Humboldt Sentinel

POP Unit Shutters Alleged Drug House

2011-08-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

Three arrested, including homeowner, in EPD raid

By Charles Douglas

Humboldt Sentinel

EUREKA - A homeowner and two tenants were arrested yesterday for running an alleged drug house -- one visited three times before in the previous ten months by local law enforcement.

At about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) unit of the Eureka Police Department executed a warrant to search a home on M Street, and detained five subjects, including two visitors who'd just driven up in a vehicle. In their subsequent search, law enforcement found small quantities of methamphetamine and heroin, along with meth pipes, needles, baggies, a scale and other evidence which EPD claimed in a release is "highly indicative of drug sales activity."

Constance Lee Foley, 58, was arrested for allowing her home to be used for drug sales. According to EPD Sergeant Steve Watson, Foley had been warned before that she could be held civilly and criminally liable for the drug activity at her residence -- the POP unit was on its fourth visit to the home since October of last year.

"Foley failed to take any steps to rectify the problem which had grown worse over time," Watson stated.

Her home was declared a nuisance property by Interim Police Chief Murl Harpham, who may then order corrective actions to be taken. The consequences of failing to comply with these orders may result in fines of $100 to $1,000 per day -- in addition, Foley's neighbors might also file individual civil suits under the city's nuisance abatement law and subject her to further costs to compensate them for damages, costs and attorney's fees.

Foley had at least four other individuals, all known drug users according to EPD, living in her two-bedroom home and paying rent -- including one who lived in the garage in violation of local building codes. Two of these -- Ronald Gene Elwell, 40 and Lola Anne Crothers, 49 -- were arrested on various drug charges. Elwell was also allegedly violating the conditions of his parole.

According to Watson, the investigation is ongoing and further arrests may follow. Local residents with information concerning suspected drug sales activity are encouraged to call the POP unit at (707) 441-4373.

Sentinel Breaking News: Tsunami of March 11, 2011

2011-03-11T20:24:00.000-08:00

By Charles Douglas
Humboldt Sentinel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4UIgJIoK24

This is Charles Douglas of the Humboldt Sentinel with a special report this 11th day of March, 2011.

As anyone who didn't sleep through the sirens in the Humboldt Bay area already knows, local public safety agencies were on full alert this morning and throughout the day as the North Coast braced for a tsunami resulting from the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck just off the coast of Japan near the coastal city of Sendai.

It's difficult to overstate the power of this megaquake, the 5th largest in world seismological history and the most powerful to strike Japan in modern history. This quake sent a 23-foot wall of water slamming against the Japanese coast, sweeping homes, factories and people aside and causing massive destruction, including a devastating fire at a petrochemical plant and even jeopardizing containment at a nuclear power plant.

The amount of radiation reached around 1,000 times the normal level in the control room of the No. 1 reactor of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said. Another report from Mark Crispin Miller suggests that radioactive vapor is being released at the plant to prevent an explosion which might result from the failure of its cooling system. Thousands of residents in the vicinity of the Fukushima plant have been evacuated according to a report posted at CommonDreams.org.

The earthquake was preceded by a series of large foreshocks over the previous two days, beginning on March 9th with an M 7.2 event approximately 40 km from the March 11 earthquake, and continuing with a further 3 earthquakes greater than M 6 on the same day. Over 123 aftershocks have already been recorded, and preliminary reports suggest that this event has literally moved the earth axis 10cm and the coast of Japan by 2.4 Meters.

Here in Humboldt County the first wave surge crossed Highway 101 at Freshwater. The surge at Eureka's small boat basin was reported at 5', and apparently tossed some boats against each other. Onlookers gathered at the mouth of the Mad River to witness a small swell come ashore, but we were spared the worst of this disaster, with no damage or injuries in Humboldt County, according to Chief Administrative Officer Phillip Smith-Haynes, who was actually manning the phones at the Office of Emergency Services in Eureka where I spoke with him earlier today. Humboldt County opened an emergency shelter at Redwood Acres in Myrtletown and six evacuees were reported to be staying there earlier this afternoon.

Returning to town myself this morning, I noticed a stream of vehicles headed up State Highway 299, with Arcata Police Department roadblocks set up at the F, G and H Street intersections with Samoa Boulevard in an apparent evacuation of the low-lying South of Samoa neighborhood. Law enforcement also shut down westbound access to the Samoa Bridge this morning, but these evacuation orders have since been lifted. Nonetheless, business as usual was disrupted along coastal Humboldt County today, with many businesses in Old Town Eureka shut down due to fears of a larger evacuation order. I ran into Director of Public Works Tom Mattson in Old Town this morning, who said the county's emergency response system had swung into action before he even woke up this morning, with local beaches and coastal parks all rapidly sealed off by law enforcement, again with no reports of damage as yet.

Our neighbors to the north were not so fortunate, however, with several fatalities reported in Del Norte County, where the largest waves to hit the United States were recorded at Crescent City Harbor, topping 8 feet and crushing 35 boats along with the entire docking infrastructure, according to a report by our own Supervisor Mark Lovelace. The better part of the commercial fishing fleet put out to sea due to the warnings, and are on their way here to Humboldt Bay as they literally cannot return home to dock. The Coast Guard has an active search and rescue mission underway to look for an individual who was swept out to sea at the mouth of the Klamath River; two others who were also swept out were able to self-rescue.

Further south, at least 20 boats were sunk, 100 were damaged and $10 million worth of harbor infrastructure has been destroyed at Santa Cruz harbor. No reports of damage yet have come in from Mendocino or Sonoma Counties. The Associated Press is also reporting that four people were swept off a beach north of Brookings, Ore. Two got out of the water on their own and the others were rescued by law enforcement and fire officials. The Oregonian is reporting that 70% of the commercial harbor basin at Brookings has been destroyed.

Local viewers should be sure to tune in to Access Humboldt Channel 10 on Tuesday morning, as CAO Smith-Haynes has assured me that the local response to the tsunami warning will be on the agenda. While Phillip assured me that the overall response went pretty well, he noted that there were some minor glitches with local residents and even some county staff either not receiving the tsunami warning in a timely manner, or not being informed as to where they should evacuate to.

That's all for now from the Access Humboldt Media Center in Eureka. This is Charles Douglas of the Humboldt Sentinel reminding you to stay prepared. If there's an evacuation like this again, you need to know where to go, and you need to have your supplies ready to leave at a moment's notice.

Harbor seats won by Marks, Wilson

2009-11-03T23:59:00.000-08:00

Incumbents holding in school board, service district races

Charles Douglas, Humboldt Sentinel
11/3/09

Eureka

The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District dominated an otherwise sleepy off-year election on the North Coast in 2009, and results appear to guarantee continued power-sharing between hardcore environmental advocates and pro-development forces on the commission.

Arcata environmental engineer and ex-independent Mike Wilson appears to be cruising towards a second term representing the third district, holding a 72% to 27% advantage over former Dem Assemblyman Dan Hauser with 75% of precincts reporting.

The fourth district, an open seat covering most of Eureka which is being vacated by five-time incumbent Dennis Hunter, appears to be maintaining its pro-jobs tilt, with union organizer Richard Marks topping 47% support with 85% of precincts reporting. His challengers, lacking partisan distinctions with him between each other, appear to have effectively divided the enviro vote; architect John Ash nabbed 36% of the vote, while boatowner Susan Penn wound up with 17% in preliminary results.

The established order in minor special districts and school boards appears to be holding in what looks to be a very low turn-out for Humboldt County. Exemplifying this trend was the Area One seat on the Eureka Unified School District, where accountant John Fullerton rallied over 60% of the vote to retain his seat against his challenger, retired budget analyst Gayle Gerdts.

In the somewhat contested race for three trustee seats on the McKinleyville Community Services District, incumbents Dennis Mayo and Bill Wennerholm retained their seats with 22.4% and 21.6% support, respectively -- but in first place was challenger David Couch with 23%. Challenger Dave Varshock was within striking distance with nearly 16% support posted, while Penny Elsebusch received 9% and mystery candidate Jake Pickering garnering 8% in last place.

The only upset of the night appears to be taking shape in the Northern Humboldt Union High School District, which covers Arcata, McKinleyville and surrounding areas. While longtime incumbents Sarie Toste and Mike Pigg retained their seats easily with 29.1% and 28% of the vote, appointed incumbent and notorious local developer Dan Johnson, who lost in the same race against a teenager four years ago, is in deep trouble as of press time. In the final report for the night by the Humboldt County Elections Office and with 64% of precincts reporting, Johnson tumbled from his slim lead earlier in the night to fall 442 votes behind Dana Silvernale, who holds 22.7% of the vote to his 19.6%. Silvernale -- the controversial leader of the Humboldt County Green Party, which has seen widespread desertion and decline under her control after being hand-picked by Democracy Unlimited operative David Cobb and his girlfriend Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, the only elected Green left in office -- received some surprise last-minute backing from Arcata city officials disgusted with Johnson’s attempt to shove through a housing subdivision over the unanimous objections of the City Council.

Neocons flip gubernatorial seats in NJ, VA

2009-11-03T23:37:00.000-08:00

Liberals capture two House seats, inequality wins in Maine

Charles Douglas, Humboldt Sentinel
11/3/09

Eureka

A spate of off-year elections held today evidently produced mixed results amid low voter turnout amidst an atmosphere of anxiety over the economic crisis and wars overseas.

In New Jersey and Virginia, voters removed neoliberal Democrats from their gubernatorial spots, placed a pair of the same in two empty House seats in New York and California, and barely re-elected a billionaire big city mayor who overrode voter-imposed term limits.

Incumbent Governor Jon Corzine, pilloried for his ties to the “too big to fail” global investment bank Goldman Sachs, went down to defeat, 49% to 45% with most precincts reporting, against a neoconservative Republican and former U.S. Attorney, Chris Christie, with independent Chris Daggett denying him the majority by capturing 6%.

Retiring Dem state executive Tim Kane of Virginia was unable to hand off his seat to State Senator Creigh Deeds, who lost in a landslide to Bob McDonnell, 59% to 41% with almost all votes in. The GOP also looks set to capture the Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General seats in Richmond.

House seats were not the scene of similar successes for the disorganized Republican Party. With 93% of the vote in, the 23rd Congressional District in upstate New York has witnessed an upset, with Bill Owens beating Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman 49% to 46% to become the first Dem to represent the area in over a century. Hoffman drove Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava out of the race, only to have her throw her endorsement to Owens, along with keeping 6% as holdover votes.

California’s 10th Congressional District, representing the northern East Bay area, saw an easy win by former Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi with 56% of the vote, overwhelming the 40% support for Republican nominee David Hammer in early results, with Green, Peace and Freedom, and American Independent candidates rounding out with less than 2% each.

The big ballot initiative of the night, Proposition 1 to repeal marriage equality for gays and lesbians in Maine, appears to be headed for victory, 53% to 47% with most ballots counted. The counter to this trend popped up across the country in Washington State, however, with Referendum 71 -- a voter review of the state legislature’s bill legalizing domestic partnerships -- winning 51% to 49% with all votes in.

HSU art professor passes away

2009-10-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

M. Wayne Knight allegedly suffering from flu-related complications

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/21/09

Arcata

M. Wayne Knight, 60, a Professor of Art at Humboldt State University, died the morning of Oct. 21 at Mad River Hospital of complications brought on by H1N1 influenza. He had been hospitalized for a number of days.

Knight joined the Humboldt State faculty in 2002 and taught graphic design, graphic design program development and graphics lab management. His exhibits spanned galleries from Rome to Los Angeles. His works also were featured on the Redwood Coast at HSU’s First Street Gallery and Reese Bullen Gallery, the Morris Graves Museum in Eureka and the Grace Hudson Museum and Mendocino College in Ukiah, where his family resides.

Knight earned his master of arts degree at San Francisco State University and his bachelor of arts at UCLA. From 1996 to 2002, he was art director and graphics specialist at SoftMed Systems, in Sacramento. A long-time freelance artist, he engaged in a broad variety of projects, including computer and traditional graphic design, portraiture, set design, murals, architectural rendering, video production and photography.

In a message to the campus community, HSU President Rollin Richmond wrote, “We have lost a friend and dedicated professor who will be sorely missed. A number of individuals from our campus have been in close contact with Professor Knight's family, and we have conveyed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the University. I ask that you keep his family in your thoughts in the days to come.”

Memorial arrangements are pending.

For students needing assistance dealing with Professor Knight’s death, help is available through HSU Counseling and Psychological Services at 826-3236. Staff and faculty can obtain counseling services through the University’s Employee Assistance Program at 443-7358.

Humboldt State Student Health Center Director Rebecca Stauffer called Knight’s death a terrible loss for the campus, and said it was an important reminder about the seriousness of H1N1. She said this is an important new H1N1 warning for the small number of people who are severely affected by H1N1. Sick individuals, she said, are advised to seek medical care if they do not start feeling better after three to four days, or any time they become suddenly worse.

Stauffer issued a reminder to individuals with certain underlying health conditions that they might be at especially high risk. These include pregnancy, cancer, blood disorders (including sickle cell disease), chronic lung disease (including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), diabetes, heart disease, kidney and liver disorders and neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord), neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis) and weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS).

Persons with these pre-existing conditions who become sick with the flu should call or visit their medical provider early in their illness to be assessed for possible anti-viral medication.

Precautions for all persons to stay healthy include frequent and thorough hand washing, coughing and sneezing into sleeves and avoiding contact with anyone who is ill. Individuals who suspect they have contracted influenza should stay at home until the fever has subsided for at least 24 hours without medicine to keep the fever down.

Depending on distribution timetables, H1N1 vaccine is expected to be delivered to the Student Health Center in mid-November, and an all-day campus vaccination clinic is being planned. All eligible people are urged to be vaccinated.

Updated campus news and information about H1N1 is available at www.humboldt.edu/flu.

Anti-war rally goes on despite rain

2009-10-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

Afghanistan and Iraq occupations equally criticized by activists

David Courtland, Humboldt Sentinel
10/18/09

Eureka

Peach activists from various anti-war organizations gathered for a rally in front of Humboldt County's courthouse at 1 p.m. Saturday despite rain.

“We're trying to redo the anti-war movement, it's dead in its tracks,” said rally organizer Jack Nounnan as he helped other protesters put up canvas shelters against the rain.

Nounnan says the movement suffered a setback when people became complacent following the election of President Barack Obama, whom he says hasn't done enough to the movement.

“I think if he had shown some effort, we could have made things happen,” said Nounnan. “I'm not counting on that anymore.”

Assault suspect arrested

2009-10-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

Woman was stabbed in her motel room

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/17/09

Eureka

A Eureka man has been busted for attacking a woman who told Eureka police he stabbed her in a 4th Street motel room.

Robert Ranney, 51, has been jailed for assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence. The woman, whom Eureka police did not identify, had scratches on the left side of her neck but declined medical treatment.

At about 10:30 a.m. Ranney was found walking near 4th and J streets, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Eureka police looking for armed robbers

2009-10-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

C&V Market on F Street held up for cash

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/16/09

Eureka

Police are looking for the two men who took cash from a clerk at an F Street market at about 10:42 p.m. Wednesday.

Brandishing a pump shotgun, the two fled west on Randall with the money in a white plastic grocery bag.

The man with the gun is described as white, 5'10” to 6 ft. with a medium build, wearing a dark trench coat, faded blue jeans, black and white athletic shoes and a ski mask with multicolored horizontal stripes, possibly blue, black and grey.

On October 14th at about 10:42pm the Eureka Police Department received a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred at a market in the 1600 block of F Street.

The second man is described as white, 5'8” to 5'10” with a medium build, wearing a dark blue or black hooded sweatshirt with a the hood pulled tight around his eyes and nose.

Anyone with information can call the Eureka Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at (707) 441-4300 or 707-441-4044.

Humboldt joins global day of climate action

2009-10-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

One of over 3,000 October 24 events in 158 countries

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/15/09

Garberville

People from around Southern Humboldt will gather in Richardson Grove at 2 p.m. Oct. 24 for one of the largest days of climate change activism ever.

Participants will join more than 3,000 communities in 158 countries as part of a global day of action, coordinated by 350.org, to urge leaders to address climate change by reducing carbon emissions. The Southern Humboldt organizing effort has been spearheaded by Redway resident Aliana Knapp-Prasek, a Student Conservation Association climate activist.

"The earth can heal the wounds of industrialized society, including climate change, if we give them a chance," said Knapp-Prasek. "Decentralized organizing efforts like these can help the community come together to address the global issues, locally."

From capitols to the melting slopes of Mount Everest, even underwater on dying coral reefs, people will hold rallies aimed at focusing attention on the number 350—a reference to 350 parts per million, the most carbon dioxide scientists say can safely be in the atmosphere. The current CO2 concentration is 390 parts per million.

“That’s why glaciers and sea ice are melting, drought is spreading, and flooding is on the increase,” said Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org. “And it’s why we need a huge worldwide movement to give us the momentum to make real political change. Our leaders have heard from major corporations and big polluters for a long time—today, finally, they heard from citizens and scientists.”

Locally action will take place at Richardson Grove State Park, once a protected stand of ancient redwood trees that is now threatened by a highway widening project.

Proponents of the project claim it is justified by increased truck access through the region.

Southern Humboldt 350.org organizers, who say the grove has trees over 1,500 years old, chose it to symbolize the threat of reckless planning and disregard for ecosystems.

"The planned widening of Highway 101 through Richardson Grove, to me, embodies a giant step in the wrong direction, as far as climate change, as well as for the people in our community who hold precious our way of life,” said Talia Rose, owner of Organic Grace in Garberville.

“If we are to have any hope of slowing down the effects that will devastate life on Planet Earth, we need to make some huge changes quick,” continued Rose, . “The tipping point is now--we need to live a little simpler now to ensure our children and grandchildren have a healthy planet to live on."

While a lot of attention has focused on the campaign to Save Richardson Grove State Park, large-scale clear-cutting continues behind the Redwood Curtain. One organization, the Environmental Protection Information Center, has spent 32 years addressing this issue locally.

“We depend on these forests to survive,” said Natalynne Delapp, policy advocate for the EPIC. “Outdated logging practices like clear-cutting continue to dominate the landscape of the Redwood region. We need the forests of our unique bioregion to function at their highest potential for all of the people on the planet, not just the few companies profiting off their destruction."

The global action comes six weeks before nations convene in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference to draw up a new climate treaty. Eighty-nine countries have already endorsed the 350 target. It has also been endorsed by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Chairman Sir Nicholas Stern and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore.

Photos from around the world, including ones of the gathering in Southern Humboldt, will be featured on giant video screens in New York's Times Square as part of a countdown. They will be accessible at 350.org and will be delivered to the United Nations on Monday, Oct. 26.

Police make arrest in suspected homicide

2009-10-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

William Wright turned himself in over death of homeless man

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/14/09

Eureka

On Monday, a man turned himself in at the Eureka police station for his involvement in the suspected murder of a homeless man.

William Harold Wright, 24, was jailed for manslaughter and jailed for $100,000 bail at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

Details of the events which led to Borcalli's death are still being investigated, and an autopsy has been scheduled by the Humboldt County Coroner's Office.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Detective Harpham at 707-441-4305.

Hawaiian Chieftain makes surprise stop

2009-10-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

Old-fashioned wooden ship offering tours today

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/14/09

Eureka

The tall ship Hawaiian Chieftain, which is in transit from Westport, Wash. to Oakland, made an unscheduled stop Tuesday in Eureka to avoid a Pacific weather system expected to arrive on the North Coast.

The ship tied up safely at Adorni Center on the Eureka waterfront, and it will open to the public for walk-on tours Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m. A $3 donation per person is requested.

The Hawaiian Chieftain is a frequent visitor to the North Coast, where it offers educational programs to local K-12 classrooms and home school groups. The ship is scheduled to return to the region March 6-16, 2010, which will include stops in Eureka and Crescent City.

Educators and home-school groups interested in a program should contact Reasa Shuck, programs manager, rshuck@historicalseaport.org, (360) 589-2299. The ship will also offer three-hour public sails. For information, call (800) 200-5239, or visit www.historicalseaport.org.

The ship is expected to depart for Oakland Wednesday night or Thursday morning. The Oakland visit is the first during a six-month tour of California ports, themed "California 2009-2010: Hands-on History for Youth."

The tour emphasizes the Hawaiian Chieftain’s mission of delivering valuable educational experiences for young people, many of whom go on to careers in the maritime trades, the Navy, and the Coast Guard.

Homeless man found dead on M Street

2009-10-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

Murder suspected in the case of Michael Borcalli

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/12/09

Eureka

Police are asking for the public's help in solving the suspected murder of a homeless man whose body was found yesterday in a vacant lot on M Street.

The body of Michael Anthony Borcalli, also known as Michael Anthony Dragon, was found at about 2:20 p.m. near a trail in the wooded area between 15th and 17th streets, where he is thought to have been living.

Anyone with information about Borcalli or the circumstances of his death can call Eureka Police Department detective Murl Harpham at (707) 441-4305.

Another cell tower permit approved

2009-10-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

City of Eureka "will be sued" according to opponents

David Courtland, Humboldt Sentinel
10/9/09

Eureka

Eureka's city council granted a conditional use permit for construction of a 50-foot T-Mobile cell phone tower on Dean Street at its Oct. 6 meeting.

Sara Pfeiffer and four other residents of the commercially zoned street fought against the permit, appealing a Planning Commission decision made at a meeting they said wasn't conducted fairly. Councilman Larry Glass agreed, saying developer Tom McMurray would be the one appealing if the meeting had been conducted properly.

Pfeiffer and others argued the tower would be the tallest structure on the street and would obstruct the flight path of helicopters landing at St. Joseph Hospital's heliport, but McMurray noted the project had to meet federal guidelines before it could be brought to the city council.

Glass and Linda Atkins cast the 'no' votes in a 3-2 split decision that opponent Sue Brandenburg guaranteed the city would be sued over. Councilman Jeff Leonard's motion to approve the project included Glass' amendment to reimburse Pfeiffer for the cost of her appeal.

HSU aims $25,000 at food security

2009-10-08T22:04:00.000-07:00

AmeriCorps grant to help meet "community identified needs"

Paul Mann, Humboldt State University
10/8/09

Arcata

Humboldt State University’s Service Learning Center will collaborate with community partners on green initiatives and food security via a $25,000 grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America programs, through the California Campus Compact.

The compact is designed to build collective commitment and capacity of colleges and universities throughout the state to advance civic and community engagement for a “healthy, just and democratic society.”

The Service Learning Center will join together with a full roster of Humboldt community and campus partnerships, which are based on helping to meet community-identified needs. Some of these partnerships include Eureka city schools, Food for People, local community garden projects, Redwood Community Action Agency, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers’ Farm-to-School Program and many others. Each partnership will have its own unique outcomes, intended to foster a commitment to increasing social and environmental responsibility.

Humboldt State is one of six California colleges selected for the $25,000 grant in connection with Social Innovation Generation (SIG), the California Campus Compact’s three-year initiative to aid the state’s economic recovery and renewal through institutions of higher learning that offer service-learning programs and inventive solutions to social problems.

The six-campus collaboration spans green-collar job training, inner city microfinance and entrepreneurialism and student-led projects, among other ventures across the state.

HSU’s Service Learning Center enables students to link academic content with direct service projects that equip them with practical experience while meeting local needs. The center supports faculty implementing service learning classes on campus, and helps find community connections that foster student civic engagement and provide a framework for engagement in issues of social and environmental justice

Beverly Drive grow house raided

2009-10-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

Police find LSD, $10,000 amongst booty

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/6/09

Arcata

Three suspects are sought by police after a search warrant resulted in the seizure of illegal drugs and weapons along with the chop-down of a marijuana garden.

Arcata Police Department officers served the warrant at a home on the 400 block of Beverly Drive yesterday after receiving complaints from nearby residents of suspected drug activity, according to an APD release.

In their search, APD seized approximately 150 marijuana plants, a half-ounce of concentrated cannabis, suspected psilocybin mushrooms, four pounds of processed marijuana, suspected LSD, two firearms and $10,000 in cash.

Adam Steven Pokorski, Jacqueline Ann Pokorski and Jeremiah Funk are being sought on what is expected to be a laundry list of warrants for felony drug and firearm violations.

The electrical wiring in the home had been modified to facilitate an in-door marijuana growing operation, according to Building Department officials summoned from Arcata City Hall due to what police claim were "hazardous conditions in the electrical wiring" which were unpermitted. Power to the home was cut, as demanded by the City of Arcata, and the electric meter was removed by Pacific Gas and Electric until the home's electrical wiring is in compliance.

Arcatan busted for DUI, hit and run

2009-10-04T21:31:00.000-07:00

Benjamin Batini allegedly struck pedestrian, drove off

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/4/09

Arcata

An Arcata man is sitting in county jail today after a hit-and-run incident early yesterday morning landed a local woman in the hospital.

At about 2:00 a.m. Arcata Police Department officers responded to a reported traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian at the four-way stop at 11th and F Street. Upon their arrival, responding APD units found a pedestrian who had been struck and suffered an injury to her wrist.

The victim described their assailant as driving a black Chevrolet sport utility vehicle and heading eastbound on 11th Street. In the course of their investigation, officers located the vehicle parked on the 1200 block of Spring Street, and were approached by the owner of the vehicle, 21-year-old Arcata resident Benjamin Batini. He was promptly arrested and booked on charges of felony hit and run and felony driving under the influence.

The pedestrian, a 21-year-old female not identified by the release issued by APD, was transported to Mad River Hospital by ambulance, treated for a fractured wrist, and later released.

Merle Haggard’s haunted microphones

2009-10-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

Old school country legend toughs through rocky upbringing, crappy CenterArts techs

David Giarrizzo, Humboldt Sentinel
10/2/09

"They just don't make music like they used to," according to this legend of America's vibrant tradition of country music, and boy did he show them how on Sunday in Arcata.

Listening to Merle Haggard is like listening to the ghosts of the Dust Bowl rising forth to take vengeance on the watered-down, issue-free, emotionless pop that has watered down what's called 'country' into a morass of drivel. Thankfully for contemporary audiences, he still remembers his roots.

Merle Haggard was born to James and Flossie Haggard on April 6, 1937. His parents moved from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression, converting an old boxcar into a home. Before their marriage, James played fiddle in local honky tonk bars. Flossie was a member of the Church of Christ, which led to her forcing her husband to stop playing the honky tonks. James died from a brain tumor when Merle was nine years old.

After his father's death, Merle became rebellious. In an attempt to straighten her son out, his mother put him in several juvenile detention centers, but it had little effect on Merle's behavior. As a teenager, he fell in love with country music, particularly Bob Willis, Lefty Frizzel, and Hank Williams. When he was 12 years old, Haggard was given his first guitar by his older brother; Merle taught himself how to play by listening to records that were lying around the house.

Even though he had begun to pursue music, Haggard continued to rebel, running away with his friend Bob Teague to Texas when he was 14 years old. A few months later, the pair returned to California, where they were arrested as robbery suspects. After the real thieves were caught, Haggard was sent back to juvenile hall, but he and Teague took off to Modesto, CA. For a brief time, he did manual labor, was a short-order cook, drove a truck, and committed a series of small crimes. Soon after he moved to Modesto, Haggard made his performing debut with Teague at a bar named the Fun Center; the two were paid five dollars and given all the beer that they could drink.

By the end of 1951, Haggard had returned home and he was again arrested for truancy, as well as petty larceny. In the beginning of 1952, he was sent to Fred C. Nelles School for Boys in Whittier, CA; again, he ran away. This time, the courts decided he was incorrigible and sent him to the high-security Preston School of Industry; he was released after 15 months. Shortly after his release, he and a boy he met at PSI beat up a local boy during an attempted robbery, and Haggard was sent back to PSI.

After getting out of PSI for the second time, Haggard had the first major event in his musical career. He went with Teague to see Lefty Frizzle in concert in Bakersfield. Before the show, he went backstage with several friends and he sang a couple songs for Frizzle. Lefty was so impressed he refused to go on-stage until Haggard was allowed to sing a song. Merle went out and sang a few songs to an enthusiastic response from the audience. Yet, even with the acceptance of his idol, Merle continued the path of self destruction .

While he was working during the day in oil fields and farms, he performed at local Bakersfield clubs. His performances led to a spot on a local television show, Chuck Wagon. In 1956, he married Leona Hobbs; the couple moved into his family's old converted boxcar. Throughout 1957, Haggard was plagued by financial problems, which made him turn to robbery. At the end of the year, he attempted to rob a restaurant along with two other burglars; the three were drunk at the time. Believing it was three o'clock in the morning, the trio tried to open up the back door of the restaurant. However, it was 10:30 and the establishment was still open. Although the trio fled the scene, Haggard was arrested that day. The following day, he escaped from prison in order to make peace with his wife and family; later that day, he was recaptured. Haggard was sentenced to a 15-year term and sent to San Quentin prison.

Nearly two years into his sentence, Haggard discovered that his wife was pregnant with another man's child. The news sent Haggard over the edge. Soon, he and his cellmate began a gambling racket and brewing beer in their cell. Before long, Haggard was caught drunk and was placed in isolation for a week. During his time in isolation, he had several conversations with Caryl Chessman, an author and a member of death row. The conversations and the time in isolation convinced Haggard to turn his life around.

After he left isolation, he began working in the prison's textile plant and took some high school equivalency courses; he was also allowed to play in the prison's country band. At his second parole hearing in 1960, Haggard was given a five-year sentence -- two years and nine months in jail, two years and three months on parole; he left prison 90 days later.

Flash forward. After almost fifty years of playing hit songs in the finest halls, for two US Presidents, receiving 18 awards from the ACM, including male vocalist of the year, and to top that off, had requests for songs on the Apollo 16 mission. He is revered by Rock stars and Country stars alike. His genuine style of singing from the soul reaches out to you. The man is a legend, and he was gracing us with his family and friends for an intimate evening of perhaps the most genuine American music alive, "Old School Country."

The John Van Duzen Theater is a moderate theater, seating a few hundred people. It was built about the same time Merle was gaining popularity amongst the severely commercialized hippy era. (They even got Tricky Dick to say "Sock it to me?," on Laugh In). I remember the sixties because I was a pre-teen and the underground psychedelia was surfacing more and more on television, in the clothing stores, and on the binders of my classmates who, for some un-godly reason, thought Daisies and Smiley faces were cool. This small, drafty theater with no lighting booth (just spot lights mounted behind the balcony seats) and barely the capacity to make a trip up here worth while to a 72-year-old legend and his family of extremely talented players. But this was just the tip of the iceberg.

The opening act was the Noel Haggard Band, Merle's oldest son and his brother Bennie on lead. These guys were so nice, they didn't even flinch when the vocals were down too low and the instruments mixed loud. This became a theme for the evening as each act came up to the stage only to battle the evil Feedback monster with the haphazardly placed monitor speakers. They played some great standards, which is the best way to describe them. The Haggards were joined by a pair of Elvis clones, clad in black embroidered jump suits, the Malpass Brothers, who sang as sweet as the Everly brothers. They laughed about the monitors, saying "We really don't like our own voices, so you can turn them (the monitors) down." Despite the challenges, they put on a good show doing an upbeat version of "Hello Wall" and many others.

During the intermission, you might think the CenterArts sound person would have figured out the problem with the monitors and the microphone placement. But, no. I was livid in my seat as the rest of the evening progressed even worse. By the time Merle sang through one song with the bats of Michael Moore Jr.'s crappy monitor speakers, the man stopped and looks at the audience. "The best sound between Fort Bragg and Crescent City? If I had known it was this bad, I would have brought my own PA! I men, we have been playing together for 30 years and ever since we started using monitors, our sound has gone to hell, Lets just shut them off and see what happens?" From then on, the sound was great, the vocals were heard, the bats were gone.

Merle even gave us an encore with "Okie From Muskogee." The audience was pleased and warmed by his stories, occasionally getting in a pot comment or two. He even put it to a vote whether or not marijuana should be legalized. The nays had it. Surprisingly, I saw many young faces in the audience. It seems a new generation is appreciating the classic Country melodies and leaving Billy Ray Cyrus in the dust. Cool.

Twin pot busts in Ferndale

2009-10-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

Sara Farley arrested, Jason Farley still at large

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/2/09

Ferndale

Plants, bud, shake, money and guns were seized during a busy day yesterday for the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, which served dual warrants in Ferndale against properties owned by Jason Oscar Farley and his wife.

Sara Diane Farley, 30, was arrested at her home on the 500 block of Shaw Avenue on cultivation and possession charges, but her husband was nowhere to be found and is wanted by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on similar charges. In the course of their search of the home, law enforcement discovered $7,200 in cash which was seized for asset forfeiture, along with three handguns and two rifles.

Prior to the arrest, officers arrived at the Farley’s 158 acre parcel off Crosby Road, where they seized 44 marijuana plants growing outdoors, each approximately four to six feet in height. The weight of these plants combined was 660 pounds, according to HCSO sergeant Wayne Hanson. Officers also seized 34 pounds of marijuana shake and 22 pounds of drying bud from the property.

An arrest warrant is expected to be issued today by the District Attorney against Jason Farley, while Sara Farley was transported and booked into county jail yesterday on $50,000 bail.

Fortuna cops get stimulated

2009-10-01T23:16:00.000-07:00

Feds allocate $350k to help hire staff, upgrade equipment

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/1/09

Fortuna

The needs of rural law enforcement are apparently a part of the economy deserving of stimulation.

As part of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as the “stimulus bill” pushed through Congress by the Obama Administration this last spring, a program targeting rural areas has awarded $350,000 to the Fortuna Police Department. This funding will be used to hire two additional staff members, create an Investigations Department and provide upgrades to departmental equipment.

“Rural areas of our district need as much, if not more help from the stimulus act,” Congressman Mike Thompson stated in a press release. “When I voted for recovery funding for our country, it was for projects like this that will create and preserve jobs while improving our communities.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is a comprehensive economic recovery package designed to jumpstart the economy, provide tax benefits for families and small businesses, and invest in infrastructure and innovation, according to Thompson spokesperson Laurel Brown. Developed with the Obama Administration, this package will create an estimated 3.5 million new jobs, give 95 percent of working families an immediate tax cut, shore up the nation’s aging infrastructure and help our country shift to green energy technology, claim its authors.

“The community is pleased to be awarded this grant,” said Fortuna city manager Duane Rigge. “It will help us to provide services to the community that are much needed, including the current back log of cases the department has accumulated. This is something that will serve our community well and provide the level of safety for our citizens that we would like them to enjoy.”

To track the stimulus spending in your community, visit www.recovery.gov.

Arson reported outside Redwood Fields

2009-09-23T23:40:00.000-07:00

Picnic tables, garbage bins piled up and burned at Cutten sports complex

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/23/09

Cutten

Local law enforcement is looking into an act of arson responsible for thousands of dollars worth of damage on the grounds of Redwood Fields sports complex in Cutten.

At about 10:20 a.m. this morning a deputy from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was flagged down by two unnamed residents who informed him of a fire at the sports complex. Upon arriving on scene, the deputy found a smoldering pile of debris, the remains of five picnic tables and four plastic garbage bins piled together on top of the cover of a sewage lift pump.

The fire destroyed the pump, tank, bins and tables, three of which were solid redwood, according to HCSO public information officer Brenda Godsey. The estimated damage to the facility tops $18,000, according to Redwood Fields president Rex Bohn.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251.

HSU attracts $892K for biology mentoring

2009-09-23T23:33:00.000-07:00

National Science Foundation grant targets underrepresented groups

Paul Mann, Humboldt State University
9/23/09

Arcata

Humboldt State University will enroll its first group of under-represented students next summer under a five-year, $892,000 National Science Foundation grant to mentor undergraduate research in the biological sciences.

Of the nearly $900,000 total, $318,000 will be awarded the first two years. Preference will be given to students entering their sophomore or junior years, particularly Native American and Latino/Latina students.

The official name of the HSU initiative is the Undergraduate Research Mentoring in the Biological Sciences (URM) Program, aimed at increasing the number of students from underrepresented groups who graduate in the biologically-related sciences. It is also designed to expedite the transition into graduate studies.

The URM Program of the National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds HSU’s counterpart, was established to broaden the participation of historically underrepresented groups in science and engineering. The NSF defines the historically underrepresented in those disciplines as African Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Pacific Islanders and persons with disabilities.

Biological Sciences Professor Bruce O’Gara said, “One of the great things about this program is that the students will be involved in an intense, long-term mentoring and research relationship with an individual HSU faculty member. This experience will give them a competitive advantage when they apply to graduate school. Another thing I’m very happy about is that we can pay the students a stipend that will put a substantial dent in the financial burden of paying for a college education.”

Added Wildlife Management Professor and Chair Matthew Johnson, “This program provides $24,000 scholarships to help undergraduates finish their degrees and conduct collaborative research with a faculty mentor. The research and training opportunities in this program will provide a springboard for students to launch their careers as biologists.”

Twenty-three students will be enrolled in four cohorts, five of them in the first year and six in each of the succeeding years. Each student will receive financial and research support for a period of two calendar years, with most students starting the program at the beginning of their sophomore year. A stipend of $1,000/month will be paid to each student during the 24 months of his or her participation. Students will enter the program in the summer and proceed through a series of three rotations to explore various research projects and meet prospective research mentors. During their first fall semester, students will enroll in a Research Methods Course that will cover the scientific method, study design, proposal preparation, scientific writing and presentation. Each student will develop a detailed research proposal for a project to be pursued for the remainder of the program. Student research will be mentored individually by one of 16 faculty from six departments (Biological Sciences, Fisheries, Forestry and Wildland Resources, Mathematics, Oceanography and Wildlife) in HSU’s College of Natural Resources and Sciences. Faculty research areas will be grouped in three categories: ecology and evolution; physiology, cell and molecular biology; and natural resource management.

Students will be offered a variety of courses, seminars, workshops, presentations and activities that will comprise the foundation and structure to foster success.

Details are available from Dr. O’Gara at bao3@humboldt.edu. The program Web site is at http://www.humboldt.edu/~urm/.

HSU to test emergency system

2009-09-21T23:46:00.000-07:00

Thursday's exercise to include texting registered cell phones

Paul Mann, Humboldt State University
9/21/09

Arcata

Humboldt State University will conduct a 15-minute test of its Emergency Alert System on Thursday, September 24, from 10:45 to 11 a.m. Thursday’s exercise will be a drill only and no evacuations will be ordered.

Special red “Test Today” signs will be posted at key locations around campus, HSU’s clock tower bells will sound from 10:45 until 11 a.m. and registered cell phones will buzz with simulated text messages.

The same signs, ringing and messaging would be used in the event of an actual emergency.

As part of the drill, University authorities encourage everyone to use three additional sources of information: via the web at http://www.humboldt.edu/emergency, by telephone recording at 707/826-INFO (4636) and by tuning in KHSU 90.5 FM.

Maximum use of these sources will enable campus administrators to evaluate the Emergency Alert System’s capacity and improve its operation as appropriate.

At the conclusion of the drill, comments on the system’s operation and effectiveness can be submitted at a dedicated web address, response@humboldt.edu.

Instructions for registering cell phones to obtain emergency text messages are available at http://www.humboldt.edu/emergency.

Decommissioned naval base looted

2009-09-18T22:29:00.000-07:00

$39,000 worth of heavy equipment stolen

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/18/09

Centerville

Local law enforcement is investigating a grand theft reported this weekend at the decommissioned Centerville Beach Naval Station west of Ferndale.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was contacted on Monday by a demolition crew hired by the feds to continue decommissioning work. Over the weekend while the crew was off-base, several vehicles and pieces of heavy machinery were stolen, likely through a security fence which had been cut, according to HCSO public information officer Brenda Godey.

The crew estimated the value of the stolen property at approximately $39,000. This includes a 1991 Bobcat 553 Skid Steer Loader, colored white, orange and black. The Bobcat had an attached custom-made grapple bucket, and the tires on the Bobcat are Setco brand solid (hard rubber) tires. Also stolen was a Multiquip 25KVA generator on wheels, and a 1998 Towmaster trailer, 24 feet long with a bamboo deck, black in color, with "NWDD" on a stainless steel plate that is attached to the front frame rail of the trailer. The trailer displays Oregon License plate HS34108. The trailer is used to transport the Bobcat.

Anyone with additional information on this case can contact the HCSO at (707) 445-7251.

Eureka residency rule sinks Mayor's nominees

2009-09-17T22:22:00.000-07:00

Councilmembers Glass, Atkins block appointments to Planning Commission, Housing Board

David Courtland, Humboldt Sentinel
9/17/09

Eureka

An ongoing battle over appointments to city commissions dominated Tuesday's Eureka City Council meeting, as Linda Atkins and Larry Glass teamed up to kill several of Mayor Virginia Bass' nominations to key boards.

Atkins said she had a problem with appointing non-residents and Glass protested two veteran planning commissioners should have been reappointed, prompting them to cast several critical votes against some of the nominees.

"I'm concerned we're breaking precedent by not reappointing two people who served and wanted to continue," said Glass. While I rarely agree with them I would say they have served admirably and they bring a lot to the table."

Bass and councilmembers Mike Jones and Frank Jager, who had interviewed candidates, countered that the nominees were as knowledgeable as the two who hadn't been reappointed, and hadn't been chosen lightly.

"This is certainly not to say we weren't satisfied with what (incumbents) were doing, but giving somebody else a chance is one of the reasons we have term limits," said Jager. "It was just our opinion these individuals should be given a chance."

But the city's rule that non-resident nominees need four votes in support instead of a simple majority of three worked against Roger Peters, Andrew Redden and Lee Ulansey as Atkins and Glass voted against their nominations. Jones, Jager and Jeff Leonard cast the votes in support. Bass could not vote for her own nominees.

County residents who own businesses in Eureka or live in the city's community services district can serve on city commissions and boards. Peters had been nominated for the Housing Authority Board and Ulansey for the Planning Commission.

Atkins and Glass also voted against Jeff Regan's appointment to the Planning Commission, but since he is a Eureka resident, votes to approve from Jones, Jager and Leonard carried. The council also voted 4-1 with Glass dissenting to appoint Sue McDonald to the Open Spaces, Parks & Recreation Commission.

Kay Escarda, James Matthias, Richard Muse, Robert Fasic and Lance Madsen all got unanimous votes. Escarda, Matthias and Muse were appointed to the Housing Authority; Fasic and Madsen will keep their seats on the Redevelopment Advisory Board, which has only met once this year.

In addition

Glass agreed to table his rental housing license bill until the first meeting in October. Glass and a task force have been working for months on the ordinance, which aims to reduce blighted housing that contributes to crime.

Jones, Jager and Leonard raised concerns that it wasn't clear whether people who rented rooms in single family homes, mother-in law units and flophouses were excluded from the licensing.

In the stir for breathing air

2009-09-16T22:12:00.000-07:00

Tad Robinson presents a case study in Humboldt County’s government-by-fear

Vagabond Journalist
By Charles Douglas

“Liberty is the soul's right to breathe and, when it cannot take a long breath, laws are girdled too tight. Without liberty, man is in a syncope.”

-Henry Ward Beecher, Life Thoughts

Sitting in Courtroom 5 this Monday watching homeless agitator Tad Robinson get his thirty-days-for-thirty-seconds violation of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors’ oft-unenforced three minute speaking rule (a dictum which, sadly, is seldom applied against their sycophants), I was reminded of my days in Arcata watching another local government ratcheting up the mania in increasingly desperate attempts to make the poor sit down and shut up.

In Arcata City Hall, just as in Supervisors’ Chambers, the progression of rich man’s inhumanity to poor man eventually involved the armed forces being called in to forcibly remove people who exceed the paltry three-minute rule, a rule these self-same elected officials would find it impossible to obey themselves. Needless to say, the so-called Greens like Harmony Groves left their commitment to “grassroots democracy” at the door and sat silently as a homeless man back in 2006 was drug out by the gendarmeries for violating the inviolable terms of local government -- namely that money talks (and for as long as it likes) and the penniless are right-less when it comes to any of their pathetic attempts to influence public policy away from putative revenge fantasies against the least among us.

When the blatantly ridiculous claims of Arcata’s liberality are voiced in my presence, I only need remind them of how the “Green majority” allowed the press box at Arcata City Council meetings to be removed, without notice, to be replaced by an armed police officer, hand on holster, seated and staring at the public address podium situated two feet away, an obvious display of state authority and local officials’ willingness to resort to violence (or the threat of such) to compel consent.

The press table turned goon squad guard post is still there to this day, a testament to how “progressive” Arcata is ruled by fear, and how the high ideals of the Green Party were absolutely polluted and perverted by the very same officials who still claim to have accomplished something. It’s just the sort of self-aggrandizement still practiced by the aforementioned ex-Mayor, since absconded to San Francisco with another content-free notch in her belt to brag about, regardless of how little her one-term-and-out service actually did to help the working people of her short-lived constituency. As with so many of the self-styled “successful activists” turn out, it’s the window dressing on their resumes that count with them, on-the-ground evidence be damned.

Throughout history as in the present day, the real activists take on the longshot or “impossible” causes, and get fined, jailed, beaten and killed for their efforts. Such is the case with Tad, someone I’ve had no shortage of head-shaking moments in relation to – sometimes even I find him to be strident and doctrinaire in his efforts to humanize the homeless. His past and mine aside, his actions in this case are indisputable: He was interrupted repeatedly by elected officials who didn’t like what he had to say in relation to a child labor camp (an incredibly creepy outfit the county contracts with), he went a half-minute over his time limit trying to finish his interrupted statement, and he had already sat down when the goon squad came to grab him. The idea that the meeting was interrupted shock-and-awe style, complete with Lady Liberty weeping tears of blood and American flags spontaneously combusting, doesn’t stand up to the evidence as witnessed by the non-government shills present, who clearly noted that the next speaker strode up to the podium and proceeded to address the Supervisors normally (and for over five minutes, a blatant example of selective enforcement).

I’ve wanted Tad to shut up myself once or twice (I’m sure he’s thought the same of me), but it’s never crossed my mind that he should be fined and thrown in jail for the offense of annoying me or anybody else. For the stupor-inducing Supervisors to conspire with Humboldt County’s bureaucracy, bailiffs and judiciary to make this sick joke come true -- it's enough to make Kafka blush. I can already envision a “Free Tad” benefit concert with a local John Lennon aspirant or two singing a takeoff of “Ten For Two” to decry the treatment of this John Sinclairesque poster boy for open government.

Any amount of peace poor old Jimmy Smith thinks he will spare for his fellow nest feather collectors will be far exceeded by the echo this will send to local activists of every stripe -- at least the ones who claim to care about free speech. The decent, who I’d add include conservative or libertarian types like Rose Welsh, Tom Frederickson and Jeff Lytle, not to mention others more akin to my sort of radical journalist like John Osborn, are suitably outraged by this government-run abuse of the justice system. The authoritarians among us are mostly clustered amongst the fake left pseudo-liberals, who are uniform in their cowardly use of psudeonyms such as Humbug, Not A Native and so forth. Somehow this doesn’t seem to be a coincidence.

Years ago, when I still thought people in Arcata might care about having a decent local government, I proposed an initiative seeking the usual populist political reforms like term limits, public election of the Mayor and Vice Mayor, and access to time on the City Council agenda by any of its members. There was also a provision which doubled the three-minute limit on speaking time, and applied it to the politicians and bureaucrats equally. If it’s good enough for the rest of us, it’s good enough for them, my thinking was. While there’s enough on my plate to preclude the hatching of ballot initiatives these days, perhaps some other idealist out there might consider a little restorative justice for our power-mad Humboldt County Supervisors.

“It ain't fair, John Sinclair
In the stir for breathing air
Won't you care for John Sinclair?
In the stir for breathing air
Let him be, set him free
Let him be like you and me

They gave him ten for two
What else can the judges do?
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta set him free

If he'd been a soldier man
Shooting gooks in Vietnam
If he was the CIA
Selling dope and making hay
He'd be free, they'd let him be
Breathing air, like you and me

They gave him ten for two
What else can the judges do?
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta set him free

They gave him ten for two
They got Ali Otis too.
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta set him free

Was he jailed for what he done?
Or representing everyone
Free John now, if we can
From the clutches of the man
Let him be, lift the lid
Bring him to his wife and kids

They gave him ten for two
What else can the bastards do?
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta,
gotta, gotta, gotta set him free.”

-John Lennon, Ten For Two (John Sinclair)

Heroin, coke found on fleeing suspect

2009-09-10T23:53:00.000-07:00

Michael David Woody attempted to speed away from Third Street bust

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/10/09

Eureka

A man who fled after a Eureka police officer stopped him for a traffic violation has been jailed for drug charges.

Michael David Woody has been busted for transporting a controlled substance, resisting arrest and evading a police officer who pulled him over near K and Third streets. When Woody admitted having marijuana in the car, the officer opened the driver's side door so Woody could step out while the officer searched the car.

Woody instead slammed the door shut and started the ignition, speeding off as the officer fired taser darts at him. After a short chase Woody and his passenger were arrested at S and Sixth streets. The passenger was later released.

A search of the car turned up four bindles of heroin and three bindles what is thought to be cocaine.

Grow house triple bust in Arcata

2009-09-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

Grow house triple bust in Arcata
Residence on Janes Road within 150 feet of school

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/10/09

Arcata

Even under the Humboldt County ordinance protecting the right of patients and caregivers to grow medical marijuana, it’s not supposed to be done near an elementary school.

This provision apparently escaped the attention of Steven Robert Malocq, who police are looking for in connection to a string of grow houses raided by the Arcata Police Department in coordination with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force on Wednesday.

The old Bloomfield Elementary School, still considered an educational facility even though it no longer serves students in the Arcata School District following budget-induced consolidation, is less than 150 feet from a house Mialocq owns on the 3000 block of Janes Road. His other house at the 3700 block of Coombs Court was also searched, and approximately 270 marijuana plants were seized from the homes. Each house had converted living space into marijuana grow rooms, with unpermitted electrical modifications made at both places, according to APD captain Tom Chapman.

Mialocq was not arrested and is apparently out of the area, and an arrest warrant is being sought against him on charges of cultivation, possession for sale and drug house charges. He may face additional charges due to his home’s proximity to the closed school.

Officers also served a search warrant in the 200 block of G Street after it was discovered that power to the home was being obtained illegally by tapping into an electrical line. APD and DTF officered discovered 163 marijuana plants and five pounds of processed marijuana, although none were present on site. APD considers this an ongoing investigation, and have declined to disclose the name of the homeowner or renter involved in this grow.

Gunshot victim from Trinidad identified

2009-09-09T23:53:00.000-07:00

William Lundy’s vehicle found in Kansas, driver arrested

Humboldt Sentinel staff

9/9/09

Trinidad

A man now identified as 59-year-old William John Lundy was shot dead, according to an autopsy conducted Monday by the Humboldt County Coroner.

Meanwhile, Sheriff’s investigators are flying to the Midwest to follow up on their ongoing homicide investigation in light of the Kansas Highway Patrol discovering Lundy’s car and arresting the driver on purportedly unrelated charges.

It was the welfare check request by Kansas troopers that led California State Park Rangers to pay a visit on Saturday to Lundy’s residence, a fifth-wheel travel trailer, where they found him dead. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office subsequently obtained a warrant and recovered further evidence from the trailer, according to public information officer Brenda Godsey in a release.

The HCSO is not releasing how many times or where on his body Lundy was shot. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call detective Cheryl Franco at (707) 268-3644.

One reason Democrats don’t do better

2009-09-08T21:03:00.001-07:00

Voters don’t like being called stupid for holding legitimate concerns

Sam Smith, Progressive Review
9/8/09

Someone in Obama Spin Central made a bad mistake: attempting to push a politicized lesson plan for elementary school kids to use following the president's speech to them on TV. It wasn't all that important in itself but symbolizes an apparent desire in some quarters to replace Muzak in our lives with the sound of all Obama all the time.

The lesson plan included such tacky political recommendations as having students "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president."

Elsewhere the lesson plan suggested sample questions including, "Is President Obama inspiring you to do anything?" and, "Is he challenging you to do anything?"

Once the plan was exposed (and the Review was about the only progressive journal to help in this), The White House quickly dumped some of the objectionable language. For example, the plan now suggests that students "write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals."

The spinmeisters pulled out a classic non-apology. Said one, "That was inartfully worded, and we corrected it."

But other Democrats were not content to correct and move on. Instead they tried to rewrite the script so that it was only about the president giving a speech. Nothing about the crummy lesson plan.

And the liberal media joined the fray. MSNBC's John Harwood, for example, badly misstated the issue by claiming, "Iâ€™ve been watching politics for a long time, and this one is really over-the-top. What it shows you is there are a lot of cynical people who try to fan controversy, and letâ€™s face it, in a country of 300 million people, there are a lot of stupid people too, because if you believe that itâ€™s somehow unhealthy for kids, for the president to say "work hard and stay in school," youâ€™re stupid." Nothing about the lesson plan.

Now it's true the Republicans and conservatives leaped on the issue as could be expected. But the Democratic and liberal media tried to argue that all those opposed were in this camp as well.

This reflects a growing Democratic tendency, whether the issue be end of life decisions, gun control, or politicized lesson plans issued by the president's staff, to treat all those opposed to the Democrats as stupid conservatives.

And since that isn't true, the Democrats end up insulting an awful lot of people who just don't happen to agree with them on one issue. People like school superintendents who have decided not to run the speech because of its political context or parents who are also troubled by it.

Take for instance Vasselboro Maine parent, Micki Stetson, whose two children attend Vassalboro Community School. According to the Morning Sentinel, "Stetson said it's great that the president is giving a pep talk to students and that children will look at this as 'sort of a good thing, something they will remember,' but that 'the department was overstepping its boundaries. I believe the questions asked were advocating an ideology, as opposed to a critical approach. They shouldn't be asking a child how this figure inspired you. What if the figure didn't inspire them? That's political propaganda, and I don't believe that should be portrayed in the school."

Do John Harwood and the Daily Kos think Micki Stetson is stupid?

What good does it do to assign such a name to those who happen to disagree with you on one issue? Especially when even the White House tacitly admitted they were right by removing the objectionable language?

And if they do think they were stupid, would this category include the former Democratic House majority leader Dick Gephart who in 1991 said of a George H. W Bush speech at a Washington junior high school, "The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students."

You start calling people stupid for disagreeing with you on a few issues and there's no telling who will end up in the pot. And every one is less likely to vote the way you want after they've heard your low opinion of them.

Study highlights transit barriers to care

2009-09-08T20:59:00.000-07:00

Poor are more than five times as likely to go without health care

Paul Mann, Humboldt State University
9/8/09

Arcata

The Redwood Coast’s poor people, non-whites and thinly populated areas suffer disproportionately from transportation problems that diminish their access to health care, according to data drawn from the four-county region by the California Center for Rural Policy (CCRP) at Humboldt State University.

The center has published a new research brief, one of a series, that documents transportation disparities among 43 communities surveyed in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity Counties. Those canvassed who have transportation problems were 2.6 times more likely to go without the health care they needed for themselves and their children, versus respondents free of transit obstacles.

Redwood residents below the federal poverty level ($20,444 for a family of two adults and two children in 2006) were 5.2 times more likely to do without health care and 11 times more likely to report no vehicle in the household.

Native Americans and non-whites were 1.7 times more likely to miss out on care and 2.5 times more likely to have no vehicle compared to white respondents. Other transportation obstacles included unreliable vehicles, lack of a driver’s license or telephone, no public transportation, insurmountable distances and weather and road conditions.

Survey respondents in low population areas—fewer than 50 people per square mile—were 1.6 times more likely to encounter transportation problems in obtaining care. One respondent said, “Can’t afford the gas, road trips are very rough on me and [the] baby at times, there is no public transportation and no babysitter.” Another said, “[I have to] travel to Santa Rosa (two tough hours) to get good quality specialty care.” A third commented, “Can’t afford to keep up on registration, insurance and gas.”

Rural residents usually must travel longer distances than urban populations to get treatment and the rural elderly are particularly hard hit, according to the CCRP’s brief, which was drawn from extensive findings of the Rural Health Information Survey that the CCRP conducted in the fall of 2006. Transportation shortages were long known to block access to health care, but the 2006 survey will enable political leaders, planners and policy makers to quantify the extent of the problem and pinpoint those populations and communities most in need.

The research brief says that in dealing with unmet transit needs, community leaders will have to balance the advantages of expanded availability—better access not only to health care, but also to jobs, goods, services and education—with drawbacks: vehicular accidents, noise, air pollution and lack of physical activity.

As the population ages, the brief states, innovative ways will have to be found to improve rural transportation and delivery of services, “since the elderly have the greatest difficulty with personal transportation and have the greatest need for frequent health care visits.”

The report recommends better coordination between transportation planners and health care facilities. It cites Indian health care systems, including Mendocino County’s Consolidated Tribal Health Clinic, which is financed through general funds from an eight-tribe alliance that provides trips to its clinic in Ukiah, Calif., to the Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif., and to the University of California Medical Centers in San Francisco.

CCRP research data are available at www.humboldt.edu/~ccrp.

First BAMU chicken wing fest Saturday

2009-09-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Boomsauii, Sour Cream to play at free festival to fight meth

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/8/09

Business Owners Against Meth Use (BAMU) will have its first Chicken Wing Fest from 11 a.m. To 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 on Eureka’s boardwalk, at the foot of C Street.

The festival will feature live music by Boomsauii, Sour Cream and others; beer, soda and chicken wings and a bounce house for children.

The family-friendly event is being held to raise awareness of the dangers of methamphetamine and assist agencies that help for recovering users.

BAMU is a non-profit 501C 3 corporation created by local business owners, county officials and concerned citizens.

For more information, interviews or to learn how you can join the fight against meth, please contact Blaine Ryan at 442-7662.

Single payer backers confront Thompson

2009-09-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

Town Hall was Congressman’s first unscripted Humboldt appearance in 2009

David Courtland, Humboldt Sentinel
9/7/09

Eureka

A crowd of about 300 people largely supportive of health care reform packed the Home Economics building Tuesday, Sept. 2 at Redwood Acres for a town hall meeting with one of its proponents, Congressman Mike Thompson.

“I appreciate the great turnout, I appreciate it's a very vexing issue and feelings are running high,” Thompson said as he sent two aides into the crowd with microphones. “I'd really like to hear what you think we can do to improve health care.”

Over the last several years, Thompson has managed to resist calls for in-person town hall meetings in Humboldt County on topics as diverse as the Iraq War, the torture of detainees and proposed cap-and-trade taxation on carbon. Yet the August recess, the string of highly publicized town hall meetings across the country and the protest marches on his own Third Street office pressured the five-term representative to actually show up in person, instead of over the telephone.

For the next 90 minutes people, several of whom made said they wanted a single payer system that isn't even included among any of the health care reform bills currently being considered in Congress, made it clear they want Thompson to vote for legislation with a public option.

“On the public option, the three House (of Representatives) bills have that option in it,” Thompson said. “I like the idea, because I think we need to do something to inspire competition among insurance companies.”

Several times Thompson had to ask the audience to stop cheering, booing or applauding speakers, many of whom wanted to make long speeches. Thompson cut off one man who launched into a diatribe about immigration reform.

Thompson made sure opponents to health care reform, who were in the minority among the crowd, got a chance to express their views as well, including one who told Thompson “there is no natural right” to health care.

“It is a natural right, and I want it!” yelled from another man, who was escorted out of the building by Humboldt County Sheriff's deputy after repeatedly interrupting the first man.

“Nobody is going to try to take away anybody's health care plan,” Thompson assured the crowd several times, adding he supports letting insurance plans follow people from job to job. “As I said before, if you like what you've got, you can keep it.”

The system for delivering health care, Thompson said repeatedly, needs a drastic overhaul.

“One out of every six dollars we make in this country goes to health care -- it's not sustainable,” Thompson said. “It's going to crush businesses in this country… To even think that the model we have now is sustainable is wrong.”

Thompson compared the proposed health care reform to requiring motorists carry auto insurance, but doesn't force a particular policy on them.

“Everyone in this discussion and this debate in Washington, D.C. has been very clear on the fact that if you like the insurance you have, you keep the insurance you have,” Thompson said, noting he wants a bill that pays for health care reform without adding to the national debt.

Unlike certain states that mandate auto insurance, however, legal scholars argue that the federal Constitution does not grant Congress the authority to force individuals to do business with any particular business cartel.

Although Thompson ruled out the single payer system, declaring it completely off the table, he also discounted offering health insurance through cooperatives, as is done in the state of Washington.

“If you're shaking you're head, you know more than me, because I don't know what a co-op is,” said Thompson.

Local high school exam results improve

2009-09-06T17:28:00.001-07:00

Ferndale High boasts 100% passage rate for tenth graders

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/6/09

Eureka

Humboldt County public schools received the latest results from the California Department of Education for the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) that exhibit the steadfast improvement of local students for the last three years.

“I am delighted to see that Humboldt County students continue to improve their CAHSEE passage rates,” County Superintendent of Schools Garry Eagles stated in a release. “The ongoing improvement that our students have demonstrated is proof that our schools continue to raise the bar in academic achievement.”

The CAHSEE is designed to ensure that all high school graduates have achieved a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in English-language arts and mathematics. The CAHSEE test questions are based on the state content standards. Students are required to take the CAHSEE for the first time in the tenth grade. Students who do not pass the CAHSEE will have two opportunities in the eleventh grade and up to five opportunities in the twelfth grade to pass the exam.

The latest data indicate that an increasing percentage of students are passing the exam on their first opportunity in the tenth grade. 81 percent of the Class of 2011 has already passed the English-language arts portion, compared to 77 percent of the tenth graders in the Class of 2009. In mathematics, 82 percent of the first-time test takers passed, an increase from 80 percent for the Class of 2009.

Ferndale High topped the list with 100% of their students passing in tenth grade, up from 90% the year before and 84% two years ago. Hoopa High continues to rank the lowest, with 71% of their students passing in the tenth grade, up two points from the 69% average of the two prior years.

When comparing to the first-time test takers in the Class of 2009 to the first-time test takers in the Class of 2011, the CAHSEE data for our local students does show a narrowing of the achievement gap. The achievement gap between Hispanic and white students decreased in English-language arts by an estimated 4 percent and in mathematics by 2 percent. The achievement gap between American Indian or Alaska Native and white students on the English-language arts portion of the test is estimated to have decreased 6 percent and in mathematics by 4 percent. For African American and white students the achievement gap decreased by an estimated 1 percent in mathematics and remained constant on the English-language arts portion of the test.

In both subsections of the CAHSEE, overall passage rates for Humboldt County students exceed state averages. Data shows that all county students taking the CAHSEE exam during the 2008-09 year scored 6 percentage points higher in the English-language arts portion and 9 percentage points higher in the mathematics portion when compared to state test results.

Results for the entire California High School Exit Examination for the state, counties, school districts and schools are available on the California Department of Education web site at http://cahsee.cde.ca.gov.

Zepparella returns to Red Fox on Sunday

2009-09-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

Four women, one Led Zeppelin tribute band

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/5/09

Four women intent on bringing the passion, the beauty and the aggression of Led Zeppelin alive will rock all night long at the Red Fox Tavern this Sunday night.

Zepparella is no costumed, wigged-up tribute band. You’ll hear no backing tracks or misguided attempts at note for note replication. Instead, Zepparella offers four seriously talented musicians who have loved and studied this music long enough to make it a part of themselves.

“It is a celebration of some of the greatest music ever written, by women who love it as musicians and as fans,” boasts Eric Kinnally of Passion Presents.

Zepparella delivers an explosive, emotional musical journey at every event. They take on the challenge of balancing their devotion to playing the songs as close to the original as possible, while taking advantage of their own musical communication and carrying the audience away on the ride.

Anna Kristina, the popular Bay Area stage actress, vocalist, songwriter and solo artist, brings her seductive style and powerful range to front the band with consistently transcendent performances. Her soulful delivery is mesmerizing.

Gretchen Menn applies her dazzling and emotive guitar playing to the leads. After her stint as Agnes Young in the top-grossing Bay Area band AC/DShe for three years, and then touring as the second guitarist in the national metal band Bottom, she now takes on the Page lines with an arresting ability that can’t be missed.

Nila Minnerock’s seminal bass playing, dark, beautiful, aggressive, melodic, fills out the bottom end of the band. Her joined-at-the-hip connection with Clementine began eleven years ago in Bottom, and close to 20 trips around the US, Canada and Europe and three records have created the remarkably intuitive rhythm section that Zeppelin deserves.

Clementine tackles the best rock drumming ever written with her own powerfully passionate style, bringing the Motown influence of the Bonham groove to the forefront. As Phyllis Rudd in AC/DShe and throughout the run of Bottom, she developed a heavy-hitting sound suited to attempt Zeppelin. The musical connection established with Gretchen in AC/DShe and the lifelong rhythmic conversation with Nila creates the bond required to do this great music justice.

To get a preview of what’s in store, visit their MySpace page (myspace.com/zepparella) or their website (zepparella.com) and, as always with a Passion Presents show, fans can find out how to pre-order tickets at passionpresents.com. The show starts at 10:30 p.m. at the Red Fox Tavern, located at 415 Fifth Street in Downtown Eureka. Tickets are $15 at the door, but only for patrons 21 and over.

CAMP grabs $3 million worth of pot

2009-09-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

Sheriffs believe site was used by drug trafficking outfit

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/4/09

Willow Creek

The Campaign Against Marijuana Planting spent only one day in Humboldt County this week, but that one day landed a major score in their quest to destroy a species of plant.

Yesterday CAMP personnel in coordination with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the US Forest Service discovered and killed 10,709 growing marijuana plants ranging from six to eight feet in height at a location off of Forest Service Route Six in the hills above Willow Creek.

According to HCSO public information officer Brenda Godsey in a release, evidence at nearby campsites confirmed the grow site was that of a drug trafficking organization, and the plants grabbed have an estimated street value of more that $3 million.

CAMP will continue operations in Humboldt County throughout the summer, officials once again reminded the public.

Supes to appoint Prop. 215 subcommittee

2009-09-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

Medical marijuana advocates concerned about potential rollback

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/4/09

Eureka

Humboldt County’s five-year-old ordinance permitting increased medical marijuana possession and cultivation limits could be the subject of a renewed legislative struggle in the months to come, thanks to a move by Supervisors Mark Lovelace and Jimmy Smith.

At next Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Lovelace and Smith put on the agenda consideration of the appointment of a new subcommittee to “research medical marijuana management alternatives.”

Smith cast one of the two votes against the 2004 ordinance setting county-wide three pound possession and 100 square foot cultivation limits for patients with a valid doctor’s recommendation under the provisions of Proposition 215. Otherwise known as Health and Safety Code 11362.5, this medical marijuana initiative was approved by California voters in 1996. Its companion Senate Bill 420, setting default possession and cultivation limits which cities and counties could improve upon, was approved by the legislature and governor in 2003.

Neighboring Mendocino and Trinity Counties had similar limits to Humboldt, but rolled them back in recent years to the default state minimums of eight ounces possession and six mature plants in cultivation per patient. An opinion issued by Attorney General Jerry Brown last year additionally constricted 215 rights by voiding many of the provisions for “primary caregivers” to cultivate cannabis on behalf of patients, unless the caregivers were otherwise primarily responsible for the health, safety or housing of the patients.

Humboldt County’s ordinance was the result of a lengthy series of meetings of what was then known as the Medical Marijuana Task Force, a collection of law enforcement, health care and patient’s rights advocates, and some in the medical marijuana community are concerned that a subcommittee consisting of Lovelace and Smith would seek to circumvent this broader consultative process.

“Most people who have grows are almost always below the maximum amount they’re allowed to have in Humboldt County,” said Greg Allen, an Arcata-based attorney who represents Humboldt Medical Supply, a 215 clinic in Arcata. HMS was involved in litigation against the City of Arcata when city officials acted outside municipal law and beyond City Council oversight to pull the permits on their clinic.

Allen, who also serves as chair of the Redwood Chapter, American Civil Liberties Union, questioned whether a move to roll back possession and cultivation limits wouldn’t primarily target individual patients and mom-and-pop growers.

“Not everyone is equally talented, so it would make it very hard on the unskilled grower,” he said. “It’s probably worth noting that there’d be a higher percentage of true medical growers who are unskilled, so going to a reduced number of plants is going to have the affect of making things extremely difficult for the unskilled grower.”

The ACLU and the Southern Humboldt-based Civil Liberties Monitoring Project have confronted Supervisors in recent months over the behavior of the county’s Code Enforcement Task Force, where items such as composting toilets and other minor code infractions triggered massive armed law enforcement response teams deployed to rural homes on the pretext of allowing inspections by building officials. Yet one idea that might garner broader support, according to Allen, would be to specifically require growers to keep their electrical wiring up to safety code standards.

“Folks who have grows with wiring that’s not up to code pose a grave risk to their neighbors and themselves,” Allen said.

While Smith’s attitude towards Prop. 215 is well known, less clear is what Lovelace would do -- he stayed quiet on the subject during his abbreviated campaign last spring, and key supporters of his, such as Arcata Eye editor Kevin Hoover, have been at the forefront of rousting grow houses out of Arcata, the only incorporated city in the Third District which Lovelace represents.

Arcata also amended its medical marijuana ordinance last year, restricting 215-related grows to 50 square feet and arming city inspectors with the authority to order power meters to be removed from suspected grow houses. Eureka Councilmember Larry Glass’ failed attempt to impose mandatory rental inspections was also widely seen as a method of flushing 215 growers out of his city.

The Board will convene their meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Supervisors’ Chambers at the county courthouse.

Local advocacy journalist releases new volume

2009-09-03T23:49:00.000-07:00

Can “Manifest Positivity” replace voter confidence?

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/3/09

After several months in “stealth mode,” a local website has been officially launched with the release of a second volume of essays by a local advocacy journalist.

Eureka resident Dave Berman, previously the editor of the GuvWurld and We Do Not Consent news aggregation and political blogging websites, has released We Do Not Consent Volume 2 as a compilation of 20 of his essays on peace, media reform, election integrity and other public interest topics. His book, like the first volume published in 2006, is available for free on the Internet and paperbacks may also be purchased on-line.

“For years I've been practicing and promoting advocacy journalism, transparently using media to facilitate the achievement of public service goals,” Berman stated in a release.

His new website, www.ManifestPositivity.org, declares as its focus the production of public service videos for mainly “apolitical” persons and organizations -- and Berman’s philosophy of withdrawing the consent of the governed from the federal government due to mass election fraud, encapsulated in the “We Do Not Consent” meme, has apparently been replaced by “pronoia, the belief that the universe is conspiring on our behalf.”

Pronoia, otherwise described as the other end of extremism from paranoia or an assumed distrust of others and especially of large organizations and governments, has been described by Dr. Fred Goldner of Queens College as a psychological affliction or a “delusion that others think well of one.” Its chief proponent is Rob Brezsny, a Santa Cruz-based astrologer and author who once ran for City Council on a platform of imposing “yuppie immigration quotas.”

Apparently as part of his shift away from political organizing, Berman left the election integrity group he founded behind last year, and according to its few remaining members, the Voter Confidence Committee no longer meets regularly.

Its previous accomplishments include the adoption of the Voter Confidence Resolution by the Arcata City Council and their early work against continued use by Humboldt County elections officials of vote-counting machines produced by Diebold -- a position eventually validated when Election Advisory Committee volunteers and Clerk/Recorder Carolyn Crnich found over a hundred ballots were not counted in the presidential election last November due to an error in the Diebold device.

The VCC was unsuccessful, however, in persuading Crnich and the Board of Supervisors to switch entirely to a hand-counted paper ballot system, as the county moves towards its first election using Hart Intercivic-produced ballot tabulation machines this fall. Its efforts were also dissipated by a well-publicized split in 2006 by VCC members Scott Menzies and Mark Konkler, who founded a Humboldt Voter’s Association which briefly sponsored mock ranked choice voting demonstrations before going inactive itself.

For his part, Berman is moving from writing about his own projects and causes towards a new stance where an on-line talk show, samples of which are posted on YouTube, will focus on the work of others.

“The Manifest Positivity site comes from a place of love not anger, showing how we can use media as a tool for the greater good,” Berman stated. “People everywhere are collaborating independent of the corporate/military/government/media juggernaut to address the survival needs of humanity and our planet. Manifest Positivity is the work of peaceful revolution…”

Berman, who worked as a radio disc jockey for a decade after garnering his communications degree from Cornell, is featured in the new issue of the Steelhead Special published this month. He’s also looking to “reprise national and international media exposure” from his previous organizing efforts and to resume public speaking appearances.

“I'm especially interested in collaborating with students,” Berman stated. “Social networking and other new media tools are particularly conducive to advocacy journalism so I'm reaching out to my contacts at HSU, CR, and elsewhere…I invite everyone to contact me through ManifestPositivity.org to get involved.”

Reward increased in hit-and-run case

2009-09-03T22:32:00.001-07:00

Police still seek culprit who killed Eliseo Cervantes

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/3/09

Arcata

An anonymous donor has come forward to add to the reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction for the person responsible for the hit-and-run traffic collision death of Eliseo Cervantes.

The $1,000 contribution to the reward offered by the Arcata Police Department now makes a total of $3,000 offered for a lead.

The collision took place on Samoa Boulevard near K Street on July 26 at around 2:15 a.m. Cervantes was a husband, father, and long-time employee at Sun Valley Floral Farms.

The APD describe the suspect vehicle as a black or dark colored 80s or 90s Ford or Chevy full-sized truck, with a regular, lifted cab and dark tinted windows. Witnesses also described a Fox Racing or similar sticker in the upper left-hand corner of the rear window, and metal side mirrors. Officers suggest damage to the vehicle resultant from the collision as possibly consisting of driver side bumper and fender damage, and other possible damage to the hood, grille, turn signal assembly and mirror.

APD officer Kevin Stonebarger thanked local residents who have already provided information about the incident, and invited further information to be submitted directly to the APD at (707) 822-2427 or anonymously through their Tip Line at (707) 825-2587.

Woman held captive and repeatedly assaulted

2009-09-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

Nicholas Liston arrested, in jail on half million dollar bail

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/3/09

Eureka

Police have charged a man Wednesday with beating and sodomizing a woman he held captive for two days.

Nicholas Liston, 22, of Eureka has been jailed with $500,000 bail for domestic violence, false imprisonment, sodomy by force, penetration with a foreign object.

Eureka Police Department officers busted Liston Wednesday morning after his victim managed to covertly call them from a relative's house.

The woman convinced him to walk her there after being kept at his home from Monday to Wednesday, gagged and blindfolded much of the time. Detectives say that after getting a warrant to search Liston's home, they found evidence supporting her story.

The woman was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Officer assaulted during terrorist threats arrest

2009-09-02T23:05:00.000-07:00

Ben Reed Newsome attempted to intimidate police, Fortuna councilman

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/2/09

Eureka

Police have charged a man with threatening them during an arrest after the man repeatedly called their office to threaten them as well as police dispatchers.

Ben Reed Newsom, 33, of Eureka was busted at about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday after Eureka Police Department officers returned with a search warrant to his apartment on the 800 block of C Street, where earlier at about 3 a.m. he threw knives and a mop handle at officers threatening to stab and shoot them and lay in wait for unarmed dispatchers.

The search confirmed Newsom's phone number is the one an EPD dispatcher got 11 calls from between 9 p.m Monday and midnight from a man who threatened to shoot officers and cut dispatchers' throats.

Fortuna police dispatchers reported getting 10 calls at about the same time, as well as threats against a Fortuna city councilman, all from Newsom's number.

Newsom is being held for $250,000 bail on charges of terrorist threats, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.

Two arrested for selling hash

2009-09-02T22:20:00.000-07:00

Arcata bicycle patrol finds suspects behind The Alibi

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/2/09

Arcata

A police officer on bicycle patrol rolled up on an apparent hash sale earlier today, resulting in the arrest of two local men.

At about 12:30 p.m. an unidentified police officer entered the alley behind Tavern Row on the Plaza and located several subjects gathered behind The Alibi bar. When contacted, a number of them walked away, leaving two men who the officer observed were engaged in a cash for hash transaction.

The officer searched 39-year-old Arcata resident Robert Yates and 31-year-old Jeremy Campbell, who APD sergeant Dave Brown described as a “transient individual” in a release. The cop found nearly three ounces of concentrated cannabis, a scale and other contraband items, and promptly arrested Yates and Campbell. They were transported to county jail without incident and are presently in custody.

Arcata, McKinleyville grow houses busted

2009-09-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

72 pounds of bud, over four pound of hash, $50k seized

Humboldt Sentinel staff
9/1/09

Arcata

A two-month investigation by the Arcata Police Department, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the county’s Drug Task Force led to the service of four search warrants and the arrest of six people on marijuana-related charges.

The investigation was the results of citizen complains about drug trafficking, according to APD captain Tom Chapman in a release, and three of the homes searched were in Arcata.

At a home on the 1100 block of Larry Strett, 33-year-old resident Kenneth Dru McCasland was arrested on cultivation, possession and drug house charges, with law enforcement seizing five pounds of bud, 25 pounds of unprocessed marijuana, nearly an ounce of concentrated cannabis and $22,000 in cash.

Officers also called Building Department and Arcata Volunteer Fire Department officials to the scene after discovering electrical wiring in the home had been modified to facilitate an indoor grow, which police described as “unpermitted modifications and hazardous conditions.” The electrical meter was removed by Pacific Gas and Electric until the home’s electrical wiring is in compliance with building codes.

At the 1000 block of Sunset Avenue, 35-year-old resident Jennifer Marie Sandoval was arrested at her home on charges of possession with intent to sell. Officers seized four pounds of bud and $1,200 cash.

Also in Arcata, officers paid a visit to the 1300 block of Beverly Drive where they arrested 36-year-old resident Christopher Lee Robinson on cultivation, possession and drug house charges. Task Force members seized 25 pounds of unprocessed marijuana and $12,300 in cash. Officers also noticed electrical modifications, called Building and Fire officials to the scene, and had PG&E remove the electrical meter.

The final warrant was served at a home on the 1800 block of Fir Avenue in McKinleyville, where 27-year-old resident Paul Eugene Aragon was arrested on cultivation, possession and drug house charges. Officers netted four pounds of hash and $15,000 in cash from inside the house.

Also discovered on scene and arrested for possession charges were 24-year-old Paul Dunnigan and his older brother, 28-year-old Matthew Dunnigan, both from Michigan. In the course of their search, officers found Paul Dunnigan’s 2006 Dodge truck in the garage, where 38 pounds of bud was discovered in a hidden compartment. Officers also seized the truck.

All arrests were made without incident and all four suspects were transported to county jail.

Human remains uncovered in Loleta

2009-08-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

Bones were found in an old burned-down church

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/31/09

Loleta

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office investigators are on the case of an unidentified corpse discovered yesterday in Loleta.

A man reported to the HCSO at about 3:30 p.m. that he had discovered skeletal human remains in a church that had burned down about six years ago at the intersection of Old Indianola Road and Hookton Road.

HCSO deputies arriving on scene confirmed the remains were indeed human, and the Cornoer’s Office was called to assist.

Due to the length of time and degree of degradation, forensic tests will be necessary to determine the gender, age and cause of death, as well as to attempt to ascertain the identity of the deceased, according to HCSO public information officer Brenda Godsey.

CAMP nets over 100,000 plants in Humboldt

2009-08-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

Efforts focused thus far in tribal, timber and federal lands

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/30/09

Hoopa

The Campaign Against Marijuana Planting went on a rampage this week in the forestlands of the North Coast, eradicating 74,100 marijuana plants in just four days, and approximately 102,500 in total this summer in Humboldt County. Statewide, CAMP claims credit for eradicating over 3 million growing marijuana plants this year.

CAMP works with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshall’s Service and the U.S. Forest Service locally, targeting tribal, timber company and USFS lands primarily in their eradication efforts.

On Monday the CAMP teams eradicated 36,500 plants from USFS property near Waterman Ridge above Willow Creek. The next day, 2,000 plants were cut from timber company property near Shively. On Wednesday, teams took 17,000 plants on timber company and other private property in Redwood Valley. The next day the CAMP temas wound out the week with another 18,600 plants found on Hoopa tribal land near Supply Creek, where law enforcement also found ammunition for handguns and other evidence indicating the involvement of drug trafficking organizations according to HCSO public information officer Brenda Godsey.

CAMP conducted its first sweep of Humboldt County in the last week of July, when they killed 28,400 plants in four days, including 13,000 from Hoopa Valley tribal land and timber company land, 1,000 on USFS land near Orleans, 8,200 plants from State Parks land and timber company land near Pepperwood, and 6,200 plants from timber lands near Blocksburg.

CAMP will continue operations in Humboldt County throughout the summer.

Robbery leads to car theft

2009-08-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

Drive-up assault was at gunpoint; two assailants at large

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/29/09

Eureka

Police are looking for the men who stole a car at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 from two men at a Broadway motel.

Two men in a dark truck pulled up alongside one of the victims as he was walking north on N Street toward a gas station. Someone in the passenger seat aimed a gun at him and demanded his belongings before getting out and striking him with the gun.

The assailants, who spoke Spanish and English, took his wallet, cell phone and car keys.

After the assailants drove away the man returned to the motel and told his friend what had happened, the second man went to the parking lot to see if the first man's car had been stolen and found one of the assailants trying to start the engine. The second victim tried to stop the car thief, but the assailant was able to start the car and drive away.

During their scuffle the thief lost one of his shoes. Both victims had minor injuries but refused medical attention.

The stolen vehicle is a grey 2008 Nissan Sentra with Oregon license plate 657DYD.

Anyone with information in this matter is urged to contact Eureka Police Department detective sergeant O'Neill at (707) 441-4300.

EPD catches three men soliciting prostitutes

2009-08-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

Eureka Natural Foods owner also driving with suspended license

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/28/09

Eureka

Police have arrested three men for soliciting prostitutes in an Aug. 26 sting operation conducted in response to complaints from community members

The men, who were each booked into the Humboldt County jail and had their cars impounded, were:

Juan Jose Salazar, 33, of Arcata;

Richard William Littlefield, 58, of Eureka, who was also charged with driving while his license is suspended;

Eric C. Peterson, 58, of Phillipsville, who was also charged with possession of methamphetamine.

One the men busted by the Eureka Police Department plays a prominent role in the community: Rick Littlefield, as he is more commonly known, is the owner of Eureka Natural Foods and a local philanthropist, serving on the committee for the Trails Trust. ENF had no comment on the story.

HSU scores $1 million grant

2009-08-27T22:48:00.001-07:00

Environmental Legacy Project to enhance public understanding

Paul Mann, Humboldt State University
8/27/09

Sacramento

The National Science Foundation has awarded $2 million to Sacramento State and $1 million to Humboldt State for their partnership in the California Environmental Legacy Project.

The project, which began several years ago, is a statewide initiative among scientists, educators and media professionals to enhance public understanding of California’s rapidly changing environment. The collaboration includes California State Parks, the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Public Television Consortium, as well as higher education and science museum partners. NSF funding supports three major components of the Legacy Project:

* A two-hour television documentary, “Reinventing California,” will journey across 2 billion years of California’s history and explore the fundamental nature of our relationship to a changing environment. The target date for its PBS presentation throughout California is fall 2012.

* The Changing Places Initiative will use “place-based” programs to reach park, museum, science center, and school audiences at regional sites, including Lassen Volcano, Redwood Forest, Point Reyes, Los Angeles Basin/Baldwin Hills, and Anza Borrego Desert. Each will feature short films, video podcasts and print media.

* An Online Educational Portal will create new digital learning systems, giving users access to multimedia content, searchable databases, lesson plans, interactive maps and online learning communities.

“I applaud the faculty members involved in this project for their outstanding dedication to science education and environmental awareness. Their work is helping to keep the California State University at the forefront of the most important issues facing California,” says Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez.

Humboldt State President Rollin C. Richmond says: “For me, what’s most exciting about this project is that it provides a new way for scientists to share their knowledge. Californians care quite deeply about our natural environment. They want to understand it better and protect it, and this will help.”

Project Director Jim Baxter, a Sacramento State biology professor, says the three-year grant will create a novel integration of the three instructional components by combining new digital media with a place-based approach to learning. Sacramento State is the lead institution in the grant work. Humboldt State will develop the place-based programs.

“By creating high-quality educational programs and media resources that connect learning about environmental change to local places, the project will explore the fundamental nature of our relationship to a changing environment – where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going,” Baxter says.

Jeffrey White, project co-director and Humboldt State biology professor, adds: “The National Science Foundation is a primary supporter of the California Environmental Legacy Project, and this funding will allow us to carry out our goal of deepening public understanding of environmental change and our place in the environment.”

Kit Tyler, a Sacramento-based filmmaker and president of American Mercury, Inc., will produce and direct the public television program. David Scheerer, professor of film at Humboldt State, will produce the media for the Changing Places Initiative. Remote-Learner.net is the digital learning systems partner for the project.

More information is available on the Legacy Project website: http://www.csus.edu/celp.

Two residential fires hit Eureka

2009-08-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

Over $100,000 in estimated damages due to apparent accidents

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/26/09

Eureka

Two fires hit residential structures in the last week in Eureka, and the local Red Cross is asking for assistance in helping displaced fire victims.

The first, at 5:16 a.m. on Aug. 20, struck a home at 1131 Twelfth Street, where firefighters from the Eureka Fire Department and Humboldt Fire District No. 1 discovered smoke filling the house from a source in the basement.

The resident had fled the home previous to the arrival of fire crews, and additional crews called in to search the structure for occupants found no victims, while the first engine prosecuted fighting the burning flames coming out of the basement and starting to spread to wall spaces on the west side of the residence.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire using an inch and three quarter hand line, and no injuries were reported by the crew, who estimated initial fire damage at $70,000, and the property value saved at $240,000.

EFD assistant fire chief Bill Gillespie reminded local residents that with recently cooling temperatures during the night, heaters and floor furnaces may be activated even with thermostats set at their lowest setting, which could cause combustibles to catch fire if they are in contact or too close to the heating device.

Initial fire damage estimated at $70,000. Severe damage occurred in the basement area, with limited spread into two walls. Also damaged were a number of windows and a door during suppression activities. The living quarters suffered significant smoke damage, but very little heat damage.

The second fire was just two days later, at 1:46 p.m. on Aug. 22 when EFD and HFD firefighters teamed up again to respond to a structure fire, this time at 411 D Street downtown, where they found heavy smoke emerging from the first floor of a three story building.

Upon sending their first team in, the engine company found the fire burning in the furniture and clothing of a small first story apartment. Apparently the residents had attempted to extinguish the fire before exiting the structure, according to EFD fire captain Kent Hulbert.

Additional engine companies then arrived to attack the first floor area with the help of a nearby hydrant, while crews were also assigned to search the basement, second and third floors for additional occupants and for any signs of fire spread. Crews were successful in using their inch and three quarter line to extinguish the apartment fire, while Pacific Gas and Electric officials were summoned to remove power to the building so that fire inside the electrical conduit could be dealt with.

While no injuries were reported from residents or the firefighter crews, Red Cross volunteers arrived on scene to provide aid to 15 displaced occupants. Local officials are asking for concerned community members to help the Humboldt County Chapter’s efforts by donating to its Disaster Response Fund by calling them at (707) 445-4521.

EFD estimated initial fire damage at $35,000, while an estimated $1 million in property was saved due to the swift response time. Most damage occurred in the apartment area and the deck area above, with other living quarters on the first and second floors suffering smoke damage and broken windows, but very little heat damage.

The second fire is also being treated as an apparent accident.

Rita’s on Harris Street robbed

2009-08-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

Man in motorcycle helmet brandished revolver

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/25/09

Eureka

A man robbed a West Harris Street restaurant just before 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24 with a short-barreled revolver, fleeing south on Albee then west on West Everding with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The man was described as white with a bushy blond-gray mustache and wore dark jeans and a white full-face motorcycle helmet with a clear visor. He was in his 30s or 40s, 5'10”, and appeared to weigh more than 200 pounds.

Eureka police are asking anyone who may have seen a motorcycle or other vehicle leave the neighborhood around Rita’s at about that time to call 441-4300 or 441-4044.

Stabbing reported in Loleta

2009-08-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

Unknown man sought in attack at Fireman’s Pavillion

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/24/09

Loleta

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies are searching for an unidentified man accused of a stabbing late last night in Loleta.

At about 1:15 a.m. deputies arrived at the scene of a dance at the Loleta Fireman’s Pavillion and found a 28-year-old Eureka man lying on the steps and covered in blood. Deputies ascertained during first aid treatment that the man, who authorities declined to identify, had been stabbed several times.

While none of the bystanders provided any information about his injuries, the victim described his attacker as an adult Hispanic male, about 5 foot 4 inches tall and weighing between 160 and 180 pounds. The suspect was also described as having a shaved head and moustache and wearing earrings, along with a gray or dark blue “Ben Davis” work-shirt and black and white Nike Cortez shoes.

The victim was transported to a local hospital which authorities also declined to identify, where his injuries were treated.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251.

Headbutting man shatters patrol car window

2009-08-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

APD arrests Joshua Garrison on multiple charges

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/23/09

Arcata

A bar fight on the Arcata Plaza got out of hand early Saturday morning, with multiple police agencies called to control an unruly crowd while Arcata Police Department officers dealt with an alleged drunk who damaged their patrol car.

At about 1:30 a.m. an APD foot patrol responded to a fight at Everett's bar on Ninth Street, where they found bouncers separating several fighting men. One of them, 23-year-old Joshua Garrison of McKinleyville, was removed from the bar because he had been striking others with his head.

While police attempted to take him into custody for disorderly conduct and public intoxication, Garrison continued to behave in an aggressive manner, according to a release from APD sergeant Dave Brown. While he was escorted to a patrol car for transport to the county jail, he struggled with officers and in the melee he purposefully struck the patrol car's rear window with his head, shattering it. Garrison sustained injuries which required the assistance of Arcata Ambulance.

While the struggle continued, a crowd formed around the patrol car, and APD obtained backup from the Humboldt State University Police Department, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol to maintain crowd control.

Garrison was eventually subdued and, after first-aid medical treatment, he was transported to Eureka and booked on public intoxication, resisting arrest and felony vandalism charges. He remains in custody in county jail.

Protestors rally against health care reform

2009-08-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Tea Party Patriots call on Congressman Thompson to attend town hall meeting

David Courtland, Humboldt Sentinel
8/22/09

Eureka

A local grassroots group is sponsoring a town hall in Fortuna to give Humboldt County residents a forum for discussing healthcare reform legislation.

Members of the non-partisan Humboldt County Tea Party Patriots say they decided to organize the meeting, which will be in Fortuna's Veteran's Hall on Aug. 26 from 6-8 p.m., after failing to get an interview with North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena).

"Everyone in the country is going to be impacted by this legislation," Dorice Miranda, president of the Humboldt County Tea Party Patriots, said in a press release. "[Congressman] Thompson is one of the architects, so it is not unreasonable to ask for straight answers."

Thompson's office has confirmed he will not be attening the Fortuna meeting, but will hold his own a week later on Sept. 2 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Redwood Acres Home Economics Building.

About 60 people gathered at noon last Friday in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse, most of whom were allied with the conservative-leaning Tea Party movement -- although other more populist or libertarian-leaning locals appeared with Obama "Joker" posters and stickers advocating the candidacy of former Presidential contender and longtime Congressman, Ron Paul (R-Galveston, Tex.).

Filling the courthouse's front lawn as they held signs, banners and numerous American flags the Patriots drew honks and cheers from passing motorists for about an hour. Some of them dressed as Revolutionary War-era patriots to indicate their support for what they describe as traditional American values.

One lone dissenter, Suzanne Cook, held her own counter-prostest across the street from the courthouse.

"People should be getting real information, not just blasting their views," said Cook, who said she favors a single payer healthcare system. "A lot of the organizing is being done by people connected to the insurance industry, like Dick Armey."

At about 1 p.m the protestors marched from the courthouse to Congressman Mike Thompson's Third Street office in Eureka.

"We're firing Mike Thompson," explained Miranda, one of the protest coordinators, as the protestors filed into Thompson's office one by one to deliver symbolic pink slips.

Thompson is one of the House of Representatives' "blue dog" Democrats, who have generally supported one of the more fiscally conservative reform bills that have been introduced. The Blue Dog Coalition also opposes the single payer system advocated by the Progressive Caucus.

Some party members said they felt more able to express their views through the protest than at one of the town hall meetings held during Congress' summer break this month. For his part, Thompson was part of a panel discussion on healthcare reform in Napa last month that some said was carefully orchestrated to discourage protestors opposing healthcare reform.

While holding "telephone town hall" meetings with handpicked constituents across his district, Thompson had yet to hold an in-person and unscripted town hall meeting in Humboldt County this year, and on Monday his Washington, D.C. communications director said schedule for the rest of August is still being decided.

"The main thing I'd like to tell him is he needs to come to Humboldt County to have an honest to goodness town hall meeting, one where we're able to speak," said Margaret Stafford after dropping her pink slip off.

Miranda said the number of party members had doubled in the two weeks since she began organizing the protest as people who felt unable express their view joined.

The Tea Party Patriots will also have a protest rally at State Senator Patricia Wiggins' and Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro's Eureka offices on Aug. 28 as well as sending a contingent to Sacramento to join other protestors.

Miranda said that protest will be a show of support for farmers who have lost much of their water supply because of Endangered Species Act protections, specifically for the Delta smoot.

EPD searches for local woman

2009-08-22T12:41:00.001-07:00

Trisha Thomas reported missing under suspicious circumstances

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/22/09

Eureka

The Eureka Police Department is asking the public's help in locating Trisha Thomas, who has also gone by the names Trisha Childers and Trisha Henderson. Her family has reported her missing under suspicious circumstances.

Trisha is 5'7", has dark brown shoulder-length hair, hazel eyes and weighs 175 to 200 lbs. She is driving a cream-colored 1994 Ford Infinity with an Oregon license plate, 357DYU.

Anyone with information about Trisha Thomas can call Public Service Officer Mary Anderson at 441-4300 during work hours or call a dispatcher at 441-4044 anytime.

City Clerk sworn in while police salaries are frozen

2009-08-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

Eureka saves $250k holding back cop raises, then hires zookeepers

David Courtland, Humboldt Sentinel
8/21/09

Eureka

Eureka's police officers have agreed to go without raises for the next two years, a cost-cutting move that will save the city $250,000, city officials said at a Tuesday council meeting dominated by cost-cutting measures.

The Council unanimously voted, with Mayor Virginia Bass absent, to amend the city's contract with the Eureka Police Officers Association after reaching an agreement with the union during labor discussions.

Dropping the raises that were supposed to go into effect in January saves the city $174,000 this fiscal year and $87,000 for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Officers' benefits will remain the same for the next two years.

Pam Powell was sworn in as Eureka's new city clerk by Mayor Pro Tem Mike Jones, a move that city officials claim will save money by eliminating an assistant to the city manager's job and giving some of those duties to the city clerk.

City Manager David Tyson said Powell will continue advising his office on risk management, one of her previous duties, as well as taking on administrative tasks.

The council voted unanimously to approve leasing the Cooper Gulch Recreational Building for $600 a month to the Redwood Coast Montessori School, which will share the cost of maintenance with the city.

Public safety and prosperity

The council also heard reports from Assistant Fire Chief Bill Gillespie on the fire department's July 24 special training drill with equipment used to pull people out of tangled vehicles, which was held in the parking lot of John's Used Cars and Auto Wreckers.

Gillespie noted that Eureka ranked second in traffic collision injuries and deaths and third in pedestrian injuries and deaths among 96 California cities in 2007. That year 392 motorists or their passengers and 23 pedestrians were killed or injured in collisions.

Police Chief Garr Nielsen told the council that in response to complaints, traffic officers Gary Whitmer and Greg Hill recently worked 20 extra hours to make 40 traffic stops, handing out 20 tickets to drivers in the neighborhood around the zoo.

City Councilmember Linda Atkins presented Nancy Only, Unity of the Redwoods' minister, with a proclamation declaring Aug. 20 a day to acknowledge Eureka's prosperity.

"I have been a resident of Eureka for 20 years, I have absolutely felt like I was in paradise on earth," Only told the council. "It really disturbs me when people talk about what we lack. Gratitude should come ahead of gripes."

In addition

Other actions the council took were:

Voted 3-1, with Larry Glass dissenting, to accept a $20,949 donation from the Sequoia Zoo Foundation to make the education coordinator position at the zoo full-time again. The position had been cut back to part-time earlier this year.

Glass said he preferred spending any money for the zoo on a study to form a zoo assessment district.

Voted unanimously to grant two hiring freeze exceptions for the zoo, letting it fill two vacant zookeeper positions.

Voted unanimously to grant waivers excluding four people from the garbage and recycling program. The four had all been eligible for exclusion but didn't file applications on time. City Attorney Sheryl Schaffner said 19 more appeals are pending.

Jones said the council decided in closed session to join the California Redevelopment Association's lawsuit against the state's redevelopment funds grab.

Driver arrested for striking vehicles, house

2009-08-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

APD allege James Russell was under the influence during accident

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/20/09

Arcata

Arcata police arrested a driver this afternoon after he was found to have been involved in four separate collisions at the north end of J Street.

James Russell, 47 of Arcata, was detained by the APD while attempting to leave the scene of the collisions at the 1700 block of J Street, with Arcata officers assisted by a University Police Department unit. Officers determined Russell was under the influence of alcohol and possibly drugs, and he was arrested at that time for driving while intoxicated.

What was reported to dispatch as a single collision turned out to be several; Russell was driving his 1997 Jeep Cherokee south on J Street when he allegedly struck a parked vehicle, drove through a yard, and struck a house, causing significant structural damage. APD sergeant Dave Brown alleged in a release that Russell drove from that point back to the street, striking two more parked vehicles before his own jeep was disabled to the point where it could no longer be driven.

No injuries were reported as a result of the collisions, and Russell was booked into county jail without further incident.

Parolee busted for multiple thefts

2009-08-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

Zach Friedland was found hiding in the attic

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/19/09

Fairhaven

A local man on parole is back in jail after a search by Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered numerous stolen items in his Huntoon Street residence.

The suspect was allegedly spotted running from a parked vehicle aside Highway 255 on Monday evening by a witness who noted the license plate number of the vehicle he left in. The burglarized vehicle had a broken window, and a responding deputy arrived at the location of the Fairhaven burglary to confirm with the owner, who returned from the beach, that several items had been stolen from the vehicle.

Deputies ran the plate and discovered it belonged to Zachariah Friedland, 30 of Eureka. Deputies responded to his residence on the 200 block of Huntoon Street and attempted to contact him. As Friedland was on parole and was thus subject to warrantless searches, deputies intended to conduct a search of the home, despite claims by a woman at the house that Friedland had left.

In the course of their search deputies found Friedland in the attic, along with a set of keys on his person which opened the residence’s garage. Inside, deputies found numerous items reported stolen from other local burglary cases, according to HCSO public information officer Brenda Godsey. These include digital cameras, DVD players and other small electronic devices, only some of which can be traced to an original owner.

Friedland was arrested and transported taken to county jail where he was booked for burglary, possession of stolen property and a parole violation -- which makes him ineligible to post bail. He is expected to be arraigned on Thursday, but meanwhile, the case is still under investigation and additional arrests are expected.

Victims of car burglaries, particularly in the Samoa area, are encouraged to contact the HCSO in an effort to return their property to them.

Fire tips off Sheriffs to grow

2009-08-18T23:37:00.000-07:00

Bradley Chrisler busted for cultivation, sales, needles and more

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/18/09

Cutten

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office put two and two together after a fire occurred last week at a residence just outside Eureka city limits.

Their suspicion of an indoor marijuana growing operation taking place there led deputies to pay a visit to the 6400 block of Eggert Road this morning, where they contacted 48-year-old resident Bradley John Chrisler. He is subject to a form of probation which requires him to submit to law enforcement searches upon request.

In their search, the HCSO located 535 growing marijuana plants, over 11 pounds of bud and three hypodermic syringes.

Chrisler was promptly arrested and transported to county jail without incident, where he was booked on charges of cultivating marijuana, possessing marijuana for sales, possessing a hypodermic syringe and violating his probation. He posted $20,000 bail, according to HCSO public information officer Brenda Godsey, and will be arraigned on Sept. 1.

APD canine Cody dies

2009-08-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

Labrador retriever worked narcotic detection for six years

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/17/09

Arcata

Arcata Police Department employees were shaken this weekend by the unexpected death of Cody, their longest-serving K-9 unit, who worked the narcotic detection beat with his handler, APD sergeant Todd Dokweiler.

"Cody's passing comes as a shock to all of us at APD," APD captain Tom Chapman stated in a release. "Cody played an important role in our department, not only as a working dog, but also as an enthusiastic, high-energy companion that could instantly put a smile on your face when he came barreling down the office hallway at top speed."

Cody passed away Saturday afternoon after he had been taken to a local veterinarian that morning due to stomach problems. He was not on duty when he became ill, according to the APD.

Otherwise known as Wilson Maximum Code Red, Cody was a seven-year-old AKC Labrador retriever who joined the APD in 2003 after his drug-sniffing training. During his career he made nearly 300 narcotic finds ranging from trace amounts of cocaine to over three pounds of heroin and two pounds of methamphetamine. He worked around the region on the Humboldt County Drug Task Force with most local law enforcement agencies, as well as with the California Department of Corrections, the United States Postal Service and the US Forest Service.

Nodded-out drug offender arrested

2009-08-16T23:37:00.000-07:00

APD finds man unconscious and allegedly heroin-addled

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/16/09

Arcata

Arcata Police Department officers arrested an allegedly intoxicated parolee on Friday who was apparently in possession of a number of illicit substances.

APD conducted a welfare check at about 11:30 p.m. on Trevor Dowdy, who appeared unconscious while sitting in the driver seat of a vehicle parked on the 600 block of Tenth Street. He was evaluated and determined to be under the influence of an illegal drug, according to an APD release.

Officers proceeded to arrest Dowdy and search his vehicle; they found about 9.1 grams of heroin in plain view, several types of prescription medication not prescribed to Dowdy, as well as a syringe containing heroin and other heroin related paraphernalia.

In addition to his arrest for being under the influence of a controlled substance, Dowdy was booked at the county jail for possession of a narcotic, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a needle and illegal possession of medication. He also has an arrest warrant out of Sunnyvale for drug possession and another arrest warrant out of Michigan for violating his parole from prior drug convictions.

Armed robber on motorcycle at large

2009-08-15T16:54:00.000-07:00

Man brandished handgun and swiped cash at Loleta smoke shop

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/15/09

Loleta

Humboldt County Sheriff's deputies are on the lookout for an unidentified man who held up the Huber Enterprises Smoke Shop on the Table Bluff Rancheria.

At about 11:30 a.m. yesterday, deputies responded to a report of a white male in his 30s who arrived at the shop on a loud motorcycle, brandished a small handgun at the clerk and demanded that she give him the shop's money. He then took the money, some of which was in bank deposit bags, and left on his motorcycle.

Deputies found the empty deposit bags a short time later at the intersection of Table Bluff Road and Eel River Drive, according to the release by HCSO public information officer Brenda Godsey.

While no plate number for the motorcycle has been released at this time, the suspect is described as wearing a black leather jacket, a black helmet, and sunglasses. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251.

Eureka to host full-time federal judge

2009-08-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

Nandor Vadas to be assigned all new federal cases in region

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/13/09

San Francisco

A five-year part-time veteran of the federal bench has been elevated to a new full-time position to cover all new civil and criminal federal actions on the North Coast.

Nandor Vadas, who served as the part-time United States magistrate judge in Eureka since July 2004, has taken a lead role in expanding the services offered by the local federal court, including an innovative early settlement program for prisoner civil rights cases brought by unrepresented prisoners at Pelican Bay State Prison. The success of the prisoner civil rights early settlement program at Pelican Bay led to its expansion to all state prisons in the Northern District of California and to some prisons in the Eastern District of California, according to a release from Rich Wieking, Clerk of Court for the US District Court for Northern California.

As the first full-time magistrate to be seated in Eureka, Vadas will be directly assigned all new civil and criminal actions arising in Humboldt, Mendocino, Del Norte and Trinity Counties.

Vadas previously served as a Deputy District Attorney for Humboldt County, concurrently serving as Special Assistant US Attorney for the region. In this role he prosecuted all federal misdemeanor cases and also investigated federal drug and money laundering crimes. He has also taught criminal justice courses at the Redwood Police Academy of College of the Redwoods.

Magistrate Judge Vadas graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz and Hastings College of the Law and served as a Deputy DA for San Francisco County from 1983‐1989, after which he moved to the federal system and began a lengthy period of service as an Assistant US Attorney in San Francisco from 1989‐1998.

Opposition grows against Eureka inspection scheme

2009-08-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

Laughter, jeers greet pols as task force backs off fast-track approval

David Courtland, Humboldt Sentinel
8/12/09

Eureka

Local property owners continued giving an earful to proponents of a neglected rental ordinance Tuesday night in the Wharfinger Building, complaining the proposed law only duplicates ones already in place.

Councilmember Larry Glass and ad hoc task force members Lisa Ollivier, Virginia Hill and Lance Madsen took notes and answered questions as several dozen people, most of them landlords, lined up at a podium to vent their frustration with proposed inspections prompted by renters and neighbors.

"It looks like we're just trying to generate money, it's not going to help tenants, it's just going to help the city,” said Charlie Day, adding it seems the ordinance is going to be “crammed down our throats” whether anyone liked it or not. “I don't think that's right, I think it's a bad law, I don't think we ought to enact it.”

In response to those comments at last week's city council meeting, a section that excluded mobile homes and recreational vehicles used as rental units was dropped. The phrase “related to alleged criminal activity” was added to a section regarding the types of phone calls that could trigger civil liability for landlords -- although this would still leave in place what local attorney and Redwood ACLU chair Greg Allen called a “conclusive presumption” that lacked adequate safeguards against malicious calls or “calls by crazy people.”

None of the other attendees seemed mollified by the changes either, and City Attorney Cheryl Schaffner's frank admission that the ordinance is largely just a funding mechanism to pay for someone to coordinate inspections following complaints didn't sit well with the audience.

Schaffner -- whose estimate of 3,000 affected units doubled to 6,000 since the city council meeting -- suggested a $35 per unit per year fee that property owners say amounts to a tax or assessment. Her assurances the fee will probably go down as more properties are brought into compliance drew laughter, as did Glass' suggestion a sunset clause ending the policy after “maybe 50 years” could be added.

Skeptical landlords asked about the appeal process for complaints -- Schaffner said they are provided for by another municipal law -- and repeatedly complained the law would duplicate existing health and safety codes.

Another repeated complaint was that responsible landlords would be unfairly forced to pay for getting rid of a handful of irresponsible ones. Some said the law will hurt low-income tenants, and Schaffner acknowledged the fee is going to cause rent increases.

“We're being penalized because of bad landlords,” said Cheryl Clayton. “But I'm not a bad landlord and my tenant's not a bad tenant. She's going to have to move because I'm going to have to raise the rent and she can't afford it.”

Property manager Don Davenport pointed out renters on fixed incomes will have difficulty with higher rents and said the ordinance would make an already difficult situation even worse.

“My point is, people are just getting by, we need to recognize we're in a poor community,” said Davenport. “You want to go after somebody, go after the slumlords --we all know who they are.”

This point was echoed by local landlord Kelly Martin, who called for the formation of a citizen task force to go after “drug houses,” including their landlords.

Towards the end of the nearly four-hour hearing, Glass promised attendees that he would convene another town hall-style workshop prior to bringing the ordinance to the City Council for possible adoption.

Fake police charity calls reported

2009-08-11T23:40:00.000-07:00

APD advises locals to never give personal info to unsolicited callers

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/11/09

Arcata

Local law enforcement warned residents today of an attempted fundraising scam, involving unsolicited calls from the fictitious Northern California Police Officer’s League.

Arcata Police Department officers received a report from a resident who received such a call, wherein she was asked to provide her credit card information to make a charitable donation to local law enforcement. While the unnamed resident was smart enough to spot the suspicious call and decline the offer, the APD is concerned with the attempted scam.

Locals are advised that unsolicited phone calls are a common method used by criminals to obtain personal and financial information, and that personal information should not be given out to unknown persons making unsolicited calls to them.

For more information, call the APD at (707) 822-2428.

California unemployment debt tops $2.6 billion

2009-08-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

State's insurance trust fund the most indebted in the nation

Olga Pierce, ProPublica
8/10/09

Sacramento

Seventeen states have been forced to borrow federal money because their unemployment insurance trust funds have run dry — but even among this group one state stands out from the rest.

California, which now owes $2.6 billion, has the most indebted trust fund in the nation. For the last month, the state has been borrowing at a rate of about $30 million per day.

State workforce department officials estimate that by the end of 2010, the state’s fund will owe a jaw-dropping $18 billion.

A historical compromise left the U.S. with a patchwork system of 53 different trust funds operated by states and territories, which are able to decide their levels of financing and benefits provided they comply with federal guidelines that have not been updated for more than 25 years. The result is a system where some states have ample funds for unemployment insurance, and some run out. Workers in the most generous states get benefits twice as high as those in the stingiest states.

As is the case with most of the other states whose trust funds are empty, the funds coming into California’s trust fund have barely kept pace with the money being paid out in benefits. In times of recession, unemployment benefits function both as a helping hand for workers in need and an automatic form of economic stimulus by keeping people spending and businesses open.

When the unemployment insurance system was created, the intent was for states to accumulate reserves during good years and then let that money flow into the economy to ease economic rough patches.

Instead, as we reported earlier this year, many states let their reserves dwindle to nothing and have been forced to either cut benefits or raise taxes at the worst possible time—the middle of a deep recession.

California’s recent problems date back to 2001 when Democrats in the state legislature had the simple majority required to increase benefits, but not the two-thirds majority required to raise taxes to a rate that would make those benefits sustainable.

Ever since then, the state has barely been able to break even, let alone accumulate trust fund reserves required to weather a recession like the current one. Even in 2004, a relatively good year, the state found itself borrowing federal funds.

The stimulus bill provides for interest-free loans to states until 2011, but if California can’t pay off the bulk of its loans before then, it faces interest bills of more than $500 million per year. And according to federal borrowing rules, that money must come out of the state’s general fund, which means less money for other priorities.

The legislature is debating several proposals to stop the bleeding, including a provision similar to other states’ that would automatically adjust tax revenue upward as wages increase, thus ensuring sufficient funding each year with no need for the legislature to take action.

But all of the proposals yield to harsh economic reality: For the trust fund to regain solvency, businesses will have to pay higher tax rates, and benefits may have to be cut.

Blasting the right is not a policy

2009-08-09T14:38:00.003-07:00

Democrat schemes hopelessly complex; expansion of Medicare enjoys support

Sam Smith, Progressive Review
8/9/09

Liberalism has been long been trapped by the notion that its virtues are defined by the evils of the political right. In fact, while opposing the right may be a necessity, it's not a policy.

The dangers of MSNBC style liberalism - i.e. behaving like Bill O'Reilly but just flipping the issues - has been well demonstrated during the healthcare debate. By obsessing on things like the conservative protests at Democratic town meetings, there has been little interest in looking at the Democratic health plans and seeing why so many are so easily worried by them.

For example, the Democratic plans don't build on what's working now i.e. lowering the age of Medicare or otherwise expanding its approach.

They are hopelessly complex, an open invitation to political disaster.

They contains a lot of cutesy provisions that may appeal to health industry lobbies but make what's going in the bills seem opaque.

They treat health too much as a budget issue without dealing adequately with people's medical concerns.

They are far too friendly with the health industry and the bills show it.

If the Democrats bomb on healthcare, the primary blame rests with them. The right's opposition was a given from the start. What wasn't a given was that the Democrats would mess things up so badly.

It didn't have to be like this. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 53% of Americans strongly support lowering Medicare to 55. Another 26% support it some what. That's 79% of Americans favorable to a plan the Democrats wouldn't even consider.

HSU creates Wellington Endowment for music

2009-08-09T14:38:00.001-07:00

Fondly remembered KHSU host leaves $185,000 for scholarships

Paul Mann, Humboldt State University
8/9/09

Arcata

Humboldt State University has established the Jean Wellington Endowment through a nearly $185,000 bequest from the late Jean Wellington, one of the Redwood Coast’s foremost proponents of classical music and an on-air mainstay of Humboldt State’s KHSU/KHSR for nearly two decades.

Income earned from the endowment will be split evenly between the C. Leland Barlow Music Scholarship, begun in 1983 and awarded to the Department of Music’s incoming majors, and the Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop, launched in 1971, which provides young musicians with total immersion in chamber music.

The Barlow scholarship takes its name from a former faculty member who taught in HSU’s Department of Music for 36 years. The Sequoia workshop, sponsored by the Office of Extended Education, provides each participant with the opportunity to perform four times during each of two six-day summer sessions. Sequoia alumni have attended every major music school in the country and performed with ensembles ranging from Baltimore and Detroit to Utah and San Francisco.

Professor Eugene Novotney, chair of the Music Department Scholarship Committee and a collaborator with Wellington, said, “Our department is thrilled to be a recipient of this generous endowment. These funds will be used to assist talented young musicians realize their dreams of becoming music majors at Humboldt State.”

Multiple Barlow scholarships are awarded annually, usually five to eight, in amounts up to $1,000 per student.

David Filner, director of the Sequoia program, said the endowment will enable his organization “to continue to serve talented young musicians who travel from Humboldt County and the rest of the country to attend our workshop. This program provides a unique opportunity for students to experience chamber music in an intense, yet supportive environment. It has helped to inspire countless young musicians.”

Wellington, who died in mid-2007, was a former elementary school teacher and the host for close to two decades of a classical program, “A World of Music,” on KHSU-FM. He had many years of training and education in classical genres and hosted a big band program for many years. He also anchored a public affairs broadcast for seniors called “Sharetime.”

Afflicted with blindness, Wellington was a member of the Low Vision Support Group and wrote a monthly column titled “Insight” for the McKinleyville Press. He resided in McKinleyville.

Chase Bank in Arcata reports attempted forgery

2009-08-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

Pair of Eureka men attempted to cash stolen checks from closed account

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/8/09

Arcata

A pair of young men from Eureka are in the county jail after attempting to pass stolen and forged checks at the Arcata branch of Chase Bank on Thursday.

Arcata Police Department officers responded to the bank, formerly a branch of Washington Mutual, after employees reported that Christopher Barto, 26, and Jeremiah Jones, 29, were in possession of checks which had been stolen in Arcata.

APD officers contacted the men, who bank tellers alleged had forged the checks. Bank officials also determined that at least one other check had been passed at the Chase branch in Eureka, originating from a WaMu account which had been closed.

According to the APD release, the owner of the account has been contact and has reported the theft, while officers continue to work with other local agencies in the investigation to seek other suspects.

In addition to the forgery and possession of stolen property charges against both men, Barto was also found to be in possession of heroin, according to APD sergeant Dave Brown. They were transported to county jail and booked without incident.

Fire department burglary suspect nabbed

2009-08-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

Briceland Fire Company temporarily lost $5,000 of equipment

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/8/09

Dutyville

A suspect was arrested Wednesday on charges of burglary and possession of property stolen from the Crooked Prairie Fire Station in Southern Humboldt.

Sheriff’s deputies were deployed on Tuesday to the station, part of the Briceland Fire Company, after the fire crew discovered a burglary. Deputies determined that the station had been broken into and multiple pieces of fire equipment worth more than $5,000 had been stolen. They also reviewed footage from a security camera, which showed a suspect entering the station on two separate occasions.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office followed up on this evidence and contacted several people in the area, showing them pictures of the suspect, who was identified as 49-year-old Salinas resident James Bruce McDonnell. He was arrested without incident and booked into the county jail, and is being held on $50,000 bail.

McDonnell will be arraigned on Friday, while the stolen equipment was successfully recovered and returned to the fire station.

State cuts force HSU to close Natural History Museum

2009-08-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

Curtain falls on 20-year educational programs; fate of collections unknown

Paul Mann, Humboldt State University
8/7/09

Arcata

Humboldt State University will be forced to close its Natural History Museum permanently by the end of August. The closure is due to this year’s severe and unprecedented state budget cuts to the California State University system.

Museum staff were informed of the decision beforehand and volunteers and supporters were being contacted by the campus. A plan for the museum’s orderly closing, which will likely extend well beyond the last day of being open to the public, is being finalized.

The decision was made after many months of difficult discussions about the museum’s finances and the ability of the university to adequately fund it. It had been perennially underfunded even before the most recent budget cuts. The museum staff had estimated a year ago that an additional $200,000 annually was needed to finance the operation on a sustaining basis.

In a year when major cuts are being made across campus, that type of new funding is not available.

“This is really a shame. Even with all the budget limitations, they’ve been doing very good work, and have been an important asset for the community.” said Steve Smith, Associate Dean of the College of Natural Resources and Sciences, which oversees the museum.

“There were many staff, donors, volunteers and community organizations that strongly supported and partnered with the museum,” Smith said. “We really appreciate all they have done. But unfortunately, we are confronted with the most serious budget crisis in the CSU’s history, and cuts like this are unavoidable.”

He thanked the museum’s long-time Director, Melissa Zielinski, as well as the staff, volunteers and donors “for their earnest and unstinting support across many years.”

Located in a university-owned building in downtown Arcata, the museum opened to the public in 1989. It offers exhibits and programs to teach community members of all ages about the natural world, and serves as a learning laboratory for Humboldt State students. Decisions about the future use of its building, the museum’s collections and related issues are pending.

Estimated savings from the closure are relatively small, about $26,000 annually. The overriding issue was future viability and the challenge of remaining open with inadequate funding. A detailed internal analysis conducted a year ago concluded that the museum “was barely solvent” and could not continue to function as it had in the past. Pending staff departures made the challenge even greater.

The closure of the museum comes as Humboldt State struggles to absorb its share of recent state budget cuts to the California State University system.

The system’s state funding has been reduced to $1.6 billion this year. That’s nearly $600 million lower than a decade ago, and creates a funding shortfall of $564 million even after the receipt of significant federal stimulus funds.

For Humboldt State, that means a reduction of about $12 million in a $102 million general fund budget. Actions already taken at the system and campus levels to address some of the shortfall include student fee increases, eliminating spring admissions, unpaid employee furloughs, hiring freezes, administrative salary freezes and reductions in equipment purchases.

Additional cuts will be necessary, and students will face elimination of many classes as well as reduced services this fall.

More information about Humboldt State’s current fiscal emergency is available at its Budget Office website, http://www.humboldt.edu/~budget.

Fortuna cops seize pot, guns on May Street

2009-08-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

Thomas Meahle arrested for cultivation, possession for sales

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/6/09

Fortuna

A search warrant for a home on the 2500 block of May Street led police to a mid-sized marijuana growing operation and the arrest of the alleged cultivator on Tuesday.

Fortuna Police Department officers arrested Thomas Luther Meahle, 26, for marijuana cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale. He was transported to the county jail and booked without incident.

During the course of their search, the FPD seized approximately 250 marijuana plants ranging from three inches to four feet in height and in various stages of growth. Officers also seized several firearms and items known to be associated with marijuana cultivation and possible sales, according to detective Aaron Starcher.

Citizens condemn rental inspection scheme

2009-08-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

Eureka City Council to hold special hearing next week on proposal

David Courtland, Humboldt Sentinel
8/5/09

Eureka

Landlords unhappy with a proposed rental inspection law dominated Tuesday's City Council meeting, asking councilmembers to overhaul or drop the bill.

Most of the several dozen people who packed council chambers opposed the measure, which would charge owners of five or more units annually for the cost of inspections prompted by complaints by tenants or neighbors.

The overall theme of comments was that responsible property owners would be getting being penalized for the negligence of a handful of irresponsible ones.

"I really think more thought needs to go into this proposal, it doesn't seem right," said property owner Charlie Day. "I hate to see a new bureaucracy started in Eureka, I think we have enough city staff to maintain inspections and take care of it in a timely fashion."

Harley Smith noted landlords are already paying for state mandated inspections by local fire departments for properties of three or more units.

"So we're paying one inspection fee on top of another inspection fee," said Smith. "I think that's double dipping."

Landlords' comments followed a presentation by city attorney Sheryl Shaffner, who explained the reasoning behind the proposed ordinance.

Shaffner said the proposed law--modeled after similar ones in Los Angeles and other California cities--is designed to stop neglected properties from causing whole neighborhoods to go downhill.

"There is this downward spiral affect," said Shaffner. "If you have one neglected property, there's more neglect, property values go down and there's increased criminal activity."

Property owner Ann White said she knows from experience how frustrating it can be to have blighted properties with negligent owners in a neighborhood.

"I'm a landlord, and I also live in a multi-family zone, unlike these other landlords, so I can tell you what it's like to be called by tenants saying, 'What are we going to do?'" said White, who was on the committee that drafted the proposal with city staff.

"It's overwhelming, quality of life has gone down because of these problem rentals," said White. "I think this is the beginning of turning Eureka away from becoming a slum, I'm glad something is finally being done about this problem."

Shaffner said the prospective $35 fee per unit would probably go down as it became clearer how many neglected properties there were.

The local civil rights community also spoke out with their concerns over the equal treatment of renters and homeowners, and whether city staff would engage in fishing expeditions to create complaints.

"The ordinance, really as a matter of definition, creates two classes of citizens in the City of Eureka as regards the expectation of privacy in their residences," Redwood ACLU chair Greg Allen said.

While not taking an outright position against the ordinance, the local American Civil Liberties Union questioned why such an expansion of police powers wouldn't go hand in hand with the establishment of the long-awaited police review commission to provide independent oversight and policy review for law enforcement in Eureka.

Councilmembers refrained from responding to the comments, indicating they would rather wait for next week's workshop on the bill.

The workshop, where the public will be able to dialog with councilmembers and staff on the proposed law, will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Wharfinger Building on the Eureka waterfront.

In addition

With Councilmember Mike Jones absent, the remaining representatives voted 4-0 to approve:
A four-way stop at Dolbeer and Chester streets;
An exception to the city's hiring freeze to let city employees apply for an open Parks & Recreation Dept. position;
Acceptance of a state grant to let the police chief hire two new police officers for the Problem Oriented Policing initiative.

Councilmembers also recognized a moment of silence dedicated to former Eureka Police Chief Arnie Milsap, who died recently of a heart attack. His friends and co-workers on the dais also took time to share recollections of his service to the city.

"He treated everybody fair, but you didn't want to mess with Arnie," said Councilmember Frank Jager, who worked with Milsap when both were patrol officers. "If you needed to go to jail, he was the one to take you there, being the former Marine that he was."

Mayor Virginia Bass said Milsap was a "wonderful role model" and recalled he was the reason she didn't join in cruising with other teenagers.

"Arnie was the one who would stop at the restaurant, that's why I never that," said Bass, referring to her family's business. "He was real supportive and a great person to talk to."

Ousted Arcata city manager succumbs to cancer

2009-08-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

Michael Hackett passes away just two months after contract termination

Humboldt Sentinel staff
8/4/09

Arcata

Flags are flying at half-staff at City Hall this week to honor the passing of Michael Hackett, who served for three years as City Manager before the Council terminated his contract in May.

Hackett, who had been battling for several months with cancer, succumbed to the disease last Friday. His family will hold a celebration in remembrance of him later this year, according to a release by police chief Randy Mendosa, who is doubly serving as Interim City Manager since Hackett’s ouster.

Michael was described as a “wise person” by a senior Arcata official, and an outpouring of support and caring has come forth from other city staff and the community.

Hackett served for 18 years as city manager in Alamosa, Colorado before coming to Arcata in 2006. His old bosses on the Alamosa City Council recently voted to place a large plaque on a ranch property purchased by the city to recognize those responsible for obtaining the ranch, with Michael Hackett's name to be listed at the top to honor his vision and leadership in that effort.

HSU student fees to skyrocket

2009-07-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

State university system grapples with $584 million shortfall

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/17/09

Long Beach

Faced with a projected $584 million shortfall to its budget as a result of the state budget crisis, the California State University Board of Trustees will meet July 21 to finalize plans to manage the budget deficit with skyrocketing fee increases and dramatic cuts to student services.

Trustee are set to vote on a proposed $672 fee increase for full-time undergraduate student residents, and a $990 tuition increase for full-time students from out of state, according to a release from university officials. Fee increases for all part-time and graduate students in the CSU are also expected.

High school and transfer students not already within the CSU system will be hit especially hard: Enrollment is already closed for the upcoming fall semester, and Humboldt State University officials concede that enrollment is closed for spring 2010.

CSU officials also calculate a reduction of 40,000 students system-wide in the 2010-11 academic year -- meaning fewer incoming high school graduates who otherwise qualify for admission will be allowed in.

“These are not easy choices,” CSU chancellor Charles B. Reed stated. “We are asking everyone to make sacrifices so that we can continue to serve as many students as possible and to preserve as many jobs as possible under very difficult circumstances.”

For the first time in living memory, the pain of budget cuts will actually be felt by Reed and other six-figure income university administrators; trustees are set to take action on proposed changes to state regulations to allow the Chancellor to furlough management and executive employees. Twin freezes on salaries for, and “non-essential” hiring of, executive positions are also being imposed.

All university employees, with the exception of campus-based police, are also expecting to feel the bite of involuntary furloughs two days a month. The California Faculty Association, which represents faculty, has yet to agree to an amendment to their contract to allow for furloughs -- the California State Employees Union, which represents support staff, has reached a tentative agreement with Long Beach to allow for furloughs.

While CSU employees will continue to be paid as normal and will not be subject to the IOUs the Controller is currently issuing, students receiving financial aid are; officials from the Chancellor’s office insist that payment deadlines for affected students are being deferred.

EPD rousts heroin den, arrest six

2009-07-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

One ounce of heroin also seized at second location

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/16/09

Eureka

Six needle-wielding heroin users were served with a search warrant and subsequently arrested on drug charges today, while across town Eureka Police Department officers simultaneously served a warrant at a second location and found an ounce of heroin.

First on the docket is 37-year-old Michael Ray Robinson, who is charged with maintaining a drug house at the unspecified address on the 600 block of West Wabash Avenue. Additional felony drug possession charges are pending for Robinson, according to EPD sergeant Steve Watson in a release.

The EPD Crime Suppression Unit, assisted by uniformed patrol officers, also arrested Philip Daniel Myers, 19, Christopher Paul Jacobson, 21, and Adonia McGarity, 38 for possession of hypodermic syringes and drug paraphernalia; EPD suggests felony drug possession charges are also pending for McGarity.

Virginia Mae Ramsland, 29, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, while Joseph Donald Ray, 42, was arrested for both drug possession and possession of paraphernalia.

EPD declined to disclose the second location searched where the ounce of heroin was seized; their investigation is ongoing and further arrests may follow.

Big cats spotted in Arcata

2009-07-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Neither mountain lion “incident” involved aggressive behavior

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/16/09

Arcata

Either two mountain lions were spotted yesterday, or the same one was spotted twice in different neighborhoods of Arcata.

The first sighting was early in the morning, when a member of the public reported a mountain lion near Anderson Lane in SunnyBrae. Arcata Police Department officers checked the area, but did not locate the animal.

Late in the afternoon, a second sighting was reported in between Greenbriar Lane and Hilltop Court off of California Avenue, in the hills just north of Humboldt State University. APD units responding were equally unable to locate the cat.

APD sergeant Dave Brown warned the community that mountain lion sightings are not uncommon in the city, usually in areas bordering the forest. He cautioned residents on the edge of town not to leave pet food outside and to be more aware during early morning and evening hours.

If a mountain lion is encountered, citizens are advised to make themselves appear larger by waving your hands overhead and yelling, which may be useful in scaring the animal away.

APD asks anyone encountering a mountain lion in Arcata to contact them at (707) 822-2424.

Gigolo sting catches four local women

2009-07-15T22:13:00.000-07:00

Undercover EPD decoy cruises Third Street to make busts

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/15/09

Eureka

In a departure from the usual police sting on male customers of prostitutes, Eureka Police Department officers made four arrests last night of local women who were soliciting a “John” or male decoy.

The Crime Suppression Unit utilized a car borrowed from J&L Towing and Transport and put an undercover EPD detective behind the wheel along the notorious Third Street strip between the Humboldt County library and the law office of Tracy Herrin. This neighborhood has been the target of numerous citizen complaints about open-air prostitution during late afternoon and evening hours, according to a release from EPD sergeant Steve Watson.

During the three hour operation, the sting operation netted four arrests for soliciting an act of prostitution: Carrie Lynette McKune, 23, Kristen Leilani Hill, 36, Valerie Rondi, 51 and Laurie Ellen Damon, 33, were all transported without incident to the county jail.

The Crime Suppression Unit was formed last month out of the ashes of the EPD Gang Unit, and according to Watson, the purpose of this change was to expand the scope and mission of the part-time unit to encompass gang enforcement, auto theft, burglary, prostitution, vandalism and street level drug sales.

The unit is currently supervised by a patrol sergeant under lieutenant Tony Zanotti, the Field Operations Division Commander, and its objective is to take a more aggressive approach to suppressing street crime and gang violence. Currently, seven officers plus the sergeant serve in the unit.

King Salmon man goes missing in Headwaters

2009-07-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

Kenneth Norman Dotson reportedly suffers from depression

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/14/09

Fortuna

An elderly resident of King Salmon has been missing for over a week and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is on the lookout.

Kenneth Norman Dotson, 67, was last seen on July 6 at his daughter’s residence in Miranda. His vehicle, a blue 1994 Buick LaSabre, was located at the Elk River Trailhead of the Headwaters Forest Reserve.

According to the HCSO release, Dotson is considered as an at risk individual due to a depressive condition, and relatives also report that his disappearance is out of character.

Dotson is described as a white male, 5 foot 9 inches tall, 170 pounds, with grey hair and blue eyes. Members of the public with any information about Dotson’s whereabouts are asked to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251.

Bill passes to halt suction dredge mining

2009-07-13T22:57:00.000-07:00

Resumption would await new regulations from Fish and Game

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/13/09

Sacramento

A measure headed to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk would immediately enact a temporary ban on suction dredge mining in rivers and streams across the region.

Senate Bill 670, authored by Pat Wiggins (Dem - Santa Rosa) and Lois Wolk (Dem - Davis), was adopted earlier today by a 28-7 vote of the State Senate -- a sufficient margin to override a possible gubernatorial veto.

The ban would stay in place until the state’s Department of Fish and Game finishes its court-ordered overhaul of regulations governing this practice, which the bill’s backers claim is highly destructive to spawning grounds for fish. Suction dredge mining involves powerful machines which float on the river’s surface and suck up sediment to uncover valuable minerals.

Wiggins asserted in a release today that she undertook this legislation due to her alarm at the decline of salmon and steelhead populations on the North Coast, which led to recent bans on salmon fishing up and down the Pacific seaboard.

“This ban affects the livelihoods of thousands of commercial fishermen, fish processors, and charter boat operators,” she stated. “The ban has eliminated hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic activity – especially in rural areas.”

“Yet while fishermen are being told to stop fishing, a recreational activity called ‘suction dredge mining’ is allowed to continue. SB 670 is about equity. We simply cannot ask an entire fishing industry to stop their work, while a small group of hobbyists are allowed to continue.”

The state was ordered by a federal court to overhaul regulations governing suction dredge mining as a result of a 2005 lawsuit by the Karuk Tribe. After counterclaims by suction dredge miners, the courts ordered Fish and Game to complete a California Environmental Quality Act review before it acted. This CEQA review was supposed to take 18 months and wrap up a year ago -- but Fish and Game has yet to even begin the process.

Last Thursday, the Alameda District Court issued a preliminary injunction in the case, ordering Fish and Game to immediately cease using general fund money to operate the suction dredge permitting program because it is being operated in violation of CEQA.

“In addition to this being essential to saving salmon and steelhead fisheries, this bill will save the department an estimated $1 million in costs, to administer a program that does not pay for itself,” Wiggins added in her statement.

Assemblymember Jared Huffman (Dem - San Rafael) shepherded the bill through the State Assembly, along with Noreen Evans (Dem - Santa Rosa) and Dave Jones (Dem - Sacramento). It received its strongest support from the California Tribal Business Alliance, the Karuk Tribe and other tribal organizations, along with a coalition of fishermen and environmental groups.

Arcata Corps Committee targets Eureka waterfront?

2009-07-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

Development in neighboring city apparently part of growing mandate

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/12/09

Arcata

Does the City of Arcata’s Committee on Corporations and Democracy have jurisdiction over development on the Eureka waterfront?

That unlikely question will come into play Tuesday as a special meeting of the Corporations Committee has as its only item of new business the “Proposed Home Depot in Eureka” discussion. This irregularly scheduled session will take place at the Arcata Branch Library behind City Hall at 3:30 p.m.

The idea of a Home Depot outlet as the anchor store of a proposed commercial and residential development of the former railroad yard known as the Balloon Tract has predominated recent Eureka city politics, especially due to the involvement of billionaire Republican fundraiser Rob Arkley through his family-owned Security National company.

Yet while it’s true that the Balloon Tract environmental and developmental review process will extend beyond the boundaries of Eureka if the project is sent up to the California Coastal Commission, the City of Arcata wouldn’t appear to be an agency with any purview over a Eureka development -- and it’s never been publicly suggested by any Arcata official that they were inviting Eureka to review projects in Arcata.

The Corporations Committee, dominated throughout its history by a majority of its members also adhering to the ideology of Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County, is seeking to expand its mandate -- a mandate already revised by previous City Councils to give the committee advisory powers over a wide array of economic and political affairs in Arcata. The committee-administered Arcata ordinance banning the operation of new “formula restaurants” is the subject of ongoing lobbying efforts by the Corporations Committee and by other DUHC members to expand this cap to all retail establishments in the city that fall under the Corporations Committee’s “chain” definition.

Officially, the City of Arcata has no position on the proposed Balloon Tract development, with or without a chain hardware store. DUHC does have a position, and a prominent one, and their controversial leader David Cobb has made no secret of his total opposition to any private development on the waterfront parcel in numerous public statements. Before he was fired as a Times-Standard columnist, Cobb accused the Arkley family of demonstrating an “arrogant display of wealth and power,” and likened the Home Depot proposal as akin to developments found in a “third world country.”

Also on the Corporations Committee agenda are proposals to ban bottled water and plastic bags, impose rent control, push federal legislation on government-run health care and continue their “educational component” consisting of an ideology identical to that of Democracy Unlimited.

Backbone Fire torches over 5,000 acres

2009-07-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Big Rock closes as army of firefighters assembles in Willow Creek

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/12/09

Eureka

The lightening-sparked Backbone Fire in a remote corner of Six Rivers National Forest is now responsible for torching approximately 5,200 acres of steep backwoods countryside, and is only 25% contained.

State and federal authorities have responded with the assemblage of a small army of firefighters based in Willow Creek, and forest officials have closed the Big Rock River Access site off of Big Rock Road in Willow Creek due to the growing needs of the firefighter encampment and the nearby helibase.

"Rafters, kayakers, and anglers use this popular area to 'put-in' to the lower Trinity River," said Forest supervisor Tyrone Kelley. "With 10 helicopters and other aircraft continually active in the area, public safety is our primary reason for this closure order."

Visitors to the river can still launch their boats at Camp Kimtu Beach adjacent to Veterans Park, according to the SRNF release. However, there is still a “no stop zone” on the Trinity River from the mouth of Willow Creek to one mile downriver, where visitors are asked to float through with caution due to the nearby helibase.

Other ongoing closures include Horse Ridge National Recreation Trail, Salmon Summit National Scenic Trail, Mill Creek, Tish Tang, and Red Cap Trails, Bear Hole, and Grizzly Camp areas.

Meanwhile, the 11 “hotshot” firefighter crews continue to make progress through hazardous snags, dense brush and steep conditions, further securing the southern and western flanks of the blaze located 36 miles northeast of Willow Creek in the Trinity Alps Wilderness.

Indirect fire line construction continues along Devil’s Backbone Ridge, Fawn Ridge and the drainage for Salmon Creek. Firefighters are also preparing Salmon Ridge as a future burn-out operation to be operated as conditions permit.

District Ranger Mary Kay Vandiver also announced the commencement of clearing activities around the small town of Gasquet as a follow-up to the community protection project implemented in 2003 to create shaded fuel brakes. Pioneer Village, North Fork Loop, Gasquet Mobile Home Park, French Hill Road, Gasquet Mountain Road and French Hill Trail will be thinned of small diameter trees and brush will be cleared in a project spanning over the next two months. Members of the public who are interested in this project are asked to contact district fuels planner Sheila Balent at (707) 457-3968 or at sbalent@fs.fed.us.

On the administrative side, Ken Swartzlander's California Type II Incident Management Team has joined George Custer's National Incident Management Organization out of Atlanta to manage the Backbone Fire.

Waste Management burglar caught in the act

2009-07-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wade Kangas was holding a portable stereo at time of arrest

Humboldt Sentinel staff

7/11/09

Eureka

The activation of a silent alarm led Eureka Police Department officers to the red-handed arrest of a 47-year-old Eureka man last night.

At about 9:30 p.m. officers were dispatched to the Humboldt County Waste Management facility at 1059 West Hawthorne Street -- the same location which had been experiencing a rash of recent burglaries in which unidentified parties had been burglarizing the place overnight, including twice in just the past week.

After setting up a perimeter around the property, officers observed a male subject inside the fenced property carrying several items as he headed towards the exit gate. According to the EPD release, officers ordered the man, Aaron Wade Kangas, to the ground at gunpoint. He was handcuffed and taken into custody without further incident, and booked at the county jail on burglary charges.

Kangas was carrying several items belonging to HCWM at the time police arrested him, including a portable stereo. The items were recovered and returned to the business.

KHSU to air ‘California in Crisis’ series

2009-07-11T09:35:00.000-07:00

Special reports from National Public Radio begin Monday

Frank Whitlatch, Humboldt State University

7/11/09

Arcata

National Public Radio is producing a special series on budget and policy challenges facing California, which will air all next week on public radio station KHSU-FM. The series is tentatively being called "California in Crisis."

The segments will begin Monday, July 13, and continue through Thursday. Topics will range from “ballot box budgets” to “Ungovernable California” and “Arnold’s legacy.”

The special coverage reflects growing national interest in California’s inability to adopt a budget in the face of a $26.3 billion budget gap.

Specific times for the segments are not yet available, but they are scheduled for Morning Edition, which airs locally from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays, and All Things Considered, which airs 5 to 7 p.m. weekdays. For more information, visit the shows’ websites at npr.org by selecting “programs.”

KHSU is a community-supported public radio station that is licensed to, and supported by, Humboldt State University.

KHSU can be heard around Humboldt Bay and beyond at 90.5 FM as well as KHSR-FM 91.9 in Crescent City-Brookings. There are also three translators: 88.7 FM in Ferndale-Fortuna, 89.7 FM in Garberville, and 99.7 FM in Willow Creek.

Two more arrested in jailhouse trafficking case

2009-07-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

Accused guard released after posting $50,000 bail

Humboldt Sentinel staff

7/10/09

Eureka

The investigation and subsequent arrest last weekend of a guard accused of trafficking narcotics into his own lock-up came full circle this week, with the alleged dealer and buyer both arrested yesterday.

Taryn Nichole Mabe, 20 of Willow Creek, turned herself in at about 5:00 p.m. last night at the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, where she was charged with conspiracy, conspiracy to bring a narcotic controlled substance into a correctional facility, conspiracy to bring contraband into a correctional facility, conspiracy to possess a narcotic controlled substance, and conspiracy to possess marijuana.

Her stay in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility was short-lived, however, as she immediately posted the $20,000 bail; Mabe’s arraignment is scheduled for July 22 at 1:30 p.m.

Also arrested was current inmate Ruben Anthony Peredia, who allegedly made use of the heroin, tobacco and marijuana shipped in to him by accused correctional officer Benjamin Jentry-Rakestraw. The inmate has been in the HCCF since March 1 when he was booked for the murder of Ezra Sanders, and will be arraigned on the drug charges on July 13.

According to HCSO public information officer Brenda Godsey, Peredia arranged for his girlfriend, Mabe, to drop off the drugs outside the jail, where Jentry-Rakestraw then picked it up and attempted to bring it in to deliver to Peredia.

No additional arrests are anticipated, according to the HCSO release.

Officers hunt down suspected burglar

2009-07-09T23:29:00.000-07:00

Alleged accomplice, another parolee also nabbed

Humboldt Sentinel staff

7/9/09

Eureka

A Eureka man wanted in connection with a June 26 burglary and subsequent credit card fraud was caught today, along with an accomplice and a third subject.

Steven Lawrence Dorfman, 38, already had an active warrant for violating his parole when he was also accused of the burglary and of making use of stolen credit cards. At about 5:40 p.m. yesterday, Bayshore Mall security personnel spotted Dorfman with a female subject and notified the Eureka Police Department. While the private security firm kept track of Dorfman, EPD officers responded, but too late, as he and his companion left the mall prior to their arrival.

The license plate of his vehicle was recorded, however, and a county-wide alert led to a California Highway Patrol officer locating his vehicle at a Eureka motel about three hours later. EPD officers once again closed in on Dorfman, who once again attempted to escape with his companion, this time on foot.

After a short foot pursuit they were taken into custody, and Dorfman was charged with burglary, theft by access card, resisting arrest and possession of stolen property. His companion, 23-year-old Eureka resident Christina Renee Asbury, was charged with violating the terms of her probation, with involvement in the burglary, and was also found to be in possession of counterfeit US bills.

Back at the motel room, a search uncovered several knives, methamphetamine, marijuana and a fire safe. A 27-year-old Eureka man, Shad Andrew Sovereign, was found in the motel room and taken into custody for parole violation.

The vehicle Dorfman and Asbury left Bayshore Mall with was located at the motel and towed until a search warrant could be obtained, and the investigation is ongoing, according to a release by EPD detective sergeant Patrick O’Neill.

EPD catches up with alleged thief

2009-07-09T23:07:00.000-07:00

K-9 unit “Tahoe” helps cut second escape attempt short

Humboldt Sentinel staff

7/9/09

Eureka

A man wanted for several weeks on drug and stolen property charges was nabbed by Eureka Police Department detectives and their canine partner today.

William Lee Nicholson, 29 of Eureka, had successfully fled on foot from an EPD unit which pulled him over on June 19, when he had provided false information to the officers to avoid discovery of controlled substances and stolen property in the vehicle he was driving. His passenger at the time, 23-year-old Katrina Marie Gerace of Eureka, was arrested for failing to obey a lawful order and obstructing the duties of a police officer.

EPD officers at about 6:20 p.m. yesterday evening spotted Nicholson standing in the yard of a residence on the 3900 block of Cedar Street. The officers observed Nicholson turn and walk into the residence, at which time the unnamed detectives set up surveillance on the residence until additional units arrived.

By the time EPD officer Michael Guy and K-9 unit “Tahoe” arrived, however, Nicholson had yet again pulled his disappearing trick. Guy and Tahoe tracked him to a neighboring yard, where Nicholson was found hiding in the bushes. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with the original drug and stolen property charges.

Gerace was contacted standing outside the same Cedar Street house and also arrested on an outstanding warrant alleging possession of a controlled substance.

Both suspects are in county jail and await arraignment.

Hate crime suspect arrested

2009-07-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

John David Osborn accused of painting racial statements on Harris Street

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/8/09

Eureka

A local man holding a paint bucket and roller was arrested after a brief foot chase with an officer on Harris Street on Saturday.

John David Osborn, 21 of Eureka, was observed by a Eureka Police Department officer on routine patrol the evening of Independence Day. The unnamed officer spotted several as-yet unspecified “racial statements” written at the intersection of Harris and California Street, according to the EPD release, and noticed Osborn, who had fresh paint on his hands.

As the officer approached Osborn, he ran away and the officer gave chase, leading to his arrest shortly thereafter. The officer noted that the fresh paint on his hands matched the paint written in the street.

Osborn was charged with a hate crime as well as the violation of the terms of his probation. He was additionally charged with vandalism and possession of a narcotic smoking device.

Firefighters check spread of Backbone Fire

2009-07-07T20:14:00.002-07:00

Thirteen other fires under control in Trinity Alps

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/7/09

Eureka

Firefighters today successfully checked the spread of a lightening-induced blaze already responsible for torching over 4,500 acres on Devil’s Backbone Ridge approximately 36 miles northeast of Willow Creek.

The Backbone Fire was previously two independent blazes, the Lower Trinity-17 Fire on the Six Rivers National Forest, and the Trinity Fire on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. These combined into a larger conflagration thanks to hot weather conditions, density of brush and tough topography for firefighters to operate in.

Thirteen other fires triggered by lightening storms last week were contained over the weekend and are now in controlled status and continue to be patrolled, according to a release from Six Rivers National Forest. Firefighters working to control the fire in this remote wilderness must be extremely careful due to the hazard of falling snags as well as downhill line construction.

The National Incident Management Organization is assuming command of the fire under incident commander George Custer this week; his seven-member team is intended to provide a more customized approach for long-term fires in remote locations. Forest administrators justified this move as a way to reduce cost and provide a safer, more consistent fire containment strategy.

“The remote location of the fire in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, combined with the heavy dead and down fuels and standing dead snags from the Megram Fire, contribute to the fire's complexity,” forest supervisor Tyrone Kelley stated. “This has made fire suppression difficult.”

Crews in the last 48 hours have completed fire line construction into Horse Linto Creek and have also secured the line beyond Trinity summit, checking the spread of a 15 acre blaze in the Red Cap Creek drainage.

Forest officials are working closely with the Hoopa Tribe and keeping tribal members and fire service personnel updated on the Backbone Fire. Kelley met yesterday with Tyrone Kelley, newly elected chair of the Hoopa Tribe, to discuss the protection of cultural sites in the area. Forest officials stated afterwards that they are working to keep the fire away from the Hoopa Reservation boundary.

Several roads, trails and camps in the area have been closed due to fire conditions, including Horse Ridge National Recreation Trail, Salmon Summit National Scenic Trail, Mill Creek, Tish Tang, and Red Cap trails as well as Bear Hole, Grizzly Camp and the Willow Creek Big Rock Day Use Area.

While rafting on the Trinity River is still permitted, there is a “no stop zone” from the mouth of Willow Creek stretching one mile downriver, and forest officials ask visitors to float through with caution due to the helibase located there. Rafting and rafting guide services are still operating, and the interim Kimtu Beach access is open, along with the Hawkins Bar access point.

FIRE FACTS
Size: Approximately 4584 acres
Started: July 1, 2009
Resources threatened: no structures are threatened.
Active Fire Location: 36 miles Northeast of Willow Creek in Trinity Alps Wilderness
Resources:

* 9 hotshot crews
* 2 type II initial attack crew
* 1 helitack crew
* 1 Type 3 helicopter; 4 Type 2 helicopter, 5 Type I helicopters
* 1 engine
* 9 Water tender
* 322 Total personnel

Guard at county jail caught trafficking drugs

2009-07-07T20:14:00.001-07:00

Benjamin Jentry-Rakestraw attempted to bring in heroin, tobacco, marijuana

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/7/09

Eureka

On the heels of a month-long investigation of a correctional officer bringing contraband into the county jail, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office arrested one of their own this weekend on drug charges.

Humboldt County’s top cop expressed outrage at the news that a young Correctional Facility officer would bring shame upon the HCSO, which runs the county jail.

“As soon as we received information of a possible contraband smuggling problem we began a complete and thorough investigation,” Sheriff Gary Philp stated in a release. “A problem like this that involves a staff member is not only unlawful, it is also extremely disappointing to me and all other members of this agency who hold ourselves to a high standard of professional and ethical conduct.”

“This type of incident is a complete anomaly for us and is frankly a gross violation of trust to us as well as the public we serve and will never be tolerated.”

Sheriff’s investigators and jail staff initiated the investigation, which included surveillance and the service of three search warrants, after receiving information from an undisclosed source that an officer might be bringing contraband into their own jail.

On Friday at about 9:30 p.m., officer Benjamin Jentry-Rakestraw, a 20-year-old Fortuna resident, was stopped as he attempted to bring heroin, tobacco and other contraband into the jail. He was on duty at the time of his arrest, and booked into his own lock-up for bringing a narcotic controlled substance into a correctional facility, bringing contraband into a correctional facility, possession of a narcotic controlled substance, and possession of marijuana.

Jentry-Rakestraw’s bail was set at $20,000 and he is expected to be arraigned by Wednesday. This investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected; no other officers are suspects, according to the HCSO release.

Residents escape apartment complex blaze

2009-07-06T23:48:00.000-07:00

Sunday’s three-alarm fire the latest in a series of Eureka blazes

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/6/09

Eureka

Residents of an apartment complex escaped without injury after a three-alarm fire broke out in a second story unit last night, with the cause still under investigation.

At 9:21 p.m., Eureka Fire Department and Humboldt Fire District personnel responded to the report from 2979 Union Street of an apartment fire, and due to the potential for significant damage to the entire complex, additional local personnel and mutual aid engines from Arcata, Loleta and Blue Lake were also called to the scene.

With two hoselines brought to bear, firefighters brought the blaze under control and extinguished it without injury to themselves, although the fire damaged two apartments directly, caused water damage to a downstairs apartment and clouded the entire second floor with smoke.

As the apartment building was not inhabitable immediately following the fire, Humboldt County Red Cross also responded to help displaced victims locate temporary housing.

The Eureka Fire Department has had several residential structure fires in the past two weeks and urges community members to check for working smoke detectors inside their homes.

Anyone with information on the cause of the fire can contact EFD fire captain Chris Jelinek at (707) 441-4000 or cjelinek@ci.eureka.ca.gov.

Arcata to appeal feds on recruitment

2009-07-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

Eureka City Council will either join or bail on Tuesday

Charles Douglas, Humboldt Sentinel
7/5/09

Arcata

Apparently undaunted by a U.S. District Court slap-down of the Youth Protection Act last month, a bare majority of the Arcata City Council voted Wednesday to pursue an appeal to the Ninth Circuit, highlighting the increased tension between anti-war activists and an Obama Administration pushing Bush policies which mandate unfettered access to public schools by military recruiters.

“It’s to empower other cities and communities to look at their situation with their youth,” Councilmember Susan Ornelas said before the 3-2 vote.

She was joined in her support of the appeal by Councilmembers Shane Brinton and Alex Stillman; in opposition were Councilmember Michael Winkler and Mayor Mark Wheetley, who cited “limited fiscal resources” as the motivator -- despite most of the casework thus far having been produced by pro bono attorneys.

Approved as Measure F by 73% of Arcata voters, the YPA would have made it illegal for military recruiters to initiate contact with persons under 18 years of age. Eureka passed its own YPA in the same election last November by a closer margin of 57-43, and its City Council will face a similar decision in a closed session meeting starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

The implementation of both initiatives was blocked after the Pentagon referred them to the Civil Division of the US Department of Justice in the waning days of the Bush Administration. Their civil action in federal court alleged the Supremacy Clause of the federal Constitution would render the local laws invalid in the face of the No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates military recruiter access to public schools which accept federal funding.

Although some of the peace activists associated with the initiative campaign group “Stop Recruiting Kids!” had hoped the federal action would be dropped with the departure of the Bush Administration, there has been no let-up from the DOJ in seeking to have the two laws stricken from the books.

“We're determined to appeal,” campaign organizer Jack Nounnan said. “We have a fine team of lawyers so believing in this cause as to be willing to waive any charges.”

Nounnan is hoping local anti-war activists will pack the normally sleepy pre-closed session public comment portion of the Eureka City Council meeting Tuesday to remind elected officials of the popular support these measures enjoy.

“Every time out in such obvious misuse of government power, we've got to take our stand against its control of our lives and remember how this undermines our local autonomy!”

To contact the local Measure F/Measure J campaign, visit www.stoprecruitingkids.org.

Turning Crisis Into Opportunity

2009-07-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

California's Empty Wallet

Ellen Brown
7/4/09

“Our wallet is empty, our bank is closed and our credit is dried up.”
– Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, June 2, 2009

California State Controller John Chiang has warned that without a balanced budget in place by July 1, he will begin using IOUs to pay most of the state’s bills. On June 25, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected a plan that would save the state $3 billion by cutting school spending, saying he would rather see the state issue IOUs than delay the funding problem with a piecemeal approach. The state’s total budget deficit is $24.3 billion.

Meanwhile, other funding doors are slamming closed. The Obama administration has said it will not use federal stimulus money to prop up California; and Fitch Ratings, a bond rating agency, announced that it was downgrading the credit rating of the state, which already has the lowest in the nation. Once downgraded, California’s rating is likely to fall below the minimum level legally required for most money market funds, forcing the funds to sell their California bonds. The result could be a cost of millions of additional dollars in higher interest rates for the state.

What to do? Perhaps California could take a lesson from the island state of Guernsey, located in the English Channel off the French Coast, which faced similar funding problems in the 19th century. Toby Birch, an asset manager who hails from there, tells the story in Gold News:

“As weary troops returned from a protracted foreign war [the Napoleonic Wars ending in 1815], they encountered a land racked with debt, high prices and a crumbling infrastructure, whose flood defenses were about to be overwhelmed . . . . While 1815 brought an end to the conflict on the battlefront, . . . severe austerity ensued on the home front. The application of the Gold Standard meant that loans issued over many years were then recalled to balance the ratio of money to precious metals. This led to economic gridlock as labor and materials were abundant, but much-needed projects could not be funded for want of cash.

“This led to a period of so-called ‘poverty amongst plenty’. . . . The situation seemed insoluble; existing borrowing costs were consuming 80% of the island’s revenues. What was already an unsustainable debt burden would need to be doubled to fund the two most essential infrastructure projects. This was when a committee of States members was formed . . . . The committee realized that if the Guernsey States issued their own notes to fund the project, rather than borrowing from an English bank, there would be no interest to pay. This would lead to substantial savings. Because as anyone with a mortgage should understand, the debtor ends up paying at least double the amount borrowed over the long-term.”

To prevent an unwanted inflation of the money supply, the Guernsey States issued the notes with a date due, and on that date the bearer was paid in gold. The money came from rents on the finished infrastructure, supplemented with a tax on liquor. Birch goes on:

“The end result of the Guernsey Experiment was spectacular – new roads, sea defenses and public buildings were established, fostering widespread trade and prosperity. Full employment was achieved, no deficits resulted and prices were stable, all without a penny paid in interest. What started as a trial led to a string of construction projects, which still stand and function to this day. Money was used in its purest form: as a convenient mechanism for oiling the wheels of commerce and development.”

Like Guernsey, California is facing “poverty amidst plenty.” The state has the eighth largest economy in the world, larger than Russia’s, Brazil’s, Canada’s and India’s. It has the resources, labor, and technical expertise to make just about anything its citizens put their minds to. The only thing lacking is the money to do it. But money is merely a medium of exchange, a means of getting suppliers, laborers and customers together so that they can produce and exchange products.

As has been explained elsewhere, today money is simply credit. All of our money except coins is created by banks when they make loans. The current crisis stems from a credit freeze that began on Wall Street in the fall of 2007, when banks were required to revalue their assets due to a change in accounting rules, from “mark to fantasy” to “mark to market.” Banks that were previously considered in good shape, with plenty of capital for making loans, suddenly came up short. Lending fell off, and so did the available money supply.

Just understanding the problem is enough to see the solution. If a private bank can create credit on its books, so can the mighty state of California. It merely needs to form its own bank. Under the “fractional reserve” lending system, banks are allowed to extend credit – or create money as loans – in a sum equal to many times their deposit base. Congressman Jerry Voorhis, writing in 1973, explained it like this:

“[F]or every $1 or $1.50 which people – or the government – deposit in a bank, the banking system can create out of thin air and by the stroke of a pen some $10 of checkbook money or demand deposits. It can lend all that $10 into circulation at interest just so long as it has the $1 or a little more in reserve to back it up.”

The 10 percent reserve requirement is now largely obsolete, in part because banks have figured out how to get around it. What chiefly limits bank lending today is the 8 percent capital requirement imposed by the Bank for International Settlements, the head of the private global central banking system in Basel, Switzerland. With an 8 percent capital requirement, a state with its own bank could fan its revenues into 12.5 times their face value in loans (100 ÷ 8 = 12.5). And since the state would actually own the bank, it would not have to worry about shareholders or profits. It could lend to creditworthy borrowers at very low interest, perhaps limited only to a service charge covering its costs; and on loans the bank made to the state, the state would ultimately get the interest, making the loans essentially interest-free.

Precedent for this approach is to be found in North Dakota, one of only three states currently able to meet its budget. North Dakota is not only solvent but now boasts the largest surplus it has ever had. The Bank of North Dakota, the only state-owned bank in the nation, was established by the legislature in 1919 to free farmers and small businessmen from the clutches of out-of-state bankers and railroad men. By law, the state must deposit all its funds in the bank, and the state guarantees its deposits. The bank’s surplus profits are returned to the state’s coffers. The bank operates as a bankers’ bank, partnering with private banks to loan money to farmers, real estate developers, schools and small businesses. It makes 1% loans to startup farms, has a thriving student loan business, and purchases municipal bonds from public institutions.

Looking at California’s budget figures, projected state revenues for 2009 are $128 billion. At a reserve requirement of 10%, if California deposited all $128 billion in its own state-owned bank, it could issue $1.28 trillion in loans, far more than it would need to cover its $23 billion budget shortfall. To lend itself the money to cover the shortfall, it would need only $2.3 billion in deposits and about $2 billion in capital (assuming an 8% capital requirement). What Sheldon Emry wrote of nations is equally true of states:

“It is as ridiculous for a nation to say to its citizens, ‘You must consume less because we are short of money,’ as it would be for an airline to say, ‘Our planes are flying, but we cannot take you because we are short of tickets.’”

As a card-carrying member of the banking elite, California could create all the credit it needs to fund its operations, with money to spare.

Ellen Hodgson Brown is the author of Web of Debt: the Shocking Truth About Our Money System and How We Can Break Free.

CCC sets up summer projects

2009-07-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

Fire safety and park maintenance improvements expected

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/4/09

Fortuna

Young men and women from across California will be in forest and parklands on the North Coast this summer to pitch in on fire safety efforts and other improvements.

The California Conservation Corps, in concert with the Northwest Youth Corps and Youth Conservation Camps, will be working across the Six Rivers National Forest on “projects that further the development and conservation of the nation’s natural resources” according to forest supervisor Tyrone Kelley.

In particular, the YCC will spend eight weeks in the Mad River watershed to clear brush, maintain hiking trails and campgrounds, and manage vegetation. The four youth involved will also learn about wildlife, archaeology, recreation and other subjects.

The CCC and NYC crews will work rehabilitating approximately 90 miles of hiking trails in the Siskiyou Wilderness, Marble Mountain Wilderness and the Lower Trinity.

Led by two staff, NYC-hired youth, ages 14 to 19, live and work as part of a ten-member team. The teams travel throughout the Northwest to complete a wide variety of projects such as stream restoration, trail construction, or habitat rehabilitation. The CCC is a state agency hiring 3,300 corps members per year between the ages of 18 and 25 who perform a variety of outdoor work.

For more information or to get yourself or your child involved in one of these programs, contact Julie Ranieri at (707) 441-3673 or jranieri@fs.fed.us.

Fire set in Winco bathroom

2009-07-03T21:59:00.000-07:00

Damage from fire, water estimated at $5,000

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/3/09

Eureka

Firefighters were summoned to the Winco supermarket early Thursday morning after automatic sprinklers activated in the store restroom in response to an alarm.

The responding Eureka Fire Department engine found a fire ignited inside the bathroom had been extinguished by the sprinkler system. According to the EFD release, the fire was intentionally set, and investigators are looking for more information.

After assessing the status of the fire, EFD proceeded to shut off the system to minimize water damage, while Winco staff engaged in water removal.

Although the sprinklers were restored to normal operating status, the bathroom suffered an estimated $5,000 of damage from fire and water. EFD credits the system, however, with saving the overall Winco property, with an estimated value of $5 million.

Anyone who can help EFD identify those responsible for the fire are urged to contact assistant fire chief Bill Gillespie at 441-4000 or bgillespie@ci.eureka.ca.gov.

McCullen street fire still a mystery

2009-07-02T23:59:00.000-07:00

Charred two-story house lacked electrical, gas services

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/2/2009

Eureka

A house fire on the south side of town is still under investigation today, with some questions answered and others as yet unsolved.

Firefighters concluded their on-scene efforts late yesterday after extinguishing the early morning blaze at 1506 McCullen Avenue, and confirmed that no one remained within the charred two-story home. This alleviated early concerns, according to the Eureka Fire Department release, that voices were heard within the building prior to the blaze.

While the area of fire origin was discovered, the exact cause remains under investigation. Accidental gas leaks or electrical problems have been ruled out, as the house is not presently serviced by these utilities, leaving human activity as the likely cause.

Investigative efforts are now centered upon follow-up interviews, and members of the public have any information related to the blaze, they are asked to contact fire chief Eric Smith at (707) 441-4000 or esmith@ci.eureka.ca.gov.

Supes tap Atkins for rail authority

2009-07-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

Incumbent Charles Ollivier passed over on split vote

Charles Douglas, Humboldt Sentinel
7/1/09

Eureka

Apparently, a dozen years with the North Coast Railroad Authority was enough for longshoreman and former Harbor Commissioner Charles Ollivier, who was replaced over his own objections and those of the public as Humboldt County Supervisors moved Tuesday to put a fresh face on the controversial board.

On a 4-1 vote and with vociferous objections from Supervisor Jill Duffy, the board tapped newly elected Eureka Councilmember Linda Atkins, a retired CalTrans worker, to fill one of Humboldt’s two spots with the NCRA, which also has representatives from local governments in Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties.

Atkins, who was not present at yesterday’s meeting, told Supervisors in her application letter that she saw rail as an opportunity to enrich the economy and increase tourism -- but a tell-tale line encouraging “trails with the rail” indicated the mounting test of will between advocates of restoring the entire Northwestern Pacific Railroad and those seeking to rip up the tracks in favor of a bicycle trail between Arcata and Eureka.

Supervisor Clif Clendenen, the other Humboldt County rep on the NCRA since shortly after his election last November, said the board had a variety of good candidates to choose from to entrust with an incredible asset like the railroad -- but then implied the need for increased trail construction to be met by himself and the new appointee.

“I’m excited to recommend Eureka City Councilmember Linda Atkins for this position,” he said. “She appreciates the multiple-use opportunities of our right-of-way.”

For his part, Supervisor Mark Lovelace was defensive about his support of the appointee in a closed-door nomination procedure, suggesting that the NCRA post was a regularly scheduled vacancy announced late last year.

“The current term of Commissioner Ollivier expires on [June] 30, so this is something that was expected, that was publicly posted and anticipated,” he said. “For my part I’ve given this a lot of diligence and reached out to everyone interested in serving.”

Lovelace also claimed he had either met with or spoken with all of the nominees, which included Arcata Councilmember Michael Winkler and former State Assemblymember Dan Hauser. This wasn’t sufficient to dissuade Duffy from launching into a pointed rebuke against her fellow Supes for backroom arrangements in dumping Ollivier.

“In this case, the way things are typically done with all of our appointments is we have a board report that is generated by the Clerk of the Board of the list of applicants and the applicants have the opportunity to present themselves…what I’m very uncomfortable with is that conversations were happening outside of the public process,” she said. “This is the first time that the Board is discussing this item in public and what I really want is what the different candidates offer, I don’t know what they have to offer and neither does the public, I want to know what their philosophies are, what their visions are and what their priorities are for the position.”

“What is this Board’s collective priorities for the North Coast Railroad Authority?” Duffy asked. “We haven’t had that conversation and now we’ve short-circuited the opportunity to have that conversation…it does create unnecessary tension and strife, it feels like a real slap in the face for all [Ollivier’s] energies and effort.”

Several members of the public stood up and essentially agreed with Duffy, calling for a more public process to select NCRA representatives and a general increase in the Supes’ support of restoring rail service to Humboldt County.

“I guess I have a vision for Humboldt County and that vision is to see some good paying jobs and I see the potential for the railroad in combination with portions of the harbor being redeveloped, acting in concert with each other to bring some industry to Humboldt County,” retired natural resources worker Ken Skaggs said. “There is a global economy that affects all of us and we could catch the advantages here of a global economy because Humboldt County is not an island unto itself.”

Increasingly uncomfortable in the face of public opposition and Duffy’s allegations, Lovelace shot back that Ollivier had not fully complied with his procedures to assess applicants for the NCRA seat.

“I was told by Mr. Ollivier that he was not interested in requesting re-appointment if there was any question about whether he be re-appointed,” Lovelace said. “I was told pretty clearly that his interest was in the re-appointment but not in sitting for an interview and not in sending in a letter of interest.”

Duffy retorted that she found that to be a “fascinating conversation” before being cut off by Board Chair Jimmy Smith, who then called Ollivier himself to the podium to clear things up. For his part, the longtime union man said his efforts were primarily directed at upgrading “antique” local infrastructure holding back economic development.

“I’m not here to be pushing a controversy, I’m only here to apply myself,” Ollivier said. “I do have a lot of experience and I thought I would be the candidate always with the proper knowledge to tie the railroad to the port. It begs us all to be developed!”

Atkins will take Ollivier’s place at the next NCRA board meeting, to take place in Eureka on August 12. For more information, visit northcoastrailroad.org.

Injured transient found on Trinidad roadside

2009-06-30T21:47:00.000-07:00

Woman was cold and unresponsive, now in critical condition

Humboldt Sentinel staff
6/30/09

Trinidad

A woman is clinging to life in a local hospital after a passing motorist spotted a comatose body on the northbound side of Highway 101 this morning.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the call at 6:30 a.m., and found an unnamed woman alive, but cold and unresponsive. When she was hospitalized, the 48-year-old transient showed significant bruising which may have been several days old, according to the HCSO release.

Deputies and California Highway Patrol officers are working to determine how the woman sustained her injuries, and anyone with information is asked to call (707) 445-7251.

Attempted murder in Hoopa

2009-06-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

Sheriffs looking for Chevy pickup truck

Humboldt Sentinel staff
6/29/09

Hoopa

Deputies are looking for a Chevy pickup truck involved in a late night attempted murder which left a woman shot in the face.

According to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office release, deputies were called to a residence on Masten Flat off of Pine Creek Road at 11:30 p.m. yesterday, where they discovered a woman lying in the yard with a single gunshot wound in her face.

The victim, Kodi Elainna Downs, was hospitalized in critical condition -- but not before speaking to deputies about the incident. She reported hearing a woman’s voice from the passenger side of a truck which pulled up alongside her as she was walking to a friend’s house on Masten Flat. Downs was shot before being able to identify the woman, however, and the truck pulled away.

The HCSO is looking for a tan or brown four-door Chevy pickup, with the model year somewhere between 1998 and 2002. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call sergeant Wayne Hanson at (707) 268-3639.

Budget cuts could cause ‘public safety emergency’

2009-06-28T21:26:00.000-07:00

State crime lab funding on chopping block

Emily Witt, ProPublica
6/28/09

Sacramento

As California lawmakers tackle their state's $24 billion deficit, one little-known proposal on the table is a $20 million cut to the state crime lab.

That may not sound like much alongside the hundreds of millions in proposed slashes to the state's education, prison and health care systems. But it's half the lab's budget and would likely halt or delay the testing of rape kits, DNA and other crucial crime scene evidence in many counties, law enforcement officials warn.

The $20 million cut was approved by the state's budget committee last week and now goes to the entire legislature for approval. If it is passed, the lab would have to charge law enforcement agencies for tests it has always provided for free, even though many of those agencies are facing budget cuts of their own. Last year, the state lab tested evidence in about 50,000 cases, including more than 1,400 containing DNA.

Advocates for crime victims are urging lawmakers to reject the proposal, because they worry that delays in testing evidence will allow rapists, murderers and other violent criminals to remain on the streets.

"It's a public safety emergency," said Gail Abarbanel, who heads the rape treatment program at the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center. "The last thing that should be cut is public safety. I don't know what they're thinking."

Hundreds of police departments and district attorneys' offices in 47 of the state's 58 counties currently rely on the state lab to test their crime scene evidence. The other 11 counties, mostly concentrated in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, have their own labs to test forensic evidence.

But many law enforcement agencies in small or rural counties doubt they'll be able to afford the new charges, which are likely to run about $215 an hour. If the agencies can't pay, the lab will have to close some of its branches and lay off some of its scientists, said Jill Spriggs, the lab's bureau chief.

The agencies also could be forced to shelve thousands of DNA samples, bullet casings and other pieces of evidence used to identify violent criminals. There are already more than 350,000 untested DNA samples nationwide, according to federal government statistics.

Ultimately, some police chiefs said they might have to choose: pay to process evidence, or lose more cops on the streets. More than 1,000 police officers were eliminated statewide in the past year.

"I think that most law enforcement agencies would not be in a position to pay for those services," said Jerry Dyer, the police chief for the city of Fresno and past president of the California Police Chiefs Association. He estimated that the state lab's assistance to Fresno, which has some facilities of its own but relies on the state to process DNA evidence, amounted to approximately $1 million worth of testing last year.

Joe Grebmeier, a police chief from Greenfield, Calif., said his budget is already so tight that detectives are paying for crime scene supplies, including cameras, out of their own pockets.

"Decisions on how to proceed with investigations will now include, 'can we pay for it?'" said Grebmeier. "We might have to go to the public and have a fundraiser just to process a rape case."

Even in Los Angeles County, where the Los Angeles Police Department and the County Sheriff's Department have their own labs, DNA testing is in danger. Since May, the cash-strapped and understaffed Sheriff's office hasn't tested DNA evidence from thousands of rape and sexual assault cases, according to news accounts.

State budget officials acknowledged the danger the cut poses but said it is needed to keep the state from plunging even deeper into debt.

"We have had to make many difficult decisions to close our budget gap this year," said Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, chair of the Assembly Budget Committee.

Dan Carson, of the state legislative analyst's office, which has recommended cutting the lab's funds for the last few years, agreed that "the easy choices are gone."

But Carson also defended the cuts, saying that it's unfair to allow 47 counties to get free services while others pay for their own crime labs. He said a state law already allows the lab to charge for testing.

"If this is a priority, one would assume they'll work out a way to do it."

But it could take years for a county to build its own lab or secure enough funding to pay the state. In the meantime, police and prosecutors could find it more difficult to send violent criminals to prison.

"Juries expect forensic evidence," said Spriggs, the state lab's chief. "When it's not there, cases could be lost."

Spriggs also noted that her lab "provides a very important service" to people wrongfully accused of crimes—those who rely on DNA testing to prove their innocence.

The proposed cut could go into effect between July 1 and Jan. 1, she said. It's unclear if it would be permanent. The entire state budget is likely to go to the full legislature for a vote on Wednesday.

When lawmakers debate the budget this week, Grebmeier, the police chief from Greenfield, suggested that they keep crime victims in mind.

"It's an academic discussion about these cuts and what we can afford and not afford until you look into the eyes of a victim or a family that's lost a loved one."

Madoff Client Jeffry Picower Netted $5 Billion

2009-06-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

Big winner likely made out with more than Madoff himself

Jake Bernstein, ProPublica
6/27/09

New York

It is rare these days to see Bernard Madoff's name in print unaccompanied by the word "Ponzi." Yet recent allegations raise the possibility of one key difference between Madoff's crimes and those of legendary con artist Charles Ponzi. While Ponzi's scam was under way, Ponzi himself was its biggest beneficiary. It now appears that the biggest winner in Madoff's scheme may not have been Madoff at all, but a secretive businessman named Jeffry Picower.

Between December 1995 and December 2008, Picower and his family withdrew from their various Madoff accounts $5.1 billion more than they invested with the self-confessed swindler, according to a lawsuit filed by the trustee who is trying to recover money for those Madoff defrauded.

In contrast, shortly after he confessed, Madoff declared his household net worth to be between $823 and $826 million, according to court documents. While the Madoffs clearly lived opulently, no evidence has emerged that their combined assets and expenditures approached the amount the Picower family is alleged to have withdrawn from the scheme.

In an era when billions of dollars are being tossed about in financial collapses and government bailouts, remarkably little attention has been paid to Jeffry Picower's extraordinary success with Bernie Madoff. If Picower has penetrated the popular consciousness at all, it is as a Madoff victim. The victim narrative is buoyed by testimonials from the nonprofits who received funding from his charitable foundation – which quickly closed on the heels of the swindler's confession. For this reason, ProPublica decided to take a closer look at both Jeffry Picower and the complaint filed against him by Madoff trustee Irving Picard.

Fortunately for the trustee and the federal investigators presently swarming over the case, Madoff apparently kept detailed notes of communications between his office and his clients. But despite this documentary evidence, which is cited but not provided in court documents, Picard's complaint raises more questions than it answers. Above all, what was the exact relationship between the two men? The complaint is larded with the legal catch-all phrase, "knew or should have known," to describe Picower's cognizance of Madoff's fraud, but the intricacies of the relationship are left to the imagination.

One question is the role that Picower's charitable giving played in all of this. The amount Picower withdrew for his foundation is separate from the quarterly withdrawals for his personal accounts. During the 1995-2008 time span, Picower took out about $291 million from Madoff for the foundation account. During the same period, the foundation doled out more than $235 million in donations, according to tax forms.

Perhaps the most pertinent question: If Picower withdrew $5.1 billion in "profit" from Madoff, where did all the money go? The Picowers own a home in Palm Beach that is appraised at a little over $28 million. They also have a 28.4-acre compound in Connecticut valued at $4.5 million. A search of numerous online sources, both aggregate databases and county property records for the couple, their daughter, and the companies named in the complaint, reveals few other major assets. If someone needed the skills to hide billions of dollars, few would be better equipped than Picower, an attorney and accountant who has been described as a "tax shelter expert." Even so, it's curious our search did not even uncover a boat or plane under the Picower name.

Messages left for Picower and his wife Barbara requesting comment for this story were not returned. Their lawyer, William Zabel, declined to comment to ProPublica on the Madoff matter. Earlier, Zabel told The Wall Street Journal that the couple "were in no way complicit in" Madoff's scheme.

Emailed questions to David Sheehan, an attorney at Baker & Hostetler who is working alongside Picard on the case, went unanswered.

Picower, 67, began his career as an accountant and lawyer in New York but seems to have made much of his fortune as an investor in the medical industry. He has avoided media interviews and, with a few notable exceptions, succeeded in keeping a low profile. If the Picowers were recognized at all, prior to their Madoff notoriety, it was through praise for their philanthropy. Yet even here, their ties to Madoff loomed large. The growth of their largest foundation was attributed to their Madoff investments. Madoff himself served as a trustee on another Picower foundation.

The court-appointed trustee makes a powerful, albeit still largely circumstantial, case in court filings that Picower knew Madoff's fund was illegitimate. Although Madoff ostensibly produced eerily consistent 10-12 percent annual returns for his clients, the returns he provided Picower were other worldly:

■In 14 instances between 1996 and 2007, a group of Picower trading accounts experienced annual returns of more than 100 percent. On 25 occasions, the annual return exceeded 50 percent. During this same period, the biggest annual gain in either the Dow Jones Industrial Average or the S&P 500 was 31 percent, for the S&P in 1997. The S&P 500's annual average for that period was slightly under 9 percent.
■The annual rate of return for two of Picower's regular trading accounts in the four years between 1996 and 1999 ranged from about 120 percent to more than 550 percent annually.
■In 1999, one account earned 950 percent.

Each quarter, the Picowers would withdraw various sums from Madoff from different accounts. Usually the total for each quarter’s withdrawals amounted to round numbers. Click to see the full listing of the Picowers' withdrawals from Madoff accounts. [5]Picower belonged to a select group of Madoff investors who received souped-up returns. A Wall Street Journal story [6] published in May cited unnamed sources saying that prosecutors were looking into eight investors who appear to have received special treatment from Madoff. Among the eight named, Picower seems to have withdrawn the most money, with the bulk of it coming from an account called "Decisions, Inc." According to the Madoff trustee's court filings, "the account reflected little trading activity and relatively few holdings," yet Picower took hundreds of millions out of it. At the time of Madoff's arrest, the account had a reported negative net cash balance of more than $6 billion.

At the beginning of each quarter, the Picowers received sums that grew from an annual total of $330 million in 1996 to $1 billion in 2003. These withdrawals were divided into odd numbers spread over various accounts. Added together, they usually equaled large even sums. For example, on January 2, 2003, Picower withdrew $1,378,852 from his account Jln Partnership. Yet when withdrawals across all accounts were totaled for that day, they amounted to precisely $250 million.

Picower's quarterly withdrawals reached their zenith in 2003 and then decreased by half the next year, eventually dropping to their lowest point in 2006. For some reason, the quarterly withdrawals totaled an uneven $16,975,422 in 2006, only to rebound to exactly $40 million in 2007.

Picower's extraordinary gains do not appear to have been achieved at random. The trustee's complaint details how Picower, often acting through a subordinate, ordered up "returns" which Madoff's office then delivered. In some cases, Picower is alleged to have requested backdated returns for trades or sales of securities.

■On April 18, 2006, Picower wired $125 million to Madoff to open a new account. Madoff's office began "purchasing" securities in the account, but "it backdated the vast majority of these purported transactions to January 2006" when the stock market was at its lowest for the period, according to the complaint. Twelve days later, the net equity value of the account was $164 million, a gain of $39 million – or more than 30 percent – in less than two weeks.
■The complaint details conversations between Picower associate April Freilich and Madoff's office beginning around May 14, 2007, when Freilich stated that the Picower Foundation needed gains during January and February of 2006, a year earlier.
■On May 18, Freilich specified that the foundation needed "$20 mil in gains" and "want[ed] 18% for year[] 08 appreciation" for January and February of that year. Five days later, Freilich changed the amount to $12.3 million. Subsequent statements reflected gains of $12.6 million.
■On December 22, 2005, Picower or Freilich allegedly faxed a letter to Madoff dated December 1, directing him to sell specific holdings. The statement for that month reflects that the sales were finalized on December 2, a process that typically takes three days. The clues that the letter was back-dated: A fax with the tell-tale December 22 date and an attached portfolio appraisal dated December 16 that included the positions that were supposedly "sold."
■On or around December 29, 2005, Freilich allegedly faxed a letter to Madoff asking for $50 million in gains across certain accounts. Subsequent statements generated by Madoff for the accounts show stock sales, presumably to satisfy the request, that were supposedly recorded around December 8 and 9, 2005, approximately three weeks prior to Freilich's letter.
Who is Jeffry Picower?

The Picowers' generosity to deserving charities, particularly in New York, Florida, and Massachusetts, has earned them admiration and respect. However, the image belies a more complex reality.

The Picowers gave to a host of worthy causes from the Children's Aid Society to the New York City Ballet, but Jeffry Picower's passion centered on health issues, particularly funding for medical research. On December 1, 2005, the couple made a rare public appearance at a ceremony at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to dedicate a new center to study the brain, the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory. The Picowers' gift of $50 million, spread over five years, was the single largest from a private foundation in the school's history. In a video of the ceremony, Nobel Prize winning Japanese scientist Susumu Tonegawa told the crowd that without the Picowers there would be no institute. The Picowers stood by silently as Tonegawa unveiled a portrait of the couple to conclude the ceremony.

The gift to MIT was the largest single donation to an outside entity the Picower Foundation had ever made, according to tax forms the foundation filed. Prior to late 1995, when Madoff trustee Picard's records start tracking Picower's Madoff activity, the Picower Foundation was relatively small in size and scope. At year's end in 1994, it had assets of just under $75 million and had donated $375,754. By 2007, it was reporting about $958 million in assets and about $23.4 million in donations for the year.

Picower's attention to cutting-edge medicine was the sole focus of a second foundation, The Picower Institute for Medical Research, created to find cures for human diseases. He launched the Institute in 1991 with a $10 million donation from the Picower Foundation. Madoff served as a trustee of the Institute.

In 2001, the St. Petersburg Times revealed that Picower used both his foundations and a private corporation called PharmaSciences, of which he was the majority shareholder, to gain control of a potentially lucrative medical discovery. In 1999, Picower merged PharmaSciences with a for-profit spinoff of his institute called Cytokine Networks, essentially negotiating with himself. The merged company called Cytokine PharmaSciences had the rights to develop a new drug that could help minimize such illnesses as arthritis and multiple sclerosis. The newspaper raised the question of whether Picower had shortchanged his nonprofit in the deal.

An IRS audit concluded that the Picower Foundation had not jeopardized its tax status or incurred extra liability during the period in question. The Foundation's lawyer William Zabel provided ProPublica with a letter from the IRS dated September 2006 that he said "cleared the Foundation." Addressed to Barbara Picower, the letter is from the IRS' Office of Exempt Organizations and formally accepts the Foundation's tax returns. Zabel also said that shares Picower received from the merger were given to other charitable organizations.

The publicity-shy Picower is no stranger to lawsuits or regulators, a trip through several decades of legal and regulatory filings reveals. In 1984, the SEC cited him for a late disclosure over how much he owned in a company called Bradford National Corporation. The SEC filing alleged that Picower was part of a scheme to take over the company.

A year later Picower had to pay out a $21-million settlement when shareholders sued over the collapse of Physicians Computer Network. Picower controlled 45 percent of the stock and chaired the company before it went belly up. In 1989, Picower paid an undisclosed settlement over a questionable tax shelter he helped set up years earlier for a client. In 1990, it was Picower's turn to recover money – from a settlement involving infamous insider trader Ivan Boesky. Picower had been one of his investors.

Perhaps the most revealing case against Picower was a lawsuit filed for failure to pay for renovations on his New York office. Picower alleged that general contractor McHugh, DiVincent Alessi had done such a bad job on his office that the toilets didn't even flush properly, according to Jeremy Morley, the firm's lawyer at the time. Rather than take Picower at his word, the judge decided the jury members should see for themselves. Arriving by city bus from the courtroom, the judge, with jury in tow, made a surprise visit to Picower's office.

"The jury wandered around, looking at the office, testing the toilet," Morley said. "They quickly realized that the case was full of crap in more ways than one."

The judge awarded Morley's client what Picower owed them and some of their attorney fees, according to the lawyer.

Picower's legal and regulatory history was outlined in an article by Forbes Magazine. The 2002 article, which didn't mention Picower's activities with Madoff, said Picower was "worth at least $300 million." That same year, the trustee reports, Picower's quarterly withdrawals from Madoff totaled $895 million.

ProPublica Research Director Lisa Schwartz and Kitty Bennett contributed to this report.

California commercial fishing in jeopardy

2009-06-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

New data shows many fisheries running losses

Paul Mann, Humboldt State University
6/26/09

Arcata

Many California fisheries are running losses, the number of licensed commercial fishermen is plummeting and the port and harbor infrastructure that supports them is underfunded as the industry shrinks, according to an in-depth economic analysis commissioned by the California Department of Fish and Game from Humboldt State University.

The findings suggest that without major management changes, commercial fishing could meet the same fate as Santa Clara County’s extinct truck produce and processing industry and Sonoma County’s withered apple sector.

Commercial salmon fishing, which has suffered recently from limited seasons and outright closures, is far from alone in the industry’s plight, according to statewide data analyzed by Humboldt State Economics Professor Steve Hackett, his research associate, Doreen Hansen, HSU undergraduate researchers and the Maryland consulting firm King and Associates. Although Dungeness crab fishing is strong on a cyclical basis, money-losing operations include such fisheries as harpoon/spear, hook and line, near shore and ground fish trap, sea urchin and southern California trawl.

Persistent revenue losses have shrunk the industry dramatically. Department of Fish and Game sales of commercial fishing licenses of all types sank 31% from 2000 to 2008, dropping from 26,049 to 18,052, according to Terry Tillman, a senior biologist and fisheries economist at the department.

Correspondingly, Hackett said, “The number of vessels in the industry has shrunk substantially across the whole state, the average age of commercial fishermen is getting older and a lot fewer people are engaged in commercial fishing. All this results in a struggle for funding to maintain the harbor and port infrastructure the industry is dependent on.”

Strong competition is in play as well. The commercial sector duels for catch with private sport fishermen, intensely so in southern California. Meanwhile, competition for fishing grounds is heightened by marine protection initiatives and the likelihood California will deploy wave energy conversion systems at sea to gain alternative electrical output.

“What you have is a constellation of policy challenges besetting commercial fishing,” Hackett emphasized, noting a corrosive feedback effect. “When it’s so hard to fish commercially and you don’t have enough fishermen, then the fish processors begin to fall by the wayside. And without them, you can’t have a commercial fishing industry. It’s very similar to what happened with truck produce and processing in Santa Clara County, which was completely eliminated by urbanization. Same thing with apple processing in Sebastopol and Sonoma County: the industry shrinks, you lose the processors and then eventually the rest of the industry goes away.”

Tillman said the new economic analysis could be a crucial underpinning for bold management actions to restore the industry’s health. “In some instances, bold action may even be for [state and federal] management to let the industry operate with more flexibility, as an unfettered or unencumbered business enterprise,” he said in an interview. “Of course, there have to be biological constraints that the department, as a custodian of a public resource, needs to keep tabs on. But as long as we have acceptable fishing practices and sustainable levels of fish, there may be room to allow the fishing fleet to operate more profitably.”

Many other states and countries have taken that direction under fisheries quota programs, he said, but California has not been in the forefront.

The analysis and companion files are titled “The Economic Structure of California’s Commercial Fisheries,” available at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/economicstructure.asp