Cover Story
Her Name Was Ida
Ida Adelia Newell, an avid reader with a quick wit who loved golf and traveling the world but always returned to her lifelong home in Humboldt County, died May 17 of COVID-19. She was 97. Ida’s long life bridged Humboldt County’s present and its past, from bootleggers and United Service Organization dances to the Redwood…
Rolling With the Punches: Fundraising Losses for Rural Firefighters
The Orick Volunteer Fire Department covers a lot of ground for just 11 volunteers — its service area stretches from Big Lagoon north to the Humboldt County line. Secretary-treasurer Judy Hagood makes the department’s shoestring budget work but this year the firefighters will be making do with a little less. “I don’t think we’re going…
Two Humboldt State Students Suspended from Organizations Following Video with Repeated Use of Racial Slur
Two Humboldt State University students were suspended today “from their respective athletic and fraternal campus organizations pending a current student-conduct investigation regarding racist posts that were recently discovered on social media,” according to a Twitter thread released by Humboldt State at 8:15 p.m. An earlier tweet by HSU stated, “The Dean of Students office has…
Northern Humboldt Union High School District Vows to Make Concrete, Systemic Changes in Response to George Floyd, Black Lives Matter Protests
The Northern Humboldt Union High School District says it is committed to making concrete, systemic changes to create a better, safer world. “To the entire community, we must be clear: Black Lives Matter. In times like these, it is easy to point the finger at other institutions, but NHUHSD must address the fact that racism,…
Local Artist’s ‘Flatten the Curve’ Stained Glass was Purchased as a Gift for Dr. Anthony Fauci, Lost Coast Outpost Reports
The Lost Coast Outpost is reporting that local artist Colleen Clifford’s “Flatten the Curve” stain glass was purchased as a gift for Dr. Anthony Fauci. Read the full story here.
Contact Tracing: How County Public Health Slows the Spread of COVID (VIDEO)
Contact tracing is one of the tools Humboldt County Public Health uses to ease the spread of COVID-19. “Public Health investigators have been working tirelessly for months to trace the contacts of known COVID-19 patients. With their diligent work, we have been able to slow the spread here in Humboldt County,” reads a Humco COVID…
Yurok Tribe Distributing $2 Million in COVID Relief Funds to Tribal Businesses
The Yurok Tribal Council authorized the distribution of $2 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding to help Yurok business owners and entrepreneurs that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Tribal citizen-owned businesses are essential to the long-term prosperity of our community,” Joseph L. James, Chairman of the Yurok Tribe,…
Arcata Main Street’s Virtual Oyster Fest Kits
As the rollout of details about this month’s virtual Oyster Fest continues, Arcata Main Street has unveiled its kits for celebrating at home. The at-home festival packages are available for pre-order through the organization’s website for $140-$160. They include beer, wine or cider from local purveyors Eel River Brewing Co., Mad River Brewing Co., Gyppo Ale…
Humboldt County Public Health Announced One New COVID-19 Case
Humboldt County Public Health confirmed one new COVID-19 case, bringing the county case count to 104. The county has conducted 80 tests since the last report and the OptumServe public testing site has conducted 109. Basics of COVID-19 The California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control, state that symptoms of novel…
Suspect Arrested in Campton Homicide
The Eureka Police Department arrested Wesley Lee Starritt yesterday on suspicion of killing Roger Mitchell “Mitch” Clark, who was found dead at his Campton Drive home on May 20. The Times-Standard reported that Eureka Police Department Chief Steve Watson said the arrest of Wesley Lee Starritt has taken “a possible serial killer in the making…
HSU Investigating Racist Social Media Posts Involving Students ‘Mocking the Black Community,’ Times-Standard reports
The Times-Standard is reporting that Humboldt State University is investigating social media accounts that are “mocking the black community.” “The posts come amid upheaval across the nation from protests in the wake of the fatal arrest of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota,” the report reads. Read the full story and a letter from the university…
Mountain View Road Closed Through July 2
Mountain View Road between post mile marker 9.00 and 1.00 will be closed through July 2, 2020, due to culvert replacements. Signs are posted and a detour will be provided.
Humboldt County to Allow Modification of Parking Lots to Help Local Business Reopen
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors is allowing alternative uses of the public right-of-way and will relax parking standards to help local businesses, restaurants specifically, to reopen. Because of social distancing guidelines, some restaurants are looking to place seating tables on private parking lots. However, according to the press release, “county regulations require businesses to…
City of Eureka and Eddy Alexander Announce Photo Contest Winner Larry Lage
Larry Lage of Eureka is the first of three winners of the city of Eureka and Eddy Alexander photo contest. “There have been hundreds of photos submitted to date and the diversity and beauty were all incredible. It was very difficult to choose our first winner but this image really struck us because of its…
Sheltering in Space: Bridgeville Adapts to Loss of Annual Fundraiser
For residents of the Bridgeville-Blocksburg area, the BridgeFest and Flying Saucer Competition, held annually in August, is more than just a key annual fundraiser for the Bridgeville Community Center — it’s a chance to see their neighbors and socialize. Even Humboldt residents who live in the remotest parts of the county by choice like the…
Winfred Grissom has Died of COVID-19, LoCo Reports
Winfred Grissom, former Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum docent who was a popular figure around Old Town Eureka, has died of COVID-19, the Lost Coast Outpost reports. He was 91. According to LoCo’s story, Grissom is one of the four Alder Bay Assisted living residents who has died of the disease amid an outbreak there that…
Dell’Arte MFA Students to Graduate This Weekend
Veenadari Lakshika Jayakody, Andrew Lupkes, Everson Ndlovu and Joël Vining are graduating from Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre and will receive their Master of Fine Arts degrees in Ensemble-Based Physical Theatre this weekend states a release from the school. “These beloved students of our MFA Program have all overcome tremendous challenges during their years…
Alder Bay Loses Another Resident to COVID-19
Humboldt County has lost another resident to COVID-19, Public Health has announced. The person was another resident of Alder Bay Assisted Living, which has now seen all of Humboldt County’s four deaths amid an outbreak that has seen seven residents and seven staff members test positive for the disease. Humboldt County Public Health Officer Teresa…
Get Tested and Wear Facial Coverings; What You Can Do While the County Slowly Reopens
As the county slowly begins to reopen, Humb0ldt County Public Health would like to remind residents what they can do to help ease the spread of COVID-19. “It’s really important for us all to remember that we’re moving forward at a steady pace,” Dr. Frankovich said in a press release. “It was never the intent…
Fire in the Seely Creek Area (VIDEO)
A fire was reported in the Seely Creek area west of Redway near the Briceland Thorn and Shop Roads about 2:56 p.m. According to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Paul Savona, “A 1/4 acre fire is burning in the timber at a slow rate of spread.” Briceland Fire, Redway Fire, and Cal Fire were dispatched to…
1 Percent of Humboldt County Coronavirus Tests Show Antibodies, Times-Standard Reports
The Times-Standard is reporting that 1 percent of Humboldt County COVID-19 tests are showing antibodies. “The test results are from a sample size of 1,000 non-random residents, many of them from the same geographic area of the county. As a result, the early statistics are not perfect, health officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich said at a…
Humboldt Library Foundation Announces New Board Members
Ciara Emery, Mary Gelinas and Rob Amerman have joined the Humboldt Library Foundation’s Board of directors. “The Humboldt Library Foundation recently brought on three new members to its board of directors, each of whom brings a wealth of community involvement and passion for the public library to their new role,” a press release states. Read…
Expect Minor Delays on Humboldt Hill Road and Stanford Drive June 8
Humboldt County Public Works will be line striping in the area of Humboldt Hill Road and Staford Drive on June 8 at 8 a.m. Expect minor delays.
Humboldt Area Foundation Pledges $10,000 in Matching Funds to Support HSU Dreamers
Humboldt Area Foundation will be matching all donations made to the Humboldt State University Dream Act students through June 30 with the help of the COVID-19 Regional Response Fund. “No barrier should derail the ability for a young adult to pursue their greatest potential and fulfill the dream of a university education. These students have…
Black Humboldt, Eureka NAACP Juneteenth Virtual Celebration
Black Humboldt and the Eureka chapter of the NAACP are inviting community members to the virtual Juneteenth celebration on June 19 at noon. According to a release, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States that began on June 19, 1865. “This holiday is very important and empowering…
Frank Cheek, Longtime HSU Coach, Dies at 82, Times-Standard Reports
The Times-Standard is reporting that Frank Cheek a longtime coach has died at the age of 82. Read the full story here.
Eureka Police Department ‘Key Takeaways’ of Weekend Protests (VIDEO)
The Eureka Police Department has responded to media inquiries regarding Saturday and Sunday’s protest. In an email, EPD notes the “key takeaways” of the past two days of protest. An incident involving a red Jeep and a pedestrian has been assigned to an officer for further investigation. No arrests were made on Saturday, but Sunday…
Public Health Confirms One New COVID-19 Case After 32 More Samples
Humboldt County has confirmed another COVID-19 case, bringing the countywide tally to 102, according to Public Health. Today’s results come after another 32 tests were processed at the local Public Health Laboratory. Three Humboldt County residents have died of the highly contagious virus, all residents of Alder Bay Assisted Living Facility in Eureka, which has…
Kneeland Road will be Closed June 23
Kneeland Road at post mile marker 4.8 will be closed on June 23, 2020, due to pipe installation, from 8 am to 5 pm. This is near Showers Pass Road in Bridgeville.
George Floyd, Black Lives Matter Protest in Arcata (VIDEO)
More protesters have gathered in Arcata to protest George Floyd’s death. Watch more videos on the NCJ’s Twitter account. #JusticeforGeorgesFloyd #BlackLivesMatter protest happening in Arcata today. pic.twitter.com/v7dVUZI3Qb — North Coast Journal (@ncj_of_humboldt) June 1, 2020
‘Standing Together in Solidarity’; HSU Issues Statement Regarding George Floyd, Black Lives Matter Protests
Humboldt State University’s administration has issued a statement in response to the Justice for George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests in Eureka and around the U.S. “We stand with you in solidarity and we struggle to find the words to express the sadness we feel at the senseless death of another unarmed Black citizen…
Public Health Officer and Humboldt County Sheriff Talk Humboldt County Reopening Process (VIDEO)
Humboldt County Public Health Officer Teresa Frankovich and Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal discuss where Humboldt County stands in the reopening process, including how the county’s COVID-19 case count and transmission rates impact the pace at which the county moves forward. Watch the video below:
CHP Asking for Help Identifying Vehicle Involved in Collision on U.S. 101
The California Highway Patrol is seeking any information about a driver and vehicle involved in a collision on U.S. Highway 101 near Barkdull Road last Friday. On May 29 around 3:15 p.m., a vehicle traveling southbound ran between traffic delineators dividing northbound and southbound traffic and caused a traffic delineator to crash into the windshield…
Food for People Emergency Food Distribution in Arcata Wednesday
Food for People will hold an Emergency Drive Through Food Distribution in Arcata on Wednesday, June 3, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Arcata Community Center parking lot (321 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway). Food for People would like to emphasize that the food drive is drive-through only, no bicycles or walkers will be allowed.…
HSU Appoints Christina Lofthouse as Interim Chief of Police
Humboldt State University has appointed Christina Lofthouse, a veteran law enforcement officer with two decades of experience at universities. “I consider it an honor and a privilege to lead the Humboldt State Police Department and am excited to assist in meeting the unique challenges we face right now. Our goal at HSUPD is to police…
‘People Over Profits’ Caravan in Eureka this Afternoon
A caravan of cars will circle through Eureka this evening, calling for society to put “people over profits.” “The coronavirus pandemic has clearly shown the flaws in our institutions,” reads a press release announcing the caravan. “It’s also showing how much we need each other and how powerful we can be when we stand together.”…
The Pandemic’s Great Divide: 12 Hours in an L.A. Restaurant
Edson Romero maneuvers his black Cadillac Escalade under the early afternoon sun onto Highway 101 in Los Angeles. Behind him is the Boyle Heights home he shares with three siblings. Up ahead is Echo Park, and the job he’s held since the recovery from the last economic crash, back in 2011. He’s dressed in his…
UPDATE: Another Night, Another George Floyd Protest in Eureka
SECOND UPDATE: At some point last night protests escalated and police reportedly used pepper ball ammunition to disperse a crowd that was growing violent. KCRC’s Nazy Javid posted the following video a viewer sent her last night. UPDATE: As protesters marched passed Eureka Police headquarters chanting, they were met by a powerful moment of solidarity.…
See What’s New at the Clarke Museum … Virtually
The Clarke Museum is closed due to COVID-19, but lovers of local stories, artifacts and history can still step inside the museum virtually. Visitors to the museum’s website can explore the museum’s permanent collections and current exhibits such as — “Immigration Expulsion Homecoming: The Legacy of the Chinese Expulsion in Humboldt County” in the Main…
Donn Peterson Retiring as Chief of Police at HSU
Humboldt State University announced today that police chief Donn Peterson is retiring from his position as Chief of Police at Humboldt State University. In a press release, the university states that Peterson’s last day is today, May 31, 2020. The press release goes on to say, “Peterson has participated and created several programs that have…
Trinidad Art Gallery to Reopen June 1
The Trinidad Art Gallery will reopen its doors to the public on Monday, having received certification from local health officials. A newsletter sent out on Friday states that in addition to receiving certification, the gallery has enacted safety measures to ensure all who visit feel comfortable. Those measures include a new hand sanitizing station, contactless payment,…
Enlightening Strikes: SoHum Meditation Instructor’s Home Set Ablaze by Lightning
During yesterday morning’s thunderstorm, lightning struck a home in the Benbow area of Southern Humboldt. Dan Miller, a kundalini yoga teacher who teaches meditation, said he was lying awake watching and listening to the thunder and lightning about 4 a.m. “It was fascinating,” he told us. “So wild….Then I thought I heard some varmints banging…
A Thank You to Our Supporters
For nearly 30 years, the North Coast Journal has been covering the stories and people you care about in Humboldt County. We’re proud to share our coverage in print and online for free so everyone — with or without internet access or the means to subscribe to a paper — can stay informed, especially during…
Eureka Police Responding to a Possible Armed Home Invasion on Glen Street
About 8:24 p.m., a dispatcher sent officers to a possible armed home invasion in the 3100 block of Glen Street in Eureka. Reportedly, a man in the home had managed to text his mother that armed men were in the home and robbing it. She contacted 911. Officers responded and suspects fled the home. “Runners…
More Photos of George Floyd, Black Lives Matter Protest in Eureka
Hundreds of Humboldt County residents marched through downtown Eureka to protest the fatal arrest of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Related Stories
Humboldt County Threatened with Suit Over Temporary Evictions Ban, Times-Standard Reports
The Times-Standard is reporting that Humboldt Coalition for Property Rights (HumCPR) is threatening to take legal action against Humboldt County over its eviction bans for tenants who are unable to pay for rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full story here.
Arcata Recreation Summer Camp Enrollment Begins June 3
The city of Arcata’s Recreation Division has been certified by Humboldt County’s Emergency Operations Center to open its summer camp programs. Open enrollment for the 2020 summer camp season will begin Wednesday, June 3 at 9 a.m. The city has modified its camp operations to ensure compliance with state and county health and safety of…
Public Health: Humboldt Confirms its 100th COVID-19 Case
Humboldt County has now surpassed 100 confirmed COVID-19 cases, after Public Health announced two new positive tests this afternoon. The county reported today that after an additional 196 tests were processed, two new cases were confirmed, bringing the county’s tally to 101. Three Humboldt County residents have died of the highly contagious virus, all residents…
Black Lives Matter and George Floyd Protest Happening in Eureka (VIDEO)
Humboldt County residents are protesting the death of George Floyd in Eureka. Protesters started marching at the Humboldt County Courthouse and made its way to Highway 101 on V and Fifth Street. Demonstrators gathered outside the Eureka courthouse on May 30th at around 3:00 p.m. to protest the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police…
Humboldt County Law Enforcement Responds to Death of George Floyd
Humboldt County Sherrif William Honsal, Arcata Police Chief Brian Ahearn and Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson have released statements regarding the arrest and death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd died after a white officer Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis Police Department knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes during an arrest.…
Pandemic Widens Gaps in Regional Food Supply Chain
Can we feed ourselves? This is a question the staff of the Humboldt Food Policy Council (a branch of the larger California organization) has been asking since 2012. Now, with COVID-19 crimping the distribution chain for larger grocery stores and more local residents going hungry due to economic losses, the question seems more important than…
Vehicle Overturned on Highway 101 by Miranda
Traffic is temporarily being diverted off U.S. Highway 101 and across the Salmon Creek exit and onramp near Miranda after a black Nissan Rouge hit the guardrail and overturned about 8 a.m., according to the CHP Traffic Incident Information Page. An ambulance was called to the scene as an occupant had a head injury. There…
Salvation Army to Host Drive-Thru Food Box Distribution
The Salvation Army of Eureka is hosting a drive-thru food box distribution at its Tydd Street location from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday to help those in need during the COVID-19 outbreak. A news release states 400 boxes will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis and individuals are asked to bring identification. The idea…
Sign of the Times: McKinleyville High Seniors Receive a Special Delivery, LoCO Reports
The Lost Coast Outpost reports that faculty and staff at McKinleyville High School trekked from Orick to Eureka today to place homemade signs on the lawns of graduating seniors, who along with others across the county and the nation are missing out on the traditional rites of passage at this major milestone. According to the…
Humboldt COVID-19 Cases Now Total 99
Another Humboldt County resident has tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the county’s total to 99. according to today’s report from Public Health. Three Humboldt County residents have died of the highly contagious virus, including one death reported yesterday. All were residents of Alder Bay Assisted Living Facility in Eureka. Read this week’s stories here and…
Lotter Receives $129K to Part Ways with Eureka
A separation agreement between the city of Eureka and former City Manager Dean Lotter sees him receiving just more than $129,000 to part ways, including a lump sum severance, accrued vacation time and the equivalent of his salary for three pay periods. The agreement, which serves as Lotter’s resignation, states that both parties have determined…
Eureka Council to Consider Putting Ranked Choice Voting on November Ballot
The Eureka City Council will consider on June 2 placing a measure on the November ballot asking voters to amend the city charter to allow for what is known as ranked choice voting for the mayor and council seats. The council has been discussing the issue for several months and May 19 directed staff to…
UPDATE: Rescue Swimmers, Helicopter, Boats Continue Search for Fallen Hiker
The search continues for hiker who fell into the water in the College Cove area near Trinidad on Thursday afternoon. According to news release, search teams from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, California State Parks, United States Coast Guard and CAL FIRE are using multiple boats, multiple trained rescue swimmers and a Coast Guard helicopter…
NWS Issues Flash Flood Watch as Storms Approach
A wallop of wild weather is expected to hit the North Coast overnight, with some areas under a flash flood watch from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday as thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and the potential of some severe hail and gusty winds bear down on the region. According to the Eureka office of the National…
Third Humboldt County Resident Dies of COVID-19
Another Humboldt County resident has died of COVID-19, according to Public Health. Public Health sent out a press release this afternoon announcing the death, the county’s third to date, all of them residents at Alder Bay Assisted Living, which has seen a total of seven staff members and seven residents test positive for the virus.…
Eureka Offers Free Café Permits
In support of restaurants offering dine-in service with the state and OSHA requirements for social distancing, the city of Eureka is offering free permits for café tables and chairs on sidewalks. Patio and indoor seating are allowed starting Friday, May 29 for those businesses with safety plans already approved by the Office of Emergency Services.…
Police Incident Blocked Traffic on 7th, One Detained
UPDATE: A subject has exited the house and been searched and detained. PREVIOUSLY: A reportedly armed man who had refused to leave a 7th Street apartment has exited the building and is being detained. Just before 3 p.m., a woman reported being choked in an apartment building on the 1300 block of 7th Street and…
UPDATED: Rescue Underway Near Trinidad
At approximately 1:45 p.m., an emergency dispatcher sent Arcata Ambulance and Westhaven Fire Department to travel out the main trail off the parking lot “east of the beach” in the College Cove area near Trinidad. The dispatcher said they had received two reports of a 22-year-old male that had fallen about 15 feet “possibly into…
The Takeout Menu
At this stage of shelter in place, takeout is the name of the game. Scores of local restaurants have made the move to curbside, delivery and to-go menus, re-shuffling their hours and ordering to keep their patrons and staff safer. We’ve compiled a partial list here — if you don’t see your own establishment, let…
Betty Chinn’s Homeless Foundation Receives Grant to Care for Pets
The Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation announced today that it has received a $200,000 grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Pet Assistance and Support Program to help house, feed and provide basic veterinary service to the pets of its clients. Chinn, who spent much of her childhood living alone in a…
Public Health: COVID-19 Tests Only a ‘Snapshot in Time’
Public health officials are reminding Humboldt County residents that while a negative COVID-19 is good news, it’s only a “snapshot in time” and not an all-clear sign. Community members are eligible to be retested every 14 days, which is especially recommended for first responders, healthcare workers, those in the service sector — such as restaurant…
Privileged Protest
By now, just about everyone has seen the photograph. It’s of a brunette white woman standing on the Humboldt County Courthouse lawn with a smattering of American flags in the background. Her head is cocked to the right, sunglasses covering her eyes and a red bandana tied around her neck above a jean jacket. In…
In it Together
THE LOVEBIRDS. There’s a lot to unpack here, both in terms of the movie itself and pandemic-related shifts in the industry. I’ll briefly address the latter before belaboring the former. Paramount had The Lovebirds slated for theatrical release — granted, April isn’t exactly prestige season but still — and, facing the current closure and future…
Why Mass Gatherings Terrify Health Officials
Over the past week, Humboldt County Public Health Officer Teresa Frankovich has repeatedly expressed the concern that some local residents are ignoring current prohibitions on gatherings. And whether social functions or church services, the Journal has fielded a growing body of tips and reports to support that her concerns are well founded. In the midst of all…
A Glimpse Inside Alder Bay
When Alder Bay Assisted Living Interim Administrator Mark Stephenson answered the facility’s main phone line on May 20, the exhaustion hung heavy in his voice. Over the previous nine days, he and his staff had been working frantically to confront what every assisted living and skilled care facility in the nation fears: a COVID-19 outbreak.…
A Virtual Oyster Fest
As the days grow warmer and COVID-19 lingers, bivalve enthusiasts have wondered what’s to become of the 30th annual Arcata Bay Oyster Festival, née Oyster Fest. On Saturday, May 23, the answer came, at least partially, from Arcata Main Street’s Facebook page and website. The all-day seafood, beer and music binge is going virtual June…
Distance Learning: It’s Hard. For Everyone.
If you are among the legion of parents that have taken on the role of teacher during distance learning, you have undoubtedly experienced the challenging merge of parent and educator. Seems natural, right? Heck, we are the parent, we understand our kids better than anyone — we got this. But if you are fortunate to…
