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People from all walks of life gathered at St. Vincent de Paul’s Third Street dining facility in Eureka today for the unveiling of the city’s newest — and perhaps cutest — mural, “Share the Bounty,” a whimsical scene of woodland critters enjoying tasty foods by local artists Blake Reagan and Christopher Dmise. 

The mural, which received grant funding from the Eureka Cultural Arts District, was inspired by the folks who frequent the St. Vinny’s dining hall during Free Meal and features some of their favorite meals, including spare ribs and macaroni and cheese.

“They wanted a bunch of animals eating at the table, sharing food and the bounty, and so we wanted to capture that in the mural,” Reagan said. “I think there’s food all around us, but I think there’s also hunger all around us, and I think it’s easy for us to avoid these situations just by opening your heart and giving a little to people in need.”

The big mural reveal coincided with Unity Day, Uplift Eureka’s community resource fair. The monthly pop-up features local organizations and volunteer groups that work with the city’s unhoused community, but Siena Parish, Uplift Eureka’s outreach coordinator, emphasized that Unity Day is for the entire community. 

Parish

“Unity Day is just a chance for community members to come down [to the dining hall] and really just experience our community here, connect with nonprofits, connect with folks who care and really put our best foot forward. Community works as well as how we treat those who need it most,” Parish said. “To be able to do this at St. Vincent de Paul’s is such an honor. … This is an absolute dream come true.”

“And I will say, I’m happy the mac ‘n’ cheese is on the wall,” she added, referring, of course, to the painted pile of cheesy goodness beneath the window.

Recognize that blue bowl? Hannah Ozanian, Uplift Eureka’s social services coordinator, said it’s a tribute to the late ceramicist Mark Campbell, who used to coordinate the local Empty Bowls fundraiser for St. Vincent de Paul and the Jefferson Community Center.

“We’re grateful to be able to show off this new piece of work that’s brightening up our street and community,” Ozanian added. “This is an important part of town that has sheltered many people for many decades, and this art is representative of our group’s tie to art, community, culture and this bigger idea of beautification throughout Eureka.”

The mural is a part of the You Found It! Festival, a two-month arts festival produced by the Eureka Cultural Arts District. Keep scrolling for more photos!

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Note: This story has been updated with the correct spelling of Father Mike Cloney’s name. The Outpost regrets the error.

Press release from Humboldt Bay Fire:

Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) crews responded to a first-alarm structure fire near the 3500 Block of M Street in Eureka shortly after 5:15 am this morning.

Upon arrival, the first arriving unit encountered heavy fire conditions with approximately 40% of the single-family home fully involved. Crews initiated a quick transitional fire attack, rapidly knocking down the bulk of the fire before transitioning to an interior offensive operation. Interior crews conducted a primary search of the structure and achieved a primary and secondary all clear, confirming no occupants were inside. The Incident Commander confirmed through Eureka Police and Fire Dispatch that the homeowner was safely located elsewhere.

Following the fire extinguishment, crews faced challenging conditions due to extensive hoarding inside the residence and conducted a labor-intensive overhaul operation. PG&E responded promptly to the scene and removed the electrical meter, enhancing safety for fire personnel. City Ambulance provided standby medical support throughout the incident. No injuries to firefighters or civilians were reported.

Humboldt Bay Fire would like to thank our dispatchers, PG&E, and City Ambulance for their assistance during this challenging early morning fire. Their quick and professional support helped ensure a safe and effective operation.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Humboldt Bay Fire reminds residents to maintain clear access for emergency personnel around their homes. Keeping ornamental vegetation, personal belongings, and pathways clear can help prevent delays during emergencies and reduce fire risk.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Over the course of a single 12-hour shift, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) proactively conducted enforcement operations throughout Humboldt County, resulting in multiple arrests related to outstanding warrants, narcotics offenses, and other criminal activity. These actions reflect HCSO’s ongoing commitment to proactive policing strategies aimed at improving public safety and addressing crime in our communities.

On May 26, 2026, approximately 20 minutes into the shift, a patrol deputy assigned to the Eureka Main Station observed Michael Thomas Banyard (DOB 03/05/1991) walking near the intersection of Tydd Street and V Street in Eureka. Deputies determined Banyard had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was detained without incident, arrested, and subsequently booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF).

Shortly thereafter, deputies assigned to the Eureka Main Station conducted a foot patrol at a known transient encampment located behind Walgreens Pharmacy at 2525 Harris Street in Eureka. During the contact, deputies located Allen Walter Yochum (DOB 06/03/1964), who was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and used hypodermic needles that were in plain view. Deputies also learned Yochum was on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) for prior drug-related convictions and had absconded from supervision. In addition, Yochum had five outstanding warrants for his arrest. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the HCCF.

Later in the shift, patrol deputies assigned to the Hoopa Valley area were conducting proactive patrols near Pine Creek Road and River Road when they initiated a traffic stop for an observed traffic violation. Deputies contacted the driver, Gary Keith Parson (DOB 08/29/1975), who admitted to possessing methamphetamine. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of more than 30 grams of suspected methamphetamine (photo attached). Parson was arrested for possession of controlled substances and booked into the HCCF.

Moments later, additional deputies assigned to the Hoopa Valley area conducted a traffic stop in the 600 block of Tish Tang Road for another observed traffic violation. Deputies contacted multiple occupants inside the vehicle, including Terra Yvette Hescock (DOB 09/14/1983) and Jasmine Beatrice Faye Smith (DOB 09/07/1975). Deputies learned Smith was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. During the investigation, deputies observed drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. HCSO K9 Yahtzee was on scene and conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle, alerting deputies to the presence of narcotics. A subsequent vehicle search resulted in the discovery of additional drug paraphernalia and ammunition. Both subjects were arrested and booked into the HCCF on various charges.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in its commitment to proactive, intelligence-led policing and targeted enforcement efforts designed to protect the public and improve quality of life throughout Humboldt County. Through increased patrol activity, strategic enforcement, and continued community engagement, HCSO will continue working to deter criminal activity, hold offenders accountable, and keep Humboldt County communities safe.

Anyone with information about these cases or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Press release from the Humboldt County Agriculture Commissioner:

The County of Humboldt’s Agriculture Commissioner is urging residents to take immediate precautions after the invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) was discovered on grape plants sold at Costco stores throughout California. 

The Costco store in Eureka, located at 1006 W. Wabash Ave., was among those that received these grape plants from Burchell Nursery, a wholesale nursery located in Fresno County. The issue occurred at the nursery supplier level, and the local food supply has not been affected by the discovery of this insect.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter, a type of leafhopper, spreads Pierce’s disease which kills grapevines and can also harm almond, citrus and ornamental plants, creating a serious risk for agriculture and home gardens in Humboldt County and across the state. There is currently no known cure for Pierce’s disease. Due to the clear and present danger the pest and disease pose to local vineyards and backyard growers, it is important that any potentially affected plants are inspected as soon as possible. 

What To Do

Early detection is critical for protecting Humboldt County and California’s agricultural and natural resources. Anyone who purchased grape plants from the Eureka Costco location on or after Tuesday, April 21 should contact the Humboldt County Agricultural Commissioner’s office to help stop the pest from spreading further. 

Please do not plant your recently-purchased grapevine if you have not already done so. Residents who purchased grape plants from Costco on or after April 21 should not move or throw away the plants. Residents should place two garbage bags over the plant, secure them tightly and immediately contact the Humboldt County Agricultural Commissioner’s office for further guidance and to schedule an inspection. 

You can reach the Agriculture Commissioner’s office on the phone at 707-441-5260 or by email at AGCommisioner@co.humboldt.ca.us. 

More Information

Humboldt County has a restriction against the glassy-winged sharpshooter to protect both commercial growers and home gardeners. Native to the southeastern United States and Mexico, this invasive species was first identified in California in the 1990s and is now established in central and southern parts of the state. This pest threatens California’s grape industry and is known to feed on more than 250 plant species, causing damage to vineyards and ornamental landscapes. As part of the Humboldt County Agriculture Department’s Pest Detection Program, yellow panel sticky traps are placed at nurseries and throughout the county to detect the presence of this pest, which has never been detected in Humboldt County.

“The glassy-winged sharpshooter poses a serious threat and it’s important that we move quickly to prevent it from spreading,” said Humboldt County Agricultural Commissioner Weylan Shaw. “Staff is working closely with Costco and our state and local partners to protect Humboldt’s farms, home gardens and landscapes. If you purchased grapevines from Costco on or after April 21, please contact us. We know this may be an inconvenience and we truly appreciate your help to keep Humboldt’s agriculture and gardens healthy.”

Additional information about the glassy-winged sharpshooter and Pierce’s disease can be found at the California Department of Food & Agriculture’s website. 

About the Humboldt County Department of Agriculture

The Humboldt County Department of Agriculture’s purpose is to protect Humboldt’s agricultural industry, human health and the environment through various regulatory programs. The department fosters consumer confidence and equity in the marketplace through education, community engagement and through the fair and uniform enforcement of laws, regulation and ordinances that have been enacted by the people of California and the County of Humboldt. For more information about the Humboldt County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights & Measures, visit HumboldtGov.org/AgCommissioner.

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

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California’s community colleges represent the largest higher education system in the country — more than 2 million students, or 60 times the undergraduate population of UC Berkeley. But walking around a community college campus, it’s often hard to tell.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, cafeterias and local coffee shops are quieter, fewer students are sitting on the quad and, with less foot traffic, the grass is lush. Even after campuses returned to in-person classes, many students are still working from their dining room table: About 40% of all community college classes are online, according to Melissa Villarin, a spokesperson for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

The state’s community colleges are funded based largely on the number of students they enroll, and since students prefer online courses, there’s an incentive for schools to expand them.

Ask students or professors about the merits of online education, and they’ll often say it’s more accessible, especially for students who have kids or are working a full-time job. The same argument is often true at the University of California and California State University campuses, which offer considerably more online courses than before the pandemic, though far fewer than the community colleges.

Ask students or professors about the problems of online education, and they’ll point to any number of familiar complaints: a lack of engagement, a sense of loneliness, impersonal lectures, and the temptation to move the Zoom window aside and click on something else. In online classrooms where the majority of students keep their cameras off, bots and scammers have become a systemwide problem: they use AI and other algorithms to mimic real students, submit assignments and steal financial aid. Even real students are using AI to submit online assignments, while teachers are using it to grade.

Researchers say it’s hard to know how the quality of online education compares to in-person courses because it’s subjective and because of the wide diversity of courses and teaching methods.

In Lupe Archundia’s microeconomics class at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, all the lectures were pre-recorded, in some cases more than a decade ago. The professor gives students the answers to the quizzes — before they take the test — and all the quizzes are in a multiple-choice format that a computer grades.

“I am a 39-year old woman,” Archundia said. “It’s not like I just finished high school and I want easy test answers.”

Archundia has two kids and a full-time job as a secretary, so she studies in the evenings, turning her dining room table into a standing desk with the help of a few cardboard boxes. She wants a bachelor’s degree to help her move up in her career.

In the beginning of the course, she said she would study for three hours before completing each quiz, but once she discovered the professor had made the answers available, she started cutting corners. She said there are still certain concepts, such as elasticity, that she doesn’t fully understand, even though she aced the online exam.

She feels conflicted about it. “I’m responsible, too,” she said.

What the research does — or doesn’t — say

The research into online education is generally inconclusive. One 2025 study found that students consistently perform worse in online classes than in-person ones, though the gap is decreasing. Online courses also make it easier for students to hold a job while in school and complete their degree in the long term, said Di Xu, a professor at UC Irvine’s School of Education.

When asked about students’ concerns with online education, Alex Breitler, a spokesperson for Delta College, said these classes expand “access to higher education for working adults, parents, caregivers, and other students balancing significant responsibilities,” including many students who “simply would not be able to pursue college without online options.”

Tina Rocha sorts through her classwork at her home in Stockton on May 7, 2026. Rocha is a student at San Joaquin Delta College, where many of her classes are online. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters

Delta is not alone — the idea that online courses increase access is a common refrain among college officials. Xu pointed to one empirical study of an online master’s program at Georgia Tech that proved this point, though the students are very different from those at California’s community colleges, where many are seeking short-term career training or an associate degree.

What researchers do know is that online education has inherent challenges. It requires “self-directed learning skills,” including a “very high level of self-time management,” said Xu. “In an in-person environment interaction happens naturally,” she said. “But in an online environment, especially asynchronous, that opportunity needs to be embedded. Otherwise, the student will feel very lonely.”

The majority of online classes at California’s community colleges are asynchronous, meaning that the content is all pre-recorded and students can study at their own convenience. Students prefer asynchronous classes too, even compared to online courses where the instructor is live, according to a survey by the RP Group, an education research nonprofit.

Archundia said she always opts for in-person classes but there are few available, especially for the English classes she wants to take and during the evening hours that she’s available. Her dream is to become a writer, and she wants to switch her major to English, instead of her current major, business administration, though she isn’t sure what classes are necessary to make that happen.

In April, when she reached out to a college counselor for help selecting classes, the next available appointment was about three weeks later. Archundia still hasn’t been able to find an appointment that works with her work schedule.

Archundia shows an email exchange with the San Joaquin Delta College counseling office on her laptop at a Panera Bread in Stockton on May 7, 2026. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters

One-on-one advising and support structures, such as guidance counselors, are essential for online students, said Rebecca Ruan-O’Shaughnessy, the director of program and strategy at College Futures Foundation and a former executive at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office — but schools also need to adapt.

Online courses are fundamentally different, and schools need to redesign their courses, not just retrofit them, she said. She pointed to some programs that have new and promising approaches to online education, such as shortening the length of the class or trying to integrate adults’ work experience given so many online students have a full-time job.

“That is the difficult part for community colleges and other institutions,” Ruan-O’Shaughnessy said. “Frankly, they don’t have the incentive to do that level of work, because that’s a lot of work.”

Breitler, with Delta College, acknowledged that counseling appointments are often booked “weeks in advance” because of high demand. He said the college is trying new solutions, such as letting students submit questions to counselors online and creating drop-in hours where an appointment isn’t needed.

Remedial education in foreign languages

Cyndi Cunningham enrolled at Palomar College in San Marcos, on the northern edge of San Diego County, in 2022, after the pandemic forced her local shopping mall to close temporarily, making her longtime retail job suddenly seem precarious. Starting college for the first time, she was taking general education and introductory courses, mostly online, and struggled to pay attention and manage her time. “I only ended up taking one class in person per semester — not because I didn’t want to take in-person classes — but because I couldn’t find them,” she said. “I felt like I wasn’t learning; I was just kind of doing tasks.”

She saw professors cutting corners too: Two of her classes in Chicano Studies were taught by the same professor and she once noticed he was using the exact same lecture in both classes.

Cunningham has since transferred from community college to Cal State San Marcos, where she’s majoring in ethnic studies and plans to become a high school teacher. “Even engaging with other students is so much different in person than on a discussion board,” she said. “I realized more how much of a disservice the online classes did.”

To an extent, online classes can save costs for colleges because they don’t require a physical space and they can enroll many more students, said Xu. But she said adding support systems — such as specialized counseling for students or professional development for faculty — can create additional expenses. Online education “has the potential to save a lot of cost,” she said, but only if colleges are “willing to sacrifice a lot of the quality elements that are important for students.”

Foreign language courses are particularly costly for universities, said Julia Simon, a professor of French at UC Davis and the chair of a task force on languages for the university. Language courses are typically small, meet regularly, and many less popular languages enroll only a handful of students. Facing a structural budget deficit, the university recently asked her task force to develop a plan for slashing courses in the event of cuts.

Meanwhile, she said both the nearby community colleges and the UC system are expanding online foreign language classes, which can operate at a larger scale. Sacramento City College, for instance, is offering four French classes in fall 2026 — all of them are online and fully asynchronous.

“It’s an enormous problem,” she said. In her view, the students who take online courses lack the same opportunities to practice their speaking and miss out on vital cultural lessons that don’t fit in a strict language-learning curriculum. Once they enter UC Davis, they’re unprepared, she said. “We can’t make them repeat courses they’ve already had.”

She said she’s considering creating a set of conversation classes that would amount to remedial education.

‘It all depends on the professor’

California legislators and education officials have poured millions into improving online education since the pandemic and have introduced new rules meant to encourage more interaction between faculty and students. All across the state, faculty routinely train on ways to improve their online instruction, and colleges have hired staff members to help with online course design and scheduling.

But the 2024 survey by the RP Group found that among faculty who had taught at least one online course, the majority still preferred in-person instruction.

First: A whiteboard on which Tina Rocha writes her daily schedule and school work. Last: Rocha sorts through her classwork at her home in Stockton on May 7, 2026. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters

Tina Rocha’s creative writing professor at San Joaquin Delta College recently took a sabbatical, learning how to improve teaching for people with learning disabilities. It paid off, said Rocha, who is 55 and started college in 2024 after recovering from three back-to-back strokes in 2020. Because of her disability, she occasionally needs reminders from the instructor to submit assignments. Sometimes she asks for accommodations to avoid certain noises or lights that distort her vision and make her twitch, she said, but her professor is understanding and accommodating. Online education can be a “wonderful alternative,” she said.

Rocha studies every night at her dining room table, which is often scattered with her notebooks. A calendar hangs from her wall, with notes covering every corner of white space, and a white board sits at the entrance to her home, listing out in color-coded lines each of the week’s responsibilities.

“It all depends on the professor,” she said. Her online film class this semester has been much worse than her creative writing course, she said. The film professor has a lava lamp in the background that reflects psychedelic patterns on the ceiling. When Rocha asked him to turn it off, he said he tried but was unable to, without offering an explanation. Now, to prevent symptoms, she places a sticky note on the screen whenever the professor starts talking.

Rocha said she tried to switch to an in-person film class but was too late. Only online classes were available.

John (Jim) Drake passed away peacefully on May 13, 2026 in Fortuna. Jim was born on January 10, 1926, in Beardstown, Illinois. His goal was to reach 100 years old, and he did with a family party. He was front and center wearing a hat that said “100 never looked so good.” His life was well lived.

Jim lost his mother when he was two years old and lived much of his childhood on the family farm, where he was raised by his grandmother. Jim proudly entered the Army Air Corps, in April 1944, He trained as a gunner and was stationed in Japan.

Jim married Marjorie (Kleinschmidt) in June 1948 and they shared 56 years of marriage. After marrying they drove to California and found jobs at Pacific Lumber Company in Scotia. Jim and his Dad worked part time for State Farm Insurance, which was located next to the movie theater in Fortuna until they built their new office building on Main Street in Fortuna. Jim became a full time agent and had a 50-year career. He loved to sit down and talk to people, and his door was always open.

Jim dedicated 50+ years with the Fortuna Kiwanis Club, and was a long time member with the Fortuna Camera Club. Jim spent long hours driving our family boat, teaching family and friends how to water ski at Ruth Lake. He loved flying and became a pilot and owned part interest in an airplane.

Jim will be missed by his four children, Marcy Stipek (Dan), Marla Markegard (Gary), James Drake and Marlene Shiba (Larry). He has 9 grandchildren — Scott Barsanti (Kelly), Shawn Barsanti (Lisa), Denise Tinley (Brian), Erin DiPiero (Jeff), Evan Markegard (Nicole), Ashlee Byrd (Brendan), Alex Drake (Whitney), Bruce Shiba (Kristina) and Tyler Shiba (MacKenzie) and 16 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Marge, father William (Bill) Drake, mother Marcia and his stepmother Corrine.

Jim was a founding member of Hope Lutheran church in Fortuna, which he helped build in 1964. When it closed he became a member of Christ Lutheran Church.

Jim’s family would like to thank First Choice Care Home in Fortuna for their kindness during Jim’s final years, and to Hospice of Humboldt in his final days.

Jim will be remembered for his friendly personality, strong work ethic and love for his family.

A celebration of life is planned for Friday, July 3, 2026 at Christ Lutheran Church, 2132 Smith Lane in Fortuna at 2 p.m.. There was a private interment at Sunset Memorial Park in Eureka. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Jim’s name to Christ Lutheran Church, 2132 Smith Lane, in Fortuna or a charity of your choice.

Terri Allman, 67, of Eureka, passed away on May 18, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family after a courageous battle with polycystic kidney disease.

Terri was loving, hilarious, generous and fiercely devoted to the people she loved. Her greatest joy in life was her family, and she was a fierce mom in every sense. She was protective, loyal and unwavering in her love. She had a gift for making people laugh, even in hard moments, and she lived her life with strength, humor and a selfless heart.

She is survived by her children, Stephanie Hiscox (Josh Hiscox), Danny Allman and Lizzy Duran (Greg Pope); her grandchildren, Annabelle, Owen, Ashton, Emmy, Chase and Mason; her best friend of over 30 years, Gay Meyers; and her stepmother, Sally Burgh. She was a proud and loving grandmother who cherished every moment with them.

After receiving a kidney transplant in 2008, Terri began a new chapter in life. In her early 50s, she returned to school and earned her nursing degree, later working in the field she had worked so hard to enter. Her determination, compassion and intelligence inspired everyone who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Burgh; her father, Wally Burgh; and her beloved dog, Zoey, whom she missed dearly.

Terri will be remembered for her quick wit, generous heart, incredible strength and unwavering love for her family. She taught those around her to keep going through hardship, to find humor even in difficult times and to love without limits.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

As her favorite TV dad, Phil Dunphy, once said, “Leave a porch light on. They come back.” Terri’s love will always be the light we come home to.

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