Cover Story
School Bus Breakdown
A staccato rain hits the metal roof, the heater hums, the engine idles in a rhythmic rumble, and the driver chitchats. For now, this school bus aside the curb at South Fork High School in Miranda is almost quiet, an empty-seated cavern of calmness on a Friday afternoon. Then … the door swings open and…
News Team Roves the River
The Herald and News in Klamath Falls, Ore., has been publishing an ongoing “River Series” on the Klamath River dam removal and restoration agreements, and it’s worth checking out the 77 entries to date. Don’t worry, the reports are tasty little munchables, easy to digest in a split moment, some more informative and entertaining than…
Hash Op Uncovered in Arcata Apartment
From the Arcata Police Department: WARRANT SERVED ON WESTWOOD APARTMENT Over the past month the Arcata Police Department has received information that a concentrated cannabis “hash” manufacturing operation was being run out of an apartment in the 1600 Blk of Foster Ave. After a lengthy investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the residence. On February 15th, 2011, officers from the…
Driver in this morning’s Safeway truck wreck identified
California Highway Patrol issued the following press release: On Thursday, February 16, 2012, at approximately 0525 hours, fifty-one year old Gary Robles, of Modesto CA, was driving a 2010 International Big Rig, pulling a 2008 Utility trailer, at approximately 55 mph. Robles was traveling northbound in the northbound #2 lane, just north of Tomkins Hill…
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office sent us photos of a bunch of bags of weed
… that they located during a probation search conducted in Arcata this morning. Press release below: On 02-15-2012, approximately 11:00 a.m. the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office Community Response Unit conducted a probation search in the 200 Block of Alder Grove Road, Arcata. When deputies arrived at the residence they met with probationer Colin Baldridge,…
No Love for Eureka
Happy Valentine’s Day, Humboldt… except you Eurekans. You’ve been deemed un-romantic by the folks at Redbox — you know, the company that plants those faceless DVD spewing kiosks in high-traffic shopping locations. Yeah, those love experts. Eureka ranked fifth on Redbox’s list of “10 Least Romantic Cities” based on the number of romantic comedies we…
The Bell Tolls for Mendocino’s Medical Pot Ordinance
Last night on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Michael Montgomery reported on the anticipated end of Mendocino County’s groundbreaking medical marijuana ordinance. (Listen to the report below.) Prior to last year’s federal crackdown, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors was looking to base its own ordinance on Mendocino’s, which had been deemed a success by growers,…
NCJ gets a Valentune Delivery
The North Coast Journal offices received a surprise visit this afternoon from some high school songbirds in the ArMack Orchestra and Madrigal Choir. The five students (sorry, we were too stunned and charmed to ask their names) delivered a “Valentune” — a very pretty rendition of Jack Johnson’s “Better Together.” Small groups of these melodious…
Quakin’ in Weitchpec
In Weitchpec, six miles from the epicenter, folks were taking the 5.6 quake in stride — although there were unofficial reports of “crazy people and dogs howling” long minutes after the earth quit shaking. At Pearson’s Grocery in Weitchpec, Karen Pearson said the quake knocked the pictures askew on the walls and tumbled some stuff…
Humboldt Tweets the Earthquake! (UPDATING)
The USGS is reporting that the earthquake that shook us all up a few minutes ago — at 1:07 p.m., to be exact — richtered in at 5.3 5.5 5.6 (updated) and was centered near Weitchpec. First off, everyone good? Let us know if otherwise. As of 1:25 p.m. the Eureka Police Department had…
Don’t Serve Alcohol to Humboldt’s Youngins
First, it’s just, like, a bad thing to do. But also because sometimes those minors are decoys deployed by local law enforcement. The EPD sent out the following press release: (Eureka) – The Eureka Police Department, in conjunction with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, cited two clerks/employees for selling alcohol to a minor, and…
Governor Saves SoHum School Buses … For Now
Good news on the heels of this week’s NCJ cover story: Governor Jerry Brown has signed Senate Bill 81, renewing this year’s funding for the Home to School Transportation Program. As Sean J. Kearns’s story makes clear, plenty of hurdles loom ahead. But for now, residents of the county’s more rural regions are breathing a…
CR Names Three Finalists for President
A week ago College of the Redwoods announced that it was just one step away from losing accreditation. Today CR announced the three brave finalists for the president/superintendent position left vacant by Dr. Jeff Marsee. Interim president Uptal Goswami is among the candidates. Public forums with the candidates will take place Feb. 14, 15 and 16. Here’s…
Four Oscar nominated films
Many of this year’s Oscar nominated films did not play in local theaters. Here are a few that are already out on DVD: If A Tree Falls: A Story of Earth Liberation Front (Best Documentary Feature) How often do we get to see footage from Eureka in an Oscar nominated film? (Perhaps the 1997 pepper…
pelican in the dunes
we went down to the beach through the…
Constructed Paintings
The Ironside Gallery is one of the newest cooperative galleries in Humboldt County. Formed in 2011, it offers a select group of area artists space to display and sell their work. The work on display rotates among more than 25 local artists and ranges from printmaking, handmade jewelry and photography to sculpture, painting, drawing, mixed…
Changing Modern Dance: One Minute at a Time
Bring Your Own Seat Series presents, Short Stories: 23 Dances / 23 Minutes, at the Pan Arts Studio in Arcata, which is fast becoming the home base for modern dance classes in the area. Director Bonnie Hossack has laid out a unique structure in this show by limiting her group of invited choreographers to one…
A Relic’s Rant
Editor: Um, excuse me, but what exactly do you mean (“Burlesque,” Jan. 26) by “She looks magazine fresh, more LA than Humboldt, despite the fact she’s been here six years?” Not all snaggle-toothed and barnacle-encrusted like the rest of us? Hey, if I hadn’t just about come to peaceful terms with my not-too-badly-decayed degree of…
And the Beat Goes On
Mystery, romance, glamour. Pull out the feather boas and garter belts; it’s time to shimmy the night away in you slinkiest garb with your favorite Valentine or, maybe, the Valentine you’re destined to meet. The Beat Vixens, who you read about in these pages not long ago, present Cupid’s Coquettes, a Valentine’s burlesque event at…
Puppets: Not Just For Kids
Anyone who caught last year’s Arcata Playhouse sideshow play, Crawdaddy’s Odditorium, will remember the wild-eyed puppet Professor L.V. (Little Varmit) Willikers. “He was part of a freak show family,” said Playhouse founder David Ferney, the man behind the professorial puppet. “He’s the indestructible man — he tries repeatedly to kill himself, but he can’t.”…
Slow Skating
At first, all was dandy. It was the year 2000, and a grandma in McKinleyville named Pat Hassen had launched a project dear to her three grandsons’ hearts into a magnificent ollie: She and a bunch of others were going to get a skateboard park built. It would be more than that — scooter riders…
Love and/or Politics
They’re calling next Tuesday’s show at Humboldt Brews the “Valentine’s Day Love Ball.” That is indeed V-Day, but don’t expect Oakland’s political hip hop band The Coup to stick strictly to love songs. Formed 20 years ago by Marxist rappers who grew up in the city that spawned the Black Panther Party, The Coup kicked…
Miracle Schmiracle
BIG MIRACLE starts off with a boring title (one that gives away the ending) and goes downhill from there. Directed by Ken Kwapis, who alternates between helming funny, effective television shows (The Office, The Bernie Mac Show) and mirthless, mindless Hollywood romantic comedies (License to Wed, He’s Just Not That Into You), Miracle is full…
Old Town Arcata
Will Plaza Point put the kibosh on Arcata whippersnapper shenanigans?
Rail Worth Saving
Editor: I’d like to comment on Rees Hughes’ article (“Walk on the Wild Side of 101,” Jan. 19), and to commend Stacey Becker for her response (Mailbox, Jan. 26). I’m thankful that Mr. Hughes at least said, “rail to trail or rail and trail.” To those who wrote opposing the rail I would say the…
This Valentine’s Day, Drink Something Red
I know, I know. Valentine’s Day! Ick. Heart-shaped boxes of chocolate lined with those weird paper doilies, a card that plays a song — who does that, anyway? It’s a strange holiday. Single people hate it or ignore it, happy old married couples don’t need it, and anyone in a new, untested relationship approaches it…
Local Valentine
Local Valentine
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
The “mirror test” was invented about 40 years ago as a means to determine whether or not a creature possesses self-awareness. The test is simplicity itself: A chimpanzee, say, is kept in a cage, which has a mirror. While the animal is asleep, a researcher daubs a spot of color on its forehead and then…
The Barr Brothers
What started as a side project from a happenstance meeting with a next-door neighbor has become more of a full-time gig for Brad and Andrew Barr. The brothers, once core members of The Slip, a consistently changing band built on improvisational jazz and indie rock, also played in side projects, among them Surprise Me Mr.…
