Robert
Aaron Elliott was born in Eureka on June 20, 1937. He
died in Eureka on August 29, 2021. He was 84 years old.
My
dad was a wonderful man. He worked hard his entire life to provide
for his family. He spent some of his childhood in Arkansas, but
lived most of his life in Humboldt. He was tough when he needed to
be, yet incredibly kind, and always mischievous. He always had a
smile.
He
worked as a front end loader operator for the Carlotta Lumber Company for 30 years before retiring. But he didn’t stop there. Even
after retiring, he spent a few more years working as a ticket agent
for Greyhound bus lines in Fortuna. He also helped his neighbor work
on his semi and haul hay. He never was very good at sitting still.
Once he had to start slowing down, he started doing crossword
puzzles to pass the time, though he could still be found working in
the garden from time to time.
He
was preceded in death by his mother (Bernice Holt), his father
(Claude Elliott), his sister (Lois), and his grandson (Steven).
He
is survived by his loving wife Peggy Elliott, his children; Robert
Elliott of Ukiah, Beth Zeko and husband Steve of St.
Helens, Oregon, David Elliott and wife Vicki of Fallon, Nevada, Laurel
Jones and husband Doug of Colorado, Geoff Elliott of Clearlake, California, Brandi Davis of Rio Dell, and me, Sherri
Weatherford and husband Kenneth of Hot Springs, Arkansas. He is also
survived by his grandchildren; Josh, Tony, Aaron Zeko, Gary,
Melanie, Katie, Ashley, Megan, Acacia, Anjelica, William, Raymond,
Jesse, and Aaron Weatherford as well as numerous great-grandchildren, sisters Mary Andrews and husband Jim, and Jenette
Braden, brother Donny and wife Reba.
He
was so well loved and will be missed by everyone who’s lives he
touched. May you finally rest in peace daddy. We love you so much.
Please continue to watch over us until we can see you again.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Robert Elliott’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
It
is with great sadness, that I announce the sudden passing of my sister, Carol Ann Patterson, on July 10, 2021, in Redding.
Carol
was born on May 12, 1958, to Carl and Marian Patterson in Eureka.
She grew up in Samoa and graduated from Penisula Union School in
1974. After our dad passed away, we moved to Arcata, where she
graduated from Arcata High School in 1976. She then attended HSU,
receiving a BA in business in 1980. She lived in Arcata until seven years ago, when she moved to McKinleyville.
She
worked a few jobs before going to work at Anderson Robinson
Insurance, where she eventually becoming an agent. She worked there
for over 29 years and then went to work at Judy Davis Insurance, until
her passing.
Carol
loved to read. As a young child, our mom would have to take her books
away from her, to get her to go outside. She was still like this as
an adult.
She
is survived by her sister, Ann Patterson and her best friend, Cathy
Martinez, of Crescent City, and numerous cousins.
She
is preceded in death by her father and mother, Carl and Marian
Patterson, sister Marilyn Patterson, and her beloved cat Magic.
I
would like to Thank Ayres Family Cremation, Debbie DaSilva, and all
the people helping me though this difficult time. Due
to Covid restrictions, a memorial will be held at a later day.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Carol Ann Patterson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
William
Marshall Murphy April
7, 1952 - August
21, 2021
William
“Bill” Murphy was born at Fort Stuart, Georgia. He passed away
unexpectedly due to heart complications in Humboldt County,
California at the age of 69.
In
1960, Bill’s family moved from rural western Pennsylvania to Shasta
County, where Bill grew up and made
many lifelong friends.
Bill
earned a bachelor’s degree in earth science from the University of
California (UC), Santa Cruz, a master’s degree in geology from the
University of Oregon, and a PhD in geology from UC Berkeley. His PhD
work included extended visits to École
Normale Supérieure, Paris, and Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse,
France.
Bill
had an influential and productive professional career, was an
independent thinker and a creative scientist. He worked on nuclear
waste disposal at Hanford, Washington, during 1986-88,
and at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, during
1988-2000.
In 2000 he became a Professor at California State University, Chico
and earned the Professor Emeritus title after retiring in 2012.
Bill
was appointed by President GW Bush to serve on the US Nuclear Waste
Technical Review Board during 2006–11.
He was invited (with his wife and son) by President Obama to attend a
White House appointee appreciation dinner in 2011 on the White House
South Lawn. He served as an administrative judge on the Atomic Safety
and Licensing Board Panel of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, on
the Steering Committee for the Symposium on the Scientific Basis for
Nuclear Waste Management, and was the US representative in the
Natural Analogue Working Group.
Bill
was an avid reader. He grew up reading every Vladimir Nabokov book he
could find. Over time, he gravitated toward non-fiction, studying a
wide range of topics: history, philosophy, nature, evolution, and,
more recently the science of meditation and enlightenment. Jared
Diamond was his hero. He loved nature and wandered in the mountains
even as a young boy. His hobbies included bicycling, skiing,
backpacking, car camping, hiking, windsurfing, soccer, and watching
televised sports events. He summited Mount Shasta at least a dozen
times and traveled far and wide.
Bill
was a loving husband and father. He met Rui Chen as a colleague in
San Antonio, Texas, and they married in 1998. They moved to Chico,
California, in 2000; then to Davis, California in 2008. In his last
three and one-half years, Bill lived mostly in Shelter Cove,
California. Bill is survived by his wife, Rui Chen; his son, Jasper
Murphy; his brother, Jay Murphy and Jay’s daughter, Lauren Murphy;
his sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and John Harker and their
daughter, Alex Harker, and son, Brian Harker.
A
celebration of life is planned for September 18.
Email
billmurphymemorial@gmail.com
by Sept. 12 if interested in the in-person service. It can also be
attended virtually
via Zoom. (Meeting
ID: 979 5483 7116, Passcode: 498065).
In
lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests donations in Bill’s
honor to NPR, PBS, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or
Doctors Without Borders.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Bill Murphy’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
UPDATE, 3:10 p.m.: Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal confirmed at a press conference this afternoon that the person shot by law enforcement following a brief pursuit in the Arcata Bottoms this morning died at the hospital. He also said that the deceased is not believed to be the fugitive his agency had been seeking in the same area earlier today, but also declined to identify the deceased.
Watch the HCSO press conference below:
HCSO press release below:
On Sept. 9, 2021, at approximately 10:47 a.m. the California Highway Patrol Humboldt Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call regarding a suspicious male walking in the roadway with a firearm in the area of Heindon and Miller Roads, in the county’s jurisdiction of Arcata. The description of the suspect given to dispatchers was a white male adult in his early 30s, wearing a leather jacket and in possession of a firearm.
Multiple officers with the California Highway Patrol and Arcata Police Department responded to the area and located a male matching this description, walking in the roadway with a firearm. Officers began de-escalation efforts with the male, during which time he brandished a firearm and an officer-involved shooting occurred.
The male was transported to a local hospital and was declared deceased. The male has not been identified at this time.
The Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team has been activated. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division and the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office are leading this investigation.
This is an active investigation. More information will be released as available and appropriate.
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.
###
UPDATE, 1:53 p.m.: The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that this was what they call an “officer-involved shooting” — meaning an officer has shot someone — and that more information will be made available at 3 p.m.
A press briefing will be held for members of the media at 3 p.m. today Sept. 9 on the 1000 block of Mad River Road to answer questions and share pertinent information with our community. (2/2)
The Outpost’s Andrew Goff is at the scene of a shooting on Mad River Road in the Arcata Bottoms. The road, which leads to Mad River Beach, has been closed while the shooting — details of which are still very unclear — is being investigated.
Our Scanner Traffic Indicates correspondent “Todd” noted the first report of the shooting just before 11:30 a.m. Shortly afterward, the person shot — who was said to be armed — was transported to the hospital, Todd notes.
The Outpost’s Andrew Goff, at the scene, spoke to witnesses who said that right before the shooting, they saw a man with a briefcase walking toward Mad River Beach on the road, slowly followed by six police cars. After the whole entourage turned a corner, these witnesses said, they heard shots.
It is still unknown whether this incident is connected with the search for a wanted fugitive in the general area that was announced earlier this morning.
Again: Mad River Road is closed. Deputies are turning back cars attempting to get to the beach.
We’ll update when we know more.
#HAPPENINGNOW: HCSO Major Crimes Division is investigating a shooting in the area of Mad River Road and Miller Lane, in the county’s jurisdiction of Arcata. This is rapidly developing investigation involving multiple agencies. More information will be released as available.
Arcata rancher Ray Christie’s new attorney is in the same dilemma as his last one: a jury trial looming and little time to build an effective defense.
Today attorney Rick Richmond, from the Los Angeles firm Larson LLP, asked Judge Christopher Wilson for a continuance in Christie’s second trial on felony animal cruelty charges “to allow us to properly prepare for trial.”
Richmond said there is a large amount of evidence to review, including the lengthy transcript from Christie’s first trial.
That trial ended nearly two years ago with the jury deadlocked 11-1 for guilt on the felony charges.
The Larson firm was hired on Aug. 23 , six weeks before trial is set to begin, after Christie first fired lawyer John Cogorno and then co-counsel Ken Bareilles. Bareilles had said he needed until January to be prepared for trial.
Deputy District Attorney Steven Steward, objecting to the motion to continue, said Christie “hired new counsel at the last minute before trial.”
“This trial should proceed on the date set,” Steward said.
Richmond responded that a brief delay won’t cause any harm.
“Nothing bad is going to happen to the prosecution,” he said.
He said he made the decision to ask for a continuance “based on how the first trial went and the post-trial proceedings.”
“There’s no question that we need more time, Your Honor,” he told Wilson.
The first trial did not go well for Christie, and the post-trial proceedings consisted mainly of Cogorno filing many motions that failed. His motion for new trial is still pending.
Wilson did not rule on Richmond’s motion to continue today, deferring it to the trial confirmation hearing on Sept. 20. But he indicated it shouldn’t be that difficult for Richmond to get up to speed.
“This is not a particularly complex case,” he said. “It’s a relatively straightforward case.”
The judge also mentioned Christie hiring new counsel “on the eve of trial,” but told Richmond that “ethically, you don’t substitute into a case you’re not prepared to handle.”
Like Cogorno before him, Richmond said he doesn’t know whether he also should be ready to defend Christie on misdemeanor charges (dumping cattle carcasses too close to state waters.) The first jury could not reach verdicts on about a half-dozen of the 35 dumping charges.
The prosecution has said repeatedly that Christie will be tried only on the felonies, but this continues to be an issue.
Outside the courtroom, Richmond said his firm “will be prepared for trial when the judge wants us to be prepared.”
Asked whether he’s optimistic about the final outcome, Richmond said yes.
“I feel very good about the case,” he said, adding that all four attorneys from his firm will be involved.
Clockwise from top left: Pubic Health Director Sofia Pereira, County Health Officer Ian Hoffman and Humboldt County COVID-19 Joint Information Center Public Information Officer Meriah Miracle during a media availability Wednesday.
###
Since launching on Monday, a petition asking Humboldt County Public Health to start publishing case numbers in local schools on their COVID dashboard has collected signatures from 740 people.
But during a media availability Wednesday, Pubic Health Director Sofia Pereira and County Health Officer Ian Hoffman said reporting those data isn’t as straightforward as the petitioners seem to hope.
The petition is, in part, the result of a Facebook group — humboldt school corona virus COVID-19 data — that was started just a few days ago. Families are notified when their children are exposed to a COVID-positive individual at school, but the information is not published anywhere. The purpose of the Facebook group is to create an informal log of COVID cases in local schools based on posts from parents who have been notified of a case.
“We realized that what needs to happen is not a DIY tally,” group member and parent Noël August, also known in the community by her drag persona Tucker Noir, told the Outpost. “It needs to just go on the portal and be updated every week.”
And so, in collaboration with other parents, August launched the petition. It asks for both in-school positive case numbers and exposure numbers to be added to the county’s COVID dashboard.
“Kids can’t self-advocate,” August said. “They’re the only group that has no say, no vote. So as adults, we carry the responsibility to protect them and make sure they make it safely to adulthood.”
Some parents on the Facebook group have pointed to Del Norte Unified School District, which logs school COVID cases in its own dashboard. But that’s not quite the same thing as what the petition is asking for, because DNUSD is publishing the data, not their public health department.
Parents would need to direct their efforts toward specific school districts for a system like that. The Humboldt County Office of Education wouldn’t be able to develop a dashboard, because schools don’t need to tell HCOE when they have a positive case.
Ishan Steelhead, the parent who started the Facebook group, told the Outpost that parents are seeking the information so that they can better understand the risk when choosing whether to send their kids to school, and so that school staff can have more information about the potential risks of going to work, too. He actually got the idea from a teacher, who told him they were surprised that the information isn’t published anywhere.
“It’s just wanting the data and the information to make smart choices,” Steelhead said. “We’re doing this out of a desire for knowledge.”
Steelhead acknowledged that Public Health is totally swamped, but reasoned that the county already has the data signers of the petition are asking for, because schools are required to report positive cases. The petitioners reference SPOT — School and Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking — a system that some entities use to report cases to their local health departments. The petition argues that all schools use the SPOT system.
But it’s not clear whether all schools actually do use the SPOT system, and if they do, it’s not clear how the data is compiled.
“The other piece is around the reporting through SPOT that is mentioned in the petition. And right now we don’t have a uniform reporting structure where all of that data comes uniform to us within Public Health,” Pereira said Wednesday.
“When you have 31 school districts and over 70 schools, as you can imagine, that is quite a challenge: to try and compile that into the format that’s being requested,” she said.
“I’m not saying that it’s a never, but at this point with the resources that we have, I can’t commit our staff to taking on that endeavor. “
Pereira said that Public Health is working closely with schools to centralizing the case reporting process, because it is important from an outbreak perspective, but that the department does not have the bandwidth to add the information to the dashboard right now.
Public Health is also working with schools by helping them with contact tracing protocol, Hoffman said.
“I encourage every family to work with your individual school because that’s who’s protecting your kids right now,” he said.
Hoffman said that he feels comfortable sending his two kids to in-person school in Humboldt County.
“I want to emphasize that I feel safe sending my kids to school in our county because I know — I’ve worked closely with these educators — I know that they’re following the protocols, they’re doing what they can to keep these kids safe.”
Both noted that they appreciate the petitioner’s concerns.
“I really want to acknowledge I think the core of what that petition is asking. And it is saying that they want their kids to be safe,” Pereira said. “And Public Health, our schools — we want that as well.”
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is searching an area of McKinleyville for Matthew Dilley, a wanted man who led them on a high speed pursuit in this morning’s early hours. The suspect, who ditched his vehicle at a property on North Bank Road, is believed to be armed and the sheriff’s office is advising area residents to be cautious and to report suspicious activity.
More from HCSO’s Samantha Karges below:
HCSO deputies were involved in a vehicle pursuit of wanted fugitive Matthew Lyle Dilley, age 34 of Arcata, at about 3:30 this morning in the Mad River Road area. The pursuit continued onto Highway 299 reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. After losing sight of the vehicle, deputies later located the vehicle unoccupied at a property on North Bank Road. Deputies conducted a search of the property, but were unable to locate Dilley. Dilley is wanted on a Ramey Warrant for charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, battery with serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, domestic violence, stalking, exhibiting a deadly weapon and vandalism.
Dilley is described as white male adult, 5 feet 8 inches tall, approximately 175 pounds, last seen wearing a white shirt, grey sweatshirt and dark pants. Dilley is believed to be armed. Residents on North Bank Road are asked to not open their door to strangers and to report any observed suspicious persons or activity immediately.
