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California Democrats this weekend in San Francisco have an opportunity to set the tone in a pivotal election year when their voters could decide control of the U.S. House.

As Democrats across the country push to harness dissatisfaction with the Trump administration into a transformative November midterm, all eyes are on the nation’s largest state party as it chooses who to support in California’s June primary.

Party leaders are riding high after voters backed Proposition 50, the ballot measure to gerrymander congressional districts in favor of Democrats. The three-day gathering gives it an early opportunity to build on that momentum for the upcoming elections.

The state’s marquee race this year is the one to succeed outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom, a national Democratic star with presidential aspirations who terms out at the end of this year. But don’t expect a rousing party endorsement there: With nearly 10 candidates, it’s unlikely any of them will attract enough of the 3,500 expected Democratic delegates to secure the nod. Newsom himself won’t attend, a spokesperson said.

Instead, one of the biggest questions will be whether California Democrats continue to anoint establishment candidates — those with backing from elected party leaders, high-dollar donors and powerful lobbying groups — or if political newcomers can convert their grassroots support from the party into actual endorsements.

For years, young Democrats in particular have urged the party to embrace bolder, more progressive ideas such as universal health coverage, tuition-free college, banning the sale of arms to Israel and eschewing the Democratic Party’s longstanding deference to seniority and incumbency through term limits. The brashness of the second Trump administration has given new urgency to those demands as the Democratic base tires of what activists call a milquetoast “radical civility” approach.

“The fact that we’re in a national emergency means there’s no time for incrementalism or moderation,” said Heidi Hall, a Nevada County supervisor and the first Democrat to announce she is challenging incumbent GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley to represent a competitive district east of Sacramento.

“Any Democrat in office who’s not willing to fight this hard should get out, should step aside and let someone else in who is going to fight it,” Hall said. “Or they’re going to be complicit in what’s happening.”

Kiley has since said he will run for Congress again, but not in his current district, which has changed dramatically since the passage of Prop. 50.

Early signs suggest there’s at least some appetite for new blood in California’s overwhelmingly Democratic congressional delegation of 52 members. In January, local delegates blocked five sitting Democratic congressmembers — Reps. Ami Bera, John Garamendi, Doris Matsui, Brad Sherman and Mike Thompson — from securing endorsements that incumbents typically receive by default. Those members instead have had to court delegates to earn the party’s nod as they face challenges from further left-leaning, and mostly younger, candidates.

And while Thompson, Garamendi and Sherman were able to amass enough support from local delegates in a pre-convention endorsement vote, Matsui must continue seeking support at the convention. Bera was iced out of an endorsement entirely since he was unable to secure even a simple majority of votes from delegates in his district.

“People on the ground are tired of insider politics like this,” Hall said. “They want to be heard and they want the opportunity to choose the candidate they want.”

Hall’s team spent more than a month calling delegates and gathering petition signatures to deny Bera an automatic endorsement. She criticized the seven-term congressman from Elk Grove, who represents the Sacramento-based 6th Congressional District, for jumping into the race in the neighboring 3rd District where she is running after the new Prop. 50 maps made the seat far more favorable to Democrats.

In a preliminary endorsement vote, Hall placed third behind Bera and fellow grassroots candidate Eric Bennett, who also switched districts in November.

Another endorsement fight to watch is in the 22nd Congressional District, where two Central Valley Democrats have embraced different tactics to win swing votes as they vie for the chance to topple incumbent GOP Rep. David Valadao, a top target for Democrats nationally this cycle.

Randy Villegas, a community college professor, Visalia school board trustee and political newcomer, is hoping to win his party’s endorsement over establishment-favorite Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, who is endorsed by the powerful Service Employees International Union of California.

Villegas is campaigning on the economic populist message popularized by progressives such as U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, while Bains, a physician from Kern County, portrays herself as a moderate “Valleycrat” who isn’t afraid to buck party leadership.

Winning the party endorsement over the incumbent or establishment favorite will still be an uphill battle, said Mai Vang, the progressive Sacramento city council member challenging Rep. Matsui in the 7th Congressional District. To her, the party’s endorsements signify more than just an infusion of campaign money and volunteer door-knockers.

“It’s about the future of this country and what kind of Democratic Party we want to be moving forward,” Vang said. “In this moment, we have to ask ourselves, ‘What type of leaders do we want to send to the halls of Congress to fight this authoritarian administration?’”

Who will Democrats support for governor?

One race in which there will almost certainly be no endorsement is the wide-open governor’s race.

It’s typically hard to secure the party’s endorsement in any race without an incumbent, requiring a candidate to get 60% of delegates’ votes. This weekend, a whopping eight Democrats running for governor will give speeches before delegates on Saturday — and that doesn’t even include all the Democrats in the race.

Those vying for the endorsement include former Rep. Katie Porter, a consumer attorney who made her name in Congress challenging corporate executives; Rep. Eric Swalwell, a former prosecutor known for playing a role in the second Trump impeachment; and the self-funding billionaire Tom Steyer, who has poured some of his hedge fund-gained wealth into environmental activism.

From left, former U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Xavier Becerra, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former mayor of Los Angeles and State Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, and former California State Controller Betty Yee speak during the “Health Matters: A Conversation With Our Next Governor” debate at UC Riverside on Nov. 7, 2025. Photo by Leroy Hamilton

Lagging them in campaign cash and polls are former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, former state Controller Betty Yee, state public schools chief Tony Thurmond and former Assemblymember Ian Calderon.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan was the latest to enter the race last month, missing a party deadline to seek the endorsement. But the moderate, who is not well known outside of the Bay Area, has quickly raised millions of dollars in campaign donations from tech executives like Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, making him a formidable opponent.

Still, all the candidates will work the crowds this weekend. The gathering, which will feature both official work like voter registration training and boozy schmooze-fests hosted by interest groups and campaigns, represents the highest concentration of the most active party loyalists in the state. It’s a chance for the candidates to win the attention of potential organizers, volunteers and benefactors.

Failing to secure a sizable number of delegates could ramp up pressure on some candidates to drop out, as poll after poll points to the wide field of Democrats splitting voters’ support and putting Republicans in the apparent lead. In California’s top-two primary, the two candidates who receive the most votes move on to the general election, regardless of party, leading some Democrats to be anxious that two Republicans could advance.

For months, polling has shown the top two Republican candidates, former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, besting most Democrats. In the latest poll by Emerson College, published Wednesday, the top-polling Democrat was Swalwell, with 14% of likely voters supporting him. He was sandwiched between top-polling Hilton and Bianco, meaning the three are statistically tied. No other Democrat got more than 10% of surveyed voters’ support.

Party Chair Rusty Hicks dismissed the concerns that there are too many little-known Democrats in the race, and would not say whether he or the party would intervene to prompt candidates to drop out and consolidate support.

“I’m committed to doing what’s required to ensure we win in November of 2026, period,” he said. “The reality is, by the time you get to the end of March and beginning of April, you’re likely to see the field naturally thin itself out.”

Barbara Angela Shumard
July 22, 1946 - February 10, 2026

Barbara Angela Shumard passed on peacefully from this world to the next on February 10, 2026 surrounded by all of her loved ones.

Barb was born on July 22, 1946 in Scotia to Angelo Barsanti and his wife Agnes (Anderson). She was raised in Holmes Flat alongside her brother Richard in their early years until their parent’s divorce, after which she spent the remainder of her childhood years in Patrick’s Point. While attending McKinleyville High School she met and began dating the one and only true love of her life, Roy Shumard, whom she quickly married on May 9, 1964. After building a family together they moved to Eureka, where Roy started his car dealership and Barb continued her education to earn her RN degree.

They began to build a wonderful life together as Roy’s business prospered and Barb rose to head nurse at General Hospital in Eureka, later becoming a nursing instructor for College of the Redwoods. She ended her career as Director of Med Surge at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna. Barb was a highly respected nurse and teacher in her tenure. Many in the community were blessed by her shared knowledge and intuitive nature as a professional caregiver. Even in her final hours her hospice nurse thanked her for the impression she made on his career as a medical professional. This title of caregiver was not only her work, but her way of life.

Barb and her family shared many great trips and adventures together. As her boys were finishing their high school years Barb and Roy moved to Blue Lake and built a wonderful home there. They later purchased their beloved ranch in Snow Camp in 1983. Together, Barb and Roy built their own little paradise on the expansive, breathtaking acres of land tending to their numerous cabins, animals, orchards and gardens with the utmost love and care. They spent many years gaining and building lifelong friendships there, entertaining their closest friends and family, hosting many outstanding parties, and sharing lifelong memories for all that were lucky enough to attend. Their Halloween barn parties became notorious “can’t-miss” events in the Snow Camp region with outrageous costumes and party antics, most of which will be etched in the memories of all who attended.

When Barb wasn’t on the ranch or in her greenhouse she was deeply creative. In her later years she was a heartfelt poet writing about her loved ones and the beautiful life around her. Her and Roy took many trips in their motorhome, enjoying their retirement years traveling together. She was also incredibly fascinated by her ancestry and researched her Italian and Scandinavian roots to complete and share her familial history. She had a passion for preserving her life’s work and memories through extensive photo albums and carefully handwritten recipe books to pass on to her family. She had a sharp, engaging sense of humor that could entertain the oldest friend or the youngest of her grandchildren.

Barbara adored her grandchildren, and they adored her just the same. Anything they were curious about, she would encourage that curiosity with patience, enthusiasm, and affection. She would often be found adventuring with her grandkids, doing activities such as picking berries and taking long walks at the Blue Lake property or exploring the acres upon acres of the ranch and its rich history. From tending to the gardens with them, hosting sleepovers, attending their sports games and dance recitals, and teaching them to cook and bake, Barb poured so much love into their upbringing. Even when her memory began to fade her grandkids’ connection to her never wavered because of that unconditional love she gave them.

In the last 10 years or so of Barb’s life, she battled to stave off the effects of her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Upon receiving her diagnosis, both her and Roy decided to take a meaningful trip to Alaska with her boys and their families to create lasting, cherished memories– something that was very important to them for their whole family. She fought hard to preserve her once beautiful, intelligent mind from a cruel disease which ultimately robbed her of her elegant demeanor, magnetic personality, and one of the most charming smiles the world has ever seen.

Barb is preceded in death by her loving father Angelo Barsanti and her beloved mother Agnes Hollenberg. She is survived by her devoted husband of 61 years, Roy Shumard and their dog Ruby of Blue Lake, her sons, Troy Shumard and wife Melanie of Loleta, Trent Shumard and wife Tracy of McKinleyville, and her cherished grandchildren Brenden, Angela, Michael, and Parker. She is also survived by her dear brother and sisters Richard Barsanti of Fortuna, Ranee Barsanti and life partner Jessica of Gardnerville, Nevada and Terra Ann Barsanti of Last Chance, Calif. Barb was so fortunate to have two special friends, Estelle Shives and Robin Daughterty, with whom she built a life long friendship from her teenage years until her time of passing. Barb was also blessed with many cousins, nieces and nephews whom she loved fondly, each holding a special place in her heart.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Barb’s name to a charity of your choice. A celebration of life will be held at Elks in Eureka on March 14 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Elks Lodge - 445 Herrick Ave, Eureka.

On January 27, while gentle rain tapped on the window, Bill, surrounded by family and friends, quietly, peacefully drew his final breath and slipped away from us.

S William Peer was born in Greenville, Pennsylvania to David and Betty Rose Peer on the 28th of July 1951. He was raised in nearby Jeannette, along with older sister Diane and younger sister Donna. The surrounding woods and creeks were a playground for him in those early years. His love of the outdoors would be with him a lifetime.

After high school graduation in 1969 he headed south to Salem, West Virginia and attended Salem College, graduating in 1973 with a B.S degree. He remained in the area working with local and state social service agencies for the next 10 years. An urge to wander set in and he left to explore the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts, settling in Key West with a job at one of the many guest houses there. Being a tourist town, he met many people from all over the world. After several years, the need to wander came again and he headed north to Boston, landing a job with the state social services agency. He was later hired by FedEx as a delivery driver. His route was in downtown Boston, and anybody that has ever driven there will know you need great driving skills and patience, which he had.

The lure of warmer weather called and after 10 years in Boston he headed south again, this time to West Palm Beach with a transfer from FedEx. After the move he took a part-time job at a neighborhood bar where he met many locals. Finally, in 1994 he bought his first house, a 1925 Spanish Mission style, in one of West Palm’s oldest neighborhoods. Gardening was his passion and he embraced all the tropical plants growing in that climate. His entire property was a tangled, tropical wonderland. A natural fit for Bill was to become involved in the neighborhood association where he organized and promoted their annual garden tour. It was a great success and continues to this day.

Bill and Steve began their journey together there. After several trips to the Bay Area and Sonoma, Bill decided it was time to introduce the love of his life to the real redwoods in Humboldt County that he had experienced on an earlier trip. So, on the next excursion to California, they headed north, left highway 101 at Weott and drove the Mattole Road ending in Ferndale. It was a magical introduction to the area, and they decided then and there to relocate. It took several years but in 2013 the big move from Florida happened. Together they created a fascinating home and garden in Humboldt.

Bill loved living here, exploring its wild nature and meeting what feels like lifelong friends. He soon became involved with the Eureka Heritage Society, joined the board, and happily volunteered long hours in the gardens at the Annie B. Ryan House. It was his passion project, and home away from home.

Bill felt strongly about community involvement and served on the Humboldt Grand Jury and as precinct captain for many elections. He was loving and direct, focused and fun. He enjoyed people, big events, British murder mysteries, books, travel, digging in the dirt, and exploring this beautiful place we call home.

He is survived by his husband Steve Tate, sisters Diane Bradford and Donna Wooldbridge, niece Monika Bradford and nephew Ryan Zabielski, many close friends, and best pup Paxy. We all have lost a piece of our heart with his passing.

Below are some thoughts and memories of Bill from family and friends –

• You are in my heart forever.
• I will miss you calling Steve “Sweetie”.
• Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again.
• With talent, skill, charm and grace, he made the world a better place.
• He made good things happen.
• Leader, Intelligent, Fun, Good conversationist, Dependable, Caring.
• When this astonishing couple arrived on our shores, we couldn’t believe our, and Humboldt County’s good fortune! Bill’s first appearance at the Annie B. Ryan house was an injection of brilliant energy. He inspired us and always will.
• He leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a legacy of love, touched more lives than he ever realized and will forever be in my heart.
• He had the ability to interact with difficult often obnoxious people at the Garden in a respectful, gracious way. Very productive.
• I always admired Bill’s passion for the commitments he made.

Thank you to the nurses, aides, doctors, and other staff at Providence St. Joseph Hospital. Their care is appreciated more than they may know. We are fortunate to have them as part of our community.

A memorial will be announced at a later date. If you wish, please consider a donation to The Eureka Heritage Society and join them at one of their preservation-focused events. Lastly, stroll through the Annie B. Ryan Gardens at 1000 F Street. May you find the peace there that he did.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Bill Peer’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

It’s been an eventful day in the eternal battle to keep your Humboldt County restaurants safe and pest-free, with inspectors issuing closure orders to not one but two local facilities — one in Eureka, the other in Arcata.

Both will stay shuttered until their issues have been rectified, at which point they may emerge from their chrysalises. 

The Subway in the Uniontown Shopping Center

At 12:45 p.m. today, an inspector from the Humboldt County Health and Human Service’s Division of Environmental Health paid a visit to the popular submarine sandwich chain’s downtown Arcata location, and that inspector did not like what was found.

To wit: Sewage backing up into the facility.

It might not be quite as bad as it sounds. The inspector noted that the backup was from “floor sinks and drains.” The inspector promptly issued a shutdown notice, saying that the facility may reopen when it has unclogged all drains and sanitized all surfaces.

• Read the inspection report here.

Guatemayan Yum Yums

A different sort of health hazard was discovered at the popular Eureka eatery just over an hour later. That hazard was: Cockroaches. Many cockroaches!

An inspector noted “a live adult cockroach on the counter adjacent to the microwave in the food preparation area.” Several more were found underneath a sink. Dead cockroaches were found, as well as what were euphemistically referred to as cockroach “droppings.”

Obviously, this cannot stand. Guatemayan Yum Yums is required to sanitize the entire facility and contract with a pest control service before reopening.

• Read the inspection report here.

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We will update when the restaurants in question are cleared to reopen.

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PREVIOUSLY: Three Humboldt County Funeral Homes Abruptly Close, Just Months After Employees Unionize

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After abruptly closing last year due to financial turmoil, Sanders Funeral Home and Humboldt Cremation & Burial Services in Eureka have reopened under new ownership. Both businesses are now being operated by Bryan Carnahan, the ten-year owner of Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary, and Joel Casillas, owner of Casillas Funeral Homes in the Coachella Valley.

Carnahan — a 45-year veteran of the death care industry and current owner of several mortuaries throughout Northern California and Oregon — told the Outpost that he and Casillas finalized the purchase of Sanders in September, though he chose not to disclose the sale price. Humboldt Cremation is being leased due to its location within Ocean View Cemetery. The pair chose not to buy Paul’s Chapel in Arcata, deciding instead to consolidate operations with Sanders. 

After several months of renovations, both businesses are now accepting new clients.

“The building Sanders is in was in such disrepair, I was scared to buy it,” Carnhan said, noting that the Victorian-era building was built sometime in the late 1800s. “I talked to my best friend [Joel Casillas] … because he’s really good with repairing buildings, and that’s not my forte. I said, ‘I don’t want to buy it without you supervising the repairs,’ and he agreed.”

Reached by phone this morning, Casillas, who was en route to Arizona to return a decedent to their family, said most of the work has already wrapped up and the exterior painting should be done in the next couple of weeks, depending on the weather. “The interior [of the building] still needs a little work,” he said. “We painted the interior chapel, and everything is looking good.”

When the previous owner, Pennsylvania-based businessman Guy Saxton, suddenly shuttered the three mortuaries last April — months after some of his employees formed an independent union — Humboldt County was left with just two options for local funerary and cremation services, impacting operations at Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary and Ayres Family Cremation in Eureka. 

“When he closed, it was like: Boom, closed. We had about a week’s warning,” Carnahan said. “It got so busy at Goble’s that we almost couldn’t handle things. … We were just running wild [and] putting in too many hours. Now that Sanders is open, everything has settled down. We’ve hired more staff, including Joel’s sister and brother-in-law.”

Carnahan noted that prearrangements made through Paul’s Chapel will be accepted at Sanders. 

In an interview with the Outpost last year, the previous owner said he chose to close the mortuaries because they “were just hemorrhaging money with no reasonable prospect of ever becoming profitable.” 

At the time of our interview, Saxton said the three businesses were losing between $20,000 and $40,000 per month. He attributed the dramatic loss in revenue to the nationwide shift from “traditional” burials (the body is embalmed and buried in a casket, often with an accompanying ceremony) to more cost-effective options like cremation, which is often thousands — or even tens of thousands — of dollars cheaper than full-service ceremonies.

Asked if he was concerned about operating a funeral home that was allegedly “hemorrhaging money” last year, Casillas remained optimistic. “We’re just grateful that we’ve been given the opportunity to take over.”

“We deal with cremation and, worldwide, that’s what’s happening, but I think we’ll be OK,” he continued. “I think it’s gonna be a good opportunity for us, and I think the people in Eureka and the Humboldt area deserve good service, so that’s what we’re there to do.”

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Eureka Books owner Solomon Everta says his favorite part of any given day is getting to talk to people about books.

“But I actually don’t get to do a lot of that because I’m the owner of the store,” he told the Outpost during an interview last week. The responsibilities of business ownership tend to keep him occupied in the back of the building most of the time — paying bills, researching better insurance rates, etc.

So when it comes to gauging customer demand, Everta listens to his employees, “because they know more about what our customers want,” he explained.

And what do they want? Well, manga, for one thing. When Everta purchased Eureka Books from local doctor and book collector Jack Irvine nearly four years ago, the store had a relatively modest inventory of the Japanese comics and graphic novels. 

The store’s selection has grown significantly over the past few years. Following the advice of his employees, Everta started buying more titles from customers who came in with “huge collections” of used manga and graphic novels. (Eureka Books, like its neighboring bookstore up the block, Booklegger, buys and sells used books, though Eureka Books’ ground floor is mostly occupied by new titles.) 

Soon, one bookshelf of manga and graphic novels became two. Then three. Then five.

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“It has been very successful,” Everta said. “So successful that we’re at the point of thinking that it could really use its own space.”

That’s the main motivating factor behind the bookseller’s new business venture, Omnibus. Located at 117 F Street, diagonally across the Old Town Gazebo from Eureka Books, the new store will carry not just manga and graphic novels but also role-playing games, related pop culture items (including films) and illustrator-focused art supplies.

For the tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG), Eureka Books will be collaborating with the owners of Dandar’s Boardgames and Books, whose store burned to the ground during the catastrophic Jan. 2 fire in downtown Arcata. 

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Eureka Books, of course, is located in the historic J. Lowenthal Building (aka “the J-Lo”). An Elizabethan/Corinthian structure built in 1879, it is among the city’s most recognizable landmarks. (Everta suspects that it’s the second-most-photographed building in Eureka, after the Carson Mansion.)

But the nearby Antonsen/Snug Building — the soon-to-be-home of Omnibus — is no slouch in the historical department, either. With Italianate architecture featuring tall, narrow windows and an overhanging eave, the 1890 building, like the J-Lo, is a registered Eureka historic landmark. (Once home to the Snug Saloon, the building more recently hosted a yoga studio and a children’s clothing store.)

Unlike the J-Lo, though, it has storage space, which was another big motivating factor in Everta’s new endeavor. 

“Even though Eureka Books is pretty big, it’s full,” Everta said. As far as he knows, his store is the only bookseller in a 300-mile radius whose owner will make a house call to pick up a large collection. This past fall, Eureka Books acquired a 5,000-volume library, which required Everta to rent two new storage units, on top of the pair he was already renting to house previously acquired collections. 

So, Omnibus (which is defined as a collection of multiple works published in a single volume — a format especially common among comics and manga) will house its own specialty stock as well as overstock from Eureka Books. Employees of the two stores will communicate with each other and walk back and forth to give breaks to coworkers or use the Antonsen Building’s kitchen facilities during their own breaks. 

“It’s all part of one business,” Everta explained. 

The planned partnership with Dandar’s, meanwhile, reflects Everta’s political convictions, which are oriented toward worker-owned cooperatives and economic democracy. Eureka Books supplies the books you’ll find for sale at both the Arcata and Eureka locations of the North Coast Co-op. It also has a partnership with Eureka City Schools — Alder Grove Charter School in particular — and Everta said, “We’re very much open to working with all of the schools in Humboldt County to be the place where they order books from.”

Such institutional buying power is an important means of supporting independently owned bookstores, which are often overlooked in favor of the ease and convenience of mega-corporate behemoths, Everta observed.

“If you’re working an institution, it’s easy to just get online, go to Amazon [and] order the things you want,” he said. “But there are a lot of folks in those institutions now who are becoming more aware and are realizing that they are the people propping up those large, horrible institutions like Amazon, which are really destroying our culture and our society.”

He contrasts Amazon’s merciless capitalism with the generosity of Dr. Irvine, who gave Everta “a really good deal and good loan terms,” allowing him to purchase the building after cashing in the retirement funds he’d accumulated from working a decade for the U.S. Forest Service. Irvine also “basically worked for free for the whole pandemic” to keep the store afloat. Eventually, Everta hopes to bring his own employees into the ownership circle.

“So we’ll see who on staff is up for the challenge and wants to join in,” he said. “But, yeah, that’s where I’m headed, which is why I do so much work.”

With a bit of self-deprecation, he adds that recruiting workers into partial ownership of an independent bookstore “may be relegating them to a life of poverty, because they are not known for being lucrative.”

But for Everta, the endeavor is clearly meaningful. He recalled that the bookstore’s unofficial tagline, which dates back to original owners Carlos and Marilyn Benemann, is, “Find your story at Eureka Books” (a play on the famous exclamation by Archimedes). He sees Omnibus as another avenue for local residents to do just that.

Everta is grateful to live in a community that shows so much support for independent bookstores, but he said that support shouldn’t be taken for granted. 

“In order for you to have bookstores in your community, you have to go to the bookstore and buy books,” he said. “But it’s not something like, you do it and you’re done. The community has to continue to do that and to teach the next generation that this is what we do.”

Omnibus is scheduled to open March 7. 

Press release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

On Feb. 17, 2026, the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, along with the assistance of the Eureka Police Department, the Humboldt County Marijuana Enforcement Team, the Humboldt County POP Team and the Blue Lake Tribal Police Department executed Search Warrants on 57-year-old Charles Kenneth Groves and 50-year-old Gabriel Zachariah Giraud at their residences in Eureka. The search warrants authorized the search for controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine and fentanyl, and evidence that the controlled substances were possessed for the purpose of sales.

Groves was contacted while walking to his vehicle at the Blue Lake Fuel and Fun. A search of Groves and his vehicle revealed he was in possession of a loaded short barrel shotgun, a loaded .22 caliber handgun with suppressor, a bullet proof vest, 16.5 grams of heroin and 7.4 grams of methamphetamine. Packaging materials for controlled substances were also located at Groves’ residence.

Giraud was contacted at his residence. Giraud was found to be in possession of over 11 ounces of fentanyl, 16 grams of heroin and items used to sell controlled substances. Giraud was in possession of over $13,000 in US Currency believed to be proceeds from drug sales and was seized in accordance with asset forfeiture procedures.

Both Groves and Giraud were placed under arrest and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where they were booked for the following charges:

Groves:

• HS 11370.1: Possession of Controlled Substance while Armed (Felony)
• HS 11379: Transport/Sell Controlled Substances (Felony)
• HS 11378: Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale (Felony)
• HS 11351: Possession of Heroin for Sale (Felony)
• PC 29800(a)(1): Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearm (Felony)

HCDTF is requesting the District Attorney’s Office file additional charges on Groves for:

• PC 33410: Possession of Silencer (Felony)
• PC 30605: Possession of Assault Weapon (Felony)
• PC 31360: Possession of Body Armor (Felony)
• PC 30305: Felon in Possession of Ammunition (Felony)
• PC 33215: Possession of Short Barrel Shot Gun (Felony)
• PC 21510: Possession of Switch Blade Knife (Misdemeanor)

Groves is a convicted felon.

Giraud:

• HS 11351: Possession of Fentanyl and Heroin for Sale (Felony)
• HS 11366: Maintaining a Drug House (Felony)
• PC 148(a): Obstructing/Resisting Officer (Misdemeanor)
• PC 12022.1(b): While Release from Custody on Felony

Giraud committed these crimes while he was out on bail from his previous Humboldt County Drug Task Force case in which he was arrested for selling fentanyl.

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.