Susan Marie Strickler-Tustison passed away peacefully on February 27, 2022, after a long hospitalization with COVID. She was surrounded with love from her family and friends, and she will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She was 59 years old at the time of her passing.

Susie was born at the Mission Hospital in Huntington Park, California on Sept. 26, 1962. She lived with her parents, Sandy and Ed Strickler, and her sister Shirlie in Pico Rivera for one year. Then the family moved to Fullerton, where Susie spent her entire childhood. She attended the Fullerton schools, receiving her High School Certificate of Proficiency at the age of 16. She then attended classes at Fullerton College.

Throughout her life she was sweet, kind, friendly and cheerful. She loved animals of all kinds. Her first job was at the Tropical Fish and Bird Store in Fullerton and she later worked at a Flower Shop in Whittier. She raised prize winning Guinea Pigs with the 4-H club and raised a pig at Sunny Hills High School. She had a horse and always dogs, cats, fish and birds and later in life chickens and even peacocks.

Susie always had a passion for music. She set out with her musician sweetheart Rick Tustison in 1983 at age 20. Their plan was to leave Southern California and drive north “until it gets pretty”. They landed in Humboldt County, and spent some time living in their car at Pamplin Grove campground, and in Eureka. Susie loved the natural beauty of the area and especially the redwood forests. Eventually they moved into their new home on the outskirts of Eureka towards Freshwater.

In 1984, Susie and Rick got married and had their first daughter, Angela. They also moved into a new place closer to Freshwater, where they would live for the next 18 years. In December of 1988 they had their second daughter, Chelsea. Susie was a very loving and dedicated mother. She taught her children to respect all living things, to be kind and to see people without judgement. She always cared deeply about animals, the environment and other people.

Susie was often introverted and could be self conscious, but she was good at making friends. The people who knew her could tell that she was a good, kindhearted person. She enjoyed singing, and she and Rick would often have their friends over to sing together while Rick played his guitar. Susie especially loved songs with good lyrics, and she enjoyed these evenings of laughing and singing with her friends and family.

Susie was very artistic. She loved drawing, painting, and sculpting with fimo clay, and she would try out any type of art or craft project she could get supplies for. She would create beautiful pieces to sell each year at the holiday boutique at Freshwater Elementary School. She fostered a love of the arts and music in her children from a very young age and encouraged each of their special talents.

In July of 1999, Susie and Rick had their third child, Sullivan. Susie always did her best to make life fun for her children. She would sing silly songs around the house, come up with fun projects, and was very engaged with their interests. During the summertime each year, she would take the kids to visit her family in Southern California. Some of her favorite places to go were Disneyland and Catalina Island. She always enjoyed sharing these parts of her childhood with her kids. She also enjoyed long summer camping trips in the redwoods at Swimmer’s Delight with her family.

In 2002, Susie and her family moved to Trinidad. While she lived there she enjoyed gardening and spending time outside. She liked having kids around, and she was always happy to have Sullivan’s friends over. As the years passed, she began to struggle with her mental health. This and other issues caused tension in her relationship, and eventually she and Rick parted ways.

After leaving Trinidad, she lived in her van for about a year before moving into an apartment in Arcata with her dog, Laddie. She enjoyed visits from her children and grandchildren, as well as lots of friends. After the time spent living in her van, she had plenty of empathy for other people who didn’t have housing of their own, and she often let her friends stay with her in the apartment. This and other issues ended up with her losing the apartment.

Susie spent the last 12 years of her life homeless. She met her partner Robert Ganfield shortly after leaving the apartment, and they camped together in Mckinleyville near the Hammond Trail. She had lots of friends in the area that she visited with often, and there was never any shortage of love for her. Many aspects of homeless life were very hard for her, but she took joy in the simple things. She could often be found pedaling her tricycle down the trail or sitting in the grass, enjoying the sunshine, picking flowers or listening to music and dancing.

Susie was always thoughtful and kindhearted. She was a truly beautiful person. Her love and acceptance for the people around her, her deep caring about living creatures and the environment, and her cheerful, fun loving spirit were some of the many admirable qualities she possessed. She had a wonderful and profound influence on her children, family and friends. It’s hard to imagine a world without her.

Susan is preceded in death by her grandparents, Nelson and Lorraine Smith, her father Ed Strickler, and many animal companions. She is survived by her children Angie, Chelsea and Sullivan Tustison, her grandchildren Daymond and Daphany Brown, her mother Sandy Trusley, her sister Shirlie Jones, her partner Robert Ganfield, her lifelong friend/ sister Karen Clark, her Aunt and Uncle Sally and Ben Waldrop, her neices and nephew Penny, Jamie and Brady, and too many friends to count. Susie cared a lot about animals, the environment, and other people. If anyone would like to make a donation in her honor, donations can be made to Redwood Pals Rescue, EPIC, Arcata House Partnership, or another similar charity of choice.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Susie’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Robert L. McAfee passed away peacefully at his home in Eureka on March 27, 2022 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born to Roscoe and Gladys McAfee in Brawley, California on June 14, 1952, Robert attended Mulberry school and was a graduate of Brawley Union High School, class of 1971.  Robert worked for Pinner & Sons before he moved to Eureka and married his wife Stephanie Miller on December 10, 1988. Robert worked for Eureka Redi Mix and Mercer-Fraser. Robert greatly enjoyed his travels to Mexico with Stephanie, friendships with many wonderful friends and colleagues, music, great food and wine, and collecting art. His kindness and friendship will be greatly missed, and he will always be admired for his strength and loving spirit.  

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Robert’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Howard Stroud Penn, age 95 of Fortuna, died on February 6, 2022, of a COVID-related illness.

Howard is survived by Gail Pelascini (daughter), Andrea Pelascini (granddaughter), his sister Sibyl Spencer, and Scott and Esther Dungan (nephew). He was preceded in death by his wife Billee, brothers Stanley, Marshall, Larry, Greg, and William.

Howard was born on March 8, 1926 in Ontario, Oregon to parents Stella and Themis. He attended school in Ontario. He served two years in the Navy from 1944 - 1946. After the Navy, he moved to Humboldt County. He worked on a dairy in Ferndale for several years before taking a position with Pacific Lumber Co. where he worked for almost forty years as a catskinner.

He married Billee Dungan in 1950. Howard Penn was a great family man and a loving father. Howard enjoyed woodworking, reading, talking with folks, people watching and old westerns featuring John Wayne. His family and friends will always remember him as a kindhearted, generous person who knew no strangers and had no enemies.

Graveside service will be held at the Hydesville I.O.O.F. Cemetery, 3630 A Street, Hydesville, CA on Sunday, May 15 at noon. A Celebration of Life will be held from 1pm-4pm following the graveside service at the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department at 320 South Fortuna Blvd. Fortuna, CA.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department, 320 S. Fortuna Blvd, Fortuna, CA 95540 or the Walker Bailey American Legion Post 205, PO Box 205, Fortuna, CA.

PREVIOUSLY: Supervisors Approve 320-Unit McKay Ranch Subdivision in Cutten Despite Developer’s Refusal to Make Any Project Modifications

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A coalition of environmental groups has issued a letter to the county demanding additional mitigation measures for the North McKay Ranch subdivision, a large-scale mixed-use development approved by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors last month.

The letter was sent on behalf of six nonprofit environmental organizations: the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), Humboldt Baykeeper, the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities, the Northcoast Environmental Center, 350 Humboldt and San Francisco-based EarthJustice. 

The organizations say that by approving the project’s Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), the county violated state environmental law by failing to adequately analyze project impacts and refusing to require the developer, Kurt Kramer, to implement feasible mitigation measures such as all-electric new construction.

Regarding that latter allegation, the letter says, “There is no legitimate basis for the County’s refusal to approve this feasible mitigation measure, which both addresses the climate emergency and allows for new construction that in most cases is more economic than mixed-fuel homes due to avoided gas line installation costs.”

The letter says that if the Board of Supervisors certifies the project’s FEIR, it will place the county “in legal jeopardy.”

At its March 22 meeting, the board directed staff to negotiate additional conditions, including one that would allow the developer to make improvements to pedestrian and bicycle connectivity rather than installing the two traffic lights.

The environmental groups note that final action on the project is currently scheduled for the board’s meeting this Tuesday, and they urge the board to act.

“We write to clearly and unequivocally demand additional feasible mitigation measures including a prohibition on gas connections to the Project’s buildings that are necessary and required to reduce the [greenhouse gas], energy, and public health impacts resulting from the Project’s current reliance on methane gas,” the letter says.

You can read the full thing via the link below:

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DOCUMENT: Comment Letter on Final EIR for the North McKay RanchProject

In a special meeting Monday morning, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to censure Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez over the findings of a recent independent investigation, which concluded that she’d engaged in retaliatory, harassing and/or bullying behavior.

The investigation also found that Paz Dominguez’s financial decisions have increased staff workload and caused financial losses to the county. A staff report for today’s hearing says a prior independent investigation into workplace misconduct, in 2018, reached similar conclusions. 

County Administrative Officer Elishia Hayes explained to the board that a censure offers them an opportunity to reprimand Paz Dominguez, who, as an elected official, is not subject to the county’s typical progressive discipline measures. 

“This is your board saying publicly that you don’t agree with the way the auditor-controller interacts with staff and believe her to be in violation of our abusive conduct policy,” Hayes said.

Prior to the vote, a number of department heads, including the district attorney, the sheriff, the director of public works and the director of planning and building, offered pointed criticisms of Paz Dominguez and urged the board to act. 

Paz Dominguez herself was not in attendance, though as First District Supervisor Rex Bohn noted early on, her re-election campaign published a video to YouTube on Sunday in which she addresses some of the relevant matters.

Set to the kind of goofball music that might accompany a collection of sports bloopers, the video shows Paz Dominguez at a desk, reading from a heavily redacted copy of the 2018 investigation. She mocks the report’s spelling errors, its abundance of redactions and a selection of the employee allegations contained within. 

Bohn said the video seemed demeaning to the employee who filed a grievance in 2018. (Hayes later said three employee complaints were filed in 2018 while another seven complaints were investigated during the recent inquiry. All 10 were substantiated, she said.) Bohn also defended the level of redactions, saying they were necessary to protect employee rights and avoid the type of retaliation described in the reports’ findings.

Under questioning from the board, Hayes said she and her predecessor, Amy Nilsen, have made numerous attempts to improve matters in the Auditor-Controller’s Office, bringing in mentors, professional training services and outside accounting firms in hopes of improving communication and helping the office complete outstanding tasks.

Board Chair Virginia Bass noted that the Auditor-Controller’s Office recently retained local consultant Danny Kelley of Edge Caliber to provide coaching on communication skills and organize a think tank. Bass noted that the contract for these services didn’t go through the county’s usual hiring practices and called that fact “ironic.”

Fleming

District Attorney Maggie Fleming called the day’s proceedings “sad,” adding that she greatly respects the auditor-controller’s mission — to ensure that county dollars are properly spent — and has worked “very hard” to support Paz Dominguez in that mission.

When problems in that office began to arise, Fleming said, she was happy to communicate with Paz Dominguez and even loaned her office “a highly capable staff person” of Paz Dominguez’s own choosing to help complete assignments. 

The only problem she has with that office, she said, is that things aren’t getting done. 

“In an effort to safeguard taxpayer dollars, reasonableness needs to apply,” Fleming said.

She went on to recount some negative experiences. In one example, Fleming explained when law enforcement officers seize assets from what they believe to be illegal drug activities, those assets are placed in a trust. If the original owner can prove that the assets came from a legitimate source, they must be returned. 

“Under the current auditor-controller, these simple actions became very problematic because the auditor-controller’s office questioned why the money would go back,” Fleming said. “We sent multiple emails explaining that it’s a straightforward, court-ordered process, but it took many months for [these actions] to become reasonably efficient.”

Another program calls for a percentage of seized funds to go back into the community to support organizations that offer positive activities for children. The DA’s Office has been trying since June to get the Auditor-Controller’s Office to set up the necessary trust fund account, sending multiple emails, but it has yet to be completed, Fleming said.

“I just want to say … I am 100 percent in favor of protecting taxpayer dollars, and our office will prosecute any county employees who steal or otherwise misuse county funds,” she said. But some processes are as straightforward as they appear, she added.

“Clearly the current situation needs improvement,” Fleming said. “I think that’s going to happen by focusing on facts and evidence, not by broad brush accusations. For example, I did not appreciate the broad brush accusation that county department heads have encouraged individual employees within their departments to complain. I would never do that because I only want to improve the situation.”

Ford

Planning and Building Director John Ford also lamented having to be there this morning, saying he and his employees have worked hard not to get embroiled in the negativity, but he agreed with Fleming that seemingly simple processes keep getting caught up in the Auditor-Controller’s Office. 

He also mentioned the challenges brought on by that office’s failure to complete the county’s single audit two years in a row, saying his department is now having to develop a budget based on estimated fund balances. 

“We haven’t been able to reconcile that for three years in a row,” Ford said.

He added that the county can’t apply for its allotted $4.4 million in Community Development Block Grant funding until that single audit is complete, and another $14.3 million in funding from the state’s Bureau of Cannabis Control has yet to be allocated because the A-C’s office hasn’t responded to emails seeking guidance.

Ford also mentioned a new payroll process that caused departed employees to continue getting paychecks after they’d left the county’s employ, and he added his own anecdote: “I personally still do not have a correct W2 [tax form],” he said. “It’s now April 4, 11 days before my taxes are due.”

Sheriff William Honsal echoed these concerns, saying it’s difficult to take on an issue when a colleague or subordinate is “failing to do their job.”

“This is going to be the third budget cycle now that we’re going [into] without knowing what the bottom line is,” Honsal said, adding that many important tasks of that office aren’t getting done, and payroll problems have only gotten worse since the function was moved back to Paz Dominguez’s office.

“Something needs to happen,” Honsal said. “You as a board need to do whatever you need to do to reestablish some consistency — making sure our bills get paid, making sure our vendors are properly paid, making sure our trust funds are properly taken care of.”

The sheriff said he reached out to Paz Dominguez before March 1, asking her to address any issues she may have about his office with him directly before going public with them. “And there was nothing,” he said. “No response back. And so that’s unprofessional.” He called Paz Dominguez’s presentation at the March 1 Board of Supervisors meeting a “public spectacle” and “inappropriate.”

Tom Mattson, the county’s public works director, said he’s never seen a situation like this in his 24 years with the county. Because the 2019-20 single audit has yet to be completed, his department alone has left $674,000 on the table while another $200,000 for basic road maintenance is being held, “which is extremely scary to the department because, as you are aware, the biggest bipartisan infrastructure bill that I’ve ever seen is sitting out there, getting ready to roll out programs.”

When the matter came back before the board, they reminded each other that the issue at hand was really the recent hostile workplace findings, though Hayes and Bass both said they’d like to start removing some of the un-mandated tasks from the Auditor-Controller’s Office.

Bass said she has personally witnessed hostility from that office. Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone said, “It’s critical that we treat each other with respect and also all of our staff. They deserve that respect.”

Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson, who attended via Zoom, said the board was really talking about just one issue today: the complaints filed by county workers. “We have employees that need that protection, and they need the representation in that regard,” he said.

But Bohn noted that the recent investigation also mentioned financial losses that have happened as a result of Paz Dominguez’s actions. He said he’s received many calls from county vendors who can’t get paid. 

“This has been a problem for three years now. … ,” he said. “There’s no getting along. The pattern of behavior is here.”

Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell addressed county department heads, saying, “I feel your frustrations and it creates such a terrible, stressful workplace when you don’t know whether you’re going to get answers, whether you’re going to get an email back, whether you can get into the office. And also to have your integrity questioned is not anything very comfortable to go through.”

Bohn wound up making the motion to pass the censure resolution and Bushnell seconded it. The vote was unanimous, 5-0.

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UPDATE, 4:09 p.m.:

The other major matter on the agenda Monday regarded the misconduct complaint against Bushnell that recently came to light following a Public Records Act request from the Outpost. You can read more about the complaint in our post from last week, but in essence it was a grievance filed by a county planner alleging that Bushnell interfered in the cannabis permitting process by advocating on behalf of an applicant while disregarding evidence of county code violations. 

Bushnell has denied the allegations and said she believed the dispute had been resolved in follow-up meetings.

The board today unanimously approved an amendment to its own code of conduct and ethics rules, changing the employee grievance process to allow complaints to be reviewed by a committee composed of the county administrative officer, the human resources director and county counsel.

That committee would evaluate the complaint to determine whether a formal investigation through a neutral third party is necessary. A staff report goes on to explain: 

Should an investigation be pursued and found to have substantiated findings, those findings would be presented to the Board of Supervisors in open session for consideration of a Vote of Censure. In addition, the revised policy offers an appeal process, should the complainant disagree with the committees determination of next steps. It is proposed that the appeal be considered by the Foreman of the Grand Jury.

The board unanimously agreed to implement this new policy, and in the process they asked the newly approved committee to investigate the allegation against Bushnell.

Reader submitted footage of the pursuit.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On April 3, 2022, at about 10:59 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 4700 block of Greenwood Heights Drive in Kneeland for a suspicious death investigation.

The reporting party told deputies that they had arrived at the residence to provide regularly scheduled caregiving assistance to the 28-year-old female resident of the home and was reportedly denied entry to the residence by a male subject. Following an argument between the two, the man reportedly assaulted the caregiver and fled in the female resident’s vehicle. The caregiver then located the female resident deceased inside the home. According to the caregiver, the man and decedent knew each other and had been spending time together in the days prior to this incident.

While responding to the residence, deputies observed the man driving the decedent’s vehicle in the Freshwater area. When deputies attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, the man failed to yield, and a pursuit ensued.

Deputies pursued the vehicle to the area of Fickle Hill Road, where the vehicle yielded, and the man fled on foot into the Arcata Community Forest.

Numerous law enforcement agencies responded to assist with the search for the man, utilizing multiple K9s and ATVs. Law enforcement personnel searched for several hours, however, did not locate the man.

The male subject remains outstanding at this time. He is only described as a white male adult, possibly known by the name “Austin.” He is approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, 130 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

There is no perceived threat to the community at this time, however, community members in the Fickle Hill area are encouraged to use caution if approached by any unknown individuals and report suspicious circumstances to your local law enforcement immediately.

The identity of the decedent is being withheld pending next of kin notification. A forensic autopsy is in the process of being scheduled.

This is an active investigation and more information will be released when available and appropriate. Anyone with information about the male subject or his whereabouts 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.

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

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On April 1, 2022, at about 10:30 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the Glendale area, near Blue Lake, conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation.

Thomas William Strader Jr. | HCSO

Deputies contacted the driver of the vehicle, 50-year-old Thomas William Strader Jr., who was found to be on Post Release Community Supervision with a search clause.

During a search of Strader and his vehicle, deputies located approximately 20.7 grams of cocaine, 30 pounds of cannabis packaged for sales (not registered through the California Cannabis Track and Trace (CCTT) system), 2.2 grams of methamphetamine, over a dozen Xanax pills and items consistent with the sale of controlled substances.

Strader Jr. was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sales (HS 11351), transportation/sale of a controlled substance (HS 11352(a)), possession of cannabis for sales (HS 11359(b)), possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(a)) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)(2)).

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.