Cover Story
The Growing Divide
The Growing Divide is an online documentary project that uses photography and a series of 25 interviews with residents, marijuana growers, police officers and government officials to tell the story of the marijuana boom in the rural community of Hayfork, California. With photographs by Talia Herman and Brian Gossman, and with support from California Humanities,…
Teenage Girls Killed in Fortuna Hit and Run, Driver of Jeep Wrangler Wanted
The California Highway Patrol has issued an alert to be on the look out for a newer model light grey Jeep Wrangler that struck and killed two teenage girls in Fortuna last night. The girls were skateboarding northbound on the southbound lane of Eel River Drive, just south of Kenmar Road when they were struck…
In Solidarity
A crowd of about 100 people gathered at the Humboldt County Courthouse last night for a “solidarity vigil,” an event promoted through word-of-mouth and social media. The vigil’s Facebook page asked, “What must change so that these systems meant to protect us, truly protect all of us — especially our loved ones who are Black,…
Sunday Scenes in Sunny Blue Lake
Hot rides, tunes and even a wookiee: Blue Lake had it all Sunday. Between the Annie & Mary Day Parade, the 12th annual Bill Nessler Car Show and the Folk Life Festival, there were plenty of sites. Luckily, local photographer Mark Larson was there to capture some of the fun. Check out his slideshow below.
Honoring the Fallen
The rain held off but tears were common in the crowd of more than 200 during the Friday evening candlelight vigil in Rohner Park in Fortuna. After the events in Dallas, the vigil had been quickly organized by Sandi Petersen and others of Eel Valley Crime Stoppers, as well as Humboldt County supervisors Rex Bohn…
HumBug: Gold Diggers
In more than 300, trips I have yet to go on a walk down to the Van Duzen River and not see something interesting. Today was no exception. Because I got a late start I expected all the dragonflies to be perched high up in trees for the night. The puddle I’ve been watching had…
Lawsuit Settled, but HUMMAP Wants More
The suit the Humboldt-Mendocino Marijuana Advocacy Project brought against the county of Humboldt following its January adoption of a commercial medical marijuana ordinance was settled on July 5, but HuMMAP says there’s still much work left to be done. The suit, filed in February, was an attempt to “block the environmental damage” it saw as…
Speak Up, Speak Out, Write In
Almost every day of the past week has brought news of a fresh tragedy. Alton Sterling, shot and killed by officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Philando Castile, in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop. Five officers killed, and another seven wounded, by a sniper during an otherwise…
Alive and Kickin
It’s time to get a little mud on the tires. And boots. And faces. And … ATV helmets? Oh yeah. That’s how it rips in the Eel Valley in the summer. Grab your hats and shine your buckles, it’s time for the 95th annual Fortuna Rodeo, July 11-17. The fun begins Monday, July 11 with…
Sand Sculpture Festival in Manila
Take the kids to the Sand Sculpture Festival at the Manila Dunes Recreation Area, Saturday July 9 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (best viewing time is noon to 2 p.m.) to watch teams build castles in the sand and other tightly packed marvels. It’s free to watch and donations to support Friends of the…
Goodbye, Jerry Partain
A prominent conservative voice on the North Coast and occasional Journal contributor, Gerald L. “Jerry” Partain, passed away on Monday, July 4. He was 91. Partain helped establish the Humboldt State University four-year Forestry Program. He was also the former director of the California Department of Forestry. Ken Fulgham, a former student of Partain’s who…
55th Annual Orick Rodeo
Is Fortuna too far south? Northerners, head to Orick for the 55th annual Orick Rodeo happening Saturday, July 9 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 10 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Orick Rodeo Grounds. Catch mutton bustin’, calf ropin’, steer ridin’ and other events you can shorten with an…
Strings Attached
The 38th annual Humboldt Folklife Festival, July 9-16, is a week-long celebration of local live music against the backdrop of beautiful Blue Lake. Officially part of Dell’Arte’s Mad River Festival and presented by the Humboldt Folklife Society, the event strings together an assemblage of the area’s finest folk, bluegrass and country musicians for nightly performances,…
Fast and Reckless
Every folding chair in the Bridgeville school gym was pressed into use on June 30, as the room filled with more than 100 community members. They came from neighboring communities, from Dinsmore and Hydesville and Mad River and all points in between. Mothers nursing babies, senior citizens with perfectly coiffed hair, sunburned young men with…
Canna-unionize?
Union leaders are talking about normal union concerns in a dimly lit Arcata bar. There are cocktails all around. They talk about safety, protecting jobs, keeping wages high, changing laws and providing training and education for workers and employers. Although these sound like run-of-the-mill union concerns, this is not your typical union. This is the…
Hum Plate
Key Player Some of us leap flip-flop first into summer at the first hiss of lawn sprinklers. For the rest of us, zipping up our hoodies in vampiric fear of the sun and denial over the year whizzing by, a little incentive is required. A slice of Key lime pie will help. There is patio…
Locospectating
Now that it’s July, the farmers market has reached max volume and we’ve got the full scale of summer fruits and vegetables on our collective mind. I’m going to say this means it’s a good time to revisit the importance of being local. Each Saturday morning, the Arcata farmers market serves up a mind-expanding object…
Arts! Arcata
Arts! Arcata is Arcata Main Street’s monthly celebration of visual and performing arts, held at locations in Arcata. Visit www.facebook.com/artsarcata for more information or call 822-4500. ARCATA ARTISANS 883 H St. Diane Sonderegger, ceramic figures, and John Wesa, serigraphs. Wine pour benefits the Breast & GYN Project. ARCATA EXCHANGE 813 H St. Danielle Orr, mixed…
The Buddy System
Reviews SWISS ARMY MAN. If we’re being honest, Humboldt County doesn’t really have the best track record when it comes to recent movie production. Sure, we get a little thrill of pride and recognition when Hollywood comes to town, but this fades when home becomes the blurry backdrop for yet another nondescript, low-to-mid-level thing that…
What Does the EPD Have to Hide?
Editor: It’s very sad that our government officials spend so much of their time, and our money, making sure we don’t know what they’re up to. The police camera case is by no means the only example, but it’s especially ironic (“Argumentative,” June 30). When someone refuses consent to a search, or refuses to answer…
In Gratitude
Editor: I want to thank everyone in my district’s communities, far and wide, for going to the polls and voting to re-elect me as your 2nd District county supervisor (NCJ Daily, June 9). I am humbled and honored by your overwhelming support and I see it as a huge vote of confidence in my work to…
Big Apple, Big Cheese
Editor: At the small cafe on the fourth floor of the Met, my daughter and I noticed the Dick Taylor chocolate bars being sold on the very small counter by the cash register (“The Chocolate Factory,” Aug. 6, 2015). The only other packaged food item was tiny bags of peanuts. We both thought that to…
They’ve Got Soul
Editor: Regarding the “We lost the war” letter to the editor in the June 30 issue commenting on the “The Curious Case of Parcel 106-101-054,” the author writes, “The only folks looking forward to the green rush are realtors. We know how soulless most of them are. They don’t give a damn about anything but their fees and commissions.”…
I hear my pulse
I hear my pulse in dead of night wee hours it thrums so soft deep in my brain muted bassline from a distant prom dance endless endless and yet the dance must end
Let’s Go Get Folked
We’re a county of music lovers, are we not? Here in Humboldt, we have our fair share of summer music festivals, which probably outdoes many counties with much larger populations. We’re also unique — if I may — as we have a high concentration of local musicians who make the pickings for a local festival…
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
Looking for a reason to wear your Stormtrooper helmet in public? Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens plays twice at the Arcata Theatre Lounge: Friday July 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday July 10 at 6 p.m. ($5). Both showings include a costume contest with prizes held before the film.
