With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Todd Keenan Burhus, known to many as “Thunder McCovey.” He was a cherished son, father, brother, friend, and a proud member of the Yurok Tribe.

Born in Crescent City on April 1, 1974, to Paula Valenzuela and Willard Carlson, Thunder was kind, bold, brave, and a jokester who loved making people laugh.

Those he loved, he loved deeply.

Living along the Klamath River, Thunder embraced his heritage and the beauty of the land that shaped him. He loved being in nature and the freedom of the outdoors, often found fishing or hiking trails like Resighini High Prairie Creek. Thunder had two sides: one that lived life on the edge and another that cherished time with loved ones, especially his closest friends, whom he affectionately called his “Down River Bros.” He was always willing to help anyone who asked.

Thunder personified the essence of an outlaw-fiercely independent, daring, and unapologetically true to himself. His legacy will forever echo in the hearts of those who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Paula Valenzuela, and his grandmother, Marie Lawson McCovey, grandfather Willard Carlson Sr grandmother Margret Frye, who were all central figures in his life. He is survived by his father, Willard Carlson, and his children Thunder Burhus, Shannon Burhus, Carmen Pratt. His siblings are Pergish Carlson, Will Bear Carlson, Holly Carlson, Mike Carlson, and family and friends who will cherish his untamed spirit.

A celebration of Thunder’s life will be held on Friday.

1. Cawtip Silvia
2. Mike Gabe
3. Hector Trip
4. Big Charlie
5. Little Charlie
6. Levi Trip
7. Bull Calf Donahue
8. Trevor Lado
9. William Valenzuela
10. Michael Paul
11. Arrow Valenzuela
12. Rick Dowd Jr
13. Gary Dowd
14. Ben Ray
15. Kahno Gordon
16. Julian Markusan
17. Dean Wheeler
18. Rob Wheeler
19. Jason Hodge
20. Little Bill Mccovey
21. Uncle Billy
22. Jay Bates
23. Larry Nova
24. Arnie Nova
25. Vincent Traci
26. Shannon Jones

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

Dean L. Mohorovich died suddenly on November 27 surrounded by his family at his home in Washington. He was a long-time resident of Eureka for most of his life but found a dream home and moved to Washington in 2021 to live out retirement.

When Dean was younger, he loved the outdoors — hunting with his sons and friends in the mountains of Humboldt, ocean fishing with his good friend Norman and the boys. He and Norman would often pick up the boys from school and head out to sea, calling these trips the “Glidovich Daycare and Charter Service.”

Dean was born on March 4, 1957, to William (Bill) and Diane Mohorovich in Eureka. He remained in the Eureka area, working for LP and Evergreen Pulp and Paper. He later attended CR, where he earned certifications in solar energy and wood working.

In 2021, Dean and his wife Jill moved to Washington State to live out their retired life on their property, enjoying the beauty of mountain living. They frequently traveled back to Humboldt to see family and friends.

Dean is preceded in death by his grandparents, Louis and Josephine Mohorovich, Roy and Caroline McGauhey, and his father, William (Bill) Mohorovich. He is survived by his mother, Diane Mohorovich; his wife of 39 years, Jill (Jenson) Mohorovich; his brothers Rick (Nancy) Mohorovich and Jimmy (Liz) Mohorovich; his sons Dallas (Geena) Mohorovich, Matthew Mohorovich, and Kristian (Heather Watkins) Mohorovich: grandkids Abigail and Avery Mohorovich, numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

His remains are interred in Humboldt County. A celebration of life will be held in Eureka at the Adorni Center from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on December 29, 2024, open to the public.

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

PREVIOUSLY: Woman’s Body Found in Humboldt Bay

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Dec. 10 at approximately 9:30 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Comet St. near Samoa for the report of a body that appeared to be deceased floating near a dock in the Humboldt Bay. 

A Special Services Division Deputy arrived at the scene, moved the body to the shore, and confirmed that the body was a deceased female. The Deputy Coroner was then called to the scene and the Major Crimes Division also sent personnel as a precaution.

The decedent has been identified as Krystal Shinka, age 43, of Eureka. Shinka was reported as a missing person to the Eureka Police Department on Dec. 9, with the reporter stating that Shinka had not been seen since Dec. 5. 

Shinka’s autopsy is scheduled for later this week. Shinka’s manner of death has not been determined at this time and the case is still under investigation.

Anyone with information about this case 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.

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With nearly $20 million in the bank – and a little help from State Sen. Mike McGuire – the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Mad River Community Hospital are ready to launch the design phase of a 43-bed Behavioral Health Crisis Triage Center in Arcata. 

Aimed at expanding local access to mental health services, the state-of-the-art facility will include a sobering center, behavioral health and crisis stabilization services for people of all ages, regardless of insurance, with stays ranging from less than 24 hours to 90 days. The proposed plans include 12 crisis stabilization beds – six for adults and six for children and teens – 12 sobering cots, 10 crisis residential beds for dual-diagnosis of mental health and substance use disorders, and nine mental health crisis residential beds. 

At a press briefing this morning, McGuire underscored the importance of increasing critical resources for people in acute crisis, especially in rural communities.

“[W]e are finally making progress on one of the biggest challenges that this county and rural California faces … and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with the county, the Board of Supervisors and, of course, all of the hospital leadership who have led this all-hands-on-deck effort,” McGuire said. “Mental health has to have parity with physical health, and we’re doing it now in Humboldt. We’re putting our money where our mouth is and getting these facilities built.”

DHHS Director Connie Beck highlighted the services that will be offered at the sobering center, a short-term care facility where people who are intoxicated can safely recover and/or detox from alcohol or other drugs. Beck noted that sobering centers are relatively rare in California. As of November 2020, there were less than a dozen sobering centers in California – a quarter of the nation’s total – according to the California Health Care Foundation.

Connie Beck

“The sobering center will allow someone to come in, [stay] for up to 24 hours and really be assessed for what that need is,” Beck said. “Whether it’s addiction … or whether that’s going on to crisis or longer-term residential treatment, all of those services being in one location and being able to move through that process will be really important for them.”

“This is really going to be a game-changer for Humboldt,” she added.

Behavioral Health Director Emi Botzler-Rodgers added that the triage center will help the local health care providers “address stigma and discrimination in ways that haven’t always been addressed.”

“These partnerships … really demonstrate the community’s commitment to look at mental illness and substance use, how people are suffering and how we can offer dignified care,” Botzler-Rodgers said. “It’s really hopeful and inspiring for me.”

The project has received $19.8 million to date. Last year, the county was awarded $12.36 million in grant funding from the California Department of Health Care Services’ Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program. The county has kicked down approximately $2.5 million for the project. Another $5 million is coming from McGuire and private funding sources.

“I believe that we’re going to need to raise another five to six million to be able to close the final gap,” McGuire said. “It’s very common in a large project like this that you get the majority of the dollars in the bank, move forward onto the construction [phase], and that will also build momentum. We are firm in our belief that by the end of the 2025 calendar year, we’ll have the full [funding] allocation secured.”

Mad River Community Hospital donated the land for the triage center. While the exact location of the has yet to be determined, the facility will be built somewhere on the hospital’s 40-acre campus.

The Behavioral Health Crisis Triage Center is slated for completion by the end of 2026.

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Photo: HCDTF.

Press release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

On December 11, 2024, Agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) served a search warrant on Zachary Michael Osborne (age 27), and his residence located in 2000 block of Aldo Court in Eureka. During the months of November and December, the HCDTF received information that Osborne was using controlled substances and manufacturing firearms with a 3D printer inside of his residence. Osborne was previously arrested on December 5, 2024, for being in possession of a non-serialized firearm and a controlled substance.

Upon HCDTF’s arrival at Osborne’s residence, he was detained at the front door without incident. During the search of Osborne’s residence, Agents located a functional 3D printer connected to a computer. Agents observed several programs on the computer depicting “blueprints” designed to create firearm lower receivers and firearm components with the 3D printer.

Agents also located several spools of 3D printer filament, four complete pistol upper receivers, two incomplete handgun lowers, multiple firearm components for manufacturing handguns, ammunition, a second 3D printer, and multiple items indicative of drug paraphernalia.

At the conclusion of the search warrant, Osborne was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and booked on the following charges:

• 11366 HS Operating/maintaining a drug house
• 29180 PC Illegally manufacturing firearms.
  
• 30305 PC Prohibited person possessing ammunition
  

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.

Friends o’ the LoCO are telling us that there’s plenty of smoke up Trinidad way at the moment. Here is the reason for that.

Press release from Green Diamond:

Weather conditions permitting, Green Diamond Resource Company plans to conduct prescribed burning  for fuel hazard reduction today, December 11th, 2024 in multiple locations across the ownership.  Burning will be conducted in the Bald Hills off of Johnson Road, in the vicinity of Pollnow Peak approximately 8 miles east of the town of Westhaven, 1 mile east of Patrick’s Point north of the town Trinidad, and near the Winchuck River in Southern Oregon. 

Burning operations are implemented in coordination with CAL FIRE, North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District and Oregon Department of Forestry.  Please note that smoke may be visible in surrounding areas, including Highway 101 near Trinidad, Westhaven, Patrick’s Point, Big Lagoon, form Johnson Road in the Bald Hills, and from Winchuck River Road while prescribed burning activities are being conducted.  Green Diamond staff will be onsite monitoring prescribed burning and fuels reduction operations. 

Press release from the office of Rep. Jared Huffman:

Today, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) unveiled the Resilience, Equity, and Sustainability Through Offshore Renewable Energy (RESTORE) Act—a groundbreaking bill that, for the first time, guarantees that tribes and coastal communities have a dedicated share of revenues from offshore renewable energy development.

In an effort to engage diverse perspectives, interests, and needs of tribal, coastal, and environmental justice communities and all those with a stake in our nation’s clean energy future, Rep. Huffman is releasing a discussion draft of the legislation. Policymakers, advocates, and members of the public are invited to visit this link to read the draft legislation and provide feedback.

“Despite their deep knowledge and stewardship of natural resources, tribes have faced systemic barriers and injustices in infrastructure development, resulting in chronic underfunding and limited capacity to participate in, let alone benefit from, projects in and around their ancestral territories. Our transition to clean energy is the perfect opportunity to not only address climate change, but to right these historic wrongs and create a more sustainable future for tribal and coastal communities,” said Rep. Huffman. “It’s time for the federal government to do more than just ‘consult’ impacted tribes as a ministerial exercise when projects are developed; tribes should be at the table from the beginning and all the way through the process, with an opportunity to meaningfully share in the economic benefits of clean energy. This draft legislation is intended to reflect that vision, and I look forward to gathering feedback to improve our ideas in future iterations.”

Major components of the RESTORE Act include:

• Revenue Distribution: Instead of allocating all royalties from offshore renewable energy to the Treasury, as current law provides, royalties would be divided between the Treasury, the Coastal Conservation and Community Resilience Fund, tribes (for economic development and mitigation), the National Ocean and Coastal Security Fund (NOCSF), the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and grants for fisheries and scientific research.

• Coastal Conservation and Community Resilience Fund: Directs revenue to support coastal communities in preparing for and responding to environmental threats, including climate change, sea-level rise, and habitat loss. The fund promotes collaboration with tribes and incorporates indigenous knowledge to foster equitable and inclusive solutions.

• Mitigation and Economic Development for Tribes: Seeks to rectify historical injustices and promote energy sovereignty by providing funding for tribes to mitigate impacts and ultimately benefit from the economic development of offshore renewable energy projects.

• Fisheries and Scientific Research: Provides funding for grants to academic institutions, NGOs, state, tribal, and local governments to conduct surveys, data collection, and research for the management of fisheries, protected species, habitats, ecosystems, and overall ocean conditions. Also supports the fishing industry through targeted research to better understand and manage interactions between marine ecosystems and energy projects.

The RESTORE Act is supported by the Blue Lake Rancheria, Penobscot Nation, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Biological Diversity, National Ocean Protection Coalition, and Southern Environmental Law Center.

What Supporters are Saying

“Blue Lake Rancheria (BLR) emphatically supports Congressman Huffman’s Resilience, Equity, and Sustainability Through Offshore Renewable Energy (RESTORE) proposal. It recognizes the value and importance of Tribal Resilience and Self-Determination. In the past, Tribal Nations have been disproportionately harmed by extractive practices and related harms such as increases in Murdered Missing Indigenous People. This proposed Bill provides coastal Tribes with the resources to combat such harms while also situated them as key constituents in advancing clean energy,” said Jason Ramos, Acting Chair of the Blue Lake Rancheria.

 [DISCLOSURE: The Blue Lake Rancheria is a minority owner of the Outpost’s and KSLG’s parent company, Lost Coast Communications, Inc.]

“Since time immemorial the Chumash people have lived in harmony with the waters off the California Central Coast,” said Kenneth Kahn, Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “I believe that our cultural history and wind energy can co-exist in those waters, but only if our tribe has information about the impacts of its development and the resources to monitor construction, maintenance, and operation of wind farms. I am grateful that Congressman Huffman is working to make sure tribal stakeholders have the opportunity to use wind energy leases to protect and restore our heritage, and I look forward to working with him to fine tune his discussion draft in the days to come.”

“Like many other Tribal Nations, the Penobscot Nation supports the progress of renewable energy development, but such development must be done in a manner that minimizes and mitigates harms on the ocean and other waters, and the wildlife that depend on such waters. Development must also include consultation with any impacted Tribal Nations. Congressman Jared Huffman’s legislation will help ensure that Tribal Nations are able to access the resources needed to have a meaningful and productive voice in the conversation. We look forward to working with Rep. Huffman as he advances his legislation,” said Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis.

Background

The new discussion draft builds on the work Rep. Huffman has done to promote a clean energy transition and ensure tribes equally benefit from the economic impacts of renewable projects like offshore wind development.

This March, Rep. Huffman hosted Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su in the North Coast earlier for a series of visits and roundtables to hear tribal concerns surrounding offshore wind. In May, Rep. Huffman sent an urgent letter to U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Elizabeth Klein requesting the agency place a senior-level official in California to oversee tribal participation in offshore wind development and be responsive to tribal needs. Shortly after, he led efforts to call on the administration to prioritize tribal consultation and to specifically urge BOEM to prioritize early and meaningful engagement with tribes regarding offshore wind projects. The letter highlighted five recommendations for BOEM to address tribes’ ongoing concerns with offshore wind development.

As part of his advocacy for tribes, Rep. Huffman introduced a bill to increase public safety for tribal citizens by promoting cooperation and information sharing between tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Earlier this year, Representative Huffman helped secure $426.7 million for the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District for construction and maintenance of offshore wind infrastructure. The program received a substantial funding increase through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Rep. Huffman and Senator Padilla helped get passed last Congress.

Representative Huffman has long been a strong advocate for expanding the production and use of renewable energy, including offshore wind. Huffman previously applauded the Biden administration’s offshore wind energy lease sale off the coast of Central and Northern California in 2022, the first offshore wind lease sale off the West Coast. Last year, he announced $8.6 million for the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District through the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s FY 2023 Port Infrastructure Development Program.

Additional Resources

Text of the bill can be found here.

A one-pager of the bill can be found here.

A section by section of the bill can be found here.