Press release from Six Rivers National Forest:

This morning firefighters on the Six Rivers National Forest are continuing response on the Dillon Fire located near T Bar north of Somes Bar in Siskiyou County.

The fire was reported yesterday at approximately 6:30 p.m. and as of the last acreage report round 10pm Monday night has grown rapidly to an estimated 923 acres. A new acreage estimate has been requested, and the cause is under investigation.

The Dillon Fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain with heavy fuels. Firefighters are working on full suppression with a focus on public and firefighter safety as the highest priority.

A type 1 incident management team was ordered this morning.

California State Highway 96 is closed. The public should watch for increased firefighter traffic in the area as resources respond.

Evacuation orders in the area are in place and being managed by Siskiyou County of Emergency Services. Please visit the county OES facebook page for up to date information at facebook.com/SiskiyouCountyOES

With Labor Day weekend approaching, area residents and visitors are reminded to be careful with anything that can spark a wildfire. Visitors should also be aware of any road or recreation site closures due to wildfire suppression.

For more information about this incident and the Six Rivers National Forest, visit our webpage or Facebook page.

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors today voted 4-0 to expand – a little bit — the types of grants available under the county’s “Project Trellis” program, which offers support to the cannabis industry. The county has some $600,000 in the kitty to give away this year, according to staff testimony – money kicked back to local government by the state, which collects state licensing fees on cannabis producers.

Supervisor Steve Madrone was absent.

Project Trellis, in its early days, was open for all sorts of projects that growers might wish to undertake. That changed on April 15th of this year, when the board voted to limit grants from the fund only to pay back taxes growers might owe to the county – specifically, property taxes and taxes due under the Measure S program. (Measure S has long been suspended, due to the general failure of the industry, but some growers still owe money from the early days of the tax.) In other words, the board voted to prioritize getting the county paid first.

Today, though, supervisors were asked whether they might want to loosen up the purse strings a bit, in response to “feedback that there is a potential need to consider other options for eligible expenses.” So staff presented the board with a couple of options, if it so chose:

• Option A: In addition to paying property taxes and Measure S taxes, Project Trellis can pay fees owed to the county’s Planning and Building Department.
• Option B: More or less a return to the status quo before April 15. In addition to the above, Project Trellis funds could pay for “rent; leases; local and state application, licensing and regulatory fees; legal assistance; regulatory compliance; testing of cannabis; furniture; fixtures and equipment; capital improvements; training and retention of qualified workforce; consulting fees: independent, regulatory, bookkeeping; start-up costs/financial solvency.”

Ross Gordon, policy specialist for the Humboldt County Growers’ Alliance, spoke in favor of Option B, and gave a few reasons. First, he noted that the purpose of the state funds flowing into Trellis was specifically for “equity” — to right past wrongs.

“The purpose of the equity funds from both the state and county level is to provide support to individuals who are impacted by the War on Drugs,” Gordon said. “If the decision from the board is to limit the use of those funds only to repaying county debts, it’s not really funds that are being distributed to people impacted by the War on Drugs.”

Gordon also noted that by limiting the use of Trellis funds only to pay back taxes, the county was effectively penalizing growers who had kept current. If you’ve already paid the county what you owe, you’re not eligible for this grant.

Supervisor Mike Wilson – a child of Southern Humboldt during the worst years of prohibition – pushed back a bit on the idea that Humboldt County growers had been historical victims of the War on Drugs. Had they not also been its beneficiaries?

“I mean, there is a basic construct that this wouldn’t even be an industry had there not been a War on Drugs, at least not in this space,” Wilson said. “And the investment in the infrastructure and the businesses that all occurred due to the elevated prices because of the War on Drugs — it was double-edged, I guess you would say. So a lot of people wouldn’t have had the opportunity to own land and all the other things that come with this had there not been this price structure that was created because of the legal status of the product.”

But that was more or less an aside. His main question was about how much more staff time would have to be devoted to grant compliance, were the board to go the route of Option B. It’s a lot harder to check whether grant money is being spent appropriately when it can go to any of a long list of private sector suppliers; much easier when its just a simple check written out to a governmental agency.

When it was her turn to speak, Supervisor Michelle Bushnell hit upon a happy compromise that seemed to answer both Gordon’s and Wilson’s concerns. While she herself supported Option B, she said, perhaps the board could modify Option A such that grant funds could be used to pay a grower’s state licensing fees. All licensed growers have to pay these fees every year, whether they are current with their county taxes or not, so all licensed growers can apply.

After a bit more discussion, it became apparent that this was acceptable to everyone, including the growers in the audience and county staff, and so Bushnell made a motion to that effect. It passed unanimously.

UPDATE, 2:45 p.m: From the Sheriff’s Office:

On Aug. 26 at approximately 2:00 p.m. Missing Person Kerry Ahearn was located alive and well near the 200 block of Gibson Creek Road.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the California Office of Emergency Services, Humboldt County Sheriff Office of Emergency Services, California Highway Patrol Air Operations, Mendocino County Sheriff Office Search and Rescue Team, Marin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team, Whitethorn Fire Department, Whale Gulch Fire Department, Shelter Cove Fire Department, and the Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team for their assistance.

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Ahearn. Click to enlarge.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office needs the public’s help to locate missing person Kerry Elizabeth Ahearn, 58, of  Walnut Creek, Calif. 

 

Kerry was reported missing by her boyfriend on Aug. 26 at about 4:30 a.m. after she failed to return from a hike. She was last seen on Aug. 25 at about 3:00 p.m. walking northeast on Gibson Creek Rd., in Whitethorn.  

 

Kerry is a white female adult, 5’- 7” tall, 150 pounds, blue eyes, long straight blonde and gray hair and wears glasses.  She was last seen wearing an unknown-colored shirt, blue denim skirt with a Grateful Dead patch on the left side, and brown Teva sandals.  

 

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has initiated a search and rescue (SAR) to locate Kerry.  

 

We will provide updates as they become available. 

 

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding Kerry’s possible whereabouts should call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• SAVE THE DATE! Eureka is Hosting a Pop-Up DUI Checkpoint on Friday, and if You Wrongly Feel That You Have to Drive Drunk Then You Are Invited to Attend

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Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On August 22nd, 2025, Eureka Police Department, assisted by the Humboldt County DA’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and City of Eureka Public Works Department, conducted a Driver’s License and DUI Checkpoint in the 2400 Blk of Broadway, (SB US Hwy 101).

• The Checkpoint was operational from 2020 hours to 2330 hours.

• During that time 770 vehicles passed through the checkpoint location.

• Out of the 770 vehicles that passed through, 572 drivers were contacted.

•  Of the 572 drivers who were contacted, 57 were sent through secondary screening (or T-Stopped) for suspected Driver’s License violations or for further DUI Screening.

• 12 Field Sobriety Tests were conducted.

• 2 were arrested for DUI.

• 5 Citations were issued for CVC 12500 or 14601 violations.

• 2 Vehicles were towed.

• 1 Vehicle fled from the checkpoint, but an Officer was able to identify the suspect and they will be contacted.

Thank you to all the agencies involved: the Humboldt County DA’s Office, California Highway Patrol, City of Eureka Public Works Department, and Eureka Volunteer Patrol.

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

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Fresh off their failed attempt to kill Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan in the Democratic-controlled Legislature, California Republicans and anti-gerrymandering groups this week launched an all-out resistance to defeat what they regard as an unconstitutional ballot question.

Republican legislators in particular, many of whom lambasted Democrats in fiery floor speeches last week, have stressed that independent redistricting should be a nonpartisan affair. A few even ventured to lightly scold President Donald Trump for urging their counterparts in red states to redraw maps for political gain. And several filed a new lawsuit against the Newsom administration on Monday, their second in a week.

But despite their best efforts, California Republicans can’t completely separate Trump from the battle over redistricting, a fight that the president initiated earlier this summer by calling for gerrymandering in Texas to benefit the GOP. On Monday, the president offhandedly threatened to sue California to halt Newsom’s plan.

“Well, I think I’m going to be filing a lawsuit pretty soon and I think we’re going to be very successful in it,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “We’re going to be filing it through the Department of Justice. That’s going to happen.”

The opposition campaign has already landed in many Californians’ mailboxes and social feeds. Printed pamphlets paid for by Republican operatives and good governance advocates alike started arriving last Thursday, the same day that Newsom declared the Nov. 4 special election on his proposal to temporarily suspend the state’s independent redistricting panel and instead use gerrymandered maps drawn in to favor Democrats.

“We cannot save democracy by burning it down in California,” declared a four-page mailer funded primarily by Charles T. Munger Jr., the main financial backer of the 2010 initiative that created the redistricting commission.

A different one-page pamphlet, paid for by an organization headed by former state Republican Party chair Jessica Millan Patterson, warned readers of a “political power grab” and told voters to “SAY NO” to “unconstitutional gerrymandering.”

But even as they slam Newsom and Democrats for a “political power grab,” California Republicans are laboring to keep their criticism narrowly focused on the circumventing of California’s independent redistricting commission, rather than openly criticize Trump’s demand for red states to leverage redistricting in the GOP’s favor.

“It should not be Gavin Newsom vs. Trump. It should not be California vs. Texas,” said Corrin Rankin, chair of the California Republican Party, at a news conference announcing the latest lawuit filed with the California Supreme Court. “It should be what’s in the best interest of Californians, and what’s in the best interest of Californians is for us to determine who represents us.”

GOP lost once in court

Four Republican legislators, with help from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon’s private law firm, sued the state to remove the newly minted Proposition 50 from the ballot. They contend that Prop. 50 violates a state rule that all ballot questions adhere to a single subject – a common tactic for opponents of ballot measures. And once again, they insist that Democratic lawmakers violated numerous procedural steps in their rush to put gerrymandered maps in front of voters for approval.

The California Supreme Court denied the group’s first legal challenge last week. The group’s lead attorney argues that conditions are different now that the election is officially scheduled and the proposition is slated for the ballot.

Newsom’s campaign scoffed at Republicans’ latest challenge and declared it would fail.

“Trump’s toadies already got destroyed once in court. Now, they are trying once again — to protect Trump’s power grab and prevent voters from having their say on Prop 50,” Hannah Milgrom, a spokesperson for the campaign, said in a statement. “They will lose.”

Is Trump serious about suing?

It’s unclear how seriously to take Trump’s remarks that he’d sue California. They were prompted by a question from a reporter — who Trump corrected to refer to the governor by his frequent “Gavin Newscum” nickname — and the president offered no further details.

The White House did not respond to emailed questions about the legal basis or timeline for a lawsuit. Natalie Baldassarre, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice, declined to comment.

The potential lawsuit has also not been coordinated with the California Republican Party, according to Rankin, who would not say whether she welcomed Trump’s intervention.

“I’m not going to get ahead of the president,” she said. “That’s a question for the future.”

But even the possibility of Trump’s involvement could juice the campaign for Prop. 50, which has seen middling support in polls so far. A survey published last week by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and the Los Angeles Times found the measure leading 48% to 32% among likely voters.

The anti-Trump resistance has been a potent political message in California for a decade. In 2021, Newsom beat back an effort to recall him from office in part by making the election about Californians’ distaste for Trump.

Whether or not the president follows through on his threat of a lawsuit, Newsom now has a tangible opportunity to frame Proposition 50 as California vs. Trump and run back his successful playbook from defeating the recall. He was quick to respond to the president’s comment about a legal challenge with an all-caps post on social media: “BRING IT.”

Kendra Leighanne Beni Yao Moore. She was a beautiful young lady, a beloved daughter, sister, and friend to many. Her smile, bright and cheery personality and kindness swayed many, and many loved her dearly. She left our lives too soon at the age of 25.

She was born in Chongqing, China on October 25, 1999. She came into our lives at a wonderful time. She resided in Humboldt County, Northern California. She spent her childhood in Rio Dell and lived independently in Eureka.

Growing up, she loved to hang out with friends and play video games and read. She was a very smart lady. In elementary school she served as valedictorian and was very well-liked by teachers, friends and staff alike. Both in elementary and high school she always kept her straight-A’s. She graduated from Fortuna High School in 2018.

She loved her English Bulldog Stella. Her first dog was an English Bulldog named Jasmine whom she loved dearly.

She was a hard worker at anything in life she set her sights on. She was loved at her job, at Costco, and had many customers who found her endearing.

She died on July 21, 2025 in a vehicle accident in Eureka.

Dear Kendra Leighanne Beni Yao Moore, a daughter, a Mei Mei, a best friend — you were truly loved.

She is survived by her parents, Daniel and Janie Moore and her Jie Jie, Kaileigh Moore of Rio Dell. She is with the Lord now, being taken care of.

Written by Kaileigh Moore, her Jie Jie.

Patrick T. Ayers
March 31, 1963-June 9, 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our brother, Patrick T. Ayers. Pat was born and raised in Eureka, and he was the youngest of 12 children born to Ernest G. “Gerry” Ayers and Oriel Ayers. Pat was 62 years old.

After graduating from Eureka High School, Pat served in the U.S. Air Force for 3 years. He served as a Security Specialist and after graduating from Special Operations Technical School, Pat was awarded the Special Operations badge and also earned his beret.

Pat worked as a young boy for his father’s food products distribution company alongside his older brothers. Pat later took an interest in working as a chef at local restaurants, including Roy’s Club, Sea Grill, Mazzotti’s, and St. Vincent de Paul’s Dining Facility.

Pat grew up spending summers at the Ayers Mattole House on what was then called Squaw Creek. Pat loved fishing, being in nature, and exploring the Mattole River with the Liu brothers. Pat had a love of exploration that he was able to do during those summers at the cabin.

In 2016, Pat was diagnosed with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, experiencing moderate to advanced weakness in both his upper and lower extremities.

Pat passed away at San Francisco VA Hospital (SFVAH) with his brother Paul by his side, while listening to Pink Floyd. Pat had been hospitalized at SFVAH since March 2025 because of increased weakness and numerous side effects of his diagnosis of Myotonic Dystrophy.

The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Eureka VA Clinic staff and the San Francisco VA Hospital for their compassionate care of Pat, and working with Pat’s siblings to keep him comfortable. We will miss Pat’s smile, his stories, his knowledge, and his unwavering sense of humor. Pat was preceded in death by his parents, Gerry and Oriel Ayers, his brother David, his nephew Kyle, and his great nephew Fischer.

Pat is survived by his siblings: Michael (Karen), Melinda (Norman), Eileen, Liz, Phil (Jani), Paul (Nancy), Maureen (Mike), Catherine (Matt), Tim (Lisa), and Anne (Steve); 23 nieces and nephews; 32 great nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins from the Ayers, McGaraghan, and Poscic families.

Please join Pat’s family for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 1:00-4:00, at Old Growth Cellars, 1945 Hilfiker Lane, Eureka.

Donations can be made to St. Vincent de Paul in Honor of Gerry/Oriel Ayers. The check should be written as follows.

• Check made out to: Humboldt Area Foundation (HAF)
• Mail to: 363 Indianola Road, Bayside, CA, 95524
• Memo line: St. Vincent de Paul in Honor of Gerry/Oriel Ayers

This information is necessary so that your donation is applied to the proper account. Thank you.

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