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Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor Sunday evening, days after two news outlets published explosive allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from four women, including a former staff member. He continued to deny the allegations in an announcement on social media.

Swalwell’s campaign collapsed Friday soon after the first report in the San Francisco Chronicle, in which the unnamed former staff member said Swalwell solicited oral sex from her while she was working for him and twice sexually assaulted her when she was too drunk to consent. The account was corroborated with medical records and by people the woman spoke with after the last incident, which she said took place in New York in 2024.

CNN later Friday published the same woman’s account, as well as those of three other women, one of whom said he kissed and touched her inappropriately and two of whom alleged he sent unsolicited nude photos and other inappropriate messages on Snapchat.

Dozens of supporters and staffers quickly dropped their support for him. Major unions and congressional candidates pulled their endorsements.

In his post, Swalwell apologized to his “family, staff, friends, and supporters,” saying “I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”

Because he is leaving the race after a state deadline to file for or withdraw from a race, his name will still appear on the June 2 primary ballot.

One of the leading Democratic candidates for governor, Swalwell appeared to have dug his heels in Friday night. His attorney, Elias Dabaie, gave an interview on CNN saying he was still in the race. Swalwell himself spoke only in a video he posted to Instagram, calling the allegations “flat false.”

But by then he had already hemorrhaged supporters from across the Democratic establishment. Major labor unions on Friday suspended their support and over the weekend held emergency meetings to withdraw their endorsements. Democratic congressional leaders called for him to drop out, staffers quit or distanced themselves from him and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced it would look into the alleged 2024 assault.

He also faces mounting pressure from colleagues to resign from Congress, where he has represented parts of the San Francisco East Bay since 2013.

Reached by phone Sunday morning, campaign manager Yardena Wolf, Swalwell’s former congressional chief of staff, said she and other campaign staff had not spoken with the congressman. She said she was remained on Swalwell’s payroll to sign her subordinates’ paychecks.

Wolf was with Swalwell at a town hall in Sacramento last week where he forcefully denied rumors of inappropriate behavior to reporters and said he had never had any sexual encounters with any staff.

Swalwell ran primarily on his antagonism toward President Donald Trump, telling voters that fighting Trump is the California governor’s “number one job.”

In a field of seven major Democrats, he had better name recognition with liberal voters than many other candidates from his frequent appearances on cable news and his role chairing the second Trump impeachment in 2021. He quickly rose to the top of the polls among Democratic candidates, and garnered the largest share of support from state Democratic Party delegates during a convention in February.

He was also the center of controversies, including challenges about his California residency and questions about who invests in his AI campaign finance startup, which is used by some of his Democratic colleagues in Congress.

For much of the past two weeks, he was in a three-way tie for lead Democrat in the race, along with Katie Porter and Tom Steyer, all of whom trailed the two Republican candidates, Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, raising concerns among Democrats that the two Republicans could take the top two spots in the June 2 primary election, advance to November and lock Democrats out of the seat.

Swalwell’s exit could allow another Democrat to surge into the lead, if most of his supporters flock to the same candidate.

Editor’s note: Anna Morrison Reed published accounts of her three trips to Humboldt County in her magazine, The Northern Crown, of May 1917. The text of the article has been made available by John E. Keller, her grandson, a resident of Lafayette, Calif., who published it in a book, Anna Morrison Reed, 1849-1921. This item covers his grandmother’s trip in 1872.

— The Humboldt Historian

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In the beautiful days of late spring, vocal with song of bird, and the murmur of running water, it was once the writer’s privilege to travel horseback over the old government trail from Cahto, Mendocino County, to Hydesville, in Humboldt.

Only a schoolgirl then, that imperative duty had called her from her books at Mrs. Perry’s Seminary in Sacramento, to a more active field of endeavor, and accompanied by her brother, only thirteen years of age, these two intrepid youngsters made this trip overland in the year of the Modoc War.

Much of the way was through an unbroken forest, where the curse of the ax and the blight of fire had not yet fallen.

Where the clean copper-brown boles of the giant trees, made a columned way for the riders, fern-fringed, and flower-bordered and fragrant with a thousand green, growing, blossoming things.

And through the more sacred hush of the greater silence of the denser woods, until the leaf-filtered sunlight seemed to fall through aisles of grandeur most sublime, where had echoed the anthem of the wind harps through ages of living song.

The start was made from Willits, then called Little Lake, later Willitsville, and now Willits, on May 4, 1872.

Anna M. Reed, in an author’s photo from an 1896 book of poetry. Public domain.

We had bought two horses for the trip from a blacksmith named Cameron, a bay horse of rather ungainly build and awkward gait, for Eddie, my brother, and a little white mare, neat and sure-footed for myself. Alex Montgomery, editor and owner of the “Mendocino-Democrat” at Ukiah, had given me a black leather side saddle, and Mart Baechtel, of Little Lake, sold us a boy’s saddle for Eddie. As we took no pack animal for baggage, I left my trunk, guitar and other belongings at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Baechtel, of Little Lake, and packing things absolutely in an old fashioned carpet sack, to hang on the horn of my saddle and a corresponding bundle to tie behind Eddie’s saddle, we started in good shape, and lightweight on the morning of the 4th of May.

Jim Burger, a well known stock buyer, at the time, rode out a few miles with us, giving us directions and warnings about the route we were taking.

We arrived at the Cahto Hotel, 24 miles from Little Lake, late in the afternoon, tired and hungry and were welcomed and refreshed by the hospitality for which Robert White and his wife were famed and took a good night’s rest for an early start in the morning.

On Sunday, May 5th, got away from Cahto in good season for the 25-mile ride to Blue Rock. Ezra Simpson, a brother of Mrs. Robert White, rode with us as far as the Pine Woods, in Long Valley, to see us safely on the trail.

Our way was over broken country steep and rugged, and it was after sundown when we reached Blue Rock. We were made comfortable by the family of Mr. Davidson, the brother of Joe Davidson, who was the mail carrier on the route. My last recollection of that evening, was that I went to sleep in the room ‘ with Mrs. Davidson and several little Davidsons while my brother Eddie was relegated to the stockmen’s quarters near the barn and corral.

Our next day’s ride brought us to Center Station, 34 miles from Blue Rock. We had ridden all day against a north wind, with occasional showers of cold rain and sleet, this day being the only bad weather encountered on the trip.

Center Station was a small log hut, where a boy whose name I have forgotten stayed to look after the horses for the mail carrier. The evening that we arrived the usual week’s supplies had not come in, and the sum total of provisions on hand were three withered potatoes, an empty flour sack, an onion and a slice of fat pork. Out of the vegetables and pork I made a stew, and shook the flour sack for enough flour to thicken it, and we fared sumptuously. After the collation we retired. The sleeping accommodations were two bunks, one above the other, and several gray blankets, but no mattresses. Eddie and the boy took the upper bunk and I the lower, which was harder than any board on which a Monk had ever done penance, and through a wide chink in the wall of the cabin the wind blew against my head all night. The next morning the supplies arrived, and we had a cup of black coffee before starting.

On May 7th, we only rode as far as Elk Prairie, 20 miles from Center Station. The trading post and stopping place at Elk Prairie, was kept by Ferris & Carroll. John Ferris, who impressed me as a university man, anyway a scholar and gentleman, had an Indian wife who cooked vension to perfection. We were very tired and hungry and the meal was delicious. In the large living room were two beds, in opposite corners and in front an immense fireplace, filled with generous logs. The flame lighted the room for ordinary purposes. After supper Eddie and I were assigned to one bed, the Indian wife of Ferris and another Indian woman took possession of the other, and presently, when all were still and presumably sleeping, Mr. Ferris and a little Indian boy about 8 years old came in quietly and laid down before the fire, covered by a blanket, and slept until early morn.

Reached Hydesville on the evening of May 8th, very tired. The trip along the river bottom lands after leaving Elk Prairie, was undescribably delightful. The trail ran under the giant redwood trees through light and shadow, and fragrance of the morning. Had we known that lurking near us was a band of marauding Indians intent on mischief, we might not have so thoroughly enjoyed the way. But such was the case, as witness the following letter from Judge Wyman, editor of the Humboldt Times, which appears here.

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J.E. Wyman. Photo via the Humboldt Historian.

Editorial Correspondence

San Francisco, May 13th, 1872

DEAR TIMES.—As you know I left Eureka on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 8th, instant, for San Francisco, overland, and believe a few lines concerning my trip will be acceptable. I sit down to write.

In company with Frank Farley I left Eureka for Hydesville, when after a speedy and pleasant ride in one of Messrs. Bullard & Sweasey’s turnouts, we arrived, stopping at Boynton Cheney’s hotel. During the evening I was favored with an introduction to Miss Anna Morrison, the accomplished and talented lecturess in whose company I spent an hour or two very agreeably. Knowing that before this time she has fully acquainted the people of Humboldt County with her views upon the declaration of principles as enunciated in the “Woodhull & Clafflin” platform. I will only add that her head is eminently “square” upon the question of “Woman Suffrage,” and it is to be hoped that she will meet with the cordial reception she certainly merits.

At half past four on Thursday morning a summons at the door warned me to prepare for a start. Got up and partook of breakfast which was in waiting, after which, at a quarter past five, in company with that “prince of good fellows,” Mr. Joe Davidson, the mail rider, the start was made. “Old Ben,” the animal provided for me by Messrs. Bullard & Sweasey, a veteran on the route, was the right “horse” in the right place, for he manifested a great aversion to being behind, always needed checking rather than urging. We were not long on the way before we struck the “Long Valley Wagon Road”—save the mark! I will only digress so far as to suggest the Board of Supervisors constitute themselves into a committee of three, for the purpose of “interviewing” that institution before authorizing the expenditure of any more of the public moneys after the style in which it has been laid out there.

At twelve o’clock we reached the opening at Camp Grant, on Eel River. Here we had quite a little “scare.” As we came to the bank of the river a woman — her name I do not remember — having a young child in her arms and two or three larger ones, came running towards us, from one of the houses on the campgrounds, screaming as she ran. When she had recovered her breath sufficiently, she answered our inquiries as to what was the matter.

She said that while absent from her home with her children a short time between nine and ten o ‘clock, gathering berries, the Indians had been there and robbed it of everything in it of value, including a small sum of money, and utterly destroyed whatever remained that they did not want to carry away. The husband of the woman was away, and she had been shouting from the bank of the river for two hours to alarm Mr. Dobbyns, who lives directly opposite and keeps the ferry, and have him come over with the boat to her assistance, but she could make no one hear, and she had come to the conclusion that Mr. Dobbyns and his family had all been murdered. It is the custom of the mail riders, by shouting, to notify the ferryman of their arrival and desire to cross. Mr. Davidson had already done this as we approached the river. After hearing the woman’s story he commenced shouting again and did so several times, receiving no answer.

We began to think something was indeed wrong, and Mr. Davidson was about to alarm some ranchmen down the river, but before doing so he sent forth another yell that went echoing in the distant hillsides. This brought the anxiously sought Dobbyns, and the suspense was soon over. We crossed the ferry, took dinner while the mail was being changed, and at one o’clock were again on our way. As we left, a few of the residents near the ferry were preparing to go in search of the Indians.

The family referred to are poor and by this depredation lose everything in the world they have. At three o’clock we reached Elk Prairie, changed animals and at half past three again started, and arrived at Center Station, a distance of fifty-five miles from, Hydesville, at a quarter past seven.

On Friday morning at six o’clock my journey resumed, but with new company. I had been obliged to part with “Old Ben,” and soon found that I had suffered by the change, but will not stop to say wherein.

Our road now lay pretty well up in the world, and was enveloped in a fog so dense that we could scarcely see a hundred feet distant, which made the ride at this early hour anything but comfortable or agreeable. Occasionally the high points over which the trail passed would reach above the fog, giving them the appearance of small islands amid a vast ocean of waters. At twelve o’clock we reached Blue Rock Station, twenty-eight miles from Center Station, where we took dinner and changed animals. At one o’clock started for Cahto, distance twenty-two miles, which we reached in the evening at six. At Bob White’s, where man and beast were kindly cared for, we took two square meals and a good night’s rest, which about this time were greatly appreciated by your humble servant.

On Saturday morning I jumped aboard the stage and whirled along over hill and down dale, up and down grades, through Sherwood Valley, Little Lake, Calpella to Ukiah, a distance of forty-five miles, where we arrived at 5 p.m.

The next morning, Sunday, at six o’clock, we got aboard a fine new Concord coach, drawn by four horses and, driven by Mr. Wm. H. force, our mail contractor, and having in all “only” twelve passengers for a load; passed through villages of Sanel, fifteen miles from Ukiah, thence to Cloverdale, sixteen miles further, where we arrived at one p.m. Got dinner and went on board one of the cars bound for Donohue, which left at two p.m. Passed through Healdsburg, 17 miles from Cloverdale, Santa Rosa, sixteen miles from, Healdsburg, Petaluma, sixteen miles from Santa Rosa, arriving at Donohue, six miles from Petaluma, at half past four. Thence we transferred to the steamer “Antelope,” which shortly left, arriving in San Francisco, at quarter before eight in the evening. Thus you see that I have made the trip through from Eureka to San Francisco, a distance of three hundred and twenty-six miles, in four days and five hours, including the four night’s stoppages.

I have no time to write further.

W. (Judge Wyman)

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Part of the trail ran over Uncle Sam Mountain, and it was steep and narrow, with insecure bridges over deep, rough waterways.

Eddie’s horse fell with him, an accident that was nearly serious, as his foot was caught in the stirrup, but my little mare stepped over the trail as sure-footed as a goat.

Mrs. Cheney, wife of the proprietor of the hotel at Hydesville, was very motherly and kind to the two wanderers, and after supper I was introduced to Judge Wyman, editor and proprietor of the Humboldt Times. He publishes at Eureka, who was on his way to San Francisco, overland. He is a kind and intelligent gentleman. A guitar was secured, and I played and sang and learned a new song from a young man whose name I do not remember. The song “I’m as Happy as the Day is Long,” was very sweet, and just suited my mood and I forgot the fatigue of the long unusual trip, knowing that I could rest for a day or so and get in trim to lecture and earn the money so needed.

On May the 9th I rested nearly all day, but we took a short drive with Mrs. Cheney, to look at Hydesville and its surroundings. Also made arrangements to lecture on the next evening.

May 10th, I lectured in the church to a good audience. My collection was $15. The following evening lectured in the same place, collecting $10.

On May the 13th, we went to Rohnerville, having forwarded an announcement of my lecture there. I spoke in Strong’s Hall, was introduced by Dr. Dorr, who I met sometime before in Trinity County. My collection was $20. Lectured there the next evening, having a collection of $16.

I sent announcements to Ferndale and lectured there on the evenings of the 15th and 16th, collecting $21.25.

We reached Eureka on the 17th of May. Stopped at Hogaboom’s hotel and arranged for a lecture at Ryan’s hall on the next evening, where I spoke to an overflowing house. My collection was $42.00. The Humboldt Times said this, among other things, of my lecture:

Her lectures are interesting throughout, and we see in Miss Morrison the elements of a first-class lecturess.

Her manner is pleasing, her language is good, and modesty marks the entire discourse.

She will deliver her farewell lecture on Saturday evening. May 25th, at Ryan’s Hall, which will doubtless be both instructive and interesting, and on which occasion the Eureka Brass Band will be in attendance.

We are requested to state that Miss Morrison will lecture at Arcata on Monday and Tuesday evenings, and at Trinidad on Saturday and Sunday evenings, of next week, and it is with pleasure that we commend her to these communities.

I lectured at Ryan’s Hall, as announced, on May 25th, and my receipts were $40.25. I had also spoken on the 22nd, collecting $30.25.

The following is the testimonial given me by the citizens of Eureka, upon the occasion of my benefit lecture

Having listened with pleasure to the lecture delivered by Miss Anna M. Morrison in Eureka, and recognizing her ability and the worthy object she has in view in her public addresses, we cheerfully unite in the expression of hope for her future success and bespeak for her a full house on Saturday evening, on the occasion of her lecture as announced, upon the subject of “Moral and Social Reform.

Signed: Joseph Russ, W.H. Havens, J. Carr, C.T. Roberts, David E. Gordon, John T. Young, C.H. Heney, Capt. E. Tomilson, Wm. H. Pratt, Dr. D.U. Lindsay, J.E. Wyman, J.W. Henderson, John Kelcher, T. Walsh, M.H. Mooney, A.G. Brown, C.T. McKay, John Miller, P.H. Ryan, F.A. Week, N. Bullock, B.L. Wait, Chas. W. Long, J.E. Hitchborn, W.B. Thorpe.

Eureka, May 24, 1872.

The Humboldt Times also said:

We bespeak for her a full house. The object she has in view is a noble one, which is the purpose of obtaining means to assist in supporting her father’s family and to complete her own education.

After lecturing at Arcata and Trinidad, on May 27, 28, 29 and 31, collecting for the four lectures $91.12, we returned to Eureka to prepare for our journey to Crescent City. Our adventurous trip to that place will be described in another article.

The observations and experiences of this trip left a deep impression of the beauty, resources and possibilities of Humboldt, which was expressed in the following tribute written sometime after I left the county:

HUMBOLDT
by Anna M. Reed

The mem’ry of thy sunny vales
sleeps in my heart;
Where berries gleamed in golden heat
Beneath June’s softly ling’ring feet;
Where, on the summers slumb’rous breast
The Winds the yielding days caressed.

Thy blossoms, wet with fragrant dew,
have brushed my cheek;
While wandering in the woods along,
I heard the birds’ exquisite song;
And marveled not that life should seem
So like a sweet, delicious dream.

From streams of water cold and pure,
my lips have quaffed;
Where, in the forest dark and deep.
The somber shadows seem to sleep;
Where pallid lilies bloom and die.
Denied the radiance of the sky.

My wond’ring feet went o’er thy hills
in sweet content;
That destiny to me assigned
A pleasant task of heart and mind;
And led me, for a little while.
Beneath the blessing of thy smile.

The glorious promise of thy years
Spoke to my soul;
And in the future thou shalt meet
A grand fruition proud and sweet;
And bloom untouched by blight or ban,
A country blessed by God and man.

Sandra ‘Sandy’ Cofer passed away on March 29, 2026, in Vancouver, Washington surrounded by her two daughters and one of her grandsons.

Sandy was one of four children born to Illa Deadrick and one of five children born to Rene Daignault on April 18, 1941, in Lily of the Valley Hospital in Lewiston, Idaho. The first few years of her life were spent with her mom, dad, and brother Pete. After her parents divorced, she stayed with her mom until the age of twelve at which point she took a train from Minnesota to Oregon to live with her dad and brother Pete. While in Oregon they spent some time living in North Bend where a love of nature was inspired by exploring the local coast. They also spent some time living in Eugene.

The three of them finally settled in Eureka. Sandy was very fond of a trampoline class that she took in high school and would often talk about how it taught her to fall correctly so as not to hurt herself. She graduated from Eureka High School in 1959. She started working at a local paint store and decided to pursue a nursing degree at Humboldt State University. She decided that nursing wasn’t her thing and ended up quitting college, but while there she met the love of her life, Larry Cofer. She saw him walking down a hill on campus. He was wearing some wing-tipped shoes, and she thought he was a pretty ‘snazzy’ dresser. She had the fortune of officially meeting him at a frat party that she was attending as the date of his best friend. They were married on November 9, 1962, at a Methodist Church in Eureka. Sandy and Larry were married until his passing in January 2014.

In the mid-1960s, Sandy started working as a phone operator for AT&T. While there she got to try her hand at acting in a couple of plays that the company produced for their employees. She loved dressing up. ‘Dressing to the nine’ she would call it. She loved fancy things, especially the little white convertible MG that her and Larry took on an unforgettable road trip to stay at Timberline Lodge by Mt. Hood in Oregon.

She and Larry started out their married life living in a triplex where they met lifelong friends that she also attended Scared Heart church in Eureka with. There were a lot of dinner and house parties. As children started getting added to the mix the social circle just got bigger. The families spent lots of time at Sequoia Park. Later in life her and Larry belonged to a dance club. They would get all dressed up, leave their daughters with a babysitter, and go out dancing.

Sandy become a mom for the first time on June 13, 1966, to her daughter Cindy. Three and a half years later she became a mom to daughter Pamela. After having Cindy, she quit the phone company and decided to try her hand at in-home childcare. She also started teaching CCD for the church and helped with the children’s programs.

In 1976 Sandy and her family moved to the Grace Park area of McKinleyville. She became actively involved with Christ the King Catholic Church in McKinleyville where she continued to teach religious education as well has becoming a Lector and catechist for different children and adults. She also started working as a teacher’s aid at Morris School and as a playground monitor at McKinleyville Jr. High. The job Sandy ended up working at until her retirement in 2014 and the one she will be most remembered for was as a salesclerk for what was Ron & Betty’s Drug Store. The drug store eventually became Rite Aid. She was well known in the community for her friendliness, kindness, and generosity. She was full of compassion and had a gentle soul.

Sandy was actively involved in looking in on and helping with her extended family. She loved all the holidays and decorating the house. She hosted the family holiday dinners. She loved taking things she collected from nature and making ‘educational’ nature displays. In her early adult years, she dappled in charcoal drawing and described herself as an artist and writer. She also enjoyed painting ceramics. She loved crazy socks and had a very colorful coordinated closet full of clothes. She loved jewelry and shopping.

In 2016 Sandy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and relocated to Vancouver, WA to be closer to her youngest daughter’s family. She was always in good spirits and was always willing to try something new even as her illness progressed. She was very fond of eating out.

She is survived by her daughter’s Cindy and Pamela; grandchildren Zac, Josh, and Brielle; great-grandchildren Nick, Emma, Waylen, Clint, Luke, and Charlie; her brother Joe and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Larrry; her parents Rene and Illa; and her siblings Michael, Peter, Andy, Evelyn, and Linda.

The service will be held on April 17, 2026, at 9 a.m. at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Eureka. A graveside service will be immediately following with a gathering back at St. Bernard parish hall.

Arrangements under the direction of Sanders Funeral Home, Eureka.

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

Jerry Sullivan passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Born on December 3, 1928, in Sacramento to Gene and Carolyn Sullivan, Jerry lived a rich, hardworking life marked by strength, creativity and kindness.

Jerry grew up in Ferndale and on Cock Robin Island where he enjoyed 4-H in high school and proudly showed cows as a young man.

At just 17, he enlisted in the Army in 1945 by overstating his age. When the Army discovered the truth, his mother stepped in to sign for him to continue serving. He did his basic training at Fort Ord. He was on leave in Seattle in 1947 when he met the love of his life, Delphine Barnett. Nineteen days later, they were married a beautiful union that lasted 63 cherished years until Delphine’s passing in 2010.

He was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska for 5 years. He was an army engineer, specifically a steamfitter. He built a cozy cabin from used lumber that he obtained from the base. Delphine spent her days removing nails from the lumber. It was there that their first son, Lawrence Eugene (Larry), was born,a special chapter in their adventurous early years together.

After leaving the Army in Kansas, the family lived briefly in Lincoln, Nebraska and Jerry worked for Goodyear making radiator hoses. He left because of a strike and moved back to Humboldt County where he remained for the rest of his life.

He started an apprenticeship in masonry that lasted for 5 years. He became a master mason and bricklayer. During this time their second son, Edward Gerard, was born, adding another joyful chapter to their growing family. Jerry took great pride in repairing the boilers at the old pulp mills. There are many chimneys and brick walls that were built in the Eureka area that were a testament to his skill. He retired from bricklaying in the mid-1990s but continued to do handyman work for many more years.

Jerry was also a remarkably talented woodworker. He crafted detailed wooden cars and trucks, carefully studying and photographing old vehicles before recreating them in wood with intricate features such as gear shifts, floor pedals, dashboards, and delicately hand-turned spoked wheels. On his lathe, he created beautiful wooden bowls that were true works of art.

Jerry’s greatest joy was his family. As a grandfather and great-grandfather, he had a special way of making each grandchild feel important-whether through laughter, stories, or time spent side by side. Many will remember him in his shop, patiently creating or fixing something, always willing to share what he knew. His love, humor and quiet guidance will live on in each of them.

Jerry loved to go hunting and fishing in his younger days. He had a special affinity for Deer Lick Springs where a friend’s mother lived. He enjoyed being outdoors.

Above all, Jerry was a kind and gentle soul, deeply loved by everyone who knew him. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was famous for his wonderfully bad jokes that never failed to bring a smile. His warmth, resourcefulness, and steady presence touched the lives of all around him.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Delphine, his son, Larry, and his brothers, Richard, Don, Roger and Jim.

He is survived by his son, Edward Gerard (wife Judy), his daughter-in-law Linda; his grandchildren, Lonnie Eugene (Chrissy), Lance Edward (Linda), Lars Eric (Tina), Lane Eldon (Arlene), Nathan Edward and Garth William. He had 10 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren with one on the way; his brothers, Philip and Larry, and his sister Joan; and many dear nieces, nephews and cousins.

There will be no memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Jerry’s memory by sharing a story about him, telling one of his classic bad jokes, or simply spending time with those you love.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Charges Filed Against Alleged Bridgeville Human Trafficker in Case Sparked by Mexican Consulate Tip
• Sheriff’s Office Arrests Alleged Bridgeville Cultivator on Human Trafficking Charges Following Tip From the Mexican Consulate

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Last week, a Humboldt County Superior Court judge dismissed some human trafficking charges levied against a man accused of stranding a worker on a remote Bridgeville cannabis farm without pay or food.

The court found there wasn’t enough evidence that two alleged victims were trafficked during a preliminary hearing.

Still, the court found enough evidence to continue with criminal proceedings against 45-year-old Georgi Tonev on charges of trafficking one John Doe, according to court records.

He was also held to answer by Judge Kelly Neel on other charges; including felony theft of wages, possessing more than 6 marijuana plants and possession of marijuana for sale, according to court minutes. She found sufficient evidence for the District Attorney’s office to file three counts of theft of wages for the alleged victims.

Tonev has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and was released on bail this week after it was reduced to $45,000. According to the conditions of release, Tonev must stay 100 yards away from and not contact alleged victims.

The court did not find enough evidence to hold Tonev to answer for charges for two of the alleged victims, who previously worked for him.

“I really think that these John Does preyed against my client’s generosity. He is an immigrant himself, and had a soft spot for people that come to this country and try to make a better life,” alleged Andrea Sullivan, Tonev’s attorney, when speaking to the Outpost Friday.

She said Tolev is a U.S. citizen who has lived in the country for 25 years, hailing from Bulgaria.

Sullivan argued against the accusations of human trafficking, comparing the nature of working on cannabis farms to work in other remote areas, like fishermen at sea or workers on oil rigs.

“For all three John Does, there is absolutely no allegations that he used any threats — no threats of physical assault, no implied threats of physical violence,” she emphasized.

“They’re not saying that they were being threatened if they didn’t work,” she said.

A human trafficking conviction comes with a maximum sentence of 12 years.

According to the initial complaint, Tonev is accused of withholding more than $2,350 in wages for two employees. His attorney similarly contested the wage theft allegations.

Tonev was arrested in an elaborate effort following a tip from the Mexican consulate. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team served a search warrant on a remote property northeast of Bridgeville using a swift water rescue team to arrest Tonev and locate the alleged victim.

An arraignment on information for the case is set for April 17.

On the outside of a now-closed indoor cannabis consumption lounge in Eureka, there once read a message painted in huge black letters: “YES! YOU CAN SMOKE WEED INSIDE.” There aren’t any of those signs plastered around Arcata, because those lounges aren’t legal — yet. Arcata’s city council may pass a resolution next week legalizing the lounges. Maybe a few more dispensaries will be sporting a similar message soon. 

A cannabis consumption lounge is exactly what it sounds like: a business that, as the example above put it, lets people get high on the premises. Eureka legalized them in 2019; there’s currently one operating. It’s legal to grow, sell, and manufacture cannabis products in Arcata, and apparently an update to the Land Use Code created a “pathway” for indoor weed smoking several years ago, but the city put off finalizing the legalization of indoor consumption until business owners expressed interest, according to the staff report on the item. Apparently, one established business, and someone else interested in starting one, both want to found a lounge. (The Outpost doesn’t know who; city staff have not yet responded to a request for comment.)

To start one, owners will have to be licensed to sell cannabis and hold several cannabis-related permits. The lounges have to be enclosed and authorized to operate by city hall. Only people aged 21 and up can use them; they can’t drink or use any other drugs; they can’t operate between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.; if enough people complain about the smell, the business has to quit operating until they find a solution; and if someone is “visibly intoxicated,” employees aren’t allowed to sell them any weed.

The amendments to the municipal code would also create a permit allowing temporary onsite consumption for events like Cannifest; they won’t be allowed to sell alcohol during the days event-goers can smoke and buy weed. 

The city says permitting the lounges will enhance “public safety and liveability,” will reduce “conflicts and impacts associated with unregulated or public cannabis smoking,” and will support “responsible economic development” and small, local cannabis businesses.

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PREVIOUSLY

• Eureka’s Long-Awaited EaRTH Center Awarded $12 Million in Grant Funds; Construction Slated to Begin Spring 2026

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The City of Eureka has partnered with Humboldt Transit Authority to explore the prospects of a multi-story parking structure that would transform the city’s humble downtown skyline. 

As the start of construction approaches for the Eureka Regional Transit & Housing (EaRTH) Center — to be built on the city-owned parking lots behind the Lost Coast Brewery & Cafe — Eureka and HTA are studying a grant opportunity that could finance a multi-story parking facility and convention center across the street, on the corner of Third and G streets.

“A feasibility study is in the early stages to determine if it is a viable project for a grant application,” HTA Deputy General Manager Katie Collender told the Outpost in an email.

A consultant was hired to prepare some preliminary conceptual designs for a structure that meets the grant criteria. We’ll take a closer look at those designs below, but first, both Collender and Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery sought to make one thing clear: The primary purpose of this parking tower would not be added convenience for shoppers, tourists and car commuters.

Instead, the intent is a park & ride — a “first mile/last mile” facility that reduces overall vehicle miles traveled by encouraging people to park their cars so they can, say, ride a bike to Cal Poly Humboldt, take a ride share to work or catch a bus to the airport.

“That’s a big component of the grant that they’ll be going for,” Slattery said. The grant is funded by the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), and Collender explained that the feasibility study currently under way will need to show that the structure would significantly reduce vehicle miles traveled; otherwise there’s no point in applying. It will also need to show that the building would be cost-neutral to operate.

“Other transit agencies own and operate park & rides to bolster ridership and diversify revenue,” Collender said. “This study will help us understand if one would make sense in Eureka.”

With all that said, let’s look at some more conceptual images of the very preliminary designs. In fact, Slattery said this particular design has already been modified to include even more parking spaces (this version has 216 stalls), increased bike storage and slightly decreased retail space.

The concept, here, is an eight-story parking structure with an 8,500-square-foot convention center on the top floor and, on the ground floor, bike storage and new retail space. The existing buildings along F Street (including a massage parlor and the former Mazzotti’s restaurant) would remain, with parking built atop them. [CORRECTION: The parking structure would not extend west as far as those buildings, according to Slattery.]

The structure would be built on the northeast corner of the city block between Third and Fourth and F and G streets. Here’s a Google Earth image to orient you:

And here are a few conceptual images from the same vantage:

At eight stories high, this would easily be the tallest building in Eureka. 

“I would say north of San Francisco, maybe. I don’t think Santa Rosa has anything that big,” Slattery said. (The boiler building at the former Samoa Pulp Mill would still be taller, at 200 feet, but it’s no longer in use.)

Below is a cutaway image showing the ground floor, the top floor and one in the middle:

Collender reiterated that this is still very early in the process. The state is looking to transit agencies to do more to generate revenue, and this parking structure with rentable event space could help HTA diversify its income. Grant applications are due May 18.