Wednesday, July 31, 2019
North Coast Night Lights: A Humboldt Commute
Posted By David Wilson on Wed, Jul 31, 2019 at 3:36 PM
I was where I wanted to be, out beneath the moonless night sky overlooking the Redwood Highway, watching others passing through the night on their separate journeys to their own destinations. What a wonderfully beautiful commute they had, I thought: redwood forests, clear air, the rivers, perhaps the rugged coast. Lucky we are to live here.
Sometimes you have to stop and get out of the car to see it. It was a shame the travelers couldn’t see much of this amazing night from inside their bubbles of light. The stars were crystal clear, pinprick sharp against the black backdrop of space. The giant of our solar system, Jupiter was the brightest point in the sky. Not far away rested Saturn, the second largest of our sister planets. Between them stretched the great Milky Way.
But if they couldn’t see much of the world’s beauty beyond the lights of their vehicles, the people passing in their cars were active participants in my own view of the night’s magic. Every car or truck streaking past cast its stroke of light upon the canvas before me. Now the bright beams of a truck, next a small car’s weak lights, but each filling the foreground with light and detail in different ways. They were painting my scene in with light, spreading their illumination and color upon the landscape like paint onto a canvas.
Sometimes you have to stop and get out of the car to see it. It was a shame the travelers couldn’t see much of this amazing night from inside their bubbles of light. The stars were crystal clear, pinprick sharp against the black backdrop of space. The giant of our solar system, Jupiter was the brightest point in the sky. Not far away rested Saturn, the second largest of our sister planets. Between them stretched the great Milky Way.
But if they couldn’t see much of the world’s beauty beyond the lights of their vehicles, the people passing in their cars were active participants in my own view of the night’s magic. Every car or truck streaking past cast its stroke of light upon the canvas before me. Now the bright beams of a truck, next a small car’s weak lights, but each filling the foreground with light and detail in different ways. They were painting my scene in with light, spreading their illumination and color upon the landscape like paint onto a canvas.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
UPDATE: Fatal Motorcycle Crash on State Route 36
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 3:37 PM
UPDATE:
The California Highway Patrol has identified the man found dead this morning after a motorcycle crash on State Route 36 as 25-year-old Steven Forrest Johnson, of Loleta, who had been reported missing to the Rio Dell Police Department on Saturday evening.
PREVIOUSLY:
The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash off State Route 36 near Fox Creek Road that occurred several days ago.
According to a CHP press release, a Caltrans crew found the motorcyclist and his bike off the edge of the road at about 11:45 a.m. today. Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and determined the rider had been deceased for several days.
The identity of the motorcyclist is being withheld until family can be notified.
The accident remains under investigation and CHP asks anyone with information to call its office at 822-5981.
See the full CHP press release here.
The California Highway Patrol has identified the man found dead this morning after a motorcycle crash on State Route 36 as 25-year-old Steven Forrest Johnson, of Loleta, who had been reported missing to the Rio Dell Police Department on Saturday evening.
PREVIOUSLY:
The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash off State Route 36 near Fox Creek Road that occurred several days ago.
According to a CHP press release, a Caltrans crew found the motorcyclist and his bike off the edge of the road at about 11:45 a.m. today. Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and determined the rider had been deceased for several days.
The identity of the motorcyclist is being withheld until family can be notified.
The accident remains under investigation and CHP asks anyone with information to call its office at 822-5981.
See the full CHP press release here.
With Newsom’s Signature, Presidential Hopefuls Now Have to Show Us Their Taxes
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 1:37 PM
Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed legislation brought forward by North Coast state Sen. Mike McGuire that requires presidential hopefuls to release their tax returns in order to run in the Golden State’s primary election.
“These are extraordinary times and states have a legal and moral duty to do everything in their power to ensure leaders seeking the highest offices meet minimal standards, and to restore public confidence,” Newsom says in a statement. “The disclosure required by this bill will shed light on conflicts of interest, self-dealing, or influence from domestic and foreign business interest.”
While candidates for the nation’s highest office have traditionally turned over the financial papers for more than half a century, President Donald Trump is, of course, the notorious exception to the rule in refusing to make his taxes public.
(Side note: The pre-Trump established practice of releasing tax returns is widely touted as dating back to President Richard Nixon, but he didn’t start the ball rolling voluntarily. It was only after his were leaked to the press — showing he wasn’t paying much — that Nixon turned over more on his own accord, setting the stage for future candidate who would do the same. Until 2016.)
McGuire, who was joined in penning Senate Bill 27 by Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco, called Newsom’s signature a “huge victor for transparency.”
“Today we require tax returns but what would be next? Five years of health records? A certified birth certificate? High school report cards? And will these requirements vary depending on which political party is in power?" Brown wrote in his veto message.
But McGuire followed through on his promise last July — in the wake of President Donald Trump’s widely condemned joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Finland — to try again and reintroduced the legislation in December.
Senate Bill 27 will require a candidate for president or California governor to file “copies of every income tax return filed with the Internal Revenue Service in the five most recent taxable years with the Secretary of State, at least 98 days prior to the corresponding primary election.”
Included as an addendum to Newsom’s statement are comments from three attorneys — described as “Nationally recognized leaders in constitutional law” — who voiced their support and assurances that the bill would withstand a legal challenge.
“SB 27, which requires that presidential candidates disclose tax returns, is constitutional. It does not keep any candidate from being on the ballot so long as he or she complies with a simple requirement that is meant to provide California voters crucial information,” says Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
“This is the state acting to make sure that its voters have information that might be very important to them when they cast their ballots as to who they want to be president of the United States.”
But not everyone sees it that way.
A statement from RNC National Committee member and Vice President of the Republican National Lawyers Association Harmeet K. Dhillon calls the bill a “cynical and illegal voter suppression scheme” aimed at suppressing the Republican vote.
“It’s sad that Gov. Newsom decided to ignore the sage and measured approach taken by his predecessor, Gov. Brown, in vetoing similar legislation due to the manifest illegality and policy implications of this effort,” Dhillon’s statement reads. “And yet again, California voters are used as pawns by a Democratic Party substituting cheap gimmicks such as this law, for policy solutions to California’s many ills. This ill-conceived law is doomed to failure."
Read Gov. Newsom’s statement below:
“These are extraordinary times and states have a legal and moral duty to do everything in their power to ensure leaders seeking the highest offices meet minimal standards, and to restore public confidence,” Newsom says in a statement. “The disclosure required by this bill will shed light on conflicts of interest, self-dealing, or influence from domestic and foreign business interest.”
While candidates for the nation’s highest office have traditionally turned over the financial papers for more than half a century, President Donald Trump is, of course, the notorious exception to the rule in refusing to make his taxes public.
(Side note: The pre-Trump established practice of releasing tax returns is widely touted as dating back to President Richard Nixon, but he didn’t start the ball rolling voluntarily. It was only after his were leaked to the press — showing he wasn’t paying much — that Nixon turned over more on his own accord, setting the stage for future candidate who would do the same. Until 2016.)
McGuire, who was joined in penning Senate Bill 27 by Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco, called Newsom’s signature a “huge victor for transparency.”
A previous version was vetoed by former Gov. Jerry Brown, who questioned whether it could withstand a legal challenge and warned of “the political perils of individual states seeking to regulate presidential elections in this manner.”TY, @GavinNewsom. Transparency is the foundation of accountability and it’s always been a non-partisan issue. While President Trump’s refusal to release his returns was a catalyst for the bill, the bill itself is about a principle that is bigger than one person or party. https://t.co/F5XGOYQ58b
— Mike McGuire (@ilike_mike) July 30, 2019
“Today we require tax returns but what would be next? Five years of health records? A certified birth certificate? High school report cards? And will these requirements vary depending on which political party is in power?" Brown wrote in his veto message.
But McGuire followed through on his promise last July — in the wake of President Donald Trump’s widely condemned joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Finland — to try again and reintroduced the legislation in December.
Senate Bill 27 will require a candidate for president or California governor to file “copies of every income tax return filed with the Internal Revenue Service in the five most recent taxable years with the Secretary of State, at least 98 days prior to the corresponding primary election.”
Included as an addendum to Newsom’s statement are comments from three attorneys — described as “Nationally recognized leaders in constitutional law” — who voiced their support and assurances that the bill would withstand a legal challenge.
“SB 27, which requires that presidential candidates disclose tax returns, is constitutional. It does not keep any candidate from being on the ballot so long as he or she complies with a simple requirement that is meant to provide California voters crucial information,” says Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
“This is the state acting to make sure that its voters have information that might be very important to them when they cast their ballots as to who they want to be president of the United States.”
But not everyone sees it that way.
A statement from RNC National Committee member and Vice President of the Republican National Lawyers Association Harmeet K. Dhillon calls the bill a “cynical and illegal voter suppression scheme” aimed at suppressing the Republican vote.
“It’s sad that Gov. Newsom decided to ignore the sage and measured approach taken by his predecessor, Gov. Brown, in vetoing similar legislation due to the manifest illegality and policy implications of this effort,” Dhillon’s statement reads. “And yet again, California voters are used as pawns by a Democratic Party substituting cheap gimmicks such as this law, for policy solutions to California’s many ills. This ill-conceived law is doomed to failure."
Read Gov. Newsom’s statement below:
Trinidad Rancheria Believes it May Have Found Water Source for Hotel Project; Sundberg May Have Violated State Lobbying Law
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 12:46 PM
At the 11th hour, with a hearing looming before the California Coastal Commission next week, the Trinidad Rancheria believes it may have found a water source for its proposed hotel development on Scenic Drive.
The commission is set to meet Aug. 8 in Eureka, two months after a divided commission voted 6-3 in San Diego to object to the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ determination that the project was consistent with the protections laid out in the California Coastal Act. Specifically, commissioners repeatedly voiced concerns over the Rancheria’s ability to find a water source for the 100-room hotel, noting that the city of Trinidad had not yet committed to supplying water from its system as it conducts a number of studies to determine whether its capacity can meet current and future needs for the city and its service area.
Word that the Rancheria may have found a different water source first surfaced when commission staff posted an ex parte communication disclosure form from Commission Chair Dayna Bochco, who reported that she’d received a text message at 9:25 p.m. on July 23 from former Coastal Commissioner and Humboldt County Supervisor Ryan Sundberg, who currently works as the interim general manager of the Rancheria’s Cher-Ae Heights Casino.
“Hi Dayna, we have had a (drilling) rig looking for well water so we don’t have to depend on the city of Trinidad,” Sundberg wrote. “Today was very exciting. We hit water today and will be able to have well water treated and used for the hotel. Can’t wait to see you all when you come up next month!”
The commission is set to meet Aug. 8 in Eureka, two months after a divided commission voted 6-3 in San Diego to object to the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ determination that the project was consistent with the protections laid out in the California Coastal Act. Specifically, commissioners repeatedly voiced concerns over the Rancheria’s ability to find a water source for the 100-room hotel, noting that the city of Trinidad had not yet committed to supplying water from its system as it conducts a number of studies to determine whether its capacity can meet current and future needs for the city and its service area.
Word that the Rancheria may have found a different water source first surfaced when commission staff posted an ex parte communication disclosure form from Commission Chair Dayna Bochco, who reported that she’d received a text message at 9:25 p.m. on July 23 from former Coastal Commissioner and Humboldt County Supervisor Ryan Sundberg, who currently works as the interim general manager of the Rancheria’s Cher-Ae Heights Casino.
“Hi Dayna, we have had a (drilling) rig looking for well water so we don’t have to depend on the city of Trinidad,” Sundberg wrote. “Today was very exciting. We hit water today and will be able to have well water treated and used for the hotel. Can’t wait to see you all when you come up next month!”
Barney the Old Town Horse Has Died
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 10:38 AM
Blue Ox Historic Village announced on its Facebook page last night that “Barney,” the Old Town Carriage Co. draft horse, died unexpectedly over the weekend.
According to the short post, Barney had been treated for a variety of ailments of late but “it appears that there was some type of neurological issue that came on suddenly.”
A well-known sight on Old Town streets with his hoofs making a clip-clop sound as he sauntered slowly along, Barney was almost 20.
Read the Blue Ox post below:
According to the short post, Barney had been treated for a variety of ailments of late but “it appears that there was some type of neurological issue that came on suddenly.”
A well-known sight on Old Town streets with his hoofs making a clip-clop sound as he sauntered slowly along, Barney was almost 20.
Read the Blue Ox post below:
A Sad Day at Blue Ox: Barney, the Old Town Carriage Company draft horse passed away unexpectedly last Saturday. Brendon, Barney's owner, worked with Barney for some time, trying to figure out what was wrong. He was treated for an abscess in his foot, then for colic, but It appears that there was some type of neurological issue that came on suddenly. Barney was almost 20 years old ~ though he seemed much younger!
Barney was a stunningly gorgeous animal, much loved by many ~ including Nina our mare! It is a very lonely place without his huge presence.
We invite people that have pictures of Barney to forward them to us, either here on Facebook, or by email. We will be making a display to share with everyone.
Monday, July 29, 2019
Crabs Smash Potters and a Record
Posted By Thomas Oliver on Mon, Jul 29, 2019 at 4:06 PM
He did it. HE FINALLY DID IT. Damian Henderson hit his 10th home run of the year in the bottom of the third inning Friday evening, breaking the 13-year record set by Brian Blouser. It was a frozen rope to right field that nearly busted the scoreboard. Henderson went tearing down the base path, watching the ball sail toward the fence. It cleared the 320-something feet easily and his hand shot up in joy.
“You have no idea how happy I am,” Henderson said after the game, an uncontrollable toothy smile plastered across his face. “I told myself the day I got here that I was going to break the record and I’m just so happy I did it. ... it was such a weight off my shoulders.”
For the past three weeks Hendo has been swinging at the ball like it cursed his mother. He wanted that record. He needed that record. It brought his batting average under .400 to a paltry .390, and gave Bryce Kirk time enough to unleash a biblical flood of home runs and hop right on his tail.
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Rita's Restaurants Hit with ABC Fines; One Liquor License Sold at Auction
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Sat, Jul 27, 2019 at 3:27 PM
The state of California seized a local restaurant’s liquor license and auctioned it off this month, an action that came amid a flurry of local activity from the department of Alcohol and Beverage Control.
With a bill of more than $500,000 in delinquent taxes and penalties owed to the state, Rita’s Margaritas and Mexican Grill, located on Fifth Street in Eureka, surrendered the liquor license to the state that owner Rita Pimentel held for the restaurant’s now long defunct location on Harris Street. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration then seized the license from ABC and put it up for auction, where it fetched $80,000 from Debbi Chisum, who owns Double D Steak in Fortuna.
Meanwhile, ABC took action against the two other Rita’s establishments locally — the one in Eureka owned by Pimentel and Rita’s Arcata, which is owned by Edward Fregoso — based on allegations that both had illegally purchased liquor to sell at the restaurants.
Friday, July 26, 2019
Airport Equipment Upgrades Leading to Flight Disruptions
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Fri, Jul 26, 2019 at 1:51 PM
Flying out of Humboldt is always tinged with the possibility of delays or cancellations but flights over the next few days are going be disrupted by equipment upgrades rather than the usual affliction of weather.
According to a release, the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, is working on navigation equipment on the main runway, which is expected to be completed by Monday.
“I know the FAA is working as quickly and efficiently as they can to get this replacement done,” Cody Roggatz, the county’s director of aviation, said in the release. “Their team is working diligently to minimize disruptions to flights, but some arriving and departing flights may be impacted until this work is done.”
Read the full county release below:
According to a release, the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, is working on navigation equipment on the main runway, which is expected to be completed by Monday.
“I know the FAA is working as quickly and efficiently as they can to get this replacement done,” Cody Roggatz, the county’s director of aviation, said in the release. “Their team is working diligently to minimize disruptions to flights, but some arriving and departing flights may be impacted until this work is done.”
Read the full county release below:
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Deja Vu All Over Again - Another Split Series Victory for the Crabs
Posted By Thomas Oliver on Thu, Jul 25, 2019 at 5:46 PM
Bryce Kirk simply cannot stop hitting dingers. You couldn’t keep this kid in the park with a leash. He goes yard more than a stick. He has five home runs in the last three games and Wednesday night he hit two bombs for the second time this week, his seventh and eighth on the year. With eight games left in the season, it’s entirely possible that we could have two players break the home run record.
This was another split series with the Redding Ringtails taking up the second game. I don’t entirely understand why they didn’t just pick a week and play two games, but whatever. They’re a fun team to play and I’m glad we got to twice. The first game was against our across-the-bay rivals the B52s on a rare band-less Tuesday evening.
North Coast Night Lights: Kneeland Road, One Year Later
Posted By David Wilson on Thu, Jul 25, 2019 at 11:09 AM
Have you ever really thought about the difference between night and day? An interesting difference between day and night is that from one year to the next there are differences between night skies, but no differences between daytime skies. It may be a little odd-sounding if you haven’t thought of it, but it’s not strange when you do.
Daytime is about the sun. It comes up over there, turns night into day, and then goes down over there. We all know this. The light on any given date is exactly the same year after year, with only atmospheric differences causing any variation. This is because after one year the Earth is in the same position in its orbit around the sun as it was the previous year, and it will be the next year and so on. Any changes in that schedule are so gradual that they could take millennia to notice. The moon may come and go from the daytime sky, but it has no effect on the quality of light when it shares the sky with the sun.
But the night! Nothing dominates the night like the sun dominates the day. The quality of light varies dramatically from night to night. It can be completely different on the same date from one year to the next. The moon’s light is the greatest influence, but it will appear for only half of the month. When it is out its light is always changing as it waxes or wanes from one night to the next, and it rises and sets most of an hour later each night.
Daytime is about the sun. It comes up over there, turns night into day, and then goes down over there. We all know this. The light on any given date is exactly the same year after year, with only atmospheric differences causing any variation. This is because after one year the Earth is in the same position in its orbit around the sun as it was the previous year, and it will be the next year and so on. Any changes in that schedule are so gradual that they could take millennia to notice. The moon may come and go from the daytime sky, but it has no effect on the quality of light when it shares the sky with the sun.
But the night! Nothing dominates the night like the sun dominates the day. The quality of light varies dramatically from night to night. It can be completely different on the same date from one year to the next. The moon’s light is the greatest influence, but it will appear for only half of the month. When it is out its light is always changing as it waxes or wanes from one night to the next, and it rises and sets most of an hour later each night.
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