Food For People release:

Food for People’s network of Emergency Food Pantries and hunger relief programs are here to help those who have been impacted by the McFarland Fire, Monument Fire, other regional wildfires, or personal emergencies. 

For people affected by regional wildfires - either from loss of food from evacuations or power outages, or for those evacuating from other areas to Humboldt County - Food for People has resources that can help. Currently, all countywide food pantries remain open during the ongoing crises. Food for People’s network includes 17 food pantries across Humboldt County. In the areas currently largely impacted by fires people can seek assistance at:

• The Bridgeville Food Pantry at the Community Center - 38717 Kneeland Rd, (707) 777-1775.
• The Willow Creek Food Pantry at the Community Resource Center - 38883 Hwy 299, (530) 629-3141.

Or, find the food pantry closest to you, including in the central Humboldt Bay area, at www.foodforpeople.org or call (707) 445-3166.  

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Residents and visitors to Humboldt County are encouraged to “leave nothing” in their vehicles while visiting local beaches and trails, after vehicle burglaries double throughout the county.  

From January 1 through July 31, 2021, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has received approximately 156 reports of burglaries occurring at local beaches and trailheads. This number is double that recorded during the same time period in 2020, with a noticeable increase of these cases occurring within the last month.

Statistics collected by the Sheriff’s Office indicate Samoa Beach/Dunes and Luffenholtz Beach have seen the largest amount of vehicle burglaries this year, with many of those incidents occurring on weekdays between 8-10 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.

Burglaries from vehicles, also known as car prowls, are crimes of opportunity. An offender makes a decision to break into a vehicle based on a perception that there are items of value inside the vehicle, which makes the potential payoff worth the risk. A car prowl can be completed in a minute or less, leaving very little investigative clues behind.

Because car prowl is a crime of opportunity, there are steps the public can take to prevent this crime from occurring. While it is common practice to hide valuables and other items from plain site in vehicles, this is no longer recommended to deter thieves. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office urges community members to leave nothing of value inside your vehicle when parked at local beaches and trails.

Following the “leave nothing” model, community members should:

• Keep the interior of your vehicle “showroom” clean. Always remove valuables from inside your vehicle. NEVER leave purses, bags, briefcases and wallets inside your vehicle unattended. 
• Think twice when storing valuables in your trunk. If your vehicle is equipped with a trunk release button on the inside, car prowlers can easily access your vehicle’s trunk space. While “hiding” items in your trunk may reduce the chance for your vehicle to be a target, the action will not completely protect you from theft.
• Remove garage door openers, key cards, and house, work or car keys from your vehicle.
• Always lock your vehicle, even if you are home. In public places, it may be tempting to leave your vehicle windows down to avoid vandalism. However, this puts you at even more risk, leaving vehicle registration and insurance information accessible to anyone nearby and increasing your chances of falling victim to identity theft, burglaries at your home and vehicle theft.
• Ensure your car insurance covers glass damage and consider installing a more sensitive car alarm system.

Whether at the beach, at the river or on the trails, take extra precautions to protect your property while enjoying Humboldt County’s great outdoors. 

To report a vehicle burglary or related criminal activity, please contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (707) 445-7251 or visit humboldtsheriff.org/report.. 

PREVIOUSLY:

• Arcata Man Arrested On Attempted Murder Charges for Stabbing His Roommate, Police Say

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Visiting Judge Marjorie Lord Carter dismissed an attempted murder charge against an Arcata man this morning, agreeing that Kaven Dangerfield was acting in self-defense when he repeatedly stabbed his roommate during an altercation the night of July 19.

Dangerfield.

Carter, after hearing evidence presented during a preliminary hearing, held the 29-year-old Dangerfield to answer only on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. She also dismissed the special allegations that Dangerfield personally used a knife and inflicted great bodily injury on Samuel “Sam” Matranga, who suffered a punctured lung and numerous stab wounds.

Matranga, 32, told Arcata police investigators he didn’t know he’d been stabbed during the fight until he heard himself breathing through the open wound on his back.

The problem for the prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Luke Bernthal, was that Matranga admitted being drunk on vodka during the episode, and he couldn’t remember how the argument started or who started it.

Dangerfield, however, provided Arcata police Detective Victoria Johnson with a detailed, chronological description of the events leading up to the knifing.

Johnson, the only witness called, testified today that Dangerfield said he was in his room playing his guitar when he heard Matranga yelling something like “don’t touch my stuff or don’t touch my shit.”

Dangerfield has been staying in a room in Matranga’s motorhome for about three months, and the two had never argued before.

Matranga was upset about a table; it wasn’t clear why. But he told Dangerfield to gather his belongings and get out of the trailer.

“He went to pack up his stuff,” Johnson testified under questioning by Bernthal, “and Sam started yelling at him through the door.”

The argument escalated as Matranga reportedly kicked in the door two or three times. At one point Dangerfield saw a chain wrapped around Matranga’s hand, so he took out a pocket knife and placed it on his bed.

“Sam told Mr. Dangerfield he wanted to punch Mr. Dangerfield,” the detective said. At that point Dangerfield picked up the pocket knife. After Matranga swung at his face, Dangerfield began jabbing him with the knife.

“He stabbed him until the knife collapsed,” Johnson said. Dangerfield’s right hand was cut, and when he opened the knife with his left hand one of his left fingers was cut. He then grasped the knife with both hands and continued stabbing.

Bernthal asked about Dangerfield’s motivation, and Johnson said Dangerfield told her it was “to end his life.”

The two men began scuffling, rolling around on the floor, and Dangerfield pulled the knife out of his roommate’s back. Matranga then got on top of Dangerfield and began choking him. Dangerfield told the detective he tapped Matranga on the knee and told him to get up and go clean off the blood. Matranga did.

Then Dangerfield went to a neighbor and asked him to call the police.

Matranga said after the attack, “he heard himself breathing from his back.”

In arguing for a dismissal, Deputy Public Defender Adrian Kamada said this was a clear case of self-defense.

“What we have here is a victim who is 4 to 5 inches taller and weighs at least 25 pounds more (than Dangerfield,” Kamada said. Matranga was drunk, belligerent and aggressive, and Dangerfield had seen a chain in his hand.

When Matranga came into his room and punched him, the defense attorney said, Dangerfield felt the need to protect himself.

“He has a right to self-defense under California law,” Kamada said.

He noted that even after Matranga was stabbed, he was able to get on top of Dangerfield and choke him. And Matranga told police “I told (Dangerfield) to get the fuck out. He wasn’t leaving so I went after him.”

As to Dangerfield’s statement that his purpose was to end Matranga’s life, Kamada said that needs to put in context with the entire interview. What he meant, Kamada said, was that he would kill Matranga “if necessary.”

Bernthal, in response, argued that the issue of self-defense should be decided at trial, not a preliminary hearing.

“I would submit to the court that it should be a jury’s decision,” the prosecutor said.

He quoted the witness who saw Matranga outside his motorhome, bleeding copiously from several large stab wounds. The witness could clearly hear the “sucking and blowing” sounds from Matranga’s punctured lung.

“He stabbed him over and over again,” Bernthal argued. “He had incredibly severe injuries.”

Dangerfield’s response “was not reasonable use of force,” he said.

The judge disagreed, saying there was not sufficient evidence to hold Dangerfield to answer on the attempted murder charge or the special allegations of personal use of a knife an inflicting great bodily injury.

Bernthal questioned her, making sure she did not find that Matranga was seriously injured.

“No,” Carter said. “The court is not finding great bodily injury.”

Dangerfield is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 18 on the charge of assault with a deadly weapon. He remains in custody, though his bail will undoubtedly be lowered.

Press release from Humboldt State University:

Due to recent changes to guidelines in regards to masking by the CDC, CDPH, and Humboldt County Public Health, and the notable increase in cases locally due to the Delta variant of COVID-19, several changes will go into effect regarding campus events and policies. In an effort to ensure instruction and academic continuity, the University will review the epidemiological situation around six weeks from now. As the Delta variant is significantly more infectious than previous variants of COVID-19, the need to reduce potential exposures will be critical in curbing further spread. 

Masking: 

Humboldt State University will go back to universal masking starting Saturday, August 7. Per Humboldt County Public Health mandate, everyone, regardless of vaccination status, will need to be masked while indoors except if you are alone in a private office with the door closed. You will also need to wear a mask outdoors anytime you cannot maintain six feet of distance from others. Athletics participants may be unmasked only during active sanctioned practice or competition. 

Events: 

The University has decided to suspend all large in-person events on the main campus for the next eight weeks starting Monday, August 9. Large events are being defined as any event that brings more than 20 people together. Any gathering smaller than 20 people may continue but organizers are highly encouraged to hold them virtually if possible. Any event, regardless of size, where food or drinks are being served, must get written approval from Risk Management prior to the event. Contact risk-managment@humboldt.edu for more information.

Due to these changes, the HSU Family Picnic, originally scheduled for August 17, will be postponed. More information about the Picnic will be shared with campus at a later date.

In addition, the Fall Welcome will take place virtually on Thursday, August 19 at 9 a.m. More information about how to attend the virtual Fall Welcome will be shared with campus at a later date.

Athletics, recruitment, and some donor events will continue to be held, with the collaboration of Risk Management and safety protocols in place. 

Visitor Policy:

Starting August 16, the campus will be fully open to the public during regular business hours. However, masking is required of all individuals accessing campus facilities or events regardless of vaccination status. Some events may require attestation of vaccination status for those attending, per the CSU Vaccination Mandate, and participants will be notified prior to the event of that expectation.

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Press release from College of the Redwoods:

To curtail the spread of the virus and protect the long-term health of staff, faculty, students and local community, College of the Redwoods will require all on campus and onsite faculty, staff, managers, administrators, residence hall students and student athletes to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing effective August 19, 2021.

On-campus or onsite faculty who do not wish to comply with providing proof of COVID-19 vaccination status or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing may work with their supervisors to adjusting their teaching schedule so that it is fully online.

Additionally, effective August 6, 2021 all vaccinated and unvaccinated employees and students will be required to wear a face covering in any indoor space on campus and outdoors in groups larger than four people. Students who do not wish to wear a face coving will have access to all online classes and services but face-to-face classes and services will be off-limits.

At Board of Trustees workshop on August 21st, CR’s President, Dr. Keith Flamer will also ask the Board to consider a resolution​ to require FDA approved COVID-19 vaccinations for students, faculty, staff, and administrators who work or attend classes on-site in the District should it become clear that this is necessary to protect the community and keep the college and the economy open. If you plan to attend classes in-person at College of the Redwoods this fall, the College strongly recommends that you be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before the semester begins.

Federal, state and local health authorities have stated that the highly infectious Delta variant is responsible for the ongoing surge of COVID-19 and is considered to be as much as eight times more infectious than the original virus. The science shows that getting vaccinated is still the most effective way to protect yourself and your community from COVID-19.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On August 5, 2021, at about 1:28 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a gas station on the 1600 block of Myrtle Avenue, in the county’s jurisdiction of Eureka, to investigate a burglary alarm.

While investigating, deputies located 36-year-old Lawanda Jean Parks inside the business. Parks was found to be in possession of over $1,800 worth of stolen goods and money from the business.

Parks was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)), grand theft (PC 487(a)) and shoplifting (PC 459.5), in addition to warrant charges of mail theft (PC 530.5(e)), property theft (PC 484(a)), theft by invalid access (PC 484g), possession of a narcotic controlled substance (HS 11350(a)), possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)), possession of a controlled substance (BP 4060), grand theft (PC 484e(c)), theft by invalid access (PC 484g(a)) and possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)).

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.

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The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting Friday morning to reconsider its recent decision to resume meeting in person.

Given the latest local developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, this should come as no surprise. In the 16 days since the Board of Supervisors last met, the highly contagious delta variant has taken full advantage of the fact that barely half the county population is fully vaccinated. (Vaccinated people can contract and spread it, too, though vaccines dramatically reduce both the likelihood of contracting the virus and the prevalence of severe symptoms if you do happen to catch it.)

Since the board last met, on July 20, 576 new cases have been confirmed among county residents, 21 more people have been hospitalized and an unvaccinated man in his 30s died with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. On Wednesday, Public Health Officer Dr. Ian Hoffman announced that he would sign an order reinstating a countywide indoor masking mandate, effective Saturday.

The staff report for tomorrow morning’s meeting recommends the board resume meeting virtually via Zoom, noting that local hospitals are nearing capacity as case counts continue to climb.

Reached by email, Board Chair Virginia Bass said, “I’m thinking we will probably not do [next week’s] meeting in the chambers as we had planned but won’t know for sure until after that Friday meeting.”

Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone cast the lone dissenting vote on June 20, saying he wanted to be sure that county staff was ready for the move back indoors. The board has been meeting virtually since April 14 March 26, 2020.

Tomorrow’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. It can be live-streamed via the link that will appear on this website shortly before start time.