Leon Zlatkoff
Oct. 16, 1932 - Dec. 13, 2020

Leon Zlatkoff was born and raised on the “Westside” of Chicago on October 16, 1932, in a neighborhood of Jewish immigrants striving to make a better life for their families. At night the family studied hard to learn the English language and the ways of their new country wanting to become American citizens.

His mother, Lottie from the Ukraine, worked as a seamstress; his father Joe from Poland spent long hours in a men’s store as a tailor; his younger brother Charles went on to become a respected artist and big brother Leon worked nights at the post office to earn his college degree from Roosevelt University in accounting, eventually having a long successful career as an IRS agent.

He was surrounded by his mother’s large extended family with the Orthodox Jewish Synagogue serving as the center. He maintained lifelong friends with many of this childhood friends even after they migrated to Southern California to escape the harsh weather of Chicago. Leon’s curiosity and love of adventure took him beyond Chicago to travels around the world, with many of his choice destinations being driven by his love of nature and curiosity of different people and cultures.

This same love of nature led to membership in the Sierra Club, where one night in 1975 he met his future wife, Margaret. They were married in September 10, 1978 and bought their first home in Los Angeles. After retiring, they moved to Humboldt County and surrounded themselves with nature.

His loving of gardening lead to his discovery of rhododendrons and they joined the Eureka Sequoia Garden Club and the Rhododendron Club. He became an award-winning gardener. And as anyone who knew Leon could tell you he really loved the potlucks and was never shy about being the first in line to enjoy a meal with people whose friendships he valued.

In April of 2019, Leon became moved by the teachings of the Bible and joined his wife in her long held faith as a Born Again Christian, something that gave him peace and brought a new depth to his marriage. He was an avid reader and for the 88 years he spent on this earth. He and Margaret will be forever grateful for the friendships and love of their fellow gardeners.

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

Billy Ray “Bill” Rist, 84 passed away on Jan. 23, 2021, in Eureka. He was a long-time resident of Humboldt County. He also lived with his beloved wife, Gloria Rist, in Hawkins Bar for several years.

Bill was born in Washakie, Wyoming to Irwin and Mary Rist. At a young age his family moved to Washington State and then migrated to California for employment. He enlisted in the Army and served in Korea. He was assigned to the 76TH Engineering battalion. He was a very gentle soul and touched many lives, especially his grandchildren.

He leaves behind the love of his life, Gloria Rist, a daughter, Natalie and husband Michael, sister Karen, five step daughters, Faith, Karen, Robin, Leaha, and Sarah. His grandchildren, Angel and Johnnie, Rachel Norton, (Jake) and great grandson Ben. Cassidy, Kenna, Daniel, Connor, Paige, and numerous others. He had a special bond with Rachel and Daniel.

Rachel met grandpa Bill when she was three and they loved each other deeply. She loved to cuddle with him and he was an amazing grandpa. There are many pictures of him hugging her and holding her and big smiles from the two of them. Daniel and Grandpa Bill have a military bond like no other. Grandpa Bill gave love and advice to Daniel prior to Daniel going into the Marines. His life experience from his days in the Korean war helped guide Daniel and keep him safe. On his return home from deployments there were many heart felt exchanges that will always be in Daniels head and heart. He will be sorely missed. Bill was an amazing wood worker and made many beautiful cabinets and dressers. Bill met the love of his life in 1993. I have to say that Gloria and Bill had a love like no other. When they met, he worked at Kenworth Trucking as a Diesel Mechanic and worked there for many years. Gloria was a nurse. They met through his sister Karen, who was Gloria’s friend and neighbor. The two of them were inseparable. The following is a look into their life and Bill’s personality written by their granddaughter Rachel Norton.

There is always that scene in a movie where, whether it be between a couple, a pair of friends, or even a parent and a child, someone will say “I have never loved anyone the way I love you.” And it is very sweet and the audience sighs and cheers. I, however, when confronted with these scenes am left going “Okay…. but elaborate.” Not that I don’t believe the characters are insincere, because they surely are. It’s just that when it comes down to it, I could say that line to anyone and everyone I love and still be telling the truth. Because I like to think love is like the snowflake metaphor, where no matter how many similarities there may be, it occurs differently every time. Therefore, I can say with confidence that I have never loved anyone the way I loved Bill…but allow me to elaborate.

I loved how he dealt with every situation with an overwhelming casualness, no matter how extreme or dangerous it may be. For example: For most people having a mountainside collapse under you while you were taking a pit stop on a long road trip would most likely define their entire day. Most would probably give up and go home after that. Not my grandfather though. He climbed back up the fifty or so feet of dirt and rocks that he had just tumbled down, dusted himself off and got back in the truck with grandma, who, if not for Bill looking like he had just fallen off a mountain, (because he die), would have been none the wiser to what had just occurred. They continued the road trip from there. As I said, falling off a mountain would define most people’s days, if not their years. For Bill, it was Tuesday.

I loved that he needed to keep busy. I’m sure that the first thing he did when he arrived in heaven was ask if there was anything that needed fixing. If there was anything he could help with. At this point, he has probably built god about 15 aviaries and a new front porch.

I remember whenever I would call, Bill would answer, and I would ask how he was doing. Most of the time he said he was fine, but there was always an “except”. Like “Like, I’m fine, except I fell off the roof again and I think I broke a finger.” Or, “I’m fine, but my knee is turning a funny color because I dropped a hammer on it, but anyway, I need to get back up on the roof, do you want to talk to grandma?”

I loved how patient he was, because with six children and almost two dozen grandchildren and great-grandchildren that is a gift. That patience probably saved his life on more than one occasion. He took the time to know each of us as we were, and loved us all, even when we acted out or acted unlovable. He understood that was when we needed him the most.

But what I loved the most is how he loved her. My grandmother. There was a quiet fierceness and determination about him whenever it came to her. Whatever she needed, he would either build it, cook it, buy it, or invent it. She would do the same for him. They were painfully adorable together and hopelessly in love until the last minute. If they happen to meet again in another life, I can only wish that they come together a little sooner, so that they can enjoy each other’s company that much longer.

From the Eureka Police Department:

On January 31, 2021, at about 11:42 p.m., officers with the Eureka Police Department responded to the 700 block of 10th Street for the report of a male yelling that he had been shot.

Upon arrival, officers located a 56-year-old male gunshot victim. Humboldt Bay Fire and City Ambulance responded to the scene and provided emergency medical care and transport to the hospital. Based on the investigation, it was determined the shooting occurred near a residence on 1000 block of I Street.

Deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and Officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded and assisted EPD with a perimeter and protective sweep of a residence and outbuildings on the property. No additional victims or suspects were located. The scene was secured and EPD’s Criminal Investigations Section responded to collect evidence.

At the time of this report, the victim is in critical condition. No suspects have been identified at this time. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Bise at rbise@ci.eureka.ca.gov or (707) 441-4109.

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Just over a month into her first term as Humboldt County’s Second District Supervisor, Michelle Bushnell has selected her appointee to the county’s planning commission: cannabis farmer and SoHum native Thomas Mulder. 

“I’m thrilled that Thomas considered it when I asked him,” Bushnell told the Outpost on Monday. “He took a long time to decide. I know he really weighed it and is up for the position … .”

Bushnell also expressed gratitude to Ronnie Pellegrini, who was appointed to the Planning Commission by former Supervisor Estelle Fennell last May. “Community service like that is a big challenge, and I really appreciate her,” Bushnell said.

But the county’s newest supervisor also wants to make her own decisions and thus chose not to reappoint Pellegrini. “I just want to forge my own path for the next four years and have some individualism,” she said.

While Bushnell and Mulder don’t have a personal relationship, they served together on the board of the Southern Humboldt Unified School District.

“I find him to be very fair and open-minded,” Bushnell said. “He researches [issues] and is very procedural, very involved.”

Mulder, a licensed contractor and CEO of cannabis cultivation company Humboldt Redwood Healing, frequently comments at meetings of both the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission. (Since the pandemic he’s been showing up via Zoom and the phone.) He regularly expressed opinions on cannabis regulations during the drafting of the county’s Commercial Medical Marijuana Land Use Ordinance (CMMLUO).

The bio on his business’s website notes that as a teenager, Mulder spent a summer foraging native soils and hauling supplies miles into the hills to plant an illicit cannabis garden only to see the crop eradicated, “days before harvest,” by officers from CAMP (the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting), back when the multi-agency task force was at its most aggressive.

Mulder is also an advocate for “rural living,” saying he supports the county’s policy of allowing both a primary residence and an accessory dwelling unit on certain parcels zoned for timber production and agriculture. In recent months he’s been critical of some public health orders while arguing that schools should reopen for in-person instruction. His bio also boasts that he “openly pushes back on the government over rules and regulations … .”

Reached by phone on Monday, Mulder said he took “quite some time” to consider whether or not to accept the appointment. He wanted to make sure that his role in the cannabis industry wouldn’t disqualify him from considering other cannabis projects. (It doesn’t.) He also wanted to make sure he had the support of his friends and family, and he reached out to a couple sitting planning commissioners — Noah Levy and Alan Bongio — to see how much of a time commitment the volunteer position requires.

“If I’m gonna do something, I want to make sure I’m not — for lack of a better term — half-assing it,” Mulder said. Having recently resigned from the school board, Mulder believes he can now spare the 15-20 hours per week month that he expects the position will require. (Planning Commissioners do receive a stipend of $140 per meeting.)

Mulder said he doesn’t have an agenda, and he believes his experience in the weed industry will help him judge the merits of project proposals.

“I’m in the industry, so I understand what it takes for projects to operate,” he said. He’s seen others question certain aspects of proposed projects — the scale of water usage, size of the workforce or number of projected vehicle trips on county roads — and he’s been able to say from his own experience, “‘No, those numbers are pretty accurate,’” he said. “I think I can bring some insight.”

Levy, who has served on the Planning Commission since 2014, told the Outpost, “I’m seriously stoked that Thomas is joining the commission.”

Asked about his position on rural development, Mulder said he loves rural living and hopes that his kids and (eventual) grandkids will be able to have the same experience. But he also acknowledged that there are concerns about development in areas with high fire risk and difficult access. “I have yet to do the research to fully understand that side of the discussion,” he said.

But he’s excited to start doing that kind of research. 

“I told Michelle, ‘I guess I’m a glutton for public volunteering,’” Mulder said. It wasn’t until about a year ago that he found out county planning commissioners aren’t paid for their work, which increased his respect for those who’ve stepped up. That’s his approach, too.

“I’ve always been someone who says if you complain about a problem you’d better be prepared to jump in the ditch and start shoveling shit … ,” he said. “Let’s work together as a community to solve those problems.”

Mulder is set to be appointed at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has announced that it is assisting the U.S. Coast Guard in rescue efforts near the South Jetty were a person has reportedly fallen into the ocean. 

We will update when we know more.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release:

On Jan. 30, 2021, at about 1 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the area of U.S. Highway 101 near Murray Road observed a motorcycle traveling at a high-rate of speed.

Jeremiah Jerel Wilkinson. | HCSO

Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the motorcycle for a speeding violation, however, the driver failed to yield, and a pursuit ensued. Deputies pursued the motorcycle on Highway 101, eventually exiting at Westhaven Drive in Trinidad. During the pursuit, the driver lost control of the motorcycle on Scenic Drive, crashing on the shoulder of the road. The driver was taken into custody without further incident and was identified as 39-year-old Jeremiah Jerel Wilkinson.

Wilkinson was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of evading a peace officer (VC 2800.2), driving with a suspended license (VC 14601.1) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(A)(2)), in addition to warrant charges for felon in possession of tear gas (PC 22810(A)), possession of a narcotic controlled substance (HS 11350(A)), possession of drug paraphernalia (HS 11364(A)) and violation of probation.

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.

A suspected DUI driver bulldozed a portion of Eureka’s distinct Cheshire Cat House on the 2300 block of Fairfield Street with a Ford pickup early this morning.

Joshua Hoisington. | EPD

Eureka Police Department spokesperson Brittany Powell told the Outpost that 38-year-old Joshua Hoisington of Blocksburg crashed into the home at approximately 4:25 a.m.

“Hoisington drove into the house at a high rate of speed and then attempted to flee on foot,” Powell said. “Hoisington was arrested for DUI, driving while unlicensed and hit and run.”

No injuries were reported as a result of the crash.

The Outpost‘s Ryan Burns reports from the scene this morning that the home is miraculously already in repairs.