Cover Story
Art in the Streets
Stock Schlueter dips his paintbrush in a deep forest green and pit-pats leaves onto a tree in the far-right corner of his painting in Opera Alley. His piece is an ode to a spot along Madden Creek he’s grown fond of. Beginning Aug. 11, more than 20 local and visiting artists transformed walls along Opera…
Flatmo’s Dragon Slays at the Smithsonian
Editor’s note: With Black Rock City once again rising up amid the great sandscape of Nevada’s desert expanse, we thought now would be a good time to take another look at the fantastical work of Humboldt County’s own Duane Flatmo, whose dragon creation is part of the Smithsonian’s No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man…
Digging It: An Interview with Diggin Dirt’s Tyler Martin
We caught up with Tyler Martin, baritone saxophone player from local funk octet Diggin Dirt, fresh off of a sold-out show at Humbrews to talk about the band’s summer of festival sets, sharing the stage with idols and their Humboldt sound. NCJ: I understand the band’s profile has increased recently through your extensive West Coast…
Plea Deals Reached in 2014 Gang Stabbing of 14 Year Old
Three gang members facing murder charges stemming from the Dec. 16, 2014 stabbing death of a 14 year old in Eureka have reached plea deals with prosecutors. According to a press release from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, Joe Olivo Jr., Joe Olivo III and Mario Nunez all pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges, admitting…
UPDATE: Warehouse, Dock Damaged in Fields Landing Fire
UPDATE: Humboldt Bay Fire is reporting that the Fields Landing fire has been fully extinguished after 16 hours. There were no injures but the damage to equipment — including 250 crab pots —the warehouse and the dock is estimated at $750,000. PREVIOUSLY: Humboldt Bay Fire responded to a large structure fire at the Olsen Dock…
UPDATED: Divided Arcata City Council Stalls Student Housing Project
The Arcata City Council, meeting this morning with Councilmember Michael Winkler absent, having recused himself from the issue, deadlocked on The Village, a controversial off-campus student housing project, leaving the development’s future uncertain. The council voted 2-2, with Councilmember Paul Pitino and Mayor Sofia Pereira dissenting, on a motion from Councilmember Susan Ornelas that would…
Cows on 101 Near Loleta Cause Series of Crashes
Loose cows caused a series of accidents on U.S Highway 101 near the Loleta Drive exit last night and this morning, leaving at least one person with serious injuries as law enforcement continues to work the scene, which is not expected to be completely cleared up until this afternoon. At least one of the cows…
Music Tonight: Wednesday, Aug. 29
Pato Banton There will be cool and creepy night sounds on tap at the Miniplex this evening as the cross-continental scenes of Los Angeles and New York merge for a collage of dark tunes. From the closer town comes Thief — featuring members of San Francisco’s avant-metal act Botanist — while the far coast is…
Arcata City Council to Consider ‘The Village’ Project at Morning Meeting
A special 9 a.m. meeting is scheduled Wednesday for the Arcata City Council to consider the approval of a controversial off-campus student housing project known as The Village. The proposed 600-bed facility is supported by Humboldt State University but has drawn opposition from local residents who have voiced concerns about noise, traffic and other impacts…
49ers Sign Former Lumberjack Ja’Quan Gardner
Former Humboldt State running back Ja’Quan Gardner today signed a three-year contract with the 49ers, according to the team. Gardner made his mark as a Lumberjack, appearing in 42 games in which he broke campus records and was an integral part of the 2015-2016 football team that saw HSU rack up its first post-season win…
UPDATE: State Route 96 is Open
UPDATE: Caltrans and the Hoopa Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services are reporting that State Route 96 is now reopen, more than an hour before schedule. PREVIOUSLY: Officials are asking travelers to use caution while driving on State Route 96 after its slated reopening today around 3 p.m. The noon pilot car that escorts…
Homemade Explosive Device Found in McKinleyville Field
A homemade explosive device found in a McKinleyville field Monday afternoon by a person doing landscaping work was rendered safe by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordnance Team. The device was found on the 1800 block of Murray Road, east of Central Avenue, around 2:30 p.m. The sheriff’s office is reminding residents not to…
Music Tonight: Tuesday, Aug. 28
U.K. reggae toastmaster Pato Banton slides into The Jam tonight at 9 p.m. for what should be a hot night for all of you vibe aficionados out there who love island sounds from England to Jamaica and all archipelagos in between. Along for the fun will be Ishi Dube and C-Baker with Dynasty One and…
Re-Cap of Ladies Hat Day
The seventh annual Ladies Hat Day at the Races at the Humboldt County Fair on Saturday attracted more than 100 glamorous, outrageous and funny competitors for some big prizes for their hat creations. See some of the feats of fashion in the slideshow below. Ladies Hat Day “Hatagories” included Most Glamorous, Best Racing Theme, Funniest…
Mill Creek Fire at 74 Percent Containment
The Mill Creek Fire, which has burned nearly 3,700 acres as it enters its second week, is now 74 percent contained. State Route 96 between Weitchpec and Hoopa remains closed to traffic except for escorted trips three times a day, when fire activity allows for safe travel. Meanwhile, air quality is expected to improve in…
Music Tonight: Monday, Aug. 27
Kiwi vaporwave artist Eyeliner will be at the Miniplex tonight with fellow New Zealand act Jesus HTML Christ (great name but much like the druggy, time-dilated vaporwave genre of music, I feel like it unfortunately comes with a looming expiration date, much to my own private despair). Also representing will be Los Angeles’ similarly aligned…
I Lost 100 Bucks at the Horse Races and Had a Gay Old Time Doing It
The penultimate day of the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale is the best day, Ladies’ Hat Day. As the name suggests, women in hats abound — ranging from the simple imitations of Christine McVie to resplendent facsimiles of Eliza Doolittle’s chapeau at the Embassy Ball. There are a number of contests and a parade. It’s…
Yuck! Flies
It may come as a surprise to some, but I don’t like all bugs. There are many I find despicable. Mosquitoes kill more people than lions, tigers and bears combined. Fleas killed my dog. I’m extremely allergic to tick bites. I find flies, not all members of the order Diptera, but house flies, green bottle…
Music Tonight: Sunday, Aug. 26
There’s more metal afoot tonight at The Siren’s Song as Portland’s own Dead Hunt teams up with local rising static wranglers D//FEX for some fun, fun, fun on the cheap. How cheap? Just $3. What time? Oh, around 8 p.m.
Chico Man Arraigned on Double Murder Charges
County prosecutors have identified the victims of an alleged double murder in Southern Humboldt Aug. 14 as Tiffany Marie Ellebrecht and Jeremy Dieter Kuemmel. Their alleged killer, 24-year-old Ulisses Rodriguez, who was arrested in Chico a week after Ellebrecht and Kuemmel’s bodies were found in a burning vehicle on Briceland Road near Ettersburg Junction, made…
Music Tonight: Saturday, Aug. 25
RampArt Skatepark reaches its punk rock perihelion tonight at 8 p.m. as absolute grindcore heavyweights — for three decades and counting — and all-around fantastic band Napalm Death visits our foggy bottoms from the Albion Land of greater Birmingham, U.K. Joining the group will be local support from Sadistic Hallucinations, FamousxPerson, The Cissies, and Waste…
Thieves Swipe Decades-Old Dahlias From Sequoia Park Garden
The city of Eureka is asking for the public’s help after dahlias and a few other plants were dug up and stolen from the Sequoia Park Flower Garden located next to the zoo. According to a Sequoia Park Facebook post, some of the stolen dahlias were 50 to 80 years old. “This garden is maintained…
Air Quality Advisory for Willow Creek, Hoopa, Orleans
An air quality advisory has been issued for Willow Creek, Hoopa and Orleans for unhealthy to very healthy conditions due mainly to the Mill Creek Fire. Humboldt County Cleaner Air Centers currently available are available at the following locations: Hoopa Neighborhood Facility, 11860 State Hwy 96, Hoopa; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hoopa Health Association…
UPDATE: 6 p.m. Pilot Car Available Today, Travelers Asked to ‘Be on Time’
UPDATE: A pilot car will be available at 6 p.m. today. Those looking to travel the Highway 96 stretch between Weitchpec and Hoopa are asked to: “Be on time and ready to go.” PREVIOUSLY: The Mill Creek Fire interagency management team announced today that the noon pilot car will not be running today between Hoopa…
Wiyot Day
Join the Wiyot Tribe in a celebration of culture that honors elders and veterans during Wiyot Day, Saturday, Aug. 25 from 1 to 8 p.m. at Table Bluff Reservation (free admission, $10 dinner). There will be dance and cultural demonstrations, a stick game, card game tournament, live music, games for kids, vendors and dinner served…
Paint the Town at the Creamery District
Downtown and Old Town Eureka just had a week of beautification courtesy of several local and visiting artists who painted magnificent scenes on buildings and structures. Arcata’s Creamery District follows suit Saturday, Aug. 25 during the Paint the Town and Night Market from 1 to 9 p.m. (free). Local teaching artist Haley Davis throws some…
Kevin Ebbert Memorial Trail Run
Remember a local fallen hero at the fifth annual Kevin Ebbert Memorial Trail Run, an event paying tribute to the Navy SEAL who was killed in action in 2012, on Sunday, Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Arcata Community Forest ($10 adults, $5 kids). Run through the redwoods as part of the…
Music Tonight: Friday, Aug. 24
It’s a busy Friday night so get ready. Local family act March and the Months presents a psychedelic set entitled Green Dream Kite at The Sanctuary at 7:30 p.m. ($5-$20 sliding scale). Meanwhile, up at the Van Duzer Theatre at 8 p.m., East L.A.’s Chicano fusion band Las Cafeteras will be overseeing a beautiful and…
Hops in Humboldt
Summer’s hopping along but it ain’t over yet. Grab your designated driver and head to Hops in Humboldt on Saturday, Aug. 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Rohner Park for one last hurrah ($50, $40 advance, $15 for non-drinkers). Enjoy unlimited samples of beer from all across this great land plus live music, food,…
All Aboard for Salmon, Oysters, Ales and Rails
Join the Timber Heritage Association for an afternoon of all the good stuff: eats, artifacts, artisans and more at Salmon, Oysters, Ales and Rails on Saturday, Aug. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Samoa Roundhouse (free admission, $20 salmon dinner, $10 hot dog lunch). The Timber Heritage Society’s annual open house fundraiser…
Early Routes Out of Humboldt
If you drive or cycle the rolling mountain road from Bridgeville to Kneeland — it’s a county right-of-way, despite all the “no trespassing” signs — you’ll be following the first wagon route out of Humboldt to the south. Today, of course, we effortlessly zip along U.S. Highway 101, mostly along the South Fork of the…
End of Summer Diversions
As I write this I am coming home from a great — but, sadly, too rare these days — evening of live music and I am bushed. Why so rare and why so bushed? Because I am trying to finish up a carpentry project this week so I can enjoy a small pocket of my…
Christie Ranch Entry at the County Fair
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Music Tonight: Thursday, Aug. 23
Blondies hosts a free all-ages rock and/or roll show tonight to welcome back the nearby student body. Two Long Beach traveling all-stars, Meow Twins and Freemans Dead, are the featured acts so come on by at 8:30 p.m. to see what’s going on at the bottom of the hill.
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The High Price of Freedom
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Condescend Much?
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‘At Our Feet’
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Flower Power
Whether a formal rose garden or a small patch of cheerful sunflowers, nothing makes a lush vegetable garden pop more than a backdrop of colorful flowers. Depending on the flower of choice, it can bring elegance and formality, country charm or enchantment. Wispy summer fog adds mystique. Similar to growing vegetables at home, growing flowers…
