Arloa passed away on May 18th, surrounded by love, and ready to embark on her next adventure.

Arloa was born on March 1 st , 1932, to Ray and Alice (True) Sprengle in Pueblo, Colorado. She attended primary and high school in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The summer before college, she worked as a switchboard operator, prior to pursuing a degree in Art and Fashion at Colorado Women’s College. Arloa was an incredibly talented artist and seamstress.

Arloa married Charles (Chuck) Kupilik Jr in August of 1953. She attended the University of Colorado Boulder where she was a member of the Tri Delta sorority, and graduated in 1954 with a degree in Art. After graduating, Chuck got a job working with the US Forest Service. This took them and their tiny trailer to many beautiful sites in Colorado. This is where Arloa honed her fly fishing skills; she loved to catch and cook the fish. In the fall of 1958, they moved back to Steamboat Springs. They had three children, Tony, Lynn, and Van. She was very active in Little Toots, 4-H, Winter Carnival, and the Buddy Werner League. Arloa loved nature and spending her time outdoors, camping with her family. Arloa was a wonderful listener and friend, who always put others before herself. Arloa had an excellent sense of humor. Arloa was always a few steps ahead of the times. She had an organic garden in the 70’s, she made tofu and yogurt before anyone knew what it was. She was wonderful.

In 1976, the family moved to Laramie, WY where Arloa earned her Real Estate license. In the early 80’s, she and Chuck relocated to Eureka, California where she obtained her Real Estate Brokers license. She and Chuck enjoyed camping and exploring Bluff Creek and Fish Lake.

In the ‘90s, they moved to Loveland, CO. She and Chuck volunteered and became certified Master Naturalists, spending countless hours in the Pawnee National Grasslands. She loved it there. The Literacy Project was important to her. Arloa taught a variety of students. She was proud of them all and committed three years to each student.

In 2012, Arloa moved to Salyer, California. She had a lovely yard and was an avid gardener. She volunteered wherever she felt needed. She was happy to be a part of Dream Quest, a youth organization in Willow Creek, CA, and was proud of the programs they offer. Arloa cherished and saved every letter anyone ever wrote her. Her favorite color was blue, she read Ayn Rand, and loved Robert Frost. She was stubborn when it counted. Her favorite bird was the Magpie, her favorite wildflower was the Fringed Gentian, and she also really loved daisies.

Arloa was predeceased by her parents Ray and Alice Sprengle, her husband Charles Kupilik, Jr, and grandson Riley Bilzing. Arloa is survived by her brother Jack Sprengle of Steamboat Springs, CO, and sister Linda Robinson (Stuart) of San Diego, CA. Her children Charles (Tony) Kupilik III (Lianne), Lynn Murphy (Dave), and Van Kupilik. Grandsons Charles (Charlie) Kupilik IV (Ashlee), Kristopher Kupilik, Shane Kupilik (Kayla), Taron Bilzing (Maggie), Wolfgang Bilzing (Emily), and Ryele Kupilik. Great granddaughter Arloa Kupilik and great grandson Matthias Kupilik.

We had her here with us for a very long time. She will be dearly missed.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Arloa’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

###

The North Coast’s photogenic population of Roosevelt elk will soon get a little help crossing the road thanks to a high-tech detection-and-warning system along Hwy. 101 near Stone Lagoon. 

The project, which was granted a permit waiver on Thursday by the California Coastal Commission, will create a network of approximately 25 very-high-frequency (VHF) transceivers on wooden poles along the highway.

Those devices will be triggered in real time by any tracking-collar-wearing elk who wander within 150 feet of the them. (The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has spent years capturing and GPS-collaring the massive Cervus canadensis roosevelti here on the North Coast for research purposes.)

For technical reasons, these Changeable Message Signs (CMS) really don’t photograph well. | Photo via the Coastal Commission.

When an elk enters the range of the sensors, it will set off a series of flashing LED warning lights and a pair of those changeable message signs (right) along the freeway, alerting drivers that elk may be on or near the roadway.

“These signs will be installed at both ends of a one-mile stretch of highway with the Stone Lagoon Red Schoolhouse at its center,” Caltrans Public Information Officer Myles Cochrane told the Outpost via email.

Caltrans also plans to install up to three new vehicle speed recorders along that stretch of road.

Adult Roosevelt bulls can weigh more than 1,000 pounds, and the local herd that lives near Stone Lagoon frequently crosses the freeway, which has led to collisions with vehicles, causing injuries and elk deaths. This area of highway has the highest concentration of elk crossings in coastal Humboldt and Del Norte counties, and it was ranked as the highest priority in Caltrans’ District 1 area for addressing roadkill in a large mammal-vehicle collision study.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) developed this project following a collaborative study with CDFW and Cal Poly Humboldt. 

It’s the first project of its kind in California, according to Caltrans. Data collected prior to and after installation — measuring efficacy, reliability and reproducibility — will be analyzed by Cal Poly Humboldt to determine whether similar systems should be installed elsewhere in the state to help decrease wildlife-vehicle collisions.

The project is near the Yurok Tribe-operated Chah-pekw O’ Ket’-toh “Stone Lagoon” Visitor Center,  the first tribally operated visitor center in the California State Park system. According to a Coastal Commission staff report, Caltrans has been in close consultation with the tribe on the project. “The proposed improvements have been sited and designed such that the project will not impact tribal cultural resources,” the report says.

Caltrans hopes to have the system up and running by next year.

“We anticipate advertising for project contractors by February or March 2025, with construction slated for April or May 2025,” Cochrane said. “Our goal is to have the full system operational by next summer.”

Construction should take about two weeks, and during that time the Dry Lagoon public parking area may be unavailable. 

“It’s important to note this is a research project,” Cochrane said. “Based on its success, Caltrans may keep the detection system in place or take other measures to reduce wildlife collisions.”

The following is a press release from Arcata City Councilmember Alex Stillman’s campaign. It is the third such announcement to come out in the past week following releases from Stillman’s fellow councilmembers Stacy Atkins-Salazar and Sarah Schaefer, who are also running for re-election in November.

A fourth candidate, newcomer Genevieve Serna, has also announced her intent to vie for one of the three seats up this cycle. The Outpost has an interview with her scheduled next week:

Press release from Alex Stillman:

Arcata City Councilwoman Alex Stillman recently announced that she is running for re-election to the Arcata City Council in the election to be held November 5, 2024.

In 1972, Alex Stillman was the first woman elected to the Arcata City Council. As a member of that council for eight years, and mayor for four, she helped create the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, the county’s first bus system and the Arcata Community Forest. They passed a General Plan that protected Arcata’s open space and agricultural lands, and established the Aldergrove Industrial Park to incubate small businesses. These projects have helped define and serve Arcata is to this day. 

“I love Arcata! I have since I moved here in 1970 to attend college as an older student, and then raised my children here. I just fell in love with Arcata’s small-town atmosphere and how people were willing to jump in to work on projects to improve things. It is a wonderful quality that makes Arcata a great place to live,” said Stillman. “I also adore all the beautiful historic buildings and have worked hard to protect and save them.”
 
Stillman was re-elected to the city council in 2006 and 2010, and served for eight years. Those councils accomplished several large projects which made the Arcata Marsh, agricultural lands and wetlands more resilient relative to sea level rise, built a public restroom near the Plaza, and established Carlson Park to provide new housing and recreation opportunities for the Valley West area of Arcata. During that time, Alex represented Arcata on the Humboldt Transit Authority and championed increasing public transit routes and bike lanes, and served on the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission and  the Headwaters Fund Board to further economic development.
Stillman was re-elected to the city council for a two-year term in 2022, and serves as Vice-Mayor. 

“I am running for re-election because I want to continue working to create more housing, especially affordable housing. I want to continue the work we are doing to make Arcata more pedestrian and bike friendly, with more trails and increased public safety. With a new city manager coming, a General Plan update in the final stages and a tight state budget cycle, I can help provide continuity and smooth transitions,” said Stillman. 

Stillman currently represents Arcata on the Humboldt Transit Authority and advocates passionately for expanding public transit and increasing ridership. She participates in the Countywide Housing Consortium and works closely with the Arcata House Partnership which serves the houseless community. Alex serves as the sole municipal representative on the Governing Board of the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District, and she is Chair of the Humboldt County Aviation Committee which works to attract new airlines to Humboldt County. 

“Dating back to when we served together on the city council and created the Arcata Marsh Project, the Sustainable Community Forest, and the Arcata & Mad River Transit, I have always admired Alex‘s deep engagement in our community. Her willingness to run for another city council term offers us her ability to be a bridge between our rich history, and the challenges Arcata faces today and in the future. Arcata is in good hands with Alex on the city council,” said Wesley Chesbro, former Arcata City Councilmember and State Senator. 

Local architect Joyce Plath says, “Alex contributes wisdom, integrity and the energy to get things done. I wholeheartedly support her re-election to the Arcata City Council.”

“The Arcata we enjoy today — our marsh, community redwood park, trails, preserved agricultural lands and an appropriately accessible and scaled freeway — is a result of courageous and visionary planning implemented decades ago. Alex was a key architect in those initiatives, the very things we cherish today. I can’t think of a better person to help Arcata craft the next chapter in our towns’ growth. Alex will ensure we keep a firm and informed hand on our past as we develop our next courageous visions for Arcata,” said Arcata resident Laura Middlemiss.

Sunny Brae resident Robin Hashem says, “Alex Stillman has the most energy, focus and desire to help people of anyone I’ve known. I believe her to have a sincere interest in the future of Arcata as a place for action-oriented forward thinkers that appreciate what our North Coast has to offer everyone, as well as a good place for our families to grow. She will always challenge people to examine the issues at hand with a clear eye and will provide a much needed balanced perspective on Arcata’s past and the future to come, a perspective hard won with her many years of service to Arcata.”

Along with her city council duties, Alex plays an active role in many other areas of our community, including serving as president of the Historic Sites Society of Arcata, chair of Godwit Days Migratory Bird Festival, chair of the Fire Arts Center and a volunteer at the Arcata Marsh.

“When I served on the council in the 1970’s, I would often think about my children and future grandchildren when I made decisions. Now, those grandchildren are grown, and some things, especially our hurting climate, are urgent,” said Stillman. “I want to continue to do all I can to help our community grow in a way that provides housing for all income levels, preserves our open space and agricultural lands, has lots of opportunities for active recreation, and maintains our unique and wonderful character.”

UPDATE, 11:51 a.m.: HCSO has now identified the man arrested for homicide near Bridgeville as Melvin Portillo, 20 years old, from Sacramento.

# # #

Original Post: [Ed. Note: The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office issued a release late Monday morning saying it had arrested someone for homicide near Bridgeville the previous day. Unlike with most releases of this nature, HCSO opted not to identify who they’ve taken into custody. The booking logs make no mention of a homicide arrest on Sunday, nor do the calls for service. 

When the Outpost reached out to HCSO for more details, Lt. Mike Fridley responded: “We are not releasing the suspects name right now. That info will be released in the upcoming days.”]

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On 7/14/2024 in the late evening, Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 27000 block of Highway 36 near Bridgeville to investigate the report of a possible shooting. Deputies responded and located one deceased male. One male was subsequently arrested for homicide. There are no outstanding suspects or parties, and there is no danger or threat to the public.

This 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.

# # #

(Additional Note: LoCO has updated the headline of this post subsequent to the release of more information from the sheriff’s office.)

###

Press release from the Ferndale Police Department:

On July 13, 2024, at approximately 9:45 p.m., Ferndale Police Officers were dispatched to Belotti Hall inside the Humboldt County Fairgrounds where a private security company had reported they had a subject in custody who was believed to be armed.

Upon their arrival, Ferndale Officers contacted Lopez Valverde, Mauro Jose, 26, of Ferndale, Ca.

During the contact, Ferndale Officers located a loaded .45 caliber handgun tucked inside the front waistband of Lopez Valverde. Ferndale officers were then informed Lopez Valverde had brandished the handgun toward another individual while threatening them.

Lopez Valverde was taken into custody by Ferndale Police without incident, and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked on the following charges:

• PC 417(A)(2)(A) – Exhibit a concealed firearm in public,
• PC 25400(A)(2) – Carry concealed weapon on person, PC 25800(A) – Carry loaded firearm with intent to commit felony,
• PC 25850(A) – Carry loaded forearm on person in a public place.

“Conflating anti-Semitism with criticism of a modern apartheid state is dangerous historical revisionism.”

— Lela Tolajian, student and human rights activist

When I told my Jewish neighbor that I thought ritual circumcision was essentially mutilation of a baby’s body, she called me anti-Semitic. My response (I know, I should have just shut up) was, “Since I believe that routine cutting off the most sensitive part of a male infant’s body is a cruel and primitive practice, I’d be discriminating if I made it OK if the kid happened to be Jewish (or Muslim).” Our previously warm relationship turned tepid, and after that, we were simply cordial with each other. (She did tell Louisa later that she fainted at the sight of the mohel snipping away at her eight-day old son’s penis during his circumcision ceremony.)

Since the Hamas atrocities of last October 7 and subsequent IDF invasion of Gaza, the term “anti-Semitic” (or -semitic) seems to be a mindless and impulsive response to many who are critical of Israel’s scorched-earth policy there, including progressive Jews! (I can’t bear to call it a war, when only one side, employing airplanes and tanks, has killed nearly 40,000 civilians — including 10,000 children — and destroyed much of what was essentially a concentration camp for over two million refugees, their families having been driven from their homes by Israel. The ongoing “operation” in Gaza makes the 1982 massacres in Lebanon’s Sabra and Shatilla refugee camps seem hardly worth noting.)

I’m not even sure what being “anti-Semitic” means anymore. In its original, now obsolete, form, it meant being prejudiced against those of the tribe of Shem (one of Noah’s three sons, per Genesis), which can properly apply to Arabs, Jews, Akkadians, Phoenicians and a host of Middle-Eastern and African groupings. Obsolete it may be, but how can we square the “anti-Semitic” label with Jews from, say, the U.S., Germany, Russia etc? Seems to me, only Jews from the Middle East can be termed “Semitic.”

(Ironically, the term was originally coined by journalist and politician Wilhelm Marr, 1819-1904, in his 1881 book The Way to Victory of the German Spirit over the Jewish Spirit, Jews, in his opinion, being responsible for all the ills suffered by Germany. Ironic because Marr made an exception when it came to marriage: Three of his four wives were Jewish.)

The real problem with the label “anti-Semitic,” and with labels in general (e.g. racist, bimbo, illegal, slut, retard, tranny, homo…) is that it creates defensiveness, stops discussion, and is just a lazy way to avoid facing up to our own fears and insecurities. I think my Jewish friends would agree.

Former President Donald Trump was rushed off stage by security personnel after loud bangs were heard at the beginning of a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday night. The Secret Service says Trump is safe and under protective measures. A spokesperson said Trump is “fine.”

Watch live updates from NBC News above. 

# # #

(Note: The headline to this post has been updated to reflect new information learned since it was initially posted. Further information about this incident can be found at the New York Times or other outlets.)