Rayetta Warlick, born Rayetta Colleen Short on July 30, 1937, passed away on April 15th of this year, 2025, at the age of 87 in Eureka.

She is survived by her husband and sweetheart, (her handsome Timmy) Timothy David Warlick; her brother, Raymond Short; her three remaining daughters, Lona Deaton, Theresa Laidlaw, and Polina (Polly) Hryn; her 14 grandchildren, Monica Hurley, Toni Williams, Christine Klebe, David Elsa, David Deaton, Michael Dority, Jennifer Laidlaw, Tori Laidlaw, Ridge Peterson, Brice Peterson, Ford Peterson, Justin Lendahl, Benjamin Hryn, and John Hryn; her 16 great-grandchildren, Russell Hurley, Kashi Hurley, Brittany Wonnacott, Kenny McDonald, Elijah Hill, Eve Juntz, Mickey Juntz, Ayden Juntz, Jenny Juntz, Liam Juntz, Aubrey Juntz, Amelia Juntz, Elle Dority, Hudson Dority, Hannah Lendahl, and Lucy Hryn; her eight great-great grandchildren, Elijah Hurley, Alexandria Black, Ash Black, Stormy Black, Aurora Black, Ava Carns, Lannon Carns, Michael Davis; and her dog, Rosie. She was preceded in death by her father, Ray Short; her mother, Marie Antoinette Short; her sister Myra Zamarripa; and her daughters Debbie Klebe and Tuesday Peterson.

Bride, mother, grandmother, friend … homemaker, bookkeeper, dealmaker, fun maker … Rayetta (Rat) has been crowned with a life well lived, and abundant love for her shall be carried forth by those of us who remain.

With dominant traits of wit and magnetism, she found her match in Tim, her love and companion to whom she was a fiercely loyal and devoted partner spanning most of their lifetimes. Statuesque and elegant, standing firmly by Tim’s side, they were a couple to be reckoned with, both fun-loving and flirty with attractive personalities, making them quite the popular duo. With an innate sense of fashion (hot pants inclusive), and a unique style all their own, they complimented each other, that along with their shared spunky, sassy, quirky sense of humor. Together they partook in countless adventures, some taking them across the seas to New Zealand and the Isle of Man, a British island territory.

Rayetta helped to secure heavy equipment contract jobs for Tim throughout California and Nevada, accompanying him and simultaneously getting bookkeeping jobs. She also worked for an extended period in HR at Blue Lake Forest.

Naturally self-expressive and silver-tongued, Rayetta had interest in real estate and with sharp negotiating skills, She had the ability to talk anyone into just about anything. She had innovative ideas and the know-how to translate them into concrete actions. And with her inherently clear understanding of the most important aspects of life, she had the ability to communicate that insight to others, providing a solution … and a smile.

Rayetta was a caring, generous, nurturing figure, adept at gardening, canning, cooking, sewing, and yarn work to name just a few. She also enjoyed crafting stained-glass art and pitching horseshoes, eventually winning the entire Northern California Horseshoe Tournament.

She liked street tacos and her daughter Debbie’s homemade chicken enchiladas. Her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. Her favorite song was Danny Boy. Her favorite ice cream was chocolate peanut butter. Her longest friendship was with Laverna, her friend of 87 years. They grew up together, as their mothers were acquainted.

She has now been held up in the arms of heaven, her light of golden dusk merging with the eternal flame, the everlasting embers of her memory remaining to guide us along our path. She glances down at the tears in our eyes and soothes us with the enveloping hug of a gentle breeze. Though she may seem further from us now, we shall see, in every rose, her beauty and eternal youth. We shall look on with admiration at her spirit in the magic of morning dew on a spider’s web, the replenishing droplet on a flower petal, the playfulness in an April shower.

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Last night, as has been happening quite often lately, the Blue Lake City Council met in special closed session to discuss the performance of the town’s city manager, Amanda Mager.

The new city council, which was seated on the flip of a coin a few months ago, has been holding special meetings on the same topic quite often. Sometimes they go until the wee hours of the morning.

Mager has long been a target of revanchist ire in the town, and it was long hoped in those circles that this council — the same council that recently torpedoed an effort to get the city’s housing element into compliance with state law — would give her the boot.

What happened at last night’s meeting? As can happen in small towns, the word has spread: Mager was, in fact, fired. People are all over Facebook, either lighting off fireworks or planning protests in the streets.

But is that word correct? Apparently no one who remains at City Hall is willing to say. The Outpost tried twice today to get comment. The first time we called, we were told someone would call us back. This never happened.

The second time we called, the person who answered the phone told us that the city had nothing to report.

Nothing to report? we asked. Well, the Brown Act states that a public body must report any action taken during a closed session upon the closure of the meeting. Are you saying that Ms. Mager, was not, in fact, fired?

Again we were told: We have nothing to report.

But if that’s the case, then …

Click.

So we’re in a bit of a pickle, information-wise. Either:

• Everyone in Blue Lake is wrong, or 
• This city employee is engaging in exxxtreme cover-your-ass behavior. 

We tend to think that Option #2 is far more probably true, but we could be wrong. Maybe Mager was compelled to quit, rather than technically fired. We don’t know. Maybe she’s still working there! Seems unlikely.

In any case, pro-Mager citizens operating under that same assumption will be gathering tonight at 6 p.m. at Perigot Park to discuss what options they have, if any.

Here is the beginning of last night’s meeting, before the council went into its closed session, at which people spoke in favor of or against the city manager. Kind of gives you of taste of where Blue Lake is at right now.

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NOTE: This story contains explicit details of sexual violence.

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A hearing to consider whether to release a sexually violent predator to a house on the outskirts of Manila was continued this morning to give the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) time to review hundreds of pages of public opposition. The new hearing date was scheduled for July.

And in a surprise twist, there will also be a hearing later this month to review an allegation that the convicted serial rapist, Richard Stobaugh, was found in possession of child pornography while at Coalinga State Hospital in 2018. Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm today said Stobaugh concealed that fact from the DHS treatment team that recommended his release.

In a courtroom packed to the gills, with more people standing outside in hopes that someone might vacate their seat, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum found that the District Attorney’s Office missed the deadline to consolidate and submit its records of public feedback to the DSH.

He ordered the placement hearing to be continued to July 14, while the hearing regarding the alleged possession of child pornography was scheduled for May 21.

Cockrum did not allow public participation via Zoom, explaining that the court can’t control written messages between participants nor prevent offensive gestures and messages. “I’ve even experienced nudity,” he said, adding that he reserved space for news media to ensure public access to court proceedings.

At the outset of the day’s hearing, Cockrum gave a lengthy overview of Stobaugh’s criminal history and outlined the competing rights at play in these proceedings, which pit liberty against tyranny. He also noted there is “a lot of anger and a lot of fear [and] a lot of misinformation” regarding the case. 

“I can’t address or or take away all of the anger and fear, but I can address the misinformation,” he said. 

Noting that Stobaugh is a sexually violent predator, the judge ran through the “horrible, violent, unconscionable things” on his rap sheet: In 1981 he broke into a dorm room and raped a woman in her teens; in 1987 he kidnapped, raped, orally copulated and sodomized a 25-year-old woman; in 1988 he was convicted after he bound and raped a pregnant woman and also raped a 71-year-old woman.

Stobaugh has now served his entire prison time for those crimes, and the court has no authority to remand him back there, Cockrum explained.

In 2012 the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office successfully petitioned to have him committed to the state hospital, where he remained for over a decade. At a hearing in December 2023, expert witnesses for both the defense and the prosecution testified that Stobaugh had made sufficient progress in his treatment and could be safely released into the community under conditions of strict supervision.

A doctor serving as a witness for the DA’s office at that 2023 hearing said that while Stobaugh remained a sexually violent predator, his age reduced the likelihood of offense as there was “a natural decline in aggression and psychopathy.”

A doctor testifying for the defense said that, upon his release, Stobaugh would be monitored through GPS 24/7, with “exclusion zones” that he could not enter; he’d be required to check in regularly with a regional coordinator and a team of caseworkers; he’d need to attend weekly group and individual therapy sessions; he’d have to take at least four polygraph tests per year; all of his electronic devices would be monitored with software that tracks keystrokes and images; and he’d have to register as a sex offender.

Cockrum said that, with no evidence submitted to the contrary, the law required him to find that conditional release was appropriate, and so the petition for his release was granted.

“The law now says that Mr. Stobaugh has a right to liberty,” Cockrum said. “This is a fundamental due process right. If I were to hold him in the hospital without legal backing, if I were to send them to prison with no new law violations, that is a violation of due process. That is tyranny.”

But the judge said he also has to ensure that the public will be adequately protected. “I take your rights just as seriously,” he said, and he promised to take community input before approving, modifying or rejecting the state hospital’s recommendations.

“Mr. Stobaugh cannot remain in jail forever,” he said. “The community also has to be adequately protected. That’s what these hearings are about. This is no small issue. This goes to the core of what it means to be a human being. I take it very seriously.”

The  DSH’s Conditional Release Program, called CONREP, was tasked with finding a place for Stobaugh in his home county of Humboldt, and the landlord of the proposed property — at 2171 Peninsula Drive in Manila — was the first person willing to rent to CONREP for this purpose.

As for the public’s right to be heard, Cockrum said that, contrary to the initial call to action issued by Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal, the court cannot received direct emails or letters from the public — in this or any other case. Instead, per the state’s Welfare and Institutions Code 6609.1, all communication with the court must go through the DA’s Office.

Jane Hu, the attorney representing the DSH, said her department needs more time to review the “voluminous” community and agency comments that have been submitted thus far, as does Liberty Healthcare, the corporation that contracts with the state to provide outpatient treatment and supervision for people like Stobaugh.

State code requires such comments to be submitted with at least 10 days notice before a hearing like today’s. However, the Humboldt County DA’s Office turned over some 350 pages of agency comments just yesterday, Hu said. Those comments need to be consolidated and responded to, and they may prompt the state to modify its recommendations for the conditions of Stobaugh’s release. Therefore, her agency requested at least 30 days to provide an updated response to the court.

Public Defender Luke Brownfield said Stobaugh has no objection to that request. But Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm, who was joined at the prosecutor table by DA Stacey Eads, said the prosecution was ready to proceed today. She started arguing that there was an altogether different reason why the DSH wanted to continue the hearing, but Cockrum cut her off, saying, “We’re gonna get to that.”

First, he found that the DA’s Office failed to comply with the legal timeline for turning over public comments, and he chastised the DA’s Office for the way it has filed some of those documents. There were duplicate emails, for example, but far more seriously, he said, the DA’s Office submitted 10 pages of confidential victims’ testimony that now needs to be excised from the public record.

Timm said her office continues to get public feedback, so a certain amount of duplication is to be expected, and then she dropped the bombshell: The real reason the DSH is requesting a continuance, she said, is because Stobaugh failed to disclose to his treatment team that in 2018, while confined under supervision at Coalinga State Hospital, he’d been found in possession of child pornography.

“They had a hard drive that had a number of images of young children in a pornographic manner,” Timm said, adding that when she mentioned this separately to a DSH evaluator and to doctors with Liberty Healthcare, none of them had heard about this.

“Mr. Stobaugh didn’t disclose it to anyone,” Timm said. She alleged that the DSH actually wants the continuance so they can check in with Stobaugh’s treatment team and conduct a new polygraph test. Timm also said that during a 2019 polygraph test, Stobaugh had “significant reactions” to questions about having sexual thought about minors and forcible sex acts.

“At this point, the court should not grant the motion to continue,” Timm said. “Liberty CONREP and the Department of State Hospitals should be withdrawing their agreement that Mr. Stobaugh is appropriate for conditional release. He can’t even be supervised appropriately in state hospital. What makes them think he could be supervised in our community?”

“I think that would take another hearing,” Cockrum replied.

Brownfield said these matters have already been litigated, and no evidence has been presented to prove that Stobaugh possessed child pornography. Hu, meanwhile, said state medical privacy laws prevent the DSH from speaking publicly about patient treatment or supervision.

Cockrum said he has “grave concerns” about the child porn issue, and the court must prioritize public safety while allowing the least restrictive appropriate placement to the defendant. However, he noted that Timm’s questions on the matter don’t amount to evidence, so whether Stobaugh’s “contraband” was, in fact, child pornography remains “an open issue.”

Still, he noted that neither Hu nor anyone else at the DSH has denied that they are investigating whether that contraband was child pornography, whether he’s been treated for it and whether he’s been truthful in his polygraphs. 

“[I]f it is child pornography, the court has to consider a whole new class of victims,” Cockrum said.

A number of community members had signed up to address the court during today’s hearing, but the judge said he wouldn’t allow it today since the hearing was being rescheduled. There will be one public comment period per placement hearing, and there may only be one placement hearing, Cockrum said.

Before adjourning, the judge said that in addition to addressing the child pornography matter, the DSH should plan to address concerns raised by community members, including: one, that a planned rails-to-trails project would create a public pathway near the Manila house; two, that since Manila experiences frequent power outages there needs to be an alternate plan for monitoring Stobaugh; and three, that elementary school children frequently recreate at a nearby park and take field trips to the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center across the street.

The people who’d packed into the courtroom slowly filed out, with some grumbling about not being able to say their piece.

If you’re in the mood for a little scenic drive, you might consider a pilgrimage of sorts down to Southern Humboldt this weekend since it’s the last time you’ll be able to cross under the iconic green steel beams of the Honeydew Bridge.

Earlier today, Humboldt County’s Department of  Public Works posted the nostalgia-inducing clip above and note that bridge replacement begins this coming Monday, May 12.

The following bit of history comes from the project outline on the Humboldt County website: 

The Honeydew Bridge was constructed in 1920 as a single-lane bridge with two steel Camelback truss spans. The bridge is supported by a reinforced concrete pier and wing abutments on spread footings. The bridge has timber decking and rails. The total bridge length is 386 feet and the vertical clearance is 14 feet. The bridge is posted to limit truck and bus speeds to 15 miles per hour.

The bridge is classified as functionally obsolete due to geometric constraints, and is incompatible with modern highway use and the need for conveyance of heavy equipment and fire equipment. Projects to widen the existing bridge or increasing its vertical clearance are technically infeasible. The overall sufficiency rating based on a July 15, 2014 inspection by Caltrans Structure Maintenance and Investigations was 13.3. The bridge is considered deficient due to its age, deteriorated condition, elevated maintenance costs, and seismic susceptibility.

The truss structure has repeatedly been struck and damaged by oversized vehicles. Several main truss members and portal cross frames have been replaced, typically with plug welding. The truss portion of the bridge was last painted in the mid-1970s. The County does not have funding for a bridge painting program. The maintenance needs of the bridge are high due to its age, design, and materials of construction.

All things must pass, but at least you have one last chance to roll over the Mattole the way locals have for the past hundred years. Your call. 

Location of Tuesday’s collision in Eureka

Eureka Police Department release:

On May 6, 2025, at about 8:27 AM, Eureka Police Department (EPD) Patrol Officers, Community Safety Engagement Team (CSET) Officers, and Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) responded to the report of a semi-truck versus bicycle collision at W. Harris at Union Street. Upon arrival, Humboldt Bay Fire personnel determined the bicyclist to be deceased.

As standard protocol, personnel from EPD’s Criminal Investigations Unit and Major/Fatal Injury Team responded to conduct the investigation. A Traffic Officer from California Highway Patrol (CHP) also responded to assist. During the investigation, surveillance footage of the collision was obtained.

These are the current facts known about the collision:

• The semi-truck was traveling north on Union Street and stopped for the red light at W.Harris.

• The 73-year old, male bicyclist was traveling west on the southern sidewalk of W.Harris and approached Union.

• As the semi-truck began making a righthand (east) turn, the bicyclist continued west on W.Harris.

• The semi-truck and bicyclist collided.

• Alcohol or drug impairment does not appear to be a factor in this collision.

If anyone witnessed the collision or has any information that may assist with the investigation, please call EPD’s Criminal Investigations Unit at 707-441-4300.

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UPDATE, MAY 13: As of this morning, the Bellini is back in biz. See the follow-up health inspection report.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• The Public Health Division Has Temporarily Closed Old Town Coffee and Chocolates Due to a Mouse Invasion

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Yesterday afternoon, a health inspector visited the Cafe Bellini and did not like what they found.

According to the inspector’s report, there was evidence of rodent feces in “every part” of the facility, including underneath the microwave, near the coffee maker, by the waffle machine and elsewhere. There was also evidence that the rodents had been trying to break into bags of tortilla chips and croutons.

As with the case earlier this week, the Bellini will be closed until such time as the place is thoroughly disinfected and a pest control service is enlisted to take the fight to the rodents.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On August 3, 1987, Nickolas Medin reported his wife, Kay Josephine Medin, as a missing person to the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office. Nickolas reported he had left on a business trip and when he returned home Kay was gone. The Medin property was searched, and friends and family were contacted. Her doctor was contacted, who reported she had no serious medical issues. Kay was employed as a teacher at the Hyampom School. Her boss was contacted and reported Kay had been in good spirits. Kay’s purse and personal property were found at the residence. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office listed her disappearance as suspicious.

On November 25, 1987, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) received a package in the US mail. The package contained skeletal remains and an anonymous letter. The letter gave directions leading to more human remains at a location near Ammon Ridge Road in Eastern Humboldt County. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Detectives responded to the location given in the letter and discovered additional human remains. These remains were later identified as Kay using dental records. A death certificate was issued for Kay in 1988, and she remained listed as a missing person as there was not a complete body recovery.

On February 16, 1993, the Fortuna Police Department contacted the HCSO to report that a man had found a partial human skull on the beach near Trinidad Head. The man later turned the remains into the Fortuna Police Department.

A DNA sample was obtained from the skull and entered into both the California Missing Person DNA Database and the National Unidentified Person DNA index. The DNA profile was searched against profiles from both missing persons and other human remains in the Combined DNA Index System. No match was ever made.

In 2024, the HCSO received Community Project Funding from Congressman Jared Huffman’s Office. The funding was to be used to clear up a backlog of unidentified human remains cases. The HCSO partnered with private lab Othram Inc.

A DNA extract from the remains was sent to Othram. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown remains. Once the profile was built, Othram’s in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to produce investigative leads. In September 2024, the HCSO received a report from Othram indicating the skull may be that of Kay Medin. The report included genetic relatives, including a possible daughter. Investigators were able to locate the daughter and obtained a DNA sample from her. The California Department of Justice later compared the two DNA samples and confirmed the skull belonged to Kay Medin. Nickolas Medin died in August 2018.

The HCSO would like to thank Othram, Congressman Jared Huffman, and the California Department of Justice DNA lab for assisting in solving this case. The HCSO is continuing to work with Othram on several other unidentified remains investigations utilizing the latest DNA technology. This case is still open and considered a cold homicide.

If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024.