Karen Kay Barsanti passed away on Monday, December 23, 2024 at Mercy Hospital in Redding with her husband and children at her side.

Karen was born on July 10, 1941 in Brush, Colorado to Catherine and Merle Warden. The Wardens moved to California and resided in Carlotta for many years, where Karen attended Cuddeback Elementary and graduated from Fortuna Union High School in 1958. It was when Karen was helping in the kitchen during a dance at the Carlotta Grange Hall that I (Richard) asked her to dance. A short time later, Karen invited me to the sweetheart ball at Fortuna High School. We were married on February 17, 1962, then traveled to Fayetteville, North Carolina where Richard was stationed in the Army.

Upon his discharge they returned to California and resided in Scotia for a little while, then purchased their first and only home in Fortuna in 1964. Karen was employed by Crocker National Bank, working through its many changes until it became US Bank, from which she retired.

She enjoyed gardening and bird-watching, the Giants baseball games as well as the 49er’s football team. She enjoyed a couple of cruises to the Mediterranean with her husband and friends and their many trips to Arizona to see her sister Karma and her nieces and nephew. At home Karen enjoyed going to all the local basketball, baseball and football games to watch all the kids she and I got to know over the years. Writing down their names and uniform numbers, keeping score, fouls, won/loss records and points each kid scored. These are recorded in the many notebooks she kept her entire life. She also enjoyed her monthly excursions to Starbucks with her friends.

Karen is survived by her husband Richard of 63 years, her son Ryan and daughter Becci(Tim), the lights of her life, grandchildren Teghan and Hacher, her nieces Cathy Mader(Jeff), Della and Joe Bellum., her great-nieces Abigail and Annabelle, great-nephew Bryson.

She was preceded in death by her parents Catherine and Merle Warden, and her sister and brother-in-law, Karma and Robert Bellum. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Rio Dell Fire Hall. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.

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

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Gary Wayne Fuller. He passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on February 12, 2025. He has gone home to be with his savior Jesus Christ.

Born February 9, 1954 to his parents Tommy and Orla Fuller, he was the third of six children. He grew up and lived in Eureka his entire life. He had a love of sports playing both basketball and football in high school and football at College of the Redwoods. He continued his love of sports as an adult, his favorite team being the San Francisco Giants. He loved spending time with his friends and family and it was often around the dining table, talking, laughing and eating good food. Gary loved to feed his people; no one ever left his house hungry, and you always hoped to leave with a plate of his famous peanut butter fudge.

Gary was largely involved in his church community at First Covenant Church. He always said when he found his faith, he was saved. He loved Jesus and loved to share His word. He and his wife Valarie are members of their church, and participated in many church events like the Triumphant Life Camp, the annual live nativity scene, and even hosted bible study in their home. Gary was a skilled drywaller, that was his career and his talent. His work ethic and expertise transferred to many homes and commercial buildings throughout Humboldt County creating long lasting beautiful textures. The first thing he would do when he walked into any home was feel the wall. For 30 years he and his son, Eric, worked alongside each other. That was very special to both him and Eric.

Gary is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Valarie Fuller, along with her parents Carol and Eugene Loveland. He leaves behind his siblings Connie Lilze, Karen Hillis, Sheri Poletski, Tami Roberts, and Kevin Fuller. Children Eric (Crystal) Fuller, Amy (Marc) Dolce, and Jennifer (Erick) Grindle, grandchildren Tyler and Brooke Grindle, Kelly and Gunner Dolce, and Angel Barker, and great-grandchildren Oliver, Blakely, and Sawyer Grindle. Gary was blessed with an abundant amount of nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, and friends who have all had a special place in his life. Gary considered everyone his family and he absolutely loved and adored all of them.

He is preceded in death by his parents Tommy and Orla Fuller and his brother-in-law Stan Poletski.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, and family and friends will be notified in advance. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Triumphant Life Camp in the name of Gary Fuller.

Carol DePucci passed away at home in Hydesville on February 6, 2025 at the age of 86. She was born December 26, 1938, in Logan, Montana. She moved to Scotts Mills, Oregon in 1946, with her parents Arthur and Goldie Boyts, brother Tommy and sister Ruth. There she met Richard Parks, and they married in 1956.

She later married Fred DePucci. Many good times were spent at their home in Rio Dell and their place at Ruth Lake.

Carol went to work at the City of Fortuna Police Department in 1971 as a dispatcher/clerk. She was promoted to senior dispatcher/records clerk in 1979. She retired after many years as a dispatcher.

Her many hobbies included reading, crocheting, cooking, camping, boating, swimming and traveling. She especially enjoyed going on cruises.

Carol is survived by her children Arnold and Terri Parks, Robin Robertson, Curtis and Paula Parks, Sherry and Gaylon Rock, Tony and Carolyn DePucci and daughter-in-law Andrea Murillo. Her grandchildren Joe Parks, Jesse Parks and Toni Anello, Kelsie Parks and Nerissa Holt, Renee and Ben Grimes, Nathan and Lindsey Robertson, Carson Parks and his fiancé Britney Johnson, Isaac Parks, Amanda Colegrove, Joshua and Sarah Colegrove. She also leaves behind numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Goldie Boyts, her brother Tommy Boyts, her sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Earl Nally, her former husband Fred DePucci, and her daughters Terri Renee Parks and Vicky Machado.

Robin would like to give special thanks to all the friends and family that helped take care of Mom in her final years. Including, but not limited to, Jesse Parks, Kelsie Parks, Scott Swain, Wanda, Cathy, Jamie, Monica, Paul and Rick.

Family and friends are invited to attend the graveside service at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna on Friday, February 28 at 2 p.m.

There will be a celebration of life following the graveside service at the Monday Club in Fortuna at 3 p.m.

Arrangements are under the care of Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary.

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

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On Monday afternoon, the Outpost was contacted by a local federal worker asking us to report on employees at Redwood National Park and Six Rivers National Forest who’d been fired over the weekend.

“The Trump/Musk administration sent them termination notices citing their insufficient fitness and qualifications for their positions, which is categorically false,” the tipster reported. “Park operations are officially in jeopardy and it’s going to have significant impacts on the tourism industry, not to mention the health of our public lands.”

Over the past few days, the U.S. Forest Service has fired about 3,400 recent hires while the National Park Service fired about 1,000 workers as part of President Donald Trump’s push to cut federal spending and bureaucracy. The layoffs left some fired workers suddenly without housing and sparked alarm among conservation agencies.

“Allowing parks to hire seasonal staff is essential, but staffing cuts of this magnitude will have devastating consequences for parks and communities,” National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) President Theresa Pierno said in a statement.

Employees were blindsided by the move.

“Today I lost my dream job as a permanent park ranger in the NPS,” Alex Wild reported via Instagram Sunday. “I’m still in shock, and completely devastated. I have dedicated my life to being a public servant, teacher, and advocate for places that we ALL cherish. I have saved lives and put my own life at risk to serve my community.  And today, without any warning, I got a termination email … .”

Wild quoted from the email he received, calling its message, “the biggest slap in the face imaginable.”:

The Department determined that you have failed to demonstrate fitness or qualifications for continued employment because your subject matter knowledge, skills, and abilities do not meet the Department’s current needs, and it is necessary and appropriate to terminate, during the probationary period, your appointment to the position of Park Ranger.

The Outpost’s efforts to get more information from both the National Parks Service and the U.S. Forest Service — including the number of local employees fired, the possible impacts to services, etc. — have not been fruitful. An emailed inquiry sent to Redwood National and State Parks Superintendent Steven Mietz was forwarded to a public information officer, who, in reply, said such questions should be directed to the Pacific West regional office. 

Scott Clemans, the lead public affairs specialist and spokesperson for that office, sent a brief and rather forlorn-sounding reply this afternoon: “We’ll provide that information as soon as we can,” it said. “I don’t know how long it will take before we’re able to get back to you, though.”

Meanwhile, in response to an email to Six Rivers National Forest, Public Affairs Specialist Adrianne Rubiaco directed us to contact the press officer for the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Region. Our email to that office was answered more than 24 hours later by a USDA spokesperson who provided a statement that has been widely distributed. It says, in part:

[U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke] Rollins fully supports the President’s directive to improve government, eliminate inefficiencies, and strengthen USDA’s many services to the American people. We have a solemn responsibility to be good stewards of the American people’s hard-earned taxpayer dollars and to ensure that every dollar spent goes to serve the people, not the bureaucracy.  

As part of this effort, USDA has made the difficult decision to release about 2,000 probationary, non-firefighting employees from the Forest Service. To be clear, none of these individuals were operational firefighters. Released employees were probationary in status, many of whom were compensated by temporary IRA funding. 

This afternoon we sent a reporter to the Six Rivers National Forest headquarters near the Bayshore Mall. An employee onsite said all inquiries must go through Washington, D.C., headquarters.

Any local federal employees (including the recently fired) willing to share your perspective, anonymously or otherwise, can email the Outpost at news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

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Press release from Mad River Community Hospital:

Arcata, CA – February 19, 2025 – Mad River Community Hospital is pleased to announce the launch of two new service lines aimed at further enhancing the quality of care and access for our community. Beginning this spring, Mad River will offer comprehensive Home Healthcare Services and two Pediatric Outpatient Clinics in McKinleyville and Arcata.

As part of our ongoing commitment to provide compassionate, patient-centered care, these new services are designed to meet the growing needs of our diverse community and ensure that care is accessible, convenient, and tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Home Healthcare Services: Bringing Care to Your Doorstep

Our Home Healthcare Services will provide patients with a wide range of medical, therapeutic, and support services in the comfort and convenience of their own homes. This new service will include nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other essential services designed to assist individuals recovering from illness, surgery, or managing chronic conditions.

For more information regarding Home Health, please reach out to 707-826-8420.

Pediatric Outpatient Clinics: Specialized Care for Children

In response to the growing demand for pediatric care in the region, Mad River Community Hospital is also opening Pediatric Outpatient Clinics in McKinleyville and Arcata. The clinics will offer a wide range of services for children from infancy through adolescence, including routine check-ups, immunizations, sick visits, and management of chronic health conditions. Led by experienced pediatricians, the clinics aim to provide families with accessible, high-quality healthcare in a compassionate and child-friendly setting. Weekend and evening appointments may be offered.

For more information regarding our new pediatric clinics, please reach out to 707-825-4979.

This announcement reflects Mad River Community Hospital’s continued dedication to expanding healthcare access and services for its community.

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A few speed limits in Arcata may be lowered to 20 MPH at some point.

The Arcata Transportation Safety committee voted yesterday to establish a subcommittee to look at changing the speed limit from 25 MPH to 20 MPH in areas like senior centers and heavily used hiking trails. 

California Assembly Bill 43, signed into law Oct. 2021, allows local authorities to slow the existing speed limit by five miles an hour by a few methods. If there are a lot of pedestrians, cyclists or vulnerable groups like the elderly or children using the street, the limit can be lowered. Up to 20% of a jurisdiction’s streets can be designated “safety corridors” on higher-risk areas and the speed limit can be lowered. Those methods can only be used after completing a traffic survey, but the speed limit in some “business activity districts” can be set at 20 MPH without one.

The subcommittee is tasked with finding those higher-risk places where it might be worth it to lower the speed limit.

There’s no word on when the limits might be lowered, but seeing as the transportation safety committee has discussed the potential ramifications of AB 43 since it passed two years ago, it’s safe to say it might be a while. 

A passionate plea from the Sequoia Park Zoo:

Before hauling your bamboo to the dump did you know we can accept donations of freshly cut (cut that day) and organic bamboo for Saffron the red panda and other leaf-loving friends?

Ideally bamboo should be at least 3 feet in height and have leaves; please no loose leaves of bare canes.

Bamboo can be donated Tuesdays-Sundays from 10am-3pm ; all donors please check in with the Front Gate - new donors will be asked to fill out a brief form.

For additional questions regarding bamboo donations please call Lindsey at 707-441-4229.