Nicknamed Joe (after the comics character Bazooka Joe) by his father, Eugene Bertram Thomas was born to Jessie Mae Campton Thomas and Clarence George Thomas on April 2, 1924. His parents and only sibling, older brother Jerold Campton Thomas (1921–1973), preceded him in death.

Joe learned to fly while still at Eureka High School, taking lessons from his uncle Lester Pierce (Pierce Flying Service) while working at Murray Field. In 1943 he joined the Army Air Corps, trained as a B24 bomber pilot, flew 35 missions, and was shot down on November 19, 1944 in Yugoslavia, where he hid out with his crew for 41 days before being rescued by the OSS. The story of the crew’s rescue along with multiple other air crews is told in the book The Forgotten Five Hundred.

After the war, Joe attended Humboldt State College, where he met his beautiful wife, Constance Virginia Ogle, playing ping pong. She beat him soundly, but as he said, “She was cute as hell.” They were married in 1949. At the end of his life he declared, “She was always right.”

He completed his degree in civil engineering at Stanford University on the G.I. bill and began his career as a highway engineer at the California Division of Highways. His engineering projects included spans of Highway 101 up and down Humboldt County.

Along the way three children were born, Laurel Ann Thomas, Dan Charles Thomas and Melinda Lee Thomas. A state-of-the-art ranch house was designed and built by Joe and Connie on Park Street in Eureka.

The family moved to Sacramento in 1969 when Joe was promoted to headquarters for the California Division of Highways, now CalTrans, eventually rising to Chief Maintenance Engineer for the entire state. Connie and Joe had a wonderful life of friends, children and grandchildren, travel, and endless projects.

Our father’s resilience throughout his life supported him through war, deaths of dear family members, the death of our mother, the devastating fire in his home, and finally, through the difficulties of failing health. One of his final statements was, “I’m still optimistic.” He was always supportive and understanding, interested in everything in the world, and eternally positive in his outlook. His long life exemplified the Greatest Generation: service, patriotism, strength of character, hard work, and not unlike Queen Elizabeth, a fondness for gin.

Eugene Thomas is survived by children Laurel (spouse Darrel Tidaback, children Eugene and Willow), Dan (spouse Lisa, children Alexandra, Charlotte, and Ian, great-grandchildren Theia & Selene) and Melinda (spouse Steven Schmalz, children Laurel and Austin), and nieces Susan (spouse Weldon Benzinger, children Mary, Tom, Mark, John, and Sarah), Jane (spouse Neil Zimmerman), and nephew Jim (Susan, daughter Amy).

Interment with Military Honors will take place at Sunset Memorial Park in Eureka on Tuesday, December 13, at 2 p.m.

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

Let the bidding begin!

Thousands of acres of ocean real estate will be up for grabs during the first-ever offshore wind lease auction on the West Coast. Beginning Tuesday morning, the Bureau of Energy Ocean Management (BOEM) will auction off five leases – three off Morro Bay and two off Humboldt Bay – for the development of floating offshore wind energy facilities.

Forty-three separate entities, ranging from regional LLCs all the way up to energy giants like Shell, have qualified as potential bidders for the five lease areas.

Here’s how the bidding process works:

Bidders will hop online for the monetary auction at 7 a.m. PST. All five lease areas – comprising over 373,000 acres and up to 4.5 gigawatts of capacity – will be offered up in a single auction. Each lease area has its own minimum bid requirement, ranging from $6.3 million to $8 million. “Each bidder may only bid for one of the offered Lease Areas at a time and, ultimately, acquire only one of the Lease Areas in the auction,” as noted in the Final Sales Notice (FSN). 

Bidding will go in rounds until there are no new “live bids.” If bids are still coming in by the end of the day, the auction will continue on Wednesday. Once bidding ends, BOEM will determine the “provisionally winning bid” for each lease area. 

Once the provisional winners have been announced, BOEM will return the non-winners’ bid deposits and the Department of Justice will conduct an antitrust review of the auction. All winners are considered provisional until they sign the lease, provide financial assurance and pay any outstanding balance of their bid.

As soon as those requirements have been met, the lease will be executed and the leaseholder will begin the planning process early next year.

Lost Coast Wind, a newly formed coalition of local tribal and environmental consultants, hopes to ensure a successful wind energy future for the North Coast by building “meaningful, impactful partnerships between local Native Americans and wind developers.”

“We want to make sure that, as wind energy resources are developed here, it is being done in a fair and equitable way,” Craig Tucker, principal for Lost Coast Wind, told the Outpost. “We’re working with the Yurok Tribe and they have a lot of concerns. … I think the Yurok Tribe, and other local tribes, are going to be very interested in whoever steps forward as a developer. I think developers would be wise to start collaborating with local tribes as soon as possible to make sure that their impacts on tribal resources, cultural resources and natural resources are immediately addressed.”

To mitigate potential impacts, BOEM offers developers a little something called a bid credit package. To qualify for the credit package the bidder “must commit to mak[ing] a qualifying monetary contribution to programs or initiatives” that benefit the greater Humboldt County community, according to the FSN for the Humboldt Wind Energy Area (WEA). Up to 30 percent of the final cash bid that is accepted for each lease area during the upcoming auction could be set aside to offset local impacts to tribes, fisheries and other Humboldt Bay communities.

“Someone’s gonna pay a lot of money – probably hundreds of millions of dollars – for the rights to lease the ocean to develop a wind project, and instead of all that money sort of disappearing back into the Department of the Treasury, some of that bid could be invested locally,” Tucker explained. “That could include different community benefits, investing into the fishing industry to help solve some of the conflicts they may have with offshore wind, or investment in the local workforce so folks living here can have access to the skills that this industry needs.”

However, the bid credit is not guaranteed. Bidders can choose to opt out of the credit on the Bidder’s Financial Form. 

Whether or not the bidders choose to opt into the bid credit package remains to be seen. “It will really take a few weeks to spell it all out,” Tucker said.

Speaking on behalf of the Blue Lake Rancheria, Councilmember Jason Ramos emphasized the need for an expedited “transition to clean technologies and low carbon solutions” for North Coast communities.

“Bringing offshore wind to the North Coast region is a tremendous opportunity for Humboldt County to lead by example, and take a progressive step forward toward sustainable living,” Ramos told the Outpost. “The move would support meaningful industry growth that will bring in new good-paying jobs and spur positive economic growth, along with safeguards to ensure the region is not exploited. Tribes are currently exploring ways to lead on these energy projects, by supporting needed workforce development, supply chains, as well as operations and maintenance needs of the wind turbines.”

[DISCLOSURE: The Blue Lake Rancheria is a minority owner in the Outpost’s parent company, Lost Coast Communications, Inc.] 

Wiyot Tribal Chair Ted Hernandez told the Outpost that the matter has yet to be discussed by the tribal council and declined to offer further comment on the subject for the time being.

Want to learn more about offshore wind energy? In the video below, friend of the Outpost and Arcata News reporter Eric Black takes a look at how the Humboldt WEA would tie into transmission infrastructure throughout the region to bring renewable energy to the North Coast and beyond. 

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DOCUMENTS:

• Proposed Sale Notice Comments to BOEM
• BOEM Final Sale Notice
• Final Environmental Assessment

PREVIOUSLY:

• Biden Administration Proposes Offshore Wind Lease Sale, Including Two Spots Off the Humboldt County Coast
• IT’S ON: Humboldt Offshore Wind Leases to Go Up For Auction on Dec. 6
• Harbor District Announces Massive Offshore Wind Partnership; Project Would Lead to an 86-Acre Redevelopment of Old Pulp Mill Site
• Offshore Wind is Coming to the North Coast. What’s in it For Humboldt?
• North Coast Fishermen Fear for the Future of Commercial Fisheries as Offshore Wind Efforts Advance

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Here’s a question: Should two elected positions in the Humboldt County government — treasurer-tax collector and auditor-controller — be consolidated into a single director of finance, whose job would be to oversee a single Department of Finance?

Quick follow-up for those who answered “yes” (or “maybe” or “I don’t know; tell me more”): If that position IS created, should that person be elected by voters or appointed by the Board of Supervisors?

If you’ve lived and voted in Humboldt County for a while, you might recognize those exact questions from your 2016 General Election ballot, when they were packaged as Measure Q and Measure R. Both measures were narrowly defeated at the ballot box, which is why, to this day, the county still has an independently elected treasurer-tax collector (Amy Christensen) and auditor-controller (Cheryl Dillingham). 

But a whole heckuva lot has happened in the past six years, and Board Chair Virginia Bass thinks it’s time to take a fresh look at this proposition. 

“I think it’s been quite the conversation in the community for quite some time,” Bass said when reached by phone Monday. “I also know from groups that I’ve talked to in the past several months, they’ve asked why we have the system set up as it is. … I think there’s reason to have a conversation about it tomorrow.”

At tomorrow’s regular meeting, the Board of Supervisors will consider placing a ballot measure on the June March 2024 ballot to create the Department of Finance. If the idea gains any traction at all, the board can ask staff to return at a later date with information on election timeframes, costs to support such a ballot measure and other considerations.

The argument in favor of consolidation last time around went something like this: Combining these two relatively small departments would increase efficiency, offer more opportunities for employee cross-training, provide better backup coverage for staff and facilitate better succession planning.

During the fiscal chaos that characterized the past four years of county government, another argument arose more than once: Maybe the Board of Supervisors should have the power to fire the county’s auditor-controller. 

A staff report prepared for tomorrow’s discussion says consolidation would increase overall staffing levels in the two departments. The Auditor-Controller’s office currently has 19 approved positions while the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office has 10, and both departments are struggling to hire and retain staff, as is the case across county government.

“Combining the departments will also provide opportunities to create more efficient and effective processes, procedures and communication,” the staff report says.

Six years ago, opponents of measures Q balked at the idea of taking decision-making power away from voters. They also argued that the skills and experience required for the two distinct roles are significantly different from one another and not easily acquired. 

And last time around, both the sitting auditor-controller (Joe Mellet) and the sitting treasurer-tax collector (John Bartholomew) argued against consolidation. They’ve both since retired.

If anyone from the public would like to weigh in on these questions, you can either email the board (cob@co.humboldt.ca.us), show up to the meeting in person or watch it via TV or Zoom (a link will appear on this page once the meeting gets under way) and call in when they get to that item on the agenda. 

Call-in instructions:

When the Board of Supervisors announce the agenda item that you wish to comment on, call the conference line 720-707-2699, enter Meeting ID 854-6053-9347 and press star (*) 9 on your phone, this will raise your hand. You’ll continue to hear the Board meeting on the call.

PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR TV OR LIVE STREAM TO AVOID DELAYS.

Press release from Humboldt Bay Fire:

At 0240 early Monday morning, December 5th 2022, Humboldt Bay Fire units including 3 engines, a ladder truck, and two duty chiefs, were dispatched to a structure fire in a residential structure at 4800 block of Meyers Avenue in Eureka. Additional information indicated an occupant may be trapped inside.

The first arriving unit was quickly on scene and reported a working fire in a single-story residence. The crew accessed the fire room and located an unconscious victim in a bedroom, whom they quickly removed from the house. Care was transferred to the second arriving unit so fire attack could re-enter the house and extinguish the fire. CPR was immediately begun on the victim, as well as three pets that were also located in the bedroom. Crews quickly controlled the fire and kept it contained to a single bedroom. The fire residence was an additional dwelling unit in a converted garage that was attached to the main house. The three occupants of the main house were able to evacuate and were not injured in the incident.

Additional arriving units established a water supply, ventilated smoke from the house, and assisted with medical care. CPR was continued on the patient with HBF Paramedics and City Ambulance personnel who arrived on scene. Two pets were transported to Myrtle Avenue Vet by HCSO deputies for emergency treatment. Unfortunately, the patient and one of the pets were overcome by smoke in the house and were unable to be resuscitated. Our deepest condolences to the family for their loss.

After approximately 30 minutes, the fire was completely extinguished. PG&E was notified and disconnected gas and power to the building. The fire originated in the bedroom in a wastebasket and appeared to be accidental in nature but the exact cause could not be determined.

Damage was estimated at $80,000. There were no injuries to fire personnel on scene. Humboldt Bay Fire would like to thank its allied partners for their assistance during this incident. Samoa Fire District, and Arcata Fire District helped to ensure the safety of the HBF community while our resources were committed. Additionally, we would like to thank PG&E, HCSO, Myrtle Avenue Veterinary Hospital, and City Ambulance.

We would like to remind folks to be extra careful at this time of year with candles, heating sources, holiday lights and ornaments. Do not leave open flames unattended and do not overload outlets with multiple plugs. We wish all a safe holiday season.

Now, we’re aware that at least a few people aren’t in favor of the big rebranding of 20/30 Park that the Eureka City Council is looking to finalize at its Tuesday night meeting. They carry some sort of torch for that civic club of yore which built the current park – an association of young men in their 20s and 30s that apparently made a point of doing good deeds around town, way back when. And that’s fine. History is important.

But just on a practical level: Was there ever a park in more dire need of a reputational refresh? In case you weren’t aware, 20/30’s image is not good. There was a time, not long ago, when its name conjured every manner of shady behavior. Things seem to have quieted down a bit lately but the stigma remains, and it probably doesn’t help that since the 20/30 Club ceased to exist many, many decades ago, the park’s name just strikes the casual onlooker as some sort of … blank. Two numbers. It sounds, more than anything, like a police code.

Which is a shame, because not only is the park located on the city’s heavily populated and less well-to-do West Side, where there are lots of kids who could do with a boost in neighborhood pride, but the park itself has some cool features that are about to get a lot cooler. The city has obtained big grant funds to renovate the place, which will include all-new playground equipment, extra amenities (Roller hockey! Futsal!) and an upgrade for the park’s neat old baseball field.

City government thought that maybe this would be a good time to redo the name of the park, too, and after a few rounds of polling the citizenry they decided that the public liked the idea. Working with the Wiyot Tribe, the city came up with a shortlist of Soulatluk names that might serve, and after more polling and a pass through the planning commission they settled on “Da’ Yas,” in honor of the cypress trees that populate the park. “Da’ Yas” means “where the cypresses are.”

And so the council is expected to formalize Da’ Yas Park to much fanfare and no doubt some disgruntlement Tuesday night, in what will be the evening’s showcase item. Read the staff report here. Also on the agenda, earlier in the evening and on the consent calendar, is a resolution that’ll permit the city to buy all the new playground equipment from a single vendor, to the tune of about $600,000. That equipment will contain some specialty gear, including the big swan egret that’ll be the playground’s showpiece. The staff report for that is here, and a bid from a Santa Rosa company called Ross Recreation Equipment can be found here. [CORRECTION: Yes egret, not swan. Thanks to the commenter below.]

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What else is on the agenda, you ask? The council will look to finally finalize that sewer lateral ordinance that Izzy wrote about a few weeks ago. They’ll talk about updating some local building codes to comport with new state law. (Staff report here.) They’ll think about refinancing some old wastewater bonds, which should amount to a million dollars in savings according to the staff report, which can be found here.

Since it’s on the consent calendar, the council will likely approve the purchase of eight new “fully outfitted” Chevy Tahoes to serve as police vehicles, at a cost of $550,000. According to the staff report – find it here! — the purchase will be part of a new “Assigned Vehicle Program” developed by the Eureka Police Department, in which cop cars will be assigned to some specific officers, rather than placed in a car pool which all the police draw from willy-nilly. The cops would also take their car home on the days in which it’s assigned to them. Here, let that staff report explain it:

The purpose of the AVP is to improve department efficiency in response to critical incidents, accountability, and vehicle longevity at the Police Department. Officers have expressed interest in an AVP for some time now as a way in which to improve overall morale in the department. This program will also create more accountability for vehicle use and care among department members. Furthermore, by implementing the AVP, vehicles will not be driven as often and the longevity of the City’s fleet will improve.

The AVP will involve a patrol vehicle assigned to a pair of patrol officers working opposing weekday and weekend shift assignments. This program will allow officers from each team, based on a lottery, to be assigned a specific patrol vehicle for the duration of the calendar year. Additional vehicles would be maintained as pool cars, to be utilized by officers working overtime, or if their assigned vehicle is unavailable or in need of maintenance.

Information gathered from other agencies by the Police Department indicates that assigned vehicle programs elsewhere have resulted in higher morale, better cared for vehicles, and better presence in the community, with assigned vehicles visible when travelling to and from work or parked at officers’ residences.

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Apart from those things, the council is going to hear a whole bunch of reports and updates and special presentations about various stuff cooking in the community.

The California Fishermen’s Marketing Association will be on hand to talk about what they’re up to, and — presumably — to outline some of the fisherfolks’ concerns about offshore wind energy.

The Eureka Youth Council — a cool, kinda shadow City Council populated by teenagers — will show and give a presentation, and hopefully they will tell the actual council about everything they’re doing wrong.

Mayor Susan Seaman will have a couple of updates from the Humboldt Count Library and the Kamisu Sister City Project. And, to cap off the evening, City Manager Miles Slattery will give the council an update on the city-run Little Saplings preschool program.

Get hype! The Eureka City Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, at Eureka City Hall, there at the corner of Fifth and K streets. The full agenda, including instructions on how to Zoom in to the meeting remotely, can be found at this link.

From the Eureka Police Department:

On December 3, 2022, just before 6 p.m., officers with the Eureka Police Department responded to the 3300 block of Broadway for the report of a robbery that just occurred outside of a major retail store. The victim, a 65-year-old Salvation Army Bell Ringer, was handed a demanding and threatening note by an unknown male. The male then removed the red kettle full of donations and fled into the nearby greenbelt.

Officers reviewed surveillance provided by store security and were able to immediately identify the suspect as 32-year-old Dennis Scarella of Castro Valley. Scarella had been contacted by officers less than an hour prior. Officers searched the greenbelt but were unable to locate Scarella. An arrest warrant was issued and broadcasted to surrounding agencies.

On December 4, 2022, at about 4:10 p.m., officers responded to a restaurant on the 3000 block of Broadway for the report of a stolen tip jar. Employees provided officers with an image from surveillance. The suspect was identified as Scarella. After a brief search through the surrounding greenbelt, Scarella was taken into custody without further incident.

Scarella was transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for robbery. Additional theft related charges are still under investigation.

Eureka Police Department press release: 

On December 3, 2022, at about 10:30 p.m., officers with the Eureka Police Department responded to St. Joseph Hospital’s Emergency Department for the report of a 5-year- old juvenile female who had been shot in the foot by her father. The family self-transported the juvenile to the hospital and hospital staff notified law enforcement.

Based on the initial investigation, it appears the incident occurred in the family home located near W Grant and California Streets. It is reported the juvenile was shot in the foot when she jumped onto her father’s lap while he was cleaning his gun.

The Eureka Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit responded and assumed control of the investigation. This is an ongoing investigation and no arrests have been made. The juvenile is in fair condition and is recovering.