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.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Single payer backers confront Thompson
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.
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.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Local high school exam results improve
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.
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.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Zepparella returns to Red Fox on Sunday
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.
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.
Friday, September 4, 2009
CAMP grabs $3 million worth of pot
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.
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
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.
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.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Local advocacy journalist releases new volume
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.”
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Officer assaulted during terrorist threats arrest
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.
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Arcata, McKinleyville grow houses busted
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.
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.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Human remains uncovered in Loleta
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.
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.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
CAMP nets over 100,000 plants in Humboldt
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.
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.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Robbery leads to car theft
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.
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.
Friday, August 28, 2009
EPD catches three men soliciting prostitutes
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.
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.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
HSU scores $1 million grant
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Two residential fires hit Eureka
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Rita’s on Harris Street robbed
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.
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.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Stabbing reported in Loleta
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.
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.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Headbutting man shatters patrol car window
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.
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.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Protestors rally against health care reform
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.
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
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.
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.
Friday, August 21, 2009
City Clerk sworn in while police salaries are frozen
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.
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.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Driver arrested for striking vehicles, house
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Parolee busted for multiple thefts
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Fire tips off Sheriffs to grow
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.
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.
Monday, August 17, 2009
APD canine Cody dies
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.
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.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Nodded-out drug offender arrested
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.
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.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Armed robber on motorcycle at large
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.
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.
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