Friday, December 31, 2021
UPDATE: Search and Rescue Effort's Focus Shifts to North of Elk Head
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Fri, Dec 31, 2021 at 3:47 PM
Part of a missing 21-year-old Blue Lake man’s canoe was found today on the shoreline north of Elk Head, according to a Facebook post by his father.
Hunter Nathaniel Lewis is believed to have entered the ocean with his canoe in Trinidad Harbor between 10 a.m. and noon Dec. 30 and hasn’t been seen since. Corey Lewis posted to Facebook earlier today that due to the discover of half his son’s canoe, the multi-agency search effort’s focus was shifting to the area north of Elk Head.
Anyone who saw Lewis in the Trinidad area yesterday or has any information regarding his current whereabouts is asked to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251.
PREVIOUSLY:
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office has launched a search and rescue effort for a 21-year-old Blue Lake man after he failed to return from the Trinidad area yesterday afternoon.
Officials believe Hunter Nathaniel Lewis may have entered the ocean in his canoe near Trinidad Harbor sometime between 10 a.m. and noon yesterday. A search of the harbor and surrounding areas was conducted through the night and continues today.
Multiple agencies are aiding the search, including the Sheriff's Search and Rescue Posse, the U.S. Coast Guard and California State Parks, with a Coast Guard helicopter and boats also assisting. Hunter Lewis is described as a white male, standing approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 135 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He is believed to be wearing a dark-colored wetsuit and his canoe is described as being 15 feet long with a green exterior and made of fiberglass.
Anyone who saw Lewis in the Trinidad area yesterday or has any information regarding his current whereabouts is asked to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251.
See the full press release below:
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Update: Police Opened Fire During Eureka Pursuit
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Thu, Dec 30, 2021 at 3:39 PM
UPDATE
The Eureka Police Department issued a press release tonight confirming that at least one officer fired a firearm during a pursuit that allegedly began after the suspect rammed police vehicles and drove “toward officers” before fleeing the scene, leading to another car crash and, ultimately, a brief multi-agency manhunt that ended with the suspect in custody and en route to a local hospital.
Reached by the Journal, acting EPD Chief Brian Stephens declined to answer whether the suspect had been shot, saying EPD plans “to release more information after the weekend as the investigation continues,” adding that, as of 9 p.m., this was still a “very active investigation.”
The incident began around 2:45 p.m., when “a multi-agency law enforcement team was working to apprehend a wanted felon near Third and T streets in Eureka,” a press release states, adding that’s when the suspect allegedly rammed police vehicles and at least one officer opened fire. (EPD’s press release only states, “an officer involved shooting occurred at this time.”) It’s unclear how many shots were fired or how many officers discharged weapons during the incident.
According to the press release, “Immediately following the shooting, the suspect fled in the vehicle, causing a traffic collision at Fifth and V streets,” after which the suspect fled on foot into a greenbelt near Sixth and T streets.
After officers secured the perimeter and brought in a canine unit, the suspect was located at about 3:20 p.m., “hiding in the greenbelt and taken into custody without further incident,” according to the press release.
The release states the suspect was taken to the hospital for “medical evaluation and treatment,” but offers not further details.
The county’s multi-agency Critical Incident Response Team has been activated, the press release states, though it does not specify which agency is leading the investigation.
See EPD’s full press release here and local photographer Mark McKenna's slideshow from the scene below, and scroll down to see the original post.
Public Health Confirms 45 New COVID-19 Cases
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Thu, Dec 30, 2021 at 3:13 PM
Humboldt County Public Health confirmed 45 new COVID-19 cases today, as well as three new hospitalizations.
Public Health also reported that 11 of the 12 people hospitalized locally since Dec. 17 were unvaccinated.
While the seven-day average test-positivity rate for the nation has risen to 16.2 percent and California's has jumped to 12.9 percent, Humboldt County's is 16.6 percent.
Public Health officials continue to stress that the best way for residents to protect themselves from COVID-19 and variants like Omicron is to get vaccinated, wear masks indoors and in crowded places, ventilate indoor spaces, get tested immediately regardless of vaccination status if any cold- or flu-like symptoms develop and stay home when sick. Eligible residents, health officials say, should get their booster shots, as well.
Public Health also reported today that 1,093 local residents have become fully vaccinated since its last report Dec. 15, and 62 percent of the county's population is now fully vaccinated.
The CDC has designated Humboldt County as an area of high community transmission and recommends holding gatherings outdoors when possible, limiting the number of participants in indoor gatherings, adjusting the indoor layout to allow for physical distancing and enhancing the ventilation of indoor spaces.
Fortuna Fire's 'Fearless Leader' Set to Retire
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Thu, Dec 30, 2021 at 11:56 AM
Winburn, who has served as chief since 2005, will be feted at noon in the main station on his last day, with the public welcome to drop by to say, "Happy retirement."
"We can’t thank him enough for all his years of service to the department," the FVFD Facebook post reads. "We hope you enjoy your well-deserved retirement, Chief Lon!"
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Eureka Council Slated to Confirm New Interim Police Chief
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Wed, Dec 29, 2021 at 4:09 PM
Todd Jarvis, who retired as executive assistant chief of the San Diego Police Department in November of 2019, is slated to start his new post a day earlier, according to the city’s news release.
“I look forward to the opportunity to work with the men and women of Eureka Police Department and help lead the department through the transition to a permanent chief,” Jarvis, who has 35 years of law enforcement experience, states in the release.
Jarvis will take the reins from Capt. Brian Stephens, who has served as acting chief since Dec. 1 following the sudden retirement of former Chief Steve Watson, who stepped down at the end of November.
Former EPD Chief Andrew Mills, who preceded Watson, also previously served with the San Diego Police Department.
“Chief Jarvis has a solid background in police operations and I look forward to his leadership at EPD and as part of the city’s management team,” City Manager Miles Slattery said in the release. “I would also like to thank Acting Chief Brian Stephens for his steadfast leadership at EPD during the last several weeks leading up to the arrival of Chief Jarvis.”
The second change in leadership in as many months comes as the city of Eureka is moving forward with taking disciplinary actions against five police officers stemming from the months-long investigation into the text messaging scandal that rocked the department earlier this year, when a unit of officers was revealed to have shared a host of vulgar, misogynistic, violent and dehumanizing text messages.
The EPD is also facing staffing shortages similar to others at departments across the state and the nation.
Read the city’s full release below:
Public Health Confirms 48 New COVID-19 Cases, One Hospitalization
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Wed, Dec 29, 2021 at 3:34 PM
Humboldt County Public Health confirmed 48 new COVID-19 cases today, as well as one new hospitalization.
While the seven-day average test-positivity rate for the nation has risen to 14.2 percent and California's has jumped to 11.2 percent, Humboldt County's is 16.6 percent.
Public Health officials continue to stress that the best way for residents to protect themselves from COVID-19 and variants like Omicron is to get vaccinated, wear masks indoors and in crowded places, ventilate indoor spaces, get tested immediately regardless of vaccination status if any cold- or flu-like symptoms develop and stay home when sick. Eligible residents, health officials say, should get their booster shots, as well.
Public Health also reported today that 1,093 local residents have become fully vaccinated since its last report Dec. 15, and 62 percent of the county's population is now fully vaccinated.
The CDC has designated Humboldt County as an area of high community transmission and recommends holding gatherings outdoors when possible, limiting the number of participants in indoor gatherings, adjusting the indoor layout to allow for physical distancing and enhancing the ventilation of indoor spaces.
Storm Roundup: One-way Traffic on 299, Thousands without Power, 96 Still Closed
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Wed, Dec 29, 2021 at 10:11 AM
State Route 96 remains closed to all but emergency vehicles and local traffic due to downed lines and trees.
Officials are again asking those who don’t need to travel to stay home and those who venture out should avoid parking on the side of the highway for the safety of crews out working.
Sheriff William Honsal declared a local emergency Monday night due to the winter storm, which has created life-threatening conditions in some areas and caused damaged across the county. The declaration will allow the county to apply for state and federal funding.
Thousands still remain without power from Hoopa to Southern Humboldt as another round of cold temperatures is in the forecast tonight, with inland temperatures in the teens and 20s, according to the National Weather Service.
For the latest road information, visit QuickMap.dot.ca.gov (or the QuickMap app).
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
State Route 299 to Reopen Tonight
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Tue, Dec 28, 2021 at 5:47 PM
According to Caltrans, the road will be open to two-way traffic from east of Blue Lake through Willow Creek, but people are urged to drive cautiously.
"This is an active construction zone with many trees and downed lines alongside the roadway," a brief press release states, adding that crews have been working "non-stop" to get the road reopened.
Beginning tomorrow, sections of the roadway between Blue Lake and Willow Creek will be under one-way traffic control, as crews continue to work on restoring power lines and removing downed trees.
State Route 96, meanwhile, remains closed due to down power lines and tree, though it is open to emergency vehicles.
Residents are urged to avoid travel in inclement weather, if possible.
Read the full release from Caltrans below:
Officials Hopeful Jail COVID-19 Outbreak is Contained
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Tue, Dec 28, 2021 at 4:19 PM
Officials are hopeful they have the COVID-19 outbreak at the Humboldt County jail contained.
Sheriff's Office spokesperson Samantha Karges told the Journal in a Dec. 27 email that while a total of 36 inmates have tested positive for the virus amid the current outbreak, all were from a single housing unit and no one else there had tested positive over the past three days, despite daily testing.
"Because of this, we will not transition to testing weekly, unless symptoms present in additional individuals," Karges wrote.
In addition to the 36 inmates, six correctional officers have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak began earlier this month.
While COVID-positive inmates were initially being transferred into the jail's medical unit to be kept in quarantine, Karges said the outbreak grew to exceed the medical unit's capacity and the jail had "created a COVID-19 positive celled unit to allow all inmates to be isolated." She said medical staff is monitoring the converted unit.
Karges said the first inmate in the unit tested positive Dec. 15 and that the six correctional officers had tested positive for the virus before that date. She said it's unclear if the correctional officer cases are related to the outbreak among inmates.
Prior to the outbreak, Karges said staff were required to test for COVID-19 weekly, while inmates were tested during an initial 10-day quarantine after being booked into the facility. Those who refused testing were required to complete a 14-day quarantine. After the initial intake period, inmates were tested when requested “and/or” symptomatic, while inmates who were symptomatic but refusing a test were moved into isolation in the medical unit.
Local reporter Kym Kemp interviewed several people currently incarcerated in the affected unit over the weekend and reported they told her many inmates do not wear masks in the facility and questioned whether jail staff was acting appropriately to limit the virus' spread. You can read her report here.
It's unclear what percentage of jail staff and inmates have been fully vaccinated, which has been shown to help prevent infections, extreme disease and death. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors considered mandating vaccinations for county employees in October, but instead decided to require unvaccinated employees to undergo weekly testing for the virus.
Sheriff's Capt. Duane Christian told Kemp he believes about half of correctional officers are fully vaccinated.
Public Health Confirms 23 New COVID-19 Cases
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Tue, Dec 28, 2021 at 3:25 PM
Humboldt County Public Health confirmed 23 new COVID-19 cases today, with no new hospitalizations.
While the seven-day average test-positivity rate for the nation sits at 12 percent and California's has risen to 5.4 percent, Humboldt County's is 14.9 percent.
Public Health officials continue to stress that the best way for residents to protect themselves from COVID-19 and variants like Omicron is to get vaccinated, wear masks indoors and in crowded places, ventilate indoor spaces, get tested immediately regardless of vaccination status if any cold- or flu-like symptoms develop and stay home when sick. Eligible residents, health officials say, should get their booster shots, as well.
The CDC has designated Humboldt County as an area of high community transmission and recommends holding gatherings outdoors when possible, limiting the number of participants in indoor gatherings, adjusting the indoor layout to allow for physical distancing and enhancing the ventilation of indoor spaces.
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