At approximately 1:45 a.m. on July 26, 2025, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a transit-style van traveling along Highway 20 in Upper Lake.
The driver was identified as 31-year-old Alexander Abare of Arcata, California. Upon contact, the deputy observed signs consistent with recent marijuana use and noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Abare stated he was returning to Arcata from the Sacramento area. During the interaction, he appeared visibly nervous. When questioned further, Abare admitted to having a bag of marijuana between the seats and a vape pen containing concentrated cannabis on the dashboard.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of approximately 400 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, packaged in black plastic bags and large totes, each labeled with various strain names. Deputies also located more than $370,000 in cash, vacuum-sealed in multiple bundles.
Abare was arrested and booked on multiple charges, including felony transportation of a controlled substance for sale across county lines, possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a switchblade, and possession of an open container of marijuana in a vehicle.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Narcotics Taskforce Tipline at (707) 263-3663.
It all starts at 7 p.m. in Arcata’s Crabs Stadium, which squares call “the Arcata Ball Park.”
Baseball, if you’re unfamiliar, is the perfect sport for people who don’t like sports. You only have to pay attention like 10 percent of the time, if that. The majority of your energy will be focused on drinking beer, eating hot dogs, bullshitting with your friends and ridiculing the opposing team. It’s great family fun.
In case you haven’t checked in to Crabs baseball in a while, here’s what you need to know. Whereas, like, 20 years ago, the Crabs basically played every game at home and absolutely smashed all comers, last season they and a few other regional squads formed a new league — the Pacific Empire League. Since then the Crabs have had to play on something like equal footing. Last year they went a ho-hum 16-12 in league play and didn’t even make the championship series.
This year, though! This year they went a ho-hum 17-8 in league play and did make the championship series, thanks to a last-minute Rube Goldberg-like series of improbable events that are best told by our friend Ray Hamill over at HumboldtSports.com.
That puts the underdog Crabbies up against the Pacific Empire League’s seemingly unstoppable juggernaut. Someone should check on what they’re packing into these Prune Packers’ prunes, because Healdsburg cruised to an easy PEL championship last year, then went 22-5 in the league this year, beating the Crabs in five of their last six meetings behind the talents of players like Tucker Bougie, Kaden Taque, Hayden Hattenbach, Maximo Martinez, Drake Digiorno and Hideki Prather. (No idea if these are their best players, but they have some of the best baseball names on the roster.)
So it’s gonna be an uphill climb for the Crabbies! Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose! Get out there and cheer and jeer! They need your support! There’ll be a second game in the series down in Healdsburg — perfect place for a pitcher named “Tucker Bougie,” by the way — on Thursday and, if needed, a series-clincher in the same place on Friday.
In the City of Blue Lake’s ongoing game of musical chairs, Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart appears likely to be replaced tonight, at a special city council meeting, by Jill Duffy, a former Fifth District Humboldt County supervisor who spent 10 years as executive director of the Humboldt Waste Management Authority, followed by a stint as interim general manager of the Humboldt County Fair Association.
Duffy addresses the Board of Supervisors in 2023.
The agenda for tonight’s special meeting includes just one item, aside from public comment and ceremonial matters such as reciting the Pledge. That item: “Consider Appointment of Jill Duffy as Interim City Manager and Approve Employment Agreement.”
That agreement has already been drafted and is included in the council’s agenda packet. Last week’s regular meeting of the council included a closed session agenda item labeled “PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT” and another labeled “PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EVALUATION” for the acting city manager, Burkhart. However, there was no action reported out of that closed session hearing. When the Outpost followed up with Mayor John Sawatzky by phone he reiterated that no reportable action had been taken.
Burkhart, you may recall, was appointed to the acting city manager position just six weeks ago following the abrupt departure of longtime City Manager Amanda “Mandy” Mager. That decision was announced publicly as a mutual parting of ways, though much of the new council majority was elected this past November on a wave of anti-Mager sentiment.
Former Blue Lake City Councilmember Chris Firor, a Mager supporter, missed several meetings in a row and then unexpectedly resigned in May. He was replaced at last week’s council meeting by retired public school educator Terri Bayles, whom the council selected instead of fellow applicant Adelene Jones, the city’s longtime mayor who lost re-election in November via a tiebreaker.
Burkhart declined to comment for this story. A phone call and text to Duffy was not immediately returned.
YESTERDAY – From Butler Flat through the Forks of Salmon, firefighters pushed forward, removing hazard trees and debris from roadways. Additional work progressed at Sawyer’s Bar Road, with more mop-up activity occurring near Cecilville Road. Near Knownothing Creek, the fire’s edge held well up to the western ridge at the10N07 Road. Crews monitored and patrolled the remaining unsecured fire edge to the west that is extremely challenging to access; however, fire behavior was minimal.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office reported that portions of Salmon River Road to Crapo Creek Trail Road reopened, thanks to the incredible work of fire crews and county roads teams clearing debris and hazard trees. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and aware of hazards and is cautioned that travel delays can still be expected intermittently.
TODAY – With increased containment along the northern and eastern flanks of the fire, many firefighting resources have been shifted south, primarily along the southwestern edge of the fire. This area remains uncontained but is showing minimal activity in steep terrain that is difficult to access. Firefighting personnel are maintaining a constant state of readiness and are prepared to quickly respond to any new fire starts on both the Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests.
Cultural resource advisors have been instrumental in the development of daily operations on the Butler Fire. Incident managers rely heavily on these advisors to provide critical information about land use history, potential and existing cultural sites, and other considerations needed to ensure the cultural integrity of the land.
WEATHER — The warming and drying trend will peak today, creating more instability than in the last few days. Along with this pattern, the potential for new starts from lightning exists. Close attention is being paid to a Fire Weather Watch already in effect for Wednesday afternoon for much of the area. Humidity recoveries are expected to be good during nighttime hours, moderating fire behavior and helping mitigate major spread from both existing fire and new starts alike.
EVACUATIONS:
There are evacuation orders and warnings in the immediate vicinity of the fire. For current evacuation status, visit www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff and www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountyOES. Additional evacuation information and a map can be found on the Genasys site at https://protect.genasys.com/search?z=14&latlon=41.550694%2C-122.905589
CLOSURES:
An official forest closure around the Orleans Complex went into effect on July 16th. Hikers are not permitted and will be asked to leave the area. For details and a map of the closure area, please visit
Forest fire restrictions are currently in effect. Please visit the local forest pages for more information: Klamath National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/alerts and Six Rivers National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sixrivers/alerts.
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Firefighters from the Salmon River Interagency Hotshot Crew conducted strategic firing operations along Cecilville Road on Saturday to secure portions of the line of the Butler Fire. | Photos: Six Rivers National Forest
Natalie R. Turner passed away April 30, 2025, after a hard-fought
battle with cancer.
The youngest of five children,
Natalie was born in September 1964 to Vern and Jean Sedersten of
Burnt Ranch, California. The family moved to Eureka, where Natalie
attended school, after the flood. Natalie held many jobs over the
years, preferring to follow a non-traditional path, reflecting a
curious and searching soul.
The first word that comes to mind
when thinking about Natalie is stubborn! When she had an idea about
how something should be done, there was no way talking her out of it
or changing her mind. But the next, and much more important, way to
describe my mom would be selfless. She cared so deeply about the
people in her life, both family and friends. There was nothing you
could ask of her that Natalie wouldn’t bend heaven and Earth to
accomplish. This was her greatest strength. She put the needs of
others above hers until her last breath. Her generosity will be
severely missed.
The greatest joy of Natalie’s life
was being a grandmother. She poured her heart and soul into spoiling
her grandchildren. Taking them on adventures during the summer and
school breaks, and always magically having McDonald’s money she
never seemed to have while raising her own kids. Isn’t that usually
how it goes!
Natalie was also an excellent baker
and could often be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. Her
unofficial job for the holidays and family gatherings was
dessert-making, specifically pie. Her pie crust recipe was perfection
and she knew it by heart. Thanksgiving will forever taste a little
different and birthdays will seem a little less special without the
inevitable question, “What kind of pie do you want for your
birthday?” — even though she always knew the answer.
Natalie also had a passion for
jam-making, which she learned from her mother. She spent hours every
summer picking berries in all of her secret spots, often dragging my
brother, cousins, and I along. We always complained about the task
but were happy to help eat the spoils of our hard work. Once the
buckets of berries were picked and cleaned, days and sometimes weeks
would be spent making jam and jelly. Every countertop in the kitchen,
and usually the dining table, would be covered in jam jars. Her
remaining jars will be cherished forever.
Natalie is preceded in death by her
parents Lavern and Ganeva (Swan) Sedersten. Natalie is survived by
her children Miranda Beadle (Kyle McCracken) and Shane Turner (Candy
Claus), grandchildren William, Elliana, and Dashiell Beadle, River,
Sky, and Troy Turner, and Madden Wenworth, and siblings Karen Babcock
(Tom), Darrell Sedersten (Dana), Julie Clendenny, and Susan
Wentworth, and several nieces and nephews whom she thought of as her
own.
The family is beyond grateful for
the exemplary care Natalie received over the last few years from the
oncology departments at Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital and
California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.
Services will be held at the
Trinidad Cemetery on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at noon with a small
gathering afterward in McKinleyville.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Natalie Turner’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Paul lived in Humboldt County for 61 years. His family goes back
generations in the area. He was born to Paul McEwen and Pamela
Pelland McEwen.
Paul is survived by his children: April Bennett, Yvonne McEwen and son Paul McEwen IV; his mother, Pam; sister Becky McEwen
Williams; and brother John. He was preceded in death by his father,
Paul, and good friend Tammy.
Paul loved Humboldt County, rarely leaving it. He wrote many poems
about the area. His poems were amazing. He was a logger, worked in
the hay and collected rocks.
He leaves behind many friends: Robin, Randy Jr. and Linda Martin
Church, Margie, Anthony, and many more.
Paul loved the Eel River and lived on it for several years. He
will be missed by many, and especially by his dog, Good Dog. If you
knew Paul, you knew Good Dog.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Paul McEwen’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Representatives from Schatz Energy Research Center and the Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) addressed a public meeting in Arcata last Wednesday to quell fears and answer questions about energy storage facilities.
Energy storage facilities, as the name implies, stores energy harnessed by energy generators like wind or solar and then puts it into the grid when needed, e.g. if a lot of people are using electricity at once or when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.
The meeting was attended by around 80 people, filled out by both skeptics and supporters, as well as dozens of the merely curious. Energy storage is a contentious topic; last month, Blue Lake’s city council killed its agreement with a Texas-based energy developer to turn an old power plant into a lithium-iron-phosphate storage facility. Some Blue Lake residents had criticized the project for its potentially damaging environmental effects, as well as the risk of fire, a subject the RCEA representatives and attendees spent a fair amount of time talking about.
It’s a reasonable concern, said the representatives, who included Power Resources Director Rich Engel and RCEA board member/Humboldt County Supervisor Natalie Arroyo. January’s Moss Landing Fire damaged over 50,000 lithium-ion batteries at the facility, and forced 1,500 people to evacuate. It was a preventable incident, the speakers said, caused by insufficient barriers between battery cells and the “lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide” batteries, more prone to thermal runaway — a cycle between energy and temperature where each variable increasing forces the other one to do the same with no stopping point. Better safety standards make a repeat of the fire less likely.
There are hundreds of battery storage facilities around California that contain over 13,000 megawatts of energy every year, and 20.6 of those are being stored in lithium-ion batteries in Humboldt. There’s a small microgrid for the Arcata-Eureka Airport that has a battery capacity of 2.2 megawatts, and an almost-finished solar panel farm near Arcata has its own battery storage big enough to hold 2.5 megawatts. RCEA has also installed solar and battery systems at 16 remote fire stations and are planning more for housing for elderly tribal members and public facilities.
The presenters stressed that most battery storage facilities are safe and effective, though the concerns are real.
“There are risks of being on the bleeding edge of innovation,” Engel said.
