It is with great sadness that I announce that Cindy Rae Whelihan passed away on Sept. 14, 2022 at the age of 62.

Cindy was a lifelong native of Eureka and a graduate of Eureka High School in 1978.

Cindy had many jobs over the years. She worked at the Times-Standard as an inserter, Bayshore Mall as a security guard, as a runner for Humboldt Central Laboratory and her last job was as a lab technician with St. Joseph’s Hospital. Cindy loved working for St. Joe’s. It was definitely a second home to her over the years. Cindy made many friends at the hospital over the years.

Cindy was known for her quick wit and sense of humor. She had many friends and people were drawn to her.

Cindy was preceded in death by her father Patrick Whelihan, mother Kathleen Whelihan, sister Patricia Minton and her ex-husband Larry Duncan. Cindy is survived by her sister Laura Knight, numerous nieces and cousins.

Cindy will be dearly missed by many, but she is now back in our mother’s loving arms.

My sincere thank you to Mad River Community Hospital for their heroic efforts in trying to save her.

At Cindy’s request there will be no service.

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Patricia Ann Sears (Keisner) peacefully passed on October 7, 2022.

Patricia was born July 3, 1952 to George Keisner Sr and Madilene Emma Keisner Bowie in Eureka. Patricia grew up and was raised in Los Angeles with her auntie Faye Affleck and Marvin Bowie. Patricia was born into a family of 10. As many knew her as “Patty,” she had worked at Luke’s for many years in the kitchen department, doing many different tasks. She had also worked at the Eureka Fisheries for many years packing fish.

Some of the hobbies Patty had and enjoyed doing was crocheting blankets, candleholders, potholders and many different cool things for her family and loved ones. She also loved going to the fair, the races, the casino and always enjoyed the shopping time she would spend with her sisters. She also enjoyed playing bingo with her grandchildren and her sisters.

Patty was a proud tribal member of Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria.

Patty is survived by her children Jimmy Stueckle, David and John Hanley, her Daughter Krissey Hanley, her Sister Gail Keisner, her Brothers Ronnie and Glenn Keisner, her Nephews Eugene Hatfield, Alan and Edward John, grandchildren Brittany, Carole, and Little John Hanley; Shawn,Billy, Grace and Treasure Robinson; Alisha, Leah, Alan-David, Jamie, Jesse and Kayla John; and her great-grandchildren Emmett and Calliope Robinson and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Madilene Emma Bowie Keisner, her father,  George Keisner Sr, her daughter Candy Ann Stueckle; her brothers George (Sunny) Keisner Jr, Henry (Hank) Keisner, Delmar Keisner and Lornie Keisner; her sisters Judith (Judy) John and Georgina Bartolli; half-sister Dorthy Cordie, her granddaughter Emma Arlys John, auntie Faye Bowie Affleck, nephews Raymond Hatfield and George John, and great-nephew Nikki Metcalf.

Patty will be truly missed, loved and never forgotten! Services was held Monday, October 17, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Sanders Funeral Home 1835 E Street, Eureka, with a celebration of life following after at Patty’s house.

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

California’s COVID-19 state of emergency will end Feb. 28, 2023, nearly three years from its initiation, officials from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced today.

The announcement came as new variants spur concerns that there will be another deadly winter surge across the country and as test positivity rates plateau in California following a nearly three-month decline. More than 95,000 Californians have died as a result of COVID-19, according to state data.

The state of emergency gave Newsom broad, often controversial, powers to issue masking mandates and temporary stay-at-home orders in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. It also enabled the governor to enter into billions of dollars of no-bid emergency response contracts with testing facilities, personal protective equipment suppliers and temporary workforce agencies. Some of those contracts were with untested vendors who failed to deliver services.

Today, 27 provisions from the 74 executive orders issued under the state of emergency remain in effect, officials said. More than 500 provisions have already ended. The Newsom administration would not allow the press to name the senior officials who participated in an embargoed media briefing about ending the state of emergency.

“The State of Emergency was an effective and necessary tool that we utilized to protect our state, and we wouldn’t have gotten to this point without it,” Newsom said in a statement. “With the operational preparedness that we’ve built up and the measures that we’ll continue to employ moving forward, California is ready to phase out this tool.”

The duration of the state of emergency has been controversial among state Republican leaders who attempted to overturn the governor’s power during a Senate emergency meeting in March. The resolution to terminate the state of emergency was voted down 8-4, with senators voting along party lines.

At the time, representatives for frontline health workers, including the California Hospital Association, stated flexibilities allowed under the executive orders were critical to expanding capacity. It allowed health care officials to hire thousands of out-of-state workers who typically need to be licensed in California to practice, among other emergency measures.

“The State of Emergency was an effective and necessary tool that we utilized to protect our state, and we wouldn’t have gotten to this point without it.”
— Gov. Gavin Newsom

In February, the administration unveiled the SMARTER plan, its $3.2 billion long-term strategy for combating COVID-19. The strategy outlined preparedness measures such as stockpiling 75 million masks, increasing testing capacity to half a million tests per day and investing in the health care workforce and local community health organizations. The SMARTER plan’s rollout has been a key component in eliminating the need for emergency provisions, officials said.

“The administration has determined that rolling back the remaining 27 executive order provisions will have largely minimal operational impact,” an unnamed official said.

The administration plans on pursuing permanent legislative changes for two temporary provisions allowed under the executive order: allowing nurses to order and administer COVID-19 antiviral treatments like PAXLOVID and allowing laboratory assistants to process COVID-19 tests.

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

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Oct. 17, 2022, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team conducted an operation at a property in the area of Cemetery Road in Blocksburg to locate a suspect known to be armed and dangerous.

 

While on scene deputies located and arrested Kip Branson, 50, without incident. The arrest and search warrant were related to a shooting reported last week in the 1200 block of Fox Creek Road in Carlotta.

 

Branson was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of robbery (PC 211), carjacking (PC 215(a)), possession of firearm silencer (PC 33410), person prohibited in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)), possession of a controlled substance armed (HS 11370.1(a)), convicted felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)), criminal threats (PC 422(a)), assault throwing acid (PC 244), attempted murder: premeditated (PC 664/187(a)) and assault with a semiautomatic firearm (PC 245(b)).

 

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

 

Receive HCSO news straight to your phone or email. Subscribe to news alerts at: humboldtsheriff.org/subscribe.

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Press release from SoHum Community Health

SoHum Health is proud to announce a new avenue for ultrasound services in Humboldt County. Jerold Phelps Community Hospital in Garberville now has a brand new GE Logiq E10 Ultrasound machine, the most advanced ultrasound system available to date. Offering a wide scope of ultrasound exams including abdomen, aorta, renal, thyroid, carotid, scrotum, deep vein thrombosis, pelvic, infertility studies (follicle counts), and obstetric dating and anatomy. Doctor’s orders for ultrasound services at Jerold Phelps Community Hospital can be faxed to (707) 923-2578. Same Day Results and STAT Reads are available at the medical provider’s request. Once an order is received, SoHum Health staff will call the patient to schedule an appointment. We look forward to serving you!

For more information about Ultrasound services at SoHum Health, visit sohumhealth.org or call (707) 923-3921. SoHum Health is a California Special Healthcare District that operates Jerold Phelps Community Hospital, Southern Humboldt Community Clinic, Southern Humboldt Family Resource Center and Garberville Pharmacy.

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Press release from the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Division of Environmental Health:

The Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Public Health Laboratory, in partnership with the California Department of Public Health Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory, confirmed that a fox found at the Lanphere Dunes in the Arcata area tested positive for rabies. The animal was brought into the lab for testing after being found dead under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) work truck on Lanphere Road.

Last week DHHS’s Division of Environmental Health (DEH) received a report that a fox bit someone and then attacked a moving vehicle the following day on Lanphere Road. The person who was bit is currently undergoing treatment for rabies exposure. Two days after these encounters, DEH received the report of the dead fox.

Benjamin Dolf, DEH Supervising Environmental Health Specialist, said staff notified stakeholder agencies, including USFWS, which manages the dunes, Friends of the Dunes, which manages public access privileges and the Bureau of Land Management, which manages the neighboring Ma-le’l Dunes. “Based on the fox’s aggressive behavior,” USFWS staff had already posted warning signage and temporarily closed public access to the Lanphere Dunes wildlife refuge.

Although rabies is always present in the wildlife population throughout Humboldt County, especially foxes, skunks and bats, Dolf said, “It’s very likely that the fox found dead was the same fox from the other two incidents.”

However, he said people in the area between Manila and Mad River Beach who see a wild animal acting strangely should contact DEH which is monitoring reports in that area. He said as a general rule, 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,” Dolf said. 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, reporting animal bites to your county or municipal animal control officer, and if you are bitten, washing the bite immediately with soap and water and seeking medical attention.

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.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On October 14th, 2022, at about 10:00 PM, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible juvenile sexual assault in a wooded area near McKinleyville High School. Deputies responded to investigate and learned the incident had occurred several hours prior to the report. The Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division was called to assist in the investigation.      

The alleged suspect was described as a Hispanic or Native American male who appeared to be in his thirties. He was approximately 5’9” – 5’10” in height and had a physically fit build. He had dark wavy shoulder length hair and a full beard, and was wearing a camouflage jacket, black sweatpants, and white shoes. He was also wearing a purple bracelet and carrying a blue hiking style backpack.

Deputies have been and are continuing to conduct patrol checks of the area but have been unable to locate the suspect. The Sheriff’s Office has been in contact with officials from the McKinleyville High School and notified them of the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing and as further information is developed it will be released to the public.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.