Come one, come all to Fortuna in the fall. The Friendly City is rolling out the barrels for its 40th annual Fortuna Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (free admission). Hop on the free shuttle and make your rounds: Sip cider and tour the orchards at Clendenen’s Cider […]
Fortuna
A Saturday at the Rodeo
Saturday, July 19, was a good day at the 104th annual Fortuna Rodeo to watch and photograph the talented athletes and their skilled animals compete in several events. And on this day, the bulls won — not a single rider lasted eight seconds. A 6-year-old cowboy won a belt buckle and a new hat, however, for best ride […]
Fortuna Police Chief Headed to Pacific Grove, Council Taps Eberhardt to Fill In
Fortuna Police Chief Casey Day is headed south, leaving the Friendly City after about five years on the job. Day, who has announced he will be leaving Fortuna after nearly five years on the job, has accepted an offer to become chief of the Pacific Grove Police Department. His last day in Fortuna will be […]
Former Fortuna Councilmember Mobley Indicted for Fraud
Former Fortuna City Councilmember Kris Mobley has been federally indicted on three counts of mail and wire fraud stemming from allegations she embezzled more than $500,000 from a local construction company that had employed her for 30 years. Journal attempts to reach Mobley, who was elected to the council in 2022 and resigned her post […]
Fortuna: Councilmember Mobley Resigns Amid FBI Investigation
UPDATE: The Fortuna City Council voted unanimously Feb. 3 to solicit applications for the seat recently vacated by Councilmember Kris Mobley, who resigned last week, and appoint her replacement. Mobley informed the city she would be resigning her post, effective immediately, in an email last week and the city promptly issued a press release announcing […]
Two Killed in Fortuna Motorcycle Crash
The California Highway Patrol is investigating a motorcycle crash on U.S. Highway 101 in Fortuna on Sunday afternoon that left two people dead. According to a press release from the CHP, a 41-year-old Fortuna man was driving a 2007 Harley Davidson Road King northbound south of Main Street with a group of motorcyclists when, for […]
Election Results Final Return: Local Races
FINAL UPDATE: The Humboldt County Elections Office has issued its final election night report, adding about 1,019 votes to the tally, with 31,417 votes counted thus far, representing about 37.07 percent of registered voters. Here’s a rundown of the results so far in the races for city council and open seats on the Humboldt Bay […]
Fortuna Resident Killed in 299 Crash
A Fortuna resident was killed in a Saturday morning crash on State Route 299 that left another man with major injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol. In a news release, the CHP states the accident occurred at 7:30 a.m. east of Essex Lane when the driver of a Jeep traveling eastbound was reportedly unable […]
Mel Berti: 1936-2023
MEL BERTI CELEBRATION OF LIFE Oct. 29, 2023 – 1 p.m. RIVERLODGE, 1800 RIVERWALK DR. FORTUNA, CA Melvin John Berti went to Eternal Life on July 23, 2023, at the age of 84. Mel was a Fortuna native, born and raised in Fortuna. He attended Fortuna schools and has spent much of his life involved […]
Councilmember, Firefighter, Volunteer Mel Berti dies at 84
Mel Berti, a born and raised Fortunan who dedicated much of his life to the betterment of the Friendly City, compiling a decades-long record of public service in the process, died July 22. He was 84. Known equally as the longtime and beloved butcher at Hoby’s Market in Scotia, the 28-year Fortuna council member, the […]
Graduation Day: A Fortuna Teacher Celebrates with her First Grade Class
Janell Hodges refers to the time between beginning her quest to become a teacher and her eventual triumph as one of life’s seasons. It was a season in which she became a mother, adopting her first son Samuel in 2006, and finding out he had special needs that required extra care and multiple surgeries. She […]
UPDATE: Arcata Police ID Homicide Victim
UPDATE: The Arcata Police Department has identified the shooting victim as Joshua Paul Gephart, 36, of Fortuna, who had been living in the Valley West area of Arcata, according to a press release. PREVIUOSLY: The Arcata Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred early yesterday morning, leaving a 36-year-old Fortuna man shot dead. The […]
