis was actually medical marijuana, law enforcement found items consistent with the sale and packaging of marijuana, according to a press statement by lieutenant Steve Knight.

Morrison was arrested without incident and booked into county jail on charges of meth possession, marijuana cultivation and possession for sale, possession of concentrated cannabis and violation of her probation conditions. Her bail is set at $25,000.

Members of the public with information on this case are asked to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Michael Stockhoff, 21, allegedly had bag of meth in his pocket

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A local man on the run from felony drug warrants since last year was caught on Saturday in the vicinity of a Loleta casino.

At about 9 p.m. on Jan. 21, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that a wanted suspect, 21-year-old Michael Sherman Stockhoff, was at the Bear River Casino Pump and Play.

Upon the arrival of the responding deputy, Stockhoff was exiting the gas station, and upon spotting the deputy, he immediately began to run. The cop chased Stockhoff on foot across Singley Road into an adjacent field where, according to a press statement by lieutenant Steve Knight, the deputy caught the suspect, who continued to resist arrest.

Upon arresting Stockhoff, the deputy searched him and located a small bag of methamphetamine in his front pants pocket. Stockhoff was subsequently booked into county jail on charges of resisting arrest and possession of methamphetamine, as well as on his two prior warrants on possession of drugs, one of which was a “no bail” felony warrant.

Members of the public with information regarding this case are asked to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Cole Machado was a prominent figure in local politics prior to scandal

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

It’s the end of the line for a local gay rights activist ensnared in a multi-state federal crackdown on producers of sexually explicit materials that exploit children.

Cole Machado, 25 of Eureka, was sentenced on Friday to 327 months (27 and one-third years) in federal prison and lifetime supervised released due to his conviction last year on charges of producing child pornography. This was handed down by Rebecca Beach Smith, the Chief United States District Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia.

The case moved from California to Virginia due to the original crime being tacked back to Norfolk resident Jakob Benjamin Lee, who was previously convicted on child porn charges and sent in 2011 to federal prison for a 30-year stay. Some of the pornographic images possessed by Lee were tracked back to Machado, who produced them himself by exploiting minors in California in late 2009.

An ongoing campaign to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual abuse, Project Safe Childhood was launched in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice and lead by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. The Machado case was investigated by the FBI and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Elizabeth Yusi.

“Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims,” Neil MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, stated in a release.

Machado had been prominent in political circles as an organizer on gay rights issues, particularly opposition to the Proposition 8 initiative that (temporarily) banned gay marriage, and was a supporter of various politicians (including both Bonnie Neely and Virginia Bass in 2006, who would later become opponents in 2010). He even tried to become an elected representative himself in a half-hearted attempt to run for a Trustee seat for the Redwoods Community College District in 2007. All this came to a crashing end on July 20, 2010 when the HCSO raided his Quaker Street home and discovered a computer with multiple images of child pornography.

EPD claims property was “trashed” in a similar fashion to O Street residence

By Gabriele Fellows
Humboldt Sentinel

Another property manager found his vacant rental home broken into and vandalized early Saturday morning on the 3000 block of I Street.

Significant damage to the doorframe was found along with piles of trash harboring junk food and alcohol. The bathroom and heater had been used along with electricity.

Personal belongings were discovered in the home indicating the return of its owners. “The gear had been left in the house as if someone was planning on staying a while,” EPD sergeant Adam Laird said in an interview with the Sentinel today.

Although the actual “squatters” of the empty dwelling are unknown, the EPD thinks they were members of the Occupy movement because of anarchistic graffiti found on the walls similar to the spray painted images found at the O Street home.

“The graffiti also included anti ‘Nazi’ graffiti, which could be a reference to law enforcement,” Laird said.

There was no other evidence of the latest break-in’s connection to Occupy Eureka aside from the similarity of the graffiti.

Six individuals associated with Occupy Eureka were arrested at their O Street squat earlier this week, although they’ve all been released pending further court proceedings – with the exception of Martin Katz.

Members of the Occupy movement are being suspected as culprits because other house squatting episodes are “dissimilar.”  Trespassers rarely damage anything other than doorways into a home and don’t spray paint on walls. They also rarely leave belongings behind: “In general, the people who break into houses and sleep in them leave the next day and take their gear with them,” Laird claimed.

Laura Cutler, a local attorney and member of the Occupy Humboldt movement, proposed a resolution for tomorrow night’s countywide General Assembly (to take place at 6 p.m. in the Green and Gold Room at Humboldt State University) that dissociates the group from participants’ actions at O Street:

“We, the members of the Occupy Humboldt County General Assembly do proclaim that the afore-mentioned events were never considered, nor ever approved in any way, by the Occupy Humboldt County General Assembly.”

Occupy Eureka activist Talvi Fried thought tensions might be exacerbated by the resolution, but also didn’t want the public image of her cause tarnished by these incidents.

“[It is] just dim acting and obviously against Occupy Humboldt as a whole since it’s only caused a lot of bad press and hurts the good that is trying to be done elsewhere within the movement,” she stated in a post on the Facebook page of Occupy Humboldt.

For the Curiously Aware of Humboldt County…

By Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

RAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY GATHERS STEAM AFTER EUREKA CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL

Hank Sims correctly predicted Eureka’s Fantasy Pacific railroad proposal would be off and running after the Humboldt Bay Alternative Rail Route Feasibility Study was endorsed by the Eureka City Council Tuesday.

The Council not only approved the feasibility proposal after the 4-0 vote (Councilmember Lance Madsen was absent) but directed city staff to locate funding sources and technical support. Attorney and rail advocate Bill Barnum pointed out it’s a preliminary request looking at connecting Humboldt Bay’s shipping to a proposed rail corridor reaching Red Bluff.

The Sentinel will report more of Tuesday’s Council actions with the back story here.

Mr. Barnum believes the idea of a rail corridor should not be discredited before all the facts are in and given a fair consideration. He indicated there’s been misinformation circulating in the community.  The idea, as bold as it seems, requires careful evaluation, vision, and leadership.

Responding to Hank Sims at the Lost Coast Outpost last week, Mr. Barnum clarified a few points for readers:

Hi Hank,

I am curious why you feel a need to disparage this idea? Really, it sort of mystifies me.

To be helpful about a few details:

1. Nobody is ready to break ground just yet. The request is to investigate alternatives. This is what CEQA is all about. The map you copied above is merely to depict the route proposed in 1909 by local surveyor Jess Lentell. It may not be the route that is built – indeed a railroad may never be built.

2. The railroad is not proposed for public ownership and operation. No one is suggesting a publicly-owned-and-operated rail line. If rail is developed, the rail would be privately owned. The City of Eureka owns substantial land that could be developed and leased to the public’s benefit. I guess that is why the City may be interested in at least studying the matter.

3. I am certain the private railroad will not be financed by you. We will take you off the list of potential investors. If you should change your mind, let us know. To be clear, I will not be an owner either, so I guess we have that in common, Hank.

4. Most (but certainly not all) people living in Humboldt County would like to see some new source of employment sometime in our lifetimes. The government job hey-day is over. The state grant gravy-train (a different sort of train), is off the tracks and not likely to return. The State of California has resorted to eating its own by disallowing Redevelopment Agencies. The hand-writing is on the wall. Before Humboldt County becomes another Greece, it might be prudent to search out some private employment possibilities, huh?

5. Some people disparage the idea, other people have their hair on fire. I just don’t get that.

So, Hank, have your fun. Hell, you might be the smartest guy around. But if you don’t mind, when it comes to railroad engineering, I would rather get a feasibility study out of a railroad engineering firm. They do exist.
The beat goes on. It will be interesting to see who shows up Tuesday night to fight the idea of a feasibility study. See you then, Hank?

Mr. Barnum replied to another post:

In reply to Guest above, you are incorrect. I do not want to sell the future railroad any land, and none of its possible course would run through property I own. You are not the first person to suggest this; but you should stop it. It is not true.

My interest in this idea of rail to the valley goes back more than 20 years when I helped found the Humboldt Bay Alliance for Economic Development. My hope is to see a rail connection that helps with goods movement using Humboldt Bay as a connector between ships and the National Rail System. We are closest to Asia and a rail connection in the valley makes sense for bridging rail outside the busy San Francisco Bay Area transportation bottle-neck. Some of the freight stream could be opened here and value added, then re-packaged into containers for shipment. A modern railroad would include double-decked containers and could operate so that trains could transit from Red Bluff to Eureka in about 3 hours. This avoids congested ports and makes sense to people in that industry.

I know that many people are dedicated to seeing no or little economic change here, and many opposing posters resort to mockery and insults. My suggestion is that if the idea is feasible we should promote it. Many will disagree. That’s politics. Fine with me.

Tonight the Eureka City Council voted 4-0 (with Lance Madsen absent) to support
the idea and promote a feasibility study for an eastern rail route from
Humboldt Bay to Red Bluff. Thanks!

Readers weighed in with their comments, too. Here were a few by the proponents of rail optimism:

“This is a feasibility concept. People on both sides are saying it can or cannot be done. Why not get a definitive answer and find out? What will it haul? Who will pay for it, if it can be built? I would think that would be part of the study. Why taxpayer funding? Why not? We study and build roads to promote commerce. Is this that different? Without taxpayer dollars to maintain highways into Humboldt, we would be isolated in less than a year.”

“This is great news. Mocking research into railroad development is just stupid and short-sighted. A rail connection to the central valley is a major infrastructure improvement, the kind that makes your region more economically viable. And a railroad is FAR preferable to increased road access. …The niche for a Humboldt Bay port is not to compete against Oakland, LA and Long Beach, obviously. Those are enormous operations that serve a different purpose. The idea is to have a smaller port where a different type of shipping can predominate. The railroad provides an outlet for goods that arrive via Humboldt Bay, but equally important it provides an outlet for goods that are produced in Humboldt County. There is really no good reason to oppose researching an Eastern rail link, which is far more promising than the Southern route.”

“Gentlepersons, unless there is a major upgrade for accessibility, we will continue to be a backwater. …All costs are high to be here. Primarily, it is the isolation from the rest of the US that is the problem…”

“Will there be a direct connection to the China-Chunnel?”

Some naysaying nabobs of doubt offered their two cents:

“Is it crazier to imagine opening the line south and fighting the terrain and washouts for a longer stretch, or to create a new line east? I think most of us would drool at the prospect of a train connecting us to Amtrak, and for shipping, but it’s hard to imagine it could really be economically feasible in this part of the state.”

“I don’t have a problem with the idea of a rail line to the East. Problem is, what would it haul? I can’t think of any cargo that would be significant enough to make it worthwhile.”

“I suggest taking a look at the NCRA file at the Regional Water Board office in Santa Rosa. One of the things you will see are decades worth of business feasibility studies, all nicely bound and printed in multiple colors. These studies look into all the myriad ways a railroad south could be made to pay… These studies were not cheap and none of them was ever acted upon. At their most innocent, they were public dollars spent on trying to provide rationale… held by people of influence in the Humboldt Bay Area.  …But at a more fundamentally corrupt level, these “studies” were just money being handed out to make work for favored consulting companies. They may have been favors to politicians or lobbyists that have connections to the consultants. They may have been a way to keep the party going at public expense for a favored segment of the community. The one thing the studies were not was a serious attempt to actually get the railroad running.”

“Is the council seriously suggesting we spend staff time and our hard-to-come-by revenues on this sort of craziness?”

While one post curiously stood out unto its own:

“I already did this “study” for you… I will repeat it (again) for free.

There is this geographic feature of the North American continent called the “Great Salt Lake” which is approximately 600 miles due east of Eureka. All east-west transcontinental rail traffic must split east of the Great Salt Lake, and the northern route proceeds to Boise and then Seattle, while the southern route goes to Reno and then Oakland. The truth is that Redding is just as far from markets as Eureka is. So even if it is true that Eureka is a half day’s sea travel closer to Asia, it is at least a day farther from markets by rail. A half day or more would actually be lost by using the Port of Eureka, even supposing that a rail car could make it from Eureka to Redding to Oakland in one day. Most likely it will be two or three days.

There is nothing that we can do about this. So there you go, by accident of geography Eureka will never be a competitive deepwater West Coast port. … Then there are other issues. Could the railway to Redding actually be built? Yes, if you want to spend enough money. …You might be able to lay a new rail line across flat prairie or desert for $5 million a mile but not through those mountains. A half dozen tunnels and a half dozen bridges will cost $500 million all on their own.

This project, technically feasible will cost anywhere from $3 to $5 billion, minimum. The line would have to be heavily taxpayer subsidized or it could not exist and it will never be profitable, because of the geographical facts above.

If in some fantasy world this line was actually completed what would it haul? Although no Asian shipper of manufactured goods would use the port (because of the geographical facts above) shippers of dangerous, explosive or hazardous materials would like to have a lightly populated port to ship through. So we would get the nuclear waste, the caustic industrial chemicals and industrial acids, petroleum distillates, and military munitions. That’s your upside…

There’s your study.”

Granted, there are many questions concerning the rail proposal.  Can it be built?  What will it cost?  What will it haul?  Where will the route traverse?  Is it economically viable?  The proposal does have merit for consideration.  It deserves further discussion.  Free from speculation, conjecture, and opinion, a feasibility study would provide accurate and forthcoming answers to these questions, and we trust, be made available to the public.

More of the 260 comments about Eureka’s East-West railroad proposal can be found at:

The Lost Coast Outpost
The Humboldt Herald

The Eureka City Council Agenda Summary on the Humboldt Bay Alternative Rail Route Feasibility Study can be found here, courtesy of Mr. Sims.

Meanwhile, far, far away from the Redwood Curtain, China recently completed a 30-story building in only 15 days.  How were they able to accomplish this so quickly?  Able to withstand a 9.0 earthquake and 5 times more energy efficient than its counterparts, China’s new skyscraper is a testament to ingenuity, speed, and planning.  With labor standards, regulations, bureaucracy and unions pushed aside, we hope they used a higher quality drywall than usual.

Joel Mielke’s ‘Feasibility Studies’

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

SNIPPETS, RUMORS, HEARSAY MURMURS, AND THE LINKS:  “Building Community”

MUMS THE WORD:  No word has been received by Supervisor Clendenen offering an explanation here or at Ernie’s Place about the giveaway of STIP (State Transportation Improvement Program) monies to the Highway 101 Safety Corridor instead of repairing Garberville’s roads, as mentioned in last week’s Sentinel Roundup . As we previously said, it’s a sticky sore point stuck between State monies, County road repairs, and 2nd District constituents. Perhaps Supervisor Clendenen feels silence is golden and doesn’t need to explain such decisions to his district’s residents or shameless blogs requesting answers. Who needs pesky voters anyway?

GIVE US YOUR POOR, YOUR SICK, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES:  St. Joseph Hospital is opening the doors and inviting the community to see its new $140 million, 100,000 square foot Northeast Tower addition. At $1,400 per square foot, that’s one heck of an improvement. The open house tours are Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 9.a.m. to 3 p.m. The open house is free; however, donations have always been readily accepted for their past, present, and future needs.  And you thought they only wanted your blood.

SHELTER HELTER SKELTER:  Heidi Walters’ article and photos in The Journal, ‘New Direction’, explains what happened regarding the North Coast Resource Center closure and former Executive Director John Shelter’s future plans. After his sudden fall, will Mr. Shelter rise from the NCRC ashes like a legendary phoenix? You can bet on it.

MORE SHELTER:  Kym Kemp kindly reminds us the Eureka Extreme Weather Shelter has opened. She reports Shelter Coordinator Steve Bell said they’ve helped a lot of different people since the shelter has been available. “We’ve had new faces and about 2 new people a day. It’s a really positive situation here,” Bell said. “I’m hoping that we provide a model of what can be done.” Mr. Bell asked everyone to please direct people to go to the Mission, 110 2nd Street in Eureka, where they will go through intake and receive food, hot showers and clean clothes. Very pleased with how the new shelter is working out, Mr. Bell thanked those who helped, including the Eureka Main St. Organization, the Chamber (of Commerce), the North Coast Veteran’s Resource Center, the Eureka Rescue Mission, and the people at Teen Challenge. Mr. Bell can be rung at (707) 498-9611.  Thank you, Mr. Bell.  You, too, are helping build a sense of community.

GREED AND WEED:  Kevin Hoover and the Arcata Eye fill us in on the 6 quick marijuana busts made over a two-day period while the Two Rivers Tribune reports related pot problems. Humboldt County Supervisors, meanwhile, discussed their environmental concerns caused by weed cultivation and unpermitted grading in the county, comparing the damage to the ‘worst of the timber industry.’

HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS BIG BUSINESS:   Arcata’s Mad River Community Hospital has big plans and an even bigger complex waiting in the wings.

REAL DEAL:   The Rio Dell City Council met in a special closed session discussing a $975,000 contract offered to the property’s owner for a proposed business plaza development.  Rio Dell’s plans call for a new supermarket, strip mall, two motels, restaurants, a gas station and retail space sitting on the 20 acre site adjacent to Highway 101.  If the contract is accepted by the property owner, the next step is for the city to get a commitment from four or five businesses to participate in the development.  (UPDATE):  Unable to reach agreement between the City Of Rio Dell and the property owner, the Rio Dell Business Plaza has stalled. Here’s the counteroffer deal breaking letter.

BUS FUSS:  Virginia Graziani of the Redwood Times reports, “The Southern Humboldt Unified School District is calling all interested students, parents, and community members to join a caravan to Sacramento next Tuesday, Jan. 24, to let our state legislators and Governor Jerry Brown know how important school bus transportation is to rural communities.” Get on the bus, Gus. Make a new plan, Stan. Ms. Graziani also reports on the lesser important ho-hum SoHum school news, too. The Times-Standard’s Jessica Cejnar reported more on Sohum’s Bus Party to Sacto, as well.

EASTERN COMMUNITY SHOP TALK: Two Rivers Tribune’s Allie Hostler and Malcolm Terence talk access, degradation, and protection of Hoopa tribal land , tanoak mushroom picking, and Willow Creek’s new playschool.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZER HEIDI BENZONELLI and the Westside Community Improvement Association invite neighbors, friends, and community partners to a BBQ and community workday this Saturday, January 21. Whether it rains or shines, it’s happening. Bring your tools if you have them. Ms. B. requests your presence “joining the community while we build our future, 10 am ‘til around 3, BBQ somewhere around noon. We’ll be at the future home of the Jefferson Community Park Gardens and Community Center, 1000 B street Eureka. It looks like rain so we will plan most activities for indoors.” This event is hosted by Westside Community Improvement Association and sponsored by First Five Better Together, Humboldt Area Foundation and Eureka First United Methodist Church. That’s quite a collaboration.  Questions? Call 498-5764.

COMMUNITY BLOG FRIENDS ODDS ‘N ENDS:  So John’s up to his old tricks and Jo-Jo’s in the can now that Kristabel’s happily hitched and Tom’s eyeing orbs again.

RAINING CATS AND DOGS:  When will it stop?  Not for awhile.  Don’t complain, you’ll see a glimpse of the sun next Wednesday.  Then hunker down for a solid week or two of rain.  You asked for it.  Maybe it’s a good time to visit your local library and settle down with a good book.

SOMEBODY THAT YOU USED TO KNOW:  32 million viral views and counting. We didn’t know a community of 5 friends could play one guitar at the same time and perform such a hauntingly beautiful melody together.

THE WEEKEND CALENDAR:

SLAMMIN’ SALMON:  ACCESS HUMBOLDT is presenting an environmental documentary by Thomas Dunklin Friday, January 27 at 7 p.m. Dunklin is a fisheries geo-videologist and producer of documentary videos surrounding salmon, restoration, and salmon culture. His work encompasses underwater views from the Smith and Klamath Rivers, watershed restorations projects, Klamath dam and other amazing underwater wildlife footage. Questions and answers will follow Dunklin’s selected work. Movie trivia, prizes, and a reception will follow at the adjacent Access Humboldt Community Media Center.

The cost is $5 and all are welcome to attend. Folks, the seats are comfortable, the people and food good, and the price is right supporting independent community media. What isn’t there to like?

Friday, January 20

Saturday, January 21

Sunday, January 22

Movies, times, trailers, and IMDb reviews are here.

WORD

When Gandhi was asked what he thought of Western civilization, he said, “It would be nice.”

Wallace Egger popped in routine traffic stop on Valley West

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

An Arcata Police Department traffic cop sent an alleged meth dealer in jail earlier this week.

At about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the policeman observed an equipment violation on a vehicle traveling along the 5000 block of Valley West Boulevard. Upon contacting the driver, 46-year-old Arcata resident Wallace Egger, the cop discovered the driver had an expired license; he also noticed that Wallace was displaying symptoms consistent with being under the influence of methamphetamine.

“Upon further investigation the officer saw that Egger had a white powdery substance on his fingers,” sergeant Todd Dokweiler stated in a release.

Egger was then arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance, and a search of his vehicle revealed nearly two ounces of meth along with scales and other items related to drug sales. He was further charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance and driving while unlicensed.

Jamil Muhammad, who held a woman captive, had five prior prison terms

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A 58-year-old Eureka man will be spending all or most of his remaining lifespan behind bars after his conviction on multiple violent crimes.

Superior Court Judge Christopher Wilson handed down sentencing on Jamil Najm Muhammad today; the prison terms will stretch from 25 years to life due to his third “strike” offense (actually his fourth and fifth strike on serious and violent crimes), plus eight additional years due to multiple incidents of domestic violence.

On Oct. 3 of last year, a Humboldt County jury found Muhammad guilty on two felony counts of criminal threats, one felony count of false imprisonment and one felony count of corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant.

The counts stemmed from two separate incidents earlier in 2011 where Muhammad held a woman captive in his motor home and threatened to hurt her if she attempted to leave. The victim was able to place a 911 call, leading officers to her location on Feb. 23, 2011;  on Mar. 14, 2011, Muhammad repeated the imprisonment and also inflicted multiple injuries.

“I commend Prosecutor Elan Firpo and the agencies that assisted in this case,” Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos stated in a release. “Domestic Violence cases are seldom simple and it is important to persevere and bring perpetrators to justice.”

Suspects told EPD they were protesting foreclosures, yet home was a vacant rental

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

Several Occupy Movement protesters were busted Wednesday morning after Eureka Police officers answered a complaint from property managers that trespassers were squatting in a house on the on the 3500 block of O Street.

A graffiti 'anarchy' symbol was sprayed on the home's wall.

One of the protesters had already left at the property managers’ request, but others refused and likewise refused to follow officers’ orders to leave. As officers entered, two women later identified as Amanda Tierney, 24, and Shayanne Clark, 21, both of Eureka tried to leave through the front door and were taken into custody.

Four other protesters tried to barricade the front and back doors with their bodies or furniture as officers entered. After repeated tries officers were able to force their way in to arrest Martin Katz, 23, Ann Rian, 21 and Keelan McWayne, 21, all of Eureka; also Stanton Wood, 25, of Florida.

The group told officers that they were “occupying” the house because of homelessness issues and foreclosures, although the house is a vacant rental unit, not a foreclosed home.

After the protesters were in police cars, officers walked through the residence with the property managers and found graffiti on the walls, including anarchist symbols, as well as a small amount of marijuana. The protesters had also removed several locks and replaced them with their own. Property damage was estimated at several thousand dollars by the managers.

The protesters have been jailed in Humboldt County Correctional Facility for vandalism, forcible trespassing, conspiracy and obstructing a police officer.

The O Street rental home.

Graffiti sign on the floor of the squat.

Conditions inside the squatted home.

Inside the squatted home.

Scattered parts of a lockset used to illegally change the locks on the O Street home.

Amanda Tierney

Ann Rian

Keelan McWayne

Martin Katz

Shyanne Clark

Stanton Wood

Randi Barton, 23, also a felon in possession of ammo

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A man stumbling into Fortuna City Hall with a bleeding stab wound led to the arrest of a young woman on the south end of Fortuna this morning.

At approximately 11:03 a.m. this morning, an unnamed 57-year-old victim came to the front counter of the Fortuna Police Department holding the right side of his neck, which was gushing blood.

According to an FPD release, the victim, whose name was withheld, said he’d been stabbed in the neck by 23-year-old Randi Elizabeth Barton, who he cohabitates with at a home on the 3400 block of Rohnerville Road.

While FPD detectives immediately provided first aid, they questioned the victim, who turned over a knife blade with the handle broken off, the implement that he had supposedly been stabbed with. He was later treated and released from Redwood Memorial Hospital.

Law enforcement responded to their home and arrested Barton without incident. She was transported to Humboldt County jail and booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, battery on a cohabitant likely to produce great bodily injury, violation of her probation, possession of a controlled substance and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Caution urged in King Salmon, other low-lying areas around Humboldt Bay

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A flood watch is in effect tomorrow in the Humboldt Bay area.

The Eureka office of the National Weather Service issued the warning due to the timing of a high tide combined with a storm surge bringing strong southerly winds, which is “expected to cause coastal flooding late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.”

The King Salmon area was particularly noted in the notice, as were other low-lying areas around Humboldt Bay. Additional flooding is also possible around high tides on Thursday and Friday mornings as astronomical tides continue to rise and southerly winds are expected to remain elevated.

Residents are urged to stay alert for later warnings, and take all precautionary actions to protect property. Moderate to heavy rains are set to start tomorrow and continue for a week straight on the North Coast of California.

Juliann Siple, 65, last seen walking dogs

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A local senior citizen was reported missing by her domestic partner, leading the local Search and Rescue team to swing into action this evening.

At about 5:30 p.m. today, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a possible missing person — a 65-year-old McKinleyville resident, Juliann Siple, who was overdue from walking her dogs this afternoon.

Siple’s domestic partner told police that she dropped Siple off at Moonstone Beach at about 1 p.m. today so she could walk her two dogs. When the woman returned at 2 p.m. to pick up her partner, Siple was not present, and could not be found in an initial search by her domestic partner.

According to the account provided by the HCSO, when Siple’s domestic partner returned home, there was an answering machine message from Siple stating she was walking home. The woman then drove to Clam Beach and spoke to the campground host who saw and spoke with Siple at 2:30 p.m., wherein Siple was asking for directions to the Hammond Trail. The campground host supposedly last saw Siple walking south on the Clam Beach Frontage Road.

As of 5:30 p.m. there was still no sign of Siple, who does not possess a cell phone. When her domestic partner called the HCSO, she said it was out of character for Siple to stay out after dark and not make contact, and also mentioned medical issues of concern.

The missing woman is described as a 5’2″ Caucasian female with brown hair, brown eyes and wearing a full white jumpsuit. Her two small dogs were described as a 35-pound sheep dog named Sadie and a smaller dog with big ears named Odie.

The HCSO asks any member of the public with information on the whereabouts of Juliann Siple to call (707) 445-7251.

For the Curiously Aware of Humboldt County

By Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

IT’S A MIRACLE THEIR KIDNEYS MATCHED and a great story. Kym Kemp pens a column underscoring the simple goodness of Humboldt’s people.

Kym writes, “Some people give hearts as Valentine gifts, but two days after the holiday this year, Shannon Robinson is giving a total stranger, Travis Chagolla, her kidney. The little town of Myers Flat in southern Humboldt County is the scene of a very large act of Random Kindness…”

Large it is. Read her touching story. When Kym’s passionate about something her soul flows onto the page along with the words.

Kym added:

“The operation will take several hours and (Shannon) will have to rest for 4-8 weeks afterward. She has a young daughter at home. She won’t be able to work. How will she pay the rent? Shannon’s friends have convinced her to let them hold a fundraiser to help. On February 4th, they’re throwing a benefit at Beginnings in Briceland. There is going to be a spaghetti feed, beer and wine, a raffle and music…Raffle tickets can be purchased at the Myers Flat store and cafe as well as Signature Coffee in Redway.”

KIEM-TV’s Kelly May also reported on Shannon and Travis’ story.  While we don’t solicit random acts of shill, we do acknowledge those of kindness. It’s the right thing to do.  If you’d like to help, please look at Shannon’s donation page here.

NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON:  It’s freezing outside.  Lynette’s Norcal History Blog announced that due to low temperatures the Extreme Weather Shelter will open.  Please pass this on to any who might need the information. She says,

We were ready to have a test run of Eureka’s Extreme Weather Shelter for the homeless when Mother Nature jumped the gun.   A hard freeze warning for TONIGHT prompted the opening of the Extreme Weather Shelter at the St. Vincent’s Dining Facility  at 35 West 3^rd Street, in Old Town, Eureka.

I am posting this in case someone out there sees someone who needs shelter for the night. Please send them to the Eureka Rescue Mission, 110 2nd Street in Eureka.

If the Mission is at capacity, folks will be sent to the Dining Facility–OR IF YOU FIND FOLKS WHO ARE NOT COMFORTABLE AT THE MISSION, HAVE THEM TELL THE MISSION INTAKE FOLKS AND THEY WILL SEND THEM TO ST. VINCENT’S AFTER INTAKE.

Coordinator Steve Bell is at the Dining Hall to welcome folks and between St. Vincent’s and the Rescue Mission, Eureka can provide shelter to everyone who wants to be indoors tonight. We even have donated dog kennels so folks with animals can be sure their pets are safe. Please help us to help those who need it most…

ERNIE IS ALWAYS RIGHT in his roundabout way. This time he came up with the Annoying Biggest Stories of 2011 in his column. The stories are those which have been underreported locally and without conclusive forthcoming answers. Here’s Ernie’s ‘Top 3’, in his words:

1) “‘Who pooped and peed on the bank?’ (They never did find out) I was always told that a lawyer or a news anchor-person was never supposed to ask a question unless they already knew the answer.”

2) “Sometimes I wish they would tell us things like ‘Why the Eureka officials kept the fact that Wall-Mart was coming to town such a big secret.’ That would interest the heck out of me. How does it happen that a town that knows everything and can’t keep even a small secret, keep the fact that a frickin’ Wal-Mart is coming to the Bayshore Mall. You’d think that would be important for people to know!”

3) “How many of us know that they were going to pave Garberville’s Redwood drive but our supervisor gave the money away to fix the road between Eureka and Arcata? What, you say? Garberville hasn’t been paved since the trees were planted and the power lines were under grounded. Why didn’t we know about the money giveaway until it was practically a done deal? I wouldn’t have even known about the money being given away if it weren’t for Mark Lovelace saying something like, ‘I think that we should ask the people of Garberville how they feel about this.’ Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to scream bloody murder in time, so OUR Dist 2 Supervisor Clif Clendenen gave out road money to throw on the “Safety Corridor” between Eureka and Arcata.”

“Most people don’t have the time to decide how to spend county money. They split the county into 5 supervisor districts and then elect 5 supervisors to watch-out for our interests. How the heck does giving Garberville street money to Eureka and Arcata represent us in any way!?”

“…OUR supervisor, who has the most rural roads in the whole county, voted to give road money to the most expensive nightmare in Humboldt. Plus it is Highway 101! A state highway. The state has other means of raising money. The county doesn’t. Where is the news service that explains this to us?”

Ernie added:

Redwood Drive… is crumbling. The street looks like an unmade bed.

Before the vote was taken, Mark Lovelace said that he thought something this important should be given a little more time for public input. After the delay, Clif Clendenen broke the tie and voted to give the state the funding! Now, I would expect Eureka and Arcata to vote for it, so it was no surprise when they did. But, I did not expect the supervisor from the most rural district in Humboldt Co. to give away the funding.

The other two rural districts voted against giving away the funding. I had just assumed that OUR supervisor would vote against it. I thought that it was a no-brainer! Imagine my surprise. I probably would not have even known about the vote if it hadn’t been for Mark Lovelace.

Ernie Branscomb, a voice of reason and ever so the SoHum advocate, makes a good point. We believe this is an important issue worthy of a response.

We hope Supervisor Clendenen will offer an explanation either here or at Ernie’s Place before the upcoming election. It’s a sticky sore point stuck between State monies, County road repairs, and 2nd District constituents.

Clif, your peeps are calling. Line 1, line 2, and line 3 are on hold and blinking.

SNIPPETS, RUMORS, HEARSAY MURMURS, AND THE LINKS:

HOW MUCH CAN A DOLLAR BUY: Humboldt County has imposed a $1 fee per every vehicle registered since 1992. In the past year the County raised $133,454 to tow away 3,316 abandoned vehicles—about $40 per car/bus/camper/boat littering the roadsides and public domains. Supervisor Jimmy Smith said the fee has “helped clean up many areas and has been a practical tool literally saving a lot of neighborhoods and disputes.” Unfortunately, extending the fee supporting the abatement of these environmental eyesores requires Humboldt County to place it on the June primary ballot for voter approval– costing somewhere between $15,000 and $40,000. Ouch.

WHETHER OR NOT they appreciate the President and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Ferndale nonetheless scored a cool $8.8 million  low interest loan and grant completing their state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility without rate increases for 1,500 customers, as Mary Bullwinkel reports. Soon you will only be smelling Cream City’s fresh dairy-air.

PUTTING THE RUMOR TO REST: Vegetarians unite. In-N-Out Burger is not preparing to move into the former Arctic Circle site in Eureka nor does the popular burger chain have any plans of coming to Humboldt County.  But, did we tell you that Walmart is already here? Yes, we did. But let’s leave you smiling on a happy note.

WE LOVE HUMBOLDT. The people and community. More than a unique place, Humboldt occupies a special presence of mind for all of us. We love the pride of ownership and our local products. We apparently love cheese and beer, too.

YES, IT’S BEEN DRY. Abnormally so. 10.29 inches of rain for a season that should be seeing nearly 20 inches this time of year. The rivers are low and this could have dire consequences for young fish. Fire officials say a continuing dry spell could create an early wildfire season. But it’s still early. The good news is that rain is on the way, perhaps as early as Wednesday, January 18. Keep your fingers crossed unless you’ve been enjoying the drought weather and sunny skies lately. Mow your grass and get your gardening done.

ALSO DANGEROUS FOR FISH is the North Coast fishing report, courtesy of the Times-Standard and Kenny Priest for angling aficionados.  Pray for rain.

WE HAVE CRABS Jack Durham tells us the commercial crabbing season opens Sunday.  “At almost exactly 1 second after midnight on Saturday, Cap’n Zach Rotwein will pull up the first pot of crabs. He’ll deliver them to Trinidad Pier Sunday morning and they should be cooked and ready to be sold by 11 a.m.,” Jack says.  They are reportedly “fat and sassy.”  Who knew?  Make it happen, Cap’n.

WATERSHED ADVOCACY GROUP TAPS FRESH FLESH: The Humboldt Beacon reports attorney Scott Greacen is the new Friends of the Eel River Executive Director.

LATEST OCCUPY EUREKA HAPS: Angered over a series of emails supporters say created an “unlawful government conspiracy to vilify and suppress” their demonstration, District Attorney Paul Gallegos says he had no intention of raising alarm about the group but was concerned about public safety. Covered well and fairly in Grant Scott-Goforth’s, article, County E-mails Outrage Occupy Eureka; D.A. Says Tents Posed Safety Risks, it’s an interesting twist of conspiracies depending upon whom you speak to.

RYAN BURNS AND THE JOURNAL report in this week’s piece, The Debt Divide, just how the economic crisis affects regular people compared to big corporations using bankruptcy to weather the storm like… Well, we can’t name names and spoil that surprise for you. You’ll have to see for yourself.

HANK SIMS PREDICTS Eureka’s Crazy Train will be riding off the rails after endorsement by the City Council this Tuesday.  Attorney and rail advocate Bill Barnum insists it’s merely a request investigating alternatives.   Mr. Sims has been following the developments of the proposed 125 mile East-West rail corridor requiring a $250,000 feasibility study and construction price tag of half a billion dollars, though no one really knows how much it will cost or who will pay for it.  Picking up steam, citizens may want to see what the Eureka City Council has in mind this Tuesday, January 17, at 6 p.m. following Councilmember Newman fast tracking the Phantom Train onto the calendar.  If you haven’t been filled in, the Sentinel has the back story here.

REMEMBER FUKUSHIMA? Dr. Josh Strange, writing for the Two Rivers Tribune newspaper, states in his informative article that disaster is still brewing:

“Serious health problems are already on the rise in Japan with numerous sewage plants in Tokyo testing positive for radioactive iodine-131 showing that people are consuming contaminated food and water. In the Fukushima area, a wave of serious health problems continue…

Closer to home, debris from the tsunami have recently been washing up in large clumps in British Columbia months earlier than anticipated… scores of ring seals and walruses have been coming ashore since July with hair loss, bleeding lesions, liver spots, and failing immune systems. Biologists have ruled out viruses and are now having samples tested for nuclear radiation from Fukushima, which is consistent with the symptoms being observed.

What does this mean for us here on the West Coast?” he writes.

You’ll have to read his stellar article to find out the rest of the story. Dr. Strange is a fisheries biologist working for the Yurok tribe. A graduate of Arcata High School, Josh earned his graduate and doctorate degrees from the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences before coming home to live and work. From his biography:  “Joshua became passionate about river restoration at the age of 16 when he also trained to become a professional river guide, subsequently guiding some of the most remote and challenging runs in the West. His step-father is a Yurok Tribal elder and Joshua is blessed to have been raised with a diverse cultural perspective. Joshua lives in Hoopa, the largest Tribal reservation in California, where he pursues the dream of sustainable community on a farmstead with his family.”

The Two Rivers Tribune never fails to amaze us with its fine reporting. Dr. Strange’s article is one of the best that we’ve combed through this week. A local boy who’s doing good for his environment and community– his work is certainly deserving a read by the wider audience of Humboldt.

THE WEEKEND CALENDAR:

Events, Happenings, Lectures, Walks, Music and Stuff:

We’re thinking the Pastime Silent Movie Orchestra– The Fortuna Concert Series– presenting a classic Buster Keaton silent film accompanied by a live combo on Saturday, January 14 at 7:20 p.m. at the Monday Club in Fortuna is gonna be a good time for the family.  After all, free popcorn is included!  Under the direction of Franklin Stover, Buster Keaton’s The Cameraman is accompanied by the live combo Pastime Silent Movie Orchestra.  If you think Buster Keaton was great, wait until you get a load of Franklin Stover.   Folks, you’re in for a real one-of-a-kind musical treat.   Franklin might play one of his unusually rare Prussian instruments.  Who knows?  His repertoire is vast.  And why 7:20 p.m.?

There’s all sorts of other things happening this weekend.

Arcata has it going on FRIDAY:  Arts! Arcata, everybody wang chunging to the 80s Dance Party at the Jambalaya, the March Fourth Marching Band at Humboldt Brews, and the movie Friday (a stoner comedy-drama-buddy film, if you didn’t know) at the Arcata Theatre Lounge.  Blue Lake has the Naive Melodies, a tribute cover to the Talking Heads over at the Blue Lake Casino.  If you’re in the mood and around SoHum there’s the Mateel Comedy Cabaret at the Community Center.

SATURDAY has Guitar Shorty singing the blues at the Riverwood Inn and more.

SUNDAY has more than a few pancake, waffles, and breakfast things cooking, Redwood Region Audubon Society sponsoring a field trip through the wildlife and landscape areas of Potawot Health Village early in the morning, the Congressional Candidate’s debate is sparring the Mateel Community Center at 2 p.m. along with a John Lennon life and musical tribute gig at Arcata’s Cafe Veritas in Westwood Center later in the evening.

MONDAY has the City of Arcata’s Bowl of Beans benefit honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and local youth.  Eureka will be hosting its own annual presentation at the Adorni Center.  We think. Here was last year’s Eureka event, mixed in with an proto-Occupy Arcata Plaza gig headed up by Jack Nounnan, courtesy of KGOE’s Tom Sebourn and the Sentinel:

You can also take in a rose pruning workshop or a tea ceremony.  So many choice, so little time.

See the listings below for more details:

Friday, January 13

Saturday, January 14

Sunday, January 15

There’s some good flicks playing out there, too.

Movies, times, trailers, and IMDb reviews are here.

COMING UP:

While it may be a pricey ticket ($47) at the Arkley Center on Thursday, January 19, comedian Gabriel Iglesias is worth every bit if you like laughing your fat bottom off.  If you’ve seen him perform, you know what we mean.  He’s good.  And getting richer.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, FILM, AFRICA AND SALMON:

ACCESS HUMBOLDT is kicking off 2012 with two film presentations. Travel Photography and More— Swaziland, Africa by local photographer, Gary Todoroff, is featured Thursday, January 19, at 6pm, in the Eureka High School Lecture Hall. Mr. Todoroff has a vast background in aerial, commercial, and fine art photography. His lecture documents an abandoned mining town transitioned into a self-supporting community for orphan care in Swaziland, Africa. Along with an inside look at a vibrant community, Gary will describe the techniques he used as the town’s resident photographer. He’ll also be teaching a 2-hour workshop series, beginning Wednesday, January 18, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. for photographers.

Also featured will be an environmental documentary by Thomas Dunklin Friday, January 27 at 7 p.m. Dunklin is a fisheries geo-videologist and producer of documentary videos surrounding salmon, restoration, and salmon culture. His work encompasses underwater views from the Smith and Klamath Rivers, watershed restorations projects, Klamath dam and other amazing underwater wildlife footage. Questions and answers will follow Dunklin’s selected work. Movie trivia, prizes, and a reception will follow at the adjacent Access Humboldt Community Media Center.

Each presentation is $5. All are welcome to attend.  The seats are comfortable, the people and food good, and the price is right for supporting Access Humboldt and independent media. What isn’t there to like?

Favorite Quote(s) of the Week:

You’re never more alive than when you’re almost dead. You recognize what’s valuable. Freshly, as if for the first time, you love what’s best in yourself and in the world, all that might be lost…. You find yourself studying the fine colors on the river, you feel wonder and awe at the setting of the sun, and you are filled with a hard, aching love for how the world could be and always should be, but now is not.

~Tim O’Brien, The Things They Carried

We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons.

~Alfred E. Newman

Gabe Talamantes caught up in undercover sting at south Broadway motel

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

Eureka’s Problem Oriented Policing unit scored yet another drug bust thanks to the work of undercover cops.

Eureka Police Department personnel converged yesterday evening at a south Broadway motel after an officer who concealed his identity arranged a drug sale over the phone. EPD had been tipped off that a male subject named “Gabe” was selling cocaine, and the undercover agent agreed to buy an “eight ball” or one-eighth ounce quantity of cocaine.

Gabriel Talamantes, 33, arrived at the unnamed motel at about 5:50 p.m. yesterday, according to a press statement by EPD sergeant Steve Watson. He had arranged to meet the undercover cop to sell cocaine to him, and when investigators opened the door, they took Talamantes into custody without incident.

Upon conducting a search, EPD personnel say they located a sealed plastic baggie containing the 8-ball of cocaine in Talamantes’ pants pocket. Inside a plastic Pelican case the suspect was carrying, investigators found a digital gram scale and two more sealed baggies of cocaine, totaling one ounce or 25.7 grams of gross weight.

Gabriel Talamantes

Talamantes was booked at Humboldt County jail for transportation and possession of cocaine for sale, and for violation of the conditions of probation, meaning he is ineligible for bail.

Members of the public with information concerning drug sales in Eureka are asked to call the POP unit at (707) 441-4373 or the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at (707) 444-8095.

New Human Resources Department also to be formed at Supervisors’ behest

By Charles Douglas
Humboldt Sentinel

Community Development Services director Kirk Girard’s job will no longer exist come springtime.

In a stunning move which may well rock the decade-long Humboldt County General Plan update process just as it approaches completion, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to adopt a breakup of CDS into two parts, restoring the old Department of Planning and Building which CDS succeeded in 1999, and also creating a Department of Economic and Resource Development, effective Mar. 19.

In what might be the most sweeping single motion made by a Supervisor in recent years, the Third District’s Mark Lovelace and the First District’s Jimmy Smith gave blanket approval to a plan by Phillip Smith-Hanes, the county administrative officer, which also merges the Personnel Department and the CAO Risk Management Team into a new Human Resourced Department. All county offices providing for indigent defense, or the legal services provided for poor people, are also to be merged and the position of Conflict Counsel is to be eliminated upon the retirement of the incumbent.

Smith-Hanes, who gains additional authority to directly oversee the performance evaluations of the new ERD position, the old Conflict Counsel position, the Public Defender and the Child Support Services Director, said the big changes served up weren’t about personalities, but about achieving efficiencies.

“People in the community have said various things over time about the Community Development Services Department, love him, hate him, whatever,” he said. “The reality of the situation is that Community Development Services has been very focused on very specific programs and as a result as they’ve gone through the economic crisis they have hollowed out or have not allocated positions at the middle management level…I think that stretches a person too thinly.”

Girard, who was in the audience for a General Plan Amendment dealt with in short order beforehand, sat silently as a line of public speakers thanked the Board for their move in deconstructing the department he’d spent over a decade building.

“I see what you’re doing here today as a tremendous opportunity. I think it’s an opportunity because you all know how polarized we are about this in Humboldt County…the communication hasn’t been good,” McKinleyville resident and former Supervisor candidate Ben Shepherd said. “I’m not here to assign blame but we all recognize that there’s an issue…there can be a very successful  process, I don’t get the sense that’s where we are with the General Plan Update, so where we are is an opportunity to bring people together so we can develop trust and we can end up with something that all these disparate groups can come together and support.”

Perhaps the most trenchant critic of Girard’s regime was HELP or Humboldt Economic and Land Plan, which launched a number of legal actions against the county over the last several years concerning its Housing Element and other planning matters. Registered lobbyist Kay Backer crowed that HELP had recommended splitting up CDS in 2004, and she also called for the centralization of more power and authority in the office of CAO.

“We believe there’s evidence that there needs to be a more systemic reorganization at this time,” she said.

Jim Furtado of the Northern California Association of Homebuilders was pointed in his demand that the interim DPB director not be a “current employee” of the county, voicing clearly the interests of local developers anxious to show Girard the door. Supervisors were silent on the matter, although Smith-Hanes made it clear that the directors of both new departments would go through the routine hiring process, where the Board meets in closed session, only letting the public know after the fact what their decision is.

Smith, often seen as the swing vote on the Board, was diplomatic — but left little doubt that Supervisors were looking to move on and make a fresh start.

“Ultimately, if you are elected, you go out and meet people…that pulse, that you’re a part of the public and you’re accountable to them, that’s something that as good as your dpeartment heads are, they’re not out there all night every night, so that’s the sense the Board members bring to those meetings and those evaluations,” he said. “It’s the people speaking through their elected representatives and that’s the bottom line.”

The new vacancies will be publicly noticed in the coming weeks, and it’s expected that the Planning Commission will stick to its current schedule and make its final votes on remaining General Plan elements prior to the breakup of CDS. Costs of the organizational reorganization is estimated to be under $40,000 for the remainder of fiscal year 2011-2012.

Girard sat down with the author for an episode of Sentinel Interviews in late 2011, where he defended his record in balancing public and private interests during his tenure at CDS.

Accused suspect also had guns, scale and other materials at home

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

One more alleged meth dealer is apparently off the street after the Problem Oriented Policing unit swung into action on the south side of Eureka yesterday.

At about 4:24 p.m. yesterday, a Eureka Police Department POP investigator conducted a routine traffic stop on a white Chevrolet at the intersection of E and Hodgson Street, obstensably for vehicle code infractions. The driver, 27-year-old Fidel Alberto Contreras (also known as Fidel Munguia) was on probation for a previous controlled substances conviction, and thus was subject to immediate search. The search uncovered a secret compartment, within which were seven small Ziploc baggies containing 22 grams of crystal methamphetamine individually packaged for sale, according to a press statement by sergeant Steve Watson.

Fidel Contreras

Contreras was arrested on the scene, and in his pockets, the cops found $1,767 in cash, which was suspected to originate from illegal drug sales. Also in his pockets were three cell phones. All this led to an EPD investigation of Contreras’ residence on the 3200 block of D Street, where detectives found a loaded .380 chrome semi-automatic pistol with two boxes of ammunition — items which are illegal for someone on probation to possess. Police also found a digital gram scale and empty drug sales packaging materials, along with evidence of an indoor marijuana growing operation, including two rooms with beds, soil and grow lights, but no plants.

The suspect was booked on charges of possession and transportation of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and violation of the conditions of probation, and at this hour Contreras is still in Humboldt County jail.

Members of the public with information concerning drug sales or criminal activity in Eureka are asked to call the POP unit at (707) 441-4373.