Lost Coast Outpost

THE ECONEWS REPORT: The Week Without Driving in the Rearview Mirror

The EcoNews Report / Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 10 a.m. / Environment

Photo: Matt Simmons

Approximately a third of U.S. residents are non-drivers. Some by choice, but many are physically incapable of driving or financially cannot afford to. The Week Without Driving is an annual campaign that encourages people, especially those who drive, to go a week without their car — use alternative methods, like public transit, walking, biking, or riding-sharing to meet their transportation needs — to see what life is like for non-drivers. The week highlights barriers to transportation and aims to promote better-designed transportation systems and infrastructure for everyone.

This year, Humboldt County Supervisor Natalie Arroyo attempted a week without driving. She joins hosts Tom Wheeler and Colin Fiske to discuss her experience and the work of local governments to make our transportation system better.

(VIDEO) HUMBOLDT OUTDOORS: Local Anti-Vietnam War Activists Recall the Largest Student Protest in Campus History

Isabella Vanderheiden / Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 8 a.m. / Activism , Humboldt Outdoors

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In today’s episode of Humboldt Outdoors, local documentarian Ray Olson takes us back to the anti-Vietnam War movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s — a period that sparked mass demonstrations and student strikes across the country, including the largest student protest ever held on the Humboldt State campus.

“In this very plaza, almost 60 years ago, 3,000 to 4,000 students and faculty gathered for the largest one-day political protest in the history of this campus, among the largest ever to occur in Humboldt County,” Olson explains in the video above. “At the time, this was known as Sequoia Plaza on the campus of what was then known as Humboldt State College. Today, we’re going to journey back to that charged moment in time … and meet some of the students who stood on this very ground and raised their voices against the Vietnam War.”

Olson speaks with some of the Humboldt State College students who “became the stewards of change” and led the local anti-war movement, including former state senator Wesley Chesbro, local author Katy Tahja and Zach Zwerdling, founder of the Zwerdling Law Firm.

Nationwide protests erupted in early 1970 after the United States invaded Cambodia, and increased dramatically after Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire at a Kent State University protest in Ohio, killing four students. The day after the shooting, Humboldt State students filled the Sequoia Theatre (what is now Van Duzer Theatre) to figure out how to take meaningful action.

Chesbro | Screenshot

“I remember that energy,” Chesbro recalls. “There was just a really powerful sense that we had to do something, that we couldn’t just sit by and watch. That led to a student body president Bill Richardson calling for a campus meeting … and it was packed. There was an hours-long discussion about what to do, and there was an agreement to call a rally for the next day to try to bring the student body together.”

“Not only were we very aware that we were at risk of being asked to go fight the war, but now the war was actually coming home and coming to us,” he added. “That was really the spark that began the discussion and a rapid series of events that led to the student strike at Humboldt State.”

The big protest took place on May 6, 1970. Click “play” on the video above for the full story.

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PREVIOUS HUMBOLDT OUTDOORS:

HUMBOLDT HISTORY: The Glory Days of Weott, and How They Were Brought to an Abrupt End

Harold Fisher / Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 7:30 a.m. / History

In 1930, this Weott couple took pride in both the new car and the milking cow. Pictured are Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Fisher of Weott Heights. Photo via the Humboldt Historian.

In its heyday (early 1930s), Weott was quite a community. It had three motels, two garages, three gas stations, two stores, three restaurants, two bars, a theatre, a barbershop, a meat market, and a church. The majority ofthe people were woodsmen — who made redwood ties, stakes and posts. There were tan-bark peelers, wood cutters, truckers and ranchers.

I can remember:

Walt Schelling, who had the big dance hall and apple orchard. He shipped apples to a dryer in Sebastopol.

Mac Willet, who had a grocery store with everything from chicken feed and barley to hard tack candy in the big glass containers on the counter. When the grocery bill was paid, the kids were allowed to reach in for a handful. What a treat!

The J.E. Johnson store, the largest mercantile store in the area. Customers would come in from Bull Creek, South Fork, McCann, Myers Flat and other outlying areas. The post office and groceries were downstairs and work clothes and shoes were upstairs. A soda fountain was added later. Ed and Agnes Johnson were always there to help the community.

The Loma Vista, which had the telephone switchboard, soda fountain, rooms upstairs, and the smallest bar on the North Coast. It had six stools and no tables. Ed Davis and his wife were the proprietors.

Bill Kerns’ Trucking, with trucks that were solid-tired Kleibers in the early days and later replaced with the Bulldog Macs. He did general trucking over the southern part of the county. His wife, Marge, still lives in Weott.

The Park Edge Auto Court, with small cottages made of redwood, situated against the large trees of the state park.

Monty’s Bar, the main stopping place for travelers from San Francisco to Eureka and a “hang-out” for a lot of the locals. One local character we all remember was Charley “Wildcat” Kenney. He was a large person with long fingernails and a big red beard. “Wildcat” spent summers on Grasshopper Lookout and winters in town. There were lots of other characters around. Troublemakers were not tolerated by Monty.

John, the Greek’s Cafe, the main eatery in town in those times, specializing in strong coffee and chicken fried steak.

Pesula’s garage, where anything you wanted done to your rig could be done. Sometimes the repairs might be crude, but they worked.

The meat market, where the kids would stand around with a long face and eventually be handed a weiner.

Jim Cara’s barbershop, where one could get a 35-cent haircut with a bit of brilliantine smeared on and feel ready for any Saturday night party.

The theatre brought folks to town from miles around. The Saturday night special found cars lined up on both sides of the main street (101 highway). Finally, the price of admission got up to 15 cents for kids and 35 cents for adults. A chance to run the projector put you in the elite class. There was always the once-in-awhile attraction of turning a couple of bats loose in the theatre and watching them fly up and down the light beam from screen to projector. This added interest to the picture on the screen.

There was the Burgess Shingle Mill, with the big steam engine puffing and blowing and running two head rigs. The wet redwood shingles tipped out, falling down the shoot to be packed into bundles. You wondered where some of those shingles would end up. This old mill kept bolt makers and truckers busy.

The schoolhouse on the hill had a little auditorium — restrooms downstairs, and two classrooms and library upstairs. Having the restrooms downstairs caused problems at times. The library was used more for disciplinary action than for reading. Each classroom had four grades: one through four and five through eight. A teacher, Elva Quarheim, was a favorite, along with Jim Marvel. His short after-lunch nap, with eyes closed and ears opened, had to be handled with caution by the students. The large steep stairs from the classrooms down to the ground was the fire escape. If the fire didn’t get you, the descent of the stairs would. This building is presently the American Legion Hall.

The waterworks at times was a hit-and-miss affair. Water would come from a creek on the mountain west of town, down under the Eel River, up the mountain east of town to the large redwood tank, back down on gravity flow, with the water hitting the downtown area with considerable force. How the old pipes, with their inner tube patches and clamps, held as well as they did was a miracle. But, oh boy, what wonderful tasting water from that pure creek.

The annual “go-round” with the road grader was always a big thing with the local kids who tagged along, right behind the grader, grabbing turned-up marbles, odd rocks and even now and then a coin.

Another annual event was the salmon run, deciding which big one we wanted and chasing after it up the riffles, usually going home empty-handed and wet. There was a nighttime venture or two at eeling. The old wooden boat, lantern and hook were all one needed.

In later years, most of this came to an end with the 1955 flood. Observing it from the hill above the town, you could see, as the water rose, buildings being pulled, like a car backing out into the street, out into the main current and swept down the highway into a log jam, or out into the river.

Weott is still surviving, but without that downtown spirit it used to have.

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The story above was originally printed in the March-April 1989 issue of the Humboldt Historian, a journal of the Humboldt County Historical Society. It is reprinted here with permission. The Humboldt County Historical Society is a nonprofit organization devoted to archiving, preserving and sharing Humboldt County’s rich history. You can become a member and receive a year’s worth of new issues of The Humboldt Historian at this link.

OBITUARY: Kaden Quinn Marinez, 2004-2025

LoCO Staff / Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 6:56 a.m. / Obits

In loving memory of Kaden Quinn Marinez, known by his loved ones as Peanut. Kaden set sail on his final journey on September 21, 2025. With Kaden’s departure we remember life lived with a tender heart and sense of adventure.

Kaden was born on June 22, 2004, in Fortuna. From the tiniest of kittens to the most loyal dog, Kaden had a special way with animals; they sensed his compassion, and they loved him in return. Kaden found his passion early in life and that passion was recently reignited. Kaden’s passion was fishing and being on the water. He spent countless days guided by the tides. For Kaden, fishing wasn’t just a passion but a way of life, a tradition and a deep connection to nature. Whether on a rushing river, the calm bay or his favorite fishing spot, he felt most at home with a line in the water and hope on the hook.

Known for his quiet strength, gentle smile and enduring patience, you would often hear Kaden ask, “do you need anything?” He was always willing to lend a hand. When presented with a difficult task he would say, “I’ll figure it out” and with determination, that is exactly what he did. Kaden was a storyteller, a teacher, and a man who understood that some of the best conversations happen without words with only the sound of waves to fill the compassionate silence.

Kaden returned home on September 21, 2025, while doing what gave him life — fishing. We are saddened by his passing but are brought peace in knowing he passed doing the one thing that fed his soul and filled his heart.

Kaden is survived by his parents, Monica and Robert Marinez, his sisters, Melissa Marinez and Vanessa James, his brother, Michael Mendiburu, his sister-in-law, Jenna Mendiburu, his brother-in-law, Jonathan James, his nieces and nephews, Henry, Emmett, Alliyah, Malachi and Jalyssa , his grandma, Dolores Aranda, his uncle, Thomas Aranda, his uncle, Ignacio Parra, aunt, Norma Parra along with Zack Kumrud and Jacob Adkins who were more like brothers than friends, with many more family and friends who Kaden made a lasting impression on.

Kaden was preceded in death by his brother Anthony Marinez, His grandfather, Faustino Aranda, and his Tata, Edward Lawrence.

As Kaden would have wanted, may we all find time to slow down, cast a line and appreciate the beauty in the quiet moments.

Kaden’s Celebration of life will be held at Old Growth Cellars on November 16, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. For further details regarding the celebration of life, please visit Kaden Marinez’ Celebration of Life Facebook page.

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

OBITUARY: Peggy Ann Radcliffe, 1937-2025

LoCO Staff / Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 6:56 a.m. / Obits

Peggy Ann Radcliffe
October 26, 1937 – October 26, 2025

It is with sad hearts we are announcing that our mom, Peggy Radcliffe, has left this life at Fortuna Rehabilitation on October 26, 2025. It is also a happy time knowing that she finally got to go home and see her Savior Jesus and be in His loving arms, free from the physical pain and heartaches she endured.

Peggy Ann Reed was born on October 26, 1937, in Oakdale, California, to Marjorie Harrison Reed and Clifford Andrew Reed. She attended Oakdale High School. She married Burse Ross Radcliffe Sr. on December 25, 1953.

Peggy and Burse had five children: Ross (Angie, Robbie), Robert (Derek, Marissa), Susan (Jamie, David), Danelle (Andrew, Jennifer, Jessica), and Michele (Richard, Janelle). Peggy loved her children with all her heart. She always taught them right from wrong and to work hard. She took us to Sunday School and church, swimming every summer, Disneyland, camping on the South Jetty, and too many places to name. Our mom always encouraged us in so many ways till the very end of her life.

Mom always enjoyed her work life. She worked as a school bus driver for the Southern Humboldt School District from 1966 to 1976. She owned and operated a tourist business called “The Squirrel” in the summertime when public school released for the summer. This had been a public school bus that had been in an accident with the roof crushed in. It was painted a beautiful bright red with a painting of a squirrel on a panel on each side of the bus. The top of the bus was clear plexiglass so that the passengers could see the giant redwoods. The Squirrel picked up riders from the Benbow Inn and other stops in Garberville and Redway. The Squirrel bus would wind its way up the Avenue of the Giants, stopping along the way at gift shops and Founders Grove, where we all took the 20-minute trail. Then everyone had lunch at the Scotia Coffee Shop and toured the Scotia Mill, then wound back down the freeway, stopping at Rockefeller Forest. The folks that rode were always so amazed that Peggy could get the bus down through the redwood trees to the parking lot at Rockefeller Forest. It was a very tight squeeze for a bus.

Our mom drove the bus, and her good friend and coworker from school bus driving, Peggy Etcheverry, narrated the entire trip. Many of our cousins and friends got to ride along with us, and they now talk about how riding The Squirrel is one of their best memories growing up.

She worked for Harold Mendes at Mendes Shopping Center as a cashier and meat wrapper. She also worked as a motel maid for Mrs. Scown in Garberville. She never felt too proud to do any work and told her children, “Your labor is for hire, not your pride.” She often lived by the Bible verse, “Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord.”

She worked for Community Cornerstone in Redway, driving their folks. She drove the senior bus in Redway that was called the Quail Bus. She learned how to drive a truck and got her Class A driver’s license. Peggy and her husband Burse had a good time driving a lumber truck owned by Burse’s brother Reggie and his wife, Jackie Radcliffe.

Peggy’s house was often filled with people and laughter and love. She had music parties. She played her 12-string guitar with her friends Neil and Murray, who brought their guitars and mandolin. Many people came to these music parties. It was a lot of fun.

Peggy loved all her grandchildren very much. She went to all their games and events when they were growing up. When the grandkids got into high school, she supported them more by working at Humboldt Transit Authority as a bus driver to help pay for their tuition at Canyonville Bible Academy in Oregon. She got up very early to work at this job. Peggy was proud to be a transit driver and enjoyed that job and her coworkers.

Peggy did volunteer work at CASA of Humboldt. She was a member of NAMI. She was always trying to educate herself. She took college classes and was always reading a book. Peggy had many interests in life and enjoyed her life very much.

I realized writing this that I would have a hard time including all the many things she did during her life. She took a trip to the San Diego Zoo with her very good friend Cynthia Winters. My mom enjoyed her friendship with Cynthia and had lots of good conversations and fun times. Peggy’s other lifelong friend was Ruby Huck. They walked together almost every day for many years.

The most important thing to her was her children and grandchildren! She really didn’t waste a minute in her life! She planned many family reunions and get-togethers through the years. My mom enjoyed her times with her sister Shirley and brother-in-law Douglas Low, and loved her sister Andrea and her husband Al Kennemer very much. She loved going to Al’s truck terminal and that whole truck driving world.

I know she would want me to express also how much she appreciated Jackie and Reggie Radcliffe. After her husband Burse’s passing, they came almost every evening and kept her company. They did this for many months. Mom also enjoyed a special visit from her Texas niece, Exene Hadley, a few years ago. They went to Shelter Cove and had a good time. She loved all of her nieces and nephews very much.

Peggy moved to Fortuna 15 years ago. She found a home at the Fortuna Church of the Nazarene and especially loved the ladies from the Thursday Ladies Group. She found love and acceptance and healing with these ladies and her special friend Lucinda. Mom also loved the ladies at the Rohnerville Assembly of God Church and attended there for a time.

Peggy gave to many charities her whole life, the first being a quarter that her grandfather gave her as a young child when she was 9 years old to go to the movies, but she instead took it across the street and gave it to the Salvation Army. Her grandfather was unhappy with her for doing this. She always did what she thought was right, and if other people didn’t like it, she didn’t lose any sleep over it.

As a school bus driver in Southern Humboldt, when asked by some members of the community to not pick up the children of the “back-to-the-land folks” who had moved with their parents to the area, she responded by going to the school board meeting that was discussing this issue, where people were up in arms about these children. Peggy stood up and said, “I am required by law to pick up all children, and that is what I’m going to do.” Well, that settled it!

She never liked anybody being treated any different from other people and would always take up for people who were being treated in a mean way. Her niece Kim Faddler said that her Aunt Peggy was an inspiration for her becoming a firefighter. Kim said when she was young and saw the things my mom did, such as taking jobs that were not traditionally held by women, it gave her the inspiration to become a firewoman. She was an inspiration to us all to do what was right, to work hard, to do your best, to not make fun of anyone, and to be a help to someone else who is in need.

Mom supported Wounded Warriors, Mountain of Mercy Drug Rehabilitation in Honeydew, Operation Christmas Shoebox, and many other organizations. She was married to Burse Radcliffe for 42 years. They made a good home for their children with many happy memories. They got to enjoy a lot of things together — their family, their friends, music concerts — and they mostly seemed to just enjoy drinking coffee together at the kitchen table, having conversation.

Mom enjoyed her special times with her niece Marjean and her husband Alan Streeper, and nephew Chuck Low, and niece Jennifer Low. These cousins from Sacramento helped her through some hard times, and they had lots of good times together also. She also loved her nieces Lori McDonald and Kym Faddler very much. She was so proud of you girls, and she was so happy and touched that you came to visit her recently.

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband Burse, son Ross, and grandson Robbie; brother Clifford Reed; brother-in-law Lowell and wife Lorraine Radcliffe; brother-in-law Reggie Radcliffe; brother-in-law Bill Lillie and wife Beverly Lillie and their son Bill Jr.; sister-in-law Faye and husband Rufus Lee; and sister-in-law Barbara Blake.

Mom leaves behind her children and grandchildren and their partners: son Robert and granddaughter Marissa; daughters Susan (Paul), Danelle, and Michelle. Grandchildren Angie, Marissa, Jamie and David, Andrew, Jennifer and Jessica, Richard and Janelle. Great-grandchildren Leanna, Devin, Adriana and Jocelyn, Cole, Finnegan, Clover, Emerson, and Parker Burse. She also leaves behind sister-in-law Wilma Reed.

Mom’s good friends were Ruby and Gus Huck, Cynthia Winter, Churratha Fulmer, Dick Hardy, Rhonda Hardy-Jewett, Doyle Womack, and Sandra Harmon. Mom often said Della Womack was a good neighbor. If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me.

A LIFE WELL LIVED

Burial arrangements made by Goble’s Chapel in Fortuna. A funeral service will be held Friday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. at the Fortuna Nazarene Church, 1355 Ross Hill Road. Pastor Nicole Johnson will officiate. There will be a meal at the Nazarene Church afterward. You are welcome to bring a side dish. Please come and share a memory of Peggy Radcliffe.

Weather permitting, there will be a graveside service the next day at 11 a.m. at the Briceland Cemetery. Pastor Bruce Willis will officiate.

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

The C Street Bicycle Boulevard is Taking Shape! Work Next Week Will Introduce New One-Way Stretches of the Street and Do Away With Some Four-Way Intersections

LoCO Staff / Friday, Oct. 17 @ 3:47 p.m. / Infrastructure

This is a schematic of how the intersections at 14th and Buhne will work. Don’t worry, it’ll make sense! Graphic: City of Eureka.

Press release from the City of Eureka:

As part of the C Street Bicycle Boulevard project, the City of Eureka will soon introduce four new one- way intersections. The new one-way intersections will be on C Street at the 7th, 14th, Buhne, and Harris Street intersections. These four intersections will prohibit certain directional traffic depending on the C Street entry points, as described in more detail below.

When traveling south on C Street from Old Town, the first one-way conversion will occur at the intersection of 7th Street. Vehicular traffic will be prohibited from proceeding southbound on C and will be directed to turn left towards Myrtle on 7th Street. Additionally, vehicles traveling east on 7th Street will no longer be able to turn right (southbound) on C Street.

At the intersections of C and 14th Streets and C and Buhne Streets, motorists will be prohibited from turning onto C Street in either direction. At these intersections, C Street motorists will be directed to turn right or left off of C Street. Newly installed rapid flashing beacons will help pedestrians and bicyclist navigate these intersections safely.

At the C and Harris Street intersection, vehicular traffic traveling east on Harris will no longer be able to turn left on C Street towards Henderson Center. Northbound C Street traffic will be prohibited from proceeding north on C and will be directed to turn right on Harris Street.

New street signage will instruct pedestrians and motorists how to navigate these new changes. The City will also install new traffic rated planter boxes at these intersections to discourage wrong way travel on C Street. Local access for residents will be maintained.

The main goal of the C Street Bicycle Boulevard is to create a safe, low stress environment by reducing vehicle volume and speeds, making C Street a more comfortable space for all modes of transportation.

Please direct any questions to the City of Eureka’s Engineering Department at engineering@eurekaca.gov or (707) 441-4194.

Here’s Why Some Arcata High Students Walked Out of Class Today

LoCO Staff / Friday, Oct. 17 @ 12:21 p.m. / Activism

File photo.

The internet is abuzz today, as a newsletter from Arcata High Principal Kristin Ferderber and mailed to the AHS community recently makes the rounds.

Some Arcata High students walked out of class today, in protest of the actions described and also because they believe the newsletter was written by AI.

Here’s the relevant text from the newsletter.

The past two weeks have been a time of both challenge and reflection for our school. Recent events—including an incident at our Homecoming Dance where non-AHS students gained unauthorized entry, brought alcohol onto campus, and used abusive and racist language toward staff—have underscored the importance of our collective commitment to safety, respect, and belonging for every member of our community.

In a charged moment at a recent football game, I made a serious mistake:

I repeated the racial slur that was directed at me by a non-AHS student, intending to convey the gravity of the situation to a colleague. Regardless of my intent, repeating that word was wrong. As your principal, I recognize my actions caused pain, especially for our Black students, families, and staff. The impact of hearing such language from me, in any context, is significant and hurtful, and I take full responsibility for that.

These incidents have brought to light not only the need for vigilance in maintaining a safe and secure environment at all school events, but also the importance of modeling integrity and care in every interaction. I am committed to making sure our campus is a place where all students feel safe, respected, and valued—free from fear, disrespect, or exclusion.

Moving forward, we are taking immediate steps to strengthen campus safety and event supervision, including a review of our entry protocols. I am also committed to ongoing personal growth, listening to our community, and participating in the healing process necessary to restore trust.

I am deeply sorry for my actions and their impact. I promise that word will never be repeated by me. I am here to listen, to learn, and to work with you to build a stronger, safer Arcata High School for all.

Thank you to those who have shared their experiences and perspectives with honesty and courage. Your voices are essential as we move forward together.

With respect and commitment,

Kristin Ferderber
Principal, Arcata High School

THE ECONEWS REPORT: The Week Without Driving in the Rearview Mirror

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