A shadowy shell corporation is threatening our future with an apparent proposal to purchase the Northwestern Pacific rail line, kill the dream of the Great Redwood Trail, and ultimately export coal from the Midwest out of Humboldt Bay.
Tune in to hear your friends from Friends of the Eel River, Humboldt Baykeeper, and EPIC discuss the details of how such an absurd proposal is even possible, and why we must take this threat seriously and fight it with everything we’ve got!
Aawok Jordan Ryan Allen was born on December 8, 1988 in Tempe, Arizona and left this world on September 8, 2021 in Eureka. He was a Yurok tribal member and also Karuk from Sahvuram and Tishavniik. He was raised by his grandfather Alme Allen living in Cave Junction, Oregon and moving to Orleans, to the family land on Camp Creek. He spent a lot of time in Hoopa with his grandmother Ethel Ruth Davis, the late Reggie Davis and other relatives. He attended Hoopa High and graduated from Captain John High school, later also graduating from the Le Cordon Bleu School of the Culinary Arts in Sacramento, class of 2013.
Jordan was a son, grandson, nephew and cousin to many. He was counted as a solid family member by many including the Davis family and the Reed family. He was almost everyone’s friend. Besides being an amazing cook and the life of the party, Jordan was an activist who spent time helping with the Undam the Klamath campaign and other environmental and Native advocacy efforts. He had an infectious laugh and was there to help anyone who needed it no matter how much or how little he had. He always said how it was and stated the facts, but at least made you laugh when he said it. Orleans or Panamniik, was his true home and he was always drawn back no matter how far away he traveled.
Jordan is preceded in death by his grandpa Alme Allen, great-grandparents Orvel and Mayme Allen, special cousin Grant Gilkison, and many other aunts, uncles, and cousins. Jordan is survived by his great aunt Adrian Gilkison of Orleans, grandma Ethel Ruth Davis of Hoopa, uncle Floyd Florres of Arcata, aunt Debbie and uncle Bob Cooke of Grants Pass, close family Ron and Robyn Reed of Somes Bar, and many, many cousins and good friends whom he counted as family. We would like to acknowledge Nathaniel Pennington and all as friends who he definitely counted as family. He was loved dearly by many far and wide.
There will be a graveside service for family at the family plot. At 6 p.m. on Monday the 13th at the Department of Natural Resources parking lot in Orleans there will be a COVID-safe outdoor potluck and open mic to share our favorite Jordan stories and pictures. Please wear a mask and stay socially distanced. We have many elders we need to protect. Please bring a special dish and a mask.
Jordan and his late cousin aawok Grant Gilkison had a special bond and were both special men who are sorely missed by their hometown. We have decided to create a fund in their honor titled the Grant Gilkison and Jordan Allen Memorial Fund for Native Youth so future events and activities can be continued in their name. This was a cause that was dear to Jordan and we feel it is right to add his name to this fund. To donate to this fund please visit the Humboldt Area Foundation at: https://www.hafoundation.org/Giving/Give-Now and select their fund name from the cause menu.
Yootva, thank you.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jordan Allen’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Nicholas Andrew Frank was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1943. With his parents Lou and Irene and his sister Katherine, Nick survived near starvation in Karuizawa during WWII.
On July 14, 1947, Nick disembarked in Honolulu as stateless immigrant, speaking Japanese and English. So began Nick’s interesting life that included being a star Air Force technician in Holland, building a winery in the Republic of Georgia, and extensive business travel in Russia, Japan and Asia. As a father he made sure to be done with his job early every day to be available to his daughters Vanessa and Heather whom he adored. Loyal and proud, Nick was an anchor for them.
Later, after a career in Silicon Valley and starting his own business, Bare Essentials, Nick moved to Humboldt County where he met and fell in love with Nina Groth. Together they spent the next 20 years in their Trinidad home above the expansive Pacific ocean. Nick loved the beauty that Humboldt has to offer and relaxed by hiking on the Prairie Creek State Park trails and on local beaches with Nina. Enjoying the simple pleasures of life, Nick could make an everyday event special, for example; every meal was a celebration. He appreciated all the local music venues (and not having to wait in lines). He found great joy attending the concerts of The Eureka Symphony , The Eureka Chamber Music Series and TBAM: Trinidad Bay Arts and Music festival.
Scientist, mathematician, entrepreneur, Nick was a problem solver and always had time to listen to others, wanting to help them succeed and realize their dreams, whether in business or personal life. He would give tirelessly of his time. Nick was also an avid gardener and when at home, spent much of the time planting bushes, trees, flowers and a huge vegetable garden with an adjoining fruit tree orchard as well as a separate elaborate berry garden. He dearly loved the local farmers markets, farmers and nurseries where he would always buy more than he needed.
Sociable and opinionated, Nick was curious about other people’s viewpoint of the world and was always eager to converse or debate about life. There were many lively conversations over coffee, whether at a bakery or when he hosted wonderful lunches on the bluff in Trinidad as he loved to do. Nick got pleasure from giving other people enjoyment - if he could put a smile on your face he was happy.
Nick will be greatly missed by his wife Nina, his beloved daughters Vanessa and Heather, his six siblings whom he cherished and their respective families, as well as his many relatives and friends.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Nick Frank’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Larry O. Doss, broker/president of Ming Tree Realtors of Eureka and a current Harbor District commissioner, is considering a run for the Fifth District seat on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, potentially challenging first-term incumbent Steve Madrone.
“I’ve been exploring that,” Doss said when reached by phone this afternoon. “I haven’t done anything official yet.”
He said he’s held off on a campaign launch and official announcement because of recent events: “I kind of put the clutch in with the fires and everything.”
While Doss has yet to file any campaign paperwork with the county Elections Office, his not-yet-a-campaign — “Larry Doss for 5th District Supervisor” — was a Silver Star sponsor of this year’s Humboldt County Fair. Fair Board Director Association Administrative Assistant Mary Ann Renner told the Outpost that Silver Star sponsorships run $1,000.
Last week blogger John Chiv posted a couple of photos of Doss campaign materials at the fair, including a sign reading “Larry Doss for 5th Distric [sic] Supervisor” and shot of Doss gathered with supporters around a campaign banner.
On the Harbor District, Doss represents Division 1, which includes southern Eureka, Ferndale and much of the Eel River Valley. (The territory matches the county’s First Supervisorial District, currently represented by Rex Bohn.) Doss’s registered address is the Shiny 4D Ranch at the south end of Eureka. It’s a working ranch producing beef, pork and eggs, according to Doss’s Harbor Commissioner profile, and it’s also available for film and TV productions looking to feature horse-drawn wagons and majestic draft horses.
“My official residence is in the First District right now,” Doss acknowledged. So why is he considering a run in the Fifth? He explained that he and his wife also have a place in Orick that they’ve owned for 18 years. They regularly go back and forth, he said, and plan to downsize and officially move north soon. (Doss’s Facebook page already lists his place of residence as Orick.)
“Lots of community members from the Fifth District, when they realized that’s what we’re doing, have talked me into continuing that passion for Humboldt so I can take it to that level as a supervisor,” he said.
Asked why he’d like to serve on the Board of Supervisors, Doss said, “I’m to the point in my life where I can do some major give-backs to the community, and I’ve seen quite a bit of opportunity that can be spread across the whole county.” He mentioned positive developments toward a “green” Humboldt Bay and said, “I think we can let that positive energy spread and see results start spilling across the whole county [to] benefit everybody.”
When Doss was running for his harbor commissioner seat six years ago, he said he didn’t approve of the District’s acquisition of the former pulp mill site, now known as Redwood Marine Terminal II. Looking back, Doss said he now believes it was a good move. “It put the Harbor District in a tough financial spot for several years, but we’ve gotten out of it,” he said.
That’s largely due to businesses that have moved in at the Harbor District’s invitation, he said.
“Ithink one of the jewels out there that we’ll see for a long time to come is the Nordic Aquafarms project,” he said, referring to the Norwegian company’s land-based fish farm planned for the Samoa Peninsula. He said it will provide many green, living-wage jobs without competing with local fishermen. “What a beacon for the bay … ,” Doss said. “When I first met with them a couple years ago I had to hold back my excitement for the bay.”
He also spoke excitedly about the potential for offshore wind energy development locally, saying that while there will likely be pushback from some in the community, he considers the prospect “a huge, huge win for Humboldt Bay.”
Regarding the recent news that coal interests in Wyoming and Montana are pursuing the NCRA right-of-way in an effort to rebuild the rail line and export coal out of Humboldt Bay, Doss said, “I don’t have enough information to give a decision one way or another. I don’t see the traditional coal trains we know from Kentucky or such ever rolling in Humboldt.”
Six years ago, Doss said he wasn’t a big believer in human-influenced global warming. Asked if his perspective has changed he said, “Yeah, but we also have to credit the Earth. The Earth has changed its climate and has never stopped changing. We’re looking at a cycle now where we’ll see sea-level rise. We’ve been putting a lot of effort into protecting our coasts.”
Does that mean he now believes humans have an influence on the climate? “Everything has an influence on it,” he said. “There’s not any one. The part that really bothered me is we didn’t ever in any of the models allow the Earth to have its own changes. That’s what I learned in Earth 101. Everything has a cause and effect.”
Earlier this year, Doss changed his party affiliation from Republican to “No party preference.” Asked what prompted the change, Doss said, “I just think it’s just gotten crazy. It doesn’t matter what the party is; they’re just nuts. I just don’t really identify with any of ‘em. I’m just really a middle-of-the-road person. It’s disappointing as an American citizen to see where the parties have gone. I just don’t want to be part of that.”
Humboldt County supervisor elections are non-partisan.
Doss’s current term on the Harbor District’s Board of Commissioners runs through 2024. Larry Oetker, the Harbor District’s executive director, said Doss asked about his eligibility to continue serving if he moves to Orick, and Oetker put him in touch with the district’s legal counsel.
“It’s my understanding that you have to live in the district that you represent and that if he moves to Orick he would not be eligible to serve [in the first district],” Oetker said.
California’s primary election is scheduled for June 7. Thus far, Eureka City Councilmember Natalie Arroyo has announced that she’ll run for the Fourth District seat on the board, potentially squaring off against incumbent Supervisor Virginia Bass. Bass hasn’t publicly announced whether she plans to seek re-election.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On Sept. 9, 2021, at about 7:40 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Mitchell Road in the Martins Ferry area for a welfare check.
Through further investigation deputies learned that 36-year-old John Elmer Stoller was involved in an altercation at the Mitchell Road residence during which Stoller reportedly rammed vehicles on the property with his vehicle and brandished a firearm at residents. Stoller fled the property prior to deputy arrival.
While investigating, deputies received information that Stoller was seen at a residence in the Tulley Creek area. Deputies arrived at the residence and observed Stoller flee on foot towards the Klamath River.
A multi-agency search for Stoller was initiated with air, water and public safety resources from the Yurok Tribal Police Department, Hoopa Tribal Police Department and California Highway Patrol. Despite an extensive search for Stoller, law enforcement has been unable to take him into custody and he remains outstanding.
Stoller is wanted on multiple felony warrants and is believed to be armed with a firearm. If you see Stoller, do not approach but call 9-1-1.
Stoller is described as a white male adult, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, 175 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen in the area of State Route 169 near the Martins Ferry Bridge.
Anyone with information about Stoller’s whereabouts 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.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
A wanted fugitive has peacefully surrendered to law enforcement following nearly two hours of negotiations in southeast McKinleyville.
Matthew Lyle Dilley, age 34 of Arcata, surrendered to law enforcement on Sept. 10, 2021 at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Sandpiper Lane after an armed standoff with Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies. Dilley was wanted on multiple felony charges, in addition to charges stemming from a high-speed pursuit in the early morning hours of September 9.
On September 9 at about 3:34 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Dilley in the area of Mad River Road. While attempting to conduct a traffic stop on Dilley’s vehicle, the vehicle fled from deputies at a high-rate of speed and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle was later found unoccupied at a property on the 2200 block of North Bank Road.
At approximately 10 a.m. on September 10, Sheriff’s deputies received information that Dilley had been seen walking in the area of Sutter Road. Upon deputy contact, Dilley brandished a firearm and threatened self-harm. Deputies assumed a safe position and began negotiations with Dilley for a peaceful surrender. The Humboldt County Crisis Negotiations Team was deployed to assist. After approximately two hours of negotiations, Dilley was taken into custody peacefully. No one was injured during this incident.
Dilley was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on a Ramey Warrant for charges of kidnapping (PC 207(a)) and false imprisonment (PC 236), in addition to fresh 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.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or is contemplating self-harm, there are resources available to help. Please contact the Humboldt County 24-Hour Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 707-445-7715 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Photos: Bottom: Maiya Rainer, Yurok Tribal member and State Park Interpreter at Sumeg Village, Patrick’s Point State Park. Photos: California State Parks.
California
State Parks is seeking public feedback on a proposal to change the
name of Patrick’s
Point State Park
in Humboldt County to Sue-meg State Park to honor the original place
name for this area used by the Yurok people since time immemorial.
The park was acquired by State Parks in 1930 with the place name of
Patrick’s Point already in use, dating back to the mid-1800s in
reference to a homesteader, Patrick Beegan, who was accused of
murdering numerous Native Americans.
Yurok
people built villages along the coast and major waterways as well as
tended, fished, hunted, and harvested a wide variety of plant and
animal species throughout their ancestral lands. In 1850, when gold
was found in the interior of California, the Yurok people suffered
from violence,
exploitation, dispossession, and the attempted destruction of Yurok
communities by an influx of Euro-American settlers and deleterious
federal and state policies. The Yurok people
resisted,
survived, and carried on cultural and linguistic traditions. The
Yurok people still live in relationship with their ancestral lands.
At
the formal request of the Yurok Tribe to rename the park, State Parks
supports the proposal to change the park name from Patrick’s Point
State Park to Sue-meg State Park and act on the promise of the
Governor’s
apology,
to heal relationships with the Yurok Tribe, and to work to make the
Yurok community whole through honoring their cultural and linguistic
relationships with this area. Historically,
there are two correct pronunciations/spellings of the village,
Sue-meeg and Sue-meg, that are recorded from the first Yurok language
speakers. The preferred phonetic spelling as recommended by the Yurok
Tribe is “Sue-meg.”
The
California State Park and Recreation Commission has jurisdiction over
the naming of units of the State Parks System. California
State
Parks
is recommending
that the Commission approve
the
changing
ofPatrick’s Point State Park
name to Sue-meg State Park at the Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, meeting.
Public feedback on this potential name change will be accepted
by COB Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021.
Written comments may be emailed to planning@parks.ca.gov
with the words “Patrick’s Point Name Change” in the subject
line.
The
changing of Patrick’s Point State Park name is one example of how
California State Parks is looking at contested place names,
monuments, and interpretation across the State Park System as part of
the Reexamining
Our Past Initiative.
This is a larger project within California state government to
identify and redress discriminatory names of features attached to the
state parks and transportation systems. The move comes in the wake of
a national conversation about the names of geographic features and
builds upon Governor Gavin Newsom’s work to support equity,
inclusion, and accountability throughout the state to better reflect
our values. If the California State Parks and Recreation Commission
approves the name change, it would be the first park name change as
part of this statewide effort.
Patrick’s
Point State Park is located within the ancestral lands of the Yurok
people on the northern coast of California in Humboldt County, 26
miles north of Eureka and 46 miles south of Crescent City. Much of
the unit is developed for public use. In addition to stunning natural
features, the park includes Sumeg Village which was planned and built
by Yurok people and dedicated in 1990.
Sumeg
Village’s redwood plank family houses, sweathouses, dance
structure, and changing houses are used for cultural and education
activities for area tribes, and as an interpretive center to help
educate the public about Northwest California Native American
cultures.
