Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Jan. 27 at about 5 p.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the Carlotta area observed a blue Ford Mustang traveling eastbound on Hwy 36 at a high rate of speed. As the deputy attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, the driver failed to yield to emergency lighting and sirens and accelerated to speed of 100 mph in a posted 55 mph zone. 

The driver, later identified as Kyle Haselip, 24, of Hydesville, continued eastbound on Hwy 36 and drove into the opposite lane of traffic near Fern Ln., nearly causing a collision, before turning north onto Yager Creek Rd. at about 60 mph. Haselip then lost control of the vehicle, which spun out before coming to a brief stop facing the deputy’s patrol vehicle. Haselip then accelerated directly toward the deputy’s vehicle, and the deputy maneuvered off the roadway to avoid a collision.

Haselip then drove northbound on Yager Creek Rd. and failed to yield at a stop sign before continuing west on Hwy 36 toward Hydesville at speed over 100 mph. Due to public safety concerns, the deputy terminated the pursuit when the driver traveled through a posted 35 mph zone at 100 mph but continued to follow the vehicle at a safe speed. The deputy observed Haselip turn onto a driveway and located him parked at the residence. 

Haselip was detained at that location without further incident. Haselip was also found to be driving with a suspended driver’s license. 

Smith was then booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for the following charges:

• Evade peace officer recklessly—VC 2800.2
• Evade peace officer, against traffic—VC 2800.4
• Driving with suspended license—VC 14601.1(a)

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 Sheriff’s Office:

The Sheriff’s Office has received numerous community member complaints regarding criminal activity relating to a residence on the 1500 block of Murray Road. On Jan. 25 at about 8:15 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to those complaints by executing a search warrant at the problem residence. 

Upon deputies’ arrival at the location, 14 subjects were detained while the house and vehicles were searched pursuant to the warrant. A large amount of drug paraphernalia and multiple firearms were found within the bedrooms and living areas of the residence. Deputies also located an active marijuana cultivation in a garage attached to the residence. 

The homeowner, Aaron Stott, age 46, of McKinleyville, was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF) for operating or maintaining a drug house (HS 11366) and cultivating 6+ plants of marijuana (HS 11358(c)). 

One of the property’s tenants, Dee Shirley, age 71, of McKinleyville, was arrested and booked into HCCF for being a felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)), possessing a firearm without ID markings (PC 23920(a)), and possession of unlawful paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)).

The Sheriff’s Office appreciates the community’s help with identifying this location.   We encourage community members to call and report criminal activity to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

PREVIOUSLY:

• California Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration to Block Federal Funding Freeze; Huffman Issues Statement: ‘Attack on Democracy’
• This Would Be ‘Devastating’: California Sues to Stop Trump’s Chaos-Inducing Federal Funding Freeze

School districts, local governments, non-profits and the thousands of other organizations that rely on federal funding scrambled to figure out a plan after President Donald Trump pushed to freeze many federal grants and loans via an unexpected order that was announced on social media late Monday, only to be rescinded this morning. 

The order threw local organizations into chaos. Here in Humboldt, as in the rest of the country, those institutions struggled to learn what it meant for them and if their funding would be frozen.

Connie Beck, director of the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, said in a note to employees on Tuesday that they were communicating with their legislative representatives to learn more about what the freeze meant for them.

“In the meantime,” Beck wrote, “continue to do good work and offer support to each other.”

Melissa Hutsell from Cal Poly Humboldt’s communications department said they, too, were working to understand what the freeze would have done to their existing programs. The California State University announced yesterday that it would support the Attorney General Rob Bonta’s participation in a suit challenging the federal government’s aid freeze. 

An email sent by the university to students last night said Pell grants and federal work-study aid would continue unabated, at least until the federal judiciary ruled on the legality of the freeze. A federal judge temporarily blocked the order on Tuesday.

“News of these potentially sweeping changes is causing considerable anxiety and confusion, and rightly so, for Cal Poly Humboldt’s campus community members, especially our students—a significant number of whom rely on federal funding to pursue their education at Humboldt,” reads the email in part. 

First 5 Humboldt, a local organization that funds child-focused health programs, said in a press release that the freeze could have affected many important programs that benefit hundreds of local families. 

Mary Ann Hansen, executive director of First 5 Humboldt, said, “We are deeply concerned about a pause on any services that provide direct or indirect benefits to young children and their families. Dozens of agencies and non-profits in Humboldt County provide critical supports, grounded in federal grants, to our youngest residents at the most vulnerable time in their development. We urge our federal representatives to take action to reduce uncertainty and keep services and supports intact, and we encourage the community to make their voices heard.”

According to the New York Times, Matthew J. Vaeth, the acting director for the Office of Management and Budget, notified federal agencies this morning that the Trump administration’s memo freezing aid had been “rescinded.”

Making sense of the alphabet soup of charges on a monthly power bill is challenge enough. But there’s a surprising cost baked into customers’ bills that doesn’t have its own line item.

A portion of each payment goes directly in the pockets of shareholders. Called a “return on equity,” the amount is meant to compensate investor-owned utilities for the risk of doing business. It pays back shareholders for their investment in the companies and helps utilities maintain a higher credit rating to attract better loan rates for future projects.

Each state’s utility regulator, including the California Public Utilities Commission, is responsible for determining these often double digit rates of return, which is a key part of utilities’ profits. Studies found that the shareholder rates regularly outpace a common economic benchmark, costing customers across the country as much as $7 billion annually. CalMatters examined these rates since 2020 and found they amount to hundreds of millions of dollars annually from California customers.

Approved rates of return in the state are hovering around 10%, more than double the rate for the benchmark, 10-year U.S. treasury bonds. Utilities can earn less than that if they do not meet performance targets, but California’s three major investor-owned utilities still earned hundreds of millions of dollars from return on equity in 2023. Critics call that excessive and say utilities are exaggerating the risks they face.

“Across all the utilities, we seem to be providing some rather generous rates,“ said David Rode, a Carnegie Mellon University professor who studies decision making in finance and utilities. “It’s easy to look at a single utility and go, ‘well this rate makes sense for this utility’ and miss the broader implications [but]… It’s kind of like missing the forest for the trees.”

Customers across the state are facing steep power bills from the state’s three main investor-owned power companies. Californians pay among the highest electricity rates in the country, the largest portions of which come from new hikes for wildfire mitigation and rooftop solar programs. PG&E bills in particular have risen several times in the last year alone, and ratepayers will see another increase after regulators voted to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open to address concerns over energy reliability during the shift to renewable sources.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an executive order last fall to address high energy bills, and the state Legislative Analyst’s Office released a report this month examining the state’s climate policies and residential electricity rates, which it found were increased by efforts to curb wildfires and global warming, among other factors.

Southern California Edison’s 2024 approved shareholder return rate was the highest among its Golden State peers at 10.75%, followed by PG&E at 10.7%, and San Diego Gas & Electric at 10.65%.

The utility commission’s preliminary decisions for return on equity rates this year, which have not been finalized, are all just above 10%. That’s comparable to the industry average, also about 10%.

Each company’s financial performance throughout the year determines whether they will achieve their full shareholder rate of return or even above it. But even a fraction of their approved shareholder rates represents millions of dollars from ratepayers. In 2023, for example. Southern California Edison collected $91 million out of a possible $198 million for shareholders (approved for 10.05%), PG&E collected more than $111 million out of a potential $125 million (approved for 10%), and San Diego Gas & Electric collected $41.9 million out of a possible $42 million (approved for 9.95%).

“A competitive return on equity is important to ensure that PG&E can continue to attract the level of investment needed to meet the energy needs of our hometowns,” PG&E spokesperson Mike Gazda said. “The state regulator determines that return on equity through an open, transparent and public process.

Gazda said the “vast majority” of that return is reinvested into PG&E. The company, he said, has cut expenses to customers through federal loans and grants, as well as “new technologies, improved processes, and renegotiated contracts.” He did not directly answer a question about whether lower shareholder returns would be part of the company’s future plans but said PG&E will work on bill affordability with regulators and policymakers.

The California Public Utilities Commission offices at the Edmund G. Pat Brown building in San Francisco on Jan. 28, 2022. The CPUC approves shareholder return rates billed directly to power customers. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

The shareholder rates as approved by the utility commission have outpaced those for the 10-year treasury bonds, which are often used as a benchmark by researchers because they track inflation and are considered riskless. Riskier businesses tend to earn returns above this, experts said. But Rode’s study and others found that utilities’ shareholder return rates are going up nationally, while the risk the industry faces doesn’t match that increase.

Treasury bond yields are part of the model the California Public Utilities Commission uses when setting these shareholder rates.

“Without capital market funding, necessary grid work would have to be funded immediately in part through the rates customers pay, and this would significantly raise those rates,” Jeff Monford, spokesperson for Southern California Edison, said. “Providing our investors with a competitive [return on equity] is crucial to the success of this model.”

CalMatters looked at California’s three main investor-owned utilities’ shareholder return rates and the average 10-year treasury bond yields from 2006 through November, including the utilities’ actual returns during that period through 2023, the most recent data available.

The average rates for such treasury bonds didn’t break 5% from 2006 through November. Only within the last year have any of California’s three major investor-owned utilities dipped below double digits. California’s gap between the shareholder and treasury rates has closed slightly since 2006, with shareholder rates for the three companies declining between less than 2 percentage points each. Treasury bond rates largely held steady during that period, with 10-year notes going from a yield of 4.53 percent to 4.18 percent.

Despite this dip, the dollar amount the state’s power companies are authorized to collect for shareholders has increased nearly every year as their customer bases grow and utilities add more costs that can be charged to customers.

One contributing factor nationwide, studies found, is that regulators often hesitate to approve shareholder rates below 10% and rarely take into consideration the gap between what utility shareholders earn and the treasury bond rates. Psychology comes into play here – 10 can feel like a substantial round number, and moving below that may feel like a large move.

And the companies regularly ask for more. Had regulators landed at PG&E’s request for 2023 – one percentage point above what was approved – the company would have been allowed to collect $12.5 million more. Southern California Edison requested the equivalent of about $9.4 million above what was later approved, and San Diego Gas & Electric requested the equivalent of $2.5 million more than what was later approved.

“The business is not meant to be risk free. If it’s risk free, give them treasury returns and go home early.”
— Janice Beecher, political science professor focused on utility economics, Michigan State University

Cal Advocates, the body responsible for advocating for ratepayers before the commission, often pushes back against these, requesting lower shareholder rates.

“We generally think they’ve been set a bit too high,” Michael Campbell, assistant deputy director of energy at Cal Advocates, said. “The utilities’ arguments of just how risky it is to be a utility in California and their ability to recover their costs from ratepayers is overstated.”

Rising costs are of particular concern for Californians, whose bills, especially under PG&E, have risen steadily because of wildfire response. A law passed in 2019 attempted to cushion some of that blow on ratepayers, prohibiting utilities from collecting for shareholders a return on the first $5 billion they collectively spend on wildfire safety measures.

“The business is not meant to be risk free,” said Janice Beecher, political science professor at Michigan State University who specializes in utility economics. “If it’s risk free, give them treasury returns and go home early.”

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

In loving memory of Gerald Howard
September 22, 1936 – October 31, 2024.

Gerald Floyd Howard, age 88, of Eureka, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2024. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, Gerald leaves behind a legacy of integrity, dedication, and unwavering commitment to family, work and country.

Born September 22, 1936 in Baker City, Oregon, Gerald grew up on a rural ranch with a strong work ethic and a desire to serve. He left home at the young age of 16 to forge his own path and later joined the military. He was a proud military veteran, serving his country with honor and dedication. His years of service in the army left an indelible mark and he continued to support his fellow veterans and military community long after his active duty ended.

After serving in the military, he relocated to Eureka in 1959 and found work initially in the lumber mills. His work journey led him to a job with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, to which he dedicated over 35 years in many different roles. He was known as a steadfast and hardworking member of the team. His career was marked by an unfailing commitment to his craft serving as a mentor, union steward and friend to many colleagues over the decades. He told stories of inspecting rail tunnels ahead of the train in southern Humboldt and holding multiple flairs to keep the rattlesnakes back. He really disliked snakes.

Gerald was also a dedicated weightlifter and a passionate competitor in Humboldt County. His dedication and commitment to strength and discipline kept him involved in the weightlifting community for many years where he earned the respect and admiration of his fellow athletes. His enthusiasm for the sport was inspiring and he continued to train well into his later years.

Gerald was an upstanding member of his community always lending a helping hand to those in need. His generosity, sense of humor and wisdom touched the lives of those around him.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Nita Howard; his children, Randy Howard, David Howard, Daniel Howard and Gina Schafer; and his eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren who were the light of his life. His love, guidance and strength will be missed but forever remembered.

Gerald rejoins his beloved parents, Floyd and Vernie Howard, his children Jerry Howard and Douglas Howard along with his sister Janet Smolich in eternal peace.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 15 at 1 p.m. in the Bay Room of the Wharfinger Building, 1 Marina Way, Eureka.

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

Stephen “Steve” Williams Phines
February 12, 1955 - September 29, 2024

Steve was born on February 12, 1955 in Inglewood of Los Angeles County to Lela “Ilene”(Brant) and William “Bill” Phines. Steve grew up with his younger brother, Gregory “Greg” Phines, in Huntington Beach and San Clemente, California. He also had an older half brother Barry Brant, whom he didn’t get to know and an older half sister, Deanna Cole, whom he became acquainted with later in life.

Steve was a lifelong musician and entrepreneur. He was skilled and knowledgeable in many arenas. He was very intelligent and witty. He could always make light of a situation with a good joke. Those who knew Steve would describe him as an extremely talented musician. Steve was a member of several bands throughout his lifetime. His very first band was comprised of his brother, Greg and his two friends Jeff Marklein and Michael Tinholme while living in San Clemente. He was naturally talented and could play by ear. He could play the piano, guitar, and pretty much any instrument he got his hands on. He was also a good singer. His favorite role in his bands was being the bassist and he rocked it too, or rather rumbled. Most recently, he was a member of the Triple Tones band of Humboldt County.

In 1973, after graduating from San Clemente high school, he enlisted in the American Air Forces, where he served as a jet mechanic. He was proud to be an Air Force veteran. Throughout his life, Steve owned several different businesses which included, but not limited to, electronic repair, vehicle maintenance & repair, guitar lessons, pool maintenance and other handyman work.

Steve was social and enjoyed the company of his friends and family, especially when there was good food involved. He always knew where to find the best pizza, bacon cheeseburgers and beer. He even mastered his own techniques on how to recreate his favorite menu items at home and he would have his kids critique it. He was also a wine and coffee connoisseur and with his wild enthusiasm and excitement, he would have his guests sample his latest finds as he would put on a record of some underrated band or artist to introduce their greatness. He also loved to watch movies and would have the best sound quality, meaning tons of different speakers and they would be upgraded often. Steve was a gadget man. He always had some cool little gizmos for everything, some of which he created himself.

Steve moved to Del Norte, then Humboldt County around 2009 and lived out the remainder of his years in Humboldt County as he wanted to be closer to his children. He bonded with his two children as adults with their shared love for food and music. He and his son, Eric shared the same passion for electronics and cars. They could spend hours discussing the specs of appliances, gadgets or vehicles. He taught his daughter how to play the electric guitar and he enjoyed debating with her on an array of topics and shared the backup research to strengthen his argument.

He is preceded in death by his parents Ilene and Bill Phines, his paternal grandparents Katheryn “Kay” (Williams) Phines and John Constantine Phines, and his maternal grandparents Fern (Davis) and Jesse Brant, his brother, Barry Brant, his nephew Lige Phines and his great nephew, Derek Phines.

He is survived by his brother, Greg Phines, his son, Eric Phines (Ariel), his daughter Melissa Phines (Arlen), his nephews: Matthew, Josh, and Gregory Phines, his grandchildren: Dominic, Cireyn, Melody, Melia, Aaron, and Perseus Phines, Azalea, Zayne, Dahlia, and Kalina Doolittle, great nephews and nieces: Micah, Gregory III, Jt, Savanna, and Jake Phines, and great great nephews and nieces Macklin, Atlas, and Isla Ruth.

Steve leaves behind with his legacy of music hundreds of friends, family bandmates and fans.

A celebration of life will be held at the Moose Lodge # 636 located at 4328 Campton Rd., Eureka, on Saturday, February 8, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be an open jam session. All who knew Steve are invited to join us in commemoration through music and food.

Evelyn Joyce (Throop) Adams
January 3, 1933 - January 20, 2025

Evelyn Joyce Adams passed away peacefully at Sequoia Springs Assisted Living surrounded by family. She was born in Maricopa, Calif. and was the youngest and last surviving child of Lewis and Lucia (Bowlden) Throop. She grew up in the Taft/Maricopa area attending local schools until her senior year. She graduated in 1951 from Technical High School in St. Cloud, Minnesota. At a local dance she met Clarence (Clancy) Adams. They were married in 1951 and spent the next 69 years together until his passing on March 4, 2020.

Their first home together was in San Luis Obispo, where Clancy was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1952 her first child, Richard, was born followed by her second child, Martin, two years later. In 1954 Clancy was transferred to the railroad in Roseville. Paul, her third son was born while living in Roseville completing her family of all boys.

She was a devoted wife and mother as well as a meticulous housekeeper. Her home was always “company ready.” In 1961 Clancy entered the California Highway Patrol Academy in Sacramento. Evelyn became both mother and father to three rambunctious boys during the week as Clancy was only home on the weekends. Upon Clancy’s graduation he accepted a position in Ventura and the family moved. In 1965, after a family vacation to Northern California, they decided it was time to get out of the city life and Clancy accepted a position with the CHP in Eureka. One last move for the family and Ferndale became their forever home.

After her sons were well in to school Evelyn took a bookkeeper positon at Dedini Appliance Store. After the store closed she went to work at Lentz Department Store. There she became lifelong friends with the owners Bernice Petersen, Polly and Dale Stemwedel.

Upon retirement she and Clancy traveled extensively in various campers, travel trailers and eventually a motorhome. When Dad’s eyesight failed, she became the driver of the six-speed diesel pickup pulling the trailer. They took an Amtrak train across the U.S. to Washington D.C. returning through Oklahoma and then back to California. They often traveled with their much loved friends Phoebe and Rex Bardin making several trips to Death Valley and Alaska, two of their most favorite places.

Evelyn was a member of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ferndale. She enjoyed gardening, reading and was a past volunteer hostess at the Ferndale Repertory Theatre.

Evelyn was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Ralph Throop, Harold Throop, Melvin Throop and her sister Elizabeth (Betty) Fergusen, her husband Clarence (Clancy) Adams and her daughter in law, Annette Adams.

She is survived by sons Richard (Jackie) Adams, Martin (Margaret) Adams, and Paul Adams, her grandchildren Josh (Kari) Adams, Adrianne Adams, Megan (Mike) Collenberg, Erin Adams-Wishneff, Allison (Jeff) Griffith, Damien (Brittney) Adams, Melissa (Steven) Melis, her great grandchildren Madilyn, Mallery, Clancy, Addison, Taylor, Hailey, Lane, Garret, Colin, Julianna and Ava, her godchild Stacie Molyneaux and daughters-in-law Vinci Adams, Kim Adams and Marie Adams.

Funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on February 8, 2025 at the Assumption Catholic Church, Ferndale. She will be laid to rest in the Ferndale Cemetery along with her beloved Clancy. Please join us for a luncheon to follow at the Ferndale City Hall. Donations in Evelyn’s memory can be made to the Ferndale Fire Department or a charity of your choice.

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