Cover Story
Humboldt County’s most impactful and memorable stories of 2022
2022 brought a sweemingly unending torrent of news in Humboldt County, so much so that sifting through it to find the year’s 10 biggest stories necessitated breaking conventional bounds and adding two bonus entries. It helps that items 11 and 12 on this list are resoundingly positive news — which we can safely say we…
Music Tonight: Wednesday, Jan. 11
Pacific Witch is a surf rock band from Sacramento, that California city so well known for its breakers and beach culture. If you’d like to see what the Central Valley has to offer to the world of reverb and twang, roll through the Siren’s Song Tavern at 8 p.m. As I have lamented before, I…
Music Tonight: Tuesday, Jan. 10
The Value Combo, presented by Stephanie Knowles, is a show at Savage Henry’s Comedy Club at 9 p.m., where comics are given two different prompts and a few minutes to work out an act based on them. Sounds like a fun time to me and $10 is a reasonable ask from the club to help…
Music Tonight: Saturday, Jan. 7
One of the surefire ways for me to generate controversy and emails in this job is when I say that one particular local Grateful Dead tribute band is the best in the county. There is almost always someone sending me admonishment and venting spleen over my choice of this band, rather than that one. However,…
Music Tonight: Friday, Jan. 6
Boat Cop is a power trio whose fast and heavy sound falls somewhere between Motörhead and Discharge, with country and alternative textures thrown in. This is high praise from me, as those are all very good things in the Book of Collin. The group’s self-titled six-song tape, released last Halloween, is a noisy mess in…
Yahtzee! This Saturday
Resolved to be more charitable and eat more tacos? Shake up your Saturday night with five-of-a-kind fun at the fifth annual Rotary Yahtzee Tournament, happening Saturday, Jan. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Adorni Recreation Center ($100/person). Gather your team or roll on your own for a chance to win cash prizes and…
Horror Fun at Arcata Theatre Lounge
This dreary weather makes for perfect scary movie watching — hunkering down in a dark theater, safe and dry, with primo food/beverages available nearby, while the rain beats down. The Arcata Theatre Lounge has got you covered. Literally. Order a round of sliders and sides, popcorn, drinks and desserts, and settle in for an evening…
Humboldt Marks 164th COVID Death
Humboldt County Public Health reported today that the county has confirmed one new COVID-19 death, a resident in their 80s or older, since its last report Dec. 28. One new hospitalization was reported and, according to a state database, six people are currently hospitalized with the virus locally, including one receiving intensive care. The death…
Rio Dell Schools Still Assessing Whether Classes Can Restart Monday
The Rio Dell School District is still assessing damage sustained during the Dec. 20 earthquake and Jan. 1 aftershock and plans to update families Friday on whether school will resume Jan. 9. The district — which includes Eagle Prairie Elementary and Monument Middle School — has been out of session since Dec. 19. It has…
SEVENTH UPDATE: 101 Reopens from Trinidad to Orick, Widespread Outages, Multiple Road Closures as Storm Hits, Huge Surf Arriving Thursday
SEVENTH UPDATE; Caltrans reports U.S. Highway 101 between Trinidad and Orick is back open but urges people to limit nonessential travel. SIXTH UPDATE: Along with another round of high winds and heavy rain, a very large swell is set to arrive along the coast Thursday, with breaking waves expected to hit 30 feet, according to…
‘A Lot of Trauma’ as Rio Dell Faces Incoming Storm, Already Rattled by Quakes
Already battered from the magnitude 6.4 earthquake on Dec. 20, the city of Rio Dell suffered “far more significant” damage in the 5.4 quake that rattled Humboldt County on New Year’s Day, according to City Manager Kyle Knopp. “These earthquakes were absolutely scary,” he said. “After the first event, we had a lot of people…
Centro del Pueblo Sanctuary Garden Vandalized Again
Centro del Pueblo’s Sanctuary Garden in Arcata has been vandalized again, with the garden’s welcome sign and bulletin board knocked down and the gate, which is usually open and unlocked, locked. Centro del Pueblo team members found the damaged structures Tuesday, Dec. 27, making it the fifth time the garden had been vandalized in 2022. “It’s…
Hazardous Weather to Hit Humboldt with Flood, Wind Watches Issued
The National Weather Service is imposing flood and high wind watches on the North Coast and has issued a hazardous weather outlook with very high winds and days of rain in the forecast. “A major storm system will impact the region Wednesday into Thursday, with damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall and flooding for parts of…
5.4 Earthquake Hits Near Redcrest
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck southeast of Rio Dell near Redcrest at 10:35 a.m. today, causing moderate shaking, according to the U.S Geological Society. No tsunami threat was generated. Caltrans announced just before 11 a.m. that Fernbridge is closed for safety inspections due to the temblor. The quake struck 9.3 miles southeast of Rio Dell…
NCJ Preview: 2022 in Review and Heroic Food Trucks
It’s been a year … we’re looking at the Top 10 Stories of 2022 issue, from local politics to the environment to crime. There’s even some good news in there! We’ll be rolling our eyes at the roll call of Dick Moves this year, too. Finally, we’re looking at how local food trucks sponsored by…
Nostalgic New Year’s Eve
If you’re feeling nostalgic, throw a few back at a throwback New Year’s Eve affair. Angelina Woodfired Kitchen hosts the New Year’s Eve Rock ’n’ Roll Party on Saturday, Dec. 31, from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. with oysters and Champagne toast included with admission ($20). It’s a 1950s and 1960s record hop, so come…
Wild New Year’s Eve
For those ready to wild out New Year’s Eve, get ready to roar. Throw your paws in the air at the NYE Animal Party on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. at Richards’ Goat Tavern & Tea Room ($10). Presented by Another Gay Agenda, the evening calls for animal prints and costumes you can dance…
Music Tonight: New Year’s Eve — Saturday, Dec. 31
OK, it’s the big party night. The live music evening of the week and the last proper blow-out of the year. Not much else is happening this week after tonight, so plan your evening accordingly, and for Pete’s sake, please don’t get fucked up and drive. Here’s the round-up, from Blue Lake to Loleta: At…
Family Friendly New Year’s Eve
Family-friendly festivities await at the All-Ages New Year’s Eve Party at Red wood Raks World Dance Studio on Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ($10-$20). Start with a swing or salsa lesson, then put those moves to use on a double-decker of dancefloors. There’ll be swing, Latin, oldies rock, salsa, bachata, West Coast swing and blues…
Flood Advisories, Road Closures Hit as Rain Continues
The National Weather Service is issuing flood advisories throughout various parts of the county, including the Eel River at Fernbridge, which is forecast to reach flood stage at 22 feet on Saturday morning and remain there through Sunday. If the flooding in the Eel River reaches 22 feet, it could result in flooding of the…
Sheriff Releases Names, Details in Pine Hill Shootings
Editor’s note: Be advised this story contains descriptions of domestic violence that readers may find disturbing. Skip to the bottom for information about local domestic violence services. According to Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal, Russell Albers’ girlfriend had made the decision to leave him and their abusive relationship behind. Speaking to the Journal the day…
Disaster Assistance Fair is ‘The Opportunity’ For Residents to Qualify for Earthquake Relief Assistance
Rio Dell officials held a press conference this afternoon to underscore the importance of a two-day assistance event beginning tomorrow in aiding the ongoing recovery of the city and its residents from the magnitude-6.4 earthquake that caused widespread damage Dec. 20. The event is for residents countywide, City Manager Kyle Knopp said, with everyone impacted…
Two-Day Assistance Event Set Up to Help Residents Impacted by Quake
The city of Rio Dell will hold a two-day assistance center Friday and Saturday to provide county residents information on state, local and nonprofit aid that may be available to them after earthquake. “I cannot stress enough the importance of attendance at this center given the level of displacement and damage in Rio Dell and…
Food Trucks and World Central Kitchen to the Rescue
Three-year-old Leilani Valverde held a partly unwrapped burrito sideways in both hands, took a bite out of the middle and came up smiling. According to her father, Christian Valverde, who brought her with him to the Rio Dell fire department Thursday morning, it was her first hot meal in two days, ever since a 6.4…
Rivers Flush with Water, Soon to be Steelhead
The transition to steelhead season is taking a bit longer than anticipated. So far, though it’s still early, steelhead fishing has been slow on popular rivers like the Smith, Mad and Eel. But that should change soon. Following a good amount of rain overnight Monday, the rivers Tuesday finally got the flushing they needed. Once…
Glass Onion‘s Layered Craftsmanship
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY. What makes a movie a Christmas movie? I recently listened to a podcast in which a host floated the idea that the best holiday movies are ones that encourage reflection on the past year and prepare us for the year ahead. They were inspired by watching It’s a Wonderful…
CPUC Putting Corporations Over Californians
Editor: The Associated Press reported last Friday, “California set to lower incentives for rooftop solar panels.” The article recognized our aim of “weaning the state off oil and gas,” and concluded “California must quadruple its solar and wind power to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045” (“Lease to Farm,” Dec. 15). When CPUC first proposed reduction/elimination…
Dig Deeper
Editor: I read Donna Wildearth’s (Dec. 15) article “Gardening for Caterpillars?,” a noteworthy topic. Unfortunately, I was surprised to read some of the suggested top native trees/shrubs for Eureka, information which she garnered from National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder (uses zip codes in search box). Some of the plants are not specific to our…
Survivor of the Brooklyn
“We live hard, we die hard, and we go to hell!” — Jorgen Greve, sole survivor of the Brooklyn wreck, two years later, in conversation with maritime historian Wallace Martin “It looks as though we can make it.” By his own admission, First Officer Jorgen Greve encouraged Capt. F. J. Tufvessen to hold course as…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor,” writes Aries author Anne Lamott. “It will keep you cramped and insane.” I think that’s a key theme for you to embrace in 2023. Let’s express the idea more positively, too. In Navajo culture, rug weavers intentionally create small imperfections in their work, like…
Embattled Bongio Resigns PlanCo Post
Embattled longtime Humboldt County Planning Commissioner Alan Bongio, who was censured by the Board of Supervisors in September for comments made while chairing a meeting in August that were widely construed as racist and biased, has stepped down. First District Supervisor Rex Bohn, who appointed Bongio to the commission and said in September he would…
Top 10 Dick Moves of 2022
Compiling this year’s roll call of premeditated trash behavior wasn’t easy. Not because there weren’t enough vindictive choices, selfish decisions and playground bullies to go around, but because we have a surplus of attention-seeking dicks in our county constantly popping up and waving like inflatables outside a car dealership, seemingly campaigning to make the list.…
Facing Forward
Well, it’s the end of the line for 2022. Can’t say that I’ll miss this year too much; perhaps its greatest gift is the ease in which I find myself giving it up. Like many years before it, the nightlife is heavily weighted on the hingepoint of the New Year, which falls on a Saturday.…
