‘Catch Me If You Can!!’
A notorious Humboldt County bank robber and the detective who caught him. Twice.
Cover Story
‘Catch Me If You Can!!’
It was shortly after noon on April 7, 2010 and Eureka’s Problem Oriented Policing team was staking out room 103 at the Comfort Inn, a mustard-colored hotel on South Broadway with rooms that go for about $80 a night. The officers had been part of a task force that spent the prior afternoon canvassing Eureka…
Photos from Ohana Comic Con
A surprisingly large crowd of costumed cartoon, movie and anime fans (estimated between 800 and 1,000) filled the Sapphire Palace at the Blue Lake Casino and Hotel on Saturday for its first ever Ohana Comic Con. Organizers of the event used the Hawaiian word “ohana,” meaning “family,” to attract families. The cheap tickets (in contrast…
Sweeping Zoning Changes Before Planning Commission Raise Concerns About Mercer-Fraser Reviving its Mad River Cannabis Facility
The Humboldt County Planning Commission is set to consider sweeping zoning changes at its meeting tomorrow for hundreds of thousands of acres of properties throughout the county. The zoning text amendments and reclassifications are being proposed to implement the county’s general plan update, which the board passed last year. But they are coming before the…
Music Tonight: Wednesday, Oct. 31
It’s the big spooky night so here’s some midweek fun for all of you ghouls. RampArt skatepark has an all-ages punk rock covers show going down at 8 p.m. Members of The Buffy Swayze and The Tweeners team up to play songs of The Cramps while Side Iron magically transforms into The Misfits. The Flying…
Photos from Old Town Trick-or-Treat
Eureka’s Old Town attracted a large costumed crowd of all ages at Saturday afternoon’s annual Halloween event sponsored by Eureka Main Street. Children age 12 or younger accompanied by adults wandered among more than 80 participating stores, collecting bags of sugary goodies — or, in one case, a polished rock that also proved popular. Enjoy…
HSU Student Swept Away Described as ‘Sweetest Person Ever’
When professor Rae Robison first met KeyMaan Stringer during the orientation for incoming students in Humboldt State’s Department of Theatre, Film and Dance in August, the 19-year-old freshman immediately stood out. “He came over and said, ‘I just want to thank you. I’m so excited,’ and he hugged me and I’m not a hugger,” Robison…
Update on Courthouse White Powder Incident
The white substance found smeared on the outside of the county court clerk’s office was not identified as a “chemical or biological agent” in initial tests but more will be conducted by an out-of-town lab. One person did come into contact with the powder-like material, prompting “precautionary measures” to be taken, according to a release…
Search Suspended for Missing Humboldt State Student
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for a 19-year-old Humboldt State University student who was swept off of the North Jetty on Monday afternoon while fishing with friends. KeyMaan Stringer, who was from Los Angeles, was last seen about 4:30 p.m. when he went to free a line and was hit by a…
Uber Eats Comes to Eureka
Prepare to be disrupted, Humboldt. Uber Eats, the app-driven food delivery service that aims to serve 70 percent of the U.S. by the end of the year, has come to Eureka. As of 7:30 a.m. today, folks in Lodi, Yuba City, Redding, Chico, Visalia and Eureka are able to order from participating restaurants. Depending on where…
HSU: Missing Student Still Not Found, Counseling Available
UPDATE: The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a 19-year-old Humboldt State University student who was swept off the North Jetty Monday afternoon while fishing with friends. KeyMaan Stringer, who was from Los Angeles, was last seen about 4:30 p.m. when he went to free his line and was hit by a wave. Another…
Music Tonight: Tuesday, Oct. 30
California Kind is a jam band comprised of various side players from the noodle-rock world and fronted by singer/songwriter Katie Skene. If you are a fan of Dark Star Orchestra and other Dead-adjacent groups then roll over to Humbrews tonight at 8 p.m. for a bit of note-saturated fun ($20).
UPDATE: Search on for Missing HSU Student Swept off North Jetty
SECOND UPDATE: The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a 19-year-old Humboldt State University student who was swept off of the North Jetty Monday afternoon while fishing with friends. KeyMaan Stringer, who was from Los Angeles, was last seen about 4:30 p.m. when he went to free his line and was hit by a…
Open Door Officially Opens in Fortuna
Open Door Community Health Centers officially added a new facility to its already formidable collection Oct. 26, when officials cut the ribbon on its new state-of-the-art health center in Fortuna. The event, which drew North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman and Second District Humboldt County Supervisor Estelle Fennell, among other notables, marked the official opening of…
FBI Contacted about White Powder on Court Clerk’s Doors
The white substance found on the Humboldt County Court Clerk’s Office doors this morning has been sent for testing but results in the field “ruled out most common threats, including biological and chemical agents,” according to a release. The court clerk’s office, located on the side of the courthouse, is closed for the day “out…
Music Tonight: Monday, Oct. 29
Blondies presents a mellow show as New York City’s van-living indie-folk act Fort Vine visits the club at 7:30 p.m. Touring on the back of its second album, Stay Magical, this duo is certain to keep things chill (price TBA).
Drug Task Force Seizes 9 Pounds of Heroin
The Humboldt County Drug Task Force announced this afternoon that it has arrested three Mexican nationals in what it believes to be the largest heroin seizure in recent county history. In the culmination of a year-long investigation, agents arrested Carlos Sanchez-Gallego, 63, of Mexicali, Mexico, after a search of his vehicle in Eureka discovered nearly…
This Thing On? Savage Henry Opens its Own Club
Depending on how long you’ve been in Humboldt, you might remember when the space at 415 Fifth St. in Eureka was Live in Humboldt, the Empire Lounge or the Red Fox Tavern. And now it’s reborn as the Savage Henry Comedy Club. While a couple of shows have already broken in the stage, a hodgepodge…
UPDATE: Court Clerk’s Office Closes for ‘Public Safety’ After Powder Found on Door
UPDATE: The white substance found on the Humboldt County Court Clerk’s Office doors this morning has been sent for testing but results in the field “ruled out most common threats, including biological and chemical agents,” according to a release. The court clerk’s office, located on the side of the courthouse, is closed for the day…
SECOND UPDATE: Suspicious Powder Substance Closes Street in Eureka
SECOND UPDATE: The Humboldt Court Clerk’s Office will be closed for the rest of the day due to “public safety concerns” after a white substance was found on the outside door this morning, according to a release. Read more about the closure here. UPDATE: Michelle Bishop, an employee at the courthouse, sent Redheaded Blackbelt the…
‘Come into Compliance,’ Says State Water Board
On Oct. 5, 174 notices of violation from the State Water Resources Control Board were sent out by certified mail to residents of the Salmon Creek watershed in Southern Humboldt. Over the next week, the thick stacks of letters dwindled as worried neighbors signed and took home their notices. The letters stated that a property…
Dulce Bistro Closed for Now
If you swung by the closed Dulce Bistro in Eureka this week, you might be wondering if the restaurant, which opened July 31, is shutting down for good. Well, apparently not. While there’s no sign in the window, no mention of the closure on Dulce’s Facebook page and no answer at the phone number, manager…
HumBug: Halloween Romance
You see them nearly everywhere this time of year, the big female cross orb weaver spiders (Araneus diadematus). If you get close you can see the emblem of the cross for which they’re known. As I looked at one particularly large female spider, I noticed another spider with a leg span nearly as large as the lady…
Suspect in Fatal Arcata Stabbing Arrested
Brandon Matthew Watson, the 27-year-old man suspected in Thursday’s fatal stabbing in Arcata, was taken into custody today. According to an Arcata Police Department release, Watson was arrested after being seen at a residence off Walnut Drive in Cutten based on “citizen tips.” He has been booked into the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of…
Zombies Shake/Drag a Leg
A gray-faced, dead-eyed army of zombies from Sunny Brae Middle School sprang to after-life for some vintage choreography to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on Friday, Oct. 26 at Murphy’s Market in Sunny Brae. Then, while Vincent Price’s cackle still echoed in the aisles, the undead dancers made their groaning way to the Arcata Plaza for an…
Boat to Table
Long have we enjoyed the hefty sandwiches and stacked, house-ground burgers at Arcata Pizza and Deli. They’re almost enough to hinder exploring the rest of chalkboard menu. And, OK, maybe rolling in late at night, a little worse for wear, you weren’t in the mood to experiment with the seafood. Let your gaze drop to…
Grown Up Halloween
Hey sexy/sinister cats and Cthulhus, if you’re looking for the lowdown on where to get down this Halloween, here are a few terror-ific roof and hair-raising events to consider. Ghoulio, get the stretch! On Saturday, Oct. 27, go bump in the night at the Mateel Community Center’s annual Halloween Boogie from 8 p.m. to 1:30…
Halloween Events
Where can you take your children of the night for free trick-or-treating, costume contests, parades and old-fashioned carnival fun? We dug up a fun-sized sampling of local Halloween haps. The McKinleyville Shopping Center is having its annual Halloween Costume Parade on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. (free). This one’s for all ages and features…
Arcata Police Name Suspect in Fatal Stabbing
The Arcata Police Department has identified Arcata resident Brandon Matthew Watson, 27, as a suspect in the fatal stabbing of Peter Samuel Triantos on Thursday. Watson remains at-large and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The identification was made with the “help of witnesses and video surveillance from nearby businesses,” according to a…
UPDATE: Man Fatally Stabbed in Arcata Identified
UPDATE: The Arcata Police Department has identified Arcata resident Brandon Matthew Watson, 27, as a suspect in the fatal stabbing of Peter Samuel Triantos on Thursday. Watson remains at-large and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. PREVIOUS: The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who was fatally stabbed in Arcata as…
Ohana Comic Con
TextMulti-fandom insanity is on at the Ohana Comic Con happening Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Blue Lake Casino ($6-$10, free for kids 12 and under). This family friendly event is your chance to check out vendors, dress for cosplay contests, meet celebrities and more.
Music Tonight: Friday, Oct. 26
Allison Miller is one of the best working drummers in the biz today. As well as being a popular hired gun for touring jazz and folk acts, she is an extremely deft composer in one of my favorite branches of the modern jazz experience: namely, accomplished musicians who are genuinely fun to listen to. Her…
Crab Season Opener For Patrick’s Point North Delayed by Domoic Acid
It’s official: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has “enacted a delay” of the recreational Dungeness crab season for areas stretching from Patrick’s Point north to the Oregon border due to “unhealthy levels” of domoic acid. The remainder of the state is set for an opening on Nov. 3. Read previous Journal coverage of…
Man Fatally Stabbed in Arcata This Morning
A man found severely injured near the intersection of H and Ninth streets in Arcata early this a.m. has died after being taken to Mad River Community Hospital. Few details were immediately available, but a release from the Arcata Police Department states that the suspect is still at large. No information about the man who…
Zombies On Stage
North Coast Dance’s annual Membership Gala and Zombie Ballet at Arkley Center for the Performing Arts is the place to be — undead or alive — Friday, Oct. 26, 6 p.m. for a spooky dance performance, costume parade, silent and live auction, spirits and hors d’oeuvre ($50, $15 children).
Haunted History Tours
See who and what haunts the cobbled streets and dark alleyways of Old Town during Spirits & Spirits — A Haunted History Tour, Friday, Oct. 26 from 6:15 to 9:15 p.m. ($40). Enjoy drinks, snacks and a cast of spooky characters on this 21 and older tour that starts and finishes at the (haunted) Inn…
Cannabis’ Regulatory Home Stretch
It looks like Fortuna residents might be able to get weed delivered to their homes after all. The California Bureau of Cannabis Control, Department of Food and Agriculture and Department of Public Health released proposed updates to their cannabis regulations on Oct. 19, kicking off a 15-day public comment period that will be open through…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In her poem “Shedding Skin,” Harryette Mullen compares her own transformation to the action a snake periodically carries out to renew itself. Since you now have an excellent opportunity to undertake your own molting process, you may find her thoughts helpful. (I’ve rendered them in prose for easier reading.) “Pulling out…
New Fairgrounds Lease Leaves the Public in the Dark
In case you missed it, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors decided Oct. 16 that you don’t get to have input into how the county fairgrounds are operated or how public funds are spent to maintain them. The board voted 4-1, with Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson dissenting, to approve an eight-year lease with the…
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish
Rope nets and glass floats and wooden buoys drift among the overhead shelving, and a trio of wire fish twist on fishing line strung from the ceiling of the crowded shop. A faded toy crab hunkers on a vintage scale beside a shelf stacked with powder blue T-shirts that read, “Fish Happens.” On the back…
Halloween Haunts
It’s the last week of October and you know what that means, fellow Halloweenies. So I am going to keep this intro brief and instead stuff the page with a week of goodies for your social calendar. Get out, have fun and be evil within reason — reason being a rare thing in the spooky…
Goldberg Gets 15 to Life
After hearing emotional statements from Tim Smith’s family members and friends, visiting Judge Graham Cribbs sentenced Jon David Goldberg to 15 years to life in prison Oct. 19 for the Fortuna volunteer firefighter’s murder but struck down a firearm enhancement that would have added 25 years to his term. The judge handed down his decision…
Vote Bergel!
Editor: I support Kim Bergel for Eureka City Council Ward 5 because she truly listens to everyone in the community. Kim works to solve problems in Eureka by bringing people together rather than dividing us. A good example was the vacation of Palco marsh. Kim worked diligently to open communication between the homeless population at…
Gattara
You know this story: in the news they are reporting that when the old lady died they found 100 cats in her house – all well fed, strays, every one, living in the lap of luxury. Don’t be jealous, if in her will she left her millions to the mangy lot of them. Perhaps you…
Vote Castellano!
Editor: Leslie Castellano is a welcome breath of fresh air in this turbulent storm of name-calling politics. She brings compassion and common sense to the table that is open for everyone to participate. She’s been an active member of the art and culture scene for years, promoting those around her to do and be better.…
Vote Marks!
Editor: I have known Richard Marks for nearly 30 years. I have known him through slow-pitch softball and his work as a commissioner on the harbor district board. Richard recognizes the importance of a healthy Humboldt Bay to our local economy and our environment. His hard work for the last nine years on the harbor…
Vote Messner!
Editor: Heidi is genuine with a spirit to help people reach their full potential; provide the tools and bring to the table each unique ability, alongside others, and accomplish things together. Some say being a pastor is a detriment but it’s an edge. Working with people from every walk of life and challenge is not…
Creepy Crawlies
Creepy, Cute and Unusual Looking closely at more crawling critters than most folks, you’d think I’d get used to them. But there is one critter that still holds a Class 4 creep factor for me: the common centipede. If you could cross a spider and a snake, centipedes would be the result. Flexible, fast and…
Vote Seaman!
Editor: Susan Seaman, 27-year resident of Eureka, moves projects forward. “Youth, families, community, investment, prosperity” are themes that describe Susan. When she sees a spark of initiative, she keeps the flame burning in our small and large businesses. She knows that good work leads to healthy families and community. Susan sees the connections. What is good for…
Measure M
Editor: We would like to thank the following groups, organizations and businesses for supporting/endorsing no on Measure M: Humboldt PSL, Humboldt Buddhist Peace Fellowship, World Indigenous Women’s Alliance, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, The HOPE Coalition, Pan Arts, The Art of Removing Art, Save the Mattole’s Ancient Forest, The Bret Harte Breakers, musician Sarah Torres…
Vote Watson!
Editor: I want to recommend a vote for Brett Watson. I’ve worked with Brett as a member of the Arcata Economic Development Committee, which he chaired for two years, and as a fellow board member of Zero Waste Humboldt. In both contexts, he contributed great ideas, time, energy and a willingness to take on challenges…
Sharper than Ever
Previews HALLOWEEN. John Carpenter remains one of the largely unsung heroes of 20th century American popular cinema, whose work is more influential than widely discussed and almost a genre unto itself. Starting with Dark Star (1976), Carpenter has been steadily building a catalog of hugely entertaining, weirdly stylish homages to/syntheses of classic monster movies, space…
Vote!
Editor: Please vote in the November election. In person, by mail or drop off your vote by mail ballot on Election Day, Nov. 6. Last time I checked, we still had a democracy. Let’s keep it. If you live in Trinidad, vote for Tom Davies and Brett Gregory for city council. This is the first…
Yes on O!
Editor: A long time Humboldt resident, I’ve seen economic conditions and communities wax and wane. But one thing stays the same: the need for essential services. Measure Z has hired sheriff’s deputies to patrol where none were available before. It’s helped rural EMS organizations provide service and much more. Basically, it worked! Why renew it…
Yes on 8!
Editor: When I was working as a union representative for a healthcare workers’ union in Los Angeles, I got to meet healthcare workers in the dialysis industry. Most of these workers worked six days a week and faced appalling working conditions that put both their patients and themselves at risk. Some 80,000 Californians need dialysis…
Measure K
Editor: I will be voting for Measure K, the sanctuary Humboldt initiative. Measure K will not stop law enforcement officers from arresting anyone, of any nationality, whom they reasonably suspect of disobeying the law. Measure K will not cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. That estimate by a county staff person has been shown…
Music Tonight: Thursday, Oct. 25
Teach Me Equals are a duo from Olympia, Washington, that plays beat-laden dream-pop with an electric cello handling a fair part of the melody. They rolled through town last November for a hot set with The Myrrors at The Miniplex and tonight will be gracing the stage at The Jam at 9 p.m. (price TBA).…
Medicine and Flowers
As the evenings become crisper and the days become shorter, here on the home farm we celebrate the end of another successful growing season. We’re pulling pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and picking our apples. This year marked an important milestone in home farming: The much awaited cannabis prohibition has at long last come to…
