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Press release from Caltrans:

State Route 299 Update:  SR 299 will OPEN tonight, Tuesday, 12/28, at 6:30 pm. It will be open to two-way traffic from east of Blue Lake to Willow Creek, use caution while driving. This is an active construction zone with many trees and downed lines alongside the roadway. Our contractor, Caltrans crews, PG&E, and other utilities have been working non-stop to get the highway open. 

Starting Wednesday, during daylight hours, there will be sections of one-way traffic control as crews continue to restore power lines and do tree work. Use caution and be patient as we restore the highway. 

State Route 96 Update: SR96 remains closed due to downed powerlines and trees. The highway is open to emergency vehicles and local traffic only.

Avoid travel in inclement weather if possible. Avoid parking on the side of the highway for the safety of the crews. 

For road information, visit QuickMap.dot.ca.gov (or the QuickMap app) or the Caltrans District 1 Facebook and Twitter pages.

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‘Twas three days after Christmas, when all through the house

Pine needles were strewn — some even got on my blouse.

The Christmas tree that we had decorated with care

Was beginning to dry out and the branches turn bare.

I wondered, “What the hell should I do with this damn tree?”

I know! I’ll check the list from Humboldt Waste Management Authority

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Here is a list of places to dispose of that tree, provided by HWMA:

With the holidays coming to a close, residents may once again dispose of their Christmas trees at several community locations at no-charge or may arrange for pick-up by their trash hauler. Residents are encouraged to recycle their Christmas trees so they may be processed into useful mulch or compost. This annual free Christmas Tree drop-off and recycling event is sponsored by HWMA, Humboldt Sanitation, Recology and Wes Green Company.

To prepare Christmas trees for recycling, residents must remove all decorations, including ornaments, hooks, garland, tinsel and lights.  Flocked trees may not be recycled.

Free Drop-Off & Recycling:

Arcata

Wes Green Company — 6360 West End Road.

 ​​Dates: Dec. 28 – Jan. 31​ 

Contact: 822-8035

Eureka

HWMA’s Hawthorne Street Transfer Station — 1059 West Hawthorne Street.

Dates: ​​Dec. 27th -Jan. 17th 

Contact: 268-8680

Ferndale

Ferndale Fairgrounds —1250 5th Street, Ferndale

Dates: ​​​​​Dec. 26-Jan. 5th​   Contact: 725-5156

McKinleyville

Humboldt Sanitation Transfer Station — 2585 Central Avenue, McKinleyville​​​Dates: Dec. 26-Jan. 16th​  Contact: 839-3285

Fortuna

Recology Eel River’s Fortuna Transfer Station​ — 965 Riverwalk, Fortuna

Dates: Dec. 26th -Jan. 15th​  Contact: 725-5156

Rio Dell

Rio Dell City Hall​​​​​ —675 Wildwood Ave, Rio Dell​​​​ (back parking lot)

Dates: Dec. 26th – Jan. 7th​   Contact: 764-3532

Curbside Collection​​​​:

Collection fee may apply, please contact

Humboldt Sanitation, ​​​​​​839-3285

Please call for pick up and inquire about pick up charges.

Recology, ​​​​​​​​442-5711

City of Arcata

Residential customers can schedule a bulky item pick-up to pick up unflocked trees on their regular pick-up days.

City of Eureka and Humboldt County Franchise Areas

If a customer has green waste service, Recology can pick unflocked trees up on their regular pick up day for no-charge. Customers without curbside green-waste services can request pick-up on Saturday, January 1st and January 8th for $5/tree.

The new year brings a raft of new laws for Californians. They’re likely to affect what your neighborhood looks like, how safe you feel, what recourse you have against discrimination — even how you take out your trash.

In 2021 the Legislature’s super-majority of Democrats sent Gov. Gavin Newsom hundreds of bills that he signed into law, including several with major consequences for Californians. Here’s a breakdown of 11 of those new laws taking effect in 2022, most of which lawmakers approved in the last session (a few videos cover more than one new law on the same subject).

Stripping bad cops of their badges

For decades, bad cops could skirt discipline by jumping from one California police force to another.

That’s about to change. Soon, being convicted of offenses like sexual assault and using excessive force will be enough to kick officers out of the profession in California.

Limiting single-family zoning, to create more housing

California has a critical housing shortage: The median home price broke $800,000 in 2021, and some experts say California needs about 3 million new homes for the growing population.

But for decades, strict zoning laws have allowed developers to build mostly single-family homes. With these two new laws, housing construction is going to look different.

Ban on even more secret settlements

Non-disclosure agreements — also called NDAs — are everywhere. They’re used in Hollywood; they’re used in tech. Sometimes, they’re used to settle claims of discrimination and harassment secretly.

Starting in 2022 that will be illegal in California.

Requiring composting — and limiting ‘recyclable’ labels

Let’s talk trash, California. This state has long fashioned itself as a “planet protector” — but in 2022 it’s taking it to a new level.

Two new laws aim to stop you from throwing food away in your regular garbage, and to stop products from carrying the chasing-arrow recycling symbol when they aren’t really recyclable.

Quicker mental health care follow-up

Even before the pandemic, Californians were increasingly concerned about mental health care: Surveys showed people thought such care was too hard to access, and that they had to wait too long for it. The recent surge in demand brought on by the pandemic has made this even worse.By law, health plans must offer initial mental health appointments within 10 business days. But some advocates say that’s not good enough if patients are then forced to wait weeks or months for follow-up care. This law aims to change that.

Cracking down on condom ‘stealthing’

Consent is paramount during any sexual act, and California law now gives victims of sexual battery more power to hold perpetrators accountable.This first-in-the-nation law tightens the definition of sexual battery to include non-consensual condom removal — a practice colloquially known as “stealthing.”

Minimum wage for garment workers

The people who shape and sew raw fabrics into clothing used to get paid by the amount they produced. That system worked well for the fashion industry, but meant garment workers were getting paid as little as $3 per hour.

This year lawmakers ended that practice.

Restricting what police can do to control protests

California is going to do more to protect protestors seeking police reform, and the reporters covering their demonstrations.

Both new laws come in response to chaotic scenes from protests in California and elsewhere following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

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CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Last night, the Sheriff’s Office announced via Facebook that Sheriff Billy Honsal has declared a state of emergency due to winter storms.

It said:

Sheriff William Honsal has declared a local emergency related to the ongoing life-threatening winter storm conditions and resulting damages experienced throughout Humboldt County.

Today’s Local Emergency Declaration allows for the county to seek state and federal reimbursement for damage repairs and other associated impacts. The County of Humboldt is requesting all available response and recovery assistance from the State of California as deemed appropriate by Governor Newsom, including funding under the California Disaster Assistance Act and the federal Stafford Act.

DID YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS SUSTAIN STORM-RELATED DAMAGES? Please complete the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services’damage report form to allow for an accurate calculation of total cost and scope of damage:

Sheriff’s deputies continue to assist with citizen rescues and emergency response related to the winter storm. If you or someone you know is trapped in their home or vehicle and has medical or other emergency needs requiring assistance, please contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251.

Highway 299 is still closed east of Blue Lake. Highway 36 is open to the Central Valley, but chains are required in several stretches.

The Sheriff’s Office says that it has been working to extract people from their snow-bound homes since things became socked in, and notes that the American Red Cross has set up a shelter in Willow Creek for people whose houses have become uninhabitable due to weather conditions. (UPDATE: The shelter has been moved to Trinity Valley Elementary School.)

It’s with great sadness that the family of Ryan Moore announce his unexpected passing on Sunday, November 21, 2021. He passed quietly with family and friend by his side. He was 38 years old.

Ryan was a lifelong resident of Eureka, born on February 28, 1983, the son of Donna Moore. He was the youngest of 4 children. He is survived by his son Relic Bowers; mother, Donna Moore; sisters, Tracy Garcia Nystrom and Shannon Stewart Lindholm; and brother Robert Moore. He will always be remembered as our chubby cheeked little brother.

Ryan had many nieces and nephews who he adored. As they were growing up, he was always willing to help babysit them, help with homework, or hanging out with them.

A 2002 graduate of Eureka Sr. High and former Loggers football player, Ryan was affectionately nick named “Rhino” Moore. Ryan loved playing soccer in his younger years and later went on to love & play football. Ryan always spoke fondly of his years playing the sport he loved.

People who knew Ryan know he was an extremely hard-working man who was always willing to go out of his way to help someone in need. Schmidbauer, Ori & Mac, and the Fence Doctor were a few of the jobs he held over the years.

Family members gathered after his passing to recollect special memories of Ryan. He was taken from us too soon and will be greatly missed. Thank you to first responders and the staff at St. Joseph Hospital.

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Judge Gregory Elvine-Kreis has denied a defense motion to suppress evidence gathered by a Humboldt sheriff’s sergeant during a federal raid on Arcata rancher Ray Christie’s property in October.

Elvine-Kreis said Sgt. Josh McCall had the right to collect evidence after spotting dead and dying animals on the ranch, even though he and other local officers did not have their own warrant to search the property. They had been asked to assist federal agents, who conducted the raid looking for evidence that Christie committed wire fraud or mail fraud.

Specified duties for the local officers included establishing a perimeter on the ranch on Jackson Ranch Road, escorting federal agents onto the property and securing all buildings on the ranch.

It was when McCall was in the process of securing the property that he spotted several dead or dying animals in a pen. Other animals in poor condition were found in the barn.

“Is that why you decided to look at other animals?” Deputy District Attorney Steven Steward asked McCall while he was testifying during today’s hearing.

“Yes,” McCall said. “I thought there could be other animals on the property in the same condition.”

Over the next few hours, McCall proceeded to film 16 videos and take 27 photographs at the ranch. The evidence was turned over to the prosecution, and Steward plans to use it during Christie’s second trial on animal cruelty charges.

Steward said after the hearing that he does not intend to file additional charges against Christie. Instead, the information will be presented as character evidence during the trial.

Lead defense attorney Rick Richmond argued McCall collected evidence with no warrant and no authority.

“Everything he did was unconstitutional,” Richmond told the judge. He said local officers were tasked with specific duties, and they did not include conducting their own investigation. In fact, Richmond said, the lead federal agent told them not to take photographs.

During the raid, McCall called Steward at the DA’s Office to tell him what was going on. He said Steward asked him to document what he found.

“Did you say ‘I’ve got probable cause, will you go get me a warrant?’ “ Richmond asked.

“No.”

Richmond brought up the fact that Christie buys cows in poor condition, and those cows come from other ranches. Yet those ranchers aren’t being investigated. Also, the sickly cows are bought at the Fortuna auction, yet the auction isn’t being investigated.

Elvine-Kreis, in ruling that McCall acted legally, said “You can’t ask an officer who’s there to assist to turn a blind eye … once he’s there he can’t ignore his obligation.”

The judge said he believed McCall acted in “good faith.”

Richmond responded that the local officers weren’t acting in good faith at all.

“I think they were doing everything they could to find evidence that Ray Christie committed a crime,” he said.

Christie was already tried once and convicted of numerous misdemeanor charges of dumping cattle carcasses within 150 feet of state waters. But the jury deadlocked on four felony counts of animal cruelty, with only one juror refusing to convict.

The next trial, scheduled to begin Jan. 31, will focus only on the animal cruelty charges. But evidence gathered during the March 2018 raid that led to those charges in now in question. Richmond has filed a motion to dismiss the charges because, he says, “most of the evidence has been lost or destroyed.”

Elvine-Kreis will hear the motion to dismiss on Jan. 7.

With that and other legal issues unresolved, Richmond is expected to file a motion to delay the trial.

Elvine-Kreis is brand-new to the Christie case. He said he received it on Friday. Judge Christopher Wilson presided for almost three years, but judges were recently assigned different duties.

As to the federal investigation of possible wire fraud or mail fraud, as yet no federal charges have been filed.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Cops Raid Notorious Ranch in the Arcata Bottoms; Rancher Ray Christie Arrested at the Scene
• More Than 250 Dead Cows Found on Ray Christie’s Properties, Says HCSO; Numerous Other Alleged Violations Discovered
• Humboldt-Del Norte Cattlemen’s Association Calls Ray Christie’s Ranch ‘Horrific,’ Says Anyone Convicted of Animal Abuse Should be Punished to the ‘Greatest Extent Possible’
• Judge Says Ray Christie, Arcata Rancher Accused of Animal Cruelty, Can Still Own Livestock For Now
• Rancher Ray Christie Held to Answer for Three Felony Charges of Animal Abuse; Four Charges Dropped After Investigating Deputy’s Testimony Was Compromised
• Arraignment for Accused Animal Abuser Ray Christie Postponed; Goose Still in Custody
• Judge Reverses Own Decision in Christie Animal Cruelty Case; Arraignment Set For Next Month
• Calling State Law ‘Unconstitutional,’ Attorneys for Rancher Ray Christie Ask Judge to Throw Out Case Involving Hundreds of Cattle Carcasses Found on His Land
• Ray Christie’s Lawyer Says: First They Came For Ray Christie, and You Did Not Speak Out Because You are a Vegetarian
• CHRISTIE CASE: Judge Denies Defense Motion; Rules That Case Against Rancher Accused of Animal Cruelty, Cattle Corpse-Dumping May Proceed
• TODAY in COURT: Trial of Rancher Raymond Christie Set to Start Later This Month; Torture, Murder Suspect Declines to Show for Hearing
• ‘Nothing But a Show’ Rancher Ray Christie’s Attorney Says After Jury Shown Images of Numerous Dead or Dying Cows
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Defense Attorney Attacks Investigating Deputy’s Credibility
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Prosecutors Allege Rancher Illegally Removed Tags From Cattle to Pass Them Off as ‘Organic’
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: While Witnesses Testify to Stacks and Stacks of Carcasses Found, Defense Wonders Whether Cattle May Have Been Killed by Wild Animals or Poisonous Plants
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Wildlife Warden Testifies to Carcasses Floating in Sloughs as Defense Gets Ready to Make its Case
• TODAY in COURT: Teen Murder Suspect Will Not Be Tried as an Adult; Christie Jurors Get Day Off
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: First Defense Witness, Ray Christie’s Cowhand, Testifies That Someone Must Have Dropped Off Dead Cattle in the Middle of the Night
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: After Showing Jurors Some Drone Footage, the Defense Rests its Case
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Prosecution Rests; Ranch Hand Testifies He Was Ordered to Remove Cow Eartags
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: In Closing Arguments, Prosecutor Implores Jury to Hold Defendant Accountable for ‘Grossly Inadequate’ Management of Ranches
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: After the Defense’s Two-Hour Closing Argument, the Case is in the Hands of the Jury
• Juror Replaced in Christie Trial; Deliberation to Continue Into Next Week
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Jurors Deliberate All Day For Third Day in a Row, Ask Questions of Judge, Still Can’t Reach Verdict
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Still No Verdict in Local Rancher Animal Cruelty Case! Jury Asks to Re-Hear Veterinarian Testimony
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Day Five of Jury Deliberations Pass With No Verdict; Prosecutors Sick
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Day Six of Jury Deliberations, Still No Verdict
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Misconduct or Mistrial? One Juror Refuses to Deliberate or Follow the Law, Other Members Tell Judge; Unknown Whether a Mistrial Will be Declared or Possible Rogue Juror Replaced
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Jurors Scheduled to Return to Deliberations Tomorrow Morning
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Judge Dismisses Apparently Rogue Juror; Deliberations to Start All Over Again With Alternate
• CHRISTIE TRIAL: Hung Jury Declared After One Juror Out of 12 Declines to Convict Accused Rancher
• RETRIAL: Following Hung Jury, Rancher Ray Christie Will be Retried on Four Felony Counts in February, Prosecutor Says
• Christie Retrial on Felony Animal Cruelty Charges Pushed Back to May; Defense Anticipates Filing Motion to Dismiss
• TODAY in COURT: Trial Date Set for Man Accused of Stabbing Another Outside Arcata Bar; Latest on Rancher’s Animal Cruelty Retrial, Eureka Attorney Accused of Trafficking
• Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Felony Animal Cruelty Charges Against Arcata Rancher Ray Christie
• Rancher Ray Christie’s Attorney Asks For Yet Another New Trial On Top of His Client’s Already Impending Retrial
• Ray Christie Fires Colorful, Outspoken Southern California Attorney Two Days Before Trial
• Ready or Not, Ray Christie is Going to Trial in October
• Rancher Ray Christie Equipped With New Los Angeles-Based Lawyer, Who Again Asks for More Time to Prepare for Trial
• CHRISTIE RETRIAL: Misdemeanor Charges Dropped Against Arcata Rancher Accused of Animal Cruelty
• Arcata Rancher Ray Christie Set to Face Second Animal Cruelty Charges in January
• Jurors in Ray Christie’s Second Trial Will Get to Hear About the Hundreds of Carcasses Found on His Properties, Judge Rules
  

From the Eureka Police Department:

On the morning of December 25, 2021, the Eureka Police Department (EPD) received information that Eureka residents 33-year-old Brandon Haselip and 31-year-old Michelle McDaniel had active arrest warrants for committing armed robbery in Mendocino County.

At about 6:40 p.m., EPD Officers located Haselip and McDaniel in a parked vehicle near the 3200 block of High Street in Eureka. McDaniel was taken into custody without incident. Haselip escaped and fled on foot into a shed to the rear of a nearby residence.

Haselip voluntarily exited the shed and was taken into custody after EPD and Humboldt County Sheriff Deputies set up a perimeter.

During the investigation, it was discovered that Haselip and McDaniel had been residing in the shed on High Street. Due to both subjects being on various forms of probation, a search of the shed was conducted, resulting in the seizure of the following items:

• Approximately 2.4 ounces of Fentanyl
• Approximately 1.7 grams of Cocaine
• Multiple Percocet and benzodiazepines pills
• Packaging material and digital scales commonly used for drug sales
• Stolen property associated with the recent robbery in Mendocino County

Haselip and McDaniel were transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for the Mendocino warrants. Haselip was also booked for fresh charges of possession of controlled substances for sales and probation violation.

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