Sandra Beatty was born to Orville Beatty and Mildred Waterhouse in September of 1943. She was their fifth child. Sandra had a total of seven siblings. Her two brothers and five sisters were her best friends and whole world. She attended Eureka highschool and in Eureka is where she met the love of her life, Calvin.

They married in 1961 and had three children over the course of their lifelong marriage. While Calvin spent his career as a merchant marine Sandra single handedly raised her children and attended College of the Redwoods nursing program in the early 1970s. Her nursing career was spent in the OB ward at General Hospital and in the office of Dr. Schmidt, of Eureka.

While in the nursing program she met her life long friend, fellow student, Frances Cortopassi. The two played Scrabble on a regular basis over the years and both could be found most times at Harbor Lanes on numerous bowling leagues. Sandra’s mother bowled as well, so HB certainly was a large community of friends.

At home she was a lifelong artist filling stacks of sketchbooks and painting still life depictions of her pets and rose garden. She curated her rose garden in her backyard of Long Street where she hosted huge family gatherings, holidays and birthdays for many decades.

It was at Long Street that she opened The Cox Family Care Home hand in hand with Redwood Coast Regional Center (RCRC) and Humboldt Community Access and Resource Center (HCAR). Her passion was caring for and teaching life skills in a home environment to community members with developmental disabilities helping them to lead more independent lives. She loved those that spent time in her home and celebrated every victory with each one.

In retirement she and Calvin toured the Country visiting their siblings and grandchildren along the way. Hers was a life well lived and well loved.

Sandra is survived by her brother Tom Waterhouse and wife Maureen, her Sister Judy Cox, her children Erik Cox and Amy Cox (Robert) along with her grandchildren Arielle, Brigid, Fillip, Samantha and Zack. She is mourned by numerous nieces, nephews, neighborhood kids and family friends that adored Aunt Sandy.

A memorial service in her honor will be held on May 3, at 11 a.m., at Wier’s Mortuary, 408 G Street, Crescent City. All are welcome.

In lieu of sending flowers please consider making a donation in her name to HCAR which is a non profit organization. Their website is hcarcenter.org. Donations can be made under the “support HCAR” heading. Consider becoming a member and supporting local community. Donations can also be mailed to their address at

1707 E Street, Ste 2
Eureka, California

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

Arcatians who pay for water! At some point in the future, probably around January, you may see your water rates go up — but your total water-related bills will likely stay about the same.

It’s a little convoluted, but basically it stems from a recently approved $12 million steel waterline replacement project that would fix 33,600 lateral feet of old water main, hundreds of valves and laterals, and 700 meter boxes. 

However, the city needs to loan $3.5 million of its own money from the wastewater fund into the water fund to pay for the project, and this is where things get strange. According to Arcata Finance Director Tabatha Miller, cities aren’t allowed to “gift” money from one fund into another. It violates the general accounting principles that guide government accounting, and the State Controller’s Office hates it when cities do that.

So to ensure that the wastewater fund is still well-funded and can still function the way it’s supposed to, the city has to repay the “loan” from the wastewater fund with interest tacked on. That initial $3.5 million will become $4.35 million with the interest added. To pay off the interest, the city may raise water rates 9%. 

That’s a long process that involves finishing some research on the rate itself, presenting the results to city council, informing rate-payers about the potential increase, and holding a public hearing on the issue. The earliest it may happen is January of 2026.

Don’t fear. Miller said the city council has directed the city to do whatever possible to keep the rates low, which could include lowering wastewater fees or charging a lower rate to lower-income customers. It’s unlikely that the total you’re paying for your bills will change too much. 

UPDATE, Saturday: 

The Outpost received an email after business hours Friday from a family member, saying Jones had been found.

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Many of us received a loud alert on our phones and laptops around 3:13 p.m. and another one 10 minutes later. These were “Silver Alerts” notifying the public of a missing, at-risk 70-year-old woman, Connie Jones, who was last seen this afternoon around 12:45 behind the Ace Hardware at Harris and Harrison streets in Eureka.

The alert was activated by the Eureka Police Department. Jones is believed to be on foot. Members of the public are asked to call 9-1-1 if you see her.

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Press release from the County of Humboldt:

The County of Humboldt’s Planning & Building Department has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed McKinleyville Town Center Zoning Amendment.

This report examines how the proposed zoning changes could affect the local environment. Community members are encouraged to review the DEIR and provide feedback during the public comment period.

Background 

The Humboldt County General Plan and McKinleyville Community Plan outline a vision for the McKinleyville Town Center to be developed with a mix of commercial, civic and residential uses, public gathering spaces, open space and wetland preservation. Part of the vision is to create a vibrant area where people can live, work and gather, with easy access by walking, biking, driving or via public transit. 
To make this vision a reality, the county is proposing two amendments to the existing zoning code:

• Rezone the entire McKinleyville Town Center site as Mixed Use-Urban (MU1), which allows a mix of residential, commercial and civic uses.
• Adopt “Q-Zone” combining regulations that, among other guidance, would modify the proposed principal Mixed Use zoning regulations. 

In addition, the county is proposing a change to the McKinleyville Community Plan to incorporate the General Plan adopted definition of a wetland as three parameters, rather than the current single parameter definition.

These changes would support future development that could include up to 2,650 multi-family housing units, 632,800 square feet of retail/commercial space and up to 271,200 square feet of office space.
Development of the new McKinleyville Town Center would happen gradually over time, with each new project going through a zoning conformance review process known as Zoning Clearance Certification.

Share Your Input

The DEIR for the McKinleyville Town Center Zoning Amendment has been released for its public review period. The DEIR can be found at the county’s McKinleyville Town Center Master Plan web page. The public review period will run for 45-days, from Friday, April 11 to Tuesday, May 27. 

All interested community members are encouraged to review the document and share their input. This is an important opportunity for Humboldt County residents to help shape the future of McKinleyville.

Written comments on the DEIR will be accepted by email to ceqaresponses@humboldt.ca.us or by mail to Attn: Long Range Planning Division, Planning & Building Department, 3015 H St., Eureka CA, 95501. In order to assist each local jurisdiction, please include whether you reside in unincorporated Humboldt County or within an incorporated city.

Public Meeting

The county will hold a public meeting to discuss the DEIR and receive comments from the public. All interested parties are invited to attend. The meeting will include a brief presentation of the results of the DEIR and will provide attendees with an opportunity to provide public comments on the draft report.

The public meeting to discuss the DEIR will be held during the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee (MMAC) meeting on Wednesday, April 23 at 6 p.m. Community members may attend in person at Azalea Hall, located at 1620 Pickett Rd. in McKinleyville or on Zoom.

Attend on Zoom

Join the meeting by visiting Zoom and entering meeting ID 844 4994 7337 and passcode 043757. To access the meeting by phone, please call 1-669-900-6833 and enter phone conference ID 844 4994 7337#.

The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equal access to all county programs, services and activities through the provision of accommodations for individuals with qualified disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  With 72 hours prior notice, a request for reasonable accommodation for the public meeting can be made by calling 707-268-3732.   

For more information, please contact Humboldt County’s Planning & Building Director John Ford at 707-268-3738, email jford@co.humboldt.ca.us or visit the Planning & Building Department office, located at 3015 H St. in Eureka.

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PREVIOUSLY: 

• McKINLEYVILLE ASKS: Can We Make a There There? Meeting on Town Center Proposal Scheduled for Next Week
• The Debate About the Future of McKinleyville Has Begun; Advisory Committee and Public are Hashing Out What the Town Center May Look Like

PREVIOUSLY

• (PHOTOS) GOLDEN SHOVEL TIME: Cal Poly Humboldt Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for $200 Million Student Housing Project on Old Craftsman Mall Site
• Cal Poly to Break Ground on Craftsman Mall Project Next Month, University Announces; Housing Facility Will Have Room for Almost a Thousand Students

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Half of Cal Poly Humboldt’s brand spankin’ new $226 million Hinarr Hu Moulik housing project is set to be open for residents this fall semester. 

Located on Spear Avenue, the entire 12.8 acre complex can house up to 964 students, but only the east building (with a capacity of over 600) will be open this fall. Work on the other wing should be done sometime during the fall and will open for residents starting spring of 2026. There are 241 total housing units in the complex, all of them either two-,  three- or four-bedroom apartments. The parking lot will have over 300 parking spaces. 

It’ll mostly be filled with third- and fourth-year students, to give newer students a chance to make some friends before they get moved. 

Vice President of Administration and Finance Mike Fisher did not know how full the east wing will be when it opens. 

Because it’s about a mile from campus, CPH will offer a shuttle service every half hour to campus, to a yet-to-be constructed 8-acre parking lot on Foster Avenue, and to the Plaza. The Humboldt Transit Authority will also include a stop there on the Green and Gold route, and the Annie and Mary trail will go right past the dorms when it’s finished. 

According to Fisher, CPH also gave the city of Arcata $17 million to help fund the Sunset Avenue project, which will replace the usually clogged and complicated stop signs on and off Highway 101 with roundabouts. Work on that will start in 2026.

Funded by the $458 million polytechnic grant, work on the Hinarr Hu Moulik (Soulatluk for “Our Home”, pronounced hee-Nad huh MOO-leek) dorms started back in 2023. 

It won’t be short on amenities; the outside spaces will have pickleball, cornhole, and ping-pong courts, there’s a bike storage locker on-campus with space for over 200 bicycles, and there will be a grab-and-go hot food dining facility, plus a gym and various community lounges and TV rooms. The green spaces will be expansive and cover most of the property. 

Vehicle traffic from Highway 101 made the outside loud, but Fisher said that the walls, almost a foot thick, will deaden the noise significantly.

Fisher admitted it didn’t look like too much right now, but said it would soon be somewhere really worth living.

“It may be hard to imagine now what this will look like soon,” Fisher said. “It just takes a little bit of vision.”

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PREVIOUSLY: There’s a Ticking Time Bomb in the Heart of Orick, and It’s Not Clear Whether Anybody Can Do Anything About It

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Two dozen residents gathered Wednesday at the Orick Community Hall to learn more about the Redwood Creek Estuary Restoration Project, a massive undertaking to reroute the creek and restore critical fish habitat — and, perhaps, provide some measure of enhanced flood protection for the vulnerable town.

“It’s been a big, long push to get here,” said Gregory Hufford, a civil engineer and representative of the families that own property on the north side of Redwood Creek. “It all started with a conversation with a person who works in restoration at California Trout … who said, ‘This is bad — it’s not going to get any better; it’s just going to get worse.’ And from my perspective, nothing could be worse than it is right now.”

Over the years, Redwood Creek has become inundated with sediment buildup and overgrown vegetation, significantly reducing flood capacity within the earthen levee system that flanks the lower 3.4 miles of the creek. The multi-million dollar restoration project aims to reverse decades of ecological degradation and revitalize critical habitat for threatened and endangered salmonid species by redirecting the main channel of Redwood Creek back to its original alignment.

When the Redwood Creek Flood Control Project was constructed in the mid-1960s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sought to simplify the configuration of the creek by redirecting the main channel through Middle Slough, straight out to the Pacific Ocean, as seen below. Doing so cut off overflow channels (Sand Cache Creek and Strawberry Creek) and drastically reduced the size and complexity of the estuary.

“Those overflow channels were important because, when we got a big flood on Redwood Creek, water would spill out and flush out Sand Cache Creek,” Conor Shea, a civil engineer with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, explained at Wednesday’s meeting. “We no longer have that happening … so there’s nothing coming in to push the sand out of Sand Cache Creek. That’s why we see a massive amount of wood and debris out there. [It] has effectively lost all function.”

The configuration of the levee system has also caused ocean sand to fill the Redwood Creek Estuary, Shea said, limiting its ability to push out accumulated sediment.

“In the original configuration, the estuary was able to maintain its shape and flush that sand out to keep it moving,” he continued. “Now, because the channel [goes] straight out and makes a big opening, during the winter, waves can bring all that sand that’s moved along the shoreline directly into the estuary, deposit it and cause this blockage.”

On top of that, the accumulation of invasive vegetation has limited flows in Redwood Creek and its tributaries, which provide critical habitat for several salmonid species, including federally listed coho salmon. 

“Historically, the estuary played a really important role in allowing those fish to grow, fatten up, and attain the condition that would allow their survival in the ocean into adulthood and have them return as spawners that increase the population,” said Leslie Wolff, a local hydrologist with NOAA Fisheries. “That key life history phase that the estuary provides … we can’t recreate that system through a mitigation anywhere else.”

At the end of last year, after nearly 10 years of legwork, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Redwood Creek Estuary Collaborative — a group comprised of private land owners and representatives of California Trout, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the County of Humboldt, the National Parks Service, NOAA Fisheries, the North Coast Regional Land Trust, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Yurok Tribe — launched a feasibility study to assess the magnitude of a restoration project and potential configurations for a new estuary. 

“This is a long process, but it’s set up to try to support big projects like this and make sure they’re effective. That means they have to go slowly,” said Hank Seemann, the county’s deputy director of environmental services. “This feasibility study is looking at options and really trying to identify where the problems are, potential measures to address them, and, ultimately, to select a preferred project.”

The collaborative will have to consider a wide range of factors in its analysis, including environmental impacts, budgetary constraints and real estate boundaries. Not only that, but there are dozens  — perhaps hundreds — of potential design features to consider. Should portions of the levee be removed? Should a setback levee be constructed? Should South Slough be excavated, or should the creek be rerouted through South Slough?

“Now, we’re at this part of the process where we’re trying to collect ideas, and this is where your community input is really important,” said Savannah Fahning, an environmental manager with the Army Corps of Engineers’ San Francisco office. “We start with a bunch of ideas and narrow it down to just a few. We analyze those very thoroughly and send that analysis to the public for review and comments.”

Fahning emphasized that the restoration project cannot “lessen the original intent” of the flood control project or increase flood risk for surrounding communities. 

Once the feasibility analysis is complete, likely in the next two years, the design plans will be finalized, and the Army Corps of Engineers and the county will apply for the permits needed to move forward with construction. That process will take another couple of years. If everything goes according to plan, construction will begin in the summer of 2029. 

The project is expected to cost between $15 million and $20 million, Seemann, adding that restoration “may need to be broken up in phases.”

During the Q&A portion of the meeting, several community members asked whether the restoration project would alleviate flood risk for folks living upstream, with a few folks noting that the levee came within just a few feet of overflowing during a big storm in January of 2024. 

“It’s the shape of the flood control channel that controls the height of the water as it passes through the the levee system. The estuary is so far downstream that it doesn’t really impact how water moves through that flood control channel,” Shea said. “We could change the configuration of the estuary and remove [a portion] of those levees down there, but it doesn’t change what happens upstream.”

However, if there’s more space for water to flow in the lower portion of Redwood Creek, including secondary channels within the enlarged estuary, there could be some upstream benefits, Seemann told the Outpost in a follow-up interview.

“In fact, from the county’s perspective, achieving enlarged capacity at the lower end is a desired outcome if it can be achieved as part of the estuary restoration project, and we will be trying to see if it can be incorporated,” he said. “We’ll know more after we get more into the design process and can evaluate how the flows will respond. My guess is that the upstream benefit would be fairly limited, possibly extending upstream as far as the Shoreline Market, but I would not expect the enlarged capacity to extend further upstream into town due to the distance.”

A few other meeting attendees, including one gentleman with a crushed red Solo cup in hand, attributed flow issues to overgrown vegetation in Redwood Creek and asked why county staff wouldn’t let locals come in and cut the trees back themselves like they used to. Seemann said the county is now required to apply for a permit for tree removal along Redwood Creek because it provides habitat for federally listed salmonid species. 

“The county maintains three levee systems … and our highest priority is Orick,” Seemann continued. “We spend the biggest portion of our maintenance funding up here. And we really think the best value for our limited maintenance money is mowing the sides of the levees. … We’re going to continue to work with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to see what we can do [about] tree removal in the channel, but it’s all regulated by state and federal law so there has to be a balance between leaving some trees and doing some removal.”

Supervisor Steve Madrone.

As the meeting wrapped up, Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone emphasized the importance of creating a project that enhances fish habitat while offering protection for the surrounding community. 

“We have heard — I have heard as your supervisor over and over again — a lot of the same concerns that are being expressed here today about … the capacity of these existing levees,” Madrone said, turning to the Army Corps of Engineers representative. “Savannah, I just want to make sure that you are hearing the community in that there’s this great project happening in the estuary, but there’s also this whole levee system. … There are very serious concerns about the levees and their capacity to protect the town during a serious flood.”

Madrone concluded the meeting by encouraging residents to stay engaged in the project. “It’s not all going to happen tonight, but we heard you, and we appreciate your comments,” he said.

Surprisingly, Ron Barlow, chair of the Orick Community Services District, didn’t speak up at the meeting. If you know Barlow, you know he’s a passionate advocate for his little community. For the last 30 years, he’s written countless letters to sound the alarm over maintenance issues with the Redwood Creek levee system. I interviewed him for a story on this very topic last year, which you can find here.

Asked how he felt about Wednesday’s meeting, Barlow said he thought it went “okay” and spoke highly of the presenters. “I always think Hank Seemann does a good job and Steve Madrone, I think there’s gonna be quite a loss when he isn’t our supervisor anymore,” he said. “I’m really happy with the job he does.”

Barlow spoke in favor of estuary restoration, adding that the configuration of the levee system needs to change to ensure it functions properly. However, his primary concern is flood protection.

“I was told that county would not sign on with this if it decreased flood protection, and that was addressed a little bit at the meeting,” he said. “Our biggest problem is all these trees in the channel. … I’m hoping Hank and Steve can help us get through these regulatory issues because we’ll jump in and do the work.”

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In Loving Memory of Robin Lyn Andrews
November 25, 1965 – April 7, 2025

Robin Lyn Andrews was a fierce, compassionate, and vibrant Lakota woman. She passed away peacefully at 7:50 p.m. on April 7, 2025, at St. Joseph’s Memorial Hospital in Eureka. She was surrounded by her loving family who stood by her to the end. This reflects the love she gave so freely throughout her life.

Robin was born in Winner, South Dakota on November 25, 1965, to her parents Patricia and Bernard Andrews. Her early teenage years were filled with disco, funk music and weekends spent at the local roller rink, where she danced her way through life with joy and style regardless of what was going on in life. Her favorite movies were Grease and she was in love with Elvis. At 16, she joined Job Corp in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she met her first husband, Ignacio. They were married for 13 years and had two beautiful children together, Sanau and Luke.

Robin loved to tell stories. One of her favorite stories to tell was about meeting her second husband, Tom. After moving to Reno, Nevada, there was a twist of fate that could only be described as destiny. The story goes that one day on the way to her mother’s house, she caught sight of a man working in his parents’ yard. She watched him through her rearview mirror as she drove past, not knowing that moment would one day become part of their love story. They crossed paths again nine years later in the middle of the Nevada desert by pure chance. Their relationship blossomed and the pieces of their story fell into place. As their relationship progressed, they went on to have a beautiful child named Amanda Sage. That spark led to a deep love that lasted for 28 years.

She was a proud member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. She was a woman who carried the strength and wisdom of her ancestors. Her spirit was deeply rooted in her Native identity. While the soul of the 1970s lived in her heart, it was Native American music that truly moved her, keeping her grounded and connected to her culture.

Robin put herself through college with unmatched determination, earning a Bachelors in Sociology with a minor in Native American Studies and a Masters in Social Work from Humboldt State University. She found a community rich in Indigenous culture and understanding in Humboldt County. a place where she called home and resided in since 2005.

She dedicated over 15 years of her life to Humboldt DHHS Child Welfare Services, where she became a pillar of strength for the families she served and the colleagues she mentored. As a social worker and eventual supervisor, Robin used her compassion and cultural knowledge to lead with heart. Her boisterous laugh was unforgettable, and her presence brought light even during the most difficult times.

She was a champion of culture and healing. Robin spearheaded cultural trainings at CWS to ensure social workers were not only informed, but deeply respectful of the Native communities they served. She also had a unique way of lifting the spirits of those around her—introducing laughter therapy into the workplace. With unapologetic cheer and contagious enthusiasm, she would often lead the room with a hearty “Very good, very good, yay!” while joyfully clapping. Though some may have rolled their eyes at first, her playful spirit had a way of clearing negativity and reminding everyone not to take life — or themselves — too seriously. She made sure that they knew that they mattered especially for whatever time they had together.

Above all else, Robin was a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend who loved fiercely and gave endlessly. She is survived by her three children, Sanau (NuNu), Luke (Cookie Mon), and Amanda Sage (Manda Panda Bear) whom she raised with warmth, humor, and unwavering guidance. Her husband Tom, who shared the story of their love with pride, stood by her through this life’s journey till the very end. Her mother Pat remained a steadfast source of strength and love. Her chosen sister Pam, whom Robin mentored, was her lifelong companion in heart and spirit.

Robin is also survived by her siblings Marty, Todd, Rodney, Steffie and Casey; alongside a vast network of uncles, aunties, cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Each of them carries a piece of her light.

Robin Lyn Andrews lived a life that honored her ancestors and nourished her community. She was a warrior for justice, a soul of boundless empathy, and a keeper of stories. Her legacy lives on in every life she touched, every child she uplifted, every laugh she sparked, and every heart she held close.

She will be missed beyond words, but her spirit will echo and be heard for generations.

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