Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On June 6, 2022, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served two search warrants to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Southern Humboldt area. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Water Resources Control Board and Humboldt County Code Enforcement assisted in the service of the warrants.

Two parcels were investigated during the service of the warrants. The parcels did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.

At the first parcel, located in the Fish Creek Watershed near Benbow, deputies located numerous indoor cultivation sites, powered by a large diesel generator that was buried underground. Additionally, environmental scientists located numerous environmental violations, including a large amount of sediment discharged into the nearby watershed.

Ditch recently excavated into stream bank.

During the service of the warrant, deputies eradicated approximately 1,468 growing cannabis plants. Deputies seized and destroyed approximately 86 pounds of processed cannabis and over 49 pounds of cannabis shake.

Environmental violations found by assisting agencies include:

• Two water diversion violations (up to $8,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Water pollution violation (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Depositing trash in or near a waterway violation (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation

Excavta spring diversion with old plastic, diversion down and erosion of skid road with sediment delivery.

Additional violations with civil fines are expected to be filed by the assisting agencies.

At the second parcel, located on the 3,000 block of Old Briceland Road, near Garberville, deputies located numerous indoor cultivation sites, also powered by a large diesel generator that was buried underground.

Exhaust from an underground generator.

During the service of the warrant, deputies eradicated approximately 2,392 growing cannabis plants. Deputies seized and destroyed over 527 pounds of processed cannabis, approximately 15 pounds of cannabis bud and approximately 130 pounds of cannabis shake.

Another illegal indoor grow.

Environmental violations found by assisting agencies include:

• Water diversion violation (up to $8,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Water pollution violation (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)

Landing located near stream associated with water diversion and pumping for cannabis cultivation.

Additional violations with civil fines are expected to be filed by the assisting agencies.

No arrests were made during the service of the warrants. Suspects have been identified in both cases and the cases will be forwarded to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.

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.

Marjorie (Molly) Aileen Youngreen (Johnson) (Small) died peacefully at home with her family on Good Friday, April 15, 2022, at the age of 93.

She was born October 15, 1928 and lived her younger years in Upper Lake, Calif. on the family farm, where she was chased by the turkey that her younger sister Ann would often ride! Her family moved to Fortuna, where she graduated from Fortuna High School. She continued her education at Humboldt State University in Arcata. Marriage and three children ended her time at Humboldt State.

She is survived by all three of her children: April, Christopher and Gregory (Mickey) (Johnson) (Small).

Many knew her as the senior legal stenographer for the Humboldt County Counsel’s Office in Eureka. Evenings would often find Marjorie at home working on her beloved IBM Selectric, typing theses for Humboldt State graduate students and teaching them how to spell. She was active in St. Albans Episcopal Church in Sunny Brae. Marjorie was an associate nun in the Community of the Transfiguration, whose motto — “Kindness, Simplicity and Joy” — she truly reflected in her life.

Her home was always open to family, friends and friends of family. To all she gave unconditional love and acceptance, no matter how colorful their hair might be! Her kindness and wit will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

A private interment will be held at the Upper Lake Cemetery. Remembrances can be made to the Sunny Brae Episcopal church. The family can be contacted at asmall0013@sbcglobal.net.

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Dolores June Martin, 96, passed away peacefully in Sacramento while visiting her granddaughter Brittany, husband Michael, and great-granddaughter, Nora. She would have been 97 on August 24, 2022.

Dolores lived a full and wonderful life traveling and living all over the United States with her husband, Frank Martin and later settling back in Humboldt County in the 1970s with her husband and two daughters, Pam and Debbie. In her later years, she traveled the world, visiting 47 states, 6 continents, and numerous countries. Many of her trips were with her sister-in-law Lorraine Laursen. They shared great memories and stories of their travels. Dolores loved sharing her many photo albums and stories with her family and friends. Travel was incredibly important to her and she encouraged her granddaughters to travel the world any chance they had.

Dolores had many friends throughout her life and spent many great times with them. She had many memories with the Pifferini family, Helen St. Louis, and Mary Borges. Dolores’ friends were very important to her and she spoke of them often and with a smile.

Dolores’ family meant everything to her and there wasn’t anything that she wouldn’t do for them. Her grandchildren were the light of her life. She never missed a sporting event, dance recital, or school awards assembly and kept diligent records of important accomplishments for her granddaughters, Brittany Martin, Ashley Quigley, and Nicole Quigley. Dolores was a hands-on grandma in every sense of the word and adored every minute of it.

Dolores will be sorely missed by her family and many others. She is survived by her daughter, Pam Martin, granddaughter Brittany (Michael) Saveliff and great-granddaughter Nora Saveliff, granddaughter Ashley Quigley, son-in-law Ken Quigley, nieces Kathy (Darrell) Harnden, Sandy (Fred) Hanks, Judy Laursen, and Rita Madison, sister-in-law Phil Holm, and many more. Dolores is preceded in death by her husband Frank Martin Jr., daughter Debbie Martin-Quigley, granddaughter Nicole Quigley, mother Rosella Laursen, father Hagbard Laursen, brothers Lee Laursen and Herbert Laursen, niece Janet Laursen, and nephew Doug Laursen.

There will be no services at Dolores’ request.

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UPDATE, 10:18 p.m.: SECOND RESULTS!

Fourth District Supervisor candidate Natalie Arroyo scrutinizes the sparse second report. Photo: Andrew Goff.

The second results have been posted, with only about 400 more votes counted countywide. As you’d expect, no significant change.

Full results here, if you like.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 9:30 p.m.: Dillingham From Both Sides

I’d guess you’d call it a pretty diverse political crew at the Dillingham party, as documented by the Outpost’s Andrew Goff.

Below: First District Supervisor Rex Bohn, Sheriff Billy Honsal and the candidate.

Below: Liberal Arcata potentates from days of yore — and from now, it looks like! — Sam Pennisi, Alex Stillman and Dan Hauser.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 9:19 p.m.:

Reader Isabella Wotherspoon sends along a photo of the McLaughlin for Judge crew at Humbrews.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 9:06 p.m.:

Eads and incumbent DA Maggie Fleming.

Supporters of Stacey Eads congregated at Phatsy Kline’s Parlor Lounge this evening to await preliminary election results. Surrounded by family and friends (notably her best friend who travelled up from San Diego for the party) Eads was proud to say she had led “a very positive campaign.”

“So many great people from all walks of life have offered their support and I’ve gotten to learn a lot more about good things people are doing for the community as a whole,” she said. “I’ll be happy with however Humboldt decides to go. I feel like we’ve done a good job with getting our campaign out there and letting folks know that I’m a qualified candidate.”

— Isabella Vanderheiden

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UPDATE, 8:55 p.m.:

Natalie Arroyo is celebrating election night with a karaoke party at North of Fourth. As she prepared to do a rendition of Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin’” she told the Outpost she’s stoked to be surrounded by supporters.

“I’m feeling really positive!” she said. “It’s been an awesome experience going door to door and personally connecting with nearly 2,000 constituents at their homes. …I’m looking forward to being a thoughtful decision maker for the county and participating in an open and transparent public process.”

Along with cocktails served up by North of Fourth, Arroyo’s supporters enjoyed a fruit plate spread and catering from Cassaro’s.

— Isabella Vanderheiden

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UPDATE, 8:49 p.m.:

Mike Newman is enjoying Chapala offerings with friends and family this evening. He told the Outpost he’s feeling good about the election and from here he’ll have to “see where the chips fall.”

“I just want to thank all of my supporters,” he said. “I want to make sure people understand that I’m not painted into a corner as a conservative. I’m a moderate and I don’t make up my mind before things are presented to me. …I’m looking forward to serving the community as supervisor.”

— Isabella Vanderheiden

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UPDATE, 8:17 p.m.:

Kelly Sanders.

The Outpost’s Ryan Burns is at the busy, busy, busy Elections Office, where Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters Kelly Sanders is running her second-to-last election. There’s a stack of pizza in boxes, salad, fruit and something from Safeway called a “chocolate chip pudding ring.” Clearly settling in for a long night.

Scanning machines, first used in March 2020, have signature-recognition software. Captures voter signatures and interfaces with election management system to compare with the signature on voter registrations. A human still verifies each and every signature and ballot though.

“I really love the automation of this,” Sanders said. “It makes things go a lot faster.”

First results coming soon, Sanders said.

Hardworking Elections Office call-center folks are still taking calls!

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 7:58 p.m.: Team Doss at Bigfoot

Fifth District supervisorial candidate Larry Doss and his supporters are spending their election night squatchin’ at McKinleyville’s cavernous Bigfoot Taproom. Doss predicted an early night for him and his crew — the place closes at 9 p.m. — but said he’s feeling good about the campaign he’s run. When asked what he thinks his odds of winning the race he smiled and said, “I didn’t do all this to lose.”

— Andrew Goff

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So polls are just about ready to close (at 8 p.m.) and it’s almost all over except the countin’! And the partying! And the agonizing! Your 2022 California Statewide Primary Election is almost a wrap!

Who will be our next District Attorney? Or Auditor-Controller? Or supervisors from the Fourth and Fifth Districts? Or etc.? Will we find out sooner (maybe) or later (probably)?

The Elections Office received about 16,000 ballots before the start of business this morning. The great majority of them should be tallied in time for the first election night report, which is due to land at about 8:30 p.m.

Four years ago, in the June 2018 primary election, when all these same races were on the ballot, a grand total of 32,128 Humboldt County voters cast ballots — a dismal 42.27 percent turnout. Will it be more this time? Less? Who knows! Certainly not us, and even the Elections Office won’t know absolute precise numbers for at least a few days, given that it’ll have to sort through conditional and provisional ballots cast today.

If that turnout rate does hold, we can expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 37,500 total votes this cycle. (Registration numbers have risen over the last four years.) But one thing that’s dead certain that there will be thousands and thousands of votes still uncounted tomorrow morning — not only those provisional and conditional ballots, but vote-by-mail ballots that came into the Elections Office late today, or are still wending their way home through the U.S. Postal Service.

Will we really know anything when votes close, then? We will if and only if the results we get tonight are significantly lopsided. In the past, we could rely on the differing political makeup of the three waves of voting — early absentee voters, precinct voters, late absentee voters — to tell us a great deal about the way an election was trending, but it’s no longer clear how that applies in the age of universal vote-by-mail. (See this post, from right before the world exploded, for an explanation of this now presumably dead phenomenon.)

But we’re gonna go through the motions anyway here at the Outpost, and we will attempt to stay up until the final election night report comes in — round about 1 a.m., if past history holds. We’ll be posting away on those updates as they happen, and we’ll also be swinging by campaign parties around the county. Those are a thing again!

We live to serve! Witness this exceedingly edifying conversation we had with a Facebook Friend O’ the LoCO this afternoon, as regards the headline of the Election Day kickoff post this morning:

FACEBOOK READER: What’s up with the “Democracy” comment? Shouldn’t you be neutral as a news site where people get their info???

LoCO: Not sure what you mean…

FACEBOOKER: Celebrate democracy???? Really???

LoCO: Oh! Why would you not celebrate democracy, especially on election day? It’s a day of civic pride. It’s akin to saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Fourth of July,” the way we see it.

FACEBOOKER: How about just happy Election Day. I understand lost coast is super liberal and negative so stay neutral.

LoCO: It never occurred to me that “democracy” could be controversial. Help me out: When we wrote “Celebrate Democracy!” what did you take that to mean?

FACEBOOKER: Well I’m sure as hell not a democrat

LoCO: Well, no. But you don’t have to be a Democrat to celebrate democracy. Right?

FACEBOOKER: Did you mean celebrate Election Day?

LoCO: Well, election day is the day when we undertake the most basic and important task of citizens in a democracy. No?

FACEBOOKER: Ya

LoCO: Well, there you go. So on Election Day we remind ourselves that we are citizens in a democracy — that we choose the people who will run our government, and who are therefore answerable to us — and that is a thing worth celebrating.

FACEBOOKER: I’m republican

LoCO: What form of government do we have in the United States?

FACEBOOKER: Democrats and republicans

LoCO: No. Those are political parties.

FACEBOOKER: Yes but you said celebrate democracy

LoCO: Right — not dictatorship, not monarchy. Democracy. Democracy is the process through which we elect our leaders. Republican leaders, sometimes!

FACEBOOKER: Happy Election Day!!!

LoCO: You too!

OK! A lot more of that coming up tonight, and presumably throughout the remainder of all our natural lives. Election Night starts …. now!

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PREVIOUSLY: A BRIGHT LIGHT: At the Launch of Humboldt’s New Electric Microgrid, a Vision of the Future

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Press release from the Redwood Coast Energy Authority:

California’s first 100% renewable energy, front-of-the-meter, multi-customer microgrid is now fully operational. Located in Humboldt County, California, the microgrid provides energy resilience for the regional airport and US Coast Guard Air Station.

This microgrid was developed through a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Pacific Gas & Electric, the County of Humboldt, TRC, The Energy Authority, Tesla, Inc., and Schweitzer Engineering Labs.

Research and development was supported through a $5 million grant from California’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) – a statewide program which invests in scientific and technological research to accelerate the transformation of the electricity sector to meet the state’s energy and climate goals – and by $6 million from the Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA), a joint powers agency that provides clean and renewable power to Humboldt County.

A model for resilient, clean energy

“The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid has ushered in a new and exciting era for the electric grid in California,” says Peter Lehman, Founding Director of the Schatz Center and project lead. “With its successful deployment and the development of new microgrid agreements and tariffs, RCAM has become a role model and beacon to communities across the state who are striving to green their energy supply and bolster their resilience in the face of climate change.”

The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid (RCAM) features a 2.2-megawatt solar photovoltaic array that is DC-coupled to a 2-megawatt (9 megawatt-hour) battery energy storage system, comprised of three Tesla Megapacks.

During standard blue-sky operations, RCAM generates clean and renewable energy for the North Coast, and participates in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) wholesale energy markets, including the day-ahead, real time, and ancillary services markets. By storing solar energy during the day and releasing it onto the grid as needed in the evening and during heavy demand periods, RCAM enables greater utilization of solar, supports grid reliability, and creates an economic model for future microgrids.

When a power outage occurs, the microgrid islands from the main grid and energizes the circuit that encompasses the airport, the adjacent Coast Guard Air Station, and several neighboring facilities. RCAM will provide seamless, ongoing electricity for all customers in the microgrid circuit during any local outages.

As the first microgrid in the CAISO market and the first renewable, front-of-the-meter microgrid system in the state, RCAM is building a replicable business model for renewable microgrid deployment.

Meeting critical resilience goals

The regional California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) is located in McKinleyville, California, and serves the greater North Coast community with over 50,000 flights per year, including commercial airline, private, and emergency medical flights. Adjacent to the airport, the US Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay provides search and rescue for 250 miles of rural coastline, from the Mendocino-Sonoma county line to the California-Oregon border.

Roads into Humboldt County are frequently closed by fires and mudslides, making air services a critical factor in regional emergency response.

Cody Roggatz, Humboldt County’s Director of Aviation says that “The California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) is a lifeline to our community every day by keeping Humboldt County connected to the world alongside our partners at United Airlines, Avelo Airlines, American Airlines, REACH/Cal-Ore Life Flights, US Coast Guard-Sector Humboldt Bay, and many others. RCAM ensures that we can continue to keep that lifeline open through energy resilience, no matter what happens to the power grid.”

Community microgrids: partnering for resilience

Deploying multi-customer, front-of-the-meter community microgrids requires close coordination between the microgrid design team, the electric utility, and an electricity generation partner who can energize the microgrid when needed. Because these microgrids utilize circuitry that is owned and maintained by the utility, their control systems must be responsive to utility commands and safety needs, while maintaining a clear delineation between utility-owned and generation partner-owned equipment. Furthermore, participating in the wholesale market requires that the system also be responsive to market signals.

• Design and development of the RCAM project was led by Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt. The Schatz Center’s microgrid research and development focuses on resilient renewable energy solutions for the California North Coast and beyond.
• The Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) is the Community Choice Aggregator for Humboldt County, serving 63,000 electric account customers and supporting energy efficiency alongside local, clean and renewable energy solutions. RCEA is responsible for the majority of the Humboldt Bay area’s energy resource procurement and owns and operates the electricity generation equipment for the microgrid.
• PG&E maintains the regional electricity grid, which serves over 16 million people in Northern and Central California and owns and operates the microgrid circuit.

“An important success of RCAM was how we were able to work through the complex financial, technical, regulatory, business, and operational hurdles facing this project,” says Dana Boudreau, RCEA’s director of Operations and Infrastructure. “This experience will serve us well as we continue to engage our community in building offshore wind energy, supporting more solar and storage capacity, and developing new community microgrids.”

Part of a growing trend

The unique collaboration between RCAM project partners has resulted in both technical and policy innovations. RCAM is the model for PG&E’s Community Microgrid Enablement Program – which provides technical assistance and cost offsets for community microgrid deployment. Additionally, PG&E’s Microgrid Incentive Program, expected to launch later this year, will leverage a $200 million statewide fund dedicated to deploying clean energy microgrids, to support the critical needs of vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities.

“The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid represents the culmination of many years of research, innovation, and collaboration by the world’s leading microgrid experts. Thanks to their hard work, microgrids now play a key role in PG&E’s ongoing efforts to harden our electrical system and enhance local grid resilience throughout Northern and Central California,” says Jason Glickman, Executive Vice President, Engineering, Planning and Strategy, PG&E. “We know how much our customers and communities need reliable energy, and this system not only increases local reliability, but it serves as the foundation for a replicable and scalable model for widely deploying multi-customer microgrids across PG&E’s service area, giving communities a new tool to take a more active role in securing their resilience and clean energy goals.”

Next steps for the North Coast

“RCEA’s goal is to provide our customers with 100% carbon-free electricity by 2025, and 100% local carbon-free electricity by 2030. This project is a major milestone for our clean energy and resilience efforts,” says Matthew Marshall, Executive Director of RCEA. RCEA works closely with schools, fire departments, Native American Tribes, and other local agencies to support community resilience across the North Coast.

Renewable energy microgrids are uniquely suited to help rural Tribes and other communities adapt to climate change and simultaneously mitigate future climate impacts. The Schatz Center is partnering with a number of Tribes in Northern California to support their clean energy, resilience, and climate response efforts.

Cal Poly Humboldt also recently began design of a renewable energy microgrid to support campus resilience through clean generation. This microgrid will be part of the university’s sustainability framework, and will enable students in engineering, environmental sciences, and other programs to gain hands-on experience with innovative climate-friendly technologies. 

More information

• Learn more about RCAM and join the grand celebration of the project completion on Wednesday, June 22 and request an RCAM site tour: https://redwoodenergy.org/rcam/
• Learn more about RCAM and other microgrids being developed by the Schatz Center: schatzcenter.org/microgrids
• Explore PG&E’s Community Microgrid Enablement Program: pge.com/cmep

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About the Schatz Center

Since 1989, the Schatz Center has produced groundbreaking, renewable energy solutions that reduce climate change and pollution while increasing energy access and resilience. Located on the campus of Cal Poly Humboldt, the Schatz Center’s research efforts include microgrids, offshore wind, off-grid energy access, carbon life cycles, clean transportation, and more. The Center works closely with state agencies, local government, and Tribal nations in California, as well as with the World Bank Group, CLASP, IKEA Foundation, and others to support international energy access and resilience. Learn more at schatzcenter.org

About RCEA

Established in 2003, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority is a local government joint powers agency whose members include the County of Humboldt, the seven cities within the county, and the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. The Energy Authority’s purpose is to develop and implement sustainable energy initiatives that reduce energy demand, increase energy efficiency, and advance the use of clean, efficient, and renewable resources available in the region. For more info, visit redwoodenergy.org

About PG&E

PG&E, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On June 5, 2022, at about 7:30 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the area of the Herrick Avenue turnout observed a pickup truck matching the description of a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Fortuna. 

Deputies confirmed the vehicle to be stolen and conducted a traffic stop in the area of Tooby Road, near Humboldt Hill. Deputies contacted and detained two individuals. During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a stolen chainsaw.

The driver of the vehicle, 35-year-old Jesse Curtis Hiller, was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle (PC496d(a)) and possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)), in addition to warrant charges of violation of probation.

The passenger of the vehicle was released at the scene.

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.

From the California Highway Patrol:

On 06/06/2022, at approximately 1615 hours, Davis was riding his bicycle northbound on McKinleyville Avenue, approaching Hiller Road. Davis stopped at the stop sign at the intersection, and observed a vehicle he described as a silver, newer, “boxy” van with dark tinted windows approaching the intersection from westbound Hiller Road. Davis observed the vehicle slowing, and proceeded into the intersection. The vehicle failed to come to a stop, and proceeded through the intersection, colliding with Davis, knocking him to the ground, and resulting in injuries to his shoulder and leg. After the crash, the driver of the vehicle briefly exited her vehicle, looked at Davis lying on the ground, and then fled the scene of the crash westbound on Hiller Road. Davis described the driver of the vehicle as a dark complected woman in her mid to late 30s, with long black hair, wearing a floral pattern dress. Davis continued to his residence where he contacted CHP to report the crash. He was subsequently transported, via ambulance, to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Humboldt CHP is requesting assistance from the public to locate the vehicle involved in this crash, and identify the driver. If you have any information regarding this crash, please contact the Humboldt Area CHP, Attn: Officer Telloian at 707-822-5981 or the Humboldt Communication Center at 707-268-2000.