Lynne Mary Renner
August 22, 1947-May 17, 2022

… born to Jim and Marion McCarthy in Providence, Rhode Island. The oldest of four sisters, as a child she was a firecracker, often enrolling her sisters in her shenanigans. One of her more famous stories was that she got tired of always having to trim the hedge at her house, so imagine the family’s surprise upon returning home to find she had just chopped the whole thing down. She wrote poetry, and starting at the age of 10 had several of her poems published in the newspaper.

After moving with her family to Oakland, she went to nursing school. Working at Oakland Hospital she met Terry Riley. After marrying in 1971, they made their way to Humboldt Co, settling in Petrolia. After daughter Megan and son Tom were born she went back to work, eventually making her way to Redwood Memorial Hospital, where she worked for 30-plus years until her retirement.

Mom’s combination of smarts, dynamic personality and sense of humor endeared her to her patients, friends, colleagues, but most of all family. You could hear her bopping along in her Honda a mile away with the music up, dancing in the living room or at a party. We all have a love for a wide array of music because of her.

She had always loved adventures, backpacking, and camping trips. No matter how busy she was, she made sure we took little vacations, day trips around Humboldt, breakfast and dinner out.

She and Gary married in 1992, if you know you know. He made her laugh and encouraged her in so many ways. They enjoyed many adventures together, going out to eat was their favorite, they were regulars at Parlatos’s, The Ivanhoe, Poppa Joe’s, Pepper’s and of course her favorite afternoon spot, The Brewery. When unfortunately mom’s Alzheimer’s started, Gary was by her side and supportive the whole way. He kept her at home being her primary caregiver until his cancer made it impossible to do so. It broke his heart when he had to make that decision. During those years, her good friend Patti McKnight and Penni provided lots of entertaining and sympathetic care.

Luckily she was able to get into Sequoia Springs Memory Care unit, where they took the best care of her. Honestly like a second family, especially when Covid hit and we couldn’t go to see her. Sherri, Hope, Mo, Adalena, Nicole and many others, you all are just the best.

Lynne is survived by her daughter, Megan Riley, and son, Tom Riley (Melissa), step-daughters Patti Prior (Chris) and Penni Richardson, grandchildren Jakob, Aidan, Parker, Paden, Chase, Cade, and Delaina. Sister Judy Fredrickson.

Special thank you to the wonderful people at Hospice, you can’t possibly know how hard this will be to go through, until you do, and they were there providing support and care from beginning to end.

A celebration of her life will be held at the Eel River Brewery on Sunday, July 31, from 3:30-5 p.m.. Please join us for some appetizers and drinks. Stories and memories are encouraged.

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

James J Rocha
August 7,1947 – June 18,2022

James “Jim” Rocha died at his home in Fortuna on June 18, 2022 surrounded by his family. At that moment we lost a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, neighbor and friend.

Jim was born on August 7, 1947 at the old Scotia Hospital to Joe and Velma Rocha of Ferndale.

He started grammer school at Grant Union School, then transferred to the Assumption School where he graduated. He attended Ferndale High School, graduated the class of “65”. He played sports, but loved basketball the most. He was also a member of the FFA. After graduation, he had his own dairy. In 1973 he went to work for Pacific Lumber Co. in Scotia. After 23 years he retired due to health issues. He went to work for Gary Crivello’s Cars in 1996, where he had a lot of friends old and new. There were many parties at the car lot, Xmas, rodeo, autorama, always enjoying the people, good food and conversations. He retired from the car lot in 2009 because of health issues after a six-week stay in the hospital.

Jim always was the person you could count on to pick you up at school, needed a ride to practice, change your flat tire or pull you out of the river bar because you were stuck. He helped the girls softball teams, practicing, cooking burgers or just cleaning up. He helped the grandkids with their FFA animals get ready for the fair. He always supported the grandkids in the sport they played.

He enjoyed crabbing, surf fishing and catching bass at Trinity Lake and Ruth. He really found his love for fishing when his neighbor Bud Roby took him fishing in the ocean. Next thing he had to have a new fishing boat. He loved taking his buddies Bill, Bruce, John and Sandy to the Cape to get bottom fish or when the salmon were running. One of his most memorable was a 120-pound marlin he caught while vacationing in Cabo, Mexico.

He was a good carpenter, building a lot of things, crafts, potting benches and even a sofa with orange cushions. He enjoyed vegetable gardening and couldn’t wait to start the garden so he could share with family and neighbors. When his health started to get the best of him, he would still walk or use his scooter around the neighborhood. He always had his dog Missy by his side. They walked many miles together.

Jim is survived by Linda, his wife of 48-1/2 years; his daughter Kimberly Smyth (Cliff), son Ken Rocha (Angie), Sandy Schleef (Tami), Tammy Reynolds (John); nine grandchildren — Tamara, Scott, Tiara, Tierney, Maddy, Haylee, Cameron, Brandi, Caylin — and eight great grandchildren; his sister Joann Carey, brother Chris Rocha (Carol), numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Preceded in death his parents Joe and Velma Rocha, grandparents Joe and Balbina Rocha, John and Frances Silva, brother Larry Rocha, brother-in-law Kevin Carey, numerous aunts and uncles and one great-grandchild, Tregyn Siemiller.

At his request there will not be a funeral service. The family would like to thank Dr. Dittmer and Hospice for their caring and all their help to get Jim home from the hospital so he could be with his family.

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

Edward Darrow Sanderson was born August 7, 1929 in Whitesboro, Oklahoma to William Mcferdeson Sanderson and Minnie Josephine Bell. He passed on to Heaven July 19, 2022 in Rio Dell, just a few weeks before his 93rd birthday. As the family moved numerous times in the 1930s and 40s, he was raised and attended schools in both Whitesboro and Rio Dell. Many times he told us of the one-room school house he went to here in Metropolitan. He married our mother, “Pug,” Alsie Isabel McCoy, in 1948 at the Poteau, Oklahoma justice of the peace. Money was scarce, so Mom had to sell a pig to pay for the marriage license.

About 1949, he and his older brothers Jack and Murdo found jobs in the forest industry, starting at a sawmill in Forest Knowles, California. They began felling timber in Sonoma, Mendocino and Humboldt County until their retirements in the 1970s. All three brothers, after becoming Christians at Orick in the late 1960s, became pastors. Dad served as our pastor here at the Rio Dell Baptist Church from 1970 until 1991. He and mom then returned to the Talihina-Whitesboro, Oklahoma area where he continued to pastor churches in Le Flore County, Oklahoma.

After mom’s passing to heaven in 2000, dad then survived kidney and prostate cancer. He came back to Rio Dell to live with us (Rod and Melodee) in 2006 until his appointment in Heaven with Jesus, Mom, Ronald and Chandler, just to name a few.

The Lord touched many lives through Pastor Darrow, known as dad, papa, big papa, uncle Sonny, grandpa, great-grandpa and great-great grandpa both here and in Oklahoma. We haven’t lost him. We know where he is, and by knowing Christ as Lord and Savior we will see him and them again — soon.

Dad is survived by: his sons Rodney (Melodee) Sanderson and Roger (Debi) Sanderson; grandsons Mike Sanderson, Ronnie (Meggan) Sanderson, Eli Sanderson, Ben Sanderson (Tiana), Brandon Sanderson (Sasha), Bryan (Malynda) Sanderson; granddaughters Gina (Bret) Lamb and Michelle (Arron) Lee; great-grandsons Chase Dominguez, Caleb Lee (Macie), Cayden Lee, Talon Sanderson, Korbin Lamb, Damien Sanderson, Mykah Sanderson, Wyatt Sanderson, Tucker Sanderson, Sheaden Kadle and Eli Sanderson; great-granddaughters Teyah Sanderson, Kaylee Lamb (Dillon), Bekah Sanderson, Bailey Sanderson, Bryce Sanderson, Jayden Sanderson, Alsie Sanderson and Clover Sanderson; great-great-granddaughters Marley Dominguez and Evalynn Pickard; great-great-grandson Dwayne Pickard, also many and numerous, are the much-loved nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents, our mom “Pug,” son Ronald, grandson Chandler and grandson Christopher. Forgive us if we overlooked anyone, pleas …

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at Rio Dell Baptist Church, Rio Dell and Butcher streets, Rio Dell. A pot luck reception in the church fellowship hall will follow. A great “thank you” goes out to the doctors, nurses, social workers, care givers and hospice counselors for taking excellent care of our dad, Darrow.

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

PREVIOUSLY: Buhne and Harrison Fully Blocked Following High-Speed Chase, Reportedly With Shots Fired

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

The Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team continues its investigation into a pursuit and officer-involved shooting last night in Eureka.

During this investigation, law enforcement has located evidence indicating the discharge of a weapon on the 5000 block of Vance Avenue and the 3300 block of Utah Street.

Jared Eli Aubrey Booking Photo | HCSO

The primary suspect, who is believed to have fired numerous times at pursuing peace officers, has been identified as 32-year-old Jared Eli Aubrey of Eureka. Aubrey is on parole for multiple firearm possession convictions, in addition to convictions for assault, battery and the sale of controlled substances. He has an extensive criminal history involving multiple violent offenses. Aubrey was a passenger in the suspect vehicle during the incident. It is believed Aubrey utilized an AK- 47 variant semi-automatic rifle with a detachable high-capacity magazine during this incident. The firearm was recovered at the scene of the traffic collision on Buhne Street and Harrison Avenue.

Following the traffic collision, Aubrey was taken into custody and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of attempted murder (PC 664/187(a)), felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)) and violation of parole (PC 3000.08(c)).

Darrike Miles McKeown Booking Photo | HCSO

The driver of the vehicle, 27-year-old Darrike Miles McKeown of Eureka, is also on parole for a vehicular manslaughter conviction and was found to have an active warrant for violation of this parole. McKeown sustained a minor injury as a result of the traffic collision. He was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment and then was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of evading a peace officer (VC 2800.2) and violation of parole (PC 3000.08(c)).

Additional charges may be requested by investigators for both McKeown and Aubrey pending the results of the ongoing investigation.

A third occupant of the vehicle was detained, interviewed and released at the scene.

Two Sheriff’s deputies involved in this incident have been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation. Involved deputies will be identified within the timeframe as required by law in a future information update.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance with this investigation: Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, Eureka Police Department, Arcata Police Department, Fortuna Police Department, Cal Poly Humboldt University Police Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Justice.

This is still an active investigation. An additional information update is anticipated next week.

Anyone with information about this case or who may have witnessed any portion of this pursuit or sustained property damages as a result, should contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251, reference case number 202203774.

Monday marked the beginning of the nomination period for the November election, and so far two people have taken out papers to run for Arcata City Council, which will have two seats open at the end of this year. Arcata City Clerk Bridget Dory told the Outpost this afternoon that current councilmember Meredith Matthews took out her paperwork this week, as did community member Raelina Krikston. 

Arcata Councilmember Meredith Matthews posing with the Crabs mascot | Submitted

Matthews – who was appointed by the council in 2021 to fill the place of exiting councilmember Sofia Pereira – announced Thursday morning her plans to run for a seat in November. Mathews will be officially kicking off her campaign at Septentrio Winery on Thursday at 6 p.m. 

Here is Matthews’ candidate statement:

Arcata is a special place, and we are on the cusp of great change. My goal is to align our economic and development needs to meet these opportunities, while still maintaining the Arcata I moved here for- progressive ideas, a welcoming community with unmitigated access to beauty and nature, one-of a kind events and local businesses, all viewed through the lenses of our ongoing Climate Crisis, equity and inclusion. 

In my short time so far on the Council, I have made countless connections that I hope to continue to build on. I worked with RCCER and 350 Humboldt to pass the Complete Streets Ordinance, I have a burgeoning relationship with Tribal leaders, and many involved citizens that I have spoken to and hope to continue to work with- I want to keep going and make an impact for future Arcatans. 

I have knowledge of Arcata’s infrastructure and business goals, rapport with our local businesses, and insight into our housing and business needs. After a year on the dais, I know our budget, am current on all of the City’s projects, and more importantly, I am always willing to make myself available to listen. 

I have proven this past year that I can provide strong leadership while rolling up my sleeves and volunteering on the ground to make projects successful. I have a grassroots passion and a commitment to serve, and an ability to inspire people to work together. 

I am honored to be a part of this vision.

Thank you,
Meredith Matthews 

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Krikston, on the other hand, is still not ready to officially announce plans to run. Reached by the Outpost this afternoon, Krikston said she’s interested in running, but isn’t sure whether serving on the council is a realistic option. 

Raelina Krikston | James Adam Taylor

A resident of Humboldt County since 2016, 30-year-old Krikston owns a marketing and design company The Stuudiio, and is also an Arcata Chamber of Commerce board member. As a renter in Arcata, Krikston said, she would like to see more renter representation on the council. With all the changes coming to Arcata, Krikston thinks it is important to find the balance between embracing the population growth and retaining the city’s character. 

In addition to wanting to make sure Arcata is a desirable and affordable place to live, Krikston also wanted to run to ensure that Councilmember Brett Watson — who has been under investigation for sexual harassment of a city employee — does not get reelected. Watson has not yet announced whether or not he plans to run for reelection. But Krikston said she heard he might and wanted to make sure he had some competition. 

Whether or not Watson does, in fact, run for reelection and how many other folks decide to run will be big factors in Krikston’s decision to officially run for council. 

“I don’t want to take the opportunity away from anyone who really wants it, but I also want people to have a choice,” Krikston told the Outpost. 

For anyone else who might want to run, you can make an appointment to fill out nomination papers by calling Arcata City Hall at (707) 822-5953. The deadline to file nomination papers is August 12. To run you must be at least 18 years old, live within Arcata city limits and be registered to vote at your Arcata residence address. Nominees must also obtain at least 20, but no more than 30, signatures of registered voters who reside within Arcata city limits and are registered to vote at their Arcata residence.

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Press release from the City of Rio Dell:

The City of Rio Dell is pleased to announce that Lt. Greg Allen has accepted an offer to serve as the Chief of Police for the Rio Dell Police Department. Allen has over 28 years of experience in Law Enforcement, having worked for the Humboldt State University Police Department (now Cal Poly Humboldt), California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Allen currently manages the Professional Standards Division at HCSO, supervises the Crisis Negotiations Team and also serves as an instructor and Recruit Training Officer for the Police Academy at College of the Redwoods.

Mr. Allen is a recent graduate of the Sherman Block Leadership Institute (SLI) and is currently completing his Masters in Law Enforcement in Public Safety Leadership. Mr. Allen also has attended the University of San Diego and Cal Poly Humboldt where he has obtained a BA in Social Work with a minor in Ethnic Studies.

“I cannot think of anyone more qualified to lead the Rio Dell Police Department into the future.” Says Rio Dell City Manager Kyle Knopp. “Lt. Allen is uniquely qualified to deal with the challenges of policing today. His resume speaks volumes but he also has a great personal story that has built a strong character with sympathy and understanding towards those who the police often interact with.”

Upon accepting the offer, Mr. Allen Stated “The role of Law Enforcement is changing. Safety is a priority and ensuring that the officer on the street excels with their communications skills, de-escalation skills and feels a sense of responsibility is most important. I want to build on the foundation that the leadership has established and to continue the modernization of the Rio Dell Police Department.”

Allen replaces Chief Conner who is retiring from full time police work. An open recruitment began in February of 2022, eliciting responses from across the State. The City Council formed an Ad Hoc committee of Mayor Debra Garnes and Councilmember Julie Woodall to sift through the applications and identify prospects for the new Chief.

Mayor Debra Garnes highlighted the importance of the Rio Dell Police Department to the community and stated, “Greg Allen’s beyond ready and we’re proud to give him yet another new title, Chief.” Allen will be sworn in at the Council’s August 2, 2022 City Council meeting at 6:30pm with a food and drink reception to follow. “The community is encouraged to come and meet the new Chief!” Garnes concluded.

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A pair of rulings from last week’s meeting of the California Coastal Commission will reduce the number of illuminated digital signs allowed in Eureka’s coastal zone while also limiting how bright they can be.

Once the new rules are adopted by the city, which is scheduled to happen this fall, Eureka businesses that still want to erect digital billboards in the coastal zone will have to submit their plans to the city’s design review committee for approval at a public hearing.

Coastal commissioners, including Humboldt County Supervisor Mike Wilson, said these new restrictions will help to limit encroaching light pollution, and they urged city officials to go even farther to slow the spread of these bright, frequently animated digital advertisements.

Eureka’s planning staff has spent years working to update the city’s Local Coastal Program (LCP), a planning tool used to guide development in the coastal zone. At last week’s meeting, held in Fort Bragg, the City was asking the Coastal Commission to approve an amendment to the sign-related portions of its LCP.

In a staff presentation, Coastal Commission North Coast District Manager Melissa B. Kramer noted that the current version of Eureka’s program doesn’t include any standards for digital sign design, which can be a problem.

“Digital signs raise visual issues because they can be distracting and visually incompatible with the scenic nature of waterfront areas and other scenic coastal areas,” Kramer said.

The city’s new design standards would require the digital component — that bright, illuminated screen — to be integrated into another type of sign and include “a substantial non-digital component of the same material, form and color of the rest of the sign.” (The one outside Eureka Natural Foods, pictured above, would comply with those standards.) Furthermore, the message on the digital display may not change more frequently than once every 15 seconds under the new rules.

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Eureka’s coastal zone covers the land west of Broadway as well as portions of Old Town and downtown north of Third Street. Eureka staff originally wanted to limit digital signs to the pink-colored parcels shown in the map above, but at the recommendation of Coastal Commission staff, new digital signs will also be prohibited on coastal zone parcels zoned industrial. 

In a phone interview, Kristen Goetz, principal planner for the City of Eureka, said there are 139 such parcels in the city’s coastal zone. Signs will still be allowed on the 71 parcels zoned service commercial (CS) in the coastal zone. To date, Goetz said, seven digital signs have been erected in the city’s coastal zone, and they will be allowed to remain standing, even if the Eureka City Council adopts the new rules.

(If they happen to get knocked down, however — say, by a natural disaster or speeding car — then the owners likely wouldn’t be allowed to rebuild the signs unless they comply with the new rules.)

During the public comment period, Humboldt Baykeeper Executive Director Jennifer Kalt urged the commission to prohibit these signs throughout Eureka’s coastal zone “to protect wildlife from night glare and protect public safety from distracted drivers on a very dangerous stretch of highway.”

She noted that digital signs, which contain thousands of LED lights, can be up to 10 times brighter than standard illuminated signs, contributing to light pollution and potentially affecting nocturnal wildlife’s eating, foraging and orientation behaviors.

Kalt urged the commission to follow the guidelines of the International Dark-Sky Association, which works to reduce light pollution and offers program guidelines for local governments. 

Wilson said he’s worried about the proliferation of digital signs along Broadway, and he noted that the light pollution can be worse when the sky is overcast because the lights reflect off the cloud cover. He asked Goetz, who was in attendance at last week’s meeting, whether city staff had looked into the International Dark-Sky Association’s guidelines.

“Currently, our code in the coastal zone that regulates signs is from about 1966 … ,” she said. “So no, it does not have any limitations or probably didn’t even conceive of the fact that there could ever be a digital sign.”

Goetz said she doesn’t believe city officials would object to incorporating the International Dark-Sky Association’s guidelines in the coastal zone.

Wilson asked Goetz whether city officials would also be amenable to requiring a discretionary permit for such signs, and she said she believes so.

Fellow commissioner Linda Escalante, who described herself as both a climate change refugee and light pollution refugee, said that when she drives up California’s coastal highways from Los Angeles she notices a dramatic change.

“There’s just something when you drive up here and start seeing clear skies, I don’t know — it kind of reinforces our humanity and our connection to the universe,” she said. “So I hope that the North Coast tries its hardest to avoid turning into Atlantic City or L.A. or something like that. … I do hope that [Eureka officials] reevaluate how important it is to save some of that precious night sky in this particular region.”

Goetz told the Outpost that such decisions will rest with the City Council. She still needs to bring this Coastal Commission-approved ordinance to the council — hopefully introducing it at the August 16 meeting, which would allow it to be adopted at the September 20 meeting. 

She said she’ll tell the council that the Coastal Commission urged them not to allow any more digital signs. Whether they choose to do so will be up to them.