Arlene Rose Muller Mock was born on November 27, 1944, in Abington, Pennsylvania, to Oskar Muller and Elizabeth Reigelmayer Muller.

Arlene’s father immigrated to this country from Germany in the late 1920s. Arlene’s mother was born in Pennsylvania and returned to the U.S. from Austria-Hungary at the age of 16 alone with two female cousins of the same age in order to maintain her American citizenship. Her parents met when both were employed by the Prince family in Philadelphia. Arlene was proud of her German and Austrian-Hungarian heritage and how hard her parents worked to be good American citizens. She spent countless hours researching her family’s ancestry and collecting documents and photographs to support her research.

When Arlene was eight years old, she moved with her parents to Whittier, California, where Arlene’s older sister, Helen, was already living. During her time living in southern California, she made many friends at school and at various beaches. She even knew how to surf. One of her favorite stories was how she met The Beach Boys before they became super famous. She graduated from California High School (Cal High) 1962.

It was in southern California that she met John Mock when they were both at Skateland with friends. She asked him to skate with her because she was impressed with how he “danced on roller skates.” John and Arlene were married at the Rio Dell Pentecostal Church of God in Rio Dell, California, on April 4, 1964. Except for a short time living in southern California after their first child was born, Arlene and John have lived in Humboldt County for all 61 years of their marriage.

Arlene is known by many in the Eel River Valley for her time working at a variety of jobs. Upon first moving to the area, she worked as a beautician in a variety of local beauty salons. She was also known for making wedding cakes, working as a teacher’s aide for Alice Thrap at Rio Dell Elementary School, working for Herb Colby at Hoby’s, working as a cashier and bookkeeper at Coast-to-Coast in Scotia before the 1992 earthquake and fire, working at Sprouse Reitz in Fortuna in the fabric department, and finishing her working career as a fiscal assistant for Humboldt County’s Department of Public Health.

When Arlene and John attended Rio Dell Pentecostal Church of God, she was involved in both their youth program and their women’s organization. When she and John and their children began attending Rio Dell Baptist Church, she became volunteered with their women’s missionary organization.

All of this though, does not tell you what an amazing woman or Mom or Grammy Arlene was. She always put others ahead of herself. She always made sure we had a warm bed and plenty of food. Being involved in the school and sports activities for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was one of her greatest joys. Family was everything to her. She sewed many of our clothes when we were growing up and continued the tradition for as long as she was able, making clothes for her granddaughters. There were countless Easter’s where she stayed up late sewing a dress to match the one she had sewn her daughters and matching shirts for her son and husband. There were many Christmas Eves she didn’t go to bed at all because she was busy finishing making Christmas gifts by hand and then wrapping everything. Her family and their happiness was extremely important to her.

Some of Arlene‘s favorite activities were eating Chinese food, and when her sisters-in-law were all alive, they liked to meet at Shanghai Low in Eureka for lunch. She also loved going to JoAnn Fabrics and buying fabric to make aprons (some of which she actually finished). Other favorite activities were reading and camping with her family when the kids were all younger.

Arlene recently spent a week in Medford, Oregon with her son and daughter-in-law and some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was one of her favorite vacations away from the rest of us crazies. While she was there she received medical treatment from Dr. Williams at Providence Sports Medicine. Dr. Williams went above and beyond to try to find out what was going on with Arlene’s health. Shortly after that trip, Arlene entered St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka and was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer. Arlene chose not to fight a battle that was not meant for her to win and chose to go peacefully to meet her Savior and loved ones waiting for her in Heaven. She was at peace and assured of her eternity. One of Arlene‘s last requests was to let everyone know that she appreciated the care she had received in Medford from Dr. Williams. She also wanted it known that the level of care she received at St. Joe’s was excellent. From her ER nurses and doctors to the Palliative Care team to the nursing staff in both the PNU wing and the MedSurg wing, Arlene‘s needs were top priority. Their kindness and level of knowledge and expertise cannot be praised enough. The family would also like to thank everyone that was able to call or visit Arlene, especially her former coworkers from Humboldt County’s Department of Public Health. We would also like to thank the countless friends and family, who prayed for Arlene and her transition to her heavenly home. Arlene died with her daughter, Cindi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, by her bedside at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents Oskar & Elizabeth Reigelmayer Muller; her in-laws Henry & Leola DeWitt Mock; her sister & brother-in-law Helen Muller Radde & Ron Radde; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Edward & Margaret Mock Hall, Melvin & Mary Ann Mock Calkins, Pete & Jeannette Mock Bulaga, Henrietta Mock, and Bill Diffin; son-in-law Ken Rose; nieces Cathy Jones Olsen and Tina Bulaga Richardson; and nephews Billy Diffin and Warren Richardson.

Arlene is survived by her husband, John Mock; daughters Cindi Mock Rose and Ammi Mock (Mark Grimes), and son and daughter-in-law, Aaron and Ruth Mock; grandchildren Molly Buck (Felix Cisneros), Callie Buck, Levi Buck, Tory & Jen Mock, Victor & Violet Mock Fernandez, Tanner & Ileana Mock, Ethan Mock, Haley & G Jakabosky, Emma & Nick Houston; great-grandchildren Natalia & Lily (Molly), Emerson (Tory), Atticus & Aspen (Tanner), Lily (Emma), Gabriel (Haley). She is also survived by her sister-in-law Clara Mock Diffin; Lonnie Buck, the father of Cindi’s children, and Heather Finley Bennett, the mother of Aaron’s children; numerous nieces and nephews, her special friend, Joy Blake; and her dog, Trixie.

Arrangements are under the care of Ayres Family Cremation. A Celebration of Arlene’s life will take place on Thursday, May 15, at 4 p.m. at Fortuna Church of the Nazarene, 1355 Ross Hill Rd., Fortuna. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local 4H or Future Farmers of America chapter.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Arlene Mock’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

In late April 2025, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) was alerted to a report of ongoing sexual assault of a minor having occurred at an undisclosed location on Indianola Reservation Rd., Loleta. HCSO’s Major Crimes Division (MCD) was assigned to the case given the severity of the allegation(s).

Based upon MCD’s extensive investigation, sufficient probable cause was established to seek a Ramey Warrant for the arrest of the suspect, Jarred Vaughan (age 22 of Loleta).

On the morning of May 2, 2025, MCD, assisted by HCSO Patrol, HCSO Special Services, HCSO Animal Control, and Humboldt County Child Welfare Services served a Search Warrant at the Indianola Reservation Rd. property. Evidence relating to the alleged sexual assault was located on scene and collected.

Vaughan was later booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for the following charges: 

• Rape by Force or Fear – PC 261(a)(2)
  
• Unlawful Sex with a Minor more than three years younger – PC 261.5(c)
  
• Oral Copulation by Force or Fear of a Minor who is 14 or older – PC 287(c)(2)(c)
• Sex Trafficking a Minor – PC 236.1(c)
  

Special appreciation is extended to the Multi-Disciplinary Forensic Interview team at C.A.S.T., Advocates with North Coast Rape Crisis and Victim/Witness, and Social Workers with Child Welfare Services for their professionalism and collaboration during this sensitive investigation.

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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12:30 P.M. UPDATE: Locals are circulating an online petition — linked here — to save the Mad River Fish Hatchery, which has gained 650 signatures as of this writing.

“For decades, the hatchery has played a vital role in the conservation of local fish species, bolstered the local economy, and provided an educational resource for our children and future stewards of the environment,” the petition states. “Its closure would not only disrupt these crucial activities but would also significantly impact recreational fishing and local traditions linked to our river heritage.”

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Original post: After nearly 55 years of rearing federally listed steelhead, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is closing the Mad River Fish Hatchery at the end of next month.

CDFW spokesperson Peter Tira told the Outpost that the aging facility needs more than $30 million in infrastructure upgrades and repairs to remain open, which, given the state’s ongoing budget crisis, just isn’t feasible for the department. 

“We own this facility here and are responsible for maintaining the physical plant, but we’re looking at at least $10 million in immediate repairs … and an additional $30 million to modernize the facility,” Tira said. “It’s really a combination of aging infrastructure and federal constraints on production, which is capped at 150,000 steelhead per year. … It’s just not a viable hatchery operation anymore.”

The Mad River Fish Hatchery, which stocks local lakes and lagoons, produces “just a tiny fraction” of steelhead compared to the Trinity River Hatchery, Tira said, which produces 450,000 steelhead and 4.6 million salmon per year. 

“It’s just not enough fish to really meet the goals of a hatchery, which are to support species conservation and to provide recreational sport fishing opportunities,” he continued. “Fishing will remain open on the Mad River, but it just doesn’t make sense to maintain this facility.”

CDFW will keep up the buildings and surrounding grounds after the hatchery closes in June or early July. “We’re going to maintain the same public access to the Mad River that is currently available,” Tira said. “We know it’s a very popular spot locally for fishing, mountain biking, hiking and all that good stuff. That isn’t going to change.”

The Mad River Fish Hatchery was forced to close in 2004, also due to a state budget crisis, but the community rallied and the facility reopened in 2005. When asked whether there was any chance the facility could reopen again with enough community support, Tira said that this time the hatchery closure would be permanent.

“It’s really not sustainable,” he continued. “Even if you put all this money into it, we’re limited by the federal government on what we can produce, so it’s not like we could just ramp up production. There’s lots of constraints on this particular species, so it doesn’t make fiscal sense or conservation sense at this point.”

More information can be found in the CDFW press release below.

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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has made the difficult decision to cease hatchery operations at the Mad River Fish Hatchery in Humboldt County.

A combination of increased regulatory burden and a lack of flexibility, aging infrastructure, significant and necessary costly repairs and maintenance, modernization needs, and low fish production and returns forced the decision to close the steelhead trout hatchery just east of Arcata.

“Quite simply, the steelhead program is no longer viable,” said Jason Roberts, Inland Fisheries Program Manager for CDFW’s Northern Region. “The Mad River Fish Hatchery is no longer providing much if any conservation benefit to the species nor the intended recreation or sport fishing benefits in the Mad River. The careful review of these resources indicated they could be better used elsewhere. Our focus now is implementing a transition plan for employees, equipment and resources, repurposing the buildings and making sure the property remains open and accessible for the public to access the Mad River.”

The Mad River Fish Hatchery has been beset by challenges for two decades. In 2004, a state budget crisis forced its closure. The hatchery was able to reopen in 2005 due to community support, but its operations have diminished over time as regulatory demands, operational expenses and infrastructure maintenance needs have increased.

Opened in 1971, the hatchery once raised Chinook salmon, inland salmon and rainbow trout for recreational fishing and steelhead trout to support the native run within the Mad River itself. Over time, all but the steelhead and trout programs have been phased out of hatchery operations.

Today, the Mad River Fish Hatchery is CDFW’s smallest hatchery with three full-time employees, a $730,000 annual budget and a maximum annual steelhead production goal capped by federal fish agencies at 150,000 fish. CDFW’s Trinity River Hatchery by comparison, which also operates a steelhead program to support species conservation and a destination sport fishery, raises and releases about 450,000 steelhead and 4.6 million salmon annually.

CDFW estimates it would need another $1 million annually to continue Mad River Fish Hatchery operations at current levels and likely tens of millions of additional dollars to make needed repairs, modernize the facility for the future and meet federal requirements.

The northern California steelhead found in the Mad River is a federally listed threatened species. As such, the federal government has considerable regulatory authority and oversight of Mad River Fish Hatchery operations, including operational standards that cap production limits in multiple ways and require biological monitoring of impacts to wild populations.

Remaining steelhead in the hatchery will be released into the Mad River in the spring with hatchery operations expected to cease in June.
CDFW plans to maintain a presence at the hatchery facility, repurposing the buildings into offices and continuing to use the workshop. The property will continue to be open from sunrise to sunset to allow public access to the river. The public’s current use of the premises to park and access fishing, hiking, birding and swimming along the Mad River will remain.

The closure of Mad River Fish Hatchery operations will not impact the local stocking of rainbow trout in inland waters for recreational fishing in Humboldt County.

Apart from Mad River, CDFW operates 20 other hatcheries across the state producing millions of fish for conservation and recreation every year. For more information about California’s hatcheries, head to CDFW Fish Hatcheries web page.

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Humboldt County’s newest still-alive movie theater is the next to go.

This morning, on its Facebook page, McKinleyville’s Mill Creek Cinema — owned, like the Broadway, by Coming Attractions Theaters Inc. — announced that it will close its doors on the first of next month.

Anyone with gift cards left over can cash them in at the Broadway, according to the announcement.

And … scene.

Press release from the Arcata Police Department:

On 5/1/25 at approximately 1:33pm, an Arcata Police Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 5000 block of Valley West Blvd. The vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated. The vehicle fled into a field in the 1200 block of Mad River Rd. and the occupants fled on foot. A search of the vehicle revealed firearms and ammunition in the vehicle as well as property that was recently reported stolen.

 The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist. As officers checked the area multiple calls from community members came in, reporting two suspects running through fields and private property.

The two suspects were subsequently located at the edge of the dunes along Mad River Beach and safely arrested with the assistance of an HCSO Drone Unit and K9 Unit.  

The driver was identified as 26-year-old William Adams and was arrested for VC 2800.2(a)- Evading a Peace Officer, PC 25850(a)- Carrying a Loaded Firearm in a Vehicle and PC 496(a)- Possession of Stolen Property and PC 148(a)(1)- Obstruct/Resist a Peace Officer.

The passenger was identified as 27-year-old Richard Bloomhuff and was arrested for PC 29800(a)(1)- Felon in Possession of a Firearm, PC 30305(a)(1)- Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition, PC 148(a)(1)- Obstruct/Resist a Peace Officer, PC 496(a)- Possession of Stolen Property and PC 1203.2(a)- Probation Violation. Bloomhuff is on Formal Probation out of Shasta County for PC 496d(a)- Possession of Stolen Vehicle and PC 148(a)(1). Bloomhuff also had a warrant out of Shasta County for failure to appear.

The Arcata Police Department would like to thank the community members and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.

If you have any information regarding this case, please call the Arcata Police Department at (707)822-2424.

More extremely low-income residents in Humboldt County spend more than half of their income on housing than in any other county in California north of Sonoma, according to new statistics released by the California Housing Partnership.

85% of extremely low-income (ELI) households here are spending more than half of their income on housing. Though other counties in the “North State” area, as the CHP defines Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Sierra, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties, also spend a disproportionate amount of money on housing costs, Humboldt’s ELI residents are the hardest-hit. 

Butte County is second, with 82% of their ELI population paying more than half of their income on housing costs. Sierra County is last; only 43% of their ELI households spend that much.

Additionally, 94% of Humboldt’s very low-income households are spending more than 30% of their income on paying for housing — a higher percentage than the ELI households, at 88%. Seven other counties in the North State follow this pattern. 

California’s department of Housing and Community Development defines an ELI household as one that makes between 15-30% of the Area Median Income, though that percentage changes with how many people live in the household. A very-low income household earns between 30-50% of an area’s median. Humboldt’s median household income is $93,900, but a single person living alone making between $19,750 and $32,900 a year would be considered extremely low-income. 

Humboldt’s median rent of $1,272 per month isn’t the most expensive, although it comes close. Sierra and Nevada counties’ monthly rent of $1,350 is the highest in the region.

Check out data from other counties here.

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The City of Eureka is kicking off Mental Health Awareness Month this Sunday with a community town hall at the Wharfinger Building, where local professionals and people with lived experience will discuss some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding mental illness. 

The event, hosted in partnership with the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will feature two panel discussions and keynote speaker Joseph Reid, the founder and executive director of Broken People, an organization providing peer support for people struggling mental health challenges. In his book, “Broken Like Me,” Reid details his experience living with mental illness and coping with the “brokenness” that comes with it.

“[Reid] is really trying to talk about the reality of mental illness and that people can get better,” said Jacob Rosen, managing mental health clinician for Crisis Alternative Response Eureka (CARE). “I believe he’s going to have a family member with him to also shed light on the fact that mental health symptoms don’t just affect the person that is having them, but can also affect the family members that are around that person, too. And those folks need support as well.”

The panel of speakers will also debunk common misconceptions about mental illness.

“One myth we hear a lot in our line of work at CARE is that people with mental illness are more violent than other people, and that’s just not true,” Rosen said. “When we look at the research, individuals with mental health issues are no more violent than the rest of the population. There are some risk factors for violence, such as previous acts of violence, but that can be true for someone without mental illness as well.”

Another common myth is that people living with mental health issues — especially severe mental illness — can never get better or live successful, fulfilling lives, Rosen continued. “And, across the board, that just isn’t true.”

Since it was formed in 2022, the city’s CARE team has been working with the Eureka Police Department (EPD) on a “co-response” initiative in which mental health professionals work with law enforcement in responding to calls involving mental health crises. When dispatch receives a non-violent call involving a mental health crisis, the call is forwarded to a CARE team member who will attempt to de-escalate the situation over the phone. 

“We’ll try to talk them through it, assess for safety, and then it might stop there and we won’t need to go out and see them,” Rosen explained. “If there is no history of violence with that person and the call is mental health-related, we will send a two-person team in place of an officer. … There are going to be calls where either that individual’s safety or other people’s safety is at risk, and we will need to co-respond with law enforcement to make sure everyone stays safe.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or if you just need someone to talk to, you can call the 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. For local support, EPD’s non-emergency line is 707-441-4044.

The town hall will take place on Sunday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wharfinger Building — 1 Marina Way in Eureka. A full list of local Mental Health Awareness Month events can be found at this link.

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