Press release from the Yurok Tribe:

To kick off the Annual Klamath Salmon Run in a good way, several Yurok families shared traditional prayers of gratitude this morning before dipping hand-carved salmon into the Pacific Ocean and taking the first steps of the 340-mile relay from the mouth of the Klamath River to its headwaters. “For millennia, the Klamath salmon supported our communities from the headwaters to the coast. As Tribes recover our roles as the caretakers of the Klamath and the dams are removed, I am optimistic about the future of the river and all of the people who depend on it,” said Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers.

“Actions taken today will affect the future of our people for many generations to come as it relates to our ability to maintain our way of life and identity so what better way to bring awareness to these important issues than to carry the torch during the annual salmon run using the energy, enthusiasm, and heart that our people have always shown in defending our rights and way of life. It’s very good to see,” added Joe Davis, the Hoopa Valley Tribe’s Chairman.

“The salmon have been the main food source for the Karuk People since time immemorial. I tip my cap to all, young and old, who are participating in the Klamath River Salmon Run to bring awareness to a river sick with pollution. I look forward to telling our Elders we will have salmon again, I look forward to telling our Youth we will have salmon for generations to come.,” said Karuk Chairman Russel “Buster” Attebery.

“The Klamath Salmon Run is always extremely empowering, but this year’s event is extra special because it is a celebration of our collective efforts to heal the river and our communities,” said Yurok citizen and event organizer Annelia Hillman. “There is finally hope that we will soon see wild salmon return the upper basin.”

Extending from Northern California to southeastern Oregon, the tribally organized four-day relay traces the pre-dam migratory path of adult Klamath salmon. From the river’s terminal end on the Yurok Reservation, the Salmon Run route travels through Hoopa and Karuk lands before it concludes at the headwater springs of the high mountain desert in Klamath Tribes of Oregon territory. The annual event draws hundreds of runners, including whole families, who complete specific sections of the relay. Throughout the four-day journey, tribal participants pray together, strengthen relationships and advocate for the river.

Tribal youth organized the first Klamath Salmon Run after the catastrophic fish kill in 2002 when poor water management decisions, coupled with the dams’ negative influence on river conditions, led to a disease outbreak which killed more than 60,000 adult salmon. Following the devastating fish kill, members of the four tribes launched a far-reaching campaign to remove the lower four Klamath River dams and solve the river’s water allocation issues. After 20 years of tireless advocacy and direct actions, the intertribal coalition is about to achieve its most ambitious objective. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the decommissioning of the four dams is nearly complete, which represents the last big step before removal can begin. Construction crews are prepared to start work when regulators give the greenlight later this year.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On May 11, 2022, at about 2:06 p.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the Myrtletown area, in the county’s jurisdiction of Eureka, conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by a known wanted felony warrant suspect.

Deputies contacted the driver, 27-year-old Damon Wade Rogers, and took him into custody without incident for his warrants. A male passenger was also detained. During a search of Rogers and his vehicle incident to arrest, deputies located approximately two grams of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia and items consistent with the sale of controlled substances. Deputies also located property stolen during a burglary of a Eureka home.

Rogers was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(a)) possession of a narcotic controlled substance (HS 11350), transportation/sale of a controlled substance (HS 11352(a)), possession of a controlled substance for sales (HS 11351) and possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364), in addition to warrant charges of possession of a narcotic controlled substance (HS 11350(a)), possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)), possession of cannabis (HS 11357(B)(2)), felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1), person prohibited in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)), possession of a billy club (PC 22210), possession of a switch blade knife (PC 21510), inflicting corporal injury on a spouse (PC 273.5(a)), prior felony conviction (PC 1203(e)(4)) and prior serious felony conviction enhancement (PC 667(b)-(i)).

The passenger 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.

Stephanie Sparrow
January 8, 1962-April 24, 2022

It is with saddened hearts that we announce the passing of Stephanie Sparrow.

She was the youngest daughter of 11 children, born January 8, 1962 to George and Bette Vallee. She passed away unexpectedly that Sunday morning in her sleep.

Stephanie lived all her life in Eureka. She attended Marshall Elementary K-6th and St. Bernard’s 7th-12th. During high school she was a cheerleader. Many people have commented on how you could always hear her cheer!

When she was young, her parents had a houseboat built at Trinity Lake. Many weeks were spent every summer on the houseboat creating a lifetime of fond memories.

Stephanie married Ed, her best friend and the love of her life, 40 years ago. Together they had two sons, Nathan and Joey, and a cat named Hank. She was active at Washington Elementary as a dedicated parent. Not only was she known as the “Popcorn Lady,” she was also a crossing guard. She continued to volunteer with the boys’ sports as they were growing up.

Stephanie was always willing to help with anything. No request was too large or too small. In recent years, she has overseen the snack bar at the 20/30 Park baseball field.

Steph had a larger-than-life personality. She brought so much energy and laughter to Thrifty Supply, where she worked as an important part of the office staff for 21 years. She would routinely ask the customers about their families and how they were doing. The customers and her coworkers adored her, as we all did.

Both Stephanie and Ed were big Giants fans. She was always current on the Giants’ latest trades and their current standings. If you didn’t know the information, she’d be sure you did.

Stephanie and Ed loved to hit the road and explore. This April, they had the opportunity to take a two-week road trip down to Arizona visiting family, friends and sites. As Stephanie put it, “We had the time of our lives, and we’re still in love each other.”

Stephanie is predeceased by both her parents, her brother Terry and his son Preston, and another nephew Matthew. In lieu of flowers, there has been a GoFundMe page set up to help Ed and the boys with expenses: Stephanie Sparrow and Family.

Stephanie impacted the hearts of those throughout the community. Friends and family are invited to celebrate Stephanie’s life on Saturday, June 4th at the Moose Lodge in Eureka from 2-5 p.m. Cheerful and comfortable attire is requested. Please feel free to bring a story to share about this wonderful lady.

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Charles “Jack” Dore was born in Arden, Arkansas on October 31, 1925 to Gracie and Charlie Dore. He was the youngest of five children. His mother died when he was five and his father before he turned nine, causing him to bounce between family member’s homes, always working to help support himself. This started a life of hard work and providing for his family. Jack joined the army at a young age and saw combat in the Pacific during World War II.

He married Janice Bennett in 1950 and settled in Orick in a home they built themselves overlooking dairy pastures, Redwood Creek and the Pacific Ocean. It is here they raised their family of four kids, spending 56 years as part of the Orick community before moving to Rio Dell in 2006 to be closer to family.

Dad worked for Wolf Creek Logging and Cal Pacific Lumber until the Redwood National Park was established. That didn’t stop his work career as his talent of running logging equipment was sought after by smaller gyppo loggers. He was proud when he was brought out of retirement to help build the 101 bypass between Orick and Klamath. While working in the logging industry kept him busy, his spare time was filled with deer hunting and fishing which brought him joy and provided for his family.

Dad was preceded in death by his loving wife, Janice Dore, in 2019, after 68 years of marriage, son, Thomas Dore, and daughter, Teresa Lewis. Preceding him also were all of his siblings: Mandy Ruth, Frank Dore, Gertrude McMahan and Edith Hammons.

He leaves his daughter Kathie (Dave) Bugbee, son Frank (Pam) Dore, son-in-law Rick Lewis and grandchildren Jackie (Joe) Eldridge, Monica Lewis, Marci (Dan) Schultz, Lindsey (Ryan) Kleiner, Katie (Charles) Ellebrecht, Jessica (Nick) Guest, Frank (Katie) Dore, Heather (Mike) Jager and Aubrea Fritz. He also leaves behind his beloved great grandchildren, Mackenzie and Madison Eldridge, Hallie Pitts, Austin Ellebrecht, Lavender Guest, Clark and Wyatt Schultz, Avery and Amelia Dore, and Adeline and Etta Mae Kleiner.

Dad went to heaven on May 2, 2022. We would like to thank Dolly, DeeDee and the staff, especially the memory unit, of Frye’s Care Home who cared lovingly for dad for the last three years. Also a big thanks to the VA Home Based Primary Care Program, especially Rebecca, Julie and Francie who blessed us with medical advice and gave Dad the best coordinated medical care possible. Lastly, we would like to thank Hospice of Humboldt for their compassionate care during his final days. A family graveside service will be held to honor our beloved Dad.

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Back in April, emergency department staff at Providence St. Joseph Hospital experienced a dramatic uptick in workplace violence, forcing administrators to implement 24/7 security and initiate de-escalation training for hospital staff. 

Dr. Roberta Luskin-Hawk, chief executive for Providence in Humboldt County, largely attributed the surge in violence to patients struggling with mental illness and increasing substance abuse.

“We are seeing more and more patients with behavioral health issues,” Luskin-Hawk told the Outpost. “…Workplace violence has been increasing across the country for a couple of years now…but it definitely increased in April. Any single event is unacceptable, but what we’ve seen recently really requires a call to action.” 

St. Joe’s is not alone. Verbal threats and physical assaults against healthcare workers have risen sharply across the country since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), 44 percent of the organization’s member nurses reported physically violent behavior from a patient during the pandemic and 68 percent reported verbal abuse. 

Lesley Ester, Chief Nurse Representative for the California Nurses Association, said the incidences of abuse at St. Joe’s “run the gamut from profanity-laden threats of violence to spitting, biting, slapping, kicking, shoving [and] punching.”

“The increase in both mental health crises and substance abuse in our county has led to additional [emergency department] visits for behavioral health reasons during the pandemic,” Ester told the Outpost. “…Some of them are put on psychiatric holds for their own safety. But truly, we don’t have the resources in our [emergency department] to give the type of mental health treatment that they need. This is a crisis for Humboldt County.”

Many of these patients are being taken to the hospital on a 5150 hold which allows an adult who is experiencing a mental health crisis to be involuntarily detained for a 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization when evaluated to be gravely disabled, a danger to others, or to themselves. When COVID hit, the evaluation process was performed by a Sempervirens clinician working remotely.

Before the pandemic, individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in Humboldt County would be taken directly to Sempervirens. When COVID hit, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) implemented a mitigation plan that required all patients on a 5150 hold to receive medical clearance and COVID testing from St. Joe’s emergency department before being admitted to Sempervirens.

“If you have a patient who has mental health issues, you would want them to be in a nice calm environment with mental health workers,” Luskin-Hawk said. “We’re not a designated [psychiatric] facility, but we do our best to stabilize them.”

DHHS Behavioral Health Director Emi Botzler-Rodgers said the uptick in violence in the emergency department “is related in part to individuals with mental illness and in part to other factors, including individuals needing to be detained or arrested and decreased capacity at the jails.”

In fact, 5150s have actually gone down in the last year. In 2021, the Eureka Police Department averaged nearly 20 5150 holds per month compared to about 13 holds so far this year.

“This type of violence was happening prior to COVID at the [emergency departments] and at [Sempervirens],” Botzler-Rodgers told the Outpost. “It is currently happening in other counties throughout California and is a terrible and traumatizing problem in many communities. It is confounded by the profound lack of beds and placement options throughout California that are available for individuals needing treatment and support for mental illness.”

The county is working with elected officials and community partners to create both short and long-term solutions to the mental health crisis. Immediate strategies include the return to in-person evaluation of patients in the emergency department, reallocating staffing resources to increase bed capacity at Sempervirens to 16 and working with local hospitals to find funding to hire support staff for positions Sempervirens is unable to immediately fill, Botzler-Rogers said. They’re also working to loosen COVID mitigation requirements, such as accepting an antigen test instead of a PCR and working with emergency departments and the jail to streamline medical clearance processes.

To address 5150 holds specifically, the county is making training available to emergency department doctors that would allow them to rescind a 5150 hold and expedite the clearing process when appropriate. The county is also working with local law enforcement to allow mental health professionals to respond to and stabilize an individual before they are put on a hold.

“Longer-term strategies include the establishment of two local crisis residential treatment facilities,” Botzler-Rogers said. “Sorrel Leaf Healing Center for youth has purchased property on Indianola Road, and the adult facility, to be operated by Willow Glen, is actively seeking a site to provide services. There have also been conversations with St. Joseph’s around a triage center that we are committed to providing resources for when a viable location that meets regulatory requirements is identified.”

Along with implementing 24/7 security at the hospital and providing training in emergency psychiatric management for emergency department staff, Luskin-Hawk said Providence will continue to work with local law enforcement and community stakeholders to ensure staff and patient safety.

“We’re entering this phase now of looking at all of the mental health consequences of [COVID] and we have to respond as a country and as a community,” she said. “…When our caregivers are impacted, it affects all of our emergency services. …We need to be fully able to respond which means that the rest of our community stakeholders need to do their fair share around mental health. It’s not just small interventions, it’s a global look at how we can do better. We’re starting to do this but we absolutely need to come together.”

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On May 10, 2022, at about 11:47 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 1700 block of Sigma Road in McKinleyville for the report of a burglary.

An adult female victim told dispatchers that she had arrived home to find a family member, 39-year-old David Michael Petersen, had forced entry into her residence without permission. Petersen reportedly threatened the victim with a machete. The victim was able to flee to safety and contact law enforcement. The victim did not sustain physical injury as a result of this incident.

Deputies arrived at the residence, located Petersen and took him into custody without incident.

Petersen was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm (PC 245(a)(1)), burglary (PC 459/461(a)) and criminal threats (PC 422).

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.

A racial equity organization is announcing a new fund that will help Native American communities preserve tribal history and further California’s effort to atone for its history of violence and wrongdoing against Native Americans.

The Decolonizing Wealth Project, an Indigenous and Black-led organization, will distribute $500,000 of to California Indigenous communities and nonprofits. It’s to support storytelling and healing, said Carlos Rojas Alvarez, director of executive affairs and strategic initiative.

The money comes from the California Endowment, the Christensen Fund, and from the foundation supporting the Decolonizing Wealth Project, based in New York.

The Project has partnered with The California Truth & Healing Council, which Gov. Gavin Newsom established in 2019, he said, to “clarify the record – and provide their historical perspective – on the troubled relationship between tribes and the state.”

The Council on Truth & Healing is expected to release a report on the historical relationship between the state and California Native Americans by 2025. It may include recommendations to the Legislature about reparations or restoration of land for Native communities.

“California must reckon with our dark history,” Newsom said at the time. “We can never undo the wrongs inflicted on the peoples who have lived on this land that we now call California … but we can work together to build bridges, tell the truth about our past and begin to heal deep wounds.”

The country’s first such council, it is comprised of 12 members of Indigenous tribes from across the state and is led by the state’s Tribal Advisor Christina Snider, a lawyer and member of the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians.

Newsom in his executive order issued a formal apology for the state’s history of violence, and disenfranchisement of Native Americans. He referred to the 1850 Act for the Government and Protection of Indians, which removed Indigenous people from their land and legalized separating families and enslaving them.

Now the Decolonizing Wealth Project has set a goal to “promote Native history and personal narratives as truth and to record the history, which clarifies and corrects the historical record that we have right now,” Alvarez said.

He added the group hopes to raise more than $5 million to provide grants to Indigenous communities across the state. Among other things, the funds would pay for digitizing tribal oral histories and documenting tribal land loss for research and for Land Back initiatives, an Indigenous-led movement to restore land to the original stewards.

“We’re really hoping it will reach Native American communities, tribes and families directly,” he said. “That can include applying for transportation, lodging, child care, meeting space, or any other barriers that they could face engaging in this important process.”

Indigenous tribes and nonprofits can begin applying for grants of $5,000 to $50,000 in two rounds, in July and October, Alvarez said.

“We believe that we have a unique and historic opportunity, given that California is a state that is leading the way on truth and healing with Native communities,” he said.

“We hope that not only will a rich and diverse group of California Native American communities engage with the process and shape it — including the recommendations that come out — but that they are resourced to do that. Hopefully it will be a catalyst for truth and healing processes across the country.”

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