With the end of 2021, comes the end of an era for the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department, which will be bidding Chief Lon Winburn goodbye tomorrow after 37 years of service. Winburn, who has served as chief since 2005, will be feted at noon in the main station on his last day, with the public […]
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EPD’s Capt. Stephens Will Soon Be Acting Chief
As of Dec. 1, Capt. Brian Stephens will step in as acting chief of the Eureka Police Department as the city searches for an interim replacement over the next month while also recruiting for a permanent appointment. “I look forward to this opportunity to maintain the continuity of leadership within the department and will continue […]
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Most Californians say Economic Inequality is Getting Worse, New Survey Shows
Seven in 10 Californians say the gap between rich and poor is getting larger, according to a statewide survey released Tuesday. The survey, conducted last month by the nonpartisan think tank, Public Policy Institute of California, polled 2,292 adult Californians about their opinions on the state’s economic outlook, financial security, job security, among other topics. […]
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Watson to Step Down as Eureka Police Chief
Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson announced his sudden retirement today. He will leave the post at the end of November after serving for four years. In a city announcement, Watson says the decision comes with a “feeling of bittersweet peace” as he move onto a new chapter in life after 24 years in law enforcement, […]
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Fortuna’s Chief Dobberstein to Retire
The city of Fortuna announced today that Police Chief William Dobberstein will be retiring next month. Dobberstein, who started with the city’s force in 1994, has been at the department’s helm since 2011. According to a release, Dobberstein was “instrumental in the department adding a drug task force agent, school resource officer, two police detectives,” […]
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Eureka City Manager Greg Sparks to Retire by Year’s End
Eureka City Manager Greg Sparks has announced his plan to retire at the end of the year in a letter sent to the mayor and city council. “It has been my great personal and professional pleasure to have served as City Manager of Eureka since May 2014,” Sparks wrote in his retirement letter. “After 40 […]
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Another One Leaves the Bench: Judge Feeney to Retire
Judge John T. Feeney today announced he is retiring effective Feb. 28 after more than 20 years on the bench in Humboldt County. Over the years, Feeney has presided over some of the region’s most notorious cases, including the 2016 murder trial of Gary Lee Bullock, who was convicted in the brutal torture death of […]
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Probation Chief to Retire
Bill Damiano, one of Humboldt County’s longest-serving public servants, has announced he will retire in April of next year. The county’s chief probation officer, Damiano first began working in the department Oct. 1, 1988. “I’ve spent more than half my life here,” Damiano told the Journal in a phone interview. “It’s time for a new […]
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Judge Marilyn Miles to Retire in July
The Humboldt County Superior Court announced today that Judge Marilyn Miles will be stepping down July 31. That will once again leave local courtrooms short on staffing just a few weeks after newly appointed Judge Greg Elvine-Kreis, who officially starts June 19, takes over the seat vacated by Bruce Watson following his retirement in January […]
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Sheriff Downey: ‘It Has Been An Honor to Serve’
Humboldt County Sheriff Mike Downey thanked the men and women under his command during a departmental review on Monday as he counts down to his last weeks in office and the end of a three-decade-long career in law enforcement. “It has been an honor to serve the people of Humboldt County. It has been an […]
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Watson Hanging up His Robe
Humboldt County Superior Court Judge W. Bruce Watson is leaving the bench. Watson’s six-year term was slated to run through the end of next year, but he announced today that he will be retiring in January, after 23 robed years in the Humboldt County Courthouse. The governor will appoint a replacement to finish out Watson’s […]
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Long-Time Weather Boss Retires
After 36 years with the National Weather Service — 20 of those as the meteorologist in charge at the Eureka Weather Forecast Office on Woodley Island — Nancy Dean has retired. Her last day was today. “She’s been a great boss,” said Troy Nicolini on the phone this afternoon. “I feel really thankful. … I’ve […]