Four years after a request from the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, the federal government has decided, per a solicitor’s review, that the county does indeed have the right to an annual 50,000 acre-feet of water it was promised back when the Trinity River was dammed. At the urging of Congressman Jared Huffman, apparently, the […]
Government
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Our Man and the Father of the Nuclear Navy
Tonight — very late tonight — on PBS, you can watch the premiere of a film about Admiral Hyman G. Rickover — you know, the fella who built the first nuclear submarine, first nuclear aircraft carrier and first commercial nuclear power plant. Why? Because you’ll learn about a complex, brilliant, controversial person considered instrumental in ending […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Not Exactly Curtains for Richardson Grove Widening
The curtain lowered this week on Caltrans’ plan to widen U.S. Highway 101 through Richardson Grove — a plan so controversial it’s inspired numerous lawsuits and even mass naked supplications down among the lush giants. But it could rise again. In a news release, the Environmental Protection Information Center announced that “Conservation groups and local residents this […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Jack’s to the Waterfront
It’s a common tourist question Eurekans struggle to answer: Where’s a good place to dine on the waterfront? There’s no place, you answer, at first, before remembering the few anchors of hope in this bay-abutting town: the humble restaurant with a deck over on Woodley Island. Glass-encased, fancyish Bayfront, in Eureka proper. Shamus T Bones […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
UPDATE: Coroner Announces Retirement, Supes Push Toward Consolidation
The board of supervisors voted unanimously today to begin the process of consolidating the sheriff’s office and coroner’s office. The board asked the county administrative officer to draft an ordinance that would fold the employees and functions of the coroner’s office into the sheriff’s department, and create one elected sheriff/coroner position. Humboldt County has had […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Former DA Candidate Moves On
Former Humboldt County District Attorney candidate Elan Firpo took her first steps in a new career today, stepping in as a partner in a prominent local firm now known as Zwerdling, Bragg, Mainzer and Firpo. “It’s a new challenge and I’m really looking forward to a new chapter,” said Firpo, who has worked as a […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Supes to Discuss Jail Release Policy
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will look over this year’s grand jury recommendations tomorrow, including the report that called for the end of Humboldt County Jail’s late night release policy. Sheriff Mike Downey said in August that the jail would not comply with the report, and would continue to release people between 10 p.m. […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Police Promotions
Being a bit old school, I was put off at first. Eureka Police Chief Andy Mills was on the phone asking me to take part in a community panel that would help him decide who to promote to the position of EPD captain. The positions are critical to Mills’ plan for policing Eureka, which involves […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Supes to Take up Campaign Finance Reform Tuesday
The governing board for Montgomery County, Maryland, recently voted unanimously to establish a system of partial public funding for county elections. Why do you care? Well, in case you missed it, campaign finance reform has been on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors’ front burner lately (a draft ordinance is scheduled to come before the […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
EPD Chief: Shooting Appears Justified
The preliminary findings of an ongoing multi-agency investigation indicate Eureka Police officer Stephen Linfoot was justified when he shot and killed 22-year-old Thomas “Tommy” McClain shortly after midnight on Sept. 17, Police Chief Andy Mills said at a press conference this morning. Mills said McClain was defying officers orders and reaching for a replica handgun […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Eureka Will Cease Prayer Breakfasts, Pay For Lawsuit
Eureka will discontinue prayer breakfasts as part of a settlement stemming from a 2013 lawsuit seeking the separation of church and local government. The Times-Standard reports that, in addition to no longer sponsoring or endorsing the prayer breakfasts (which Mayor Frank Jager conducted specifically in his capacity as mayor), the city will pay $16,500 to […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Feds Act to Avoid Fish Kill
In response to the recent discovery of a deadly parasite infecting salmon in the Klamath River, the Bureau of Reclamation began today sending another round of emergency flows down the Trinity River with the hopes of staving off a massive fish kill. After initially refusing to release additional water from Lewiston Dam into the Trinity, […]