On this week’s EcoNews Report, Gang Green breaks down redistricting efforts at the state and county.
Could draft maps splitting Eureka apart be an attempt to draw Supervisor candidate Natalie Arroyo out of her district? Is the state serious about lumping Humboldt with Redding?
Our politics for the next decade will be shaped by these mapping decisions, so you better to pay attention!
It is with great sadness that the family of Mark Nelson announces his passing on October 3, 2021.
Mark was born in Sacramento on July 21, 1942, to Leo Nils and Olga Christine Nelson. He played the accordion professionally from a young age and was hired to play for many clubs and events.
At the age of 18 he started his career at Safeway where he worked for 10 years, working his way up to assistant manager. He later started and ran Sequoia Stereo, Car Tunes, and Cheap Records in the Eureka/Arcata area for many years. After closing these stores, he worked in all aspects of electronics and technology in many different parts of the country.
He was an avid ham radio operator for 57 years, and it was always his passion.
He had a big personality and had many friends and acquaintances – he will be very missed. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Elaine; daughters Nanette Jones and Suzanne Lovitt (Chris); grandchildren Travis, Tyler (Angie), Jordan (Jessica), and Carly; great grandchildren, Harper, Wyatt, Sophia, and Michael; and his loyal dog Tige. He is preceded in death by his father Leo, mother Olga, brothers Roger and Gregg, and son-in-law Michael.
At Mark’s request, no services will be held.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Mark Nelson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Dorothy Jane Sacchi January 29, 1920 - October 9, 2021
Dorothy was born on January 29, 1920 in Eureka to Walter and Hilda Head (Duck). She passed away on October 9, 2021 after 101.5 years. Although it is very difficult to sum up 101.5 years, the people whom she touched know just how special she was.
Dorothy was a lifelong resident of Humboldt County and graduated from Eureka High School. Some of the places she worked include the Eureka Theater, the famous Bon Boniere Ice Cream parlor, Stein’s Bakery, and Westwood Bakery.
She also took great pride in raising her family as a homemaker. Some of her great joys were working her yard, baking, and cooking. She was known for her famous apple pies, blackberry pies, and tuna fish sandwiches; and she was a firm believer that chicken noodle soup would cure any ailment.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, sister, her husband Stacey Sacchi, and her son Bernie Kight. She is survived by her children Larry Kight and Marie Henson, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Dorothy Sacchi’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Press release from District Attorney Maggie Fleming’s Office:
District Attorney Maggie Fleming announced that on October 14, 2021, a Humboldt County jury found 37-year-old Alvin James Fogleman of Eureka guilty of evading the police with willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property, (Vehicle Code [VC] § 2800.2(a)), possession of heroin (Health and Safety Code [HS] § 11350(a)), possession of methamphetamine (HS 11377(a)), and two counts of vehicle theft (VC § 10851(a)).
The trial stemmed from events in 2019. At 3 am on June 10, 2019, a California Highway Patrol officer observed Mr. Fogleman illegally driving his motorcycle through a construction zone with workers present. When the officer initiated a traffic stop, Mr. Fogleman attempted to flee, driving at speeds nearing 100 miles per hour on Riverwalk Drive in Fortuna. Law enforcement officers apprehended Mr. Fogleman after he crashed. A search revealed both heroin and methamphetamine in his possession.
Also in June 2019, a citizen reported to the Fortuna Police Department that Mr. Fogleman had stolen her 2018 Nissan Altima. The citizen relayed to officers that she and Mr. Fogleman were once in a dating relationship, but more recently Mr. Fogleman had stolen her keys, taken her car, and refused to return it. Officers with the Fortuna Police Department recovered the vehicle in July 2019 in the Redwood Memorial Hospital parking lot.
On September 10, 2019, a Eureka citizen awakened around 5 a.m. to the sounds of Mr. Fogleman and an unidentified person hitching her husband’s trailer loaded with construction equipment to Mr. Fogleman’s truck. When confronted by the citizen, the other suspect fled while Mr. Fogleman unsuccessfully attempted to drive away. Officers of the Eureka Police Department responded quickly and apprehended Mr. Fogleman with his vehicle still running.
At the conclusion of the trial that ended yesterday, the defendant waived his right to a jury trial concerning the validity of the prior “strike” conviction (criminal threats) alleged by the District Attorney’s Office. On October 15, 2021, Judge Feeney found the allegation true. Mr. Fogleman has been convicted of seven prior felonies including the “strike.” The delay in prosecuting Mr. Fogleman occurred because he failed to appear in court in September 2020. He was then extradited back to California from Texas on August 14, 2021, to stand trial for the above charges.
Deputy District Attorney Jessica Watson prosecuted the case with the assistance of District Attorney Investigator Marvin Kirkpatrick. Deputy Public Defender Ben McLaughlin represented Mr. Fogleman. Mr. Fogleman is scheduled to be sentenced on November 11, 2021.
Eureka attorney Michael Phillip Acosta, who has been representing himself on charges of selling drugs and maintaining a drug house, was allowed this morning to withdraw as counsel and have an appointed attorney take over the case.
The jury trial for Acosta and his partner Sarah Marie Carroll had been set to begin Monday. Deputy District Attorney Jane Mackie objected to Acosta’s motion to withdraw, saying she was ready for trial and Acosta’s timing is suspicious.
But visiting Judge William Follett granted the motion, noting Acosta has the legal right to withdraw, and he had filed a declaration showing he is eligible for a publicly funded attorney. In other words, he doesn’t make enough money to hire a lawyer.
The problem is, there are sure to be conflicts with both the Public Defender’s Office and the county’s Conflict Counsel’s Office. So the trial could be delayed for a considerable time while a private attorney is found and then prepares the defense.
Carroll is already represented by an appointed private attorney, Andrea Sullivan, because of conflicts.
Acosta, 51, and Carroll, 39, were arrested in February 2020 during a raid on their Cedar Street home. Drug agents had been watching the house for months because of complaints about the number of people coming and going from the house.
During the raid, officers found a small bag of methamphetamine in Acosta’s pants pocket. Inside the house, which also serves as Acosta’s law office, agents discovered 17 grams of heroin, a small amount of meth and 74 “Xanny Bars,” which contain the maximum amount of a drug similar to Xanax.
The next hearing for the couple is Oct. 29, when it’s hoped a new attorney will be appointed.
Acosta and Carroll were both in court this morning. Sullivan, appearing via Zoom, said she had no objection to the continuance.
Both Acosta and Carroll posted bail and remain out of custody.
Also this morning, the trial for Hoopa murder suspect Gearold Sotolongo was continued for approximately the 13th time.
Visiting Judge William Follett granted a motion to continue filed by Zach Curtis, Sotolongo’s new attorney. Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees objected, saying the case has been continued a dozen times at the request of the defense. He reeled off a list of trial dates and continuances going back to April 2016, about a month after Sotolongo was arrested for the alleged murder of 30-year-old Roger Alan Yale.
Rees acknowledged this was the first time Curtis has asked for a continuance. But he said Yale’s parents “are very anxious for justice for their son.”
Rees also pointed out that as the years go by it becomes difficult for witnesses to remember the facts.
Yale was stabbed to death outside the Hoopa Mini-Mart, and the incident was captured on a video surveillance camera. Rees said the video shows the killing was premeditated, with Sotolongo first walking past Yale and then coming back.
The latest setback in the case was In November, “when Mr. Sotolongo was involved in a jail fight in which he was the primary aggressor,” Rees said. Because both men involved in the fight were represented by the Public Defender’s Office, the office declared a conflict in Sotolongo’s case and withdrew.
The new anticipated trial date is May 2, with a trial confirmation hearing on April 18.
Sotolongo remains in Humboldt County Correctional Facility, where he has been for nearly six years. He was arrested at age 25 and is now 31.
One of several possibilities for new ward boundaries, suggested by Eureka City Staff. | Maps from city staff report.
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The Eureka City Council will, as always, tackle some exciting and important issues at its next meeting on Tuesday, including — possibly the most exciting topic of all — redistricting the city’s voter ward boundaries!
You might already know a bit about this if you attended the Oct. 5 council meeting or participated in LoCO’s “Let’s Redistrict Eureka!” game. But in case you have no idea what this is all about, here’s a quick recap: Based on the most recent Census data, the population in each of the city’s five wards has changed pretty drastically since the 2010 Census. That means the city needs to adjust its ward boundaries so they’re as balanced as possible, meaning each city council member represents roughly the same number of constituents. A similar process is taking place at county and state levels, as well.
During the Oct. 5 meeting, council directed staff to prepare a map proposing new ward boundaries based on staff recommendations and to submit it along with suggestions from the public. This is where it gets exciting! If you’re one of the cool people who did participate in LoCO’s redistricting game, then your map might be reviewed by the council on Tuesday. It might even be the one they decide to use! You may recall that back in 2016 it was an anonymous LoCO reader whose map was selected for Eureka’s true ward system.
Three maps drawn on LoCO. | View all the proposed maps in the staff report.
In addition to the map proposed by staff, the council will be reviewing five maps drawn up on LoCO by our wonderful readers. (OK. A few of them might have been drawn by LoCO staff too. I mean, we’re talking about ward maps here! Who could resist?)
Assuming the council members like one of these maps, they will select their favorite and direct staff to prepare an ordinance changing the ward boundaries accordingly. That map would come back to the council for a public hearing on Nov. 4.
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The council will also consider an ordinance that would regulate the transportation of coal over city-owned property. The preliminary draft ordinance states, “It is a nuisance and a violation of this Code to transport, store or handle coal on or over any City-owned property or property held in trust by the City of Eureka for the People of the State of California.”
The discussion is in response to recent news that a mysterious corporation is attempting to take over North Coast Railroad Authority’s right-of-way between Humboldt Bay and the San Francisco Bay Area in an effort to facilitate large-scale coal exports. The potential scheme has prompted concerns of government officials and environmental groups not only because of the dirty-burning mineral’s environmental impacts, but also the threat it poses to plans for the Great Redwood Trail. Sen. Mike McGuire has introduced legislation to derail the potential coal route, and earlier this month the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution opposing coal exports through Humboldt Bay.
Anti-coal train graphic created by McGuire’s office
The council will review the draft ordinance on Tuesday and provide comments and feedback on the language. Assuming that the council wants to move forward with the ordinance, it would return for consideration at a future meeting.
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In addition to those hot-button items, the council will also review and likely adopt the city’s Economic Development Strategic Plan Update, which outlines the city’s plans to reinforce and revitalize the city’s economy for the next several years.
The council will discuss all this and more at its regular meeting — held virtually as usual — on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 6:00 p.m.
You can view the full agenda and directions on how to participate here.
In October of 2021 agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) initiated an investigation
into suspected methamphetamine sales by Richard Konopacki (42 years old- Fortuna). During the first
week of October an undercover agent from the HCDTF contacted Konopacki by cell phone and ordered
one ounce of methamphetamine. Konopacki met the agent in a parking lot in the 700 block of Fortuna
Blvd. and sold the undercover agent the ounce of methamphetamine.
During the second week of October the undercover agent called Konopacki and ordered two ounces of
methamphetamine. Konopacki met with the agent in the parking lot of a gas station on Bear Paws Way in
Loleta. The agent gave Konopacki the money and Konopacki then got into a vehicle with his source,
Jonathan Saitta (42 years old- Ferndale) and purchased the two ounces of methamphetamine. Konopacki
then exited the vehicle and gave the two ounces of methamphetamine to the undercover agent.
On October 14th , 2021 HCDTF Agents with the assistance of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO)
and the Eureka Police Department Problem Oriented Policing Team (POP) conducted a buy/bust
operation. The undercover agent called Konopacki and then they met in a gas station parking lot in the
500 block of Fernbridge Dr. The agent provided Konopacki money for ¼ pound of methamphetamine.
Konopacki drove over Fernbridge and met Saitta in a gravel parking lot on the west side of Fernbridge.
Konopacki provided Saitta the money and Saitta gave him ¼ pound of methamphetamine. Officers from
the HCSO and EPD POP moved in and arrested Konopacki and Saitta. Agents recovered the
methamphetamine and the money provided by the undercover agent.
HCDTF Agents served a search warrant on Saitta’s residence in the 4800 block of Grizzley Bluff Rd. in
Ferndale. Agents located an additional ½ pound of methamphetamine along with 6 firearms and $4,400
in US Currency. Agents also located a BHO Lab inside the residence.
Konopacki was booked at the Humboldt County Jail for the following charges:
H&S 11377 Felony possession of methamphetamine by a registered sex offender
H&S 11378 3 counts of possession/sales of methamphetamine
H&S 11379 2 counts of transportation of methamphetamine for sale
Saitta was booked at the Humboldt County Jail for the following charges:
H&S 11370.1 Possession of controlled substance while armed
H&S 11378 Possession of methamphetamine for sale
H&S 11379 Transportation of methamphetamine for sale
PC 30605(a) Illegal possession of an assault weapon
H&S 11379.6 Manufacturing a controlled substance
Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to
call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.
