McKinleyopolis
Humboldt County’s largest unincorporated area mulls wheter cityhood is a path to prosperity, by Elaine Weinreb
North Coast Night Lights: The Survivor
The Survivor. The gnarled old pear tree was struggling to survive, hanging onto the edge of a dried embankment above a little dirt road when my family moved there over 40 years ago. It was small, not much taller than my dad, but already old, a twisted thing eking out a life on its own…
Boom, Crack, Sizzle
Oh, summer, you sunny season of hot dogs, baseball, swimming at the lake. Sure, Memorial Day kicks it off, but the Fourth of July kicks it in. So, where are things crack-a-lackin’? There are celebrations across the county where you can wave the red, white and blue and wish America a happy birthday. From hometown…
Photos from the Sand Sculpture Fest
The 24th annual Sand Sculpture Festival turned the Samoa Drag Strip into a packed parking lot on Saturday, as the Friends of the Dunes fundraiser attracted a large crowd to the nearby ocean beach. Nineteen teams of artists working in the medium of ocean beach sand competed for fun, cash prizes and various awards, while…
Mateel Announces Reggae Legacy to Replace ROTR
After High Times abruptly cancelled this year’s Reggae on the River festival, the Mateel Community Center Board of Directors decided to offer an alternative event located entirely at the financially strapped Community Hall. Today, they announced what they are calling the Reggae Legacy 2019 event on the traditional ROTR dates, the first weekend in August.…
Grand Jury: No ‘Silver Bullet’ to Solving Homeless, Offers Strategies
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury, a board of citizens impaneled for a year to look into governmental issues, released a report today making recommendations on how to address the region’s overwhelmingly high homeless rate. The 38-page report looks back at the recommendations from the consulting group Focus Strategies that led the city of Eureka and…
Crabs Put on Hitting Expo in Series Sweep
Ladies and Germs, we have a winning record. This is not a drill. I repeat, we have a winning record: 13-10. Three more wins than losses. In the 23 games played thus far, we have won over half of them. Thirteen to be exact. We’re nearing the midway point of the season and the Crabs…
UPDATE: Car vs. Pole Sparks Fire in Fieldbrook, Power Outages
UPDATE: Cal Fire reports forward progress of the fire was stopped at 4:35 p.m. with three-fourths of an acre burned. According to the PG&E electrical outage page, power is not expected to be restored to about 100 customers in the area until tomorrow morning. PREVIOUSLY: Multiple agencies including Cal Fire, Fieldbrook Fire, Blue Lake Fire,…
HumBug: Bugs While You Wait
When the lady at the tire store said it would be 45 minutes before my car was ready, I said, “Thank-you,” and headed for the door. On the way into the parking lot, I ‘d spied a drainage ditch that meanders through Fortuna. It was choked with willows, Himalaya berry vines, Queen Anne’s lace, and…
HSU Professor’s Book Nabs Prestigious International Award
Humboldt State University Native American Studies department chair and Journal contributor Cutcha Risling Baldy’s first book was just honored at the Native American Indigenous Studies Conference in New Zealand. We are Dancing for You: Native Feminisms and the Revitalization of Women’s Coming-of-age Ceremonies was named the Best First Book in Native American and Indigenous Studies…
UPDATE: CHP: Driver Tried to Flee After Crashing into Humboldt Hill Home
UPDATE: The 25-year-old driver of a truck that crashed into the bedroom of a Humboldt Hill Road home, killing a man and injuring a woman, was held at the scene by bystanders after he tried to flee, according to CHP. A California Highway Patrol release states Fields Landing resident Ryder Stapp was “at a high…
Remains of Missing Man From Illinois Found
Remains found Thursday in Redwood National and State Parks have been identified as belonging to 49-year-old Jeff Pierce of Oswego, Illinois, who had been reported missing. No foul play is suspected at this time, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. A release states the remains were found after state parks rangers called the sheriff’s…
Crabs on the Upswing
Back from the sole road trip of the season, the Crabs are on a four-game winning streak, took two games from their Humboldt Bay brethren and now sport a .500 record for the first time since they were 0-0. This past week saw our Crabs travel down U.S. Highway 101 and face off against the Healdsburg…
Dog Killed, 85-Year-Old Man Stabbed in Neck During Assault in McKinleyville
A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and animal cruelty Wednesday night in McKinleyville after fatally stabbing a dog and injuring an 85-year-old man during a struggle over the knife. According to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responding to a call on the 2300 Grace Avenue arrived to find Jonathan Albert Boone…
Slush Fund or Healthy Reserves?
Both the California State University system and Humboldt State University have sharply disputed a June 20 report from the California State Auditor’s Office, which charged that the CSU system is sitting on an undisclosed $1.5 billion budget surplus, which included more than $62 million from HSU. The bombshell report and subsequent pushback have left lawmakers…
Good Goth
Reviews LOS ESPOOKYS. Even as blockbuster movies continue spiraling into a pit of staleness — eight of the 10 highest-grossing films last week were remakes or sequels — streaming channels climb on to more creative heights. Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, YouTube, et al., offer such bounty that a person would almost trade the summer…
Tango and Experimental Jet Set
In spite of the notorious Humboldt summer entertainment slump, this week actually has some pretty nice offerings. There are many shows happening that are unusual enough to merit attention: Soundscapes and dance parties await your participation like mysterious invitations slipped under the door. There’s all kinds of good energy in the air. And if nothing…
The Cannabis Cup Runneth Over
Seriously, though, California has way too much weed. I mean, even if you ignore all the black market stuff out there, the Golden State just has too much weed, and that’s even before that 147-acre monstrocity in Santa Barbara County comes online. Vessel Logistics, a San Francisco-based processor, manufacturer and wholesaler, recently released a 16-page…
Why I Support Terra-Gen’s Wind Project
I want to highlight why I support the Terra-Gen wind project and how the project fits into Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s (RECEA’s) larger, long-term goals for using local, renewable energy production to promote local economic development and reduce the environmental impact of our energy use. With respect to the Terra-Gen wind project, I support it…
No Soap
Related Stories
How We Let This Happen
There are children in concentration camps in the United States right now. On the news they call them “migrant children” (not children fleeing for their lives or seeking asylum or in desperate need of aid — just “migrant children”). Talking heads are debating the use of the term “concentration camp.” “Sure these kids are being…
On Ma, Her Doughnuts and the Afterlife
What happens when we die is a matter of great debate. One thing is certain, though: As long as one person remembers us, we remain connected to the living world. That’s where doughnuts come in. A stretch, perhaps, to link sacred notions to such a humble and quotidian food. But when the kitchen is filled…
‘Our Problems’
Editor, Your article outlining Jared Huffman’s case for the impeachment of Donald Trump shows that Congressman Huffman is a smart lawyer and has spent a great deal of time and effort working on impeachment (“The Case for Impeachment,” June 13). Unfortunately, this effort does not benefit his constituents in the northern half of his congressional…
Creating Community with Gardens
As we slip into summer, here on the home farm we are enjoying the sunshine. The combination of late spring rains followed by a heat wave gave our plants the message to grow like crazy. It’s good timing because we’ve increased our ranks. Our labor force has suddenly tripled and we’re ecstatic. More hands and…
Deep State
Editor: There was a remarkable story in the news last week about how some sections of our national defense apparatus have mined Russia’s power grid with malware bombs. They claim to be able to take the grid down at will. Given the stories some time ago about how Russia has already mined our grid, I…
Honoring Humboldt’s Knight of Musicality
This year’s Mad River Festival kicked off on a rather different note than previous years. Instead of the usual biting satirical drama, Dell’Arte is celebrating someone who’s been a key part of more than 50 Dell’Arte productions in Blue Lake and around the world. Indeed, if you’ve listened to any music created, recorded or performed…
‘Dreadful’
Editor: Everyone in Humboldt County should read the comments I submitted against this project (“The Cost of Wind,” June 6). If you do, you will probably never think of wind energy as green again. The reason is because most impacts are hidden behind fraudulent and deceptive research. In my comments I give plenty of examples…
‘We Deserve Better’
Editor: I am a cancer survivor. Since being diagnosed in 2013, I have had seven or eight different oncologists. In October of last year, I came down with a cough. In December, I was referred to a pulmonologist. I couldn’t get an appointment until April of 2019 because the pulmonolgist was overbooked. Due to an…
‘A Significant Hand Up’
Editor: This year, the Humboldt County Planning Commission is updating the Housing Element (“Draft Housing Element Calls for Drastic Solutions to Humboldt’s Housing ‘Crisis,'” May 23). What they presented to the public this spring was a comprehensive response to the housing crisis in our county. The plan offers options like tiny house villages, safe parking…
Correction
A photo caption accompanying a story headlined “The Gray Whale Die-off” in the June 20, 2019, edition of the North Coast Journal incorrectly identified the animals photographed. The animals in the picture were elephant seals. The Journal regrets the error. Related Stories
Who’s Hungry?
Deadly Darlingtonias About two hours north of Eureka on State Route 199, a few miles past Gasquet, a small sign announces, “Botanical Trail.” It’s a very short drive on a good gravel road to the parking area. A little walk on the well-marked trail puts you in the middle of a Darlingtonia Bog. Here, where…
Ok. I am ok.
Wondering when the other shoe will drop. The hammer will fall Wondering while my chicken cooks with rice Why others need a dime. A quart of milk. Ok. I am ok. Wondering when the fist will fall. At the hand that never strikes but may Wondering with my back to the wall Why others bleed.…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Here are your fortune cookie-style horoscopes for the months ahead. JULY: Discipline your inner flame. Use your radiance constructively. Your theme is controlled fire. AUGUST: Release yourself from dwelling on what’s amiss or off-kilter. Find the inspiration to focus on what’s right and good. SEPTEMBER: Pay your dues with joy and…
McKinleyopolis: Humboldt County’s Largest Unincorporated Area Mulls Whether Cityhood is a Path to Prosperity
Some see McKinleyville — Humboldt County’s third-largest population center, and one of its fastest growing — as the 18-year-old high school graduate ready to leave home. The prospect of freedom from parental control is tempting — she’ll finally be able to make her own decisions about where she goes and how she’ll get there. But…
