Jim Lauffenburger was born on August 17, 1936 to Raymond and Mary Lauffenburger and raised in Visalia, California. After graduating from Visalia High School, he attended the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy. In 1960, he married Louise, and after graduation, they moved to Fort Hood, Texas for his military service with the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant. 

In 1965, Jim and Louise settled in Fortuna, where he worked as a pharmacist at Green’s Pharmacy. He continued to serve the community as a pharmacist, eventually buying the Green’s Pharmacy location in Fortuna in 1972, which he owned for 20 years before retirement. 

Jim passed away on April 3, 2026 in Fortuna and is buried at Sunrise Cemetery. He is predeceased by his parents and his siblings, Eleanor, Raymond, and Mary. He is survived by his wife Louise. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Jim to the Hospice of Humboldt.

Mary Vess, longtime resident of Eureka, went to be with Jesus on April 8, 2026. She had faced a difficult illness with dignity and grace, and remained sweet and loving, as she always had been, through the very end of her life.

Maria Joao Avila Alexandre (“Nana”) was born in 1940 on one of the Azores islands (Terceira) of Portugal.

After her father died and her mother remarried, the family moved to America in two shifts, separated by three years. Nana, her mother and Nana’s older sister and brother came to America in the first shift, on December 29, 1949. It was a long flight to a strange land and no one in the family spoke English and few they met could speak Portuguese. The plane flew over New York City. They could see the Statue of Liberty. The family disembarked and waited on Ellis Island for two days to be admitted into the United States. Admission was granted on December 31, 1949.

Finally, after travelling the nearly 5,000 miles in all, they arrived in Humboldt County California. The Alexandre family was about to begin their life in America during the second half of the twentieth century, one of the most prosperous times and places to be in human history.

Nana updated her birth name (Maria Joao) to the more “American” “Mary Joan.” She started school in Eureka, while her older siblings went to school in Loleta.

Two years later, on May 7, 1953, Nana became an American citizen.

Nana met Bobby (“Papa”) Vess in Eureka on February 23, 1957. Papa, born in Ft. Worth, Texas, was stationed with the Coast Guard in Samoa on lifeboat duty following three years of sea duty.

Nana finished high school early in January 1959. She and Papa were married March 29, 1959, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Eureka.

Nana and Papa had their first child, Deborah, just 10 months later, in January 1960. The newlyweds had their second child, Sandy, the same year (December 27, 1960). Irish twins. The youngest, Bryan, was born 15 months later, in April 1962. After having three kids, Nana was still just 21, and Papa had just turned 24. Kids themselves.

Nana and Papa bought their first (and last) house in 1970, on Humboldt Hill.

Nana worked a variety of jobs while the kids were growing, including at local department stores in Eureka and filleting fish for Eureka Fisheries in Fields Landing. Nana eventually obtained her “dream” job in around 1977, when she became a hairdresser. Over the next 40 years, Nana worked in a number of shops around Eureka (La Beau, Adam and Eve, the Hairport), until her retirement in around 2018. Throughout the decades, Nana loved arts and crafts, and was happiest creating something in ceramics classes or in painting classes. She was also an excellent softball player, playing shortstop and adopting the batting stance of the then-popular Joe Morgan.

Nana was always interested in fitness and exercise. She taught aerobics for many years at different gyms in Eureka.

In retirement, exercise continued to be a major part of Nana’s life. She was still riding her exercise bike up until the days before her passing. She also would cut hair for friends, in the home shop, as a way to stay busy and to be useful to others.

As for Nana’s last days: A special thank-you to first responders: Fire station 2 and City Ambulance. Thank you Dr. Don Iverson for your many years of gentleness and dedication towards Nana and her care. Thank you to the amazing health care team at Providence St Joseph Hospital. To the excellent ER Staff: Dr. Eric Gerdes, and Jess, Matt, Adrianna, Kat, and Jess. To MS 2 crew: Thank you Tara, Monica, Nick, Drew, Shu, and Dawn. To all the others who cared for Nana with love and kindness during those very difficult three days: Thank you. We were witness to many wearing the wings of angels.

All Nana’s siblings predeceased her. She is survived by Papa, her three children, daughter-in-law Jora Vess, her five grandchildren — Taylor Parris (married to D.J. Parris), Austin Tompkins, Charles Vess, Juliet Vess, and Emilia Vess — and her two great-grandchildren, Hudson Parris and David Parris.

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

Frances Louise Salstrom
November 1933- April 2026

Frances was a long-time resident of Eureka and a cherished friend to many. She was born in Oklahoma to her Texan parents, Roy and Audrey George, and moved frequently throughout Texas and California for her father’s work until reaching Eureka during her high-school years.

While attending Eureka High, she met her husband, Leland. They married a few months after graduation and were a devoted couple throughout their lives. They were both very active in planning and attending numerous high school reunions, enjoying those friendships for over 50 years.

Fran raised three children while working as a medical office manager for about 40 years for Dr. Joe Walsh, who became a dear friend, as well as his later colleagues. She attended training over the years that gave her proficiency in medical billing. She later worked in other medical offices.

She enjoyed travelling and many happy gatherings with family and friends. She loved taking her small travel trailer camping to local rivers with groups of friends and family. In later years, a cabin in Willow Creek provided many hours of outdoor fun, becoming a mini-farm that supplied tomatoes to friends and businesses in Eureka, as well as vegetables and fruits for family.

Fran loved old movies, reading, knitting, playing board games and Bingo. She and Leland enjoyed attending local music events, especially the annual Jazz Festival. In later years they enjoyed cruises with her brother Rick and his wife Judy, with a special cruise to Alaska for just the two of them.

Fran was an active member of Quota Club of Eureka, a local service organization. She volunteered to work the polls, assisting during elections, and at The Discovery Shop for the American Cancer Society. She supported her children’s 4-H activities and other endeavors throughout the years. She was a devoted mother and beloved aunt, grandma and friend.

Her greatest sadness was the loss of her oldest and youngest child in their early thirties.

Frances is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leland Salstrom; her parents, Roy and Audrey George; her sister, Patricia George; her son, Michael Salstrom; her daughter, Kathryn Salstrom Weaver and son-in-law Daniel Weaver; and many other relatives and friends. All are greatly missed.

She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Salstrom (Dale); her brothers Richard George (Judy) and Roger George (Cherry); her grandsons Caleb and Ezra Salstrom; her great grandsons Gabriel Salstrom and Sebastian Salstrom; and many nieces and nephews.

She passed away on April 7 at the age of 92 while living quietly at her daughter’s home.

The family sends special thanks to those who helped care for her: Jamie, Kim, Naila, Dale, Sherri, Providence at Home, and Hospice of Humboldt.

There will be a gathering for family and friends on Sunday, May 3 from 2 to 4 p.m. at 3580 I Street in Eureka.

Donations can be sent to the Michael Salstrom Photography Scholarship Fund at Humboldt Area Foundation. https://hafoundation.org/

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

Raymond Sean Vogel
September 18, 1963 – March 15, 2026

Raymond Sean Vogel, known to most as Ray, passed away on March 15, 2026, in Eureka, at the age of 61. Ray was born in Bozeman, Montana, on September 18, 1963, and grew up in Arcata, where he graduated from Arcata High School.

Ray spent most of his life in Humboldt County, with some time living in Nevada and the Sacramento area. He loved being outdoors and camping. When he was younger, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and spent countless hours along the Mad River. In more recent years, you could often find Ray with his cherished friend Chelsea, walking his dog on the beach in Samoa, fishing off the jetty, riding his bike, or just enjoying time outside.

Ray is survived by his children, Jacque Vogel, Mistie Byrd, and Ryan Vogel; his grandchildren, Benjamin and Tyler Byrd, Vivian and Lilliya Trimeloni, and Presley Vogel; and his brother, Ken Vogel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Darlene Vogel, and his sister, Kimberly Vogel‑Young.

A celebration of Ray’s life will be held on May 30, at 1 p.m. at the Mad River Grange Hall in Blue Lake. All are welcome to come and share memories.

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

PREVIOUSLY:

• FBI Arrests 23-Year-Old Missouri Man in Connection With 2023 Threats Against McKinleyville High School, Sheriff’s Office Says
• Sheriff’s Office Provides Details on What Led to McKinleyville High School’s Five Lockdowns in Eight Days
• McK High Parents Express Frustration and Fear in Face of Lockdowns; Sheriff’s Office Says it Believes That It’s Close to Identifying a Suspect
• Sheriff’s Office Says it Has Identified Suspect in McK High Lockdowns, and Has Deemed Previous Threats ‘Not Credible’

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A man indicted in federal court for a series of threats to McKinleyville High School in 2023 must be evaluated to determine if he is mentally competent before proceedings against him can continue.

Court documents indicate 23-year-old Tyler Leroy Hilbert of Calhoun, Missouri, has a history of convictions for fake 911 calls. He also has mental disabilities that could affect his competency for prosecution.

A Missouri district court ordered he undergo a psychological examination, records show.

The MHS hoax threats, which lasted from late November to early December 2023, prompted school lockdowns, drew earnest law enforcement responses and thoroughly freaked out parents.

Details in an affidavit for his arrest allege the threats in Humboldt County began after the mother of a minor victim, whom he met on Snapchat, took away her devices following some concerning texts allegedly from the defendant.

The mother believed the threats were sparked because he could not get in contact with the minor victim.

According to an affidavit, Hilbert allegedly texted the minor victim “I did a prank on your school;” “I’m doing something to your school rn [right now];” and “Your school is lockdown because I’m walking around with a gun.”

Hilbert is accused of making a series of calls to police in Humboldt County, including reporting that there were school shooters at MHS and that the minor victim was cutting herself. He is similarly accused of calling MHS and threatening to shoot people and reporting, on multiple occasions, that he placed a bomb on campus.

In texts contained in the indictment, he allegedly threatened he would kill the minor victim, kill her family members, rape her, hurt her and send someone to blow up her house.

The FBI tracked calls and messages to an IP address associated with Hilbert’s parents, where he lives, and associated numbers with his name, according to court documents.

A Henry County, Missouri, dispatcher told the FBI “their agency was familiar with Hilbert, who had dozens of reported misuses of 911 and false emergency related calls for service,” according to the affidavit. According to court documents, he has been convicted in Missouri for making a false report, misusing 911 and placing fictitious 911 calls, in separate cases.

Hilbert was indicted and arrested in January 2026 on five felony charges, including cyberstalking of a minor, cyberstalking, interstate threats, interstate threats involving explosives, and hoaxes.

He also allegedly Googled “if someone commits a bomb threat is it a misdemeanor,” according to the affidavit.

But court proceedings have largely been concerned with details related to the man’s competency. He has been under guardianship by his parents since November 2023. He is diagnosed with level 2 autism, which requires “substantial support,” as well as ADHD and intellectual and physical disabilities, court records show.

Prior to his initial appearance, the government filed a motion for determination of the defendant’s competency, which was ordered in February. According to court documents, the arraignment and detention hearing will be deferred until after a decision is made on this matter.

The Court also ordered a custodial evaluation, noting he was able to make threats despite his parents’ guardianship efforts. The court pointed to community concern with the false threats and that Hilbert “is adept at obtaining electronic devices and masking his identity when using them.”

From the Eureka Police Department:

On April 15, 2026, at approximately 12:40 p.m., Officers with the Eureka Police Department (EPD) responded to the area of W. Harris Street and Prospect Street for a report of a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.

Prior to EPD’s arrival, a deputy with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) came upon the initial collision. During this time, a second vehicle collided with the deputy’s patrol vehicle. No injuries were reported as a result of the secondary collision.

Upon arrival at the scene of the initial traffic collision, EPD officers located the pedestrian, who had sustained minor injuries. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.

The incident remains under investigation by the Eureka Police Department and anyone with information related to the collision is encouraged to contact EPD at 707-441-4300.

The Eureka Police Department reminds drivers to remain alert, reduce speed in areas with pedestrian traffic, use caution in inclement weather, and exercise caution when approaching active scenes.

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The fate of a proposed five-story, 100-room hotel at the Trinidad Rancheria is once again in the hands of the California Coastal Commission.

The Rancheria’s big hotel project, announced back in 2018, has faced a series of bureaucratic hurdles amid questions about its water supply, design and fire protection. The proposed hotel, which would be located on a seaside bluff next to The Heights Casino, has also faced public opposition, including a successful legal challenge to the commission’s 2019 conditional approval of the project.

That lawsuit was brought by the Humboldt Alliance for Responsible Planning (HARP), a local community group that continues to crusade against the hotel as currently designed. (The group also opposes a related Hwy. 101 interchange that has been proposed between Westhaven and Trinidad.)

As with all projects on Native American lands, the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs is the lead agency for development projects such as this, but it has a longstanding practice of asking state agencies, such as the Coastal Commission, to weigh in on matters of consistency with state laws.

At a public hearing Thursday in the Monterey County city of Gonzales, the 12-member commission will consider giving the project another conditional green light. This time around, agency staff is recommending a consistency determination only if the BIA, which holds the land in trust for the Rancheria, can provide proof of a sufficient water supply, secure a formal fire service agreement with CalFire and submit a comprehensive fire protection plan for agency approval.

The project would also involve the creation of a 1.2-acre leach field and a new 1.5-acre parking lot adjacent to the existing casino parking.

When the Coastal Commission first approved the hotel project in 2019, it said construction couldn’t begin until the BIA demonstrated that there is an adequate water supply. The Rancheria has tried a number of approaches to secure such a supply — negotiating with the City of Trinidad, drilling its own wells and exploring a pipeline extension from the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District (HBMWD) — but that condition remains unmet.

While HARP and other project opponents have taken issue with a range of aspects, including the hotel’s size, look and location, Thursday’s hearing will focus exclusively on whether the project is consistent with Section 30250 of the California Coastal Act when it comes to fire protection services.

As noted in a staff report, Humboldt County employs a “mutual aid” model for fire protection, relying on multiple local fire protection agencies (many of them volunteer-based) to suppress fires across the region. The county also has a fire service agreement with CalFire.

The Trinidad Rancheria relies on these resources for its own fire protection, but the proposed five-story hotel presents a significant challenge given that few local fire departments are equipped with hook-and-ladder trucks or fire engines with high pumping capacity.

“Thus, an aerial truck or other specialized apparatus that is housed in close proximity to the proposed hotel — as well as firefighting personnel with appropriate training to drive and operate this apparatus — would be needed to provide adequate fire protection services,” the staff report notes.

The Rancheria has proposed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the county to formalize CalFire protection services for the hotel and has offered to participate in a fire planning study for northern coastal Humboldt County. It has also agreed to purchase an aerial truck and create its own volunteer fire department that would serve both the hotel and the surrounding community.

The Opposition

In a letter submitted to the Coastal Commission last week, J. Bryce Kenny, the attorney representing HARP, argues that this hotel project needs to go all the way back to square one, essentially. He says that the BIA’s initial finding that this project is consistent with the California Coastal Management Program (CCMP) was effectively invalidated by HARP’s lawsuit, which resulted in a court order to reconsider the adequacy of fire protection services.

“How can the Commission concur with a consistency determination that is incomplete because it does not even mention fire protection?” Bryce asks.

Bryce also argues that the Trinidad Rancheria is ineligible to enter into a cooperative fire protection contract with CalFire because the state’s public resources code only allows such agreements with a “city, county, or special district” or an “other subdivision of the State of California” or a “person, firm, or corporation.”

Even if it were legally permissible, Bryce is skeptical about the finances.

“Could the Rancheria even afford to pay for such an arrangement all by itself, and still make the hotel profitable, after spending $800,000 on a second hand fire truck?” he ponders. “It is well known that the tribal gaming market in Humboldt County has diminished greatly since the collapse of the ‘green rush’ cannabis market years ago.”

His letter also challenges the proposed hotel location, its compliance with current design standards and the Rancheria’s willingness to abide by conditions placed upon the project.

Madrone. | County of Humboldt.

Steve Madrone, who represents the Fifth District on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, has also been an outspoken critic of the hotel project, and on Monday he submitted a comment letter via email in which he challenges the accuracy of the Coastal Commission’s staff report. 

His email says that, contrary to that report, the Trinidad Rancheria is not a signatory to the county’s mutual aid agreement for fire protection, and furthermore, the county’s agreement with CalFire is not year-round, as the report asserts. It only covers the “off season,” which is typically less than half a year.

“The Trinidad area has a long way to go to figure out how to afford year-round fire services and local Volunteer Fire Departments are already stretched beyond their means to provide limited services,” Madrone’s email says. “It would be irresponsible and dangerous to continue to add to the areas fire hazards with a 5 story hotel in the area.”

A handful of Trinidad-area residents also submitted letters of opposition, generally expressing skepticism about the Rancheria’s ability to provide sufficient fire protection for such a tall structure.

The Responses

Just yesterday, the Coastal Commission published a series of responses to these various objections, including feedback from agency staff, the Trinidad Rancheria and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Staff reiterates that Thursday’s hearing will be limited in scope, focusing only on the adequacy of fire protection. In response to feedback from HARP and others, staff revised one condition of approval to refer to the most recent fire protection standards, but they ignored complaints about water, visual impacts and other aspects of the project.

Regarding an agreement with CalFire for fire protection, staff notes that the Rancheria’s corporate arm could qualify, even if the Rancheria itself cannot. And if that particular arrangement is unavailable, other fire service arrangements are acceptable.

Staff rejects the argument from HARP’s attorney that the BIA’s prior consistency determination should be considered null and void. Staff says the court’s order in the appeal decision established the limited scope of this remand hearing, and the Commission is abiding by that ruling.

Staff also rejects Kenny’s argument that the hotel’s location is inappropriate, pointing out that the Coastal Act does not require services to already exist, only that they will be adequate.

In response to Madrone’s email, staff notes that Trinidad Rancheria is in the process of finalizing a cost-sharing MOU with the county, under which the Rancheria would cover 20% of the cost of an agreement between the county and CalFire. Plus, Trinidad Rancheria is within the response area of Westhaven’s volunteer fire department, which has an existing agreement with CalFire.

On Monday, Commission staff met with representatives of the Tsurai Ancestral Society, at their request, to discuss potential impacts to cultural and coastal resources associated with firefighting activities for the proposed hotel project. The society expressed concerns about potential water quality impacts and adverse effects to coastal water quality and Tsurai cultural resources. Staff acknowledged those concerns but said they’re outside the scope of Thursday’s hearing.

The BIA, for its part, says its original consistency determination remains in place and was not overturned by the court. 

And an attorney representing the Trinidad Rancheria submitted a five-page letter refuting HARP’s objections to the project and defending the Rancheria’s plans for fire protection. 

Tomorrow’s hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. There will be a link to a live video and audio feed at this website. The Coastal Commission’s report and all related documents can be found here.

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PREVIOUSLY

• Take a Look at the Big Proposed Trinidad Casino Hotel; Concerned Community Members Schedule Meeting to Gin Up Public Comment
• Trinidad Rancheria Will Give a Presentation on Casino Hotel Project at City Council Meeting Tonight
• Coastal Commission Gives Green Light to 100-Room Hotel on Trinidad Rancheria … as Long as the Tribe Can Find a Reliable Water Supply
• That Coastal Commission Meeting Was a Confusing Mess. Did They Even Mean to Advance the Hotel Project?
• City Pumps Brakes on Trinidad Rancheria’s Request for Water; Will Draft Policy Before Continuing Formal Negotiations Over New Hotel Development
• Trinidad Rancheria Asks for Pipeline Extension to Get Water Via Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District
• Trinidad to Consider Joining Feasibility Study for a Pipeline Extension from Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District
• Trinidad Rancheria’s Proposed Hyatt Hotel Project Dealt Setback as Appeals Court Issues Tentative Ruling Finding Insufficient Evidence of Adequate Fire Protection Services
• Appeals Court Rejects Coastal Commission’s Approval of Trinidad Rancheria’s Planned Hyatt Hotel Project
• Trinidad to Reconsider Joining Engineering Study for Water Pipeline Extension as Rancheria Connection Project Moves Forward
• Amid Controversy, Trinidad City Council Narrowly Opts to Pursue a Study on an Alternate Water Supply