The Jury Is In
Occupying a unique oversight role, the 2023-2024 civil grand jury completes its work with an uncertain future By Thadeus Greenson
Cover Story
The Jury Is In
California’s civil grand jury system is enshrined in the state constitution, which requires a group of citizens be impaneled annually in all 58 of its counties to watch over local governments. The system is as old as the state itself and unique across the country. In Humboldt County, it also hangs in the balance, with…
Gary Lee Markussen Jr.: 1951-2024
Gary Lee Markussen Sr. was born March 15, 1951, in Hoopa, California, and passed on June 29, 2024, in Klamath. Gary grew up in Arcata, California, and spent his youth with friends and family throughout Humboldt and Del Norte counties. In his younger years, Gary was a self-taught musician, which was a lifelong love of…
David Keith Boston: 1951-2024
David Keith Boston passed away on June 25, following complications of a stroke. David was a Taoist and it is believed that you come from nature and then go back to nature. Death is a natural process of life. During his passing, David was surrounded by close family and friends. David was born to David…
Robert Vernor Ford: 1931-2024
On May 2, 2024, Robert Vernon Ford, known affectionately as “Bob” and “Uncle Bob,” peacefully passed away at his home at Silvercrest in Eureka, California. He was 92 years old, born on Nov. 3, 1931, in Willits, California. Bob’s life was marked by his deep passion for fishing, a hobby he cherished throughout his years.…
Pat Hassler: 1935-2024
Patricia Joan Hassler (Kitchen) passed away peacefully June 22, 2024, in Arcata California. surrounded by her loving family. Pat was born March 14, 1935 , to Wesley and Florence Kitchen in McCook, Nebraska. Born the eldest of three children, Pat grew up in a loving family with many relatives living close by to guide her.…
Janis Nees: 1944-2024
Born to Sylvester and Marjory Mart, Janis Nees passed away into the arms of her savior on June 3 in her daughter’s home. AKA: Janis Martz, Janis Shaffer and Janis Teague. Janis is survived by her husband, Bud Nees, and two children: David Shaffer and Kim Lueras. She also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and five…
Elaine Vogt: 1935-2024
On June 1, Elaine Vogt passed peacefully in her home in McKinleyville, surrounded by family and loved ones. She was born Sept. 20, 1935, to William (Hartford) Pearl and Ada Pearl near Fresno, California. Her greatest passion of her life was her family. She married Earl Lee Vogt on Sept. 2, 1950. She had a…
Dorothy Blackcrow Mack: 1934-2024
Dorothy Lee Mack passed away June 15, in Eureka. Dorothy was born on Christmas Eve, 1934, and grew up in upstate New York. She was the second child born to Guilford and Dorothy Mack. She had an older sister named Helen who died in early childhood, and a younger brother Guilford, now deceased. She was…
California Approves New Blueprint for Offshore Wind. The Massive Projects Will Cost Billions
The California Energy Commission today unanimously approved a sweeping plan to develop a massive floating offshore wind industry in ocean waters — a first-of-its-kind undertaking that will require billions in public and private investments and could transform parts of the coast. The new state plan sets the path for harnessing wind power from hundreds of…
Crabs Rally to Win Third Series in a Row
After an exciting week that featured three walk-off wins and their first conference series victory, the Humboldt Crabs had seemingly turned things around after opening conference play 0-7. They’d get one day to enjoy it before embarking on a new week of challenges that included six games in six days. Momentum can be fickle, especially…
Don Nielsen
Donald Alan Nielsen, 84, the grandson of Swedish and Danish immigrants who settled on the Arcata Bottom in the early 1900s, passed away the first week of April, following complications from a fall. From an early age, Don worked on the farmers’ and ranchers’ fields on the Bottom weeding, mowing and baling hay, and later…
Music Tonight: Wednesday, July 10
Humbrews hosts the next-generation of a beloved talent — and his late, famous, jam band King of Hearts friend and cohort — at 8 p.m. tonight for $25, a sum I guarantee many of you in the jam world will be seriously considering after reading below. The Sam Grisman Project is helmed by the son…
Fourth Fun in Old Town
Under unusually warm sunshine, Eureka Main Street’s Fourth of July Festival in historic Old Town attracted its usual large crowd of attendees enjoying a wide variety of foods, crafts, commercial items and fine art, while community groups tabled to get word out about their organizations. Two stages featured performances by North Coast Dance and live…
Mike Knight: 1951-2024
Sadly, a kind and good husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and neighbor, Mike Knight, died of pancreatic cancer at home Jan. 12, at age 72. Wishing he could still be with us, we are left with a new way of living with him through our memories. Mike was born on Feb. 3, 1951, in…
Martin Michael Campusano: 1960-2024
Martin Michael Campusano passed away at his home on March 29, following a lengthy battle with cancer. As was very typical of Martin’s personality, he was courageous and pragmatic during his illness. Even during the most difficult times, Martin maintained his sense of humor and his propensity for telling corny jokes — he’d rather see…
Donna Goddard: 1934-2024
Donna Goddard passed away Sunday June 30, at the age of 89. Born Nov. 5, 1934, in Sanger, California, to Granville and Alice Alcorn. In 1952 the family moved to Westhaven, where Donna graduated from Arcata High School. Donna met and married her lifelong love, Don, and together they had four children. Donna loved her…
Music Tonight: Tuesday, July 9
I was just this weekend chatting with one of my Texas brothers in arms from my musical touring days and we agreed that no place creates brilliant counterculture artists quite like the Lone Star State. From the Butthole Surfers to Townes Van Zandt to The Flatlanders, it’s a special place, love it or hoof it.…
Eureka Woman Arrested for Manslaughter, DUI for I Street Crash
A 30-year-old Eureka woman reported has admitted to using nitrous oxide just prior to causing a fatal multi-car collision on I Street in May that left a pedestrian dead, according to Eureka police. The Eureka Police Department issued a press release this afternoon announcing it had secured a Ramey warrant for the arrest of Maria…
Il Forno in Fortuna
The people of Fortuna have evidently mastered manifestation, perhaps connecting with their namesake goddess. One can only assume this from the imminent opening of a larger branch of the Asia’s Best market there and a second location for the Garberville-based Il Forno Bakery (1006 Main St., Fortuna). What candles are you lighting, Fortunans? The chai…
Music Tonight: Monday, July 8
Steve Poltz wears a lot of hats, including the actual style accessories and UV protectors, some of those hats include singer, songwriter, guitar picker, fully booked road dog, and a chooser of good collaborators for his style of jaunty and jocular tunes. I do not know whether he chose Trinidad Town Hall for this evening’s…
Music Today: Sunday, July 7
Humboldt Hot Air, our region’s free internet radio station and a beacon of the off-beat and pulse for the proper goods since KHSU was assassinated, is holding a fundraising fest today at the Arcata Playhouse and adjacent areas. This free, all-ages “fun-raising” event will feature two stages for live music, vendors, food trucks, a vinyl…
Music Tonight: Saturday, July 6
The Sanctuary is continuing its successful jazz concert series, with this fourth installment, a celebration of the King of New Orleans and beyond, and the world’s biggest ambassador to jazz himself, Louis Armstrong. At 7 p.m., join James Zeller, Don Hammerstedt and company for an evening of the stuff that made the 20th century sparkle,…
Music Tonight: Friday, July 5
The Miniplex is putting on a punk and pop-punk mash-up gig tonight at 9 p.m., starring Portland’s queer solo-to-collective act New Here, and featuring local support from a well-picked set of comrades in the form of the bands Blub and Vegan Slaughterhouse. The show is $5-$10 sliding scale and NOTAFLOF, so share what you have…
A Gift
Today an unexpected gift To come upon a grazing deer She looked at us and stood quite still Likewise did we to keep her there. So gaze I did as she returned To munching on the grass nearby The timing gave me such a lift As it was four years since my mother died. I…
Nonprofit Brings Free Dental, Medical Clinic to Humboldt
Tom Lewis has been a dentist for more than 50 years and has seen countless patients, but that one still stands out in his mind. The man in his mid-40s showed up first thing in the morning at the clinic in Sacramento with his two teenage daughters. A contractor and single father, the man said…
Court Rejects Zoellner Appeal
The United States’ Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling finding Arcata police had probable cause to arrest Kyle Zoellner on suspicion of murdering David Josiah Lawson, rejecting Zoellner’s claim for damages against the city. The unanimous ruling filed June 25 rejects all five of Zoellner’s legal arguments, upholding the October…
Fanfare for the Common Man
While I am not a fan of historical hypotheticals and counterfactual guesswork, it is enticing to imagine what a different world we’d all be living in if instead of that homicidal hayseed from Missouri, Harry S. Truman, FDR’s previous sidekick Henry Wallace had been vice president when Roosevelt died. Wallace was an avid reformer in…
Falafelove Blooms in King Salmon
A low chalkboard sign with the words “falafel” and “open” is the only warning before you miss the turn into the recently opened Falafelove’s little parking lot in King Salmon (1125 King Salmon Ave.). Inside, with jars of preserved lemons and olives overhead, owner Avi Leibson hustles between a fryer basket of browned falafel and…
First Saturday Night Arts Alive
Experience the vibrant atmosphere as galleries, museums, theaters, bars and restaurants extend their hours for your enjoyment. Special guest Kinetic teams Half Fast, Apple Pedlars, Swing Kids and Kinetic Surf Club will be moving about within the street closure. 2nd & F Properties 210 F St. Live painting and restoration of Larry Laitman’s historic mural…
Resilient Crabs Rally Behind Three Walk-off Wins
Sunday’s game was bigger than the others. A win in this contest would signal the first conference series win of the new era of Crabs baseball, while a loss would mean far more. Despite palpable tension, coach John Bryant sat calmly reading his book, the fifth in a 13-volume series, pregame outside of the dugout.…
Apocalyptic Roots
A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE. In the before times, when A Quiet Place (2018) was released, it seemed unlikely to spawn a series, much less to outlast and outwit the 800-pound gorillas that were essentially unbeatable at the box office and in the popular consciousness. But in a sort of “turnabout is fair play” moment,…
‘You Make Me Proud’
Editor: Thank you so much, Natalie Arroyo, for your informative, thoughtful, and heartfelt article “Pride is Alive and Well,” in the June 20 edition. You make me proud to be a Eurekan with you as my representative! Amy Lennox, Eureka Related Stories
‘Support a Ceasefire’
Editor: I write on behalf of a group of us we have named the Humboldt Committee for Peace, Humanity and Justice for Palestine (Mailbox, May 30). We have met with Congressmember Huffman to urge him to support a ceasefire. But the bombings continue. This letter is about our concern for the children as we would…
Rise and Fall of the ‘Sunshine Vitamin,’ Part One
Vitamin D is essential for a healthy body, in particular, strong bones. The sunlight-bone link was recognized nearly 200 years ago, when dark, smoky skies in newly industrialized cities in England led to an epidemic of rickets: weak and deformed bones, especially in children. In the 1920s, the vitamin D link was further established when…
