Press release from the City of Eureka:

By order of the City Manager and request of Mayor Kim Bergel, all flags at City facilities will be lowered to half-staff on February 26 in solemn remembrance of the Wiyot people who lost their lives in the February 26, 1860 massacre on Tuluwat Island in Humboldt Bay.

This act of remembrance follows the historic apology issued by former Mayor Frank Jager to the Wiyot Tribe for the horrific events that occurred 166 years ago.

In February 1860, citizens from Eureka participated in what has been described as a massacre of unfathomable proportions. On that winter night, Wiyot people gathered on Tuluwat Island were attacked during the World Renewal Ceremony — a sacred ceremony meant to bring healing to the Earth. Scores of mostly women and children were killed. The ceremony was never finished.

In 2019, the City of Eureka returned Tuluwat Island to the Wiyot Tribe, continuing a process that began with the initial transfer of land in 2004. The return of Tuluwat marked a significant step toward healing and reconciliation, and in recent years the Wiyot people have completed the World Renewal Ceremony on their ancestral land.

“Lowering our flags to half-staff is a visible act of remembrance and respect,” Mayor Bergel said. “We cannot undo the profound harm caused in 1860, but we can continue the work of truth-telling, reconciliation, and partnership. We honor the lives lost, we acknowledge this painful chapter in our City’s history, and we reaffirm our commitment to stand alongside the Wiyot people today and into the future.”

The City of Eureka encourages community members to reflect on this history and to support ongoing efforts that promote understanding, respect, and equity for Indigenous communities.

If you’ve somehow managed to avoid hearing about Arcata’s plan to raise the water rates (and have dodged reading our thorough and fascinating coverage), tonight’s your chance to learn something. There will be an informational meeting hosted by the city at 5:30 at the D Street Neighborhood Center; representatives from city hall will share why they’d like to raise the rates and how they calculated how much to increase them.

It’ll be one of the last meetings Arcata will hold on the subject before a public hearing next month. The city council will likely adopt the changes then, unless more than half of Arcata’s 6,000 water customers write a printed complaint sent to city hall or oppose it in-person at the hearing.

The D Street Neighborhood Center is at 1301 D Street in Arcata. 

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Press release from Planned Parenthood Northern California:

Dozens of generous local donors showed their love for Planned Parenthood Northern California (PPNorCal)—and the thousands of patients who rely on its rural health centers—after a Humboldt County supporter offered a matching gift challenge.

Throughout January, Fieldbrook resident Bill Lutjens offered to match all donations from Humboldt and surrounding counties up to $100,000 in support of the Care Can’t Wait Campaign. PPNorCal is pleased to report that not only has this goal been met, to the tune of more than $113,000, but that news of the gesture has also inspired another Bay Area donor to offer a $500,000 match for donations throughout Northern California.

Last summer, the Trump administration blocked Medicaid (MediCal) reimbursement for the care provided by Planned Parenthood health centers across the country. As a result, PPNorCal lost 70% of its revenue. More than 80% of patients are no longer covered for essential sexual and reproductive care, including cancer screening, STI testing, vasectomies, abortion care, and more. Yet the organization assures these patients are not turned away. People are still being treated, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.

Care Can’t Wait is a strategic, $12M, one-year initiative to help fill the funding gap for 17 PPNorCal health centers and safeguard access to sexual and reproductive health care. To date, PPNorCal has raised more than $4M in donations to help secure the future of Planned Parenthood health centers throughout Northern California.

Visit PPNorCal.org/carecantwait to participate in the campaign’s donor match and learn more about this essential community resource.

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Attention, commuters and residents of the Samoa Peninsula! Caltrans is seeking public input on its plans to build a roundabout on Route 255, where the Samoa Bridge intersects with New Navy Base Road. 

An open house meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Manila Community Center. 

Why build a roundabout on the Samoa Peninsula, you ask? Caltrans believes it will improve safety and reduce the risk of severe crashes at the intersection, while “maintaining efficient access for trucks, freight and local traffic.” 

Currently, drivers heading southbound on Route 255 have the right-of-way, with traffic passing across the northbound lane to get onto the Samoa Bridge. Caltrans hopes the “modular roundabout” would streamline the flow of traffic by reducing vehicle speed and channeling all drivers to move in the same direction. 

“Study after study in the U.S., Europe and Australia show that roundabouts improve safety,” according to a fact sheet from the Caltrans Division of Research, Innovation and System Information. “Even in cases where the number of collisions doesn’t go down significantly, the severity of the crashes goes down, resulting in far fewer fatalities and severe injuries.”

Construction on the new roundabout is slated to begin in the summer of 2027. More information on the upcoming open house can be found in the flyer below.

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Representative Jared Huffman has co-sponsored a bill, introduced in the House Monday, that aims to add conditions on military aid to Israel.

The bill — the Ceasefire Compliance Act — would ban the use of US-origin weapons in Gaza and the West Bank if Israel violates an Oct. 10, 2025, ceasefire agreement and 20-point plan, annexes the West Bank or fails to combat settler violence against Palestinians.

“I have a long history of supporting restrictions on how U.S. military aid is used. U.S. weapons should never be used in ways that contribute to civilian deaths, forced displacement, or obstruction of lifesaving aid anywhere,” wrote Huffman in an emailed statement sent by a spokesperson.

Huffman

Huffman is among 25 Democratic co-sponsors of the bill that aims to address ongoing Israeli actions.

Recent settler attacks, ongoing Israeli airstrikes that have killed Palestinians and other violations of the ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. have pushed the bill’s supporters to make sure the fragile ceasefire is enforceable.

“We need to get as many members of Congress as possible on the record with these bills to ensure the military support we provide is used lawfully. At a moment of catastrophic civilian suffering and deepening starvation, these guardrails are not optional — they are a moral and legal imperative,” said Huffman.

The primary sponsor is Sean Casten, a Democrat representing Illinois.

“As one of the United States’ most important allies, Israel must ensure that its policies and the use of U.S. military assistance align with American values, interests, and the law,” said Rep. Casten in a press release.

The bill creates an end-use monitoring group and adds congressional oversight mechanisms, but exempts defensive missile systems like the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow 3.

Casten emphasized the bill does not deny Israel the right to defend itself and preserves support for missile defense.

“It does, however, set guardrails to help sustain the ceasefire and keep a credible path toward long-term peace, with security for Israelis and freedom and self-determination for the Palestinian people,” he said in the statement.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Previously, Huffman became a target of local pro-Palestinian activists through protests and a class action lawsuit, which was dismissed by a federal judge last year.

This lawsuit alleged Huffman’s April 2024 supportive vote for $26.4 billion in military aid to Israel caused members emotional harm. Another co-sponsor of this new bill is north bay Democrat Mike Thompson, who was also named in the suit for his vote.

In the statement, Huffman noted he previously co-sponsored H.R. 3565, A.K.A “Block the Bombs Act” which would prohibit the selling or handing off certain weapons to Israel, with a few caveats.

That bill, introduced in 2025, is supported by Amnesty International, who found Israeli airstrikes used these kinds of U.S. origin weapons to kill civilians.

RoseAnn Cooney
Dec. 21, 1937 - Jan. 29, 2026

RoseAnn Cooney passed away peacefully at her home on January 29, 2026. She was born December 21, 1937, to William “Bill” Quilici and Lena Quilici. At the age of four, RoseAnn’s father and brother passed away unexpectedly.

Lena met and married Louis Legaz in 1945. RoseAnn gained a baby sister Angie in 1950 and a baby brother Mike in 1955. When RoseAnn was 17 years old she married Lynn Rieke. Together they had four boys – Kenny, Ronnie, Jack and Lynn Jr. While raising the boys on Humboldt Hill, RoseAnn was known to hop on a dirt bike and ride up and down the then undeveloped hill

RoseAnn worked at Shanghai Low as a waitress, St. Joseph Hospital in the Housekeeping Department and probably her most favorite job at Gottschalks. She told many stories about her and the girls and the fun they’d have working at the department store. After retirement, RoseAnn worked part time at Shafer’s Ace Hardware helping take care of the indoor and outdoor plants. Her favorite job at Shafer’s was decorating the Christmas trees each holiday season. Even this last year she made sure to make a visit to the store to see the beautifully decorated trees.

RoseAnn met and married Vern Cooney. Together they enjoyed many years of fun, laughter and shenanigans with their friends and family. As their family grew to include spouses and grandchildren, Vern and RoseAnn bought property in Phillipsville, Dean Creek and finally Trinity Lake where they loved to entertain family, friends and especially the grandchildren. RoseAnn was known to hop on a wave runner and zoom across the lake. Vern and RoseAnn also enjoyed taking the wave runners to poker runs around California. They loved to travel and enjoyed many great trips together.

RoseAnn will be known for her spirited personality, her mischievous laugh, her love for the latest fashion her granddaughters were wearing, all things sparkly, leopard print, cozy boots and blankets, a good roaring fire, her famous potato salad and meeting the Shafer’s girls for lunch and/or mimosas. RoseAnn especially loved to play cards and was always up for a game of rummy or cribbage which she played until her passing. She was always up for a good time or adventure.

RoseAnn especially loved her four boys and her grandchildren. She would do anything for them and they, in return, took loving care of her until the end – assuring she was able to be at home per her wishes.

RoseAnn was preceded in death by her husband Vern Cooney, her oldest son Kenny, her second son Ronnie, her stepfather Louis Legaz, her sister Angie Young, her father William “Bill” Quilici, her mother Lena Legaz and her granddaughter Amber Rieke.

RoseAnn is survived by her sons Jack Rieke (Michele) and Lynn Rieke Jr. (Jevonne), daughter-in law Diane Rieke, brother Mike Legaz (Jean), step-daughter Kim Cooney, step-son Vern Cooney, grandchildren Becky Hickey (Jason), Brad Rieke (Megan), Ron Rieke II, Tiffanie Rieke, Jason Rieke (Joe), Kacy Fisher (Tyson) and Patric Rieke, niece Paige Baker (Colton) many great grandchildren and great nieces and nephews .

A Rosary will be held on Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m. at St. Bernard’s Church followed by a reception at 12 p.m. at the Ingomar Club in Eureka.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Barbara Tupau and Elizabeth (Becca) Luifau for their compassionate care and love for RoseAnn the last 6 months.

Cynthia Annette (Smith) Shively of Eureka passed away in her sleep on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at the age of 68.

Cindy was born on September 4, 1957 to Larry and Nancy Smith in Hayward, Calif. She spent a portion of her early childhood in Washington with her aunt and uncle before the Smith family landed in their forever home of Eureka. Larry was a lifelong longshoreman and Nancy volunteered as a “Pink Lady” at St. Joseph Hospital. They would eventually buy Christian’s Ice Cream Parlor, renamed Smith’s Ice Creamery, where Cindy would work until the birth of her son, Cameron. She loved working there with the teens.

Cindy graduated from Eureka High School in 1975 and enrolled in College of the Redwoods. She would go on to attend dental hygienist school in San Francisco.

Cindy married her husband and love of her life, Thomas Michael Shively, on December 29, 1997 in Lake Tahoe. They would go on to buy James-Carl Painting and Decorating in 1999, which they would run together for the next 20 years until Tom’s death.

Cindy enjoyed traveling and had a love of music and concerts. She played the violin and piano. Her favorite entertainer was Elvis Presley and she visited Graceland, which was on the top of her bucket list. Cindy loved the 49ers and attended many football games throughout the years. She enjoyed going to her cabin in Ruth Lake and boating with her family and friends. She loved animals and many of us new her as the crazy cat lady. Every morning she would take great joy in feeding the family of deer that would come to visit.

She is survived by her son, Cameron Shively; step-daughter Sara Shively; grandsons Asher and Maverick Thomas Pugh; sister Dana Greathouse (Dan); niece Kyndra Williams; aunt Arline Luz; and many beloved cousins and their extended families.

Cindy was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Shively; her parents Nance and Larry Smith; grandparents Laurence Smith Sr and Evenlyn Smith and Ernest & Anna Beidle; aunt Dorene Fowler; uncle Eugene Luz; and ex-husband Clifford Giacomini.

A celebration of life will be held on April 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bay Room at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Miranda’s Rescue or the Humane Society. Cindy loved her animals!

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