When it’s Time to Take Down the Tree …
When the time comes, Humboldt County residents have a number of options for recycling their Christmas tree, which will find a new life as mulch or compost. But remember to remove all those ornaments, tinsel and other adornments before sending that sampling on its merry way. And, as always, flocked trees are not eligible. To…
From the NCJ Archives: Cheers! It’s Coquito Time
Editor’s note: Looking for a new way to spread some holiday cheer? Here’s a recipe from 2019 that stands the test of time, bringing a little coconut to the table. Enjoy. It’s the holiday season and you can make it a little merrier and a little brighter with this holiday cocktail: coquito. Translated as “little…
County Says AG’s Push to Extend Monitoring of CWS ‘Waste of Taxpayer Money’
Nearly two years after the California Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Sheriff’s Office reached an agreement regarding an AG investigation into local adherence to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced today he would be seeking a court order requiring the county…
SECOND UPDATE: Pedestrian Killed on 101 Identified
SECOND UPDATE: The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office has identified the pedestrian killed on U.S. Highway 101 on Dec. 18 as Fortuna resident Derek Radcliffe. He was 40. UPDATE: The CHP today released new information on a fatal crash that occurred Dec. 18, which killed a 40-year-old Fortuna man, whose name has not yet been released.…
Eureka Man, 72, Killed in SR 36 Crash
The CHP reports a 72-year-old Eureka man has been identified as the person killed in a single vehicle crash Dec. 20 on State Route 36 east of the Bernard Hemenway Memorial Bridge. According to a news release, Paul Pennington, who was the only person in the vehicle, died at the scene. The CHP is continuing…
Humboldt Marks 17th COVID-Related Death
Public Health announced a 17th Humboldt resident has died and 27 new COVID cases were confirmed, bringing this week’s total, so far, 152. According to a news release, the individual was in their 80s and died out of the county. Last week saw 156 cases, which seemed like a brief respite from the previous week’s…
COVID-19 Positive Temporarily Closes Toni’s
On Monday, Dec. 21, Toni’s 24-Hour Restaurant announced via Facebook that due to an employee’s positive COVID-19 test, the restaurant would be shutting down for a deep cleaning and reopening at 7 a.m. on Dec. 27. It’s the most recent of a spate of COVID-19 related closures in Arcata this month. “We’ve decided to close,…
COVID Cases Rise as Vaccinations Continue
Public Health announced today that 12 new COVID cases were confirmed but reported no additional hospitalizations or deaths, making 125 positive tests so far this week. While it took nearly 290 days for Humboldt County to record its first 1,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the next 500 arrived over the span of just 18 days. Last…
Approximately 1,100 HumCo Healthcare Workers to be Vaccinated by Day’s End
The Joint Information Center announced this afternoon that all 975 initial doses in the first batch of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Humboldt County received last week will have been administered by day’s end. Distribution of the next batch of vaccines, meanwhile, has began as well. The vaccine is currently being allocated under the very first phase…
Eureka Natural Foods’ Change 4 Change Program Raises $5,000 for Food for People
Eureka Natural Foods and its customers raised $5,000 for Food for People through the Change 4 Change program, where the rounding up of a few cents on the dollar during checkout adds up to a huge difference in the lives of others. “Within one week the community came together and raised $5,000 to help eliminate hunger…
Snowy Travel Possible Friday
The National Weather Service Eureka Office is advising travelers to be ready for winter weather driving conditions as a weather system bringing snow is set to hit portions of State Routes 299 and 3 on Friday. Snow level is expected to drop to 3500 to 4000 feet, possibly as low as 2500 feet. “A weather system will…
Coast Guard to Honor Those Lost in ’64 Flood Crash
A virtual ceremony will take place early Tuesday to honor the two pilots, one crew member, a citizen volunteer and three flood evacuees who died in a helicopter crash on Dec. 22, 1964, in severe weather. The ceremony can be viewed on the Sector Humboldt Bay’s Facebook page at 8:15 a.m. The crew of CG1363,…
HSU Ends Agreement with University Center
Humboldt State University and the California State University system have ended an agreement with the nonprofit University Center to run a number of campus programs, including CenterArts and the bookstore, according to a news release. Services provided by the University Center will move under the umbrella of the Division of Enrollment Management and the Intercollegiate…
Second Suspect in Samoa Shooting Arrested
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office reports a second suspect has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting in Samoa last month. Ian Rose, also known as Ian Pease, was stopped by California Highway Patrol officers in Crescent City on Dec 18 after a brief pursuit, according to the HCSO. Rose, 30, was arrested on…
Public Health Reports 113 New COVID-19 Infections, Another Death, as HumCo Confirms 1,500th Case
While it took nearly 290 days for Humboldt County to record its first 1,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the next 500 have come over the span of just 18 days. Humboldt County Public Health announced today that it has confirmed 113 new COVID-19 cases since Friday, setting a new single-day reporting record, while also confirming another…
‘High Levels’ of COVID in Rio Dell, CM Says
Rio Dell officials are warning residents that a drastic spike in COVID-19 levels has been detected in the city’s wastewater during regular testing. (Read more about how wastewater, such as from toilets, showers, sinks, can be used to track the virus and collect other forms of data, as has been previously done with other diseases…
Remains Found on Missing Man’s SoHum Property
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office reports that skeletal remains have been found on a Southern Humboldt property where a 76-year-old man who was reported missing by his neighbor lived. According to a news release, the remains found Dec. 18 during a search of the rural property involving search and rescue and a K-9 unit are…
‘Christmas Star’ in the Sky Tonight
In a year that has seen so much devastation, loss and divisiveness, there is a bright light. Tonight. In the sky. The planetary alignment known as the “Christmas Star” will come to full fruition Dec. 21 as Jupiter and Saturn come together, according to NASA, producing a “vibrant” positioning the likes of which have not…
Can California Protect COVID-19 Vaccine from Cheaters and Fraudsters?
What seemed like a Herculean task just months ago is now here: the COVID-19 vaccine. For the next several weeks, vaccines will be available in limited amounts in California and across the nation — and only to high-risk individuals, with supply expected to ramp up in the months to come. Experts estimate vaccines will be…
Huffman Gets COVID Vaccine
North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman received the COVID-19 vaccine today based on the advise of the House doctor, and reported in a press release that “it was not painful” and he didn’t receive any side effects. “I strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as it’s available,” he said in the release. “The path…
Casino Closes Bingo After Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
Cher-Ae Heights Casino is closing down Bingo game after one of its employees tested positive for COVID-19. The casino posted a statement on its Facebook page saying, “An employee in Bingo has tested positive for COVID-19. Although the employee has followed all of our safety standards in the casino, we have chosen to close Bingo…
Public Health Confirms 13 New COVID-19 Cases as Regional ICU Capacity Continues to Dip
Humboldt County Public Health confirmed 13 new COVID-19 cases today, the lowest daily tally in a month, and for the first time in five days reported no COVID-related deaths. The county confirmed 156 new cases this week, bringing December’s tally to 490, which already far surpasses November’s then record total of 327 as a local,…
Missing Man in Southern Humboldt
A search is ongoing in the Briceland area of Southern Humboldt after an older resident was reported missing. According to Samantha Karges of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, “Girard Regis Breen, age 76, was reported missing yesterday, Dec. 17, 2020, at about 5:20 p.m. by a neighbor. The property on which Breen lives in Briceland…
NorCal Health Officers ‘Gravely Concerned’ Hospitals Could Become ‘Overwhelmed’
In a draft of a rare joint statement, the Rural Association of Northern California Health Officers likens the current state of COVID-19 to a wildfire engulfing the entire region and urges residents to redouble efforts to curb the virus’ spread, warning if they wait for further state restrictions it may be too late. While the…
HCSO Investigating McKinleyville Missing Person
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a missing person report of a missing 48-year-old Sean Lance Hawkins, aka “Hawkeye,” of McKinleyville who was last seen on Dec. 4 in Eureka. Hawkin’s family reported him missing on Monday. According to the release, his vehicle was found unoccupied in a wooded area near Clam Beach Road and Dows…
Yurok Tribe and Huffman Celebrate Biden’s Nomination of New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland to Secretary of Interior
The Yurok Tribe and local officials have been applauding president-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland, who is native to the Pueblo of Laguna Tribe in New Mexico, to serve as Secretary of Interior. If Haaland is confirmed, she would become the first Native American Cabinet secretary and the first to oversee the interior…
Second Staff Member at K’ima:w Medical Center Tests Positive for COVID-19; Church Gatherings Tied to COVID-19 Exposure
Just after 3:30 p.m., K’ima:w Medical Center posted information about a second staff member testing positive at their facility. “Based upon preliminary contract tracing of current cases in Hoopa, it is believed that exposures occurred off-campus, not on campus,” the release stated. “It is not believed that there were any exposures from these staff members…
County Records 15th COVID Death with Six Residents Currently Hospitalized
For the fourth consecutive day, Humboldt County Public Health today reported the COVID-19 related death of a Granada Rehabilitation and Wellness Center resident, the sixth in a little more than a week. Public Health also reported today that it has confirmed 17 new COVID-19 cases, making 143 since Monday on the heels of a string…
NCJ Preview: Strain on Healthcare Workers, Birding in Place and Self Care (sort of)
This week, the Journal talked with St. Joseph Hospital staff about caring for COVID-19 patients and the toll it takes. Their words are worth heeding as we head into winter. We’ve also got a stress suggestion: birding. It’s calming and cheap-cheap. As for buying your way out of pandemic stress, we’re taking a humor break…
Fatal Collision on Myrtle Avenue
California Highway Patrol responded to a vehicle collision near Myrtle Avenue and Russell Lane earlier this morning that resulted in one fatality and an arrest. According to the report, when law enforcement arrived they found that a 2008 Nissan Altima collided with two parked vehicles. The driver of the Nissan, Ismael Lopez Jr., and the…
Self-care Gift Ideas
Well, here we are again, on the cusp of Christmas and Kwanzaa, and nearly burned through those Hanukkah candles, and yet some of us are still chipping away at our holiday shopping lists. Or, you know, staring at them like we’ve been struck with a paralyzing blow-dart, waiting for any scrap of meaning to spontaneously…
The Accidental Birder
I have yet to purchase my first pair of bird-watching binoculars. My Canon point and shoot camera is not fancy. The feature that sold me on it was its telescopic zoom lens. It’s the perfect tool for a budding bird-watcher, which is what I seem to be. Fortunately, my favorite bird, the red-tail hawk, thrives…
Storms Should Keep the Steelhead Coming
Following a weekend that saw slightly less rain than predicted, conditions on our steelhead rivers are starting to improve. Storms impacting our coast one after the other are what’s really needed to kick off the winter steelhead run, and that looks to be the case through the weekend. A good soaking is forecast for Wednesday…
Straycation
BLACK BEAR. There are a lot of things movies have done with homes out in the country, from Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House through Withnail and I, and now with Black Bear. Lawrence Michael Levine’s film made a big splash at Sundance back around the start of this year (which of course now feels…
Answering the Call
As this edition of the Journal went to press, winter had not yet officially begun. And we find that metaphorically significant. The weather has turned cold and wet as our county’s COVID-19 caseload continues to spike dramatically, with Humboldt County having confirmed 423 new infections through the first 15 days of December and four new…
A Quartet of Good Reads
Editor: Your Dec. 10 issue included four articles that I enjoyed. Ashley Harrell’s cover story, “The Last Howlers,” gave me hope because Shelby and Alexis Wickizer are vocally keeping alive — when “the nightly hubbubs . . . have largely faded out” — community support for folks in many front-line occupations dealing with COVID. Linda Stansberry’s…
WWTVD?
Editor: Finally, the election has been decided (pending lawsuits) and we can take a breath, relax a little and let the healing and forgiveness begin (“A Deadly Finale,” Nov. 26). I’ve been contemplating whom to look to as a role model for forgiveness. Jess, I think, would be too obvious. Could it be Trump voters?…
Whence ‘Britain’?
“All the Britons dye themselves with woad which produces a blue color, and makes their appearance in battle more terrible.” — Julius Caesar, De Bello Gallico The etymologies of the names of most countries are mostly non-controversial. “America” derives from the Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512), who made two trips to the so-called New World,…
Untitled
Wearing a mask is like using your turn signals when driving. You don’t do it for yourself. You know where you’re going. You do it for others. So we all feel safe. Vincent F Peloso
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Temporary gods are deities who come alive and become available for particular functions, and are not otherwise necessary or called upon. For instance, in ancient Greece, the god Myiagros showed up when humans made sacrifices to the goddess Athena. His task was to shoo away flies. I encourage you to invent…
Fatigue, Fear and Frustration
If you talk to healthcare providers treating COVID-19 patients at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, the linchpin in Humboldt County’s pandemic response, they all have a story to tell about when the reality of their challenge hit home. For Kristen Beddow, the charge nurse in St. Joseph’s emergency room, it was losing a patient. Beddow…
Eureka Council Suspends Needle Exchange with Split Vote
A marathon Dec. 10 special meeting of the Eureka City Council, stretching from 7 until 11:30 p.m., resulted in the council voting 3-2 to pass a resolution temporarily prohibiting all syringe exchange services within city limits, with Councilmembers Natalie Arroyo and Leslie Castellano dissenting. The wording of the resolution is tangled, stating that the city…
Thanksgiving in December
I started writing this article to submit it well before Thanksgiving, but life had other plans and I had to abandon my original plan. What I wanted to say, however, is still relevant and the recipe still in season, so I picked up where I left off and finished it. My big heartfelt thanks to…
