The Arcata City Council is set Wednesday to consider the fate of President William McKinley’s statue with a series of potential options ranging from taking down the 1906 tribute to putting the issue before voters. Momentum has been building in recent months to remove the bronze, the first major work by renowned Armenian sculptor Haig […]
Arcata City Council
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Brett Watson Selected as New Arcata Councilmember
Small business owner Brett Watson will join the Arcata City Council on April 19 after being unanimously selected by the other councilmembers following last night’s candidate forum. He will serve out the remainder of Mark Wheetley’s term, which ends in December of 2018. After 12 years of public service, Wheetley stepped down in March to […]
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Arcata Council Hopefuls to Take Questions at Forum
The seven hopefuls seeking to fill the remainder of Mark Wheetley’s term on the Arcata City Council are set to take questions at a candidate forum tomorrow at city hall. Three Arcata planning commissioners — Jason Akana, Robin Baker and Judith Mayer — as well as educator Michael J. Hart, Minor Theatre owner Joshua Neff, […]
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Arcata Affirms Commitment to All Residents, Stops Short of ‘Sanctuary City’
The Arcata City Council last night threw its support behind a California bill that would bar the use of state and local law enforcement resources for federal immigration enforcement, but stopped short of taking on the designation of “sanctuary city” — for now. After hearing from a steady stream of speakers overwhelmingly in favor of […]
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Seven Apply to Fill Wheetley’s Council Seat
Seven hopefuls met Friday’s deadline to apply for the Arcata City Council seat left vacant when longtime member Mark Wheetley stepped down earlier this month to become Fortuna’s city manager. The council voted March 1 to move forward with the application process recommended by staff to fill the remainder of Wheetley’s term, which runs through […]
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Wheetley Feted as Arcata Council Moves Forward With Appointment
Now former Arcata Councilmember Mark Wheetley was sent off with a standing ovation and a proclamation honoring the volunteer soccer coach’s 12 years of elected public service at his last meeting on Wednesday. Mayor Susan Ornelas read the accolades for the soon-to-be Fortuna city manager, which described Wheetley as an “easy to work with and […]
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Timeline Proposed for Filling Arcata Council Seat
The nearly two years remaining in Arcata Councilmember Mark Wheetley’s term are set to be filled by appointment in April as he prepares for his last meeting before moving on to serve as Fortuna’s new city manager. The council is scheduled Wednesday to approve opening up an application process, running until March 24, from those […]
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Wheetley Selected As Fortuna’s City Manager
Arcata City Councilmember Mark Wheetley spent the early part of his morning at the River Lodge, waiting in the same room he first interviewed in for what the city of Fortuna announced today will be his new job: city manager. The process came full circle at the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City […]
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Wheetley Bows Out of Supes Race
Arcata City Councilmember Mark Wheetley has dropped out of the race to become Humboldt County’s next Third District supervisor. Wheetley, who was arrested last month on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, made the announcement in an email statement sent out this morning, citing “a number of personal and professional obligations” that would […]
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Arcata Councilmember Arrested for DUI
Arcata City Councilmember and Third District supervisorial candidate Mark Wheetley was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Thursday night near the Samoa Bridge. California Highway Patrol Officer Cy May said Wheetley was traveling southbound when an officer pulled him over for speeding on State Route 255 near New Navy Base Road. May said […]
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Arcata’s Medical Marijuana Innovation Area Gets a Go-ahead
The Arcata City Council played to a packed house last night as the public weighed in on a proposal for a Medical Marijuana Innovation Area. The council ultimately voted unanimously in favor of the proposal, but not before an antsy, standing-room-only crowd stood by while the council burned through two hours wading through the night’s […]
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Brinton Resigns Arcata Council Seat
Arcata City Councilman Shane Brinton has announced that he will resign his seat on the council effective tomorrow. In a brief statement at the start of Wednesday night’s council meeting, Brinton said he was stepping down to devote more time to his family, and specifically to caring for his ill mother. First elected to the […]