David Lino Mogni
February 22, 1957 – September 9, 2021

Dave Mogni passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 9, 2021. Dave was born to Lino and Betty Mogni in Eureka . He was raised and received his early education in Ferndale along with his siblings, Carol and Patti. He led a full and successful life throughout his 64 years in the circle of his family, friends and beside his wife and constant partner of 35 years, Barbara.

Dave graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1980 having been granted a generous sports and academic scholarship. Whatever Dave decided to take on, he committed to be the absolute best, whether it be academics, sports, business or community leadership. He was the guy you wanted on your team, in your huddle, always. Some early accomplishments and accolades include his early years in local and college sports:

• MVP Crescent Jaycees Basketball Tournament
• All-Star Little League, advanced to State Tournament
  
• Four Sport All-County multiple times at FUHS
  
• Holder of multiple records in track at FUHS
  
• Honor Sweater 1974 at FUHS
  
• Al-GVC/State Champion C/R Football, multiple track events
  
• Multiple inductee C/R Hall of Fame
  
• Selected one of the “Top10 Athletes of All Time, Humboldt/Del Norte”
  
• Walk-on starter Cal-Bears Football
  
• Multiple National Champion Cal “Old Blues” Rugby

At Cal, Dave had walked in to the football coaches’ office cold and introduced himself. The office had California junior college statistics on the wall. Dave was listed. “That’s me, right there.” He became a walk-on starter that season. Dave joined the Cal Golden Bears Football team in 1976, after what would later be determined hall-of-fame seasons at Ferndale HS and College of the Redwoods. Dave quickly gained a reputation as a solid, reliable receiver at Cal and quarterbacks were always happy to see #86 breaking free on his pass routes downfield. After Cal football, Dave moved onto the Old Blues Rugby Club, where his fluid running style and solid defense helped the Blues to their string of national titles. His love affair with sports never ended.

After graduating from UC Berkeley, Dave started his career selling copy machines then went into sales for disk and tape drives at System Industries, where he met the love of his life, Barb, in her first job right out of high school. Dave decided to wait until she grew up a bit then pursued her at the age of 20. As the years went on, they got engaged and his work sent him to Germany for a year, where they lived in Neu-Isenberg just outside of Frankfurt. In 1993, they were married in their backyard in Walnut Creek .

Dave lived life to the fullest. He was a self-taught sailor and spent many afternoons sailing in San Francisco Bay with Barb and friends. As Captain, he took his First Mate Barb and many of those friends to the Virgin Islands, Tahiti, and Greece. He enjoyed going out with friends in The City, was a huge Giants fan and sports fanatic playing rugby, football, basketball, baseball and snow skiing. He designed his backyard and pool, and loved sitting in his bar chatting away with pals.

Burned out in the tech business, he decided to make a career change. He started to think about opening a brewery. As time went on, it evolved into opening a hotel, restaurant and bar in Ferndale, coming back to his roots in a century-year old building right across the street from his dad’s gas station of 40 years. After a six-month remodel, the Ivanhoe Restaurant opened on December 5, 1997. Along with Barb, he poured his heart and soul into it for the next 24 years as executive chef/sous chef/grill man/bar manager/bartender/plumber/maintenance man/electrician/handy man and janitor. When he wasn’t fixing or cleaning something, he and Barb were home constantly cooking new dishes to try out on friends. After many tries to perfect, several finally became part of the Ivanhoe menu.

Dave was a great leader and promoter of his community. He was a member of Rotary and the Humboldt County Fair Board for 12 years, including several years as president. He and Barb spent countless hours leading the Jockey Club in helping improve the Fairgrounds and to support horseracing in Ferndale. He was a Native Son of the Golden West and his buildings on Main Street proudly bear their brass historical site plaques.

Dave is survived by his beloved wife and business partner, Barbara, and his sisters, Carol and Patti. He was preceded in the loss of his parents, Lino and Betty, and leaves behind his nephew and nieces Chandler, Keely, Ashleigh, Nicole and Natalie, eight grandnephews, cousins and many lifelong friends.

His pallbearers will be Richard Leonardo “Bananas,” George Toste “Otis,” Cliff Titus “Tidybowl,” Kevin Frye “French Fry,” Jay VanDePoel “LeBeau,” Colley Baird and Justin Anderson along with honorary pallbearers Dayton Titus and Chandler Baird.

Memorial Services will be held at Ferndale Community Church, 712 Main Street, on Monday, September 20 at 11 a.m. A private burial will follow and there will be a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. in The Barn at Fernbridge, an open-air, socially-distanced venue at 26 Goble Lane, Ferndale.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dave Mogni Ferndale High Athletic Scholarship Fund c/o 1231 Main Street, Ferndale 95536 or CR Football/In Memory of Dave Mogni, c/o CR Athletics, 7351 Tompkins Hill Road, Eureka 95501.

###

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

It is with a very heavy heart we announce that on September 4, 2021, Michael (Mike) Gaspar Anaya (61) passed away at St. Joseph’s Memorial Hospital in Eureka. Michael, or Mike, as he was affectionately called, was born in Los Angeles on January 6, 1960 to Henry G. Anaya, Sr., and Delores Anaya (Nee Valenzuela). Mike spent most of his life in Fortuna. He liked to joke that he was the “middle child,” as he had five siblings before and five after him. Being one of 11 siblings was both rewarding and difficult at times, but Mike always valued and prioritized his family, and kept in touch with them all, going to as many weddings and events as he could, always the first to offer help when they had fallen on hard times.

Mike was working for the CCC when he met the love of his life, Tina Barnett, whom he married on April 30, 1983. They welcomed their first child, their daughter Amber, in July 1982 and then Michael (Mikey) Jr. a short while later in June 1983. Being a father was Mike’s self-proclaimed “best thing he has ever done.” The adoration he had for his children was comparable only to the love he had for his wife. When he wasn’t working, he spent his days teaching his kids martial arts, earning his second-degree black belt with Mikey earning his first-degree black belt beside him. He also loved working on and restoring classic cars, a passion he also passed on to his son. They were known in their small community by the beautiful Chevelles and Camaros they would drive around town and in the Fortuna Auto Expo every year.

If you didn’t know Mike as a member of the large “Anaya Family,” you likely knew him from his lifelong career as an engineer in the power and mill industry. He began working for PL in 1987, now Humboldt Saw Mill Power Plant, and stayed with the company for 30+ years. His co-workers valued him as a hard worker who treated everyone with respect. The men on his crew found themselves lucky to have him as their leader, saying he would “work his fingers to the bone to help anyone he could.”

Growing up Mike always welcomed his family out to their beautiful home in Carlotta. His nieces and nephews have fond memories of driving out to his home in the summer to visit him and his many pugs, walking down to the local store for popsicles. Mike loved animals, he always had dogs and cats, and would feed the deer that would flock to his backyard every morning. He was always making people laugh, Mike had a distinct and contagious sense of humor that could easily break the ice and brighten the stiffest of gatherings. He was fun, he was kind, generous and loving, a real “gentle giant.” He didn’t get involved in any gossip or bickering, something that is bound to happen in large families, and never chose sides. He was there for each and every family member equally and to the end.

Mike was just a wonderful man, a wonderful husband, father, uncle, son, brother, and – of course - his favorite title, “papa.” Watching his daughter become a mother was such a blessing for Mike, and becoming a grandpa changed his life; the sun rose and set on Dominic, he treasured him and was his biggest fan, celebrating every milestone he conquered and accomplishment he made. Since he couldn’t be there in person, the wonderful staff at St. Joseph Hospital provided a tablet for him to watch his son, Mikey, get married to his beautiful wife, Jessica, shortly before he passed. He was so happy for him to experience this new chapter in life. He was confident Mikey will be the loving husband and attentive father that he raised him to be. He beamed when he spoke of his children and his grandson, he knew how lucky he was, and never took it for granted.

Mike is preceded in death by his mother, Delores Anaya and father, Henry G. Anaya, Sr., and brother, Steven Alan Anaya. He is survived by his wife, Tina, his daughter, Amber (Peter Guerrero), and their child, Dominic Guerrero, as well as his son, Mike Anaya Jr. (Jessica), his nine brothers and sisters: Henry (Denise), Jack, Hope (Kit King), Tim (Suzie), Dorothy, Faith (J.R. Rosales), Rick, Tina (Logan Twitchell), and Ray (Michelle). He also leaves behind a large extended family, with many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Eureka. We are so grateful for the care they provided Mike, we know they did all they could under the circumstances and appreciate the kindness, compassion and comfort they provided in his final moments. We would also like to thank everyone who has sent their condolences, we feel the love you are sending every day, please know it brings us comfort to know how much light and joy Mike brought to the world and to everyone who had the gift of knowing him.

A memorial for Mike will be announced and held at a later date, as his family mourns for the future they expected, and grieves the passing of a wonderful man gone far too soon.

###

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

Carol Jean Dillon passed away surrounded by her daughters on September 13, 2021. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, David Dillon; her daughters Deby Wiley (Gary) and Cyndi Hovis (Bill); grandchildren, Sarah Williams (Jon), Paul Wiley (Geri), Leah Bierwerth (Guy), Joel Wiley (Emily), Samantha Hovis, and Clark Hovis; and great-grandchildren, Olivia, Madeline, Minte, Ellington, Ethan, Benjamin, Joshua, Addison, Hudson, and Gabriel.

Carol was born on January 16, 1929, in Salem, Oregon, to Herman and Lois Miller. She was the oldest of three girls, and the Miller sisters were very close throughout their lives. Her father took a new job and the family moved to Olympia, Washington, where she graduated from high school in 1946. As was family tradition, Carol enrolled at Oregon State University in Corvallis and joined Alpha Xi Delta sorority. During a Christmas visit back home in Olympia, she attended a DeMolay and Rainbow Girls party with her middle sister, Norma, where she was introduced to David Dillon and they began dating. In June, 1950, Carol graduated from OSU with a degree in Home Economics. She and David were married in August of 1950 on David’s birthday. He always boasts that the best birthday present he ever had was marrying Carol.

Following their wedding, Carol started teaching home economics in Tenino, Washington. One of her favorite memories was that, during her second year of teaching, sister Norma moved in with David and Carol and started teaching at PE at the same school. The sisters shared a can of Campbell’s soup everyday that year trying every flavor the company made. The couple moved to Olympia, Washington, where their first daughter, Deby, was born. The next move was to San Francisco where daughter Melanie was born and David was working in the banking industry.

After receiving a promotion at Crocker bank, Carol and David moved to Humboldt County where he served as the bank manager at several locations. While in Scotia, they welcomed their third daughter, Cyndi. Carol was known for being a delightful host and throwing amazing Christmas parties in their home. Sadly, in 1961, daughter Melanie died in an accident. During the famous flood of 1964, they opened their home to other residents trying to escape the fierce floodwaters of the Eel River.

In 1966, the family moved to Arcata, and Carol started working for PG&E as a home economist. She toured county fairs and provided cooking demonstrations and school programs, focusing on the new technologies and appliances of the time. Carol told her grandkids about being one of the first women in the area with a microwave and teaching others how to cook different foods with it. As Carol’s career advanced at PG&E, she hosted a television program segment on KEET called “Cooking with Carol.” Her youngest daughter Cyndi remembers being the guinea pig for all of her new concoctions that she would eventually showcase on the program. At that time, Carol was a local celebrity, and her phone would famously ring off the hook at Thanksgiving time as she fielded questions about turkeys and stuffing. Her love for cooking and helping women spend less time in the kitchen made her an incredible force in the community.

In 1976, Carol and David moved to Eureka. The couple began hosting exchange students through the Rotary International program. It was their joy to open their home for over 20 years developing close relationships with the students, their families and other Rotary clubs. As the exchange students had their own families and jobs, they would often come back to Humboldt county to visit Dave and Carol. These visits were precious to Carol and showed the impact she had made on their lives.

After retiring, Carol and David traveled extensively around the world. They especially loved their visits to Hawaii enjoying the flowers and sunsets. Annual cross-country treks to visit their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were a must, and they tried to hit a different route each time. When Carol arrived, she would pop the trunk and pull out boxes of homemade apple sauce and jams. The grandchildren recall that it was always a treat to see which flavors she had made that year! Carol and David never missed a milestone for the grandchildren: no high school/college graduation, wedding, or birth was missed. Carol made quilts for each grandchild when they graduated from high school, making sure to incorporate fabric patterns that showcased their hobbies and talents and favorite colors. Throughout the years, Carol never missed sending birthday and Christmas cards to family, exchange students, and friends.

Besides traveling, Carol was an active member of Quota International and PEO (Chapter TD), participating in church events, leading 4-H and Camp Fire groups and leading the Women’s Quilting Guild at the Presbyterian Church. Throughout the years, she generously donated her time to making baby quilts, sewing pillows, and many other needlework projects. When she wasn’t busy volunteering, she was happily humming in her garden tending to her beautiful roses.

Carol will be greatly missed by her family. Her giving and loving heart touched many people throughout the years, in the local Humboldt area and abroad. Proverbs 31:28-29 states “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women have done excellently but you surpass them all.” Carol’s thoughtful and perfectly timed cards, warm smile and generous demeanor are the legacies she leaves behind. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation, PO Box 123, Cutten, CA 95534 or the Humboldt Botanical Gardens, PO Box 6117, Eureka,CA 95502.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Paul Shen at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Larona Farnum and her staff for their kindness and loving care.

A memorial service is scheduled for October 16, 2021 at 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian, Eureka. The family requests attendees come in Hawaiian/bright colors to celebrate Carol’s life.

###

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

How would you feel about a little bit of sky moisture this weekend, Humboldt? Ready or not, the fine folks at our local arm of the National Weather Service tell us to expect a bit of rain on Saturday, more so the farther north you are.

“Rain is expected starting Saturday morning and spreading south across the area through the day,” NWS says. “A few lingering showers are possible on Sunday. This rain is not expected to cause flooding due to the very dry conditions in place.”

Drivers will want to be extra cautious as roadways tend to be more dangerous when they experience rain following long dry periods. 

U.S. Forest Service press release:

The McCash Fire has grown to 80,611 acres. Increasing 1,799 acres from yesterday and is 10% contained. The Little Marble Fire is 26 acres and 100% contained.  

Total Personnel: 632 | Crews: 10 | Engines: 19 | Dozers: 5 | Masticators: 12 | Watertenders: 11 | Aircraft: 8 

Containment lines along the western edge of the McCash Fire continue to hold as firefighters work to secure them further with mop up. Helicopters cooled the edge of the McCash Fire that is encroaching the 2017 Ukonom burn scar and doused spot fires in the area. 

The fire continues burning near Elk Creek and is making its way down into the Bishop Creek drainage. Hotshots have set up pumps and hose lines in Bishop Creek and are working to knock the fire down. Firefighters are looking at implementing alternative holding lines off Titus Ridge to give them additional strategies to utilize in the coming days.  

Helicopters supported firefighters along Doolittle Creek Road as fire activity picked up yesterday afternoon. Unlike previous days, fire activity subsided near Huckleberry Mountain. Fire managers are scouting out holding options closer to the northeast edge of the fire. 

The Highway 96 Structure Group will continue contacting property owners to assess and prep structures in the Lewis Creek, Butler Flat and Somes Bar areas. Prep includes brush clearing and installing hoses, pumps and sprinklers to protect homes and other infrastructure.

Fire managers are looking at potential places for handline to hold the southern edge. They are considering Portuguese Peak and Wooley Creek trails. Recent fire history is inhibiting fire growth to the east.

Little Marble firefighters are continuing to mop up and fully extinguish the fire. They will start back hauling gear today.

Meteorologists are predicting wetting rains for Saturday, which firefighters hope will support them in suppression operations.

The McCash Fire. | Inciweb

Closures: Check for closures on the Klamath NF and Six Rivers NF websites. Please be cautious if you are in the area for your safety and firefighter safety.

Evacuations: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Facebook: @SiskiyouCountySheriff

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest will remain closed until 11:59 P.M. on Friday, September 17, 2021. The Monument Fire area closure will remain in place, along with other local closure orders. All Shasta-Trinity National Forest closures can be viewed on the forest website. Before going into the forest, please check the website and know what areas are open and where the forest is closed for public safety.

For questions about the River Complex Fire, please call the River Complex Fire Information Line at (707) 596-6075 or email 2021.river@firenet.gov. Information about the River Complex can be found in InciWeb at www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7760

COMMUNITY MEETINGS: There will be two face-to-face community meetings today. The first will be at the Hyampom Volunteer Fire Department in Hyampom at 11 A.M. The second will be in Hayfork at Hayfork Park off Highway 3 at 3 P.M. The meetings will be outdoors and include operations information about the Monument and Knob Fires and an opportunity for the public to ask questions.

There will be a virtual public meeting on Saturday at 6 P.M. People will be able to attend on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Facebook page, on Zoom or by calling in. Links and additional information will be available tomorrow.

MONUMENT FIRE:

Resources: 1,402 personnel, 26 hand crews, 95 engines, 12 helicopters, 16 dozers, 12 water tenders, 16 masticators

Current Situation: The Monument Fire is approximately 215,944 acres and 50 percent contained.

Yesterday fire behavior was active in the afternoon, after the smoke inversion lifted at approximately 4 P.M. Fire flanked west into the wind above Hyampom Road and actively burned in pockets of green fuel inside the fire’s edge on the north side of the Hayfork Creek drainage. The northwest side of the fire in the New River area began active burning earlier than other areas because smoke lifted and winds were brisk on the ridge tops. The clear air allowed aircraft to get over the fire, and fire retardant and water drops were successfully made in that area. Fire spread was limited in the drainage between Limestone and Backbone Ridge due to the north-northwest winds and smoke coverage but remained active.

Overnight the fire continued to be active until 4 A.M. this morning, when it moderated somewhat. Crews were deepening containment lines on the southwest portion of the fire and caught and lined around one spot that went over the line. Burning debris rolling down hill near Hyampom Creek caused a 7-acre spot fire. Crews worked to prevent rollout in the Backbone Ridge area. Burning around the Denny road was more moderate than other areas of the fire.

Today crews will continue to hold and mop up current lines, working to get ahead of rollouts and slop overs from last night, and preparing for an increase in fire activity once the smoke inversion lifts and winds increase this afternoon and evening.

KNOB FIRE: The Knob Fire remains at approximately 2,421 acres and 100 percent contained. Fire behavior continues to be primarily isolated low-intensity surface fire within the control lines. No growth has been reported as the fire slowly consumes unburned fuels within the containment lines.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Today the weather is expected to continue with similar temperatures and relative humidity as yesterday. Smoke is expected to moderate conditions again until early afternoon. Winds will blow from the west, so the first clearing and increase in winds is expected on the northwest corner of the fire near Trinity Village. The inversion is expected to lift on the northeast side of the fire an hour later. Winds may gust up to 20 miles per hour. A low-pressure trough will move through this weekend and is expected to cause gusty winds on Saturday and with a probability of some rainfall Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS (Trinity County):

· Denny Road is closed at the intersection of Ziegler Point Road.

· Hyampom Road is closed between St John Road/Forest Service Road 10 and Lucky Jeep Trail (between Little Creek and James Creek.)

· Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road is closed to everyone except those with proof of residency.

· Big Creek Road, Soldier Creek Road, Barker Valley Road, Barker Creek Road, and Carr Creek Road are closed.

· Big French Creek Road and Big Mountain Road are closed.

· A segment of State Route 299 between mile post 7.4 (near Burnt Ranch at Berg Road) and mile post 36.3 (just west of Helena) is open to through traffic and residents on the following schedule: Monday through Sunday, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M., an escort vehicle leads traffic through the closure every 1.5 hours. Overnight, from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., the road is open only to residents with proof of address.

EVACUATIONS (Trinity County): The following information was taken directly from Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Evacuation orders and warnings can be issued or change suddenly; if you have questions about evacuation boundaries, call Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at 530-623-2611.

· Order: All areas along Denny Road northeast from Zeigler Point Road through Denny proper to the Trinity Alps Wilderness boundary

· Order: All areas along Hyampom Road from Grassy Flat Road west to St. John Road. This includes Bar 717 Camp. All areas south of the intersection of FS Road 10/ St. John Road south to Sydney Lane. From Sydney Lane northeast through FS Road 10/ St. John Road to Oak Ridge

· Order: Intersection Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road, south along Tule Creek Road to intersection FS Road 31N31, west on Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 to FS Road 7, west of FS Road 7 along Tule Creek Rd/FS Road 10 to Oak Ridge to FS Road 3N08. All areas along Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 through Indian Valley. Roads and areas included are Land Acre Road, Mule Lovers Lane, Buck Gulch, Cow Gulch, and Tule Divide

· Order: All areas along Hyampom Road between Lucky Jeep Trail and Halfway Ridge

· Order: Helena/East Fork Road, Hobo Gulch Road, Big Mountain Road, and Big French Creek Road

###

PREVIOUSLY: (UPDATE) Officer-Involved Shooting in the Arcata Bottoms: Sheriff’s Office, Other First Responders Investigating

###

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Thursday, September 9, 2021, a California Highway Patrol Officer was involved in an officer involved shooting in the area of the 1000 block of Mad River Road, in the unincorporated area of Arcata. The Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is investigating this incident.

This incident update (#2) is to provide a more in-depth release of information. In alignment with Humboldt County CIRT’s transparency protocol, this update provides the name of the California Highway Patrol officer involved, the name of the decedent and additional incident details.

California Highway Patrol Officer: Michael Griffin, 8 years of service with the California Highway Patrol

Decedent: Charles David Chivrell, 35-year-old Eureka resident

At approximately 10:47 a.m., multiple officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Arcata Police Department responded to the area of Heindon Road and Miller Road for the report of a man walking in the roadway with a firearm. The CHP received the initial call and requested assistance from the Arcata Police Department.      

California Highway Patrol Officer Michael Griffin, accompanied by an officer in training, attempted to contact Mr. Chivrell in the roadway. During this time, Mr. Chivrell was observed to be in possession of a handgun holstered on his person. 

Officers requested that Mr. Chivrell yield for a pedestrian stop. Mr. Chivrell disregarded this request, continuing to walk northbound on Mad River Road. By failing to stop, Mr. Chivrell violated a misdemeanor obstruction, delaying a police officer.  

Officer Griffin and other officers from the CHP and Arcata Police Department followed Mr. Chivrell down the road for approximately one mile, attempting verbal de-escalation to gain compliance. Mr. Chivrell stopped a few times and spoke to the officers during this process. However, he refused the commands of the peace officers and he continued to walk on Mad River Road away from the officers. During the times when Mr. Chivrell was speaking with the officers, he made threats toward peace officers and members of the public. 

In the 1000 block of Mad River Road, an Arcata Police Department officer deployed a less-lethal pepper ball gun to gain compliance from Mr. Chivrell. Following the deployment of the pepper ball gun, Mr. Chivrell withdrew his firearm and raised the firearm in the direction of the peace officers. Officer Griffin fired one shot with his CHP department-issued patrol rifle. Mr. Chivrell was struck once. Officers on scene provided first aid to Mr. Chivrell and called in Emergency Medical Services. Mr. Chivrell was transported to an area hospital where he was declared deceased.   

This case is under investigation by Humboldt County CIRT investigators. All findings will be forwarded to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Video footage exists from multiple body-worn cameras and dash cameras that captured the incident from various perspectives. All of the video footage will be released by the California Highway Patrol as soon as it can be done without compromising the integrity of the investigation, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the California Government Code and recently revised per AB 748.  

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.

If you’ve been near Foster and Alliance this week, you’ve likely noticed a crew of folks adding some color to the recently installed basketball court in Shay Park. The mural-covered court is the first project to be completed by REBOUND — a non-profit dedicated to transforming basketball courts into colorful works of art.

A DreamMaker project of the Ink People Center for the Arts, REBOUND was founded late last year by local artist and educator Benjamin Funke, as a way to help beautify the community, while supporting two of his passions: art and basketball.

“The only type of art we can really enjoy at the moment is outdoor stuff,” Funke told the Outpost on Wednesday, as he was painting the cement court. “Eureka’s got the Street Art Festival and it’s hugely popular. But no one was doing basketball courts. So, [I thought] let’s give that a try… And I’m really into basketball and I’m really into art. So it’s a nice way to merge those two things.”

After receiving a Funds for Artists’ Resilience (FAR) Grant last year, Funke was ready for REBOUND to paint its first court. Funke reached out to the City of Arcata and, after looking at some different options, Funke and the City settled on the Shay Park court. Because it was pretty recently installed, the court’s concrete is in great condition — the perfect canvas for a mural. Also, it is only a half court, which Funke and city staff thought would make for a good first experiment.

Funke (right) and artist Saul Pedroza finish up the foursquare court

Completed on Wednesday evening by nine artists and volunteers, the mural consists of abstract patches of bold colors painted around the court’s key and another separate mural on a foursquare court. The REBOUND artists also painted the concrete planter that lines the front of the park. Next, Funke said, workers from the city will lightly sand and wash the paint before some of the artists return to apply an anti-slip sealant — which will protect the players from slipping if the court gets wet and also protect the paint from chipping. Funke said the artwork should last up to five years.

The colorful makeover was approved by Arcata’s Parks and Recreation Committee as a part of the city’s larger renovation plans for Shay Park. The first step was adding the basketball court, which was installed in the fall of 2020 (though the court lines were added just a few months ago) and now the painting of the court. Heather Schmidt, recreation supervisor for the City of Arcata, told the Outpost that the next phase of renovation will include installing exercise equipment to the east side of the court, redoing the landscaping with native plants and adding tables and seating.

Schmidt is really pleased with the outcome of the project, which not only helps with the effort to spruce up Arcata’s city parks but is also in line with the City’s goals to add more art to the public landscape. “Public art is a high priority for the city right now and we hope to see more projects like this in the near future,” Schmidt said.

Funke is also really happy with how REBOUND’s first project turned out and said that the artists have received nothing but positive feedback from the community, so far. As they were working people would walk, ride or drive by and yell out things like “Looks great! Keep up the good work,” Funke said.

As for future REBOUND projects, Funke says that they have a “few irons in the fire” right now. Assuming that everything goes according to plan, Funke expects to be painting a couple more courts in the area very soon. In the future Funke hopes to expand the non-profit’s efforts to other spaces, including skateparks and baseball fields.

The great thing about REBOUND’s efforts, Funke said, is that it is a relatively cheap and simple way to improve the community. For the Shay Park project, the City of Arcata only contributed the sealant and REBOUND used money from the FAR grant to purchase the paint and pay the artists. In addition to helping add vibrancy to the community, the REBOUND project also aims to support local artists, Funke said, adding that paying them for their work is very important to him.

“If we’re bringing in artists to work with us, everyone benefits,” Funke said. “The community benefits from having a colorful work of art, the city also benefits from that, and the [artists] benefit from not only being involved, but also from being paid to help out.”

The Shay Park basketball court — located on Foster Avenue, just east of Alliance — will reopen for the public to shoot hoops (or play foursquare!) on Saturday, Sep. 18.