Kristi Lynn Parsells was born on July 19, a sunny day in 1976, amidst the towering redwoods of Humboldt County. She unexpectedly passed away on November 6, 2024, at the age of 48, due to her heart complications. Throughout her life, she called the cozy town of Rio Dell her home. Kristi was a force of nature with an infectious sense of humor and warmth that could light up even the gloomiest of days. She was the kind of person who made strangers feel like friends and friends feel like family. When Kristi was around, everyone would flock to her like the renown leader she was. She was truly inspiring and artistic in her own ways.

Kristi blossomed over the past few years into a true aficionado of plants and succulents, transforming her outdoor space into a vibrant oasis of natural beauty that attracted many. Her artistic talent shined through in the magnificent displays she created, where each succulent was thoughtfully placed to enhance the harmony of color and texture, while delicate waterfalls trickle nearby, adding a soothing soundtrack to her garden paradise. With each new arrangement, Kristi infused her love for nature into her work, turning her once simple garden into a breathtaking exhibition that not only reflects her passion but provided a serene sanctuary for herself, Kaleb, and all who happen upon it.

Kristi’s greatest accomplishments were her beloved sons, Dannon, born in 1999, and Klayton, who came into the world in 2001. The love she had for them was her life’s masterpiece. In the past six years, her joy further blossomed when she took on the cherished role of Meemaw to her grandson Kaleb. The bond they shared was a testament to the loving and nurturing heart she was known for.

Her family was her world, and she leaves behind a legacy of laughter and resilience.

Kristi is survived by her children, Dannon Parsells (Emylee Sutton) and Klayton Miller (Dylan Collins); her parents, Sherry Ridenour and Robert Parsells (Karen Hower); her siblings, Tina (Trevor) Burns, Heidi (Truman) Elick, Terra Town (Sean O’Neal), Colin Town (Leah Mandon), Houston Town, and Michael Ridenour; nieces and nephews Tristan Jeffers, Wyatt Burns, Forrest and Dakota James, Gabe, Shiloh, and Selah Town; aunts and uncles Larry (Kathy) Parrish, JayDean Parrish, and Connie Otis (Ed Hower); cousins Veronica, Austin, and Hailie Haselip, Kendra Walin, Candy Parrish, and Bobby Parrish; and of course, her grandchildren Kaleb, Michael, Anthony, and Leilani.

A celebration of Kristi’s extraordinary life will be held at Rio Dell Fireman’s Hall on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 1 p.m.

As we gather to remember Kristi, we hold close these words: “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.”

Anthony Neil Carroll (Tony)
Sept. 3, 1963 - Dec. 24, 2024

Tony was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is the son of Darrell and Wilda Carroll. Tony departed this life on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024 at 3:15 a.m. in Eureka California. He suffered from congestive heart failure and various other ailments.

Tony is survived by his mother, Wilda Carroll; his sister Libby (Carroll) Walker; three daughters: Paris Cole, & Madison (Carroll) Martinez of California; five grandchildren, also from California, who he adored — Hunter, and Turner McHatton, Kinsley, Benny Jr. and Eveligh Uber; also a daughter, Sarah Kamp, of Iowa

Preceding Tony in death are his loving wife Pamela Carroll and his father Darrell Carroll.

Tony accepted Christ at an early age, and often spoke to others, of his Savior. When Tony was young he loved to fish and often caught the most fish of the day, when on camping trips with his parents and sister.

Tony enjoyed the simplest things in life. He has always had a love for animals, especially cats. He loved to sing old songs, and he loved to watch western shows and read Louis L’Amour books. He enjoyed football. He liked the Green Bay Packers and the Chiefs. Tony was full of life, very care-free, kind hearted and loving. Tony would give the shirt off of his back to help someone in need especially a friend. He loved to laugh and make those around him laugh as well. Tony will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

###

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

PREVIOUSLY

• Developer of McKay Ranch Subdivision, a Proposed 320-Unit Housing Development in Cutten, Seeks Annexation from Humboldt Community Services District

###

The North McKay Ranch Subdivision could eventually provide hundreds of new homes for local residents — if it ever gets built.

The long-planned development near Cutten calls for up to 320 residential units and 22,000 square feet of commercial space to be built in phases over many years, but movement on those plans has come to a standstill. Eleven months after developer Kurt Kramer applied to get the project site annexed into the Humboldt Community Services District — a necessary step to supply its buildings with water and sewer — no action has been taken.

“They haven’t turned it down,” Kramer said in a recent phone interview, “but it’s a year later and nothin’s happened. It’s embarrassing.”

Kramer is frustrated by the inaction, which he sees as a sign that the state and local governments can’t be serious when they talk about how much California needs new housing construction.

“This is crazy,” he said. “It’s basically stopping progress.” He suspects that the inaction may be related to the “progressive” political bent of the district’s board, which has manifested as a “no growth” attitude, from his perspective.

“I would like to think that when people say they need housing, that they mean it, but I just don’t believe them anymore,” Kramer said.

Terrence “TK” Williams, general manager of the Humboldt Community Services District (HCSD), said it’s not a matter of political willpower but rather a question of financing: Who’s going to pay for the new infrastructure?

The district’s board of directors did consider Kramer’s annexation request last February, Williams said, and two of the board members — Heidi Benzonelli and Michael Hansen — were designated as an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter further. However, they have yet to figure a way to make the finances pencil out.

The district’s primary idea has been to ask the County of Humboldt for a larger share of property tax revenues, but the county has proved unwilling to give that up. Williams said district personnel has met several times with county staff in hopes of finding a path forward that doesn’t saddle HCSD’s current ratepayers with the costs of the North McKay Ranch Subdivision — or any other new development within its boundaries, for that matter.

Williams explained that the HCSD is already over-extended financially.

“Over the past 20 years, the District has invested tens of millions of dollars of ratepayer money to construct water and wastewater infrastructure that will support a population of over 45,000 people,” he said. “These investments have been in response to significant pressure from the County of Humboldt and from developers for housing projects that were supposedly imminent.”

But those developments have not materialized. Rather than booming to 45,000 residents, the current population within HCSD’s boundaries has remained relatively flat at about 20,000, Williams said.

“This means that the infrastructure that was built to support 45,000 people was paid for and is being maintained by fewer than 20,000 people,” he said. “This is the primary reason that the District’s rates are as high as they are.”

As shown in the map below, the North McKay Ranch Subdivision site is located just outside of the district’s service boundaries (shown in red) but within its sphere of influence (in yellow). (Zoom in to see the the project site itself, shown in black.) 

Because the property sits outside HCSD’s current boundaries, the district doesn’t stand to gain much in the way of property tax revenue by annexing the parcels in question. Most of that revenue would instead go to the state and the county. The reason has to do with California’s taxation methods and something called “incremental property tax revenues.”

Since the 1978 passage of Prop. 13, annual property taxes have been capped at one percent of each property’s assessed value, which has reduced state and local government property tax revenues over time. And in recent decades, the state has been redirecting more of those revenues to schools, leaving less for cities, counties and special districts.

For example, Humboldt County’s General Fund used to receive between 30 and 40 percent of the tax revenues on properties in its jurisdiction. But since 1992, when the state legislature shifted the way it shares those revenues, the county’s portion has dwindled.

“[T]he General Fund now receives about 16% on average,” Humboldt County Public Information Specialist Cati Gallardo said in an email. Again, that’s down from 30 to 40 percent a few decades ago. 

Still, the county’s share of new property tax revenues dwarfs that of the HCSD, which only receives about 2 percent of property taxes within its boundaries. And Prop. 13 made matters worse.

Prior to 1978, the county would “share” an agreed upon portion of its property tax revenues with special districts like HCSD whenever there were new developments within those districts’ service areas. When a property is subdivided and developed, it substantially increases in value, which means more property tax revenues. This additional amount is called “incremental property taxes.” 

But in the post-Prop. 13 world, special districts in Humboldt County, including HCSD, no longer get a cut of those incremental property taxes. 

In meetings with the county, HCSD personnel has asked for an extra two percent of incremental property tax revenues from the county for any new development within its boundaries. This revenue would help pay for the infrastructure needed to serve the North McKay Ranch Subdivision and any future projects.

When the Outpost first spoke with Williams about these negotiations, shortly before Christmas, he remained hopeful.

“The County has not rejected the proposal for incremental property taxes but has also not yet agreed to provide [them] to the District,” he said.

But according to Gallardo, it’s not likely to happen.

“It is not standard practice for counties to divert tax revenue to a CSD,” she said in an email. An exception might be made if the community services district were assuming responsibility for a service that the county was already providing, but that’s not the case here. 

“The district has requested an additional 2%, in the area proposed to be annexed, which would reduce the General Fund’s share from 16% to 14% and provide HCSD with an additional $30,000 annually at full buildout,” Gallardo said.

But if the North McKay Ranch Subdivision gets built, the county will need those revenues in order to provide services for its residents, she explained. 

“Based on a [proposed] full buildout of the subdivision, which will take many years, we estimate the General Fund would receive roughly $270,000 per year to provide the broad range of public services needed including law enforcement, road maintenance and social services, among others,” Gallardo said.

The county was under the impression that HCSD had gotten the message that its request had been denied.

“[D]uring the most recent meeting, it was understood that the district would explore alternative funding options,” Gallardo said.

When we followed up with Williams this week, he asked for additional time to consult with the members of the ad hoc committee — Benzonelli and Hansen — and eventually he emailed a statement saying the district doesn’t consider the negotiations closed.

“The representatives of the District who have attended meetings with the County have left with the impression that … [they] would continue negotiating with the County regarding property tax allocation,” his email says. Without those revenues, the district’s options are limited.

Williams pointed to a state law that prohibits the use of ratepayer money to finance projects that support growth geographic expansion. Which is bad news for Kramer and his project.

“Given the District’s limited resources, we can only focus on pursuing grants that help reduce the cost of providing services to our existing ratepayers,” Williams explained.

Kramer remains flabbergasted by the situation. 

“It’s really unbelievable,” he said. Because his project site is within HCSD’s sphere of influence, he’s legally prohibited from seeking water and sewer hookups elsewhere. 

“So they got me stuck where I can’t do anything on my own, and yet they won’t take me in, so I can’t get additional hookups,” he said.

He has managed to get hookups at one house in the Phase One portion of the site plan (in green on the map at the top of this post) but said that process required probably $10,000 and special permission from LAFCo (the Humboldt Local Agency Formation Commission).

“So I’m hooked up to that one, and now I’m trying to just develop the two lots on either side and sell those homes off. And I can’t do it!” he said. “So it’s a mess.”

Gallardo pointed out that, regardless of the county’s negotiations with HCSD, the development agreement for the North McKay Ranch Subdivision says that Kramer, as the developer, is required to install water tanks, replace a sewer main and pay HCSD-imposed backbone fees before receiving service from the district.

Kramer said that’s yet another obstacle.

“That’s the way they’re going to kill the second phase of the project is by not doing anything — not putting in pipes in the ground that benefit the project. … Everything that that development [agreement] was written up for basically [says] it was my responsibility to do all of these capital improvements. Now they doubled my connection fee, and none of that fee goes to any improvements that benefit the project,” he said. “This is the other end of ‘no growth.’”

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Jan. 8 at approximately 2 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies were dispatched to a report of a dead body under the Trinity River Bridge, at Highway 96 and Tish Tang Rd. 

HCSO Deputies and Hoopa Valley Tribal Police officers responded to the scene and located the reporting party. Deputies located a male subject in thick brush below the bridge. The subject had been deceased for what appeared to be several days. Investigators from the Humboldt County Major Crimes Division and a Humboldt County Deputy Coroner were then called to the scene to conduct a death investigation. The deceased male was later identified as Paul Dean James Jr., 42, of Weitchpec.

James was frequently seen in the Hoopa Valley; however, he hadn’t been seen since December 30.  A welfare check BOLO (“be on the lookout”) for was issued on Jan. 7, when James had not been seen for a week. His manner of death has not been determined at this time and the case is still under investigation.

A forensic autopsy will be conducted by the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office. More information will be released after the autopsy is conducted.

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.

###

Press release from the Humboldt County Administrative Office:

Make your voice heard on local airport development plans at one of the Department of Aviation’s upcoming public open house meetings.

The Humboldt County Department of Aviation is updating its Airport System Plan Study for the six public-use airports it operates. This study, required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is a planning effort which outlines potential long-term development concepts to meet the needs of each airport, its users and the surrounding communities while adhering to current FAA design standards.

To share the draft study’s findings, the department will host four public open houses. These events offer an opportunity for residents and airport users to review the draft study, ask questions and provide feedback. Department of Aviation and airport consultant staff will be available at each meeting to answer questions.

How to Attend

Open houses to discuss the plan with the community will occur on Tuesday, Jan. 21 and Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the following times and locations: 

- Murray Field Airport (EKA) on Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
- California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) on Tuesday Jan. 21 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
- Rohnerville Airport (FOT) on Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Garberville Airport (O16) on Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 2 to 3 p.m.

All interested community members are encouraged to attend and share their input. 

For more information and background on the Humboldt Airport System Plan Study and how to share your input on the draft study, please call 707-839-5401 or email aviation@co.humboldt.ca.us.
Please note that public restrooms will not be available at the Murry Field, Rohnerville and Garberville airport locations. Attendees are encouraged to plan accordingly. 

The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equal access to all county programs, services and activities through the provision of accommodations for individuals with qualified disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With 72 hours prior notice, a request for reasonable accommodation for the public meetings can be made by calling 707-839-5401. 

For more information on the Humboldt County Department of Aviation, please visit FlyACV.com.

The ocean will be more dangerous than usual this week. The National Weather Service is warning that conditions for sneaker waves will be increased this Friday.

Be careful on your beach stroll, Humboldt. 

As wildfires erupted in Southern California, so did a years-long feud between incoming president Donald Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom.On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly threatened to cut off disaster funding for California.

He stopped short of that on Wednesday, but in a social media post, he called Newsom “Newscum” and blamed his water policies for the three fires that have destroyed hundreds of homes, killed at least five people and displaced tens of thousands of Californians.

Trump said that due to Newsom’s environmental regulations, not enough water has reached Southern California and that fire hydrants went dry as a result.

“Now the ultimate price is being paid,” he said. “I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA. He is to blame for this.”

The Newsom administration called Trump’s post “pure fiction.”

Wildfire and climate experts say natural conditions — including eight months of drought — are to blame.

“The issue here is that it hasn’t rained yet,” said Alexander Gershunov, a research meteorologist at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Plus, these fires have been pushed by Santa Ana wind gusts as high as 75 mph. In those conditions, burning embers can blow miles from their ignition source and entire neighborhoods can erupt in minutes.

“You’ll never have enough water to put out a Santa Ana fire,” said Zeke Lunder, a California wildfire expert who’s been tracking and mapping the fires’ progress.

The bigger question looming over California is whether Trump’s feud with Newsom will cause him to act on his promise to cut federal disaster aid to the state when he takes office on Jan. 20.

On the campaign trail last year, Trump vowed that “we won’t give (Newsom) money to put out all his fires” unless the Democratic governor agreed to divert more water to California farmers. Two former Trump administration officials later told Politico that Trump initially withheld approval for disaster aid for California’s deadly 2018 wildfires, until aides showed him that many of the residents of the affected areas had voted for him.

A president can slow down the process of approving aid, or not declare a disaster, a decision critical to a state receiving federal relief funding. A 2021 federal report found that the Trump administration delayed $20 billion in disaster aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Federal funding typically pays for around 75% of the costs of rebuilding public infrastructure such as roads, sewers, water systems, parks and fire stations, officials say. That means California would have to come up with billions of dollars in additional money after major disasters if Trump follows through on his campaign rhetoric.

Federal disaster funds also help those who’ve lost their homes find temporary living quarters. Federal programs can help with home-rebuilding costs not covered by private insurance.

Newsom preparing for uncertain disaster funding

Newsom has taken Trump’s threats seriously enough that, in the fall, his administration began developing plans to establish a backup emergency response fund that the state could draw from if Trump refused to make federal aid available. It’s unclear if Newsom will follow through with the idea in his formal budget proposal, which is expected Friday.

“What you see with the president-elect is, you know, fire and fury often signifying something. You see fire and fury often signifying nothing,” Newsom said at a press conference Monday, where he cautioned that California’s fiscal stability is uncertain under the incoming Trump administration. “And you have to sort of work through all of that.”

On Wednesday, the outgoing Biden administration pledged federal help and is already sending disaster aid to the state, thanks to the $100 billion Congress approved in December.

President Joe Biden, who was already in California to designate a new national monument and for the birth of his great-grandson, made a brief public appearance at a Santa Monica fire station on Wednesday morning to pledge his support for the response.

“We’re prepared to do anything and everything, as long as it takes, to tame these fires and help reconstruct and make sure we get back to normal,” Biden said. “It’s going to be a hell of a long way. It’s going to take time.”Newsom, who joined Biden, said the president’s quick declaration of a major disaster “means the world to us.”

“It’s impossible for me to express the level of appreciation and cooperation we received from the White House and this administration,” Newsom said. “So on behalf of all of us, Mr. President, thank you for being here. And not just being here today. Thank you for being here since the minute of this incident.”

Most of California’s congressional delegation — including U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff and 47 House members, both Democrats and Republicans — signed onto a letter urging Biden to approve the declaration Wednesday.

“The severity of these wildfires requires additional coordination and a wider range of long-term federal recovery programs,” the lawmakers wrote.

When asked Wednesday about Trump’s past threats to withhold disaster aid to California, Padilla warned that “our response to these disasters cannot become a partisan issue, and I will continue fighting to secure the necessary resources for our state’s recovery.”

How federal money rebuilt Paradise, Santa Rosa

In communities such as Paradise and Santa Rosa that suffered through similar catastrophic fires within the past decade, officials there said their communities wouldn’t have been able to rebuild without federal help.

“If we hadn’t had those types of funds to do the basic infrastructure that we’ve already done and are currently doing, I don’t think we would have recovered at all. It is such a significant piece of recovery,” said Collette Curtis, the recovery and economic development director for the town of Paradise. An early morning fire on Nov. 8, 2018 pushed by powerful winds destroyed most of the town in a matter of hours. Eighty-five people died; 18,000 buildings were destroyed.

Curstis estimates that Paradise has received at least $375 million in federal aid since the fire.

A year before the Paradise fire, thousands of homes in the city of Santa Rosa and surrounding communities burned in the Tubbs Fire – another wind-driven inferno that killed 22 people.

The federal government provided at least $366 million in direct aid to communities affected by the Tubbs Fire and other fires that year, according to estimates from the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, a Democrat who represents the region. Santa Rosa alone received $218 million, said Assistant City Manager Jason Nutt.

Without that much federal help, Santa Rosa wouldn’t have recovered, said the city’s former mayor, Chris Rogers, who was just sworn in as the region’s Democratic Assemblymember.

“Without the help of the federal government, not only would we potentially not have been able to rebuild, but we certainly wouldn’t have been able to rebuild as quickly,” Rogers said.

Rogers called Trump’s threat to cut disaster funding for California communities “inhuman.”

“This is a time when people need the most support, when they’ve lost everything,” Rogers said. “That’s the time when they need government to function for them. And so, to me, it’s completely unconscionable that you would choose that as not just to make a statement, but as a leverage point to try to get other things that you want. It’s wildly inappropriate.”

###

CalMatters reporters Stella Yu and Alastair Bland contributed to this story.

CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.