Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health announced late Monday outdoor public playgrounds can reopen under specific COVID-19 safety guidelines.
According to the guidelines, all people age 2 and older visiting a playground should:
- Wear a facial covering at all times
- Maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from those outside of their household
- Observe play structure occupancy limits as posted by local jurisdictions
- Keep playground visits to 30 minutes per day when others are present.
Adult supervision is also required at all times by the state to ensure children are adhering to these new guidelines. These guidelines apply to public outdoor playgrounds located in parks, campgrounds and other publicly accessible locations. This guidance does not apply to private or indoor playgrounds or family entertainment centers.
“We welcome the opportunity to provide children with access to playground equipment in our lovely parks,” said Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich. “As we learn more about COVID-19 transmission and the greater safety in outdoor versus indoor activities, it is important that we translate that knowledge into action by opening activities as safely as possible.”
Rules and park capacity guidelines are required to be posted at the entrance of parks.
To read Outdoor Playgrounds and Other Outdoor Recreational Facilities guidelines in full, visit https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Outdoor%20Playgrounds%20and%20other%20Outdoor%20Recreational%20Facilities.aspx
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a missing person’s case after a Berkeley woman’s vehicle was found abandoned on a logging road.
On Sept. 24, 2020, at about 8:30 p.m., an employee of a timber company notified the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office that he had discovered a vehicle belonging to 75-year-old Betty Baxter Simmons abandoned on Snow Camp Road near Korbel. The employee found a note on the vehicle’s window with instructions to “Tow to Berkeley”.
Deputies arrived at the location and observed evidence that the vehicle may have become stuck on the road after trying to turn around at a locked gate. It appeared that the vehicle may have been stuck there for some time. Inside the vehicle deputies located Simmons’ personal belongings. A search of the surrounding area for Simmons or any evidence of where she may have gone was conducted with no results.
Upon further investigation, deputies learned that Simmons was reportedly last seen around Sept. 5, 2020 by a neighbor in Berkeley. Simmons reportedly told the neighbor that she would be going on a short trip. Simmons has reportedly not returned to her residence since that time.
Betty Simmons is described as a 75-year-old white female, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, 156 pounds, with grey hair and hazel eyes.
This case is still under investigation.
Anyone with information about Simmons’ whereabouts is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
On September 16, 2020, at about 12:07 p.m., officers and detectives with the Eureka Police Department (EPD) responded to the report of an armed robbery at a bank on the 2800 block of F Street.
Two male suspects had entered the bank, brandished a firearm, and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspects were wearing masks and dark baggy clothing. Multiple observant citizens witnessed the suspects flee in a white Ford pickup with a license plate beginning with 49. EPD put the suspect and vehicle information out on Social Media and at 5:56 p.m., a citizen reported a truck matching the description was parked near Foxwood and Arbutus Streets in the Cutten area.
Officers responded and were able to confirm the truck had been involved in the robbery. The truck was towed and held as evidence. EPD would like to thank the numerous citizens who provided detailed descriptions of the suspects and the vehicle. This information was critical and greatly assisted in the investigation.
Detectives called on Special Agents with the FBI and worked with the Arcata Police Department. The team worked together to develop an investigative plan. During their extensive joint investigation, an EPD Detective and FBI Special Agents identified Nolan Eugene Colegrove (38 of Orleans) as one of the two suspects.
On September 25, 2020, Arcata Police Department contacted Colegrove near the 2500 block of Alliance Ave in Arcata. Colegrove was arrested on a drug warrant and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF). EPD and the FBI served a search warrant on Colegrove’s room on Alliance. Later that day, the EPD Detective and FBI Special Agent contacted Colegrove at HCCF and arrested him for his involvement in the September 16th bank robbery.
EPD Detectives are also investigating Colegrove’s involvement in the September 9, 2020 armed robbery of a check cashing business on 5th Street. The second suspect involved in the bank robbery has been identified. The investigation is ongoing and a second arrest is anticipated later this week.
Anyone with questions related to the FBI’s involvement in this case can contact the FBI at (415) 553-7400.
RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
245 PM PDT MON SEP 28 2020
...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES SET AT EUREKA AND CRESCENT CITY CA...
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 95 WAS SET AT CRESCENT CITY CA TODAY. THIS SHATTERED THE OLD RECORD OF 89 SET IN 1921.
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 87 WAS SET AT EUREKA CA TODAY. THIS BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 79 IN 1945. THIS ALSO TIED THE SEPTEMBER AND ALL-TIME RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES SET ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2017.
SUSPECTS SOUGHT IN VALLEY WEST STRONG-ARM ROBBERY
On Monday September 28, 2020, at approximately 12:51 pm, the Arcata Police Department responded to a strong-arm robbery inside of a motel room in the 4800 block of Valley West Boulevard. A 29 year-old male victim reported two male acquaintances held him down inside of his room and took an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspects fled in an unknown direction of travel in a black 2019 Nissan Rouge, bearing California license plate number 8JBC734. The suspect vehicle is a rental out of San Francisco. Weapons were not used or mentioned during the robbery.
The suspects are described as follows:
Suspect #1: A Hispanic male in his twenties with a medium build, last seen wearing a black hat, dark hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a Gucci brand satchel across the front of his body.
Suspect #2: A Hispanic male in his twenties with an athletic build, last seen wearing a light grey hooded sweatshirt, dark blue sweat pants and multi-colored sneakers.
Investigators are following up on leads and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Arcata Police Department at 707-822-2428.
Suspect and suspect vehicle photos are available through Arcata Police Department's social media.
An evacuation warning means that there is potential threat to life and property and prepares people for a potential Evacuation Order. Residents should prepare for potential evacuations, including personal supplies and overnight accommodations. A map of evacuation warning zones is available at humboldtgov.org/evacmap or humboldtsheriff.org.
RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY
The American Red Cross-Gold Country Region is available to assist fire evacuees with sheltering resources. Evacuees in need of these resources should call 530-276-8034.
HELPFUL INFORMATION
County residents are encouraged to sign up for Humboldt Alert at humboldtgov.org/alerts.
American Red Cross Virtual Temporary Evacuation Point: 530-276-8034
August Complex West Zone Fire Information Line (Cal Fire): 707-355-4926 August Complex North Zone Fire Information Line (USFS): 530-628-0039
For more information regarding the August Complex Fire’s current impact on Humboldt County and current evacuation areas, please go to humboldtsheriff.org, or visit @HumCoOES on Facebook and Twitter.
(Redding, CA) – Wind gusts continue to push the fire west, prompting evacuation orders to the Trinity County line and evacuation warnings in Humboldt County.
High winds are forecast throughout the day today, with gusts exceeding 30 miles per hour and potentially accelerating down the west slope of South Fork Mountain, threatening communities to the west and north. The Ruth Valley and Mad River Valley are aligned to funnel the forecast winds and encourage fire spread in these areas. Residents are urged to comply with evacuation orders and to stay out of the area. Many roads are impassable due to fire and fallen trees.
The fire remains extremely active; winds are carrying embers well beyond containment lines, and there is high potential for the fire to develop an active plume. As fire activity increases with the winds and the heat of the day, large smoke columns are expected to form. Like thunderheads, columns build and then collapse. Collapsing columns are extremely dangerous, violently forcing winds outward, carrying fire and live embers far and wide.
Extreme conditions are forecast into the evening; the Red Flag Warning is expected to end by 9pm. Live embers were documented landing 8 miles ahead of the active fire front on Sunday. Spot fires ignited beyond control lines east of Forest Glen, north of State Route 36, and west of South Fork Mountain. The fires advanced to Ruth Lake and to the west side of the lake by afternoon. Crews are responding to the spot fires as conditions permit, working through the night.
Firefighters continue to focus on firefighter and public safety, as well as point protection for structures. New closures include all roads in Van Duzen, Mad River, Ruth, and Hettenshaw areas. Ruth Zenia Road is closed east of the US Forest Service Zenia Guard Station. The closure for State Route 36 now extends from the Humboldt County line on the west to the junction with Bowman Road on the east.
New evacuation orders include Mad River, Lower Mad River Road, Zenia, and Kettenpom. Smoke will likely move back into the region in the next day or two, calming fire behavior. Hot, dry weather will persist with prime conditions for continued fire growth. The winds are presently aiding containment work on the east flank. Crews continue to hold and improve the fireline, preparing for the return of seasonal winds from the southwest.
Evacuation warnings have been issued today for areas of Southern Humboldt County impacted by the August Complex Fire. CURRENT EVACUATION INFORMATION An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued for the following communities: Areas east of Alderpoint Road to the Trinity County border and south of Showers Pass Road to Mountain Creek due to rapidly evolving wildfire conditions related to the August Complex North Zone.
An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued for the following communities: Areas east of Bell Springs Road to the Trinity County border and south of Pipe Creek to the Mendocino County border due to rapidly evolving wildfire conditions related to the August Complex West Zone.
An evacuation warning means that there is potential threat to life and property and prepares people for a potential Evacuation Order. Residents should prepare for potential evacuations, including personal supplies and overnight accommodations. A map of evacuation warning zones is available at humboldtgov.org/evacmap or humboldtsheriff.org.
RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY
The American Red Cross-Gold Country Region is available to assist fire evacuees with sheltering resources. Evacuees in need of these resources should call 530-276-8034.
HELPFUL INFORMATION
County residents are encouraged to sign up for Humboldt Alert at humboldtgov.org/alerts.
American Red Cross Virtual Temporary Evacuation Point: 530-276-8034
August Complex West Zone Fire Information Line (Cal Fire): 707-355-4926 August Complex North Zone Fire Information Line (USFS): 530-628-0039
For more information regarding the August Complex Fire’s current impact on Humboldt County and current evacuation areas, please go to humboldtsheriff.org, or visit @HumCoOES on Facebook and Twitter.