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In the City of Blue Lake’s ongoing game of musical chairs, Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart appears likely to be replaced tonight, at a special city council meeting, by Jill Duffy, a former Fifth District Humboldt County supervisor who spent 10 years as executive director of the Humboldt Waste Management Authority, followed by a stint as interim general manager of the Humboldt County Fair Association. 

Duffy addresses the Board of Supervisors in 2023.

The agenda for tonight’s special meeting includes just one item, aside from public comment and ceremonial matters such as reciting the Pledge. That item: “Consider Appointment of Jill Duffy as Interim City Manager and Approve Employment Agreement.”

That agreement has already been drafted and is included in the council’s agenda packet. Last week’s regular meeting of the council included a closed session agenda item labeled “PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT” and another labeled “PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EVALUATION” for the acting city manager, Burkhart. However, there was no action reported out of that closed session hearing. When the Outpost followed up with Mayor John Sawatzky by phone he reiterated that no reportable action had been taken.

Burkhart, you may recall, was appointed to the acting city manager position just six weeks ago following the abrupt departure of longtime City Manager Amanda “Mandy” Mager. That decision was announced publicly as a mutual parting of ways, though much of the new council majority was elected this past November on a wave of anti-Mager sentiment. 

Former Blue Lake City Councilmember Chris Firor, a Mager supporter, missed several meetings in a row and then unexpectedly resigned in May. He was replaced at last week’s council meeting by retired public school educator Terri Bayles, whom the council selected instead of fellow applicant Adelene Jones, the city’s longtime mayor who lost re-election in November via a tiebreaker.

Burkhart declined to comment for this story. A phone call and text to Duffy was not immediately returned. 

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Press release from Six Rivers National Forest:

Size: 21,045

Percent contained: 47%

Personnel: 1,760

YESTERDAY – From Butler Flat through the Forks of Salmon, firefighters pushed forward, removing hazard trees and debris from roadways. Additional work progressed at Sawyer’s Bar Road, with more mop-up activity occurring near Cecilville Road. Near Knownothing Creek, the fire’s edge held well up to the western ridge at the10N07 Road. Crews monitored and patrolled the remaining unsecured fire edge to the west that is extremely challenging to access; however, fire behavior was minimal.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office reported that portions of Salmon River Road to Crapo Creek Trail Road reopened, thanks to the incredible work of fire crews and county roads teams clearing debris and hazard trees. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and aware of hazards and is cautioned that travel delays can still be expected intermittently.

TODAY – With increased containment along the northern and eastern flanks of the fire, many firefighting resources have been shifted south, primarily along the southwestern edge of the fire. This area remains uncontained but is showing minimal activity in steep terrain that is difficult to access. Firefighting personnel are maintaining a constant state of readiness and are prepared to quickly respond to any new fire starts on both the Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests.

Cultural resource advisors have been instrumental in the development of daily operations on the Butler Fire. Incident managers rely heavily on these advisors to provide critical information about land use history, potential and existing cultural sites, and other considerations needed to ensure the cultural integrity of the land.

WEATHER — The warming and drying trend will peak today, creating more instability than in the last few days. Along with this pattern, the potential for new starts from lightning exists. Close attention is being paid to a Fire Weather Watch already in effect for Wednesday afternoon for much of the area. Humidity recoveries are expected to be good during nighttime hours, moderating fire behavior and helping mitigate major spread from both existing fire and new starts alike.

EVACUATIONS:

There are evacuation orders and warnings in the immediate vicinity of the fire. For current evacuation status, visit www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff and www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountyOES. Additional evacuation information and a map can be found on the Genasys site at https://protect.genasys.com/search?z=14&latlon=41.550694%2C-122.905589

CLOSURES:

An official forest closure around the Orleans Complex went into effect on July 16th. Hikers are not permitted and will be asked to leave the area. For details and a map of the closure area, please visit

https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/nfs/files/r05/klamath/publication/alerts/SRF%2010-25-09%20KNF%2025-05-10%20Butler%20Closure%20Order%20%28AC%29%20Memo.pdf

FIRE RESTRICTIONS:

Forest fire restrictions are currently in effect. Please visit the local forest pages for more information: Klamath National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/alerts and Six Rivers National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sixrivers/alerts.

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Natalie R. Turner passed away April 30, 2025, after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

The youngest of five children, Natalie was born in September 1964 to Vern and Jean Sedersten of Burnt Ranch, California. The family moved to Eureka, where Natalie attended school, after the flood. Natalie held many jobs over the years, preferring to follow a non-traditional path, reflecting a curious and searching soul.

The first word that comes to mind when thinking about Natalie is stubborn! When she had an idea about how something should be done, there was no way talking her out of it or changing her mind. But the next, and much more important, way to describe my mom would be selfless. She cared so deeply about the people in her life, both family and friends. There was nothing you could ask of her that Natalie wouldn’t bend heaven and Earth to accomplish. This was her greatest strength. She put the needs of others above hers until her last breath. Her generosity will be severely missed.

The greatest joy of Natalie’s life was being a grandmother. She poured her heart and soul into spoiling her grandchildren. Taking them on adventures during the summer and school breaks, and always magically having McDonald’s money she never seemed to have while raising her own kids. Isn’t that usually how it goes!

Natalie was also an excellent baker and could often be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. Her unofficial job for the holidays and family gatherings was dessert-making, specifically pie. Her pie crust recipe was perfection and she knew it by heart. Thanksgiving will forever taste a little different and birthdays will seem a little less special without the inevitable question, “What kind of pie do you want for your birthday?” — even though she always knew the answer.

Natalie also had a passion for jam-making, which she learned from her mother. She spent hours every summer picking berries in all of her secret spots, often dragging my brother, cousins, and I along. We always complained about the task but were happy to help eat the spoils of our hard work. Once the buckets of berries were picked and cleaned, days and sometimes weeks would be spent making jam and jelly. Every countertop in the kitchen, and usually the dining table, would be covered in jam jars. Her remaining jars will be cherished forever.

Natalie is preceded in death by her parents Lavern and Ganeva (Swan) Sedersten. Natalie is survived by her children Miranda Beadle (Kyle McCracken) and Shane Turner (Candy Claus), grandchildren William, Elliana, and Dashiell Beadle, River, Sky, and Troy Turner, and Madden Wenworth, and siblings Karen Babcock (Tom), Darrell Sedersten (Dana), Julie Clendenny, and Susan Wentworth, and several nieces and nephews whom she thought of as her own.

The family is beyond grateful for the exemplary care Natalie received over the last few years from the oncology departments at Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital and California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.

Services will be held at the Trinidad Cemetery on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at noon with a small gathering afterward in McKinleyville.

Paul McEwen III
April 29, 1962 – July 21, 2025

Paul lived in Humboldt County for 61 years. His family goes back generations in the area. He was born to Paul McEwen and Pamela Pelland McEwen.

Paul is survived by his children: April Bennett, Yvonne McEwen and son Paul McEwen IV; his mother, Pam; sister Becky McEwen Williams; and brother John. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul, and good friend Tammy.

Paul loved Humboldt County, rarely leaving it. He wrote many poems about the area. His poems were amazing. He was a logger, worked in the hay and collected rocks.

He leaves behind many friends: Robin, Randy Jr. and Linda Martin Church, Margie, Anthony, and many more.

Paul loved the Eel River and lived on it for several years. He will be missed by many, and especially by his dog, Good Dog. If you knew Paul, you knew Good Dog.

Representatives from Schatz Energy Research Center and the Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) addressed a public meeting in Arcata last Wednesday to quell fears and answer questions about energy storage facilities. 

Energy storage facilities, as the name implies, stores energy harnessed by energy generators like wind or solar and then puts it into the grid when needed, e.g. if a lot of people are using electricity at once or when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. 

The meeting was attended by around 80 people, filled out by both skeptics and supporters, as well as dozens of the merely curious. Energy storage is a contentious topic; last month, Blue Lake’s city council killed its agreement with a Texas-based energy developer to turn an old power plant into a lithium-iron-phosphate storage facility. Some Blue Lake residents had criticized the project for its potentially damaging environmental effects, as well as the risk of fire, a subject the RCEA representatives and attendees spent a fair amount of time talking about.

It’s a reasonable concern, said the representatives, who included Power Resources Director Rich Engel and RCEA board member/Humboldt County Supervisor Natalie Arroyo. January’s Moss Landing Fire damaged over 50,000 lithium-ion batteries at the facility, and forced 1,500 people to evacuate. It was a preventable incident, the speakers said, caused by insufficient barriers between battery cells and the “lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide” batteries, more prone to thermal runaway — a cycle between energy and temperature where each variable increasing forces the other one to do the same with no stopping point. Better safety standards make a repeat of the fire less likely. 

There are hundreds of battery storage facilities around California that contain over 13,000 megawatts of energy every year, and 20.6 of those are being stored in lithium-ion batteries in Humboldt. There’s a small microgrid for the Arcata-Eureka Airport that has a battery capacity of 2.2 megawatts, and an almost-finished solar panel farm near Arcata has its own battery storage big enough to hold 2.5 megawatts. RCEA has also installed solar and battery systems at 16 remote fire stations and are planning more for housing for elderly tribal members and public facilities. 

The presenters stressed that most battery storage facilities are safe and effective, though the concerns are real.

“There are risks of being on the bleeding edge of innovation,” Engel said. 

PREVIOUSLY:

• Wanted Felon Shot Dead Near Blue Lake in Standoff With Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies, Agency Reports

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is providing an update on the officer-involved shooting that occurred on July 26, 2025, in the Glendale community.

The deceased has been identified as Jared Randell Nelson, 35, of Eureka, California. Mr. Nelson was pronounced deceased upon arrival at a local hospital.

Prior to the incident, HCSO deputies were in the area of the 1300 block of Glendale Drive attempting to locate Mr. Nelson, who was wanted on multiple charges. These included active arrest warrants for felon in possession of a firearm, probation violation, and an out-of-county warrant. Additionally, Mr. Nelson was reportedly involved in a prior incident involving the brandishing of a firearm.

Following a foot pursuit, Mr. Nelson discharged a .45 caliber handgun at pursuing deputies. The firearm was recovered at the scene. In accordance with standard protocol, three HCSO deputies involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

This remains an active investigation, and further details will be released as appropriate. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the HCSO at (707) 445-7251.

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At Hospice of Humboldt, memories are everywhere. Just look around as you walk through the organization’s tranquil property, nestled up against the McKay Community Forest on the outskirts of Eureka, and you’ll find evidence of them. 

Look down as you walk the meandering “Heart of Hospice” path and you’ll see engraved bricks bearing the names of loved ones whose final weeks and months were eased through the end-of-life care provided by the physicians, nurses, social workers, home health aides and volunteers who work in the facility and spread out to serve people all over the community.

Keep looking and you’ll find more names. They’re on the redwood benches by the meditation labyrinth, on plaques tucked into blooming flowerbeds and on signs outside the property’s three buildings, a chapel, the administrative building and the inpatient Hospice House, where the terminally ill have access to care around the clock. 

These memorial engravings serve to honor departed loved ones, and for Hospice of Humboldt they’re also a vital part of the fundraising necessary to provide a broad range of services, including not just hospice care (reserved for patients who’ve been given a diagnosis of six months or less to live) but also palliative care (for patients given a year or less to live), spiritual care, social work and up to 13 months of grief support for anyone in the community mourning the death of a loved one.

CEO Dianne Keating has a sense of humor about the fundraising. On a recent tour of the grounds she quipped, “Everything is for sale, so if something catches your eye, just let us know.”

Tia Baratelle, the organization’s director of development, leads these fundraising efforts, and as we entered the chapel, with its floor-to-ceiling views of the redwood forest, she said the offer is legit. “I’ll sell anything. You can put your name on my door.”

“She sells redwood trees,” Keating said with a laugh. The engravings aren’t limited to departed friends and relatives. Some people buy them just to support the organization. Baratelle purchased one in honor of her dog after it passed away.

Such enthusiastic fundraising has allowed Hospice of Humboldt to take meaningful strides in expanding care in recent years. Founded in 1979, the nonprofit moved to its current, much larger location near Redwood Acres in 2015, and the Hospice House opened a year later. A palliative care program was launched in 2022, allowing medical care providers and social workers to deliver a range of services to patients wherever they’re living in the community.

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Just last week, the Hospice House doubled its capacity from six beds to 12. Keating explained that the facility has always been licensed to house 12 live-in patients but hiring enough licensed clinicians to staff that many beds proved challenging. (This is a common problem across Northern California and rural communities throughout the country.)

“It’s really rare for a hospice agency to have a Hospice House, especially in a rural setting like ours because of the financial drain on the organization,” Keating said. (The organization budgets to lose almost a million dollars per year operating the Hospice House.) “But our board knew that going in, and it really completed our mission. And we just felt that’s what we needed to do.”

The mission to build the Hospice House was led by former Executive Director Marylee Bytheriver, who died in 2015. The house offers three levels of care, including respite for caregivers and family members who need a break from the often exhausting demands of providing end-of-life care.

“Before the Hospice House was here the only option people had was the hospital,” Baratelle said. “And people want to stay out of the hospital at the end of life. They don’t want to be there. So it’s amazing that we have this option.”

As the tour progressed into the main building we came to a spacious room with an area for kids to play, a big table for group meals and a large stone fireplace. There’s also a full kitchen, and with the house open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Keating said families can come and go as they wish and even spend the night with their loved ones. 

“We really encourage them to use the house as they would their own,” she said. “I mean, we’ve had Super Bowl parties and Christmas parties with families in the living room, Thanksgiving dinners in the dining room — it’s amazing.”

Each of the house’s 12 beds are in private rooms, each with its own bathroom. Most have patios that open to the manicured outdoor grounds. Some families have brought grills to have a patio barbecue with their loved one. During the COVID pandemic, when some people were dying alone in hospitals, patients at the Hospice House could receive visits from loved ones, one at a time.

“It was just such a gift, really, to the family,” Keating said.

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Through a fundraising effort called the Compassionate Growth Campaign, Hospice of Humboldt was able to raise $750,000, enough to recruit another team of caregivers and double the capacity of the Hospice House. 

“We’re very fortunate in Humboldt County,” Keating said. “We’ve been here for so long and we’re so well respected by our referral sources. …  We couldn’t do it without the donors. I mean, operations lose money every year, but the donor support helps fill the gaps.”

“Our community shows up and is generous,” Baratelle agreed.

Dr. Knoll

Hospice of Humboldt recently hired a new full-time medical director, Dr. Charlie Knoll, who said he’s excited to expand access “to help more people get the care they deserve, whether at home or at the Hospice House.”

With a staff of around 111 people, with a similar number of volunteers, Hospice of Humboldt currently serves about 190 patients, with about 110 in hospice care and the other 80 or so in palliative care. 

While that program started just three years ago, it’s already “remarkably successful” due to the large need in the community, Keating said. Designed to help people who aren’t ready for hospice but still have a life-limiting illness, the palliative care program helps patients navigate the often challenging local health care system while building relationships and discussing end-of-life goals.

“This year we are trying to actually double the capacity of that program, because the need is so great in our community that we just can’t, we can’t serve the need,” Baratelle said. “I mean, as you can imagine, there’s a lot of people who need help coordinating their care, who are seriously ill, which impacts the entire family around them. Even the most resourced people reach out to us in crisis, like, ‘What do I do?’”

Roughly 85 percent of Hospice of Humboldt’s patients have Medicare while about 10 percent have insurance through Medi-Cal or Partnership HealthPlan, with a smattering of people with private insurance or none at all. But nobody is ever turned away for an inability to pay. There’s a sliding scale payment structure, and some patients are unhoused. Baratelle said staff will serve people wherever they call home. 

“We’ve served people in shipping containers with no running water and no electricity,” she said. “Our staff are incredible.”

As with the Hospice House, the palliative care program is not a money-maker. There’s very little reimbursement available for palliative care through Medicare or insurance, so the program is “at best break-even for us,” Keating said.

Regardless, fundraising efforts are currently underway in hopes of bringing in another team of caregivers and doubling the palliative care program’s capacity by next year. 

President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” could upend Medicare reimbursement and lead to instability in health care coverage among underserved patients in particular, according to hospice industry professionals, though much of the changes aren’t scheduled to take effect until 2027. 

Funding challenges aside, though, Keating said hospice care is what the entire health care industry should be, with a whole team working holistically and gathering at least once a week to discuss their patients’ needs and goals. Often, they’re able to make last wishes come true. 

This past December, for example, staff organized a surprise visit from Santa Claus for a four-year-old girl whose firefighter father was receiving end-of-life care at the Hospice House.

Another patient’s dying wish was to marry her longtime partner so she’d have his last name on her death certificate. She was too sick to leave the Hospice House, so a social worker and chaplain traveled around the county, securing a marriage license, a wedding dress from The Hospice Shop thrift store in Arcata and helping friends and family gather flowers and decorations. The woman was just 57 years old, and she died six days after the outdoor wedding ceremony. But she did so knowing her wish had come true.

Keating’s own father died in the Hospice House a few years ago. “And it was just so interesting to be on the other side of that, you know, being a daughter and being supported by the team,” she said. “And it was just like, ‘I’m so glad I work here! This is why I work here!”

The tour came to an end behind the Hospice House, where a gurgling outdoor fountain stands at the head of a long, narrow expanse of round rocks that wends through the forest like a riverbed. Keating explained that each rock represents a past patient of the Hospice House. 

“Our team meets weekly to talk about patients and the patients that have passed away,” she said. “They take a stone, and staff shares what was memorable about that patient and family. And then once a year we take all the stones and put them on the Stream of Blessings in the back.”

The rock path meanders through the underbrush and into the distance.

Keating and Baratelle said they and the rest of the staff are proud of the recent expansion and eagerly looking forward to serving more people in the palliative care program.

“It’s going to be another heavy lift [financially],” Baratelle said, “but it’s what our community needs.”

Anyone interested in supporting Hospice of Humboldt can visit the donation page on its website. Those interested in joining the team of staff and volunteers can visit the “Join Our Team” page.