David D. Noel, age 85, loving husband, father and grandfather passed away in his home, surrounded by family on December 22, 2020. He passed away from cancer after an almost four-year battle. He was born July 15, 1935 to parents Mary and Clarence Noel.

David was a proud veteran of the Unites States Air Force. He served his country proudly for nie years. He was originally stationed at Duluth Minnesota Airbase, where he would meet his wife of 62 years, Marlys. He met his longtime love through a friend that was dating his sister. They married on May 11, 1957 in Duluth, Minn. David and Marlys moved to Porterville, Calif. a few months after they married to be closer to David’s family. Due to David’s time in the Air Force they later traveled to Hahn, Germany where David was stationed for two years. Throughout their years together they welcomed six children into the world. They later migrated north to Humboldt County, where they would make their permanent home. They have lived in Fortuna for the last 34 years.

David was a jet mechanic in the Air Force for several years. Often David loved telling stories of his days in the Air Force to his family. He worked for Noel’s TV in Eureka and later opened up his own shop in Fortuna with his boys. He retired at the age of 77, but always kept a hand in the business. He loved talking with his customers and enjoyed fixing things.

David was an avid fisherman. There was nothing he loved more than early mornings out on the water. He, and his sons, spent countless hours out on the ocean fishing. On one of his great fishing adventures, David caught a 96-pound halibut, one of truly many days on the water to remember. He was also known for his green thumb; he was able to grow an incredible garden every year. Even chemo and hospital stays couldn’t keep him out of his garden. He had a love for animals as well. Throughout the years he had a slew of cats, dogs and rabbits.

David was a quiet man, never one to judge, slow to speak, quick to listen. He had a fuse a mile long. He loved spending time with his family during Sunday dinners and holidays. He was the one who always carried a camera or camcorder in order to capture memories for the family. David was an amazing Yahtzee player; he spent a lot of time playing Yahtzee and cards with his kids and grandkids.

David is preceded in death by his parents Mary and Clarence Noel, his sisters Faye Noel, Model Boone, Noran Yow , Margeurite Hutchinson, and his brothers Earl Noel and Buck Noel. He is survived by his wife Marlys Noel, his sister Gail Dickson, his children Mark (Tami) Noel, Dava (Keith) Harvey, Kirk(Julie) Noel, Leon (Glenda) Noel, Dale(Terena) Noel and Gary Noel, as well as 12 grand children and 7 great grandchildren. David was a family man; he loved his family, and they loved and respected him. He will be greatly missed by his family, but his legacy will live on through them. His family finds comfort in the fact that he is home with his lord and savior. Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the lord forever.

There are no services for David. Please spend time with your loved ones.

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

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PREVIOUSLY: Bohn Asks Fellow Supes to Consider Joining Call for Fewer State COVID Restrictions, Ability to Open Schools ASAP

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Some got what they wanted and others didn’t at Tuesday’s meeting of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors.

After years of often contentious exchanges with her fellow county officials, Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez was given board approval to hire more employees — specifically, two full-time accountants — to alleviate what she has described as chronic understaffing in her office.

Things didn’t go quite so smoothly for First District Supervisor Rex Bohn, who wound up withdrawing a controversial COVID-19-related resolution he’d placed on the agenda. He also faced accusations that he has conflicts of interest — or at least the appearance of them — in his bid to be appointed to the California Cannabis Authority. 

The meeting began with Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor Virginia Bass reading a prepared statement regarding the violent mob of Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol last Wednesday. Calling the attack a “horrific” and “abhorrent” assault on democracy, Bass condemned the group’s actions on behalf of the board. She also commended “the courageous law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol” and led a moment of silence for the two who died.

Sheriff William Honsal also condemned the attack as “unsettling and horrific” and offered assurances that local law enforcement is committed to ensuring community safety from extremists. 

The Healthy Communities Resolution

If Bohn ever felt truly committed to passing the Healthy Communities Resolution, a statement of opposition to California’s COVID-19 restrictions in favor of more local control, his enthusiasm had diminished some by Tuesday morning. Having received loads of negative feedback online and, according to at least one fellow supervisor, via email, Bohn said he merely “brought it forward for discussion” in hopes of giving the Public Health Branch and local school districts more latitude to set their own regulations.

It should be pointed out that the resolution would carry no legal weight or usurp the state’s authority. And local school districts already have the power to determine when and how to resume in-person instruction.

“This is a simple resolution,” Bohn said almost apologetically. He suggested it could be “wordsmithed” or shortened, “or I can just ask to have it removed.”

Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson said he was “wholeheartedly against” the resolution, in part because it would contribute to the lack of cohesion that has characterized the national response to the pandemic. He also tied the resolution to last week’s events at the Capitol, saying it reeked of “toxic individuality.”

Bohn apologized for the timing of the resolution, explaining that he brought it to staff week before last with “no premonition that D.C. would blow up like it did.”

Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell said that while she thinks the timing and the resolution itself are probably bad, “I do want to show my support for the idea of local control when our numbers are sufficiently lowering.”

Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone said school boards already enjoy local control, and he doesn’t support the resolution. “When you’re in a really good place, that’s not the time to loosen things up,” he said.

Bohn, who took the criticism in stride, pulled the item off the agenda without putting it to a vote.

California Cannabis Authority

Who knew that a seat on this agency would be so coveted?

The CCA is a Joint Powers Authority among counties, sponsored by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC). Its purpose, according to a staff report, is to collect and analyze data, help local governments comply with state regulations and provide information to financial institutions that want to work with the industry.

Previously, former Supervisor Estelle Fennell held the county’s seat, with Treasurer-Tax Collector John Bartholomew serving as the alternate. Fennell’s November election loss left a seat open, and at the Jan. 5 Board of Supervisors meeting several board members expressed interest — especially Bohn and Madrone.

On Tuesday, Madrone made an aggressive case for himself, largely by suggesting (without naming him directly) that Bohn’s familial connections to the industry should disqualify him. (The First District Supervisor’s adult son, Trevor, has active business interests in the cannabis industry.)

“Neither I nor any member of my family is involved in commercial cannabis,” Madrone said, adding, “The public’s trust turns on whether they perceive our actions to be promoting the public’s interests as opposed to our own.” He touted his training on conflict-of-interest policy and read aloud some provisions for public employees.

Clerk of the Board Kathy Hayes interjected to say she’d received an email from the CCA executive director/attorney, Greg Turner, which said that while the agency is currently revising and updating its own conflict-of-interest policy, industry connections are by no means disqualifying. 

“I don’t want to discourage a [Board of Supervisors] member from participating who is engaged in or connected to cannabis businesses,” Turner’s email states. “We want them.”

Bohn pushed back against the conflict-of-interest allegations, saying he just won reelection by a healthy margin, so his constituents clearly aren’t worried about that issue. 

“To try to disparage my family and myself continuously is quite unnerving,” Bohn said. Nevertheless, he grudgingly acquiesced, saying, “Steve, you can do this,” though he added a parting shot: “Kick and scream and throw me under the bus every chance you get; I’m all for it.”

The vote to appoint Madrone and Bartholomew was unanimous.

Auditor-Controller’s Office Staffing

For the past few months, the county’s Human Resources Department, led by Director Linda Le, has been researching the fine print of job requirements, staffing levels and classifications for positions in the Auditor-Controller’s Office. This work was necessary, according to HR staff, to give the Board of Supervisors the information necessary to consider Paz Dominguez’s requests for additional staff.

At today’s meeting, Le said the work has been completed, and she recommended giving Paz Dominguez some help in the form of a full-time supervising accountant-auditor and a full-time senior accountant-auditor.

Her staff report suggested that these positions should be approved only for an unspecified but “limited” duration. That’s because the county should really undertake a comprehensive, countywide staffing study — a “realignment endeavor” aimed at making the whole county run more efficiently, Le said. 

But in the meantime, Le said she believes the extra staff would “stabilize operations” in the Auditor-Controller’s Office.

Bohn bitterly noted that the county has already added staff to the office since Paz Dominguez took the helm, but he said, “Let’s give her more.” There’s work that desperately needs to be finished, he said, including a cost allocation plan and closing the books on previous fiscal years. “We’ve got to get this stuff done or we are in financial disaster,” Bohn said. “No ifs, ands or buts.”

Paz Dominguez expressed gratitude for Le’s efforts, and she challenged Bohn’s accounting of her office’s staffing woes, saying two positions allocated to her office remain unfilled while the one accountant who’s been assigned to her was immediately reassigned to the Emergency Operations Center amid the county’s COVID response.

Madrone said he was excited by the opportunity to “start turning a corner” on this divisive issue, and he suggested making the two accountant positions permanent rather than temporary. 

There was some discussion among the board members about whether that would be appropriate, and despite a particularly critical and anonymous public comment accusing Paz Dominguez of being under-qualified, inflexible and obstructionist, the board would up unanimously approving the staffing request. 

Video of College Cove recorded on Sunday by reader Jason Wheeler.

King tides and 30-foot waves have made for some very scary ocean conditions along the North Coast these past few days.

Eureka’s National Weather Service office reports that the hazardous conditions will subside tomorrow, before large westerly swells move into the area on Friday.

A few kind readers have shared their frightening photos and videos of the monster surf with the Outpost. Scroll through the videos below for some recent ocean views along the Humboldt Coast.

Footage of high tide at Moonstone Beach this morning. | Karina Junge

Photos and video taken by Jon Burton-Reesman in Trinidad on Sunday.

Big waves at the North Jetty on Sunday. | Video provided by Jenifer Sherman. (Sherman wanted to include that the dog seen in this video, which is not hers, was unharmed by the waves.)

Aerial footage of waves crashing into an old barn in Centerville yesterday. | Video by Rose Hanan.

Additional footage of a group nearly getting swept away by a large wave at Trinidad State Beach last week. | Rose Hanan

The North and South Jetty. | Aerial photos from around Humboldt County yesterday by Tim Hanan.

The Arcata Marsh.

Centerville Beach.

Humboldt and Arcata Bays.

NWS.

From the Eureka Police Department:

Over the last several months, the Eureka Police Department’s (EPD) Community Safety and Enhancement Team’s (CSET) Park and Waterfront Ranger has received numerous reports of fireworks and loud explosions coming from the area of Bayshore Way in Eureka.

Vitolo.

On January 9, 2021, a report of an explosion near the waterfront trail was received. After speaking with witnesses and reviewing video surveillance from the area, 53-year-old Darin Vitolo of Eureka was identified as the suspect.

On January 11, 2021, CSET and EPD’s Problem Oriented Policing Team (POP) responded to the 1300 block of Bayshore Way for a probation search on Vitolo. During the search of Vitolo’s shipping container, 29 grams of methamphetamine, US Currency, a scale, packaging material, and a pay/owe book were located.

The following items were located during a search of Vitolo’s makeshift workshop: a live explosive device, materials for the manufacturing of explosive components (fuses, containers, tape), tools, and items used to build explosive devices. There were also bulk chemicals which could be used in the making of energetic materials used in explosives. Several exploded devices and commercial firework containers not California approved were also located on the property. All items were consistent with evidence found after previous reports of explosions heard around the waterfront area. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team responded and rendered the functioning explosive device safe. A test conducted at the scene confirmed the device was filled with explosive material.

Vitolo was transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for felon in possession of ammunition, manufacturing of explosives, possession of a destructive device, and controlled substances for sale. At the time of this release, Vitolo remains in custody.

“This type of criminal activity has no place in our community or society and the wanton disregard for the safety of our citizens who were in the vicinity at the time of these explosions is unacceptable. These were not annoying firework explosions. The devices that were built and detonated had the potential to inflict serious injuries to anyone that would have been in close proximity at the time of the explosion. We have reached out to our Federal Law Enforcement partners for assistance in this investigation, which could include the potential for federal prosecution,” said Captain Brian Stephens.

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County health officials were taken by surprise two weeks ago, when the state moved Humboldt County into a less restrictive COVID tier. For those two weeks, we were the only county in California to be both in a sub-purple tier and not affected by a regional stay-at-home order. We were the only county in California allowing indoor restaurant dining.

Locals at the time warned that we weren’t likely to stay in the red zone long, given our rising case rates, and this afternoon that came to be: The state’s Public Health Department has reassigned us to the most restrictive — purple — tier. The old restrictions that were in place a couple of weeks ago will be reinstituted at 11:59 p.m. tomorrow. 

Press release from the Humboldt County Joint Information Center:

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From the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

Reidel.

The Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) has been investigating Roscoe Reidel (45 years old- Eureka) for distribution of fentanyl in Humboldt County since early December 2020. Agents had received information that Reidel was picking up large quantities of fentanyl in San Francisco and transporting it back to Humboldt County to distribute to customers. On the evening of January 11th, 2021 agents conducted surveillance on Reidel as he drove from Eureka to the Tenderloin District in San Francisco. An HCDTF agent obtained a search warrant for Reidel based off the investigation.

Adams.

In the early morning hours of January 12th, 2021, HCDTF agents, with the assistance of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), made a traffic stop on Reidel on northbound Highway 101 at the Pepperwood Dr. exit as he retuned from San Francisco. Reidel was detained along with Brian Adams (37 years old- Eureka) and Courtney Garrett (31 years old- Eureka).

Agents served a search warrant on the vehicle and located ¼ pound (4 ounces) of fentanyl. This is the largest seizure of fentanyl in HCDTF history. The street value of this fentanyl is approx. $22,400.00.

Courtney.

Reidel, Garrett, and Adams were transported to the Humboldt County Jail and booked for the following charges:

• H&S 11352(b) Transportation of controlled substances across noncontiguous counties

• H&S 11351 Possession for sale of controlled substances

• H&S 11352(a) Transportation of controlled substance for sale

• PC 182 Conspiracy to commit a crime

Fentanyl in Humboldt County

* In 2020 there were 11 overdose deaths in Humboldt County associated with fentanyl

* A high percentage of heroin users in Humboldt County are transitioning from using heroin mixed with fentanyl to straight fentanyl use

*Fentanyl is commonly being pressed into pills or placed in capsules to imitate prescription medication

* Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports is 80-100 times stronger than morphine.

Two ADA accessible porta-potties were burned to the ground in separate incidents along Scenic Drive in Westhaven within the last few weeks.

Westhaven Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Neil Foreman told the Outpost that the first porta-potty was completely disintegrated near Luffenholtz beach on Dec. 23. On Saturday afternoon, firefighters responded to the most recent porta-potty fire down the road near Houda Point.

“It was definitely a hazmat situation,” Foreman said. “Obviously burning shit and burning plastic is really bad. We got the fire out pretty quickly but it was just really gross.”

Trinidad Coastal Land Trust Executive Director Carol Vander Meer told the Outpost that B&B Portable Toilets accepted the financial burden, but said that the nonprofit won’t replace the toilets anytime soon.

“We provided porta-potties at Luffenholtz and Houda Point,” Vander Meer said. ”It was our effort to reduce the impact of human waste on the beautiful environment.”

The suspicious fires, Vander Meer said, are part of an ongoing crime surge affecting Scenic Drive.

“With the pandemic, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the use of Scenic Drive and there’s been, perhaps, more dumping and overnight camping, so it’s become more of an issue,” she said. “We’re looking into whether having security cameras might be helpful.”

While the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received nearly 100 more calls for service on Scenic Drive in 2020 than in the previous year, HCSO spokesperson Samantha Karges said that there hasn’t been a major uptick in crime in the area.

“We haven’t seen an alarming increase in crime, though we have had several vehicle burglaries along the road, which has prompted more proactive vehicle investigations, traffic stops and patrols of the area,” Karges said.

It’s unclear what caused the porta-potty fires and no suspects have been arrested in connection to the incidents.

“There didn’t appear to be any kind of accelerant,” Assistant Fire Chief Neil Foreman said. “Looking at it, maybe they just set the toilet paper on fire. It was burnt to a crisp.”

Vander Meer is encouraging anyone with information about the fires to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip Hotline at (707) 268-2539.