Thomas Eugene Sutton (Tom) passed away peacefully with his wife Sandy, children Matt and Melissa, daughter-in-law Shayna, and son-in-law Chad, together with his grandchildren Madison, Skylar and Bode, plus Reese and River, in Redding on July 23, 2026.

Born in Eureka to Martha Rose and Eugene Raymond Sutton on January 20, 1955, Tom enjoyed a childhood full of scouting (Eagle Scout, 1970), motorcycle racing, and a series of newspaper delivery jobs that introduced him to the residents of a convalescent home on Harrison Avenue in the late 1960s. This opened opportunities for Tom as he became a carpenter and handyman there, which resulted in his running construction crews for a man who became his mentor in senior care, Larry Debeni. This continued through his time at Eureka High School, followed by College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State, where he graduated in 1976 with a degree in business.

Upon finishing school, Larry hired Tom to manage Granada Hospital on Harris Street. Tom and Sandy were married in 1976 and lived in several homes in Eureka, eventually purchasing a 5-acre property with a beautiful home at the base of Campton Hill, where they resided throughout the raising of Matt and Melissa and enjoying many animals, including horses, sheep and goats, on their property.

Tom was hugely successful in Senior Care and went on to manage all of Larry’s facilities. He bought Larry’s business in 1990 in his mid-30s. Tom continued to build his business in senior care and skilled nursing and sold it at the age of 41. This was the first of several “retirements.”

Tom was just not the kind of guy who could rest on his laurels, and he shifted his activities to construction, to real estate investments, and to building what is now known as Cutten Mini Storage, which he later sold to his daughter Melissa and son-in-law Chad.

In his later years, Tom developed an interest in vintage cars, building a 1966 Shelby Cobra “kit car” from the ground up with lots of help from his friends in Eureka. More recently, he bought and fine-tuned a 1947 Hudson pickup and a 1932 Model A Roadster. He also bought a 2025 Harley Davidson Limited Edition Trike for getting around town!

Tom is survived by his sister Laura, brother Joe (Suzette), and sister Rose (Mark), and many nieces and nephews.

A private family service is planned on October 17, 2026, at Tom’s gravesite, followed by a celebration of life which starts at 5 p.m. with his many friends and associates at the Elk’s Club.

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

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Amid continuing outrage over the mass dog graves and allegations of fraud and abuse at Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna, two different coalitions of animal welfare organizations will hold press conferences on Monday outside the State Capitol in Sacramento.

The first press conference, scheduled for 10 a.m., has been organized by the California Animal Welfare Organization (CalAnimals), the state association for animal control agencies, humane societies, SPCAs (societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals) and other animal welfare groups. 

The organization is calling on state legislators to create a new Bureau of Companion Animal Welfare that would provide licensing for companion animal businesses and organizations across the state; conduct inspections and investigate complaints; support enforcement of existing animal welfare laws; collect and publish statewide data; and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies.

The coalition includes Oakland Animal Services, which sent more than 800 dogs to Miranda’s Rescue since 2020, as well as the ASPCA, the San Diego Humane Society, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and others. 

Sheriff William Honsal is quoted in a press release issued by CalAnimals saying, “A statewide Bureau will give California an earlier line of sight into how animals are received, cared for, transferred and adopted, while preserving the authority of local agencies. Better information and coordination can help us respond sooner and protect both animals and the public.”

The other press conference, which will be held elsewhere at the Capitol on Monday at 10:30 a.m., is being organized by the Fix Our Shelters coalition, a California-based animal advocacy and watchdog nonprofit led by President Julie Virga. 

Reached by phone, Virga said their goal is similar the other coalition’s.

“Basically, we want to continue sending the message that animal protection laws exist and that the Miranda’s Rescue situation is just an illumination of the failure of jurisdictions to enforce those animal protection laws,” she said. “What we will ask of the Legislature is that they pass legislation that will provide an enforcement mechanism through Department of Food and Agriculture to make sure that local jurisdictions are enforcing the law.”

Jennifer Raymond, the Fortuna animal rights activist who kick-started the multi-agency criminal investigation into Miranda’s Rescue owner Shannon Miranda, told the Outpost on Thursday that she’ll be making the trip to Sacramento in order to advocate for that same goal.

“I want to see someplace where people can turn,” she said, noting that she tried many times over the years to get local law enforcement to investigate Miranda’s Rescue. “That was my frustration. I reached out to the Attorney General’s Office, the IRS, the Department of Justice, and everybody said, ‘Talk to local law enforcement.’ And local law enforcement wasn’t doing anything.”

Raymond is hopeful that a new legislation or a new state agency or bureau will close existing gaps in animal welfare protection in California.

“There are already laws on the books that require rescues to keep records, but [those laws] don’t say what [operators] have to do with them,” she said. “The law doesn’t say they have to report those records to anybody.”

Raymond said she’s going to Sacramento to support the concept of more regulation, oversight and accountability, though she expects that any specific proposals are liable to change before being presented to the Legislature.

“What I’m really hoping for is to get all these groups talking to each other,” she said. “They historically tend to fight with each other.” She feels that this in-fighting has stymied previous attempts to pass meaningful legislation on this front.

“We have between now and February to talk about this,” Raymond said. “I’ve written to everybody, saying, ‘Do you have a proposal? Let’s get together and start hammering out our differences.’ I don’t know if we will have any luck, but I’m certainly going to try.”

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LINKS

• CalAnimals fact sheet on proposed California Companion Animal Welfare and Oversight Act
• CalAnimals press release

PREVIOUSLY

Video: Caltrans

Press release from Caltrans District 1:

Caltrans today announced that a landmark project has advanced into its design phase. The “Last Chance Grade” 6,000-foot tunnel project, once completed, will improve travel times and safety through Del Norte County on U.S. 101.

This stunning newly released drone footage highlights the area where the tunnel will protect travelers along this vital corridor from chronic landslide activity.   

“By addressing climate instability and landslides with world-class engineering, California is redefining how we safeguard critical mobility connections,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “Energized by Governor Newsom’s commitment to major infrastructure projects, this bold tunnel project in the North Region provides enduring resilience for generations to come.”

The landmark tunnel project would mitigate the threat of future long-term closures and save drivers an eight-hour detour through Oregon and inland Northern California should a landslide close the roadway in this area. Repair projects and associated closures create significant impacts for commuting residents, emergency responders, local businesses, commercial freight movement and the tourism industry—vital components to the regional economy in the north state.

The selected alternative would construct an approximately 6,000-foot tunnel east of the existing highway, bypassing areas prone to repeated landslides. At roughly 1.1 miles, the tunnel would be about 1,800 feet longer than each of the twin Tom Lantos Tunnels at Devil’s Slide, which similarly bypass an unstable stretch of coastal highway. This effort marks the largest and most complex project Caltrans District 1 has ever undertaken and would become the longest tunnel constructed in Caltrans history.

The Tom Lantos Tunnels at Devil’s Slide are twin tunnels carrying two lanes of traffic and are approximately 4,300 feet long, as the project spanned 2005 to 2013. Environmental measures included groundwater treatment, excavated-material management, habitat protection and conversion of the former highway into the Devil’s Slide Trail.

At Last Chance Grade, Caltrans anticipates using advanced underground construction technologies to improve safety, precision and efficiency while reducing surface disturbance, including precision excavation equipment, robotic shotcrete and real-time monitoring.

In collaboration with local transportation agencies, Caltrans has delivered three major highway tunnel projects in the past 20 years: the Tom Lantos Tunnels, the Caldecott Fourth Bore, and the Doyle Drive and Presidio Parkway tunnels.

Delivering a project of this scale in a rural coastal county presents considerable engineering, environmental, permitting and funding challenges. Caltrans remains focused on keeping the project on schedule, with construction currently anticipated to begin in 2031.

The completion of the Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) phase included environmental studies, the completion of the draft and final environmental document, engineering analysis, public and agency coordination, the selection of a preferred alternative and the acquisition of the formal approvals needed before detailed project designs can begin. “Last Chance Grade is more than a highway—it is a lifeline for the people, businesses and emergency services of California’s North Coast,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. “Advancing this tunnel into the design phase brings us closer to providing the safe, reliable connection Del Norte County and travelers deserve.”

The Last Chance Grade Project is crucial to the continued vitality and economic future of Del Norte County. Landslides have plagued this stretch of highway for decades, requiring repeated repairs, traffic delays and emergency closures. 

Caltrans is working diligently with local and statewide stakeholders to deliver the dependable connection Del Norte County while maintaining the momentum necessary to fund and construct this project.

Current CTC materials identify about $225 million for design and right-of-way support, with construction estimated at $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion. Construction funding has not yet been secured, and Caltrans expects to pursue a mix of federal, state and financing opportunities during design.

The project’s oversight approach includes specialized tunnel designers, early Construction Manager/General Contractor involvement, independent cost estimating, geotechnical investigations and phased design checkpoints to manage risk and refine costs.

“This significant progress highlights our sustained commitment to delivering a safe and reliable solution for people who rely on travel through the Last Chance Grade,” said Caltrans District 1 Director Matt Brady. “Projects of this magnitude require a bold, shared vision from all stakeholders, and we appreciate their support as we advance this effort to the design phase.”

“A project of this magnitude requires diligently working with community stakeholders to develop the best options to preserve the vital coastal U.S. Highway 101 corridor for the West Coast and Del Norte and Humboldt counties,” said U.S. Representative Jared Huffman. “Caltrans admirably continues to work with my Last Chance Grade Stakeholders Group to advance this project and ensure the best possible outcome is achieved. I strongly urge that collaboration to continue to reach consensus on important issues.”

“Getting this damn project off the ground has been an all-hands-on deck effort,” said State Senator and California Senate President Pro Tempore Emeritus Mike McGuire. “But with major state investments over the past five years, we’re closer than ever to solving one of our biggest transportation challenges on the North Coast. With the environmental review for the project now complete, the state is ready to move forward with another $185 million investment that will complete the design phase. This means that Last Chance Grade will be shovel ready for construction by 2031. This is big news for all of us who call Northern California home.”

“Completing the environmental phase marks the point where the permanent solution Del Norte County has pursued for decades moves into detailed design,” said Del Norte County Supervisor Chris Howard. “Last Chance Grade is the lifeline connecting our communities, emergency services, businesses, and visitors to the rest of California, and a long-term closure would have consequences our region simply cannot absorb. This milestone reflects years of sustained advocacy by the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors, together with the work and support of Caltrans, state and federal elected officials, tribal governments, agencies and community partners. We must now maintain that urgency, secure construction funding, and finally build it.”

During this next phase, Caltrans will further develop design concepts for several project elements, including the tunnel, portals, connecting roadway, bridge, drainage, safety systems and operations and maintenance facilities. Work will also continue with permitting, mitigation implementation, geotechnical investigations, cost refinements and securing project funding.

Construction is expected to create temporary regional jobs in areas such as heavy civil and earthwork, tunnel support, hauling, material supply, traffic control and restoration. A specific job estimate has not yet been developed.

Caltrans is also working with local tribes to expand Native American hiring and workforce development, including studying successful tribal hiring programs elsewhere, coordinating with the Yurok Construction Corporation and exploring educational opportunities for tribal youth.

The project has advanced through years of engineering, environmental study and coordination with tribal governments, agencies, elected officials, community members and other partners. That continued engagement will remain essential as Caltrans works toward construction.

Additional information and project updates are available at lastchancegrade.com.

For more information about transportation and other infrastructure projects funded with state and federal investments, visit build.ca.gov.  

There’s been some hullabaloo recently vis-a-vis Arcata’s data center, the hulking grey and blue building bounded by 11th Street and the Bay Trail, people claiming with all-knowing certainty that it’s secretly owned by an AI company, that it’s the culprit behind the city’s rising water rates and any bumps in their electric bills. Little of that is true, a city building official said at last night’s city council meeting. 

The confusion derives mainly from ignorance of what a data center is. It’s an umbrella term that shelters a lot of ground, but most people understand it to mean a facility where artificial intelligence programs do their computing. That’s partially accurate, but incomplete: data centers are simply buildings used to house computer systems. The one in Arcata (official name: EDCACV01) is a waypoint for two undersea fiber-optic cables that span more than 10,000 miles from Singapore all the way to Eureka, where they enter the bay via the old pulp mill. It’s owned by EdgeConnex, which owns data centers worldwide. 

Hating data centers is a bipartisan sport, fueled by the oft-reckless way the tech companies that use them burn through energy and water to keep their AI programs on the cutting edge. A big, AI-focused data center — a “hyperscale” data center, in tech parlance — can use as much electricity as 100,000 homes and can consume as much as 5 million gallons of water daily, about the same amount as a town of 30,000 people does. They often drive up nearby residents’ utilities’ costs, and worried Arcata residents have reached out to City Hall. Building official Joe Bishop told the council last night that he’s fielded numerous calls from Arcatans, upset by the possibility that EDCACV01 is blowing through the city’s water and power supply and wasting their money. 

It’s not an even comparison, he said. The gargantuan data centers chugging as much water as whole towns are using it to cool down acres of steaming computer processors. Arcata’s data center doesn’t house any of those; the only water it uses is for toilet flushing and handwashing. It’s also much smaller. EDCACV01 is 10,000 square feet, and the largest single-building data center is just under a million. If someone plopped the largest data center complex — almost 18 million square feet of sprawling buildings — down in the middle of town, it would swallow most of Arcata’s downtown. Its energy consumption is also proportionally scaled. Its peak energy draw is about half of a megawatt, roughly equivalent to what 400 homes need all at once.

If any more companies want to construct a data center in Arcata, they’re only allowed to in parcels zoned for “industrial general” uses, and if the planning commission granted it a conditional use permit. It’s handy for tech companies to be near the fiber optic cables for their speed and convenience, Bishop said, and City Manager Merritt Perry said he knew of at least one that’s interested. State law allows the council to enact a moratorium on their construction if it wishes, Bishop said; it’d need a four-fifths “aye” vote and would last for 45 days, or a bit under a year with an extension.

Three of the council members (Sarah Schaefer, Stacy Atkins-Salazar, and Meredith Matthews) said they were interested in adopting a moratorium, to give them some time to consider updating the city’s land use code to clarify what kinds of data centers should be permitted, if any. Atkins-Salazar said she’d like to vote on one at the next council meeting.

“I think we need to hold up,” Schaefer said, making an umpire’s safe symbol, “and figure out what it is that Arcata wants, what is appropriate, what is not appropriate, what does the community not want, which, I think, is a lot of these things.”

Ed. note: The McDonald’s referenced appears to be the McDonald’s on the north end of town, if you are interested.

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Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On August 19, 2026, at approximately 2:40 p.m., an Officer with the Eureka Police Department arrested a 42-year-old Eureka resident, Mark Coppola, following an investigation into the suspected sale of controlled substances from a vehicle parked at a local McDonald’s.

The Officer was conducting proactive patrol when he observed a subject seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle under circumstances that indicated the subject may have been engaged in the sale of controlled substances from the vehicle.

The Officer conducted a vehicle investigation and observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. The driver was removed from the vehicle and detained while officers continued their investigation. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle. During the search, officers located a large quantity of suspected fentanyl packaged for sale in approximately 25 to 30 individually packaged baggies. Officers also located a functioning digital scale, pay-and-owe records, and additional drug paraphernalia consistent with the suspected possession and distribution of controlled substances.

The suspect was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges including Possession for Sale H&S 11351 & Sale, Transportation or Distribution H&S 11352. A total of 26.33 grams of fentanyl was seized.

The Eureka Police Department continues to prioritize proactive enforcement to include efforts targeting the distribution of fentanyl and other dangerous controlled substances in the community.

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Blue Lake’s former longtime mayor, who lost her seat via an envelope pulled from a box. A furniture artist, a social work student and an incumbent councilmember.

Four candidates have qualified to compete for two council seats in Blue Lake with four-year terms. Their names will appear on the November 2026 ballot.

Candidates include incumbent Elise Scafani, who recently survived a recall effort waged against her and two of her fellow councilmembers.

Also running is a former councilmember of over 30 years, Adelene Jones, who improbably faced a tie-breaker in 2024 and lost the proverbial coin toss.

Jones sought appointment last year, after the resignation of councilmember Chris Firor — but was passed over in favor of Terri Bayles, who is not seeking office again this year.

Two would-be newcomers to the council are also vying for the seats to help lead the city of around 1,100 people.

Verda Winona Pitts — a mother and college student who serves on the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission — ran for the seat in 2024, finishing last in a packed roster of seven candidates, and is again looking to join the council. Charis Bowman, a bespoke furniture artist and a director of the Blue Lake Chamber of Commerce, has also thrown her hat into the race.

Jones and Bowman were each proponents of the unsuccessful 2025 recall effort against three councilmembers, which was prompted by the end of longtime city manager Mandy Mager’s contract.

When asked to weigh in on who she’d like to see in the other council seat, Scafani endorsed Pitts.

“I can confidently say that I believe Verda is the most positive candidate. She is thoughtful, well informed, and kind hearted,” she wrote in an email.

Learn more about four of the candidates, in their own words, below!

Adelene Jones:

My name is Adelene Jones and I’m running for a seat on the Blue Lake City Council. I bring over 30 years of experience to the job including 12 years as Mayor. I’m proud to have advocated for several successful projects in Blue Lake while I was Mayor such as the roundabout coming into town, two bridges over Powers Creek, the ground breaking and completion of our portion of the Annie & Mary Trail, the safety improvements along Greenwood Avenue and my personal favorite: the acquisition of the empty lot across from the post office which is now our beautiful Town Square. Moving forward, my focus will be to begin implementing our Housing Element by providing a much-needed affordable housing complex and the completion of the Bike and Skate Park in the Powers Creek District.

Elise Scafani:

I first moved to Blue Lake in 1988 and was fortunate to purchase my home in 1991. I care deeply about this community’s future, which inspired me to run for council 4 years ago. I am a current council member completing a 4 year term. We have made great strides in the last year and worked through some very difficult issues. I decided to run for reelection because I want to support the good work being done in Blue Lake. Like many small towns, we face many challenges and uncertain times. Our staff has worked tirelessly to address a backlog of accounting tasks essential to support numerous municipal functions and funding sources. I hope to help develop sustainable revenue streams for the City that reflect the community’s needs and desires. Public safety is a top priority. We are addressing seasonal flooding issues and assessing the bike park from engineering, safety, and insurability perspectives. Housing remains a top priority, and the council is actively working to bring affordable solutions to Blue Lake.

Verda Winona Pitts:

My name is Verda Winona Pitts. I was born and raised in Blue Lake, and I’m now raising my two children in the same community I grew up in. I’m a Karuk Tribe member, a full-time college student studying Early Childhood Education and Social Work, a care provider, and a member of the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission. I also love researching local history, especially reading old newspapers and learning about the people and stories that have shaped Blue Lake over the years.

I’m running for City Council because I care deeply about Blue Lake and its future. I appreciate the work of our current council and city staff and want to help continue the positive momentum. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I will listen, ask questions, do my research, and take the time to learn before making important decisions.

I recognize the housing requirements the city is facing, and I absolutely support housing, especially affordable housing. I would like to see us look more seriously at ADUs as part of meeting that need, and I wish that avenue had received more attention years ago. At the same time, I believe new housing should be responsible, respectful of our community, and well planned. I’ve spent a lot of time over the years learning about the proposed Danco development, and I think it’s important to distinguish concerns about a particular development or developer from opposition to affordable housing. Moving forward, I want us to explore all of our options and make decisions that both meet our obligations and serve Blue Lake well.

Issues surrounding our water tank and the potential use of eminent domain are also not something I take lightly. I believe we should do our best to treat others the way we would want to be treated, while recognizing that our community needs a safe and secure water supply. There is a lot to learn and consider, and these decisions deserve careful thought.

As a potential councilmember and as a mother, I want to see the bike park completed. My son loves riding his bike, and I see the bike park as a wonderful addition to our community. The perceived division over support for the bike park has been curious to me, as I understand our current council has consistently supported its completion. It’s unfortunate that there has been a misconception that the issue is whether to support the bike park at all. We all want to see it completed legally and safely, in a way that best serves our community while also protecting it.

Blue Lake has given my family and me so much, and I would be honored to give back by serving our community. I also hope to make my children proud and show them that their voices matter—that when you care about something, speak up, and get involved, your voice can be powerful and effective.

Charis Bowman:

I Love Blue Lake, its people, its spirit and opportunities for connection. I’ve called Blue Lake home since 1988. I care deeply about preserving what makes our town special while honoring its past and envisioning its future.

As an entrepreneur/furniture artist, I understand firsthand what it takes for local businesses to operate here. As a mother who raised two children in Blue Lake, I’ve seen the impact how this community has shaped their lives.

My past experiences include; the Economic Development Commission, board member of Dell’Arte, President of the Blue Lake Education Foundation, Event Coordinator with the city, and currently a director on the Blue Lake Chamber of Commerce. These experiences have shown me the value of working together and investing in the people, organizations and traditions that make Blue Lake unique. I deeply understand both the opportunities and challenges facing our community.

I believe Blue Lake needs a common-sense approach to economic resilience, responsible growth, and recreational development.

I’m running for City Council because our community deserves leadership that listens, brings people together, and recognizes the creative and entrepreneurial energy that reminds us to ask “Where in heaven is Blue Lake.”

Do you live in the county’s unincorporated areas — like, McKinleyville, Cutten or anywhere farther out in the boonies? Do you want to offer input on whether/why/how you’d like to see new housing in your community?

Then you might want to check out one of this press release from the Humboldt County Planning and Building Department:

The Humboldt County Planning & Building Department is in the process of updating a document called the Humboldt County Housing Element, which identifies current and future housing needs and sets goals, policies and standards to preserve, improve and develop housing in the unincorporated areas of Humboldt County.

The Humboldt County Housing Element was last updated in 2019 and it currently serves as a blueprint for housing production, affordability, zoning updates and more in unincorporated Humboldt County through 2027. State law requires cities and counties to update their housing elements every five to eight years, and the county’s next housing element update will be due in July 2027.

While the Planning & Building Department takes on the process of updating this document over the next year, the county wants to hear from its residents. You will have the opportunity to provide input during a series of in-person community workshops to be held soon in locations across the county.

How to Attend

Upcoming community workshops to discuss the Humboldt County Housing Element update with the community will take place in:

• Eureka on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Wharfinger Building in the Bay Room, located at 1 Marina Way.

• Willow Creek on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at the Willow Creek Community Services District Board Room, located at 135 Willow Rd.

• Garberville on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at the Garberville Public Library, located at 715 Cedar St.

• McKinleyville on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee meeting in Azalea Hall, located at 1608 Pickett Rd.

All meetings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., except the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee meeting, which may run until 9 p.m. Workshops will include a brief presentation followed by a Q&A to gather community input on housing needs, barriers to housing access, fair housing strategies and the effectiveness of the previous housing element. All interested community members are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts.

The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equal access to all county programs, services and activities through the provision of accommodations for individuals with qualified disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With 72 hours prior notice, a request for reasonable accommodation for these meetings can be made by calling 707-268-3737.

To receive community meeting updates or ask questions about the 2027 Humboldt County Housing Element update, please email mholtermann@co.humboldt.ca.us or call 707-268-3737 for more information.

For more information about Humboldt County’s 2027 Housing Element update, please visit HumboldtGov.org/2027HousingElementUpdate.