###

Press release from the Yurok Tribe:

Today, the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation purchased the Bigfoot Golf Course and Country Club in Willow Creek. The tribally owned construction corporation, in conjunction with the Yurok Economic Development Corporation and the Yurok Agricultural Corporation, will collaborate on a multi-phased effort to modernize and rebrand the ideally located course and restaurant.

“This acquisition is part of our long-term plan to develop a diverse economic development portfolio and provide jobs for our people, whether they live on or off of the reservation,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “I am proud of the progress we have made in terms of providing employment opportunities and services to the Yurok families in the Willow Creek area.”

“Together, the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation, Yurok Economic Development Corporation and Yurok Agricultural Corporation are uniquely equipped to transform the course into a world-class golfing destination, including a family friendly tap room and restaurant for Humboldt residents and visitors alike,” said Frankie Myers, the President of the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation. 

“With the acquisition and renovation of the bank and golf course properties, we are creating new jobs for the many Yurok families in the Hoopa/Willow Creek area and reviving the economy in the region,” said Yurok Tribal Council Member Lori Hodge, who represents the East District, where nearly 800 Yurok citizens reside.

The picturesque property is comprised of 90 acres near the Wild and Scenic Trinity River.

The far-sighted golf course investment includes: a nine-hole golf course, club house with a restaurant and banquet room, pro shop building, maintenance building, a large garage for golf carts, 18 mobile home spaces, a seven-unit RV park and two houses.

For phase one of the renovation, the three tribal agencies have a plan to turn the restaurant into a well-appointed tap room based on the successful Mad River Brewing Company Tap Room in Blue Lake. Mad River Brewing Company COO Linda Cooley will be leading the development of the new tap room in Willow Creek. The contemporary Tap Room will offer delicious meals paired with the Mad River Brewing Company’s best-quality hand-crafted ales and seltzers. Owned by the Yurok Agricultural Corporation, the MRB Tap Room regularly hosts special events for the Blue Lake community. The tribal corporations will install a venue on the Willow Creek property for music shows and other forms of entertainment.
 
The Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation and Yurok Agricultural Corporation will implement the major remodel of the golf course.  During phase two, the tribal corporations will create an executive golf course in the footprint of the current course. The Yurok Agricultural Corporation’s Weitchpec Nursery Manager Mike Searcy will oversee the redesign of the tee boxes, fairways and putting greens. Searcy has nearly two decades of golf course management experience. Most notably, he served as the Superintendent of the prestigious Western Skies Golf Course in Arizona and the Assistant Superintendent of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians-owned Indian Canyons Golf Resort, which he helped build. In these leadership positions, he was intimately involved in all aspects of golf course operations, which included a wide variety of duties, ranging from designing and implementing irrigation systems to preparing golf courses for televised tournaments. In 2011, Searcy moved to Humboldt County, where he worked for seven years as the Superintendent of the Willow Creek Golf Course, the former name of the Bigfoot Golf Course and Country Club, before accepting a position with the Tribe and later the nursery.

“I am extremely excited about this project,” said Yurok Agricultural Corporation President Toby Vanlandingham. “We have assembled an amazing team to transform this property into a truly special place for visitors and the local community. Like all of our companies, this business will embody the highest standards when it comes to the environment.”

The Yurok Economic Development Corporation will manage the mobile home and RV parks. YEDC operates several businesses as well as multiple mobile home and RV parks including the Riverside RV Park and Bluff Creek Resort.

“I am particularly proud of the collaboration between our tribal corporations. We are working hard to build a brighter future for our Tribe,” said Raymond Bacon, the Yurok Economic Development Corporation’s Executive Director. “In addition to producing new jobs, this project will result in a revenue stream that will serve the Yurok people for many years to come.”

Ranging from the Lindgren Mill to Redwood Yurok Canoe Tours, the Tribe currently owns more than a dozen businesses in a variety of industries and employs more than 600 personnel. The Tribe’s economic footprint includes Del Norte, Humboldt and Trinity Counties. On the coast, tribal corporations operate the Mad River Brewing Company, Shoreline Market and Redwood Hotel Casino as well as Klamath Jetboat Tours, Weitchpec Nursery and additional companies. To the east, the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation puts tribal operators to work on large scale river restoration projects, while Condor Aviation occupies the skies of Northern California collecting survey data.

###

Press release from the unified command of the Six Rivers Lighting Complex:

The Six Rivers Lightning Complex remains in unified command with California Interagency Incident Management Team 14, California Highway Patrol, Trinity County Sheriff, and Humboldt County Sheriff. The Six Rivers Lightning Complex is currently 39,274 acres with 64% containment and 1,815 personnel assigned to the incident.

CURRENT SITUATION

With thick smoke laying over the fire, vertical lift was limited and fire activity remained below the anticipated levels on Wednesday. This smoke was a positive for operations on the fireline, but unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The fire fight did not stop because of poor visibility in the smoke. On the Ammon Fire, firefighters worked near Madden Creek to tie together control lines through heavy timber blowdown. In other areas of the fire they were assigned to strengthen containment and carry on with suppression repair projects.

In the north, east, and south sides of the Campbell Fire, the full suppression efforts of firefighters are making great progress. Wednesday, containment increased by ten percent, control lines were tied together, and defensive firing operations continued to take away the fire’s ability to make large destructive runs and greatly reduced the threat to the Hoopa Valley Reservation. In preparation of the fire’s potential, firefighters once again were assigned to the Trinity Village and Hawkins Bar areas to defend structures if necessary.

Overnight the level of fire activity was low on the Ammon Fire and moderate on the Campbell Fire. Aside from one spot fire across the line on the Campbell fire, which was quickly contained, operations consisted of holding control lines and creating greater depth on containment lines.

Thursday, the critical area is the southern portion of the Campbell Fire. Firefighters will once again stage in the areas of Trinity Village and Hawkins Bar as a structure protection task force, while control lines north of their location are tied together. Elsewhere on each fire, containment lines will be strengthened and fire suppression repair work will continue.

Please check this link for air quality resources.

FOREST CLOSURES

Forest order NO. 22-10-06 Six Rivers Lightning Complex is currently in place, which includes river access at Kimtu Park.

To view this closure and map, please visit this link.

ROAD CLOSURES

Due to a large presence of fire personnel and machinery working to build containment lines for the Ammon Fire, residents are asked to limit travel on Titlow Hill Road/Route 1 in zones HUM-E052 and HUM-E062 to essential traffic only. Residents may still use roads to travel out of evacuation order zones:

The following roads into evacuation zones have been closed.

- Forest Route 7n15 at Six Rivers Forest Boundary

The following roads are restricted to local traffic only:

- Horse Linto Creek Road at Saddle Lane (Open to residents only)

State Route 299 remains open to through traffic. Residents are encouraged to visit the Caltrans Quickmap to check for state highway closures.

EVACUATION UPDATES

For the latest evacuation information go to Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services or Trinity County Office of Emergency Services. For an interactive map of evacuation zones visit: Zonehaven Aware To sign up for alerts visit this link.

EVACUATION ORDERS remain in effect for zones: HWK480, HUM-E058 and HUM-E061-A.

EVACUATION WARNINGS remain in effect for zone: HWK481, HWK483, HWK482, HUM-E032, HUM-E061-A, 483 - Fisher Road and all residences off of Fisher Road, Trinity Village, Wallen Ranch Road.

Zone 482 - Suzy Q Road and all roads off of Suzy Q Road

Zone 480 - Ziegler Point Road / Forest Service Road 7N04

An EVACUATION WARNING remains in effect for Campbell Ridge Road from Salyer Heights to Seeley McIntosh Road. Salyer area, including Galaxy Road, and the area of Ziegler Point Road/Forest Service Road 7N04 have been reduced to an Evacuation Warning.

LARGE ANIMAL EVACUATION CENTER

Hoopa Rodeo Grounds
1767 Pine Creek Rd., Hoopa, CA 95546
Phone: (707) 492-2851

A highly contentious bill intended to allow some California teenagers to be vaccinated without parental consent has been shelved by the author, who said there were not enough votes to get it through on the final day of the legislative session.

San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener’s bill, SB 866, was one of several bills that grew out of a legislative Vaccine Work Group created to focus on bills related to COVID-19 and vaccination. Of those eight bills, four died, three have been sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom and one is still in play in the Legislature.

Wiener’s legislation would have allowed teens 15 and older to get vaccinated, including against COVID-19, without parent permission. Originally, the bill aimed to include those as young as 12, but that was changed in the face of opposition.

On Wednesday morning, the last day of the legislative session, Wiener tweeted: .

“While the votes are very close, we are several votes short of 41, and we don’t see a viable path for those final few votes.”

“Sadly, months of harassment and misinformation — including death threats against me and teen advocates — by a small but highly vocal and organized minority of anti-vaxxers have taken their toll,” he said in his statement. “The health of young people will suffer as a result. SB 866 did nothing more than empower young people to protect their own health, even if their parents have been brain-washed by anti-vax propaganda or are abusive or neglectful.”

In the end, Wiener didn’t have enough votes from other Democrats in the Democratic-majority Legislature. He and his staff spent the last week trying to muster enough support to put the bill to a vote. In earlier votes on the bill, more than a dozen Democrats voted no or chose not to vote.

Weiner told CalMatters he talked to many of his legislative colleagues and said they all had different reasons.

“There were some who were just philosophically opposed to it and others who were concerned about the politics and some who had a heartfelt opposition to the bill,” he said. “But there was also really intense, badgering harassment of the legislators.”

Democrats who opposed the bill said they were concerned about excluding parents from making medical decisions for their children.

Long Beach Democratic Assemblymember Pat O’Donnell said he considers himself a pro-vaxxer and supports vaccination requirements — but he called the bill an “overreach.”

“First, parents have the primary role in raising their children and participating in their medical decisions; the state should be very cautious when attempting to infringe upon that,” he said in a statement. “Further, we must ask ourselves if this bill is the beginning of a slippery slope…will more laws come forward to disallow parental involvement in making decisions about their minor children?”

“Sadly, months of harassment and misinformation — including death threats against me and teen advocates — by a small but highly vocal and organized minority of anti-vaxxers have taken their toll.”
— San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener

It’s not unusual for Democrats to not be in agreement, especially over this kind of legislation, said Jim Newton, editor of Blueprint Magazine, a politics and policy publication at UCLA.

“On one hand, you can see the obvious public health implications but it’s always a little rough to say to parents that they’d allow children to do things that are against their wishes,” Newton said. “It doesn’t surprise me that there would be some Democrats that would break.”

Some lawmakers may have felt pressure from the opposition but others likely opposed it because of how they think about how children fit into families, Newton said.

But this isn’t a loss that can simply be chalked up to anti-vaxxers, harassment of the author or other legislators breaking ranks, Newton said.

“I suspect there is a more legitimate caucus who are concerned about this for families that is not under the spell of anti-vaxxers,” Newton said. “Members of the Legislature who themselves are parents or imagine themselves as parents and who would want to be involved in the health care decisions of their children and would do so in good conscience of their children and that doesn’t make them anti-vaxxers or cuckoos.”

Not to say there aren’t anti-vaxxers or “cuckoos” out there who protested this bill and had an influence on the outcome, Newton said. But when it comes to children and families there are many issues that transcend party affiliation.

“We want children to be free of mistreatment by their parents but we recognize that children as a group don’t have the same experience and wisdom that older people do,” he said. “And we also recognize that they have a different level of capacity than adults. We generally trust their parents to look out for their best interest and when they don’t we want children to have an escape from that.”

“On one hand, you can see the obvious public health implications but it’s always a little rough to say to parents that they’d allow children to do things that are against their wishes.”
— Jim Newton, editor of UCLA publication Blueprint Magazine

Wiener points out that the state allows children 12 and up to decide about their sexual and reproductive health without parental consent. High schoolers, he argued, have the capacity to decide about vaccinations.

“Of course, we want kids to have a healthy relationship with their parents but the truth is a lot of kids can’t because they are afraid or their parents have been brainwashed against vaccines,” he said. “Right now, we are saying tough luck to these kids.”

Supporters of the legislation included teenagers who sought freedom to make up their own minds about vaccines, especially when their parents don’t support vaccinations or the COVID-19 vaccine in particular. Others said that more often their parents were too busy working or with other children to take them to a vaccine appointment.

Saanvi Arora, chief partnership officer with GENup, an advocacy group run by students that helped conceive the bill, said her biggest concern was the bill losing due to what she calls “anti-vaccine extremists.”

“We’re in a state like California where you would assume that pro-public health policies wouldn’t be that difficult to pass,” said Arora, 18. “Everything is getting so politicized.”

The state already allows minors, as young as 12, to get vaccinations against sexually transmitted diseases, and children of reproductive age can get birth control or an abortion without their parents’ consent. Otherwise, under state law, a child needs parental permission to be vaccinated.

Wiener said, “The anti-vaxxers may have prevailed in this particular fight, but the broader fight for science and health continues.”

Historically, bills related to vaccines have attracted opponents to the Capitol in droves. They have been loud, interrupted meetings, been removed from hearing rooms and, in one highly publicized 2019 instance, thrown blood from a menstrual cup onto the legislative floor during session.

Wiener said this session didn’t see that same level of aggressive or violent opposition in the Capitol but that the “pervasive atmosphere of harassment,” especially online, complicated the discussion.

“It created a very toxic political moment around a very reasonable bill,” he said.

Next week, Wiener will testify in the case against a San Ramon man facing eight felony counts who allegedly left death threats on Wiener’s website in January about the vaccine bill. Also, earlier this summer, Wiener received a bomb threat at his home because of his work on LGBTQ issues.

Parents and advocacy groups who opposed the teen vaccine bill argued that the proposal would infringe on parents’ right to make decisions for their children, but still hold them responsible if their child were to have a serious reaction or need medical care.

Parents who opposed the bill celebrated its defeat Wednesday but also took umbrage with Wiener’s description of them as anti-vax.

Laura Powell, a Contra Costa parent who opposed the legislation, tweeted: “#SB866 opponents are not a minority, and we are not anti-vaxxers, but it’s nice that he acknowledges that we succeeded in stopping a bad law, with nothing more than our voices.”

She said she is COVID-19 vaccinated and boosted but believes the state should not interfere with family medical decisions.

“This is part of a trend I see where it feels like the government is stepping into things that should be parental choice,” she said in an interview. “I got vaccinated myself. I don’t think my younger kids need to get (COVID) vaccinated. The other vaccines are already required for school, they have a long track record and the risks and benefits are known for those. I don’t spend a lot of time worried about those. We are less certain about the COVID vaccine.”

Denise Aguilar and Tara Thornton, founders of Freedom Angels, an organization focused on human and civil rights, were at the Capitol on Wednesday to oppose the bill.

“It was Democrats and Republicans both saying this bill went too far,” Aguilar said. “We need to support parental rights not just for California but for the whole nation.”

Aguilar and Thornton have spent months urging legislators to vote against the bill.

“It’s a sweeping forced medical emancipation of all children of California,” Thornton said. “It’s stepping between the sacred bond of parent-child relationship. We should never be alienating parents in a situation like that.”

Aguilar said it seems state legislators contradict themselves by supporting bills like this that would give teens power over medical decisions while also arguing in favor of other legislation to protect teens and youth. She points to bills that would keep teens and youth from certain interrogations during criminal investigations or to protect them from marketing from gun and tobacco companies because their brains are still developing and they are not mature enough to make those decisions.

Thornton called it a “double standard.”

John Rogers, professor of education at UCLA, said the arguments against the bill were especially strident and representative of an especially contentious time in America. He said he has seen growing rhetoric around the issue of parental rights since the pandemic began, especially when it comes to schools, children, masking and the vaccine.

But this issue is especially complicated given there are reasonable arguments on both sides, he said.

“It’s a complex question of how you move forward in a way that acknowledges the voice and agency of young people, meanwhile being attentive to the broader medical needs, the knowledge that parents have, the general disposition of the state to defer to parents on medical issues,” he said.

###

CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Our precious “Eagle Boy” To-Tehl Elliott Henry Surber went to be with loved ones on August 29, 2022. He proved to everyone what a miracle is and proved his initial doctors wrong and made people believe in miracles. To-Tehl was born on March 7, 2012 and proved to everyone what miracles exist with his strong will to live. He brought happiness to everyone he touched.

To-Tehl is survived by his parents Tashina Surber (Lonnie Dean) and Frank Surber; maternal grandparents Vicky Henry and Casey Holbrooks; his paternal grandparents Jerry and Juliet Maeteas, Frank Surber Sr; To-Tehl’s siblings: Toh-Soh, Nas-Che-Wen, Pergish, Keypsenech, Ke-Choyn “Tiny Baby”, and Ivy; his great-mothers: Kathleen Henry and Julie McKinnon. To-Tehl has numerous Aunties and Uncles who loved him very much.

The family would like to thank To-Tehl’s doctors and staff of the UCSF Children’s Hospital and special thanks to Dr. James Matsuda. The combination of the incredible care provided helped him live longer than his life expectancy.

Visitation will be held at Paul’s Chapel in Arcata on Friday, September 2, 2022 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and a wake will be held at their home (125 Woo-Mehl Court) in Weitchpec starting at 7:30 pm. The family has decided a small private graveside service will be held on Saturday. To-Tehl will be laid to rest with his family at the Kenek Family Cemetery.

###

The obituary above was submitted by To-Tehl Surber’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Robert passed away June 5 peacefully at home with love of 43 years at his side after a brief illness.

Robert was born March 25 in Boise the eldest of six children. His early years were spent in Utah and North Las Vegas before the family settled in Orange County. After graduating from Western High School he worked as a dog groomer, then joined the Army, where he learned to operate a printing press. After his discharge he became a letter carrier for the USPS. A serious mishap occurred in which both of his ankles were shattered and steel plates were implanted, He was told he would never walk again. After a year of hard work he did walk and was placed on a disability retirement. He then worked for a small weekly magazine. While there he was invited to a pre-theater cocktail party, where he met the man who would become the love of his life.

In 1986 Robert, Lee and their two dogs, Killer and Princess, moved to their “temporary” home in Eureka, while planning to build their new home. It never was built.

Robert worked for Noel’s TV and Appliance in the video department, then Globe Imports, then the Daly’s Department Store until it closed, and then Henderson Center Pharmacy/Redwood Pharmacy until they closed, and decided to devote himself to keeping a spotless home. He loved to walk and work out in his home gym and play Pinochle. For over 10 years he elaborately decorated their home for the Christmas Open House. He sent cards to every family member and close friends without fail.

One of his happiest moments occurred on October 13, 2013 when he and Lee exchanged vows in front of many of their dearest friends.

He was preceded in death by Ervin (father) Schorer and Josephine (mother) and his bothers Rolland and Ervin Jr Shorer and his sister Diane. He is survived by his brother Leslie Schoer and Norme Morgan (David) and his love, Lee Astorino, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Donations can be sent to Hospice.

He will be truly missed.

###

The obituary above was submitted by Robert Schorer’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Robert Alan Wright
March 9, 1927 - Aug. 26, 2022

Robert “Bob” Wright was born March 9, 1927 in Seattle, Washington to Ira P. Wright and Edith F. (Smith) Wright. He passed away August 26, 2022 in Eureka at the age of 95. Bob was a long-time resident of Orick.

In August of 1969, Bob married Eva (Long). She had two children at the time of their marriage, Diana and Louis.

Bob worked in the logging industry for most of his life and served in both WWII and the Korean War. He was the recipient of three purple hearts, which were easily his greatest accomplishments.

Bob had a green thumb and was proud of the strawberries, peas, artichokes, tomatoes and flowers he grew in his home garden. He took great joy and pride in gifting large bouquets of beautiful gladiolus. His grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren loved the peas he grew. They were such a treat and they enjoyed them as much as candy. His garden became smaller in his 92nd year of life, but he kept growing peas for the little ones.

Bob loved the ocean and collected agates for years. He had jars of colorful agates in all shapes and sizes filling his living room. He was also passionate about reading, crossword puzzles and watching Jeopardy.

He was a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”) and had been sober for 44 years. He was a sponsor and support to many throughout the years. He attended local meetings and after his wife passed away in 2002, he traveled to other areas to speak and share his journey. Helping others gave him true satisfaction.

Bob is proceeded in death by his parents, his brother George, wife Eva, his step son Louis Brouillard, and grandson Gregg Johnson.

He is survived by his step daughter Diana (Roy) Johnson. His Grandchildren: Troy (Alma) Johnson, Starla (Brian) Spencer, Bruce (Michelle) Brouillard, and Gregg’s Wife Janie Johnson. His great grandchildren: Brittney (David) Duran, Ambyr Johnson, Christopher Cooke, Tristan, Samuel, and Sawyer Brouillard. Great-great grandchildren: Kynadi Guerrero, Austyn Duran and Keaton Heckel.

There will be no services held. A celebration of life will take place at a later date for family.

###

The obituary above was submitted by Bob Wright’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Susan Fales
November 4, 1944 to June 10, 2022

The family of Susan Fales is saddened to announce her passing on June 10, 2022. She was lovingly cared for during her final years by her youngest daughter, Patricia “Tricia” Fales. S

he is preceded by her father, Daniel “Ike” Tremblay, mother, Grace Pauline “Rina” Tremblay and her brother, Lane Tremblay. She is survived by her daughters, Tricia Fales and Barb Fales, granddaughter, Rachael Fales, sister, Virginia, “Ginger” Tremblay, nephews, Brian Tremblay and his children, Ellie and Dylan, Michael Tremblay, Jody Fales and his children, Hunter and Dylan, Cory Fales, and his children Bailey and Danny, nieces, Janet Umphrey, Polly Hryn and her children, Justin and Benjamin, and the children of Tuesday Peterson, Ridge, Hunter, and Bryce, many cousins and longtime friends, as well as her former husband of 53 years, William, “Bill” Fales.

She is a graduate of Eureka High School and College of the Redwoods and earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Humboldt State University. She brought a special zest to whatever she did.

Susan was very active in the Lutheran church. She was passionately dedicated to Sunday School, multi-denominational Vacation Bible School, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, and regional Lutheran Women’s Retreats. She loved to read, listen to music, attend local plays where her granddaughter performed, and community choir concerts.

She maintained many beautiful friendships throughout her life and was well known for sending the most touching cards, always knowing just what to say. Her boisterous laugh was contagious. She was always a joyful presence. She was loved by many and will be deeply missed.

A celebration of life will be held in her memory at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Ferndale.

###

The obituary above was submitted by Susan Fales’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.