Scott Snedeker
November 12, 1947- May 2, 2021

Scott was a lover of God and all people and left a portion of himself in everyone who knew him. Fiercely loyal he was brave, strong, hardworking and filled with adventure and kindness. He was generous in all areas with his time, skills and money and impacted lives wherever he went. What an amazing husband, father, grandfather, brother, shepherd, mentor, and friend.

As a cement mason and as a pastor he laid a good foundation and modeled Jesus daily in simplicity and authenticity. One of his outstanding qualities was his ability to see the treasure in each person and draw it out of them. All of our lives are richer because of him! His heart’s desire was always to know God and live a life filled with His love.

Thank you all who came by to encourage him and family as he was battling pancreatic cancer. All of the love and prayers extended were so precious. Diagnosed only five weeks before, he finished well at home with loved ones surrounding him and had little pain or suffering. We are grateful to hospice for their brief but meaningful help and to Dr Bruce Barker for his kindness.

Eudelise “Dell” Elmer Cudney was born to Elmer and Bertha Cudney on February 7, 1939 in Eureka. One of eight children, Dell graduated from Eureka High School in 1958, spent two years in the Army and was honorably discharged.

Dell worked for Simpson Timber until he retired in 1981.

Dell enjoyed working outside, going on walks with friends and telling jokes. Dell also was very active with the 7th Day Adventist Church.

Dell enjoyed going to the homestead and relaxing in the warm weather and going to the fruit and vegetable stands along the way.

Dell enjoyed watching and reading stories about the many types and sizes of trains.

Dell took care of his mother and sisters as they became unable to care for themselves until the very end.

His brothers were Edgar, Edward and Joel, and his sisters were Margie, Inez, Francis and Charlotte.

Dell is survived by his brother Joel, sister Charlotte, and numerous nieces and nephews. He would call all of the nieces and nephews little “Plutes.”

Dell will be buried at Ocean View Cemetery May 20, 2021 at 1 p.m.

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

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DOCUMENT:

• “Report to the Community on 21st Century Policing,” Eureka Police Department, May 20, 2021.

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From Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson:

Dear Community:

The attached Report to the Community on 21st Century Policing is the first of its kind and scope by Humboldt County law enforcement to my knowledge. The Eureka Police Department and City of Eureka are very proud of the progress EPD has made as we’ve implemented new programs, cultural change, and progressive policing training and practices over the past 3 1⁄2 plus years. However, as recent events have illustrated, we recognize that we are not done and more work remains.

We are fully committed to this positive transformation and more resolved than ever to continually earn, refresh, and safeguard your support and trust in us. We continue to work toward innovative strategies and programs in contemporary, community-focused ways that align with what our community needs and expects from their police department. Policing at its core is about relationships and these positive connections are foundational to trust. Since the Task Force on 21 st Century Policing released its final report to President Barack Obama on May 18, 2015, I have felt passionate about this topic. The task force was “created to strengthen community policing and trust among officers and the communities they serve—especially in light of recent events around the country that have underscored the need….” Last summer, a Eureka City Councilmember asked me about EPD as a 21 st Century Policing agency. This spurred my renewed interest, but as I’m sure you can appreciate, limitations on time and resources are a constant companion, and this past year has been an exceedingly busy and difficult one.

I began actively working on this report on March 2, 2021 inspired by a graduate school course I was taking on “Best Practices in Community Engagement.” I decided to use this opportunity to expand a class assignment into an even more comprehensive report on the subject I could share with our community. I have now completed the report, which, while not intended to be all-encompassing, provides an informative overview of many of our existing and aspirational programs and goals that align with the six core pillars of 21 st Century Policing.

I have hesitated to release the report at this time in light of the deeply concerning and disappointing officer-texting incident that was recently brought to our attention through a Sac Bee news story. However, upon further reflection, I believe the report illustrates just how far the Eureka Police Department has come over the past several years while demonstrating where we are decidedly heading as an organization well on its way toward positive, transformative change.

Our Report to the Community is not intended as a statement that we feel we have arrived yet. We know we have much more work to do, and we are invested in creating a culture of accountability and continual improvement. We will labor tirelessly to that end. Our community and the men and women who serve deserve no less. I want you to know this report comes from my heart to yours. I am very proud of the efforts, progress, and sacrifices made every day by the men and women of the Eureka Police Department in your service. You can be too.

Sincerely,

Stephen Watson
Chief of Police

Humboldt County Drug Task Force press release: 

On May 20, 2021 agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF), with the assistance of the Bear River Tribal Police Department (BRTPD), and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) served a search warrant on two residences in the 100 block of Carroll Rd. in Loleta. This search warrant was the result of neighborhood complaints into suspected drug dealing by brothers Roy Frank Robinson (38 years old) and Billy Joe Robinson (46 years old). Through their investigation agents learned that Roy Robinson had eight active misdemeanor warrants for his arrest and Billy Robinson had six active misdemeanor warrants for his arrest.

During the service of the search warrant agents detained Roy Robinson and his girlfriend, Suree Lynn Doty (43 years old) inside the first residence. Agents detained Billy Robinson inside the second residence. During the search of Roy Robison and Suree Doty’s residence, agents located a loaded H&K 9mm handgun, heroin, methamphetamine, two digital scales, and packaging. Roy is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms. Inside Billy Robinson’s residence, agents located a usable quantity of methamphetamine, a digital scale, packaging, and drug paraphernalia.

Roy Robinson was booked into the Humboldt County Jail for the following charges:

• H&S 11370.1 Possession of a controlled substance while armed
• H&S 11351 Possession of controlled substance for sale
• H&S 11377 Possession of methamphetamine
• PC 29800(a) Felon in possession of a firearm

Suree Doty was booked at the Humboldt County Jail for the following charges:

• H&S 11370.1 Possession of a controlled substance while armed
• H&S 11351 Possession of controlled substance for sale
• H&S 11377 Possession of methamphetamine

Billy Robinson only had misdemeanor charges and therefore he was released pending charges due to COVID-19 booking restrictions at the county jail.

The HCDTF would like to thank the BRTPD and HCSO for their assistance with this investigation. 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.

Sanchez.

Press release from the Rio Dell Police Department:

On May 17, 2021, the Rio Dell Police Department arrested Daniel Lloyd Sanchez, age 43, of Rio Dell, for multiple charges related to child molestation and rape of a minor. 

During a search of his residence, a photo montage was located that contained pictures of approximately 20 girls and young women.  Consequently, the department feels it is possible there are additional victims. 

We are hoping that anyone who has been harmed by Mr. Sanchez or has information about other possible victims will contact either Officer Crystal Landry or Chief Jeff Conner at 707 764 5642. 

In addition, any victims who are hesitant to contact law enforcement are strongly encouraged to contact the North Coast Rape Crisis Team.  Their 24r-hour crisis line is 707 445 2881. 

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On May 19, 2021, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served one search warrant to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Myers Flat area. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services Environmental Health - HazMat Unit, Humboldt County Code Enforcement and the California State Water Resources Control Board assisted in the service of the warrant.

One parcel was investigated during the service of the warrant. The parcel did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.

During the service of the warrant, deputies located approximately 29 greenhouses with growing cannabis plants inside. Deputies eradicated approximately 7,934 growing cannabis plants. Deputies seized and destroyed approximately 12 pounds of cannabis bud and over 600 pounds of cannabis shake. Deputies also located and seized four firearms, one of which had been reported stolen. Six individuals were detained and later released on scene.

No arrests were made during the service of the warrant. The case will be forwarded to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office for review

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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Sascha Hughes-Caley was a little uncertain as she registered with a state website promising to connect volunteers with COVID-19 vaccination clinics that needed help. She had time to volunteer after being laid off from her educational technology job, but she was still caring for her toddler and wasn’t sure she could handle a long shift.

Hughes-Caley heard nothing about volunteer opportunities for several weeks, then she was referred to a Santa Clara County organization and asked to fill out paperwork.

“There were never any clear instructions on what I was supposed to do, who I was supposed to contact,” said Hughes-Caley, 36, of San Jose. “I felt like it was not worth it.”

So she gave up.

When state officials launched their MyTurn Volunteer website in early March, they promised that volunteers would be eligible for — although not guaranteed — a still-scarce vaccine dose after working just one four-hour shift.

More than 251,000 Californians signed up, some hoping to get an early shot. Others just wanted to help.

But as of Tuesday, only 379 people — .001% of those who signed up — were able to book shifts through the site, according to California Volunteers, a department in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office that oversees the site.

As a result, the Newsom administration failed to capitalize on a potential team of perhaps hundreds of thousands of volunteers to help administer vaccinations.

Is myturnvolunteer (the CA volunteer website) returning 0 results for anywhere? I tried 20 zip codes for some of the most densely populated areas in california and got nothing… premature launch? or terrible tech? or am I not entering the right locations?

— Maxime Prades (@prades_maxime) March 9, 2021

MyTurn Volunteer is part of California’s troubled, $50 million MyTurn vaccine management system that was hastily built to distribute vaccines and give people a one-stop place to book appointments. A recent CalMatters investigation found that appointments booked on MyTurn accounted for only about 27% of doses given each day across the state.

There have been few opportunities listed on the MyTurn Volunteer site. About 600 slots — people could sign up for multiple shifts — were posted online since its March launch, according to Cristina Valdivia, a California Volunteers spokeswoman.

By May 7, only two clinics, in Stockton and Buena Park, listed volunteer opportunities, Valdivia said. In a May 17 email to people who signed up with MyTurn Volunteer, the state highlighted four new COVID vaccination volunteer opportunities — but only one could be booked through MyTurn Volunteer.

“Those numbers are stunningly low and that says the supply of people wanting to volunteer far exceeds the places that need and can accommodate volunteers through this program,” said Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits. “That’s sad for the people who signed up on a system that wasn’t ready for them.”

Hey, @GavinNewsom, @POTUS , @VP . I will be fully vaccinated on Friday and want to volunteer. However, the MyTurn Volunteer site gives me no options. Guidance please. I want to help but can’t.

— 262 Runner (@262runner) April 27, 2021

Only about 2,200 volunteer hours statewide have been logged through the site, Valdivia said. Nearly all, about 2,000, were in rural, Sierra Nevada foothill communities in Inyo County, which served as a test case for the site, according to Brianne Chappell-McGovern, the county’s disaster preparedness and prevention specialist.

Volunteer and nonprofit leaders say the California program failed to engage local organizations in planning early on, and relied instead on expensive tech solutions in a field that’s all about the local human touch.

Apparently recognizing the problems with MyTurn Volunteer, the state now refers people seeking COVID-related volunteer opportunities to another service, VolunteerMatch, which the state had previously partnered with. As of Tuesday, 5,575 people have been connected with COVID volunteer opportunities through that nonprofit service, Valdivia said.

Some nonprofit groups were reluctant to speak publicly about their frustrations with the MyTurn program’s volunteer efforts because they say its leader, Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, is seen as closely connected to Newsom.

Through his spokeswoman, Fryday declined requests for an interview.

Valdivia did not say why so few opportunities have been available on MyTurn Volunteer but she noted that the state had contacted 549 clinics to give them the opportunity to post their needs online. She said 29 clinics had signed up by Tuesday, but they weren’t necessarily posting shifts.

State officials said they have promoted other ways for volunteers to help, not just through MyTurn Volunteer shifts at clinics. Valdivia said most volunteer opportunities “can be done from home and are not tied to a specific location,” such as “driving neighbors to vaccination appointments or sharing facts about the vaccine in your community.” Californians who want to volunteer also can seek opportunities on the California Volunteer website.

“Our goal is to have the capacity to fill the need for volunteers as they are needed for long-term recovery from COVID-19,” Valdivia said. “We are grateful to all the volunteers who have signed up to serve Californians.”

“The biggest problem with MyTurn Volunteer as a system is that (state officials) massively underestimated people’s willingness to help.”
— Greg Baldwin, president and CEO of VolunteerMatch

“The state was anticipating that they needed to roll out these mass vaccination sites and really wanted to make sure they had the volunteer resources they felt they’d need to support those sites,” said Greg Baldwin, president and CEO of VolunteerMatch.

“The biggest problem with MyTurn Volunteer as a system is that (state officials) massively underestimated people’s willingness to help.”

With a $125,000 grant from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, VolunteerMatch last year built a site for the state offering a variety of pandemic volunteer opportunities, including at food banks. But Baldwin said when vaccines became available, the system could not provide the shift-scheduling capability that the state sought, so the state developed MyTurn Volunteer.

Some clinics and volunteer organizations were reluctant to join with either MyTurn Volunteer or VolunteerMatch because they already used other online scheduling platforms, said Elaine Tokolahi, director of volunteer services for the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership in San Rafael.

“It was totally redundant, because they had their own system set up,” she said.

Also, some urban counties already had well-developed volunteer operations and didn’t need to work with MyTurn Volunteer. Leery of recruiting more volunteers than they could use, they shied away from the platform.

Kyra Kazantzis, CEO of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, said she didn’t think the state program would be useful for heavily-populated Santa Clara County, which has its own robust volunteer networks.

“You have to figure out how to turn the spigot. You turn it too much, you’re stuck with having too many volunteers,” Kazantzis said. “It’s not cool to get people all jazzed up and then they’re sitting waiting for an assignment. They get frustrated.”

On the other hand, Chappell-McGovern of Inyo County found MyTurn Volunteer to be helpful in the remote region that includes Death Valley because the county has few medical providers and no local volunteer organizations. “It has definitely taken a load off of me,” she said.

“It’s not cool to get people all jazzed up and then they’re sitting waiting for an assignment. They get frustrated.”
— Kyra Kazantzis, CEO of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits

MyTurn Volunteer’s disappointing performance exemplifies the “chicken and egg” challenge of recruiting enough volunteers — but not too many — at just the right time, and keeping them engaged, said Lisa Spinali, a Bay Area consultant and member of California Volunteers’ Board of Commissioners.

“Because of the governor’s desire to have a (COVID) volunteer brigade, (the state) went out of the gate in a way that probably wasn’t as inclusive as it needed to be. The intent was to get something up quickly and everybody was doing the best with what they had,” Spinali told CalMatters.

But she said state staff heard feedback and addressed it.

“Just like they say all politics is local, all volunteerism is local. But service unites us as a state: if we can corral forces at city and county levels, we’re stronger as a state.”

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CalMatters COVID-19 coverage, translation and distribution is supported by generous grants from the Blue Shield of California Foundation, the Penner Family Foundation and the California Health Care Foundation.

CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.