Cover Story
Getting Compliant
With a motion of his wrist, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law this month a broad set of regulations designed to rein in the state’s massive, unruly medical marijuana industry. The regulations have been 20 years in the making, since California voters legalized medical marijuana in 1996 with the Compassionate Use Act, better known as…
Brand Watch: The Myth of the Sleazy Car Salesman
The unshaven man leers from behind the high lapels of his trenchcoat, his fingers tented as though to shield a cigarette from the wind. Beside him the neon winks, letters in a loopy vintage font: Bob’s Fine Cars. The owner of Bob’s Fine Cars, Bob Crivello, says the logo has been the source of confusion…
HSU Plans to Level the Trinity Annex
Humboldt State University is planning to raze the former Trinity Hospital property, which sits on 14th Street between B and C streets and has been mostly abandoned a dozen or so years. The Lumberjack reports that HSU determined it would be more expensive to restore the annex, and that doing so was a low priority…
UPDATE: Hold the Crab
UPDATE: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to indefinitely postpone recreational crab season. It remains prohibited to take crab anywhere north of the Ventura/Santa Barbara county line until the department changes its mind. “Closure of the fisheries shall remain in effect until [public health] determines that domoic acid levels no longer…
Mills Releases Details of Officer Involved Shooting, Identifies Suspect
At a press conference this afternoon to discuss Sunday’s shootout that left a California Highway Patrol Officer wounded and a suspect dead on Q Street, Eureka Police Chief Andy Mills said the involved officer showed incredible discipline in the face of a dangerous, dynamic and intimidating situation. “As we grow up, each of us looks…
As the 5th District Twists in the Wind, A Look at Rotwein’s Chances
It looks like 5th Division Harbor candidates Patrick Higgins and Susan Rotwein are going to spend some time twisting in the wind. When the smoke cleared, the final Election Night report had 12 votes separating the candidates, with Higgins, the incumbent, having stormed back from an early, vote-by-mail-ballot-driven deficit. Today, the elections office reports that…
Mills, Frustrated, Shelves Gun Ordinance
Eureka Police Chief Andy Mills has pulled his proposed gun control ordinance, saying his department is going to focus on an education campaign urging people not to leave weapons unattended in their homes and businesses. Mills, with guidance from the city attorney, had developed a proposed ordinance requiring gun owners to lock up their firearms…
UPDATED: Dale Wins 2nd District Harbor Race
SECOND UPDATE: The final election night report is in, and the tally confirms Greg Dale’s re-election. With 3,080 votes cast, and all of the 2nd District’s 23 precincts reporting, Dale took nearly 64 percent of the vote to challenger Nick Angeloff’s 35 percent. Celebrating at his Fortuna home with a Manhattan, Dale was pleased with…
UPDATED: Higgins Pulls Ahead in the 5th
2nd UPDATE: With the final Election Night report in, we have a nail biter in the race for the 5th Division Harbor District Seat. After trailing all night, incumbent Commissioner Pat Higgins has taken a 12-vote lead over challenger Susan Rotwein with 100 percent of precincts reporting. With 3,666 votes counted in the race thus…
Youravish Guilty of First Degree Murder
After just three hours of deliberations today, a jury found 21-year-old Michael Youravish guilty of first degree murder for the brutal, premeditated June 17, 2013 stabbing death of Forrest Lovejoy in McKinleyville. The jury also found Youravish guilty of a special allegation of lying in wait, leaving the Eureka man facing life in prison without…
It’s Not Too Late to Rock the Vote
Anecdotal evidence is strongly hinting that today’s voter turnout in Humboldt County is dismally low, not that that’s a huge surprise with most voters facing sparse ballots and a pair of Harbor District races headlining the whole affair. The good news is that means your ballot has the potential to pull some real weight, and…
EPD Makes Murder Arrest
UPDATE: A press release from the Eureka Police Department contains additional information about the arrest of murder suspect Derek Charles Payton, 22, of Eureka. According to the release, Payton admitted to a detective that he opened fire on Elliot Michael Walin and another man during a marijuana-related dispute on the night of Oct. 21. Walin…
Ehresman Stepping down from NEC
The Northcoast Environmental Center is in a state of flux, as it announced over the weekend that Executive Director Dan Ehresman will be stepping down in the next couple weeks. Ehresman has worked for the NEC for six years, serving as the organization’s director since 2012. In recent months, Ehresman was critical of California Cannabis…
UPDATED: Eureka Shooting Leaves Officer Wounded, Suspect Killed
Multiple local police agencies are investigating an officer-involved shooting that left an officer wounded and a suspect dead in Eureka this afternoon. Eureka Police Chief Andrew Mills said at a press conference — audio of which can be found here and here — that a California Highway Patrol Officer initiated a traffic stop near the…
We Blew it up at El Pueblo
With the start of Dia de los Muertos starts this weekend, folks are picking up pan de muerto (dead bread) to pile onto altars among photos, sugar skulls and candles for their lost loved ones. Don’t risk losing control of your sweet tooth and swiping a bun from the dearly departed. Get your own. El…
Bring Out Your Dead
Mummies may be wrapping things up and witches may be flying south for the winter, but the season of spectres isn’t over yet. On Nov. 1 from 5 to 8 p.m., the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts presents a dazzling Dia de los Muertos party ($20, $12 kids). Celebrate this rich and colorful Mexican holiday with a lineup that includes headlining Latin rockers from…
Come as You Aren’t
Where can your little ghouls and goblins load up on sugar and show off the clever costumes you spent hours making? Several spots throughout the county are having trick-or-treat activities and costume parades on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31. Here’s where to go for the good stuff. Kids are invited to meet at the kiosk a…
Another Fire in a Squires Property
Humboldt Bay Fire spent an hour and a half fighting a blaze near downtown Eureka early this morning, holding off its firefighting efforts at one point as propane tanks exploded inside the vacant home’s garage. The fire, which appeared to start in the garage and spread to the residence at 811 H St., was reported…
Something Strange in Your Neighborhood
The downtown/Old Town terror-tory is the perfect place for little werewolves of Humboldt to roam and romp this Halloween. Redwood Art Association, Eureka Main Street, downtown businesses and Eureka Parks and Recreation are putting on a full day of family fun at the It’s Scary! Halloween Block Party on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m.…
Chief Mills Proposes Gun Control Law
On the Eureka Police Department’s official blog, Chief Andy Mills announced he is asking the city attorney to draft an ordinance that will require Eureka gun owners to lock up unattended weapons. Mills wrote that the law is in response to recent guns thefts, including one from a gun dealer, and will apply to firearms…
VOTE!
Editor: I think our current group of harbor district commissioners is doing a great job. It bought a dredge so we can get all the dredging we need done for a lower price and do it when it needs to be done. No more waiting two to three years for things to line up. It…
Hit Makers
Reviews ROCK THE KASBAH. Bill Murray is not an actor for all tastes. Although he’s become an icon beyond icons lately, his face attached to memes and printed on shirts and phone cases, the shambolic charisma of his actual performances can alienate just as it attracts. I am willing to see most, if not any,…
Cannibals and Weavers
With branches of kung-fu based on its movements, the mantis is the epitome of elegant lethality in the insect world. Over the years I’ve seen more 3- to 4-inch adult European mantises (Mantis religiosa) in the fall. The imported creatures come in pale green and tan, and are easily recognized by the black bull’s-eye on…
Paul on Pot
If you haven’t read this week’s cover story yet, an expanded “Week in Weed” of sorts looking at local reactions to new state weed regulations, I urge you to take a look at it. A lot of smart people involved in the marijuana industry are saying a lot of smart things. Among those players is…
Fair Game
To me, the county fair is about pies, poultry and pygmy goats. But now the running of the fair and coverage of it is a side show as entertaining as the pet circus I saw at the fair itself. Earlier in October, the Humboldt County Fair Association, which runs the fair for the county through…
Why are Firefighters Endangering Us?
Make no mistake, I like our firefighters. But something wrong and dangerous is going on. It needs to change, and I’m ragging on our supervisors. I’ve talked to several chiefs. They agree 70 to 90 percent of rural structure fires are marijuana grow-related. We’re talking diesel and electrical. Amateur wiring jobs and sloppy generators with…
Hum Plate
How to Eat Somewhere New W hen a new place opens, the common wisdom is that you should try it in a couple of months when it’s worked out the kinks. Are you made of stone? There’s a whole unexplored menu to peruse and sample. What if there’s something you’ve never eaten before? Once you finally break…
All Hallows’ Eve
Hey kids, Halloween’s on Saturday. Of course you know that, but did you know that it’s also your parents’ favorite holiday? That’s right, Halloween was once a children’s festivity, with the occasional parent dressing up to humor/embarrass their kids. After stealing some of your candy, parents realized that pretending to be someone else for a…
‘Covering your Own Trial’
Back in February 2013, the Journal ran a cover story about Stuart and Caroline Titus under the headline: “Ferndale Gothic: She runs the newspaper. He’s the mayor and the freshly ousted fair manager. It’s messy.” We had no idea. Earlier this month, an anonymous letter — copied hundreds of times over — reportedly arrived in…
Resistance
We are leaves fallen from the tree blown around until we settle into a softness become compost lose our resistance our separateness become one
Watch out
Editor: I attended one of the neighborhood watch programs in which Ginger Campbell was a presenter (“The Pitchfork and the Mouse,” Oct. 22). I found her presentation laced with various stereotypes. Anyone with a hoodie, tattoos or any unknown young person was waiting to steal from you, or was a gang banger, or a druggie…
NCJ’s One-sided Message
Editor: The Journal’s story on the death of Richie Estrada last year was well researched and fairly reported (“‘System Failure,'” Oct. 15). It pointed to the need for better mental health services, especially in the Hoopa and Willow Creek area. While I feel sad for the grieving family, and I applaud their post-mortem efforts to…
Numbers Game
Editor: I was surprised to read on your news blog (“Big Money in the Harbor Commission Race,” Oct. 23) that Susan Rotwein’s campaign had raised nearly $19,000 and spent $12,890 as of roughly mid-October. On Oct. 20, Ms. Rotwein told a voters’ forum in Trinidad that her campaign had spent around $3,000 to $4,000 so…
