On this week’s show, your usual host, Tom Wheeler, is in the hot seat to explain EPIC’s long-lasting litigation against Caltrans’ Richardson Grove Project. Sixteen years of litigation, boiled down to a half-hour of radio.

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[Ed. note from the Outpost: This episode of The Econews Report was recorded before a state appellate court handed down a decision in favor of Caltrans late Friday afternoon. More on that soon.]

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Surely the utility of canals was an integral part of the eastern experience, and whenever settlers from the eastern seaboard or from the old northwest territory — generally referred to as “down easters” — came to an area as richly endowed with navigable waters as Humboldt, the notion of artificial waterways was not far behind.

The immediate vicinity of Humboldt Bay proved especially stimulating with respect to canal building prospects. A glance at a map of the area shows a spacious and protected bay with numerous flanked on the northern and southern extremities by the two principal streams of the area, the Eel and Mad rivers, respectively, both emptying into the ocean just a few miles from the bay and navigable to a limited extent.

Among the numerous obstacles to effective overland transportation in the immediate bay area was the rank vegetation which often proved impenetrable and extended virtually to the edge of the bay and to the ocean. In addition, the combination of seasonal heavy precipitation and the ubiquitous moisture-retaining clay soil, which often reduced the first attempts at wagon roads to impassable quagmires during a good portion of the year, was a deterrent during the initial decades of settlement. Thus the quest for alternate, less expensive and more reliable means of transportation commenced with the arrival of the first settlers, and canals to connect the Eel and Mad rivers with the bay were advocated repeatedly during the first quarter century of Humboldt County history, with intermittent echoes audible into the Twentieth Century.

Many canals were proposed, but few were actually realized. Of those that were dug and placed in operation, none proved even marginally successful in terms of bringing a profit, but the story merits telling nonetheless, if for no other reason than the fact that it reveals the tenacity of the canal idea in this particular locale.

The purpose of this journey into the past is therefore to suggest that Humboldt County experienced a canal era of modest proportions and duration, and to relate some of the more interesting highlights and curiosities of the same.

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The first recorded evidence of a suggestion for a canal in Humboldt County comes down to us from the Brannan expedition, a group of San Francisco residents who sought to ascertain the prospects for establishing settlements in the newly discovered bay region. On the way up the coast in the spring of 1850 the exploring party halted at the mouth of the Eel River in order to reconnoiter this stream, while the parent ship, the General Morgan, remained at anchor outside of the bar.

Several members of the expedition, in two small boats, succeeded in crossing the bar and made their way upstream, testing the river’s navigability. The heavy surf prevented their return to the waiting Morgan. During the ensuing exploration of the lower reaches of the Eel for some alternate route to rejoin the main party, they followed a slough to the north which brought them close enough to Humboldt Bay to enable the men to drag their boats overland and enter the bay at its southern extremity, probably in the bottomlands somewhere between the two promontories that were later to become known as Hookton and Table Bluff.

These early explorers were favorably impressed by the timber resources along the Eel River and the navigable nature of the stream. In addition they quickly became cognizant of its potential as an artery of supply for the mines which were located in the headwaters of the various tributaries of the Eel, and as a means for transporting agricultural products from the rich prairies which lined the river banks. The actual exploration was done during the early days of April 1850, and already by the end of the same month a report of their findings was published in San Francisco. In order to encourage settlement of the region, certain improvements were advocated for the most advantageous exploitation of the Eel River area, among these some form of “…water carriage from the bay into the river by a canal, which might be easily cut through the low flat neck of land which separates them and over which the Indians haul their canoes.”

A little over a year later a correspondent returning from a visit to the Eel related that the produce of the valley was marketed either at or via the “neighboring harbor of Humboldt.” Although not an outright canal enthusiast, the writer at the very least was aware of the feasibility and potential advantages of a canal when he estimated the distance separating the river from the bay at their nearest point as merely amounting to a “scant” mile. The area in question was apparently the same “low flat neck of land” originally suggested by the Brannan party, particularly since he described the site as being situated where a branch of the Eel and a sluice from the bay approach one another.

Travel and the volume of commerce between the still sparsely populated Eel River valley and the Humboldt Bay did not warrant the digging of a canal at this early date — not even one a “scant” mile in length — especially in view of the fact that an adequate wagon road already existed between these points at the time.

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After subsiding for the next several years, interest in an Eel River canal was briefly reawakened during the fall of 1854, by a suggestion that the two largest rivers of the county, the Eel and the Mad, be connected with the bay by means of canals. The rather sanguine proponents of this newest scheme felt that both canals could be realized with “very little labor.” As far as the Eel was concerned, no canal materialized and the residents of the valley continued to haul their goods either via the road or the long way around by water, down and out of the river and up the coast to the bay.

Possibly the greatest 19th Century impetus for a canal from the Eel to the bay came in 1859, when the following petition was circulated and presented to the California Legislature:

Inasmuch as the country of Eel river, Bear river and Mattole valleys are compelled either to haul all their produce and groceries around some twelve miles, or else take them in small boats twelve miles, then pay an exorbitant price for hauling across Table Bluff, three quarters of a Mile, to Humboldt Bay, and then re-ship to Eureka, all of which can be avoided by the proper kind of enterprise in building a canal intersecting Eel river and Humboldt Bay, which canal the citizens very much desire:

— we propose to open and keep in repair for fifty years from date of said charter, and three years from the opening of the same … if we obtain from you the right of way.

Admittedly the language of the petition stated the dilemma of the settlers in the area in question in no uncertain terms and would probably have had no difficulty passing the Legislature, but the petitioners had neglected to do their homework. They had not sold the populous and enterprising bay towns on the idea of the canal.

In a lengthy and, for that paper, overly cautious editorial concerning the above petition, the Times thoroughly examined all aspects of the canal question and strongly opposed the project for the time being. Although not denying that such a canal could bring many benefits to all parties concerned, the editor felt that the anticipated engineering problems and concomitant expense needed further study and were not to be underestimated:

The distance from a point on a tributary of Wait’s Slough from where it must start to high water mark on Humboldt Bay is not less than one and one half miles. At least a quarter mile of this distance would have to be flumed, and one quarter mile of dredging would have to be done after reaching the Bay, before access to deep water could be had.

In addition, and here a trace of xenophobia becomes apparent, the public was reminded that the petitioners, Messrs. Gier and Newland, were strangers to the area and possibly suspect of coveting the value of the charter more than the eventual canal revenues. In closing its case against the canal, the paper called attention to the need for reliable and trustworthy entrepreneurs to engage in a project of such magnitude and importance to the economic well-being of the bay community and hinted that such desirable types were more likely to be found close to home, pointing out as an example a prominent but unnamed local citizen who had been entertaining the notion of building precisely such a canal for quite some time. but who was prudent enough to wait until the matter had been properly studied.

None of these Eel River canals ever materialized. They never got beyond the pipe dream stage. But in that state of dormancy the canal idea persisted for nearly half a century. The immediate solution to the transportation problem of southern Humboldt County arrived piecemeal in the form of more and better roads at first, and subsequently with the coming of the railroads.

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The turn of the century brought with it a quickening of the economic pulse of Humboldt County. Rumors of railway connections with the outside world were rife, and prospects of Humboldt Bay navigation improvement made outlying areas such as Ferndale anxious to share the benefits of the impending transportation improvements. As early as 1906, a committee of the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce assessed the possibilities of a canal route around Table Bluff to connect the Eel River and Humboldt Bay. It was estimated that 800,000 cubic yards of earth would have to be excavated in order to construct a 60 foot wide canal at an estimated cost of $100,000. The members of this committee were “… thoroughly convinced as to its feasibility, and were also well aware of the fact that the construction of the canal would redound greatly to the advantage of this valley and to other sections of Humboldt.”

By early 1907 the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce had become so enamored of the canal idea that it had appointed a committee to contact Humboldt’s representatives to the State legislature concerning the compilation of data in support of a Federal survey for said canal route.

Events moved quickly thereafter, with First District Congressman Engelbright introducing H.A. 7552 on December 12, 1907, which, in effect, directed the Secretary of War to proceed with a feasibility study and cost estimate of a ship canal from Humboldt Bay to Eel River. March 1909 brought tidings of a fortuitous change of name for the proposed Eel River Canal to that of an Intra-Coastal Waterway in order to qualify for congressional appropriations, and by late April of the same year a Colonel Biddle and Captain Demerritt of the U.S. Engineers were conducting a preliminary survey to determine the feasibility of such a canal. The initial reaction of these officials was favorable, and by the end of June 1909 considerable progress on the official survey was reported and an alternate route proposed which was deemed shorter and more affordable than that originally selected by the promoters. The newly advocated canal would run “… up the McMulty Slough from Eel River, thence through the fields of P.H. Quinn and W.L. Heney with a bay outlet at the Heney landing. It is believed by the engineers that this is the most feasible route, although it would necessitate an 80-foot cut in one place.”

As a result of these positive signs the summer and early fall of 1909 saw the canal, by whatever name assigned, assume a reality of its own and the only question remaining was when it would be completed. The bubble was not long in bursting, however, and by October 1909 we find the aforementioned Colonel Biddle providing the rationale for turning down the canal to George Kellogg, Secretary of the Greater Humboldt County Chambers of Commerce, in these words:

I will state that it was not on account of its impracticality but on account of its cost. Considerable quicksand was found on any line of the Canal around Table Bluff, which would make it very costly, and furthermore on account of the high water in the Eel River in time of freshets a lock would be necessary in order to prevent debris from Eel River being carried into Humboldt Bay, and also on account of the current without a lock being too swift for navigation.

And that was the last hurrah for an Eel River canal into Humboldt Bay. The ‘ original proponents of this ultimate Eel River canal scheme, the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, sought to rally the remaining boards of trade and commerce of the County to a final revival of that canal via a strongly worded resolution, but to no avail. Its text reads like a most suitable epitaph to an idea whose time had passed.

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Next week: And what about the Mad River canals?

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On March 14, 2026, Vernell Price went home to her heavenly home into the arms of Jesus and reunited wither husband Paul Price and family.

Willie Vernell Price was born on July 26, 1924 to Jesse and Euna Carter in Pierce, Oklahoma. She had six siblings — Odell, Doyle, ML, Jean, Lavon and Jerry.

When Vernell was four years her family and other relatives moved from Oklahoma to find fortune and a new beginning to land near Old Mexico. When they arrived, the family found out that their newly purchased land was a scam. The family decided then to move on west, first going to Oregon and then to California. The family moved onto the Bay Area to work. While there Vernell’s oldest sister, Odell, died of infantile paralysis. Next the family moved Porterville, Calif. They went back to Oklahoma to find work but soon returned to Porterville and settled down.

Vernell went to a country dance with her friend Margie and her cousin when she was 16. At the dance she met Paul Price. Paul told a friend that he had just met his wife. Within a year on June 28, 1942, Vernell and Paul were married. They went to Las Vegas with Paul’s brother Bill and Vernell’s friend, Margie, they had a double wedding.

Paul and Vernell settled in Porterville. Paul and his brother, Bill purchased a gas station. In 1944 Carolyn was born and a year later Paulette came along. World War II interrupted life and Vernell found herself caring for two toddlers when Paul was drafted in 1945 and sent to the Aleutian Islands. Fortunately, Paul was only in the army a little over a year. Vernell and Paul once again settled into life in Porterville. They rededicated their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and Joined the Nazarene Church. Marilyn was born in 1949 and rounded out their family with the third girl.

In the spring of 1950 Paul and Vernell took a job opportunity to move to Eureka. with GL Speir’s Logging Company. They found a Nazarene Church community that embraced them into their congregation with open arms. Paul and Vernell settled in Eureka and found their forever home. Paul had many business endeavors. Vernell supported him by caring for the family, sewing the girls’ clothes, keeping the books for his businesses, selling Avon, working at Globe Imports and Walsh’s Fine Dinnerware. Both Vernell and Paul were involved in their church doing whatever needed to be done. She loved being a girls counselor many years at Blue Slide Nazarene Camp.

Vernell and Paul sold their tire store, Paul Price Tires, in the early 1990s, purchased a motor home and set out to see the USA with other friends. During their retirement Vernell joined the Women’s Golf Association and learned to play golf. She played golf well into her 90s. She was forever thrilled when she made a hole in one on the 8th hole at the Muni. Eventually Vernell and Paul sold their motor home and purchased a trailer in Arizona. They had to sell their property in Arizona when it became evident that Paul had Alzheimer’s. Vernell took such great care of Paul along with the family until he passed away in 2004.

Vernell managed to find a new life for herself in various ways: She was involved in her church, golfed weekly, played Mexican Dominoes with a group of friends, worked in her yard, enjoyed and cared for her family. Even in her 90s Vernell stayed as active as possible. After Vernell turned 99, it was evident that she could not live alone. A decision was made to move to Timber Ridge Assistant Living. The last year she had been in their Renaissance Memory area.

Vernell was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Euna Carter, husband, Paul Price, granddaughter, Rebecca Hansen, siblings, Odell Carter, Doyle Carter, ML Carter, Jean Thompson and Jerry Carter, nephews Steven Zbrudzewski, Don Price and niece Pam Carter.

Vernell is survived by her sister, Lavon (Art) Baird, daughters and their spouses, Carolyn and Drew Bass, Paulette and Arlin True and Marilyn Nilsen and Paul Mangum. She is survived by her grandchildren and their spouses, Michael (Maikken) Bass, Mark Bass, Michelle (Eric) Anderson, Randy (Lisa) Hansen, Renee (Michael) Miles, Nathan (Shelley) Nilsen, Jeremy (Amy) Nilsen and Ryan (Amy) Nilsen. Vernell’s great-grandchildren are Austin (Alyssa), Alec and Annika Anderson, Morgan (Dominik )Munch, Max (Shayda) Bass, and Hannah Bass, Aria Miles (Casey Highstrom), Chloe ( Jace) McFetridge, Olivia Miles, Jordan Miles, Trevor and Alexandra Nilsen, Rhett and Cole Nilsen and Cameron Hastriter. Her great-great-grandchildren are Audrey and Archer Anderson, Gabe, Piper and Brady Hansen, Banks Miles-McGrady, Jackson and River Miles-Highstrom. Vernell is also survived by nieces and nephews, Beverly Patterson, James Price, Dave Zbrudzewski, Steve, Mark, Greg and Jeff Carter, Sandy Carter, Larry and Allan Wilson, Debbie Sanders, Paula Weaver and Kathie Bourne.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 2 p.m. at Oceanside Cemetery in Eureka.

Honorary casket bearers will be Vernell’s six grandsons.

We appreciate and thank Vernell’s caregivers at Timber Ridge Memory Care.

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

Gabe Smith, 45, of Scotia, formerly of White River Junction, Vermont, passed away March 17, 2026.

Born January 25, 1981, Gabe was a charismatic and free-spirited man who followed his dream of moving to California, where he built a life surrounded by the beauty he loved. He found peace walking among the redwoods and joy in traveling to the coast to watch the sunset-simple moments that brought him happiness.

Above all, Gabe’s greatest joy in life was being a father. His children, Evey and Robey, were the center of his world. He loved traveling with them and sharing experiences-days spent exploring parks and museums, visiting rivers and lakes, and adventuring in the mountains. These were the moments he cherished most, and the memories he created with them will live on forever.

Gabe had a warm heart, a vibrant spirit, and a presence that made people feel at ease. He will be remembered for his love of nature, his sense of freedom, and the deep love he had for his family.

He had a great love of Jim Henson and the Muppets since he was two years old in Germany and that was the only TV in English that could be found. 

He is survived by his children, Evey and Roby; Kashmir Nelson, his son; Caitlin Bisson-Hoyt, the mother of his children; his mother, Kathleen; his father, Timothy Smith; his sister, Arielle Smith; his nephew, Cleo Bridge; and many friends throughout the country.

No services are planned at this time. A celebration of life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alcoholics Anonymous in his honor.

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Over the past six months or so, the City of Eureka has been trying very hard to evict the owner/operator of Humboldt Bay Social Club, a hotel, restaurant, bar and outdoor event venue located at the Samoa Field Airport.

The business — no membership required so it’s not technically a club — was first opened in 2017 by Jon O’Connor and Amy Cirincione O’Connor. Located at the former Eureka Municipal Airport — still city-owned property — the “rustic-chic” facilities include a licensed bar inside the old lobby building; a renovated plane hangar that can be rented for weddings and other special occasions; and a large outdoor area with picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, metal fire pits, barbecues for oyster grilling and portable cornhole equipment.

It also includes four vacation rental suites on the other side of New Navy Base Road. [CORRECTION: The rentals are onsite, not across the street.] These lodging facilities range from “cozy hotel rooms to expansive family homes,” according to the website, and available guest amenities include a sauna, massage treatments and access to the grounds.

The city charges $2,600 per month in rent for the whole operation.

Humboldt Bay Social Club was purchased in July 2024 by Zephyr Hospitality, LLC, which is owned and managed by a longtime cannabis farmer and massage therapist named Nicole Fryer. In a series of legal filings dating back to December, attorneys for the City of Eureka say Fryer hasn’t made a rent payment since September 2024 and now owes the city more than $60,000.

Fryer’s company, meanwhile, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy twice in recent months. In the first case, filed on Dec. 23, her petition for bankruptcy protection was incomplete, according to court filings. Fryer, representing herself, filed a motion for an extension, saying she needed time to hire an attorney and gather “complete and accurate financial information.” The court granted the extension, but she failed to meet the next deadline and the case was dismissed.

Earlier this month, she filed Chapter 11 again, a move that the city’s attorneys describe in a March 23 filing as “part of a scheme” designed to stymie efforts to evict her.

Meanwhile, Humboldt Bay Social Club continues to schedule and promote events on its social media pages, even encouraging commenters to book events for the summer, and in an emailed statement to the Outpost, Fryer said HBSC “remains open and fully operational” while it works “toward a resolution that supports the long-term viability of the business.”

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In a recent phone interview, Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery said he and other city officials first met with Fryer to discuss her delinquent rent in December 2024.

“We told her she was in arrears but [said], ‘We’ll be nice and set up a payment plan,’” Slattery said. The plan called for her to start making her monthly rent payments plus a bit extra each month until she was caught up.

“She agreed,” Slattery said, adding, “We didn’t hear back from her for months.” 

Nor did she make any of the agreed-upon payments, according to the city’s court filings. And so, after a few more months without communication from Fryer, the city terminated her lease for nonpayment and began the process of trying to evict her. 

On December 2, 2025, Eureka’s attorneys filed an eviction lawsuit (formally known as action for unlawful detainer) in Humboldt County Superior Court. And on December 29, the court ruled in the city’s favor, awarding Eureka its back rent and granting the city the legal right to repossess the property.

However, the ruling didn’t stand. Fryer had filed her first petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy just six days earlier. That filing, in California’s Northern District U.S. Bankruptcy Court, automatically stayed the unlawful detention ruling for the duration of the bankruptcy proceedings. 

As noted above, though, Fryer’s first bankruptcy filing was dismissed for failure to submit a complete application. The city quickly resumed its eviction efforts, and Humboldt County Superior Court again ruled in its favor last month. But Fryer filed for bankruptcy a second time, again triggering a stay that prevents the city from calling on sheriff’s deputies to evict Fryer, by force, if necessary.

On Monday, Eureka Deputy City Attorney Gregory M. Holtz filed the city’s latest petition for relief, which asks the court to annul that stay and clear the path for repossession of the Humboldt Bay Social Club property.

Slattery submitted a sworn declaration as part of that filing. He included screenshots of Humboldt Bay Social Club advertisements and Instagram posts offering rooms and spas and promoting events such as pop-up sushi months into the future, with no mention that the city has terminated her lease and is actively working to evict her.

“The City is concerned that these actions mislead the public because they show that the Debtor continues to receive income, engage with other small businesses, and accept reservations despite not engaging in reorganizing its debt through bankruptcy,” Slattery’s declaration says.

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Fryer’s own posts and filings

Those who follow Humboldt Bay Social Club on social media may seen indications of Fryer’s avowed financial woes. A November 5 Facebook post, for example, asked for 200 “brave” people to step up and buy $100 gift cards so that the business could “stay open,” “breathe again,” and “make it through winter without cutting staff, services, or soul.”

The post did not disclose that she hadn’t paid rent for more than a year — at least according to the city.

In a LinkedIn post from later that month, Fryer reached out in search of new investors, saying the person who “promised to fund my dream only delivered a fraction.”

“Since then,” the post continues, “I’ve been keeping everything afloat through resilience, resourcefulness, and the unwavering support of our guests and local community. Now, I’m looking for values aligned investors who understand that true impact goes beyond profit and that what we’re building here is part of Humboldt’s evolving story.”

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In a post published on December 28 — more than a month after the city had terminated her lease for nonpayment — Fryer promised to “always protect the integrity” of the business, saying it “will always be grounded in authenticity” while “we are continuing to grow it with intention and heart.”

On February 2 — after her first bankruptcy filing but before the second — Fryer announced on Facebook that Humboldt Bay Social Club was the victim of theft.

“Overnight, HBSC was broken into and our safe was stolen,” the post says. “No one was hurt and everyone is safe. It’s clear this wasn’t random, and we’re addressing it accordingly. A police report has been filed.” (The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that it took a report.) 

Filings that Fryer has submitted as part of her Chapter 11 bankruptcy case give a behind-the-scenes view of her business’s finances. A statement of financial interests filed last week, for example, says Humboldt Bay Social Club has taken in more than $938,000 in gross revenue since Fryer took ownership in July 2024. That includes $578,427 in 2025 alone, according to the statement.

She also submitted the following list of creditors:

• City of Eureka: $55,000 
• Redwood Region Economic Development Center (business loan): $68,000
• Reliance Funding (merchant cash advance): $22,000
• FinPoint (merchant cash advance: $22,000 
• Last Chance Funding(merchant cash advance): $31,000 
• SBMC International (business loan): $17,000
• Mike Reinman (business loan): $5,000

We left Fryer a voicemail and sent her an email yesterday in hopes of interviewing her for this story. We subsequently arranged to speak on the phone this morning at 10:30, but she didn’t answer when we called. 

She texted 10 minutes later asking for 25 more minutes. Instead of calling, she texted to say she’d follow up via email, which she did. The email says she’s working directly with the city to resolve “lease arrears,” and it urged the Outpost to postpone publishing a story “to allow for a more complete and accurate representation.”

We responded via email, noting that this matter concerns publicly owned property and encouraged her to provide her side of the story today, either by phone or email. A little over an hour later, she emailed the following official statement:

Humboldt Bay Social Club is currently involved in an active legal process regarding lease arrears with the City of Eureka.

This is an ongoing matter, and the situation is more complex than what is reflected in court filings alone. We are actively working toward a resolution that supports the long term viability of the business.

Humboldt Bay Social Club remains open and fully operational. We are continuing to serve our guests, host events, and support our staff and local vendors.

Since acquiring the business in July 2024, we have been committed to building a sustainable, community driven destination on the Samoa Peninsula, and that commitment remains unchanged.

We are focused on securing a path forward and on the long term future of this business. Humboldt Bay Social Club is not going anywhere.

We will provide additional context as appropriate.

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A few minutes later, Fryer sent another email, again requesting that we hold off on publishing a story. 

I understand this is a matter of public interest. At the same time, this is an active legal process, and the timing of coverage before key aspects are resolved risks presenting an incomplete picture of a situation that is still actively unfolding.

There are material factors and developments that are not reflected in the current filings, including efforts underway that directly impact the outcome.

I would strongly encourage that any reporting reflects that this is an ongoing process and not a final determination, and that Humboldt Bay Social Club remains open and operating.

I also want to reiterate that there are real people tied to this, including employees, vendors, and scheduled events, and the way this is presented has immediate real world consequences.

If possible, I would appreciate the opportunity to review any direct quotes attributed to me for accuracy prior to publication.

I’m available to connect once I’m in a position to provide fuller context.

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The Outpost will continue to follow this ongoing process as it unfolds.

Press release from the County of Humboldt:

There are currently two At-Large vacancies on the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) board of directors, and residents in Humboldt are invited to apply to serve. 

The GRTA is a public agency established in 2021 to develop and manage the Great Redwood Trail, a 307-mile, multi-use rail-to-trail project connect California’s San Franciso and Humboldt Bays. The agency also must discharge the duties of a rail common carrier before the Surface Transportation Board.

The GRTA’s service area is the former North Coast Railroad Authority rail corridor in Mendocino, Trinity and Humboldt Counties. The agency’s board of directors is composed of two people appointed by the boards of supervisors of the Counties of Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino and Sonoma. The vacancies reference here are the two Humboldt appointments.

The vacancies are at-large appointments, means members are appointed by the Board to serve all county districts, as opposed to one single district. At-large applicants may reside in any county district to be considered. The appointment is for a two-year term and the incumbent may be re-appointed. 

To be considered for a volunteer seat on the GTRA applicants may possess or obtain a basic understanding of trail and restoration projects and community development best practices. Community members with interest, knowledge or experience in these matters are especially encouraged to apply.

Application Process

Interested parties may contact the Clerk of the Board’s Office, located at 825 Fifth St., Room 111 in Eureka or via email.

This round of applications will be accepted until Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 5 p.m. It is anticipated that applications will be presented to the Board for consideration on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. If you apply the Clerk of the Boards office will reach out to you with the information necessary to participate in the Board of Supervisors meeting. Applications for all county committees, boards and commissions with or without immediate vacancies are accepted year-round and are considered current for two years. Applicants on file will be notified should a new vacancy arise.

The GRTA meets typically every two months. Additional meetings and or special meetings may be scheduled throughout the year, as needed. The successful applicant will serve a two-year term and be appointed by a majority of the Board of Supervisors. The successful candidate will also be required to file a statement of economic interest as required by the Fair Political Practices Commission of the State of California and complete ethics training every two years.

For more information on county committees, boards and commissions, please call 707-476-2390 or email cob@co.humboldt.ca.us.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Witnesses Testify in Hearing on Murder Case for Shooting at Abandoned Grow
• Arrest Made for the Murder of 36-Year-Old at a Cannabis Grow Site in Eastern Humboldt, Sheriff’s Office Says

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A man was held to answer Friday on murder charges for allegedly fatally shooting a man at an abandoned grow along State Route 299.

Christopher Diven was also held to a spread of other charges laid out during a preliminary hearing this week.

He’s accused of fatally shooting Vincent McKenney, a 36-year-old man who’d been missing for months before he was found dead.

“I frankly don’t have a doubt,” Diven killed McKenney, Judge Christopher Wilson said during the hearing.

Diven is accused of using a 20-gauge shotgun to fatally shoot McKenney. Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer argued Friday Diven first shot the victim in the back, followed by another to the head.

Meanwhile, Deputy Public Defender Ryan McClurg argued there wasn’t sufficient evidence the killing was willful and premeditated murder, and instead the charge should be manslaughter.

Judge Wilson said there remained a specter of a self-defense claim, but said the court would need more information on the topic.

After finding probable cause to proceed with a trial, Wilson set the next hearing on April 10 and said Diven will remain on a no-bail hold.

McClurg argued there was insufficient evidence identifying McKenney’s cause of death, along with a lack of DNA evidence and cell phone data tying Diven to the killing. He argued the case relied on witness testimony he cast doubt on.

Schaffer countered, pointing to birdshot consistent with the type of weapon lent to Diven found at the scene, a doctor’s opinion of the victim’s cause of death based on his scattered remains and Diven’s text messages sent to a friend on the night of the homicide seeking a ride — even without the witness testimony heard this week that substantially implicated Diven as killing McKenney.

During witness examination, the court heard from a HCSO investigator, a deputy and Jordan Schafer Burdisso, who was at the scene of the shooting and Diven’s romantic partner.

During cross examination, McClurg cast doubt on the trustworthiness of Burdisso’s testimony, pointing to the timeline of her relationship with Diven and drug use. McClurg pointed out she did not directly see Diven shoot McKenney, his body or any blood on Diven’s clothes, during questioning.

Earlier this week, Burdisso testified she texted Diven that night to come with protection to the former grow site, where she was with McKenney.

She testified Diven arrived at the property, briefly spoke to her while she sat in her car before disappearing into the darkness, and heard McKenney say “You’ve got to be kid-” followed by two gunshots.

She testified Diven got into her car, told her “he’s dead” before driving away together.

McClurg also pressed into a line of questioning on the feuding between the victim and defendant.

Burdisso said he was acting like a “loose cannon” after relapsing, like a different person. “It made me kinda nervous, yeah,” she said, when asked by McClurg if she was scared the night investigators believe McKenney was shot.

She testified he was repeatedly calling Diven a bitch that night.

Prosecutor Schaffer in turn noted Diven told Burdisso something like he’d already made up his mind, or felt McKenney’s death was coming, when attempting to console her for guilt over his death.

Wilson similarly held Diven to answer for all charges in another case heard at the same time, surrounding being a felon is possession of mace and bullets police allegedly found while investigating the murder. Video evidence shown during the hearing also captured Diven with a weapon, which he was barred from possessing.