While Arcata’s William Whaley spent the proceeds of his international smuggling operation with a “lavish hand” on champagne baths and other luxuries in San Francisco, the “thorough scoundrel” and acknowledged “best dressed man on Kearney Street” sent not a penny to his mother in Humboldt, complained the Humboldt Times on Jan. 12, 1894. The widowed […]
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For the Love of the Game
Hailey Dolcini sacrificed a lot while growing up in Ferndale. In grade school, she’d skip afternoon playdates with her friends to pitch to her dad in the driveway. When her classmates gathered for middle school dances, she was often traveling with her softball team, thinking missing those moments in darkened gyms was “the hardest thing […]
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Truth and Healing Commission Subpoena Authority Becomes Sticking Point
Efforts to create a federal commission to explore the legacy of the nation’s Indian boarding schools has hit a stumbling block. Subpoena authority is triggering warnings in a key House subcommittee as backers hope to advance a bill establishing the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools. The top Republican on the subcommittee said […]
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Bombshell
In an unprecedented move, the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury interjected itself directly into the county’s auditor-controller race less than a week before Election Day. On June 2, the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury poured gasoline on what was already considered the county’s most contentious political race, issuing a scathing report stating incumbent Auditor-Controller Karen […]
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Dillingham, Eads, Madrone Win Big, While Arroyo Teeters Toward Runoff
When the dust settled from an Election Night short on drama and long on waits, it left a handful of candidates looking to take office with what can fairly be described as voter mandates. The county’s final election night report posted shortly before 1 a.m. and included 14,844 ballots counted, equaling about 17 percent of […]
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Kinetic Rides Again
The rest of the world is trying to get back to “normal” but here in Humboldt, we’re just happy to go out in the fresh air and get weird again. After two years of paused and remote races, the human-powered Kinetic Grand Championship once again rolled around the Arcata Plaza, down the Manila Dunes, into […]
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FPPC: Bushnell Right to Recuse Herself from Cannabis Tax Vote
Humboldt County Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell was correct to recuse herself from discussing and voting on local cannabis tax relief earlier this year, the California Fair Political Practices Commission has advised, finding she had an economic interest in the issue. The FPPC informed Bushnell of its decision in a recent letter, which was sent […]
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Steven Steward – Questionnaire
What do you see as a judge’s role in making Humboldt County a more just community? (200 words) Judges have a central role in making sure that Humboldt County is a just and fair community. From handling the most serious criminal cases to deciding child custody disputes, a judge has the important job of ensuring […]
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Arcata Strips Defiant Watson of Assignments, Limits Access to Staff
After hearing nearly two dozen residents plead with Councilmember Brett Watson to resign in the wake of a scathing investigative report that he abused his power and harassed a city employee, the Arcata City Council passed a series of measures May 17 aimed at protecting city staff, while limiting Watson’s access to City Hall. Watson, […]
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To Audit and Control
As a thought exercise, take out a piece of paper and write down the names of Humboldt County’s last two auditor-controllers. It’s a safe bet that if you correctly scribbled Joseph Mellett and Michael Giacone, you either work in county government or are the most dedicated of civic enthusiasts. All that is to say, it’s […]
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Cheryl Dillingham – Questionnaire
How would you ascertain the current state of Humboldt County’s fiscal controls and what are your plans to enhance them? (200 words) I would start by doing an internal control evaluation. I would involve Auditor-Controller staff and other department staff where appropriate in the evaluation. The purpose would be to review existing fiscal controls to […]
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Karen Paz Dominguez – Questionnaire
How would you ascertain the current state of Humboldt County’s fiscal controls and what are your plans to enhance them? (200 words) I would describe the current state of Humboldt County’s fiscal controls as “evolving” and “strengthening” because I have implemented internal controls that were not in practice previous to my tenure and because the […]