Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
Christopher James Diven | 2023 booking photo via Humboldt County.
In December 2025, Vincent Charles McKenney, 36, of Humboldt County was reported missing to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. It was believed that he was missing under suspicious circumstances.
After the initial missing person case was filed, an investigation was launched and turned over to the Major Crimes Division for follow up.
After an extensive investigation, evidence was uncovered regarding McKenney being murdered in a remote location of Humboldt County. Investigators followed up on leads and the possible location of McKenney, which was determined to be an Eastern Humboldt County abandoned cannabis grow site. Investigators obtained a search warrant and subsequently located McKenny deceased on the property. Evidence also discovered confirmed that he was in fact murdered.
Through interviews and evidence collection, Investigators have identified a suspect in this case.
On 01/29/2026, Christopher James Diven, 38, of Willow Creek, was arrested for the murder of Vincent McKenney. Diven is currently in custody at the Humboldt County Correctional facility.
The family of Vincent McKenney has been notified of his death, and our heartfelt thoughts are with them during this difficult time.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the community for their support and our law enforcement partners from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, our Sheriff’s volunteer Search and Rescue Posse, and CARDA K9 handlers for their assistance in this investigation.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to reach to Investigator Buihner with the Major Crimes Division and reference case 202505827. He can be contacted at 707-445-7251.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On Jan. 28th, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested 23-year-old Tyler Leroy Hilbert of Calhoun, Missouri, on federal charges stemming from the numerous threats made against McKinleyville High School in Nov. and Dec. 2023.
The list of threats:
Nov. 28, 2023-Caller reporting man on campus with a gun in a holster
Nov. 29, 2023-Caller reporting man on campus and reported looked like he was pointing it at the ground and had an AR rifle on his back
Dec. 5, 2023-Caller reporting he is on campus with a weapon and stating he is going to shoot people.
Dec. 5, 2023-Caller reporting he had planted a bomb in the rear parking lot
Dec. 5, 2023-Caller reporting he is going to shoot this time
Dec. 7, 2023- Caller reporting an armed subject on campus
The threats were extremely serious and caused disruption, panic, distress and emotional turmoil for students, faculty, parents and the surrounding community.
The Humboldt County Major Crimes Detectives conducted a thorough investigation, including database searches, interviews, coordinated with multiple law enforcement partners, and secured several search warrants that were vital to this case. It was through these efforts that detectives positively identified Tyler Hilbert as the individual responsible for the threats and determined that the calls were being made from out of state.
Due to the interstate nature of the offenses, detectives requested assistance from our local FBI field office in Fortuna. When Hilbert was identified, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office officially turned the case over to the FBI.
On Jan. 27, Hilbert was indicted on numerous federal charges and was arrested by the FBI (Kansas City Division) on Jan. 28th and following his initial court appearance, was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service in Kansas City, where he is being detained pending a formal detention hearing.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office wants to thank the McKinleyville High School staff, students and school Superintendent Roger MacDonald, the FBI and partnering agencies for their assistance in this investigation.
Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
Friday’s national shutdown effort encourages people to forgo work, school and shopping to demonstrate solidarity with the movement to end to federal immigration raids and abolition the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
There will also be a protest outside the Humboldt County Courthouse from 4-6 p.m.
Saturday’s protest, meanwhile, calls on local residents to “hit the streets” and “make noise.” The gathering (which, again, starts at noon) is hosted by 50501 Humboldt and endorsed by Food Not Bombs, Humboldt Young Democratic Socialist of America, Cal Poly Humboldt Students for a Democratic Society and Humboldt Anti-War Committee.
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.
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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a moderate Democrat, is jumping in the race for California governor, joining a crowded field of Democrats vying for the seat that so far has no clear frontrunner just a few months before the June primary.
Mahan has made a name for himself in part as a Democratic critic of Gov. Gavin Newsom. As others in his party have scrambled for ways to push back on the Trump administration, Mahan last summer wrote in an op-ed that the governor’s social media trolling, which has delighted many Democrats, goes “beyond taking on the excesses and abuses of the Trump administration and begins disparaging businesses merely for expressing concerns over very real problems of crime, homelessness, and overregulation.”
His campaign website indicates he’ll style himself as a pragmatist who would put “toxic politics aside,” eschew new taxes, cut red tape for construction and force more people who are unhoused into drug treatment.
“We don’t just need to be against something,” he wrote on social media announcing his campaign. “We need to be for something — a government that proves it can solve problems for working people again.”
Mahan worked in tech before running for San Jose city council in 2020. He won the race for mayor in 2022 and has focused much of his two terms on street homelessness.
He’s been a particularly zealous adopter of placing unhoused residents into tiny homes as an alternative to traditional shelters because they can be built faster and cheaper. He has also gotten tougher on pushing unhoused residents to accept shelter placements and urged the state to remove more encampments. Last June, the city council passed Mahan’s plan to arrest people if they refuse multiple offers of shelter.
Mahan was also a vocal supporter in 2024 of Proposition 36, a state ballot measure backed by police, prosecutors and the GOP to increase penalties for some drug and theft offenses, and compel some defendants into treatment programs. Newsom opposed the measure, along with much of the Democratic Party; voters passed it overwhelmingly.
Other Democratic candidates for governor include Rep. Eric Swalwell, attorney and former congresswoman Katie Porter and billionaire climate investor Tom Steyer. The open field has led even more to consider running, potentially giving Republicans an advantage in the state’s top-two primary system. Recent pollshave shown a Republican candidate, Fox News commentator Steve Hilton or conservative Riverside County sheriff Chad Bianco, leading, though Democrats outnumber GOP voters nearly two-to-one.
Beginning the week of January 26, PG&E will be making updates to our natural gas system in the Eureka area. This important safety work includes installing and replacing gas distribution pipelines and service equipment and will enhance natural gas safety and reliability for customers in the Eureka community.
PG&E’s work will take place between West 15th Street and West Buhne Street, along Spring Street, Union Street, California Street, West Wabash Avenue, West Hawthorne Street, Summer Street, Pine Street, W Sonoma Street, W Church Street, Albee Street, West Buhne Street, Fairfield Street and West Del Norte Street.
We expect most work to take place between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. During the day, customers may observe PG&E employees and contractors in the area performing work with equipment such as bucket trucks and diggers. PG&E’s work will not impact the community’s gas service. Weather and other factors that affect safe working conditions may change our schedule.
As a part of this project, customers may notice markings on the ground to ensure safe digging. Prior to any digging, underground utilities will spray paint markings or insert flag markers on the ground to represent the location of their lines underground so we can safely avoid them during our work.
If the work impacts local traffic patterns, PG&E will post “No Parking” signs at least 72 hours before we begin our work. Crews will route traffic around work areas if needed.
Residents and businesses that may be impacted by this work have received letters detailing the project.
Five “hazardous” old-growth redwood trees were removed from a Lower Redway property earlier this month. | Photo submitted by the Environmental Protection Information Center.
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UPDATE: CalFire launched an investigation into the tree removal in response to concerns raised by the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC).
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The cutting of several “hazardous” old-growth redwoods in a Lower Redway neighborhood has sparked outrage among residents and environmental advocates, raising questions about whether decades-old policies designed to protect old-growth trees are being properly applied.
Several residents spoke out about the controversial tree removal at this week’s Humboldt Board of Supervisors meeting, with several speakers expressing concern that the case sets a dangerous precedent for old-growth trees throughout Lower Redway.
While many people were shocked to see the redwoods cut down, the action complies with state law.
As originally reported by the Redheaded Blackbelt, last year, property owner Robert Scarlett secured a hazard tree exemption from CalFire to remove “approximately five” old-growth redwoods, estimated to be between 200 and 300 years old, from a residential parcel on the corner of Oakridge Drive and Briceland Road in Lower Redway. Scarlett, who is also employed by CalFire, said that he had purchased the single-story house — located on a 0.43-acre parcel directly across the street from his own home — for his mother to live in, but feared that the redwoods surrounding the property posed an immediate safety risk.
He told the news outlet that the trees he considered hazardous were “so close to the structure that we keep getting branches through the roof.” Removing the trees would ensure “nobody gets hurt” and eliminate potential threats “to the structure or any life,” he said.
Reached for comment, Scarlett told the Outpost in no uncertain terms that he did not want to participate in this story.
‘A False Sense of Security’
The removal of the trees has reignited long-held concerns among some residents who thought the days of logging old-growth redwoods were a thing of the past.
“I think some environmentalists were lulled into a false sense of security that, because there are so few [old-growth] trees left and that there’s protections in place, they’re good, and that doesn’t appear to be true,” said Andrew Morris, owner of Briceland Vineyards. “It’s possible that maybe one of those trees was genuinely unsafe, and maybe there was a legitimate case for taking one tree down. … If that’s the case, then several foresters should look at it from the point of view of ‘How can we preserve these trees and the safety of the house?’ Not, ‘Can I construct a narrative to take these trees down that is legal?’”
Several people interviewed for this story expressed similar concerns, many of whom voiced doubt that tree removal was necessary.
Tom Wheeler, executive director of EPIC, acknowledged that falling tree limbs — especially those of gigantic old-growth redwoods — can present safety hazards to structures around them, but felt additional steps could have been taken to prevent the trees from being removed entirely.
“Old-growth can’t just be wantonly removed under the guise of some sort of hazard tree protection,” Wheeler told the Outpost. “Could we limb dangerous branches instead? Is there an alternative? Are all of the trees hazards? … When we’re talking about old-growth redwood, I think that we, collectively as a society, want to be more cautious about removal like these.”
EPIC launched a mass emails campaign urging county officials to take immediate “enforcement action and issue a stop work order to allow for a more considered approach to dealing with any potential hazard” presented by the trees. The letter warns that if logging is allowed to occur, “nearly all of the trees in the community could be declared ‘hazards’ and removed.”
As of this writing, 594 people have sent such an email.
The Lower Redway property captured via Google Street View in June 2025.
Was Tree Removal Justified?
As the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CalFire has permitting and enforcement jurisdiction over timber operations on timberland pursuant to the Forest Practice Act of 1973. The County of Humboldt also has a hand in the permitting process, but it’s taken a step back in recent years due to a provision in the Forest Practices Act that precludes the county from requiring permits that would supersede an exemption from the law. (We’ll dive deeper into that process below.)
A Service Record Report obtained by the Outpost includes site notes from CalFire Supervising Forester Lucas Titus, who inspected the Lower Redway property on Oct. 21. In his report, Titus says he visited the property “several times in the past year under the previous owners, who harvested several trees around the property and wanted to harvest several more after their house was damaged” by broken limbs.
“During the inspection approximately five trees/clumps were identified all within 30 feet of structures as having the defect and site conditions indicative of tree failure,” Titus wrote, citing a section of the Powerline Fire Prevention Field Guide relating to hazard tree removal. “These identified trees have already damaged the roof and deck of the main habitable structure and caused damage to the adjacent shed and adjacent property and continue to pose a safety threat.”
But how do foresters determine whether or not a tree poses an immediate threat?
It depends on a few factors, including the size and condition of the tree, as well as its proximity to nearby structures and utilities. A tree can be rendered “defective” due to root rot, deformities, cracks, splits, crown dieback or “any other reason that could result in the tree or a main lateral of the tree falling,” according to Titus’ report.
Yet another factor is the zoning of the site. Because the Lower Redway property is situated within a county-designated “Q Zone,” trees exceeding 12 inches in diameter can only be cut “in an emergency situation” when trees are “threatening people or property.” Under such circumstances, the county requires a special permit.
In his report, Titus notes that he contacted the county about the special permit, and was told by Code Compliance Officer Warren Black that he “didn’t think the County was requiring a permit within the Redway Zone to harvest select safety hazard trees but was going to investigate zoning further.” Still, Titus noted at the end of his report that the property owner might want to get some form of written verification or documentation from the county, just in case.
“Based on the safety issues surrounding the proposed trees this RPF [registered professional forester] agrees that the selected trees pose a safety hazard to the habitual structures and may be harvested,” the report concluded.
Reached for additional comment, Planning and Building Director John Ford confirmed that the county “signed off on [CalFire’s] permit for Hazard Tree Removal” at the Lower Redway site, but did not issue its own permit. Why?
Ford explained via email that the county used to require a special permit in addition to the permit required by CalFire. That changed in 2022 after the county tried to take enforcement action against a local property owner who cut down a small grove of redwoods without a special permit.
“We [were] working towards enforcement of this action when the county was called into a meeting with area foresters and CalFire, and it was presented to the county that the Forest Practices Act precludes the County from requiring permits that would supersede a Timber Harvest Plan or exemption from the Forest Practices Act,” Ford said. “Since that time the county has stayed away from tree removal done under the authority of the Forest Practices Act.”
However, in response to the onslaught of letters opposing tree removal in Lower Redway, Ford revisited the California Code of Regulations and discovered a provision that requires timber operations to “conform to the applicable … city or county zoning ordinances within which the notice of exemption is located.” In simpler terms, because the tree removal occurred within the Lower Redway “Q Zone,” it should have been subject to a higher level of scrutiny.
“There seems to be an inconsistency between the premise that the county has been operating under and the California Code of Regulations and possibly how the Forest Practices Act was interpreted to the county,” Ford explained. “As of now, the Planning and Building Department staff has been instructed to require permits for all activities where a permit would normally be required, associated with tree removal.”
“I know this does not help in the Redway case,” he added.
Another view of the Lower Redway site. | Photo: Mary Giardino
‘The Worst-Case Scenario is Bad’
While Wheeler was relieved to hear that the county is reevaluating its approach to hazard tree exemptions, he lamented the fact that several old-growth trees were lost in the process.
“If we don’t change the way that we deal with these sorts of things … all the old growth of Lower Redway could come out under pretty flimsy justification,” he said. “The worst-case scenario is bad, but I don’t think the worst-case scenario is likely. … I want folks to know that, yes, something was messed up, but people responded, and now change has happened. Otherwise, I think it’s a pretty despondent, sad tale.”
A Redway resident interviewed by the Outpost, who asked to remain anonymous, felt the county and state should expand oversight over hazard tree exemptions to ensure all ecological and environmental factors are properly evaluated. They also questioned whether there could have been a conflict of interest in CalFire approving the exemption for another CalFire employee.
“I’m still flabbergasted … because everyone thought that certainly you cannot cut old-growth down under an exemption,” the anonymous source said. “That limited analysis [from CalFire] could not have been seen as sufficient to make such a huge alteration to the growth here. No consultation, no mention about endangered species take? There’s no marbled murrelet consultation, no identification of spotted owl habitat. I believe a CDFW [California Department of Fish & Wildlife] person should have at least been consulted.”
Reached for additional comment, Titus, the CalFire forester who inspected the site in question, emphasized that the property owner went through the appropriate channels for hazardous tree removal. He added that the county “acted appropriately” in not interfering with the “property owner removing trees that were deemed a safety hazard.
“Rarely do I see trees proposed for harvest that meet these requirements,” Titus wrote via email. “When I have received a harvest document proposing to harvest a tree with these characteristics it has been [for] safety issues. I don’t believe anyone is encouraging landowners to harvest these types of trees and it rarely happens unless it is a safety issue. … During the onsite inspection I conducted on October 21st, 2025, there were several redwood limbs stuck in the roof of the house that are the sleeping quarters for occupants of the house.”
Asked to respond to the allegation that the property owner was given special consideration from CalFire because of his employment with the agency, Titus said Scarlett contacted CalFire’s resource management office and requested a site visit “like any other landowner would.”
“The landowner than [sic] hired a Licensed Timber Operator (LTO) and submitted the harvest document to the CAL FIRE Region office in Santa Rosa which is standard practice for all timberland owners seeking approval to harvest trees,” Titus said. “To date the LTO that was hired and signed onto the harvest document has operated in a professional manner and has not violated any Forest Practice Rules to date on this harvest document.”
“I think it’s extremely important that readers understand that the State of California is not going to prohibit a timberland owner from removing a tree that is a danger to life and property,” he continued. “As a licensed professional with over 25 years of experience working in the forest I can’t with good faith not allow someone to harvest a tree that is a danger to them.”
Reigniting a Culture War
Despite CalFire’s assurances, some residents are still concerned about the precedent set by the lower Redway case. Morris, the Briceland winemaker you heard from earlier in this story, said he’s heard rumors that some locals are now seeking hazard tree exemptions to have old-growth redwoods removed from their properties. For now, that’s just hearsay.
On a more philosophical note, Morris worried that the outrage surrounding the recent tree removal would rekindle a decades-old culture war.
“Another concern is that this is a rekindling of the hippies versus the rednecks war,” he said. “We have enough division in the country, in the state, in the county and our local community that we don’t need an active war.”
RCEA team member Mario Gonzalez sharing a No Cost Energy Efficiency Kit packed with practical tools to help save electricity with a customer. Photo: RCEA.
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Ed. note: “Community Energy Insights” is a new monthly column from the people at the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Humboldt County’s intergovernmental joint-powers authority on all things electrical. Look for it on the last Thursday of the month.
Here is the inaugural episode, with RCEA executive director Beth Burks.
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If your electricity bill tends to creep up during the winter months,
you’re not alone. Every year, we hear from Humboldt County
residents who are surprised by higher winter bills and wonder what
has changed.
The short answer? Winter is peak
energy season in most of Humboldt County, and a few common factors
can add up quickly. The good news is there are also simple, low-cost
ways to manage your energy use and get support if you need it.
Let’s break it down.
Why winter energy bills are
higher
Beth Burks.
Although energy prices are lower in
the winter, during the colder months, most homes use more
electricity. So, you may actually be seeing your largest electricity
bill in the winter. Days are shorter, heaters run longer and lights
stay on more often. Even small changes in daily habits can have a
noticeable impact when they happen consistently.
The biggest drivers of higher winter
bills:
Heating use
increases.
Furnaces, electric heat pumps and heaters run
more. Many gas heaters use electricity, too, causing increases in
gas and electricity. Heating is often the single largest source of
electricity use in a home.
Longer nights mean more
lighting.
With fewer daylight hours, lights stay on longer,
especially in the morning and evening.
Water Heaters Work
Harder.
Hot showers, laundry and dishwashing all require
energy, and water heaters tend to run more in cold weather.
Five simple ways to save energy
this winter
You don’t need a major home
upgrade to make a difference. Whether you rent or own, consistent
actions can help lower energy use and improve comfort.
Set your heater
wisely.
Lowering your thermostat by just a few degrees,
especially overnight or when you’re away, can reduce energy use
without sacrificing comfort.
Seal the drafts.
Cold
air sneaking in around doors and windows makes heaters work harder.
Temporary fixes like door sweeps, weatherstripping, or draft stoppers
can be surprisingly effective.
Use space heaters safely and
sparingly.
Space heaters use a lot of electricity. If you
use one, keep doors closed so you’re only heating the room you’re
in and turn it off when you leave.
Switch to LED bulbs.
LED
bulbs use up to 75% less energy than older incandescent bulbs and
last much longer.
Wash clothes in cold water
when possible.
Heating water uses energy. Cold-water washing
works well for most loads and can help reduce energy use over time.
Who we are and why that matters
Redwood Coast Energy Authority is
the locally owned electricity provider for about 92% of Humboldt
County. If you live or run a business in the county, chances are we
provide your electricity generation, while PG&E continues to
deliver it and handle billing.
Our office is right here in Eureka,
and we’re go
RCEA team member Mario Gonzalez sharing a No Cost Energy Efficiency Kit packed with practical tools to help save electricity with a customer.
RCEA team member Mario Gonzalez sharing a No Cost Energy Efficiency Kit packed with practical tools to help save electricity with a customer.
verned by a board of elected officials from the
communities we serve. That means decisions about electricity are made
locally, with community priorities in mind, not by distant
shareholders.
We’re here to help
Whether you’re trying to
understand your bill, finding ways to save, or exploring assistance
programs, RCEA is here as a local resource.
Resources to help make your bill
more manageable
If winter bills are creating
financial stress, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Several
assistance programs are available, including:
CARE and FERA bill
discounts, which provide reduced electricity rates for
income-qualified households
Payment assistance programs
administered through PG&E
Rebates for
energy-efficient appliances, water heaters and heat pumps
If you’re unsure what you qualify
for, our Account Service team will be happy to walk through options
with you and also to help you assess whether you are on the best
electricity rate. Call (707) 269-1700 or email info@redwoodenergy.org
today!
Free upgrades to help you save
RCEA offers a no-cost energy
efficiency kit for customers, available in partnership with the
Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN). The kit includes simple
upgrades like LED bulbs and other efficiency items that can help
lower energy use right away.
It’s one of the easiest ways to
make your home more energy-efficient without spending extra money.
Check it out at at this link.
What Next?
This Community Energy Insights
series is designed to answer real questions we hear from the
community and share practical information you can use right away. In
future articles, we’ll dig into topics like clean energy projects,
electric transportation and how local energy choices impact Humboldt
County.
Get in Touch
If you have questions or want to
learn more about available programs, reach out to Redwood Coast
Energy Authority via phone, (707) 269-1700, email
info@redwoodenergy.org,
or stop by our office in Eureka at 633 3rd St. We’re
proud to serve this community — especially during the colder
months, when reliable, affordable electricity matters most.
