During the first week of October 2021, US Customs Agents seized a package being shipped from France to
an address in the 700 block of N St. in Eureka. Customs Agents located a large quantity of MDMA
(Ecstasy) inside the package.
The Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) initiated a
joint investigation into the suspects receiving the package. On 10-8-21 agents from HCDTF & HSI served a
search warrant on the suspects residence on N St. in Eureka. Agents detained Kong Yang (27 years old)
and Johnny Yang (25 years old) inside of the residence.
Agents conducted a search of the residence and located the following evidence:
7.5 pounds of MDMA (ecstasy)
2 digital scales
Capsules for packaging MDMA
Pay/owe sheets
150 pounds of processed marijuana
$19,000 in US Currency
Kong Yang and Johnny Yang were arrested and booked at the Humboldt County Jail for the following
charges:
H&S 11378 Possession of MDMA for sale
H&S 11359 Possession of marijuana for sale
HCDTF agents initiated an asset forfeiture investigation into the US Currency seized.
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.
On September 9, 2021, an officer-involved shooting occurred in an unincorporated area of Humboldt County. A critical incident video of this incident has been prepared and can be viewed below. Additional video is being prepared for release in conjunction with state law and the Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) investigation of this incident.
All questions regarding the on-going CIRT investigation should be directed to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
Rep. Jared Huffman (left), the North Coast’s congressman, and his colleague Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
###
Press release from the office of Rep. Jared Huffman:
On Friday, October 15 at 2:30 p.m. PT, Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) will be holding a virtual Town Hall. During the event, the congressmembers will discuss their efforts to help the country and the President build back better by making necessary investments in the nation’s physical and social infrastructure. Both Rep. Huffman and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez are members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Participants are encouraged to ask questions via Zoom or in the Facebook video comments section during the event for a chance to have your question read aloud and answered live. To send a question ahead of time, please email huffmanQandA@mail.house.gov or call 415-258-9657 with your name, neighborhood, and question.
Event Details:
WHAT: Virtual Town Hall with Representatives Jared Huffman and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Please be advised that this is a virtual event; members of the press and public should not attempt to meet in person with the Congressmembers. For more information on Rep. Huffman’s work, visit huffman.house.gov.
After bouncing around Humboldt County’s education system for more than 20 years and working as superintendent of schools for the last four, Superintendent Chris Hartley is resigning.
Hartley
The Humboldt County Board of Education accepted Hartley’s resignation during a special meeting on Oct. 5. His resignation is effective Nov. 2, 2021, more than a year before his term was to end in Jan. 2023.
“An opportunity
emerged for me to support education of students in our state in a different capacity,” Hartley wrote in his letter of resignation, dated Sept. 28.
“[The] role will be focused on serving and supporting the implementation and development of the CA System of Support,” Hartley said in an email to the Outpost.
“While I am excited for this new opportunity, it is with mixed feelings that I make this transition. It has been a tremendous experience serving as Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools,” Hartley wrote in the letter. “I am grateful to all educators in our county who are resilient and willing to work tirelessly to insure the needs of our students are met with care, compassion, high expectation, and support. This has never been more apparent than during these unprecedentedly challenging times.”
Working to meet the needs of Humboldt County’s youth by working with the Humboldt County Office of Education team and partnering with school districts and public agencies has been the highlight of his time at HCOE, Hartley told the Outpost.
“The opportunity to work with folks who have a deep commitment to education, maintain an innovative approach, demonstrate care and a resilient spirit has been extremely rewarding.”
Hartley has served as superintendent of schools since March 2017, when he was appointed by the Board of Education to complete Garry Eagles’ term following the former superintendent’s early retirement. In most California counties, the superintendent of schools is an elected position, and so less than a year after his appointment, Hartley ran unopposed and was elected to continue the position during the June 2018 statewide primary election.
Hartley taught in classrooms around Humboldt and elsewhere during his teaching career, and held several administrative positions within the Northern Humboldt Union High School District over the years. Hartley founded Six Rivers Charter High School in 2004, and, preceding his role as County Superintendent of Schools, served as superintendent of the Northern Humboldt Union High School district for four years.
Also during the Oct. 5 special board meeting, the Board of Education discussed the appointment process for the new superintendent of schools, and decided to open the application process on Oct. 6 and close it on Oct. 13.
A job listing seeking someone to fill the remainder of Hartley’s term is posted on HCOE’s website. If whoever is appointed wants to keep the position long-term, they will need to campaign to keep the seat in the June 2022 statewide primary election.
Last time around, ten people applied for the position, and the decision followed public interviews for two finalists, Hartley and Heidi Moore-Guynup, who today is superintendent of the McKinleyville Union School District.
“HCOE is an exceptional organization and has capacity to navigate this transition with excellence,” Hartley wrote in the letter.
Hartley told the Outpost he hopes his successor will “have the same level of joy and appreciation for the partnerships and relationships I have been fortunate to experience while supporting our schools and districts in the critical work of educating our students.”
Zada Ann Smith
passed away on September 11, 2021. She was born on June 24, 1929 in
Downey. Zada and her older sister, Joyce, were the daughters of
Warren and Violet Schumer. They grew up in and around the Oroville area. Later, Zada obtained her AA degree and worked for some time
in Sacramento.
In 1953, she married
Robert J. Smith and began her new life in Fortuna. They were married
for over 59 years until Bob’s passing in 2013. Zada was for the
most part a “stay at home” mom that focused on raising her two
sons and taking care of the house and family. She did have some
various part time jobs that she enjoyed over the years. Her Christian
faith was also an important part of her life.
For the most part,
Zada was content to stay close to home. After Bob’s retirement they
did venture out and do a cross country trip in their fifth wheeler to
Nashville. After, Bob’s health began to fail, Zada took over the
driving in the pick-up truck until she finally conceded to hang it up
at the age of 90 (probably a good thing).
Zada is survived by
her two sons, Steven (Debbie) of Fortuna and Harley (Kris) of Willow
Creek, her step-daughter Suzi Franken (Arie) of Elfin Forest and
their two children Sander and Lisa along with several nieces and
nephews.
The family would
like to thank Especially You Assisted Living in Eureka and Hospice of
Humboldt for the compassionate and excellent care in the last few
months of her life.
###
The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Zada Smith’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Blessed with a long and healthy life,
Patsy passed after a brief illness on October 2, 2021; just 16 days
prior to her 91st birthday.
Patsy was born October 18,
1930 in Bellfountain, Oregon, to Delmar Larkin and Rowena Redmond.
Their family owned a small dairy farm, where Patsy and her brother
shared in the chores of milking cows in morning and after returning
home from school. She spent her elementary years in a rural one-room
school house, and later attended Monroe High School.
In
1946, at the age of 16, Patsy married Toby Trask. Together they built
a small home and barn on a couple of acres in Monroe, Oregon, and
raised their growing family. They had four children — Tim, Suzanne,
Shelby and Del. Patsy held several jobs, along with being a
homemaker.
Raising
a family in the Willamette Valley, it was common to work the fields
during harvest season. She and her children picked produce together
most summers. Patsy was also employed as a grocery clerk at K&D Market, and eventually retired as an aide for Monroe Elementary School. But, as she would always say, her favorite job was
cleaning house on Wednesday evenings for her dear friends, Dave and
Carole Hull. She usually did more visiting and joking around than
cleaning, and they would either cook dinner for her, or invite her
out with them. We can see why she favored that little side
hustle.
Dave and Carole were much more like family, and treated
her accordingly.
Patsy loved sports and had a very
competitive spirit. She played on several teams during her high
school years. Eventually she joined a bowling team, and immediately
excelled, proudly bowling a 300 game. She looked forward to her
weekly games and the friendships they facilitated. If given a
choice she would prefer watching a sports game on TV over anything
else. She loved her football games and definitely had her favorites.
Go Ducks!
Though
she didn’t play often, when the mood struck she would sit down and
hammer out a jazzy tune on the old piano. But just as fast as she sat
down, she would jump back up, pretend to flip her short hair, and
saunter away as sassy as could be. It always made us smile, which was
exactly the reaction she was looking for.
Patsy
enjoyed dancing and had a standing date with Toby every Saturday
night at the Eagles in Corvallis. A Live band, many friends and a few
cocktails, always made for a good time and great memories.
In
1993, after 47 years of marriage Patsy lost Toby. She was taken
under the arms of friends and family, during one particular outing
was introduced to a man named Frank Ross. In 1994, after a short
courtship, Patsy and Frank were married. Frank was fun loving, and
showed Pasty the carefree, retired side of life. She moved to his
home in Vancouver, Washington and put her touches on it. She soon
became close to her stepdaughter Cheryel, who welcomed her into their
family with open arms.
Patsy enjoyed this new chapter in life to
the fullest. They would spend many weekends with friends at their
beach lot on the coast. Visiting, clamming, having a glass of wine or
three, and genuinely having a great time. Other weekends, she would
strike out with friends on the search for garage sale treasures. She
loved the hunt!
After a several years, Frank talked Patsy
into moving to California to be closer to her family. But in reality,
Frank had found out he was ill, and didn’t want to worry or burden
her. They purchased a pretty home in Eureka and moved back lock,
stock and barrel. Our family will always be grateful to Frank for
this unselfish act. He truly loved and looked after her.
At
home, Patsy took pride in her garden and kept an immaculate yard. She
would even show off, mowing her lawn in a diagonal pattern to
resemble the professional cut on a baseball field.
Patsy was always
active and took care of her own lawn, and even bowled weekly well
into her 80s.
She could cook a meal from scratch better than
most, and her homemade yeast rolls will be missed, and cannot be
replicated by those of us left. Believe us, we’ve tried.
Patsy
was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Toby Trask
and Frank Ross; brothers Jim and Marlin (Mike) Larkin; children,
Tim Trask, Shelby Peters and Suzanne Kruger and grandson Scott
Wagle.
She is survived by her son Del Trask and wife
Candice; son-in-law John Kruger; and stepdaughter Cheryel Ray
(Terri); sister-in-law Liz Larkin; nephews Daniel Larkin
(Dianne) and Jeff Larkin and niece Jan Belarde (George); grandson
Shane Wagle; granddaughters Lacey Jensen (Tyler) , Cortney Cole
(Kyle) ; and great-grandson Waylon Cole.
A special thanks to her
neighbors Dan and Margie Flanagan, your kindness allowed for a few
more years of independence.
###
The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Patsy Ross’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Since January 2021, investigators from the Eureka Police Department, Arcata Police
Department, and the FBI have been conducting a joint investigation into a series of
robberies at local credit unions in Arcata and Eureka. The suspect was dubbed the “Lost
Coast Bandit” by the FBI. Based on an extensive investigation, the Lost Coast Bandit has
been identified as David Lee Moon (age 32 of Eureka).
The following is a summary of all the incidents associated with Moon.
On 03/31/20, an unknown male suspect entered a check cashing business
in the 1100 block of 5 th Street in Eureka. The suspect demanded money
using a note and displayed a possible firearm. The suspect fled with an
undisclosed amount of money.
On 12/18/20 and 01/08/21, an unknown male suspect entered a credit
union located in the 600 block of F Street in Arcata and presented the
teller with demand notes. The suspect fled during both incidents with an
undisclosed amount of money.
On 01/16/21, an unknown male suspect entered a credit union located at
the 3300 block of Broadway in Eureka and presented the teller with a
demand note. The suspect fled with an unknown amount of cash.
On 07/15/21, two unknown male suspects entered a market on the 1600
block of F Street in Eureka while the business was closed by breaking a
front glass door. The suspects fled with undisclosed items stolen from
the store.
On 09/28/21, an unknown male approached the window of a coffee shop
in the 400 block of N Street and demanded money. The suspect fled with
an undisclosed amount of cash.
Based on the evidence gathered during the lengthy investigation, an arrest warrant was
issued for Moon on October 6, 2021. On October 7, 2021, just before noon, Moon
was located near the 2500 block of Fourth Street in Eureka and arrested without incident.
During his arrest, Moon was found to be in possession of Fentanyl packaged for sales. A
separate investigation into the Fentanyl possession is being done by the Eureka Police
Department’s Problem Oriented Policing team (POP).
The Eureka Police Department would like to thank the FBI Laboratory for their
assistance with the evidence in this case as well as the investigators from Arcata Police
and the FBI.
