On April 16, 2021, the Eureka Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing Team
(POP), with the assistance of the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, served a search
warrant on Christopher Sovereign (30 of Eureka), his place of employment in Eureka,
and an associated residence in Rio Dell.
Sovereign was located and detained at his place of employment, a sandwich shop at the
800 block of West Harris Street. During the search, a loaded firearm was found
concealed in a trashcan in the back food prep area. An additional loaded firearm and
methamphetamine were located inside of Sovereign’s vehicle parked in the parking lot.
During a search of the Rio Dell residence, detectives located stolen property,
methamphetamine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and indicia linking Sovereign to gang
activity.
At the time of the April 16th search, Sovereign was out on bail from previous drug and
firearm arrests. Sovereign was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County
Correctional Facility for possession of a controlled substance while armed, felon in
possession of a firearm and ammunition, and for committing a felony while out on bail.
Bail was enhanced to $500,000 and requires proof of income. At this time Sovereign
remains in custody.
On April 18, 2021, at about 10:42 p.m., officers with the Eureka Police Department
responded to the intersection of Wabash Avenue and A Street for the report of a hit
and run vehicle vs. pedestrian collision.
The 64-year-old female pedestrian, a resident of Eureka, was located lying in the
roadway with moderate facial and head injuries. Humboldt Bay Fire and City
Ambulance responded and provided emergency medical care and transportation to the
hospital. At the time of the report, the female was in stable condition and receiving
treatment.
Based on the victim’s statement and surveillance, it appears the victim was walking
across A Street, just north of Wabash Avenue when an unknown driver traveling north
on A Street struck her with a vehicle. The driver fled the scene without stopping to
render aid or exchange information with police.
Surveillance obtained from a nearby location shows what appears to be a white sedan
driving in the area at the time of the collision. We are interested in speaking with the
occupant(s) of this vehicle, to assist in our efforts to identify the involved suspect(s) and
vehicle. A photo of this vehicle is attached. Anyone with information relating to this
investigation is asked to contact Officer Sollom at (707) 441-4060 or
jsollom@ci.eureka.ca.gov refer case number 21-002091.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On April 19, 2021, at about 8 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 2200 block of North Bank Road in McKinleyville for the report of a gunshot victim.
Deputies arrived at the residence but were unable to locate the victim. While investigating further, deputies were notified that the victim, a 26-year-old male, had arrived at a local hospital through private transportation with a gunshot wound to his leg. The victim was unable to identify a suspect or provide additional information to deputies.
This case is still under investigation. No further information is available at this time.
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.
Peter.
Pete. Dad. Papa. Grandpa. Uncle…Peter Lucas Fennell, lover of art,
teaching, learning, nature, gardening, ocean, rivers and life. How
can you reflect on a life in a few short paragraphs? He was the
epitome of the calming soul, the one who never lost his cool, the one
who kept everyone around him grounded. Peter passed away in the arms
of his loved ones on April 12, 2021.
After
graduating from Monterey High School, Peter continued his lifelong
career as a student, first graduating from UC Santa Barbara, and then
coming to Humboldt State University to earn a teaching credential.
Peter wanted to share his love of art, and became a teacher in the
Hoopa Valley community. He wasn’t just a great father to his own
kids, he became a mentor to many youth in the community throughout
the years whether teaching a class, coaching a team or interacting
with the many friends his kids invited into the always welcoming
home. You could always find him out in the garden bringing something
to life, mowing the lawn for happiness, or under the hood of a car
with one of his sidekicks, Jesse or Paul.
Later in life Papa moved
into his son’s household, and he was always the Number One Fan
watching one or more grandkids playing every season of sporting
events from the bleachers or the sidelines.
Peter’s
serene presence was always the calm before the storm for those around
him, especially his much loved kids.
Left to carry on his legacy are:
Petrina Fennell (Ernest), Andrea (Jake) Marshall, Celena (Ewee)
Donahue, Aja (Joseph) Lewin, and Peter “PJ” (Crystal) Fennell.
The grandkids who commonly referred to him as Papa, will also miss
him: Jesse (Michelle) McCovey and his great-granddaughter, Kayleigh;
Paul (Chloe) Donahue; Na-Tausha Donahue; Tyus and Neiko Bryson;
Trevor Marshall; and Kylee and Lucas Fennell. His memory will be
cherished by lifelong friend and former wife, Roxane Ruiz, who
remained a dear friend even after they parted ways. Peter also leaves
behind his only sister, Teresita (Gene) Condon, a handful of nephews
and nieces, and numerous extended family members across the
country.
The
family will hold a private Celebration of Life to send some of his
ashes back into the natural world he so loved. A graveside service
will be held at a later date at Mission Cemetery in Seaside to lay
him peacefully near his parents, Albert and Jacinta, and brothers,
Anthony and Michael who preceded him in death.
The
family would love to express their eternal gratitude for the In Home
Healthcare providers Dan, Cindy, and Christian who tended to him
daily; the Redwood Coast PACE Program; and the staff of Hospice of
Humboldt, especially his nurse, Coral. Without the support of these
programs and agencies, our family would have struggled making sure
Papa’s last years were peaceful for him. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be sent in Peter’s memory to Hospice of Humboldt at
3327 Timber Fall Court Eureka, CA 95503.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Peter Fennell’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Photos of the scene provided by reader Mike Seeber.
A stop work order still stapled to a freshly cut redwood stump across from Eureka’s Redwood Acres spells out the details of a contentious tree clearing completed by PG&E at the end of March.
According to Humboldt County Chief Building Official Keith Ingersoll, PG&E cut down several redwood trees at its substation property on the 3200 block of Harris Street without filing for the proper county permits.
A county building inspector was called to the scene after receiving a complaint about the clearing on April 8. However, the illegal timber production work was completed days before the inspector arrived.
“The inspector posted a stop work order for the tree removal without permits that had occurred,” Ingersoll told the Outpost. “Additionally, the department mailed out by certified mail a letter to the owner letting them know that a stop work order had been posted for the unpermitted tree removal, in violation of [Humboldt County Code.]”
PG&E spokesperson Deanna Contreras told the Outpost that crews cut the trees to add “defensible space” to the company’s substation.
“We worked closely with the customer who resides near the facility, and he was supportive of our work,” Contreras said. “We also obtained the proper encroachment and Calfire permit for this work.”
While PG&E says it worked with a supportive customer in the area before removing the trees, the county maintains that the company still needs to obtain the proper permits. Ingersoll said the County Building Division has an open case file for the incident and that PG&E has until July 2, 2021 to file for the required permits. If PG&E fails to apply for permits by this date, Ingersoll said the Building division will refer the case to the Code Enforcement Unit for further action.
“With added defensible space, this PG&E facility helps us keep our customers and the community safe here in Humboldt County,” Contreras said. “PG&E started the vegetation management project in late January and completed the work the first week of March. Between that time, crews did pause work during inclement weather.”
A stop work order posted at the site of the clearing.
“The Salt,” a poem by Eureka Youth Poet Laureate Izzy Unsinger, is inscribed on a sidewalk in Henderson Center during the 2020 Eureka Street Art Festival | Ink People Center for the Arts.
Got a way with words? Can you apply that skill to articulately immortalizing Eureka as you experience it in its current form? Great! Learn how to apply to be one of Eureka’s next Poet Laureates by absorbing the Ink People Center for the Arts / City of Eureka press release below:
Calling all poets! The Ink People Center for the Arts and the City of Eureka are now accepting applications for the City of Eureka’s next Poet Laureates.
Poetry invites us to open up our senses to the experience of place, self, and other; the City of Eureka’s Poet Laureate Program brings new people and perspectives into visibility and generates powerful language for expressing the experience of “being here.”
In 2021 a panel of five judges, including at least one youth member, will review submitted applications and appoint up to two youth poet laureates and up to two adult poet laureates. These poets will serve as poetry ambassadors to the city of Eureka for a two-year period.
Responsibilities associated with the Poet Laureate position in the adult category include: writing six - eight poems reflecting life in Eureka; participating in two poetry readings related to the city of Eureka; presenting two poems at a city council meeting; planning and executing at least one poetry-related project in the community; meeting with the youth poet laureate(s) at least twice to share poetry and experiences as a writer; exchanging with other poet laureates when possible.
The Poet Laureate(s) will receive: nomination by the Eureka Arts and Culture Commission for the California Poet Laureate position; printing of 10 broadsides or one chapbook of poems; a $250 stipend; public acknowledgement through a press release and mention on the city website, social media channels, and newsletter; and recording of selected poetry on local television such as Access Humboldt. The Eureka Poet Laureate Program will help facilitate poetry exchanges with other poet laureates when possible.
Responsibilities associated with the youth Poet Laureate position include: writing 6 - 8 poems reflecting life in Eureka; participating in a poetry reading related to Eureka at least once in each year; presenting two poems at a city council meeting; meeting with the adult poet laureate at least twice to share poetry and experiences as a writer, and exchanging with other poet laureates when the possibility allows.
The youth Poet Laureate(s) will receive: printing of 10 broadsides or one chapbook of poems; a $125 stipend; public acknowledgement through a press release and mention on the city website, social media channels, and newsletter; and recording of their selected poetry on local television Access Humboldt. The Eureka Poet Laureate Program will help facilitate poetry exchanges with other youth poet laureates when possible.
To be eligible, poets must live or have a writing studio within the city limits of Eureka, California, or within 1 mile of Eureka.
UPDATE, 3:30 p.m.: Calfire notes that both fires are now contained, though they’ll have be mopping up for quite some time. The second fire grew to four acres in size.
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From Calfire:
Incident Type: Wildand Fire
Incident
Date and Time: 4/19/21, 9:13 AM
Location: Bald Hills area of Humboldt County
Direct Protection Area
Responsibility: State Responsibility (CAL FIRE)
Type of Incident: Vegetation Fire
Size of Incident: Two fires, approximately one acre and two acres respectively
Fire Containment: 50%
Fire Control Resources Committed: 1 Helicopter, 5 Fire Engines, 2 Fire Crews, 1 Bulldozer, 4 Water Tenders
Additional Information: Forward progress has been stopped on one fire with 0% containment on second fire
currently at two acres and spreading at a moderate rate. Fire Control resources will be committed until
100% containment and control is accomplished.
Agencies Responding: CAL FIRE, Six Rivers National Forest, National Park Service, Hoopa Wildland Fire
Department, Orick Volunteer Fire Department, Orleans Volunteer Fire Department, Humboldt Bay Fire
Department, Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department
