PREVIOUSLY:

• Rabid Fox Found Dead Under a Truck After Biting a Person and Attacking a Moving Vehicle

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Press release from the Division of Environmental Health:

A resident in the Manila area was bitten by a fox over the weekend, almost a month after a similar incident in the same area involving a fox that later tested positive for rabies.

The fox in the most recent incident has not been caught and its rabies status cannot be confirmed. The bite victim is currently undergoing treatment for possible rabies exposure.

Since this report, Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services Division of Environmental Heath (DEH) has received several additional reports of foxes acting aggressively in the area by the north end of the Ma-l’el Dunes.

Local health officials are urging caution to people in the area between Manila and Mad River Beach. Anyone who sees an animal acting strangely should contact DEH which is monitoring reports in that area.

Benjamin Dolf, DEH Supervising Environmental Health Specialist, said generally it is important to use caution around wild animals, and if you encounter an animal that is sick, injured or docile do not try to approach it, help it or try to nurse it back to health.

Rabies is always present in the wildlife population throughout Humboldt County, especially foxes, skunks and bats. People who come across sick or injured animals can contact the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center which has staff who are trained to respond.

Preventive measures against the spread of rabies in Humboldt County include avoiding contact with wild and stray animals, bringing pet food indoors at night and reporting animal bites to your county or municipal animal control officer.

If you are bitten, wash the bite(s) immediately with soap and water and go to the emergency department to seek medical treatment. It is critical that anyone potentially exposed to rabies be treated within 24 hours, and sooner is better.

Public Health officials stress the importance of fully vaccinating domestic animals against rabies, including dogs, cats and select livestock.

For questions about rabies or to report a rabid or suspected rabid animal, call DEH at 707-445-6215 or toll free at 1-800-963-9241.

To report a sick or injured animal, contact the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center at 707-822-8839.

The California Air Resources Board today unveiled a new version of its highly-anticipated strategy for battling climate change, setting more ambitious targets for cutting greenhouse gases and scaling up controversial projects that capture carbon.

If adopted by the air board at its Dec. 15 meeting, the plan would radically reshape California’s economy, alter how Californians’ vehicles, buildings and appliances are powered, and ultimately serve as a blueprint for other states and countries to follow.

“Failure is not an option,” said air board Chair Liane Randolph. “There is too much at stake and we need to move as fast and as far as we can to lessen the worst impacts of climate change and leave future generations a livable and healthy California.”

The five-year climate change strategy, called a scoping plan, outlines in its 297 pages how California could end its reliance on oil and also clean up the nation’s worst air pollution.

The staff’s final draft plan adds bolder commitments, reducing fossil fuel use by 94% from 2022 levels by 2045 — up from a goal of 91% in the September version of the plan.

The plan also sets a more aggressive goal of cutting carbon emissions 48% below 1990 levels by 2030 – up from the 40% by 2030 required under state law — until reaching net-zero emissions in 2045. (Net-zero or carbon neutrality means striking a balance between the carbon dioxide added to the air and the carbon that’s removed.)

California has a long way to go to meet the new 48% goal in just eight years. By 2020 it had cut emissions only about 14% below 1990 levels, according to air board officials.

Danny Cullenward, a climate economist who serves as an advisor to the state, said California isn’t on track to meet its existing 2030 reduction target, much less the new, more stringent goal.

“I don’t want to say California isn’t doing anything on climate. We’ve done a lot of things,” he said. “But this is such a superficial exercise and it’s filled with so many faults and errors.”

Air board officials said they are confident the state can achieve the new target largely because of new mandates and policies enacted this year. State officials phased out sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035, set a more stringent low-carbon fuel standard and streamlined siting and permitting of renewable energy projects.

“This plan is a comprehensive roadmap to achieve a pollution-free future,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said today in a statement. “It’s the most ambitious set of climate goals of any jurisdiction in the world, and it’ll spur an economic transformation akin to the industrial revolution.”

But Cullenward criticized the staff’s modeling, which is used to predict how each sector of the economy will reduce emissions. He said the plan lacks a thorough analysis of the feasibility of its projections and makes major assumptions.

One example, he said, is that the plan relies on other agencies, such as the California Energy Commission, setting new policies, but it doesn’t address the timing and roadblocks they may face or other details.

“It’s a pretty aspirational document but it’s filled with bureaucratic doublespeak,” he said. “It’s really frustrating because there’s so much work to be done.”

“I don’t want to say California isn’t doing anything on climate…but this is such a superficial exercise and it’s filled with so many faults and errors.”
— Danny Cullenward, economist and advisor to the state

Some policy experts say setting ambitious goals are a crucial step to cleaning up air pollution and combating climate change.

“The scoping plan can at least help us direct our attention even if it doesn’t give us as much detail as we want,” said Dave Weiskopf, senior policy advisor with NextGen Policy, a progressive advocacy group. “On the one hand that is really frustrating. On the other hand, it tells us that if we put in the effort to say what we think a good plan should look like, we at least have a shot of getting the state to take meaningful action.”

The revised plan, compared to the earlier versions, expands the state’s reliance on two advanced technologies for removing planet-warming carbon dioxide.

Combined, 15% of all of the targeted greenhouse gas cuts will come from direct carbon capture and carbon capture and storage.

One method directly removes it from the atmosphere, also called direct air removal. Another, called carbon capture and storage, collects carbon spewed from industry and power plant smokestacks and injects it into the ground.

California currently has no carbon removal or capture and storage projects, and air board officials say they wouldn’t be deployed until 2028. The plan cites the state’s 17 oil refineries as an industry that could install them.

Environmental groups oppose both technologies, saying they extend the lives of fossil fuels, while oil companies say they are necessary to achieve the state’s long-term climate goals.

The move to decarbonize and transition away from fossil fuels will also drastically increase electricity use, which is expected to soar by as much as 68% in 2045. Such a transformation to zero-carbon energy sources such as wind and solar will be expensive, costing $18 billion in 2035 and $27 billion in 2045, according to air board staff.

At Newsom’s direction, the air board in September already strengthened its draft plan, originally released last May, to include new goals for offshore wind, cleaner aviation fuels and reducing vehicle miles traveled.

Other changes include constructing 3 million climate-friendly homes by 2030 and 7 million by 2035, installing at least 6 million heat pumps by 2030, and eliminating the option of building new natural gas plants or using fossil fuels in the electricity sector to maintain grid reliability.

Capturing 20 million tons of carbon

The air board was directed to create a new carbon removal program that puts guardrails on carbon capture, use and storage projects while streamlining the permitting process. The program is due the passage of SB 905, which Newsom prioritized in his climate package at the end of this year’s legislative session in August.

These technologies aim to remove at least 20 million metric tons of carbon by 2030 and 100 million metric tons by 2045, according to the plan. Though controversial, air board staff say the practice is a “necessary tool” to reduce emissions from industrial sectors where no other alternatives may exist.

Once captured from smokestacks, the carbon could be transported to sites in the Central Valley. Air board staff say the valley is an ideal location for injecting carbon dioxide deep into rock formations because it has the capacity to store at least 17 billion tons.

“We’ve squeezed out all of the emissions that we can under the inventory for manufacturing for transportation and for industry, but we know residual emissions will remain,” said Rajinder Sahota, the board’s deputy executive officer for climate change and research. “We’re going to need all the tools in all of these categories.”

But at an Oct. 28 workshop, members of the state’s Environmental Justice Advisory Committee raised several concerns about engineered carbon removal, saying it is an unproven strategy that could continue to plague local communities with air pollution. They also say it would delay closure of oil facilities and act as a substitute for direct emissions reductions.

“The Air Resources Board’s latest climate plan once again pins California’s future on a dangerous carbon capture pipe dream,” said Jason Pfeifle, a senior climate campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Caving to polluters who want to keep burning fossil fuels and dirty biomass energy is a one-way ticket to climate destruction. California needs a plan that rejects industry scams, preserves our ecosystems, and rapidly phases out fossil fuels.”

“The Air Resources Board’s latest climate plan once again pins California’s future on a dangerous carbon capture pipe dream.”
— Jason Pfeifle, the Center for Biological Diversity

Air board staff acknowledged their concerns, but Randolph, the board’s chair, said many of the goals could not be achieved without them. She said the board has prioritized creating a metric to measure how residents could be affected by these projects and also consider the needs of residents who are most affected by air pollution.

Randolph said the plan’s heavy emphasis on cutting emissions from transportation will also significantly improve air quality in vulnerable communities. Cutting vehicle miles traveled and improving access to mass transit, designing more pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and increasing access to electric bikes and vehicles all play a role.

The board expects the state’s cap and trade program – which allows big polluters to buy credits to offset their emissions – will play a much smaller role over time. It would help “fill the gap” to meet the accelerated 2030 emissions reduction target.

Cap and trade has been criticized by legislators and experts heavily in recent years. One of the criticisms is that there are at least 310 million unused credits currently in the system, which is a problem because companies can hoard credits that allow them to keep polluting past state limits in later years. Air board officials say they hope to reform the program and address the oversupply of credits at the end of next year.

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

Press release from the Humboldt County Division of Public Health:

Health Officials are urging community residents to take precautions this season after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in COVID-19 cases and earlier-than-expected flu activity and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases across the state and country.

The “Tridemic,” as some have labeled it, is fueling increases in rates of reported respiratory illnesses nationwide.

Anyone can contract any of these respiratory illnesses, but those most at risk of developing severe complications from influenza, COVID-19 and RSV tend to be young children and infants, and adults aged 65 and older, as well as individuals with compromised immune systems.

Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Candy Stockton said, “Because there is currently no vaccine for RSV, and because getting RSV and flu or COVID at the same time is especially dangerous for young children, it’s really important that we all do our part to help protect our kids by making sure we are up to date on both our flu and COVID vaccines this year.”

Respiratory illnesses like flu, COVID-19 and RSV can be prevented with good respiratory hygiene, including regular hand washing, avoiding close contact with individuals experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. Masking is also an effective countermeasure, with N95 or KN95 respirators providing the highest degree of protection. As with COVID-19, babies and toddlers under 2 years old should not wear a mask.

Following these tips as well as getting a seasonal flu vaccine and keeping up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are important measures in keeping yourself and those around you safe.

To schedule a flu shot, contact your local pharmacy or primary care provider. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine or bivalent booster, visit MyTurn.ca.gov.

Press release from the Arcata Police Department:

On 10/18/2022 at approximately 2252 hours, the Arcata Police Department responded to the 5200 Blk of Carlson Park Dr. in the Valley West neighborhood of Arcata, on the report of a possible homicide. Officers located 33 year old Nicklas Sellars of Eureka, deceased in a tent. It appeared Mr. Sellars had suffered multiple gun shot wounds. 

On 11/16/022, Arcata Police Department Detectives, with the assistance of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, arrested 30 year old Devon Preston Cathey of Arcata, for the suspected homicide of Mr. Sellars.

Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to call Arcata Police Department Detective V. Johnson at (707)822-2428.

California’s nursing agency this week approved rules that will allow nurse practitioners to treat patients without physician supervision. It’s a move that aims to expand access to care in the Golden State at a time when workforce shortages plague just about every corner of health care.

Monday’s vote is one of the last major steps necessary to fully implement a 2020 law that will allow nurse practitioners to practice more freely. Nurse practitioners, who have advanced degrees and training, currently must enter into a written agreement with a physician who oversees their work with patients.

Despite some earlier concerns about potential delays, nurse practitioners say they are now confident that applications to start the certification process will go live early in the new year as planned.

“Hopefully we don’t crash the website, but we are very excited,” said Cynthia Jovanov, president of the California Association of Nurse Practitioners. “This means that if I want to do a mobile clinic in Skid Row, I don’t have to be held hostage by paperwork to get a partnering physician who may not have the same desire.”

Nurse practitioners are a cost-effective way of bringing more primary care providers to communities that need them, particularly in rural areas, said Glenn Melnick, a health economist at the University of Southern California.

“And that can benefit the consumer as long as the quality of care is acceptable,” he said. Still, there are a limited number of them.

“If I want to do a mobile clinic in Skid Row, I don’t have to be held hostage by paperwork to get a partnering physician who may not have the same desire.”
— Cynthia Jovanov, president of the California Association of Nurse Practitioners

Nurse practitioners in California have been fighting to break free of physician oversight for years. The biggest pushback came from physicians. During legislative debate, the California Medical Association said nurse practitioners have less training than physicians, so allowing them to practice independently could lessen the quality of care and even pose a risk to patients.

Law is not ‘carte blanche’

In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 890, which was authored by Assemblymember Jim Wood, a Santa Rosa Democrat. To go into full effect, the Board of Registered Nursing had to first iron out details, including how nurse practitioners would transition into their more independent role and what type of additional training or testing, if any, would be needed to obtain certification.

The law essentially created two new categories of nurse practitioners.​​ Starting in January, nurse practitioners who have completed 4,600 hours or three years of full-time clinical practice in California can apply for the first category. This first step will allow them to work without contractual physician supervision, but only in certain facilities where at least one doctor or surgeon also practices. The idea is nurse practitioners would still be able to consult a doctor when needed.

“So that does not give them (nurse practitioners) the carte blanche that I think some people were fearful of,” said Loretta Melby, executive officer of the state’s Board of Registered Nursing, during Monday’s meeting. “And then, when they are there for three years in that group setting with a physician or surgeon, only then can they advance to the (second category).”

This second designation will allow nurse practitioners full practice authority, without any setting restrictions. And in theory, nurse practitioners would be able to open their own medical practice. Given the phased-in approach, eligible nurse practitioners will likely obtain full independence around January of 2026.

California’s requirements for nurse practitioners to transition into full independence will be among the most robust in the country, according to one analysis by the California Health Care Foundation.

Nurse practitioners can perform physical exams, order lab tests, diagnose ailments and prescribe medication, but in California it had to be under the oversight of a doctor. Of the 31,000 nurse practitioners in California, an estimated 20,000 will be eligible to apply for expanded authority in 2023, according to the California Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Kenny Chen, a family nurse practitioner in South Central Los Angeles, exemplifies the type of clinicians researchers say California needs more of: He is interested in primary care; he speaks multiple languages, including Spanish and his native Mandarin; and he enjoys working with underserved populations.

Chen said that while he doesn’t expect major changes to his current role at Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center, the new law would allow his clinic to hire more nurse practitioners without having to meet physician-to-nurse practitioner ratios. “It can be very difficult to recruit physicians to come work in South Central LA,” Chen said.

Giving nurse practitioners more authority, he said, can also attract more of them to California. All other western states, for example, already allow nurse practitioners greater independence. California’s restrictions could be a deterrence, he said.

“It’s not like the nurse practitioner is now going to have the freedom to go out and perform surgery; that has never been a nurse practitioner scope of practice.”
— Loretta Melby, executive officer of the state’s Board of Registered Nursing

Ahead of Monday’s vote, the California Medical Association sent a letter to the Board of Registered Nursing stating that the nursing board’s rules for nurse practitioners to transition into their independent roles lacked clarity and didn’t provide any more meaningful guidance than what was already stated in the text of the law.

Melby, the nursing board’s executive officer, said she has also heard concerns that the law would expand the scope of services that nurse practitioners can provide, but clarified that the law doesn’t actually change the type of work nurse practitioners will be doing.

“What was updated was the supervision requirement,” Melby said. “And so it’s not like the nurse practitioner is now going to have the freedom to go out and perform surgery; that has never been a nurse practitioner scope of practice.”

New rules may increase health care access

According to workforce researchers, allowing nurse practitioners more flexibility is a small but key piece of the puzzle in alleviating California’s provider shortage.

Even prior to the pandemic, California was experiencing a shortage of medical providers. A 2019 report by a commission of health care experts estimated that by 2030, the state would need an additional 4,100 primary care clinicians. About 7 million Californians already live in provider shortage areas with a need for primary, mental and dental care, according to the report.

Rural counties tend to have the greatest shortages — in counties like Glenn, Trinity, San Benito and Imperial, more than 80% of people live without sufficient access to care. And when patients do find care, they often rely on nurse practitioners. Some studies have shown that although physicians still make up the biggest proportion of primary care providers in rural areas, nurse practitioners are choosing to work in rural settings at a faster rate.

Alexa Curtis, a family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at a substance use disorder facility in Nevada County, said the need in rural communities has driven most of her career. Curtis, who is also an associate dean at the School of Nursing at the University of San Francisco, plans to develop a rural street medicine program with a focus on unhoused people with mental health needs and substance use disorders.

Once she is granted greater authority, “I will be able to pursue that goal without the barrier and expense of needing to secure a physician supervisor,” she said.

But working with other types of providers, including physicians, will always be part of her practice. “It is how we are trained and how we function as nurse practitioners,” she said.

Earlier this year, Newsom also signed into law Senate Bill 1375, which authorizes nurse practitioners to provide reproductive care and first trimester abortions without doctor supervision.

These two wins were huge for nurse practitioners, said Jovanov, the president of the nurse practitioner lobby. “I can tell you that this will lead to many more bills for regulations that need to change. We’re on this momentum and that is really exciting.”

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

Betty Mae Yvonne Teasley, 96, of Weott, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2022. Betty was born on May 25, 1926 in Bandon, Oregon to Elmer and Juanita Snyder. In 1944, Betty moved to Bull Creek, California where she met Twyman (Tom) Teasley. Twyman and Betty were married in 1945 and resided in Bull Creek and South Fork before moving to Weott and building their home in 1955. In Weott, Betty attended Weott Christian Church where she found a wonderful community of people.

Betty worked for the US Postal service for 32 years. She started working at the South Fork Post Office and after the 1964 flood she moved to the Redcrest Post Office where she would retire as the Postmaster in 1984.

Betty was an avid gardener with extensive gardens around her home, which she would spend many, many hours carefully tending. She always knew the names of all the flowers she encountered. This love of gardening was evident throughout her life. She was a member of the Southern Humboldt Garden Club for over 60 years and she was a founding member of the Humboldt Rose Society. She was always attending, working, and showing at the local flower shows and was particularly fond of the flower show held annually in Weott. She encouraged her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren to enter flower arrangements at the show.

In addition to gardening at home, she had gardens in Pepperwood where she would grow flowers and produce to take to the Farmer’s Market in Arcata. She was a staple of the Arcata Farmer’s Market starting in 1987. She was selling fresh vegetables, fruit, and cut flowers until a couple years ago. Her big, beautiful sunflowers were a favorite at the market

Betty truly loved to travel and she especially enjoyed traveling to see gardens. She was very fond of going to Hawaii and halibut fishing in Alaska, especially with her friend Velma Childs. In addition to traveling the US, she traveled to Europe, Australia, South and Central America, and Southeast Asia.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Twyman, her granddaughter Shannan, her parents, her brothers Fred and Ronald (Bud), and sister June.

Betty is survived by her brother John Snyder of Gold Beach, OR and sister Kay Armstrong of Bridgeville, her five children, Garry of Athol, Idaho, Grady (Lynn) of Bayside, Cheryl Rockwood of Weott, Gerry (Kerry Randall) of Potter Valley, and Gregory (D’Ann) of Weott. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Betty was a genuinely kind and warm person who touched the lives of many people. A celebration of her life will be held in the Spring when the flowers are in bloom.

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

Charles Edward Ptaschek was born October 21, 1947 in San Francisco. He died on November 5, 2022 in Eureka. He resided in Rio Dell since 1999. He had also lived in Eureka, Arcata, Happy Camp and numerous other places. Charley was very friendly with a deep love of people and made friends wherever he went.

Charley worked at Fortuna Motors as a parts man for over 25 years, again meeting and befriending many of his customers.

Charley was preceded in death by his first wife Sharon Ptaschek, his parents Pat and Betty Ptaschek.

Charley is survived by his second wife of 16 years Marilyn Ptaschek of Rio Dell. His daughter Sarah Ptaschek of Madison, Wisconsin. His son Michael Ptaschek and his wife Angelique, their five children: Trinity, Jocelyn, Austin, Savannah, Kira of Rio Dell. He is also survived by his extended family Keith and Shirley Condit and their children Katie, Tony, and Bethi, and their grandchildren. Anita Bones and her sons Phillip and Isaiah. Maylynda Bones and her children Ashton and Lyndon.

Charley loved music and he had a special group of friends that he enjoyed getting together with and playing music when they could.

Charley loved animals, and quickly fell in love with any new additions to their home.

Charley was baptised as one of Jehovah’s witnesses April 10, 1976. He enjoyed talking to people about his deep faith and Jehovah’s promises for the future. (Revelation 21:3,4) We look forward to welcoming Charley back in the resurrection to the paradise earth in the near future.

There will be a memorial service for Charley on December 10, 2022 at 1 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1475 Ross Hill Road, Fortuna. It will also be on zoom conference meeting ID: 981 6675 6918 password: 15602, with Steve Payetta officiating. The family would like to thank you for all your kind support through this difficult time.

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