PREVIOUSLY:

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Press release from the District Attorney’s office:

Shirley.

On July 11, 2022, Judge Christopher Wilson sentenced Markis Caprice Dewayne Shirley to 25 years to life in prison, for first-degree residential burglary with person present (Penal Code [PC] §459) as a third strike, felon in possession of a gun (PC §29800), assault (PC §240) and possessing drugs in the jail while awaiting trial (PC §4573.6).

The case arose from an incident in 2020 when Shirley, Josie Craig, and Tavin Evans worked together to burglarize a motel room. Josie Craig left the victim’s motel room door ajar, allowing defendant Shirley and Tavin Evans to rush inside uninvited. The victim testified she was in the motel room with her boyfriend when Shirley entered the room with Evans and attacked her boyfriend. Surveillance video showed Shirley, Josie Craig, and Tavin Evans leaving the scene together in a vehicle. A few days later, an Arcata Police Department (APD) officer located the getaway vehicle, carrying Shirley and a loaded semi-automatic pistol.

Shirley previously pled guilty to two strikes (first-degree residential burglary (PC §459), and criminal threats (PC §422)) in a 2016 case. In that case, the victim testified that Shirley entered her motel room, threatened to cut her, and sexually assaulted her while holding a sharp object against her body. During the assault someone called the victim’s phone, and Shirley threatened to “cut” the victim if she did not convince the caller to stay away. The caller nevertheless arrived a few minutes later and chased Shirley away.

The District Attorney appreciates the courageous testimony of Shirley’s victims, in both this trial and the 2016 case. Prior to sentencing, the victim in this case submitted a letter to Judge Wilson expressing the painful consequences of the burglary.

The District Attorney also appreciates the time and attention of those who served as jurors. Their conclusions indicated that they weighed the evidence carefully.

Deputy District Attorneys Shelly Small and David Moutrie prosecuted the case with the assistance of District Attorney Investigator Marvin Kirkpatrick and Victim Advocate Velda Gooden. Defense Attorney Zachary Curtis represented Mr. Shirley.

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Despite a recent change in leadership, Nordic Aquafarms plans to move forward with its land-based fish farm on the Samoa Peninsula. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors received an update on the trajectory of the project during this morning’s regular meeting.

During a presentation to the board, Planning and Building Director John Ford briefly acknowledged the unexpected departure of the company’s founder and president Erik Heim and his wife, Executive Vice President/Commercial Director Marianne Naess, but focused his attention on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the project that was released just days before the couple parted ways with the company.

The 1,080-page document, which was prepared by GHD engineering, addresses the project’s anticipated environmental impacts and responds to hundreds of comments submitted by the public and various regulatory agencies following the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) in December. 

Many of the comments were repetitive, Ford said. Rather than “responding the same way over and over again” to each question, GHD opted to include a list of “master responses” to common issues including ​​energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, truck traffic/road safety, fish escape, marine outfall, waste handling/disposal and the composition of the fish feed. 

Chandler | Screenshot

Nordic’s interim CEO and former Maine-based Chief Financial Officer Brenda Chandler was present during this morning’s meeting and introduced herself to the board. “[I’m] still getting up to speed on many of the aspects for California,” she said. “I have a great team behind me — those that have been working through the FEIR process and the other permits that are required for the fish farm to proceed. I just wanted to thank everybody [who has worked on this project] up to this point and we plan on continuing with a great team.”

Supervisor Mike Wilson acknowledged that the change in leadership “has raised some questions” from community members about the continuity of the project moving forward. “How are we feeling about this?” he asked. “[Should] we expect any other changes?”

Scott Thompson, Nordic’s local project manager, has worked on the project for the last two years and will continue to do so, Chandler said. 

“Actually, we had already hired project leaders … for projects on both coasts – Belfast and Samoa,” she continued. “ I will continue to be the face of the organization … but that project lead had already been in place, essentially, and his name is Steven Sachs. He has worked on some very large projects on the East Coast and, in terms of the more technical aspects of all of this, he kind of picks up that leadership for project management with Scott, or local person on the ground.”

Lynette Mullen, an independent consultant who has worked as a community liaison for Nordic in Humboldt County, addressed the board and emphasized that the change in leadership does not mean that the project itself has changed.

“I think it’s just important for people to know that the team working on this project has been mixed kind of on both coasts from the beginning. …The people on the ground doing the work are still here,” she said, referring to local engineering firms SHN and GHD. “The other thing that I think it’s important for people to know is that a lot of the agreements that have been put in place in the last couple of years working with environmental groups … and all those things really are in the FEIR.”

Supervisor Rex Bohn noted that the Belfast and Samoa projects would undergo construction at the same time and seemed to express concern about Nordic’s ability to finance two massive projects. 

Chandler acknowledged that the company’s Norwegian facility only produces a fraction of the salmon that the Samoa facility would produce per year (1,000 metric tons per year compared to 23,000 metric tons per year) but said the difference “is how you scale it” because the project is modular.

Bohn seemed satisfied with that answer and said, “I love the program.” He added that he would like to see a few things change, but “overall it’s a great idea.”

Supervisors Steve Madrone and Michelle Bushnell asked about the next steps for the project and what happens after the Planning Commission’s July 28 hearing. Ford explained that a coastal development permit could be approved by the Planning Commission, but it could also be appealed to the Board of Supervisors or the California Coastal Commission.

“There’s a little bit of uncertainty there about what an opponent may want to do,” he said. “We don’t know that there are opponents who will appeal at this point, but those are the two options that would be available.”

Ford added that the Coastal Commission itself must issue permits for the plant’s water intake, as well as its discharge of water back into the sea.

Bushnell moved to accept the report. The motion was seconded by Wilson and approved in a unanimous 5-0 vote.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Final Environmental Impact Report for Nordic Aquafarms Project Released; Planning Commission Hearing Planned for Later This Month
• Top Executives at Nordic Aquafarms’ U.S. Operations Mysteriously Part Ways With the Company
• Nordic Aquafarms Announces New Interim President Following Sudden Departure of Top Execs

Warm up your fingers, local art critics! Even more of Eureka is slated to be splashed with color next month when the Eureka Street Art Festival returns for its fifth edition. 

This year, artists will be unleashed on surfaces along the 101 corridor and around the base of the Samoa Bridge where 11 new murals will be birthed. Where is all the art happening exactly, you ask? Well, luckily for you, today festival organizers kindly sent LoCO a map to help us all wrap our brains around which local walls will soon be blessed by murals and who exactly will be painting them.

See map now!: 

(Click here to enlarge)

Yay, art. Learn more about the Eureka Street Art Festival by visiting its website, or get hyped for this year’s event by reading a release from organizers below:

This August 1-6, the Eureka Street Art Festival will be bringing 11 new murals to the Bridge District - from the 101 corridor on the north side of town to the waterfront.

2022 Mural Artists

This year we are welcoming artists from across the country. The 2022 Festival Artists include: Jessica Cherry (Crescent City), Laci Dane (Weott), Mir de Silva (Eureka), Gina Elizabeth Franco (Greensboro, NC), Ben Goulart (Bayside), Aerosol Kingdom (Rochester, NY), Joshua Lawyer (Santa Rosa), Jose Moreno (Eureka), Kyle Sanders (Eureka), L Star (Los Angeles), and Tess Yinger (Eureka).

For the week of the Festival, these artists will be painting murals under the Samoa Bridge, along the Waterfront Trail, and throughout the 101 corridor on the north end of the city. The Samoa Bridge Mural Project will transform the piers under the bridge, as part of the Clean California Initiative, in partnership with Caltrans. The four bridge artists (Jessica Cherry, Laci Dane, Joshua Lawyer, and Kyle Sanders) are creating colorful cohesive pieces inspired by nature. Mir de Silva will be bringing her colorful style to a community mural, where everyone can add their own piece during the Block Party on August 6th. Aerosol Kingdom will be coming from New York to paint a massive wildlife mural on the side of Pacific Outfitters. And watch the walls of the hotels on the north end of town for many new colorful pieces as well!

How to Enjoy the Festival:

• Walk around the Festival area during the week Stop by the Festival HQ under the Samoa Bridge to grab a map!
• Daily Art Walks at 5:30pm Attend curated Art Walks each day. Check the website and social media for meeting spots.
• Support the Downtown businesses while you’re out! Let’s show some love to our local businesses throughout the week.
• Attend the Block Party on Saturday, August 6th from 12-6, under the Samoa Bridge Enjoy the huge beer garden, listen to live music, eat tons of good food, watch artists work, shop from local vendors, work on the community mural, and check out the kids zone.

Humboldt County Drug Task Force press release: 

Since late 2021 the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) has been investigating a drug trafficking organization operating out of Eureka that was distributing methamphetamine throughout Humboldt County. As a result of this investigation, Agents obtained several search warrants for locations through the Eureka area.

On July 12, 2022, with assistance from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team, Deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Officers from the Eureka Police Department, Officers from the Fortuna Police Department, and Officers of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, HCDTF Agents served four search warrants on residences in the Eureka area. Agents served a search warrant at a home in the 1500 block of 6th street in Eureka.

Agents detained Maximo Espitia (61 years old of Eureka) and his wife, Rosa Espitia (58 years old of Eureka). Agents located approximately one ounce of methamphetamine at this location.

Maximo and Rosa Espitia were booked at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charges:

• HS11378 Possession of Methamphetamine for Sales
• HS11366.5(A) Maintaining or Operating a Drug House
• PC182(A)(1) Conspiracy

Agents served a second search warrant at an apartment in the 1400 block of Bay Street in Eureka where they detained Jason Veitch (45 years old of Eureka). At this location, Agents found a small amount of Fentanyl on the ground and in close proximity to a young child’s toys and diapers. Agents also located approximately two ounces of methamphetamine.

Jason Veitch was booked at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charges:

• HS11351 Possession of Fentanyl for Sales
• HS11378 Possession of Methamphetamine for Sales
• HS11366.5 Maintaining or Operating a Drug House
• PC182(A)(1) Conspiracy
• PC273a(A) Child Endangerment

Agents served a third search warrant at a residence in the 3200 block of Albee Street in Eureka. Agents located Joseph Bacon (31 years old of Eureka) who was found to be in possession of a small amount of Fentanyl and ammunition. Charges for these offenses will be requested from the DA’s office at a later date.

A fourth search warrant was served at a residence in the 3800 block of Lissa Drive in Eureka. Agents conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Wayne Nathaniel Allen (41 years old from Eureka) as he approached his residence. Also, inside the vehicle were two of his children. Inside the residence, Agents located 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine.

Wayne Allen was booked at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charges:

• HS11378 Possession of Methamphetamine for Sales
• PC182(A)(1) Conspiracy
• PC273a(A) Child Endangerment

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.

Northern California Community Blood Bank press release: 

The Northern California Community Blood Bank today announced that a number of factors, including low collections, have combined to create a situation considered critical in the care of patients on the Northcoast.

Blood Bank CEO Kate Witthaus said that “this year, some trauma centers across the country actually had to close their doors due to a lack of available blood.  We don’t ever want to see that happen here.  But the national blood shortage continues, and our local supply is critically low. If you’ve never given blood before, now is the time to help save patient lives.”

Impacted by a recent surge in COVID-19, blood collections have dropped significantly since the July 4th holiday weekend to levels half that of normal projections. Blood Bank spokesperson John Gullam calls the situation “unsustainable”. With donation rates significantly higher than national averages by those who are regular donors, Gullam said “our greatest need is for those people who have never donated, or who donated in the past but have gotten out of the habit, to step up right now.” Recent changes to donor eligibility requirements may allow people to donate who were previously deferred. If you have any questions about your eligibility to donate, call the Northern California Community Blood Bank at (707) 443-8004.

The blood bank asks that type O donors and those who don’t know their blood type make an appointment to donate as soon as possible at the Blood Center at 2524 Harrison Ave. in Eureka by going to nccbb.org or by calling (707) 443-8004.

Our beloved Mary Frances Cooper Frost passed away on July 6, 2022, at her home in McKinleyville. Mary was a life-long resident of Humboldt County, born in Eureka to Bronte and Clara Cooper. She was the middle sibling of five. Her dad worked in timber and her mom was a teacher. Mary attended Arcata High School, graduating class of 1973.

Mary did so many different kinds of work over the course of her life that only Mary knew all that she had done! A profound mix of professional jobs that included Montessori school teacher and dental hygenist. She took great pride in volunteering for numerous organizations in her community.

Mary was a wonderful and loving mother to her children, Clint and Jordan. Mary did the best she could to provide as a single mom. Their needs, wants and dreams always came first. She celebrated their athleticism and playful spirits. She always made sure they went out camping, swimming, hiking and getting together with friends and family often.

Mary is described by her friends as a solar-powered, living-dancing-hula hooping spirit leaving behind sparkling glitter of kindness everywhere she went. She was put together with the best top hats, spunky skirts, painted toenails and a camera to match. Mary didn’t fit in a box and nor would she ever want to. Mary didn’t choose her people; people chose her. And to those people, she came bearing sentimental gifts, each token and trinket shared with happiness for them to cherish as she cherished those she loved. From her blackberry jams to Halloween popcorn balls, she always had treats for everyone. Mary was always on her bicycle wheeling towards the next best gig, picking up trash and aluminum cans in her path. You could find her late night hooping under the stars at both festivals and small intimate social gatherings. She was the life and light of the party. She brought the party. Her little red house was an adored and adorned home. It was her solace. The smells of baking lingering with the laughter of her granddaughter and friends. The sounds of Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real rang her bunny ears and shook her bunny tail. Mary had some very special, treasured life-long friends; she knows you will recognize without name those whom she held dear. She resides now in peace and comfort with her mother, for whom she cared and tended to until the end, and with her youngest son, who flew from this earth too soon.

Our beloved Mary, Humboldt Pie, Grandma Mary, Aunt Mary, Mama Mary, our friend, our neighbor, our house cleaner, our baker, our manicurist, our gardener, and our very own hometown legacy. Safe travels on your next big adventure.

Mary is preceded in death by her brother Harlan Cooper (Ranae), father Bronte L. Cooper, mother Clara Cooper and her son Jordan Frost (Bre).

She is survived by her son Clint Frost (Tarin), grandchildren Hailie and Eli Frost and Savannah Beeman. Step children Crystal and Jason Frost. Her sisters Linda Gaston and Beverly Kirk and brother Bronte A. Cooper. Nieces Marcy, Libby, Sara and Sammi and nephews, Todd, Mason, Sean, Patrick and Christopher. And of course countless extended family, friends and neighbors that she would have been lost without.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Azalea Hall, 1620 Pickett Rd. McKinleyville.

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Winston James Kavanaugh
August 17, 1941-July 2, 2022

Winston Kavanaugh was born on August 17, 1941 in East Cleveland, Ohio. At that time, he was the youngest of four children. It might be hard to believe, since he began balding early, but as a child he had a head of long, curly hair. The family moved from Ohio to New York, then Arizona and eventually to California, where Winston grew up. He attended Hawthorne High School and then San Jose State College, where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English. He was a classy guy with a classical education!

Winston was a large man with a large personality. He was quiet at first glance but opened up once given the chance. When our grandson, Sean, then about three years old, he looked at his grandpa one day and said, “Boppa likes to talk” and a few minutes later “Boppa like to sit”, and he was right. In earlier days, Winston was a great walker, and a fast walker. I was hard put to keep up with him, though our son, Aaron, could match his stride step for step. After retirement, except when travelling, Winston loved to sit in his recliner and watch tv…especially old movies and musicals. He had an amazing memory for motion picture trivia and appreciated everything about movies, from the writing and acting to the sets, lighting and everything else. Winston also loved classical music and had a large collection of vinyl records and cd’s. He knew many of the songs and could sing along with his really nice voice. And, for a large man, he was a graceful ballroom dancer. He started late but took to it naturally and loved dancing at the Moose Lodge. He tried his hand at oil painting. Plus, he always loved writing, from love poems when he was wooing me to short stories and novels, two of which he self-published on Amazon: The Floating Island of Fear and its sequel, Sean and the King of the Munthees. These were fantasies written for his grandson, Sean, based on games Winston played with his siblings as a child. Even now, I’m finding some of his old projects and reading the typed ones although the hand-written ones are impossible to decipher.

Winston loved travelling with me, his wife, at home and abroad and visited almost 100 countries in his lifetime. His love of travel began with his stint in the Peace Corps as an English teacher from 1965-1967. He trained in Hawaii, which was an adventure in itself, and was then sent to a small town in northeast Thailand where he taught in the boys’ high school. The one other Volunteer in his town (me) taught at the girls’ high school, and we soon became good friends. After we both returned home, we married in 1967. Our son, Aaron, was born in Sacramento in 1971, where Winston worked in Adult Services at the Sacramento County Social Services Department, and our travels were curtailed until Aaron became old enough to travel with us. Then we took him with us to Thailand to visit our friends and memories in Loey, Thailand and then traveled the length of that country. Next we took Aaron to Hawaii and then Hong Kong. It wasn’t long before Winston discovered cruising, and much of our travelling after that was on cruises, which are much less exhausting than overland travel. Among his favorite destinations were Cambodia, Burma, China, Japan, Africa, South America and the Amazon, Mexico , Great Britain, Europe and Scandinavia and the American Southwest.

Winston and his family moved to Humboldt County in the early 1972. He started work at the Humboldt County Welfare Department, starting as a Social Services Worker III and eventually being promoted to Staff Services Manager and Analyst and finally to Deputy Director of the Department, from which position he retired in 2003. He enjoyed his years in the Department and made many friends among the staff. So many of his former associates have commented on his humor and congeniality as a friend and supervisor. He played the role of Santa Claus at their annual Christmas Party and looked the part with his generous beard and round pink cheeks. He’d practice his “Ho, Ho, Ho’s” diligently beforehand but always worried he forget “his lines”!

Winston leaves behind many friends and lovely memories and positively touched many lives. He also received much from the community, from his private and work-related friendships, and from the medical professionals who cared for him in his rough final years. We are especially grateful to the patient, skillful and caring staff at St. Joseph Oncology, to Dr. Leo Leer, and to the wonderful Hospice of Humboldt staff who guided us through the final days.

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