Terrie Smith and Steve Tyson have moved seven times in the last three months: down the abandoned Northwestern Pacific railroad line to unincorporated territory, across the tracks and then back north into Eureka city limits, towing their dogs, bikes and tent with them. They are two of the estimated 730 people living homeless in Eureka, […]
Linda Stansberry
Linda Stansberry was a staff writer of the North Coast Journal from 2015 to 2018. She is a frequent contributor the the Journal and our other publications.
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Chile vs. Chile: The Arcata Standoff
As discussed last week, chile relleno appears to come in a spectrum. We’ve been treated to both the traditional Poblano pepper wrapped in batter and the equally sabroso omelet-style yumminess. Our readers, however, took exception this week to our inclusion of the eggy offering from Arcata’s Fiesta Grill and Cantina (3525 Janes Rd). So, first, in […]
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Controversial Place Names in Humboldt County
Last week we ran a story which dipped briefly into the history of Larabee Creek — named for a participant in the Indian Island massacre. Local historian, author and Journal contributor Jerry Rohde was inspired to send us a list of other places in Humboldt County with ignominious eponymy. Below are the results of his search. […]
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The Numbers are Out and the Jury is In
The average homeless person in Humboldt County is male. He is white, between 35 and 45 years of age. He lives in Eureka and sleeps unsheltered, probably in a tent or car. It is likely he has a disabling condition such as a physical injury. The odds are great that he has been homeless for […]
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Racism Behind the Redwood Curtain Part III: Sorry, Not Sorry
Although Confederate flags do appear on the occasional barn wall, truck bumper or window, Humboldt County had no real role in the Southern cause. But the War of the States did have a marked effect on the Redwood Coast, according to Humboldt State University history professor Thomas Mays. “During the war, Humboldt was like a […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Chile vs. Chile: Fortuna Strong
The Fortuna contingent brought it hard this week, forcing us to revise our standards. Two different restaurants produced three very different rellenos, with a spectrum of chiles, sauces and batters. All were delicious, and as such we’ve decided to be more inclusive. There is no black and white when it comes to pepper, cheese, batter […]
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Racism Behind the Redwood Curtain Part II: Stars, Bars and the Backs of Cars
In Part I of this series we explored the hidden, often lonely world of Humboldt County’s online white supremacist community. But, of course, not all intolerance lurks online. We put the call out to the community to share their experiences with racism in Humboldt County, and gathered a lot of comments on one aspect in […]
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Racism Behind the Redwood Curtain, Part I: The Lonely World of Humboldt’s White Supremacists
She is a dental hygienist, a vegetarian, an animal rights advocate, a mother, a beer drinker and a self-proclaimed white nationalist. Thus reads the profile of one Eureka resident, whose user name is “Fenria.” Fenria is one of the handful of Humboldt residents who posts on Stormfront, a white supremacist website. According to a 2014 […]
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The Shut Out
Geoff Spenceley speaks with a warm, resonant accent, a remnant of his youth in England. The 93-year-old veteran of World War II has lived in Humboldt County for a quarter century. He has been married to his wife, Queenie, for 70 years. Queenie (her real name, she was born a few weeks before Queen Elizabeth […]
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Reported Drowning in Willow Creek would be Eighth of 2015
The grim toll of this year’s drowning deaths may rise, according to the Humboldt County Coroner’s office, which announced in a press release that a 33-year-old Oregon man, Justin Russell Lawrence Bennich, was pulled from the water at Willow Creek’s Kimtu swimming hole after becoming unresponsive on July 4. Chief Deputy Coroner Ernie Stewart said […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Chile vs. Chile: The Fast Food Edition
Expectation is a double-edged sword when it comes to experience: it can both elevate the mundane and intensify the disappointing. Never was this more was this true than with Los Gallos Taqueria at the Bayshore Mall. In case you think we’ve rigged this race, Los Gallos has been a dark horse favorite in the world […]
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Camp On, Camp Off
Police Chief Andy Mills denied Monday that his department is wholly scrapping plans to create a temporary city-sanctioned campsite for Eureka’s homeless. Instead, Mills said, the plan has been put “on a back burner.” “We ran into several issues with oversight and funding. Unfortunately, this is just one of those deals where it’s tough to […]