MARCH 1998

On the cover: Photos by Kevin Fox

COVER STORY

BOOK JUNKIES
Story by George Ringwald
Isn't everyone into computers, CDs, videos and cell phones
these days? Apparently not. See this month's cover story.

LATTE TOWNS
by Froma Harrop
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was first published in the Providence (R.I.) Journal
and is reprinted with permission. Any similarities between the towns
described in this article and Arcata are purely coincidental.

HEALTH

DON'T CALL IT AN HMO
by Jessie Faulkner
Pacific Lumber and the County of Humboldt are on board. Your employer might be next.
Is this where managed health care is heading in Humboldt County?

ENVIRONMENT

ARMY CORPS MAY SCRAP CHERT
by Jim Hight
According to a report issued last month by the County of Humboldt Extraction Review Team (CHERT),
"most mining operations caused little or no harm to river ecology."
But the five CHERT scientists reported that "a few gravel operators violated mining protocols
and left river bars in bad shape. ... Now one or more of these operators
are trying to make an end run around the CHERT's scientific review. ..."

SPECIAL REPORT

CORONER'S OFFICE IN TRANSITION
by Rosemary Edmiston

Former Eureka city councilman and newly appointed Coroner
Frank Jager takes over for former Coroner Glenn Sipma.

DEPARTMENTS

PUBLISHER
NOT A VERY SEXY TOPIC
by Judy Hodgson
"Gravel. It's not a very sexy topic.
But last month there was a significant development in the ongoing story
of the extraction of this important resource. ..."

UPFRONT
Humboldt County News Briefs

LETTERS

COLUMNS

FOOD
AN EATING FRENCY
by Betty Thompson

GARDEN
MARCH THROUGH THE GARDEN
by Terry Kramer