The GPU
Money, politics and special interests intersect on the road map to Humboldt’s future
Cover Story
The GPU
There are no two ways about it, Humboldt County is a unique place, says Kevin Hamblin. The county planning director is sitting in his office off H Street in Eureka on a recent afternoon, his window propped open a few inches to let in some fresh air and the sound of pouring rain. Many people…
Updated: Mendocino Deputy Killed in Ambush
The suspect believed to have killed a Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputy last week was released from an Oregon jail two weeks earlier. According to an article by the Associated Press, Oregon police arrested Ricardo Antonio Chaney after they reported finding firearms, body armor and methamphetamine in his car. But, according to the report, the Lane County District Attorney’s…
As Wiyot Prepare to Dance Again, Eureka Fumbles With Contrition
On the cusp of the Wiyot Tribe’s first World Renewal Ceremony since the last one, in February 1860, was cut short after white settlers massacred as many as 100 tribe members as they slept on Indian Island, the City of Eureka has voted to send the tribe an official letter of … well, it started…
Tonight’s Setlist: Tuesday, the intrigue continues
“Our new cassingle, Chillality, will be along for the ride on this brief March tour, which features two new tracks from our debut full-length, Wavelength Sovereignty, out later this year.” So says Future Twin’s press release about this midweek gig at the Jambalaya. You had me at “cassingle.” The added bonus of describing the music…
Loleta Bakery Closed
The Loleta Bakery has closed its doors, at least for now, due to a serious illness in the family. Over the phone, Linnea Hill, who ran the bakery with her mother, owner Jeanne van der Zee, said, “We’re so sad. Our reasons have to do with personal family illness and that’s where we need to…
Man Evading Deputy Dies After Crash
Twenty-year-old Samoa resident Dillon Arcani died Monday evening after crashing his motorcycle, at high speed, into another motorist on State Route 255. According to the California Highway Patrol, Arcani had been fleeing a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy near the Samoa Cookhouse after the deputy attempted to pull Arcani over because there was no license plate…
Arson Suspected at Unlicensed Dispensary
Fire broke out before dawn in an Arcata residential neighborhood Monday, and firemen responded to discover the burning home was really a medical marijuana dispensary with a growing operation. And, they believe it was intentionally set ablaze. Arcata Fire District Battalion Chief Sean Campbell said a call came into the department at about 5:15 a.m.…
‘Tis a Wee Cupcake
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a little. Really little. This leprechaun-sized Guinness cupcake from Ramone’s ($1.25) is moist and chocolatey, with a hint of stout and a fluffy dollop of buttercream. And you can always share it.
Drink Me, I’m Irish
Put down that Redi-wip and Bailey’s. The good folks at Gallagher’s showed us how to make a proper Irish coffee for St. Patrick’s Day. Or Monday. Remember: real, fresh whipped cream, unsweetened. And don’t skimp on the whiskey — a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but it won’t cover the taste of…
Gallegos: No Death Penalty in Arcata Double Murder Case
Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty in the case of alleged double-murderer Bodhi Tree. Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos said that, after carefully reviewing the case, he has decided not to purse capital punishment against Tree, who stands accused of gunning down two people at a house on Arcata’s Eye Street in May…
Tonight’s Setlist: A wee bit of madness
(Scene above not of the Logger Bar) Personally, I have mixed feelings about St. Patrick’s Day. I’m of Irish descent and love a good party, but I also like snakes. We’ll set the cultural/historical discussion aside for now, however, because you’ve got yourself what is sure to be an excellent time happening at the Logger Bar.…
Tonight’s Setlist: St. Paddy’s, a Happy Birthday, a benefit and beyond
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day — oh yeah, that — early with a Wild Irish Barn Dance at the Arcata Veterans’ Hall starting at 7:30 p.m. Sue Moon will call to the enthusiastic tunes of Blake Ritter and Sam McNeill. All dances will be taught with no partner or experience necessary. Admission $7 general, $6 Humboldt…
Updated: Fortuna Rethinking Sign Ordinance
The Fortuna City Council voted 4-1, with Councilman Dean Glaser dissenting, Monday to amend its campaign sign ordinance. The amendment lifts decades-long provisions that limited the placement of campaign signs until just 30 days prior to Election Day and required that signs be no bigger than four square feet. While proponents of the change said…
Old Ale, New Tricks
The Local Beer Bar is celebrating its second birthday on Saturday by releasing an anniversary ale whipped up with Eel River Brewery — a vanilla eisbier aptly named Stop, Collaborate and Listen (price TBA). Why? Because it’s iced, iced, baby. What? We were all thinking it. And in one of the most scandalous abuses of…
Candidates Spar at first DA Debate
The four candidates vying to become Humboldt County’s next district attorney gathered for their first debate Thursday. The candidates — Deputy District Attorney Elan Firpo and former prosecutors Allan Dollison, Maggie Fleming and Arnie Klein — spent the better part of two hours in the Eureka Veterans Building, answering questions composed by the hosting Humboldt…
Tonight’s Setlist: Freeing and Fantastical
Photo by Chuck Johnson/Freak Photo You can dance if you want to — and you will want to because it’s Soul Night! But wait! That’s not all! You also get all vinyl. Humboldt Brews, 9 p.m., $5 (get your tickets early), 21-and-over. You can dance if you want to — and you’ll want to because…
The Corned Beef Circuit
Booze always steals the limelight on St. Patrick’s Day. Green beer and Jameson put that festive sparkle in your eye, but without food in your gut, that sparkle will quickly fade. On St. Patty’s Day proper, The Shanty in Old Town Eureka and The Logger Bar in Blue Lake are both offering up Irish dishes…
Look, I’m on a Boat
You know what’s better than boats in the water? Boats on land! Humboldt County has a rich maritime history and the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum wants to tell you all about it at Historic Boat Day. On Saturday, March 15 from 3 to 7 p.m., the museum is hauling the Madaket and the Stephanie onto…
Tonight’s Setlist: Trippy and Tantalizing
This is not your usual gig. Legendary outsider artist The Space Lady, often seen busking on the streets of San Francisco in the ’80s and ’90s, has come out of retirement for a tour of her Casio-driven, phase-shifted, otherworldly originals and unrecognizable covers at the Siren’s Song. She’ll be joined by ambient jetsetter Ensemble Economique and…
So Forgiveness can Kiss Nietzsche
He polishes his face of glass Gleaming bright In every false light Reflecting all he wants to see Except his mouth Is an open grave And eyes line his coat Like double-breasted buttons. A faithless kiss Damp and cold Lips apart For all to see Hanged itself From a straggled tree. Each of us Chooses…
And They’re Off
After rumor mongering, plodding, hemming, hawing, and perhaps some behind the scenes prodding, there will be a supervisors race after all. On March 7, former Eureka Councilman Chris Kerrigan announced his candidacy for the county’s 4th District seat via a short speech on the steps of the County Elections Office. Backed by several notable Humboldt…
Just Because You’re Paranoid
Last week your author mentioned that several recent studies indicate marijuana use can cause problems with teenagers’ developing brains, lowering IQs of chronic users during their transition to adulthood. It’s easy to point out that highly successful people have confessed to marijuana use in their formative years — world leaders, captains of industry, artists, actors…
I’m Still Worried
This week’s cover story is a scholarly write-up by Journal News Editor Thadeus Greenson about the General Plan Update process — and how money may or may not influence decisions. He started with a public records act request to county supervisors for emails during a specific time period last year when they were changing the…
What Reform?
Editor: Thank you for your article on the Affordable Care Act in Humboldt (“The Faces of Obamacare,” March 6). I, like Jude Ehrlich, am thrilled to have health insurance after five years of going without. I am self-employed and eligible for government subsidies for the same basic plan I purchased until it became unaffordable. I…
Bittersweet
Sure, everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but that doesn’t mean everyone loves the food. Corned beef and cabbage is fine comfort food, briny and piping hot with soft potatoes, and my family didn’t wait for March to cook it. But the heart-slowing food of ancestors who got up in the dark and worked until…
Shake, Rattle & Roll
Did you already forget about Sunday night’s earthquake? If you don’t have your emergency supplies prepped and packed, stop reading and take care of that, pronto. Ready? Good. Now let’s talk about the supplies you’ll need to get through the next week. First, plenty of water. You’ll appreciate the hydration. (Don’t raid the earthquake kit!)…
Fall of the Khmers
Empires always fall. After 200 glorious years (the Pax Romana), the Roman Empire took another two centuries to decline into obscurity. Despite his boast of an empire that would last 1,000 years, Hitler’s Third Reich collapsed at the end of WWII. The British Empire, on which “the sun never set,” surrendered to the reality of…
Greek Weak
Reviews 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE. Apparently 300 (2006), Zack Snyder’s misbegotten, highly stylized adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel, made enough money and fans to drive the studio back to the well. Even though there is ostensibly a bigger story being told here, clearly profit, rather than art or narrative, is the motivating factor.…
Support Jail Change
Editor: As moderator of the Feb. 26 community discussion regarding the Eureka jail’s nighttime release policy I would like to suggest a course of action the community could immediately implement to enhance resolution of this issue. As quoted in the Journal (“Free to Go,” March 6), Sheriff Mike Downey repeatedly voiced his concern regarding the…
Steaks and Trails
Editor: I agreed with Chris Turner when he wrote about what the elimination of trail-supporting language from the GPU actually does (“Mailbox,” Feb. 27). I believe in the potential to draw both locals and out-of-towners to our trails. However, I do not agree with two of his statements. Shamus T-Bones is doing well because they…
Important Humor Notice
You may have noticed the absence of Joel Mielke’s comics on this page. He will be on hiatus for a little while — yes, we miss him too. But hey! Do you know any aspiring cartoonists? Someone with a razor-wit and sharpened pencil ready to comment on the travails and joys of Humboldt life, people…
Correction
Mark McCulloch’s name was misspelled in last week’s “Bobarazzi.” The Journal regrets the error.
Second Friday Arts! Arcata
Arts! Arcata is Arcata Main Street’s monthly celebration of visual and performing arts, held at more than 30 participating locations in Arcata. Visit www.artsarcata.com for even more information about the event or call (707) 822-4500. Arcata Artisans 883 H St. Group show by Arcata House Artisan Guild: Libby George, Matt Filar, Patricia Sennott, Maggie Draper,…
