Linda Sue Arata, 78 of McKinleyville, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2021, due to cancer. She was peaceful, and surrounded by family and friends.

In the early 1940s, Linda was born on the second floor of the Scotia Inn, in Scotia. She was the second-born daughter of Ann and William (Bill) Chenoweth. Her father was a lumberman who worked for the local sawmill before he was called to war. Linda, her mom and her older sister Nancy stayed with family while Bill was away. Upon his return, the family reunited and stayed in Santa Rosa until 1952 when they settled in Bodega. Linda’s father Bill, his father and brother, together started Chenoweth Lumber Company. The mill was along the Salmon Creek, and, about a mile past St. Theresa and the old creamery. The family built a modest house on the mill’s property, and they called it home for the next 30 years. There was always a fire burning in the fireplace and lively conversations.

Linda attended elementary school at the historical Potter Schoolhouse, and high school at Analy High in Sebastopol. Linda’s family home was filled with laughter and love, and the girls were never a problem or unkempt. In 1952 Debbie was born, completing their family of five.

The Chenoweths enjoyed getting away to Clear Lake, where they spent many summers. They had a beautiful, rustic home located at the base of Mt. Konocti where they fished and spent hours of the day swimming and learning to water ski. Family and friends were always around.

Linda’s father, Bill, was a Shriner, and her mother, Ann, a member of the Eastern Star. The three sisters were honorable Rainbow Girls, meeting weekly, and doing many hours of service in the community. Linda was installed as Worthy Advisor in 1964, and ultimately earned her place as a member of the Grand Cross of Color, the highest honor for a Rainbow Girl.

Linda briefly attended college at Sacramento State studying fashion and art, but found her true calling at Empire Business School. After graduating, she started her professional journey as a Kelly Girl, typing 78 wpm, working her way up to human resources. Linda was a personnel manager for Campbell Chain, Mack Trucks and Libby’s Cannery, she ended her professional career at Diablo Solar. She was always sharp, never forgetting a date or time. Linda had a way of getting her point across respectfully and genuinely. She loved clothes, always having a great sense of style. She was timeless and timely, arriving anywhere at least 15 minutes early. She worked long hours in a male-dominated workforce, earning the respect of her coworkers. Linda’s professionalism and intelligence couldn’t be denied.

Linda showed bravery and courage by obtaining her pilot’s license in 1975.  In the late 70s she bought a brand new 260Z, and quickly put a plate holder on it that said, “The best man for the job is a woman.” She was incredibly stubborn, but preferred to say she was determined. Her strong work ethic and her independent drive made her a role model for women of all ages.

Linda had her only daughter, Robin Dunlavy, in 1967. She was a loving and progressive mother instilling the same family values and morals she was raised with. Together they spent a lot of their free time in Bodega, eating out and swimming at Clear Lake.

In 1986 Linda met the love of her life, John A. Arata, and they married in 1987. They shared 29 years together before John passed in 2015. In those years they retired and enjoyed gardening, crafting and becoming grandparents. Grams and Pops created a lasting impression on their grandkids through love and laughter. Linda adored all her grandkids, always having a place for them to share their life and adventures.

Linda was a politically minded conservative, and proud member of the Republican Women’s Assocition, in both Contra Costa and Humboldt County.

Linda will be remembered mostly for her kindness, and sound advice, She was charming with a wonderful sense of humor. Linda lived very independently at home until she passed.

She was small yet mighty, and an all-around amazing woman.

Linda will be greatly missed by her daughter Robin Dunlavy, her “rock” Doug Foster, her sisters Nancy Chenoweth and Deborah Munoz and Peter. her amazing grandkids Sophia and Miles Dawes, Kayla and Brett Murrell, John Foster, Scout Buendia, Emilio Zuniga, Terrapin Buendia and Shilo Kunkle. She will also be missed by many people whom she loved and welcomed into the family. She was a beautiful soul, and we all miss her very much.

At Linda’s request there will be a private memorial, on a beautiful sunny day, along Titlow Ridge.

The family would like to express their love and gratitude to Hospice of Humboldt. Their care and compassion gave Linda peace of mind when she needed it most.

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

PREVIOUSLY:

Though Arcata Mayor Brett Watson was removed from that office on Wednesday night — at his request, he says — he remains a member of the City Council.

Watson.

This evening, Watson sent out a note to the public to clarify his plans for his immediate and medium-term future.

From Arcata City Councilmember Brett Watson:

Over the last 4 years I’ve worked very hard to serve the people of Arcata and it’s been the greatest honor of my life.

On Monday October 11th, I informed the City Council and staff I would be stepping down as Mayor and entering a 30-day residential rehabilitation program to focus on depression and personal issues. My goal is to get myself better before making any decisions on how I can continue to best serve my community.

I’m very grateful for the outpouring of support I’ve received and I’ll inform the community of my decision as soon as possible.

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On March 2, a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office employee named Ed Wilkinson emailed his boss, Sheriff William “Billy” Honsal, with some questions about a big event scheduled for the following month. Sheriffs from all over the state would be traveling to Humboldt County with their spouses for a gathering of the California State Sheriffs’ Association — three days and two nights of meetings, meals, socializing and activities.

This was a big deal. Sheriff’s Office employees had been making plans and exchanging emails about it for weeks.

“How extravagant do you want to go?” Wilkinson asked Honsal in his email. “Maybe we should get together to discuss?”

The CSSA is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to preserving the role of sheriff as the supreme law enforcement officer in each county. It also serves as a voice for sheriffs in the state legislature. For example, it recently opposed a police reform bill calling for stricter standards on the use of rubber bullets and tear gas for crowd control. It also advocated against a bill that would have decriminalized jaywalking, and it lobbied fiercely against legislation that would have opened the office of county sheriff to all registered voters, rather than restricting it to people with certain law enforcement credentials.

The association’s membership consists of all 58 of California’s county sheriffs along with thousands of “law abiding citizens,” according to the group’s website. Individual membership costs as little as $20 per year if you’re a student up to $350 for a lifetime membership. Corporations that want “a very exclusive partnership” with the state’s sheriffs can sign up for the Corporate 100 program for an annual membership fee of $2,500.

To the question “How extravagant do you want to go?” Honsal sent an email saying Wilkinson should come to his office to discuss the matter. 

You get a sense of the extravagance of the event, which was held April 14-15, from Sheriff’s Office emails obtained through a California Public Records Act request. The visiting sheriffs and other guests enjoyed oysters, wine, charcuterie cups and pie at Old Growth Cellars in Eureka. They had a couple meals at the Ingomar Club in the Carson Mansion and another at Shamus T Bones. Some attendees hit the links at Redwood Empire Golf & Country Club. There was a field trip and guided tour in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and a trip to Ferndale for sightseeing and shopping.

Honsal says all venues, meals and activities were paid for either by the CSSA or by individual sheriffs — except for transportation and 24-hour security. Those were provided by his office’s deputies and correctional officers. 

And that is what bothers sources within the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office who believe those assignments represent an improper use of government funds and resources.

“This event cost the taxpayers of Humboldt County tens of thousands of dollars,” said one source, who asked to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation. “I can’t think of a bigger misappropriation of public funds than this. Honsal should be investigated for misappropriation for personal gain.”

One deputy told the Outpost he believes it was wasteful and unnecessary to assign nearly 20 sheriff’s office personnel to this operation, especially with the office in the midst of a staffing crisis.

“Why would cops need to provide protection to other cops?” the deputy asked, referring to Honsal’s order for ‘round-the-clock security. “This is Honsal showing off for the other sheriffs. He sacrificed public safety to make himself look good. We are running short every night and he does this! Since Honsal became a CSSA board member [last October] he is consumed with showing off rather than leading the office.”

This deputy, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, was reluctant to talk about these matters on the record but said he felt compelled to expose what he believes is corruption.

“I’m not proud of what I’m doing but don’t know any other way,” he said.

Another deputy, who also requested anonymity, sent an unsigned letter to the Outpost via the U.S. Postal Service in September before reaching out later via email. He accused Honsal of mismanaging the Sheriff’s Office, and he, too, was resentful about the public resources put into the CSSA gathering.

“During the peak of the pandemic dozens of sheriffs and their families came to our communities for this party that was advertised as ‘training,’” he said in his letter. “They were chauffeured all around our county and did so maskless. Meanwhile, deputies were forced to work overtime providing security for these VIPs, all at [the public’s] cost.”

Honsal disagrees with these characterizations. In emailed statements he argued that the visiting sheriffs faced legitimate security threats because law enforcement officers have become targets for violence. And he said the expense — which his office initially calculated at $5,386.56 and later revised to just over $6,600 — was justified by the sheriffs’ discussions about major law enforcement issues in the state. He also noted that the event — officially a CSSA board meeting — brought in tourist dollars and strengthened bonds between sheriffs, which may prove valuable during future mutual-aid situations.

“While hosting an event with state sheriffs in our small county does come with some costs and security risks, the benefits far outweigh those drawbacks,” Honsal said.

At least two deputies feel otherwise, and they believe the public should know the details.

‘High expectations’

“I know Sheriff Honsal is very excited the meeting is at the Ingomar Club,” the Sheriff’s Office’s facilities manager wrote in a January 28 email to the club’s director of member experience. Dozens of similar emails were exchanged with venue managers regarding food and beverage options, pricing and other details.

On March 4, Honsal emailed Sgt. Kyle Holt, cc’ing others in the department, to say he wanted the honor guard to “Post the Colors” at the CSSA meeting. He also said the honor guard would be presented with a plaque recognizing their service.

Honor guards are typically employed to protect heads of state or other dignitaries, though they also serve ceremonial functions at funerals, parades, sporting events and the like. In a March 17 email to the honor guard members, Holt said, “The Sheriff has expressed his high expectations for this event.” He described the CSSA gathering as an opportunity “to display our professionalism and represent our department in the best way possible.” It had been a while since they’d performed their duties, so Holt scheduled a training session in early April.

A copy of the operations plan obtained by the Outpost includes a list of Sheriff’s Office personnel assigned, including Undersheriff Justin Braud as the incident commander, two four-person security teams, another deputy assigned to meeting security, a four-person transportation team and the five-person honor guard for a total of 19 deputies and correctional officers, including the undersheriff, six sergeants and a lieutenant.

The plan, which included satellite imagery of all event venues, including the airport, hotel and golf course, called for the first security team to clock in at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, more than two hours before the first of two incoming flights arrived bearing the out-of-town sheriffs. Alternating 12-hour shifts, the security teams weren’t relieved until after the visitors left the following Friday. They stood guard at the hotel and followed attendees to the golf course, the Ingomar Club, the winery and the steakhouse, with correctional deputies providing transportation

“Humboldt County is currently in the Orange Tier for COVID-19,” the plan says. “Deputies should be masked whenever within 6’ of anybody.” Photos from the event show the out-of-town sheriffs, Honsal and the honor guard gathered in close proximity without masks.

‘Security threat’

When initially asked why 24-hour security was required for the out-of-town sheriffs, Public Information Specialist Samantha Karges said it was necessary to ensure their security and safety. 

Asked whether the Sheriff’s Office has provided security and transportation for any other nonprofit events recently, Karges replied, “The Sheriff’s Office regularly assists organizations to provide security for events, including events like Reggae on the River, graduations, and sporting events. Additionally, any time a public official visits our county, our agency provides security for those personnel.”

The latter statement is false. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office does not regularly provide security for U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, for example, nor for state Senator Mike McGuire or Assemblymember Jim Wood. When U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited Eureka in August, her security was provided by federal officers and the California Highway Patrol. 

As for Reggae on the River, organizers of such events sign contracts ahead of time and pay the Sheriff’s Office for security. Sporting events and graduations, meanwhile, involve large public gatherings, unlike the CSSA event. We pointed all this out and asked if Honsal could elaborate on why he felt 24-hour security was required in this case.

In a response emailed a few days later he said, “Having numerous elected officials in one location for an extended period of time, coupled with these officials representing a discipline that has been targeted by individuals throughout the nation, certainly creates a security threat for the sheriffs.”

Constant security was necessary, he said, “to ensure no action was taken against this group of sheriffs at their motel or at the meeting venue.”

The deputies we spoke with didn’t buy that. “Was there a specific threat to the sheriffs and the hotel?” one asked rhetorically. “Who knew about this event? It wasn’t advertised, and the Sheriff’s Office didn’t broadcast it via social media … . Again, these are cops who are legally allowed to carry concealed firearms. Why would they need security?”

Even if they did, he said, the sheriffs’ association should have paid for it.

“This whole CSSA thing was not a Sheriff’s Office-sanctioned event,” he said. “It was a CSSA event that Sheriff’s Office employees were forced to work.”

Another deputy agreed. “If this was done properly, a contract should have been agreed upon with CSSA and HCSO,” he said. 

‘A gray area’

The deputies we interviewed said the Sheriff’s Office’s drastically under-reported the cost of security and transportation. They said the official figure was probably based on the top hourly wage of county deputies, $31.77. “But that is not what the county charges for law enforcement services because that doesn’t cover the actual cost of the deputy,” one said. “They forgot to add medical, dental, vision insurance as well as workers compensation insurance and PERS retirement benefits.”

The true costs, they said, can be calculated using the county’s fee schedule, which lists an hourly rate of $104 for deputy services and $126 for sheriff sergeant services. He cross-referenced those figures with the operations plan for the event, adding up the hours of each security and transportation team, plus the honor guard, and multiplying those figures by the appropriate fees. 

“Based on my very conservative estimates, this event cost around $38,000,” he told the Outpost. He believes Honsal violated section 424 of the California Penal Code, misappropriating public money to entertain and impress his friends. 

We reached out to Paul Wright, executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center and a board member of the National Police Accountability Project, to get his take.

“Is it illegal? Probably a gray area,” he said. “Is it improper and unethical? I’d say yeah. But does it happen all the time? Yeah, absolutely.” 

Such matters can be investigated by the California State Auditor’s Office, he said. Like the deputies, he asked why CSSA didn’t cover the costs of security and transportation.

“Typically these organizations are pretty well-funded,” Wright said. “They have pretty deep pockets.”

The CSSA reported a gross annual revenue of $504,289 in 2019, the most recent data available.

The Outpost made numerous attempts to reach CSSA staff, sending emails and leaving voicemails for Executive Director Carmen Green and others, but did not hear back. 

Building relationships

Honsal said his office considers it an honor to have hosted the CSSA meeting. It gave the sheriffs a chance to discuss such issues as the mental health crisis in county jails and hospitals, homelessness, de-escalation, use-of-force training and more.

“In addition to providing an opportunity for the state’s top law enforcement officials to collaborate in finding solutions to pervasive issues, this event also brought in tourist income to the county through the sheriffs staying at local hotels, buying local goods, participating in local activities and eating at local restaurants,” Honsal said.

Our deputy sources said Honsal and the other sheriffs could easily have discussed those issues without wasting taxpayer dollars, and as for the tourism revenue? “What a joke,” one deputy said. “There is no way the [tourism] revenue generated by those 40 attendees made up for the tax burden that Honsal mandated.”

Honsal said there was another public benefit to the gathering: “to continue building mutual relationships and support with other state sheriffs so that they will be willing to send our community help in Humboldt County’s time of need.”

As examples of such collaboration he cited cannabis and narcotics investigations/enforcement, the 2019 search for two missing girls in SoHum and the 2013 manhunt for triple-homicide suspect Shane Miller. (For the record, the missing girls were found by volunteer firefighters while Miller’s remains were found by an anonymous party.)

“I believe that the tax-paying citizens of Humboldt County expect the Sheriff to build relationships throughout the state in order to accomplish the goal of working together to make our county a safe place to live,” Honsal said.

Jamie Barney, president of the Humboldt Deputy Sheriffs Association Organization, said he trusts Honsal to “make good decisions about how to spread our understaffed deputies in the best interest of Humboldt County.” He added, “Yes, you cannot make everyone happy when you are spread too thin, but our members know that refusing to make hard choices in a crisis will get you in even more trouble.”

We forwarded Honsal’s statements to the deputies we interviewed for this story.

“The truth is, there are statewide mutual aid agreements in place that address all the events he describes,” one responded. “So is it Honsal’s position that unless he held this party we would not have received mutual aid to help on all of the events he cited? Of course not because they all happened before Honsal was even a member of the CSSA board. What a crock!!”

The other deputy agreed. “Those relationships are made on a near-daily basis, and having a big ‘look-at-me’ party doesn’t gain or lose in the relationship-building process,” he said. ”This is clearly some backpedaling and self-rationalization that John Q. Citizen is going to have heartache with.”

Honsal said he believes Humboldt County’s taxpaying citizens support his efforts to build relationships and ensure the safety of visiting sheriffs, though until now neither he nor his department had released any information about the CSSA gathering.

At least two of his deputies think the public will be troubled by his actions, and they risked defying him to make those actions known.

Family and friends of 32-year-old Emmilee Risling are desperately hoping for any information that might reconnect them with their loved one. They say Risling was last seen near Pecwan on Wednesday, Oct. 13 and there is reason to believe that she may be somewhere on the Yurok Reservation.

A missing persons report has been filed with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and a search party will meet at the Shoreline Deli in Orick this coming Sunday at noon. 

Emmilee Risling is described as: 

• 32 years old
• Native American / dark complected 
• 5‘2” / 160 lbs.
• Short brown hair / Brown eyes
  

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriffs Department at 707-445-7251.

PREVIOUSLY: The HSU River Otter Science Project is Bringing Some Otter Art to the Community

Humboldt State University release: 

North Coast Otters Public Arts Initiative, which featured 108 life-sized sculptures of otters painted by local artists, raised more than $300,000 in grants, sponsorships, and generous donations. Final proceeds will support otter research and student internships at Humboldt State University.

The initiative included a community “treasure hunt” to find sculptures that were displayed in Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Trinity, and Siskiyou counties this summer. The goal was to celebrate life, water, and otters; support local businesses; and raise funds for HSU student projects.

“Hundreds of people, including grandkids with grandparents, families, couples and, well, everyone, seemed to fall in love with these otters,” says project lead, Jeff Black, a Wildlife professor at HSU. “The merger of art and science was an absolute joy throughout the North Coast.”

The last hurrah this September included an in-person showing of the Otter Art sculptures at the HSU Aquatic Center in Eureka, followed by a “silent auction,” in an online auction which together pulled in $180,000. Participating artists were offered 10% of the auction price of the otter they painted or decorated.

Visit the North Coast Otters Public Arts Initiative website for more information.

A commemorative auction catalog is available for $15 at the HSU Cashier’s Office in the Student Business Services (SBS) Building and The Ink People Center for the Arts located at 627 3rd Street, Eureka. Proceeds from the catalog sales will go toward additional river otter studies and student internships.

After cataloging 20 Otter art sightings, more than 300 “otter spotters” submitted entry forms for a chance to win one of the 32 raffle prizes donated by local businesses, including an adventure kayak tour of Humboldt Bay, and a collection of gift certificates and vouchers.

In addition to raising awareness about wildlife conservation and celebrating the arts, the North Coast Otters project encouraged community members to participate in the ongoing “citizen science” river otter records study by consistently reporting when and where wild river otters are observed throughout the North Coast region.

Since 1999, HSU students have been collecting otter records from citizen volunteers as a means of tracking the quality of North Coast habitats. River otters, seen at all times of day in our area, have captured the attention of thousands. Details of wild river otters may be sent to otters@humboldt.edu.

“As the curtain closes on this wonderful project, remember that when you next see a river otter in the wild, give them a thumbs up, and wish them well,” says Black. “And please join us in the spirit of promoting clean water and healthy habitats where we live and play!”

North Coast Otters was a collaboration with North Coast Open Studios, a DreamMaker project of the Ink People Center for the Arts.

“Sugar Bear.” | USFS

PREVIOUSLY:

• Congress’s Demand for Tribute From Our Local Life-Giving Forests Has Been Fulfilled: ‘Sugar Bear’ the 84-Foot White Fir Will Serve as the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
• Now They Need Us to Make 15,000 Ornaments to Decorate the Six Rivers National Forest-Sourced Congressional Christmas Trees
• ‘Sugar Bear,’ the Local 84-Foot White Fir Selected to Be This Year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, Will Be Sawed Down Live on Facebook Later This Month

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Press release from Six Rivers National Forest:

Due to poor weather and out of abundance of caution, the virtual ceremony to harvest the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be held tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 23 at 12 PM, instead of Sunday, Oct. 24.

Increased rain and elevated wind conditions that could affect the safety of personnel and equipment used to harvest the People’s Tree led to the decision by Forest leadership to shift the ceremony to 24 hours prior.

The public can still view this significant milestone during a livestream of the ceremony available on the Six Rivers National Forest Facebook page, starting at 12 PM, Saturday, Oct. 23.

The Facebook Live video will remain on the newsfeed to view at any time.

Continue to monitor online at @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram, and @USCapitolTree on Twitter for the latest information.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is a 50-year tradition in which one of our 154 national forests provides a tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. The project is made possible with support from partners including nonprofit Choose Outdoors along with cash and in-kind contributions from companies large and small as well as volunteers locally and across the nation. For a list of 2021 sponsors and to join in the People’s Tree celebration visit uscapitolchristmastree.com and @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram and @USCapitolTree on Twitter.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Hayes

On Oct. 21, 2021, at about 12:46 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 1400 block of Anderson Avenue in McKinleyville for the report of a domestic disturbance.

Upon arrival to the residence, one involved person, later identified as 50-year-old Joshua Justice Hayes, fled on foot from the residence. At approximately 2:50 p.m., deputies received information that Hayes had returned and was observed leaving the residence in a Black Jeep Rubicon.

Deputies attempted a traffic stop on the Jeep on Anderson Avenue. Hayes failed to yield the vehicle and fled at a high rate of speed. Deputies pursued the vehicle onto Highway 101 and then onto Highway 255. While in the Arcata area, Hayes’ vehicle struck another vehicle. The California Highway Patrol responded to conduct a vehicle collision investigation.

Due to weather conditions and speed, deputies lost sight of the vehicle in the Manila area. During a search of the area, deputies located the vehicle traveling on Victor Boulevard. Hayes again fled from deputies, driving the vehicle through a locked gate on the 300 block of Lupin Drive, then fleeing on foot into a wooded area. Hayes was located hiding in vegetation and was taken into custody without further incident.

Hayes was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of evading a peace officer (VC 2800.2), assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm (PC 245(a)(1)), resisting/obstructing a peace officer (PC 148(a)(1)), vandalism (PC 594(b)(1)) and defective windshield/rear window (VC 26710), in addition to warrant charges of evading a peace officer (VC 2800.2).

This case is still under investigation.

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.