Fortuna Police Department press release: 

On February 17, 2025, the Fortuna Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) team conducted a sex registrant compliance check operation within the City of Fortuna. These operations are a critical part of law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with legal requirements and to enhance public safety.

During the compliance check operation, officers contacted 49-year-old Jacob Roberts, a registered sex offender residing within the Fortuna city limits. Roberts was found to be in violation of his probation terms and was subsequently arrested. At the time of his arrest, officers seized his cellular device as evidence.

Following the initial arrest, on March 8, 2025, the Fortuna Police Department obtained a search warrant to conduct a forensic examination of Roberts’ phone. The investigation revealed that Roberts was in possession of child pornography. Fortuna Police detectives and officers responded to Roberts’ residence and confirmed that he remained in custody at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility due to his prior probation violation. Additional charges were filed, including:

• California Penal Code 311.11(a)(1): Unlawful possession of obscene matter involving a person under the age of 18
• California Penal Code 1203.2: Probation Violation

The Fortuna Police Department remains committed to protecting the community from individuals who pose a risk to public safety. We encourage community members to report any suspicious activity related to registered sex offenders or any other crimes, which threaten public safety. Citizens with information are asked to contact the Fortuna Police Department at (707) 725-7550.

We commend the dedication of the Fortuna Police Department’s POP team and detectives for their diligence in conducting this compliance operation and follow-up investigation. Their commitment to public safety ensures that those who violate the law are held accountable.

The Fortuna Police Department will continue to conduct proactive enforcement operations to safeguard our community. We appreciate the ongoing support from the residents of Fortuna as we work together to maintain a safe environment for all.

Press release from the County of Humboldt:

The Humboldt County Administrative Office’s Economic Development Division is updating the county’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and invites you to share your input by taking the 2025 Humboldt CEDS Community Survey.

A CEDS is a strategic plan that guides local economic development efforts and ensures the county remains eligible for certain federal grants. Once complete, the updated CEDS will serve as a roadmap for building a diverse and thriving economy in Humboldt County.

The state of Humboldt County’s economy impacts everyone who lives and works in Humboldt. Input from the community is crucial to ensure the updated CEDS meets the needs of Humboldt’s residents, business owners and workforce.

The collaborative process to update the CEDS is a unique opportunity for the community to come together, share input on the economic challenges Humboldt is facing and design a strategy for improvement. By participating in the survey, community members can share their perspectives on workforce development, infrastructure needs, housing, industry trends and other critical factors that impact the local economy.

How to Participate

The survey will be available online at gohumco.com/CEDS until Sunday, March 16. Paper copies are also available and can be filled out in person at the Humboldt County Administrative Office, located in the Humboldt County Courthouse at 825 Fifth St., Suite 112, in Eureka.

Survey results will help inform the county’s five-year economic development plan and identify actionable strategies for inclusive growth. The final CEDS report is scheduled to be submitted to the U.S. Economic Development Administration and made available to the public in May.

For more information and background on the CEDS and how to share your input please call 707-445-7745 or email gohumco@co.humboldt.ca.us. For more information on Humboldt County’s Economic Development Division, visit gohumco.com.

###

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

###

The fires that reduced Altadena, Pacific Palisades and other Los Angeles-area neighborhoods to rubble have also shined a harsh light on California’s raging insurance crisis.

Lawmakers have proposed a variety of bills to address the issues illuminated by the disaster, plus others that predate it. Some of the legislation would be the first of its kind in the nation.

The fire-insurance provider of last resort

One measure would put the state’s top two lawmakers on the governing committee of the FAIR Plan, the association of insurance companies that’s required by law to provide fire insurance to property owners who can’t find it anywhere else.

The FAIR Plan said last month that it was at risk of running out of money due to claims from the LA fires and asked for a $1 billion lifeline. Its member insurance companies were on the hook for that amount, and could try to pass along up to half of the cost to their customers.

The plan has become more important over the past several years as insurance companies have stopped renewing or writing new policies in California, so state officials have a keen interest in its solvency and ability to serve a growing number of customers. But the plan is not run by the state, it is run by a management team that’s accountable to the pool of insurers.

Lawmakers hope that adding state officials to the group of people overseeing the FAIR Plan will help it run better and improve the lives of its customers.

“The association has grown to such an extent that its financial capacity to pay claims after a catastrophic fire is unlikely,” says Assembly Bill 234, a bill by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, a Democrat from the Los Angeles area. “Increased transparency is imperative.”

Calderon’s bill calls for the speaker of the Assembly and the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Rules to immediately become non-voting members of the FAIR Plan’s governing committee. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, who has limited authority over the plan, backs the bill. The FAIR Plan has not taken a position on the legislation, according to plan spokesperson Hilary McLean.

If the bill passes, California could be the first state to put lawmakers on a FAIR Plan board, although several states have insurance department representatives on boards for their own FAIR Plan equivalents, said Stephen Jablonski, president of Property Insurance Plans Service Office, a nonprofit that tracks state residual property insurance plans.

California’s FAIR Plan would not disclose the members of its governing board.

Concerns about the FAIR Plan go beyond its financial stability. As the fire insurance provider of last resort, issues surrounding the way it serves its customers have come up again and again. Placing state officials on the plan’s board could help address some of those issues.

In early February, Betty Ryder and her husband received a renewal notice for one policy on their Los Angeles-area home but not for their FAIR Plan policy, which is when they discovered that they did not have fire insurance on the property all of last year despite paying for it.

That meant the couple was uninsured at a time when their home was particularly vulnerable: Ryder and her husband live in Tujunga, a neighborhood that Ryder said was “right between the three fires” that burned in Los Angeles County earlier this year.

Ryder got on the phone with her broker, her mortgage company and a representative from the FAIR Plan to figure out what happened. The agent for the FAIR Plan told her the plan had incorrectly applied someone else’s payment to her account and that it canceled her policy after that realization.

So she started writing letters: to the president of the FAIR Plan, to Lara, to her mortgage company, to her broker.

“I was in tears,” she said. “We’re old, we’re in our 70s,” she added, referring to herself and her husband, William.

A week later, a representative from the FAIR Plan told her they found the correct check issued by her mortgage company last year, and that the amount has been applied to her reinstated policy. A relief, but there’s a remaining problem: The Ryders have already paid into their mortgage company’s escrow account for this year’s policy. They have not received a refund for the $5,300 check her mortgage company issued to the FAIR Plan last year, so as of now they have paid double for this year’s policy.

Ryder has not heard back from the FAIR Plan about a possible refund, nor has she received a response from Lara’s insurance department. The department said it has assigned someone to her case.

McLean said she would not discuss individual cases with CalMatters. “In the limited instances where the California FAIR Plan is regretfully in error, it works to correct the mistake in its customer’s favor,” McLean wrote in an email. “If the FAIR Plan receives a duplicate payment, the FAIR Plan will refund the duplicate payment with interest.”

But Lili Thompson, an account manager for an insurance agency in Chico, told CalMatters that the FAIR Plan often makes errors, and that she has customers who have had experiences similar to Ryder’s. When they do, it’s hard to get those issues resolved because it’s tough to get the plan to address problems in a timely manner, Thompson said.

“We don’t have access to billing information, which is constantly incorrect,” Thompson said. “Payments aren’t applied. Or there’s a balance of 3 cents, or $4 or $10, and they cancel (policies).”

In fact, Thompson submitted a complaint about the FAIR Plan to the Insurance Department in January. It read in part: “Our agency is having significant problems with the FAIR Plan as a whole. Issues with billing, renewals, cancellations have been reoccurring at an alarming rate.”

In an emailed response seen by CalMatters, an insurance department compliance officer urged Thompson to tell her clients to file complaints with the department “so we can address their specific situation.”

CalMatters wrote about similar complaints against the FAIR Plan — delays in payments, slow response times, poor customer service — about a year ago. At the time, McLean said the plan was dealing with increased volume and had hired more staff to deal with it all. She also mentioned that the FAIR Plan had transitioned to a new software system and insurance agents and brokers were still learning it.

Asked what the FAIR Plan has changed in the past year, and why the same types of complaints persist, McLean again pointed to the plan’s “historic growth over the past several years,” and mentioned that it has hired even more staff to deal with claims from the January Palisades and Eaton fires.

Another bill that addresses the FAIR Plan’s financial stability is Assembly Bill 226, aimed at allowing it to spread out claims payments over time. It would do that by allowing the FAIR Plan to obtain bond financing through the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank.

Assemblymember David Alvarez, co-author of the bill with Calderon and Democrat from Chula Vista, told CalMatters: “We wanted to make sure if there was an event of (the LA fires’) magnitude, insurance companies wouldn’t use that as a reason to not cover California.”

He added that this legislation is just another “tool” to “maintain insurers in California, and get claims paid in a way that doesn’t cost consumers.” Alvarez also noted that the bill, which was first introduced last year, had no opposition. The FAIR Plan supports it.

Paying claims without full inventories

Senate Bill 495, by Sen. Ben Allen, a Democrat from El Segundo, would make California the only state in the nation to require insurers to pay claims in full without first seeing itemized inventories from policyholders.

It also gives consumers at least 180 days, up from 60 days, to provide proof of loss to their insurance companies after a declared state of emergency.

“A lot of insurance companies have already been doing this,” the senator said in an interview with CalMatters. “It’s a hassle for them to go through all the (inventory) lists, too.”

Allen said he has been going to town halls in his LA-area community and hearing from “people who have lost everything.” Getting rid of the inventory requirement “really cuts out an important barrier for a lot of people especially during a very difficult moment,” he said.

Lara backs the bill, and last week his department released a list of insurance companies that have agreed to pay at least 75% of contents coverage without a detailed inventory. A majority of companies operating in the state have — with some agreeing to provide 100%.

Insurance industry representatives opposed a similar bill in the 2004-05 legislative session and plan to do so again. Rex Frazier, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California, said the bill could raise costs for insurance companies, which would pass the higher costs on to consumers. “Why require overpayment and require insurers to increase rates when people are already worried about the affordability of property insurance?” he said.

Insurance premium tax write-offs

Assembly Bill 1354, by Assemblymembers Heath Flora and Greg Wallis, would allow California taxpayers to write off the rising costs of their fire insurance premiums for the next five years. Flora, of Ripon, and Wallis, of Rancho Mirage, are Republicans.

The tax credits would reduce the amount of personal income taxes people would pay to the state. They would be based on the difference between their current premiums and their premiums from 2023, plus any current assessments or charges. If passed, the tax credit would apply to individuals with annual adjusted gross incomes not exceeding $150,000, with the limit being $300,000 for joint taxpayers. Owners of individual homes and properties with four dwelling units or less, and individual condos and mobile homes, would qualify as long as their property values do not exceed $3.3 million.

“Our insurance industry is in shambles right now. For the next few years it’s not going to be great.”
— Heath Flora, Republican Assemblymember, Ripon

Flora told CalMatters he expects premiums to rise in the short term as the insurance department’s new regulations are implemented, but that he hopes it all means insurers will start writing policies in the state again.

“Our insurance industry is in shambles right now,” he said. “For the next few years it’s not going to be great. If we can allow our constituents to write off some of that increase, maybe they can get some sort of relief.”

But he doesn’t yet know what it would cost the state — and its taxpayers. Flora said he plans to ask the Legislative Analyst’s Office to look into it.

“There will be a hit to the general fund,” Flora acknowledged, adding that “in California, we spend a lot of money on a lot of different things. But fundamentally, people cannot buy homes without insurance.”

Amy Bach, executive director of the consumer advocacy group United Policyholders, does not support the bill and said “if we’re going to have insurance companies benefit from taxpayer funds paid toward premiums,” the state should extract some concessions from insurance companies, including getting them to write more policies. Bach said what she is in favor of is tax credits for mitigation expenses. For example, one bill would establish state grants for fire-rated roofs and other expenses, while another would allow for tax-free savings accounts for the purposes of mitigation or deductibles in case of a disaster.

Douglas Heller, director of insurance at Consumer Federation of America, agreed, saying taxpayer dollars would be better used preventing catastrophe and loss in the state.

Fossil-fuel company liability

Senate Bill 222, by Sen. Scott Wiener and several co-authors, would allow insurance companies and individuals to sue fossil-fuel companies over damages from climate-related disasters — part of a wave of efforts to hold the industry responsible for climate change. Hawaii is also considering a similar bill.

“Disasters that are so much more frequent and so much bigger in scale than five to 10 years ago (are) not random,” said Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco, during a press conference. “That’s because of climate change being fueled by companies.”

The idea is that allowing individuals, insurers and the FAIR Plan to try to recoup some costs from disasters would provide an alternative to insurance companies simply raising their rates.

A business group that represents insurance companies warned against the legislation, saying it could lead to increased costs for consumers. Though California Business Roundtable does not publicly disclose all its members, it does include executives from the insurance and fossil-fuel industries, said Brooke Armour, president of the California Center for Jobs & the Economy, the group’s information arm.

Center for Climate Integrity, a co-sponsor of Wiener’s bill, has been trying for almost a decade to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for climate change. Iyla Shornstein, political director at the group, said if nobody holds the oil industry responsible for disaster costs, insurance rates will only continue to “skyrocket and overburden victims.”

###

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

###

Katie Porter, the former Democratic congress member from Orange County who became a progressive star with her vigorous interrogations during committee hearings, is running for governor of California.

After months of hinting that she would run, Porter formally launched her 2026 gubernatorial campaign today with a video posted to social media in which she touts her independence from corporate interests and lambastes President Donald Trump.

“I first ran for office to hold Trump accountable. I feel that same call to serve now to stop him from hurting Californians,” Porter said in the video. “As governor, I won’t ever back down when Trump hurts Californians — whether he’s holding up disaster relief, attacking our rights or our communities, or screwing over working families to benefit himself and his cronies.”

Her announcement follows just a year after her unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate. That race ended acrimoniously when Porter, who finished a distant third in the primary, called the election “rigged by billionaires,” for which she received enormous criticism.

But the national exposure has helped make her an immediate frontrunner to replace the termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Several independent polls since last fall show Porter with a clear lead over other announced and expected gubernatorial candidates. She also begins with more than $1.4 million left over from her Senate campaign — though the race for governor could ultimately require tens of millions of dollars in fundraising.

Porter, who flipped a Republican seat in 2018, left Congress in January after three terms and returned to teaching at the UC Irvine School of Law.

Porter aims to protect Californians from Trump

Though she’s touting “fresh blood and new ideas,” her platform is so far light on specifics. In her campaign launch video, Porter mentions protecting abortion rights, LGBTQ rights and immigrant communities and never letting “big banks, Big Pharma or Big Oil screw people over.”

“I’ve only ever been motivated by one thing: Making Californians’ lives better,” she said. “And I’ll go toe-to-toe with anyone who tries to hurt Californians. Because that’s what it means to have the courage to solve our toughest problems.”

Her focus on the ongoing ideological and political clashes between California and the federal government could position Porter as the state’s leading anti-Trump voice as Newsom instead tries to curry favor with the president to secure federal disaster aid for the devastating January fires in Los Angeles. Fewer than a third of adults approve of Trump in heavily Democratic California.

That might bolster Porter in a crowded race where the major Democratic candidates — Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and former Controller Betty Yee — have so far mostly leaned into their personal biographies and messaging about affordability.

Attorney General Rob Bonta, who has already sued the new Trump administration more than a half dozen times, recently announced that he would forgo a run for governor and seek re-election.

Candidates wait for Harris decision

But the possibility that former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in November, could still enter the field looms large. Politico reported last week that Harris plans to decide by this summer whether she will run for governor — a decision that would likely force other candidates out of the race because of her advantages in fundraising and name ID.

The June 2026 gubernatorial primary is an open election from which the top two candidates will advance to a runoff, regardless of their party affiliation. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, and moderate Democrat Stephen Cloobeck, the founder of a timeshare company, are among the other announced candidates.

En el corazón de Michoacán, México, nació una leyenda el 20 de abril de 1938, llamada María De Jesús Galván-Vázquez, conocida después por su nombre de casada, María De Jesús Munguía. Esta mujer extraordinaria, un faro de resiliencia y amor, vivió una vida que abarcó casi un siglo. Fue una fuerza de la naturaleza, moldeando las vidas de quienes la rodeaban con una fuerza y compasión inquebrantables, junto a sus 12 hermanos.

Su viaje comenzó en los vibrantes paisajes de Michoacán, donde las montañas y valles acunaron sus sueños de infancia. Con un corazón lleno de determinación, navegó por los desafíos de la vida, encontrando eventualmente un compañero en su amado esposo, Dionisio Munguía Farías. Se casaron el 23 de julio de 1953 y juntos, construyeron una familia que se convertiría en su mayor legado.

Bendecida con 20 hijos, los crió a cada uno con un amor sin límites. Su hogar fue un santuario de calidez y risas, donde las lecciones de bondad y perseverancia se transmitieron a través de las generaciones. A medida que su familia creció, también lo hizo su corazón, expandiéndose para abrazar a 112 nietos, 214 bisnietos y un asombroso número de 37 tataranietos.

Aunque su esposo falleció en Junio 22, 2003, ella llevó su memoria consigo, un testimonio de su vínculo perdurable. En los años que siguieron, encontró nuevamente compañía y alegría, compartiendo su vida con un amoroso novio Thomas Ramos-Vazquez desde 2013 hasta 2024. Juntos, crearon nuevos recuerdos, añadiendo colores vibrantes al tapiz de su vida.

Sus mayores alegrías en la vida eran sus hijos, la alegre música de los Chirrines, contar chistes y celebrar en fiestas. En el año 2000, se trasladó a los Estados Unidos para estar con su esposo e hijos que se habían mudado allí. En su nuevo hogar, no solo tuvo amigos y familia, sino una comunidad que la amó y apreció. Siempre fue celebrada y mimada por su familia y seres queridos.

María fue una mujer católica dedicada que conocía el rosario de memoria. Su fe fue un pilar en su vida, guiándola con devoción inquebrantable a través de los altos y bajos.

Sus últimos días los pasó rodeada por el amor de su extensa familia, un testimonio vivo del profundo impacto que tuvo en el mundo. El 27 de noviembre de 2024, falleció en paz, dejando atrás un legado que será atesorado por generaciones.

Su historia es una de amor, resiliencia y el extraordinario poder de la familia. Durante su vida, ella era hija, hermana, tía, esposa, madre, abuela, bisabuela y tatarabuela, pero también era el corazón y el alma de un linaje que siempre llevará su espíritu. A través de las vidas que tocó y el amor que compartió, su memoria continuará brillando intensamente, una luz guía para todos los que siguen sus pasos. Que ella descanse en paz.

###

Her journey began in the vibrant landscapes of Michoacán, where the mountains and valleys cradled her childhood dreams. With a heart full of determination, she navigated the challenges of life, eventually finding a partner in her beloved husband, Dionicio Munguía Farías. They married on July 23, 1953, and together they built a family that would become her greatest legacy.

Blessed with 20 children, she nurtured each one with a love that knew no bounds. Her home was a sanctuary of warmth and laughter, where lessons of kindness and perseverance were passed down through the generations. As her family grew, so did her heart, expanding to embrace 112 grandchildren, 214 great-grandchildren, and an astounding 37 great-great-grandchildren.

Though her husband passed away in June 22, 2003, she carried his memory with her, a testament to their enduring bond. In the years that followed, she found companionship and joy once more, sharing her life with a loving, Thomas Ramos-Vazquez from 2013 to 2024. Together, they created new memories, adding vibrant colors to her life.

Her greatest joys in life were her children, the lively Chirrines of Mexican farm music, sharing jokes, and always celebrating at parties. In 2000, she moved to the United States to be with her husband and children, who had relocated to Eureka. In her new home, she grew to have not just friends and family but a community that loved and cherished her. She was always celebrated and spoiled by her family and loved ones.

María was a dedicated Catholic woman who knew her rosary by heart. Her faith was a cornerstone of her life, guiding her through the highs and lows with unwavering devotion.

Her final days were spent surrounded by the love of her expansive family, a living testament to the profound impact she had on the world. On November 27, 2024, she passed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished for generations to come.

Her story is one of love, resilience, and the extraordinary power of family. During her life, she was a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, but she was also the heart and soul of a lineage that will forever carry her spirit. Through the lives she touched and the love she shared, her memory will continue to shine brightly, a guiding light for all who follow in her footsteps. May she rest in peace.

Árbol Familiar/Family Tree:

Padres/Parents:

Santiago Galvan (Fallecido/Deceased) Y Rebecca Vazquez (Fallecida/Deceased)

Esposo:

Dionisio Munguia Farias (Fallecido/Deceased)

Suegros/In Laws:

Maximiliano Munguia Mendoza (Fallecido/Deceased) y Altagarcia Farias Bueno (Fallecida/Deceased)

Hermanos/Siblings

1. Tonya
2. María (Fallecido/Deceased)
3. María (Fallecida/Deceased)
4. María De Jesús Galván-Vázquez (Fallecida/Deceased)
5. Pabla
6. Juana
7. Mercede
8. Rebecca
9. Anita
10. Javier
11. José
12. Adelina (Fallecida/Deceased)
13. Lupita

Hijos/Children:

1. Alcadia
2. Ofelia
3. Antonio
4. Pastor (Fallecido/Deceased))
5. Rosa
6. María Elvia
7. Anamaria
8. Marta
9. Senaida
10. Josefina
11. Mercede
12. Juana
13. María Guadalupe
14. Adelina
15. Dionicio
16. José Pastor
17. María (Fallecida/Deceased)
18. María (Fallecida/Deceased)
19. María (Fallecida/Deceased)
20. José (Fallecido/Deceased)

Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren:

• Alcadia:
  • Goyo: Fernando
  • Macario
  • María de Jesús: Alexis, Venhamin, Jonathan
  • Soledad: (Norma: Isabela, Efrain, Anahi, Pedro, Fermin), (Graciela: Angel, Edgar, Raul), (Pablo: Anellei, Ivan), (Jaime: Jayden, Julian), (María: Alejandro), (Estela: Alcadia, Alejandro), Brenda, Alondra
• Ofelia:
  • Johnny: Jonathan, Amerie
  • Eloisa: (Jessica: Carolita, Alaya, Evaley), Dominick
  • Froilan: Nayeli, Janetti, Abigail, Isaac
  • Lucy: Isabell, Amelia
  • Armando
  • Fidel: (Laly: Eziah), Aylen, Bianca
  • Adriana: Adrian, Yareli, Ameli
• Antonio:
  • Anelida: Carlos, Azul, Frida, Dionicio
  • Christobal: Marlen, Jazmin
  • Fidelfa: Alexander, Andrea, Iban
  • Mayela: Rafael, Christian
  • Marisol: Acxel, Edgar, Miguel
  • Lorena: Zoe
  • Maximiliano: Solia, Edwin, Genisis
  • Yesenia: Aron
  • Briseida: Luna
• Pastor (Falleicido/Deceased):
  • Hilda: (Crystal: Romeo, Abriel), Manuel, Daniel, Allyson
  • Daniel: Itxel, Laura, (Daniel: Efren Jayden, Issac, Noah)
• Rosa:
  • Azucena: Jonahthon, Amerie
  • Irene
  • Lorena: Daniela, Elvin, Carla
  • Cassandra
  • Carlos: Violet, Valeria, Sol de Jesús
  • Eduardo
  • Daniel: Daniel
  • Anadelia: (Amy: +1), (Audel: +1), +1
• María Elvia:
  • Rebecca: Erik, Carlos, Oscar, (Lizbeth: Max, Leo, Paris)
  • Rafael:Natalia, Sebastian, Jaquelin
  • Santos: Gigi, Sheila, Alyiah, Ethan, Erik
  • Eleida
  • Noel: Sofia, AJ
• Ana Maria:
  • Rosa: Jazmin, (Veronica: Elliana), Angel
  • Efren: Andrea, Jesus, Angel
  • Fermin: Mareli, Yamilet
  • Olivia: Diego, Abel, Jose, Jilberto, Belinda
  • Margarita: Omar, Oliver, Damian
  • Florelia: Luis, Daniel, Julian
  • Beatriz: Daniel, Melissa, Alejandro, Fermin, Sofia
  • Rafael: Erik, Dariana, Dillan
  • Marianita: Manuel, Carina
• Marta:
  • Imelda: Fernando, (Lorena: Esteban), Jesus, Carlos, Alicia
  • Arnoldo: (Yareli: Allen), Adrian, Celso, Noel, Brenda, Goyo
  • Anselmo: Edwin, Saul
  • Carmen: (Briseida: Lisandro), Kevin, Alexis, Jesus, Manuel, Golrivella, Elvis,
  • Fidelina: (Magdalena: Dylan, Keidy) Christian, (Biane: Julio, Lia), Chuyito, Monica
  • Juventino: Fabian, Christian, Gael, Maria
  • Elijio: Angel, Alexander, Olverado, Elijio
  • Juan
  • Ismael: Josaya
  • Elidio: Miranda
  • Rosa: Emanuel, Paloma
  • Antonio: Daleysa, Andrea
  • Luis: Daniel
  • Mirella
• Senaida:
  • Alberto: Y’sabeli, Viktor
  • Olegario: Sienna, Sofia
  • Samuel: Gabriel, Brayden, Viviana
  • Sergio
  • Jairo: Emiliano
  • Cecila
  • Ana: Ezekiel, Adriel, Thiago, Relana
  • Norma
  • Danika
  • Gloria: Giovanni
• Josefina:
  • Ramon: Alicia, Trenton, Annabell
  • Antonio
  • Jose Jr.: Julien, Viviana
  • Chuchi
  • Mariana: Havana, Harlem, Benito
  • Tony
  • Abel: Elizabeth
• Mercede:
  • Esenio
  • Armando
  • Ismael: Guadalupe, Rafa
  • Elvis: Avi
  • Blanca: Lesly, Dylan, Brianna
  • Briseida: Abran, Iker
  • Aida: Adrian, Rosa
  • Clementina
• Juana:
  • Yecenia: Palavi
  • Marco: Daniel, Deluca
  • Diana: Josiah, Khalil
  • Andres
  • Lisandro
• Lupe:
  • Rosa: Brenda, Omar, Isela, Sofia
  • Nely: David, Daniel, Dayana
  • Jose: Lupe, Vanessa, Eduardo, Jesus
  • Pureza: Estrella, Erika
  • Jovita: Alex, Uriel, Ester
  • Ismael
  • Jesus: Luna, Mateo
  • Adelma: Emily, Brian
  • Bella: Valeria
  • Eduardo
  • Miguel
  • Luis
  • Maria
  • Laura
• Adelina:
  • Dilsia: Nathan, Noah,
  • Ana: Israel, Cecilia,
  • Maria De Jesus
  • Miguel: Emi, Alaya, Kailia,
  • Christian: Yaharia,
  • Visaira
• Dionicio:
  • Toncha (Cat)
• José Pastor:
  • Jovany
  • Samantha
  • Alexis
  • Eduardo

Total children = 20

Total grandchildren = 112

Total great-grandchildren = 214

Total great-great-grandchildren = 37

Evelyn Arverna Fletcher Smith
July 20, 1935 – March 4, 2025

Evelyn was born in Eureka to Royal and Edna Fletcher on July 20,1935 and passed away peacefully at home on March 4, 2025.

Mom was the sixth of eight siblings. She grew up in Eureka, South Fork and Weott, where she spent many summers wandering through the redwoods and swimming in the Eel River. She attended schools in Eureka, South Fork and Weott, graduating from South Fork High School in 1953.

Mom married our father, Merle Smith, on September 1, 1956, and they had been happily married for 39 years when our father passed away. They lived in Eureka and had a home built in 1960, where mom lived for the rest of her life.

While still in high school she went to work for the telephone company and continued to work there until starting our family. Shelly was born in 1960 and Lisa in 1962. She then set out raising the two of us as a stay-at-home mom until the early ‘70s, when she was offered a job as a playground monitor at Alice Birney Elementary School. She continued to work at Alice Birney as a monitor and classroom aide, finally ending her career in the office as a Clerk Typist. She made many dear friends in the 25 years that she worked for Eureka City Schools. After her retirement she kept busy as a substitute secretary for many of the schools in Eureka City Schools.

Family meant a lot to mom and there were many holiday and family dinners, card games, and summer potlucks in Redcrest and Weott along with many weekends spent on the banks of the Eel River.

Mom and dad enjoyed many years of traveling to visit family and friends. Camping trips to Fort Bragg for abalone, camping with the Johnson family at Cabana Holiday (Redwood Rivers Resort), and bus trips to Reno were the highlight of the year with many adventures involved. Yearly trips to Reno with their dear friends Warren and Joanne Smith, spending Thanksgiving with their son and his wife Chad and Rycha Smith in Redding, trips to Washington to visit with their friends Bill and Charlotte Waley, and even a trip to Jamaica with friends and business partners at Capital Business Machines.

Eventually mom and dad bought a mobile home in Willow Creek where she enjoyed many years playing golf with friends and family. Mom also enjoyed going to the casino and having lunch with her friends Rita Henry and Bev Alto.

Mom is survived by her daughters Shelly and Lisa Smith. She is also survived by nieces and nephews: Jan Philp, Judith Braddon, Kathy Philp, Rick Fletcher, Linda and Rod Hill, Fawn Fletcher, Kevin Milligan, Tim Milligan, Jim and Wendy Yegge, John and Joanne Yegge, Lori Stark, Jennifer and Ken Snipes, Jane Scott Anderson, Bill and Connie Smith, Sharon and Tony McCarver, Debbie and Terry Phillips, Krista and Casey Chraska, Bob and Debbie Smith, Gerry Smith, Kelli Kelley, Sylvia Smith-Turk, Pam Smith, Cindy Deaton, and Arlene Zehrung and their families. Mom is also survived by her dear friends, Robert and Del Poppelreiter, Joanne Smith, and Bill and Charlotte Waley.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband Merle, her parents Royal and Edna Fletcher, her in-laws Roland and Fern Smith, as well as her siblings and their spouses: Ed Fletcher, Betty Jane and Teke Philp, Marilyn and Bob Milligan, Carl and Pat Fletcher, Virgina Yegge, Newell Fletcher and Phyllis and John Stark and her in-laws and their spouses: Lloyd Smith, Ed and Tess Smith, Bob and Molly Smith and Arnold Smith and her nieces and nephews: Dennis Philp, Gary Philp, Cathy Venberg, Steve Fletcher, Paula Stark, Rick Smith, Janet Marsaw and Sandy Smith.

We want to thank Brenna Kemper for her loving care and the hundreds of back scratches she gave our mom over the last year and a half. We also want to thank Hospice of Humboldt, especially Scotty, Stacy, and Paula for their kindness and care of mom.

In lieu of flowers please sent donations to Hospice of Humboldt, 3327 Timber Fall Ct. Eureka, CA 95503 or Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Project at Humboldt Area Foundation, 363 Indianola Rd., Bayside, CA 95524

Graveside services will be March 22 at 12 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Park in Eureka.

A celebration of life will take place on July 20 at The Lodge, 554 Herrick Ave, Eureka from 2 to 4 p.m.

Please RSVP to Shelly or Lisa if you will be attending.

###

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

Katherine Sue Montagne
August 15, 1948 – February 10, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Katherine Sue Montagne, on Monday, February 10, at the age of 76. She passed away peacefully at Kaiser Permanente Oakland, surrounded by her loving family. Over the years, she touched countless lives with her kindness, compassion, and joyful spirit.

Kathy was born on Aug. 15, 1948, in Hominy, Oklahoma, to Jack and Laura Crain. She grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma the second of five sisters named Jacqueline (Jacki), Judy, Karen, and Carla. She and her twin sister, Jacki, were the grand marshals of the Hominy Fourth of July Parade and often wore matching outfits that their mother sewed from hand.

Kathy moved to California in 1967 with her twin sister, Jacki. Lured by the sunshine and the images of gentle people with flowers in their hair, she landed first in Sacramento before moving to Pasadena where she graduated from Pasadena College. Afterward, she began work at St. Luke’s Hospital as a ward clerk. She met and fell in love with David Montagne and the couple married in 1973 at the home of their good friends, Mary and Tony Cugino. They moved to Hawthorne, Calif. where she taught home economics at both Hawthorne High School and Pasadena City College. She was particularly proud that her former student, Mike Scott, had achieved great success as a major league all-star pitcher and master of the split-fingered fastball.

Kathy and Dave moved to Eureka in 1973 where she taught at Ferndale High School before joining the nursing team at Mad River hospital. With the birth of her first child, she felt a renewed calling to work with children and joined the Manila Westhaven Parents Council in 1980. From there she began a 40-year tenure at North Coast Children Services eventually serving as the executive director for over three decades.

Kathy never met a person she couldn’t talk to nor a cause toward which she couldn’t be compassionate. She loved local art, advocating for children, and throwing parties. It’s no surprise that the modest fundraiser for local children’s programs she helped organize with her colleagues at North Coast Children’s services blossomed into the 30-year community celebration, Pastels on the Plaza.

Kathy dedicated much of her life to her family and the children of the North Coast. She regularly hosted Japanese exchange students who were attending Humboldt State and remained close to them after they returned to their home country. Her love and commitment were evident in everything she did. Her home was a place of warmth, comfort and laughter, where she always made sure her family felt safe and loved.

Kathy had a passion for live music, diverse cuisine, and was involved in various school boards along with the Arcata Economic Development Council. Her generosity and kind heart left a lasting impact on everyone she met.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Laura, as well as her sister, Karen. She is survived by her sons and their spouses, Andy (Johanna) and Brian (Brenna); her sisters Jacki, Judy, and Carla; her grandchildren, Apollo and Anais; her cousin, Gene; numerous nieces and nephews; and her loving caretaker, Dave.

Her legacy of love, compassion, and resilience will continue to inspire all who knew her. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, at 24 Fellowship Way in Bayside at 1 p.m. on April 19, 2025. All who wish to are welcome to attend.

We will forever cherish the moments we shared with her and are comforted by the knowledge that she will always be with us in spirit. Rest in peace, Mom, and thank you for everything you gave us. You will never be forgotten.