From the Fortuna Police Department’s Facebook page:

On February 28, 2024 at approximately 8:25 am Fortuna Police Officers responded to Fortuna Union High School to assist the California Highway Patrol at the school. Initial reports were that a person of interest in a CHP investigation involving an earlier collision was last seen entering the school campus.

Upon arrival Fortuna Police Department Officers learned the school had been placed in a precautionary lockdown until further information could be gathered. It was quickly determined that was no threat to students or staff and the lockdown was lifted. The majority of the police presence was cleared from the school campus and California Highway Patrol continued their investigation. All inquiries into the California Highway Patrol’s investigation should be directed to their agency.

All public safety agencies place a very high priority on the safety of our schools. Fortuna Police Department would like to thank allied agencies for their quick response and offers of assistance.

California offers extensive pregnancy benefits to low-income mothers, but the state’s top health agencies have no way of knowing how many people are getting help or whether the program improves the health of moms and babies, a new report from the California State Auditor asserts.

The audit’s findings come at a time when California is grappling with increasing rates of maternal mortality, persistent disparities for Black women and growing maternity care deserts. In 2020, the state reported the highest rate of maternal mortality in a decade, and Black women were three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than others.

Despite statewide efforts to reverse those trends in recent years, the departments of Health Care Services and Public Health fail to monitor one of the longest-standing pregnancy programs for moms and babies, the audit found. The departments have not made any significant improvements to the program since its establishment in 1984, the audit said.

“We found that neither Health Care Services nor Public Health provide the perinatal program with sufficient oversight,” State Auditor Grant Parks wrote in a letter to lawmakers.

Medi-Cal is the state’s public health insurance program for extremely low-income residents. It pays for roughly 40% of all births in California. Parents and pregnant patients on Medi-Cal die from complications at a rate 3.7 times higher than those with private insurance, according to state data. Babies with Medi-Cal are the most likely to be born with a low birth weight, a predictor for other health complications later in life.

In a joint statement to CalMatters, health care services Director Michelle Baass and state Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón said the agencies would work together to address the audit findings. They plan to conduct regular reviews of Medi-Cal providers that include audits and enforcement actions. They also plan to update informational material outlining pregnancy benefits.

“It is our collective responsibility to hold each other accountable while raising the standard higher to ensure that pregnant individuals in the Medi-Cal program have timely access to quality, equitable maternal health care services,” the statement said.

Under the state’s Comprehensive Perinatal Care Program, Medi-Cal members are eligible to receive health education, nutrition counseling, psychosocial services, prenatal vitamins, referrals to other social services and an individualized care plan.

Early assessments of the program conducted in the 1980s and 1990s showed a significant decrease in low-birth weight babies among those who received services. Today, auditors found, the state is not collecting sufficient data to assess how many people are using services or whether the program is helping vulnerable patients.

The number of babies born too small in California has grown slightly in the past 10 years to about 7.3% of all births, auditors noted, although the state still has fewer low-birth weight babies than the national rate of 8.5%.

Data limitations were so significant that the State Auditor’s office could not complete its assessment of how many eligible patients received benefits statewide. Data was only available for 14% of the roughly 14 million Medi-Cal enrollees.

The audit also found that the agencies have conducted very little oversight of the doctors, health departments and insurers that administer benefits in each county. Instead, the state has relied on “voluntary local oversight” and general compliance investigations that do not specifically address maternity care. The Medi-Cal member handbook also fails to notify enrollees about pregnancy-related benefits.

The audit warned that without state intervention, the problems would continue.

“Medi‑Cal members may not seek available services because they are unaware of the perinatal program, which, in turn, increases the likelihood of poor maternal and infant health outcomes,” the audit said.

In the joint statement, Baass said the Health Care Services department plans to also publish a Birthing Care Pathway report this summer that will have policy recommendations on how the state can “effectively reduce maternal morbidity and mortality and address racial and ethnic disparities.”

###

Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

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

Drew Spencer Rotermund, 77, passed away on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at his home in Bayside.

Drew was born on September 10, 1946, in Akron, Ohio to Rod and Marian (Deitz) Rotermund. He was a 1964 graduate of Eureka Senior High School, and afterwards served in the US Army Reserves from 1966 to 1972. Drew’s lifelong dream was to serve in law enforcement, and in 1970 he realized that dream by joining the Alaska State Troopers. His career with AST spanned 24 years and encompassed postings all across the state of Alaska. Drew’s legacy in law enforcement lives on through his role in the development of programs such as “Shoot-Don’t-Shoot” and “Arraignment by Television,” versions of which still survive to present day.

Of all Drew’s career accomplishments, his proudest moments were those spent as an instructor at the AST Academy in Sitka. Drew loved teaching and took pride in each student’s advancement.

He retired as First Sergeant in 1994, and shortly after returned to Humboldt County. Drew spent 11 years living on his mountain property in the Dinsmore area, where he enjoyed a peaceful life of chopping firewood, reading and a good crossword puzzle. Drew eventually moved back to Bayside, where he spent the final years of his life. His family and friends will remember and miss his humor, his counsel and the way he left a room.

Drew is survived by his son Brett (Dani’) and granddaughter Gina; nephew Ryan (Jennifer) Moore and niece Darby; and sister Kay and nieces Cecily and Emily. Services are being planned by the family.

Wilma May Pfingsten was born on March 29,1946 in Casper, Wyoming to Carl and Norma Weber. She grew up in Wyoming and moved to Arcata as an adult. Here she met the love of her life Jim Pfingsten, and a short time later they married. They were together for more than 53 years. They had a beautiful family of three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren which they loved with all their hearts.

Wilma spent most of her adult life living among the ancient redwoods in northern California, raising a family and loving her church. She was a longtime member of the Trinity Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school with her best friend for many years, sang in the choir and served food to those in need at the church Pantry Food Bank. Wilma was an animal lover, so she made sure that the Pantry was always stocked with dog food. She also had two dachshunds named Coco and Abbey which were always by her side.

After retiring from Mad River Adult day, Wilma enjoyed a life of traveling and camping with her family. Wilma and her husband Jim spent every summer camping at the R-Ranch with their ranch family, playing card games and living life to the fullest. Wilma never met a stranger that she couldn’t chat with or share her contagious laugh. She was a kind and loving woman who was dearly beloved by everyone. She gave everything to her family, friends and faith. They were the center of her world. 

We would like to thank everyone who cared for and came to visit her in the last few months of her life. We would especially like to thank the staff of Seaview Rehabilitation and Wellness Center for their devoted and loving care of our mother.

You’re welcome to join us for her Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 9 at 1 p.m. at the Trinity Baptist Church in Arcata. In lieu of flowers, we request donations to be made to the Trinity Baptist Church Pantry.

###

The obituary above was submitted by Wilma Pfingsten’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

###

Today’s was a rather brief meeting of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, by recent historical standards, and a couple of the meatiest matters discussed centered on informational reports rather than action items.

That said, a lot of ground was covered, with many of the issues bound to come up again in the near or middle-distance future.

Let’s get to the summary.

Humboldt’s lousy road conditions

Mattson

At the request of Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, the board heard an update from Public Works Director Tom Mattson on the sorry state of paved roads in our unincorporated areas.

Mattson outlined an array of challenges above and beyond pavement management, including outdated equipment, storm damage repairs, culvert replacement and more.

The county’s current Pavement Conditions Index, a scale of zero through 100 that indicates road conditions, stands at a paltry 49, “which is in the poor range, which is bad news,” Mattson said. He explained that the lower the number, the higher a county’s road maintenance costs.

The county’s pavement management budget of roughly $2 million per year has not been enough to maintain status quo on the county’s 900 miles of paved roads, especially with all the storm damage repairs necessary these past two years, Mattson said.

After his presentation, Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone noted that self-help counties – those that increase sales taxes to fund transportation-related projects – are often able to leverage other sources of funding from the state and federal governments. Such a tax would require approval from two-thirds of the electorate.

“Of course, all this [discussion] is sort of a precursor to our efforts to put a ballot measure on in November,” Madrone said.

Bushnell said she gets lots of complaints about roads in her district that have slipped out following storms. Mattson said that, depending on the road, it can take three years to get approval for construction of repairs, and even that’s only possible if there’s money to complete the work.

“The money may not be reimbursed from the federal government for 10 or 15 years; that’s the $8 million hole I’m sitting on right now,” Mattson said.

“The community thinks that we should just throw a bunch of money at it and we could fix all the roads,” Bushnell said.

Mattson replied that the county is not set up to do full-scale road construction and, in fact, is limited by state law on how much maintenance work it can perform. Instead, the county often contracts out for larger projects.

The board received Mattson’s report and unanimously agreed to file it. No further action was taken on the matter.

Upcoming free health care clinic

Early in the meeting, the board heard a presentation from a couple of folks with the nonprofit organization California CareForce, which organizes no-cost health care clinics throughout California, including an upcoming clinic in Eureka.

That clinic, which will be held at the Adorni Center from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 12 and 13, will offer free medical, dental and vision services without asking patients for documentation of immigration status, residency or proof of insurance, employment or income.

Dr. Tom Lewis, a “mostly retired” dentist, said that after a fulfilling career he wanted to give back to the community and help meet the needs of the estimated one-third to one-half of Californians who lack adequate access to health care. He’s been working with California CareForce, and having worked in Humboldt County, he wanted to bring one of the organization’s free clinics to Eureka.

They’ve already raised about half of the $800,000 budget needed to see an estimated 700-800 patients during the local clinic.

Appearing via Zoom, CareForce Executive Director Cyndi Ankiewicz said the primary services being offered will include dental treatments, such as fillings, extractions, dental hygiene and X-rays, and vision screening, including testing and eyeglasses made on-site.

“We also do basic medical screenings, like blood glucose levels, and also blood pressure” and taking a brief medical history, Ankiewicz said. “In addition to that, we like to try to get what we call ‘wraparound services’ or ‘ancillary services,’ like mammography, completely free chiropractic care [and] acupuncture care.” 

For more information on the upcoming clinic, you can access and download an informational flier by clicking here. The organization is still looking for volunteers to help run the clinic, food donations, medical supplies and signage.

Ankiewicz repeated this key bit: “All of our services are provided at absolutely no cost to the patients.” Good deal.

Tobacco retailer rules

Pereira

In another item brought forward by Bushnell, the board revisited the county’s Comprehensive Tobacco Retailer Licensing Ordinance, which it approved last summer. 

Bushnell said several owners of small businesses in her district contacted her to complain about a provision of the ordinance mandating that tobacco products or advertisements “shall not be placed or displayed within five (5) feet of candy, snacks, or non-alcoholic beverages.”

She also wanted the board to further discuss the possibility of adding a section to the ordinance that would ban the sale of nitrous oxide canisters at tobacco distribution retailers, a topic Bushnell raised earlier this year. A third topic of discussion concerned a provision that prohibits coupons or discounts on tobacco products.

Public Health Director Sofia Pereira reminded the board that the ordinance is intended to reduce the use of tobacco by young people, and the county is currently processing new permit applications for the 56 licensed retailers in its jurisdiction.

Pereira said the provisions in the ordinance are based on extensive research on improving health outcomes.

First District Supervisor and Board Chair Rex Bohn said he couldn’t find any tobacco retailers who were contacted about the ordinance before implementation, and with a pack of cigarettes costing $13.50 per pack, small retailers often want to cut the price on packs or on specialty products that don’t sell. He also said the “sin tax” on cigarettes is extremely high.

Pereira said the county did send a letter to all retailers in December of 2022 and every single retailer was visited by the county’s educational team, but she said staff could explore exemptions to the no-discount policy for items like specialty cigars or pipe tobacco.

Bushnell said she doesn’t think the letters to retailers were widely read, and she voiced concern about spreading the message that retailers are failing to follow the law by checking driver’s licenses to verify customers are old enough to buy tobacco products. 

Pereira said staff wants to bring an amendment in the future that would require all tobacco products, including cigars and specialty products, to be placed behind the counter or in a locked case, making them inaccessible to customers without help from a salesperson.

Bohn again expressed hesitation, saying people still have the right to smoke, and he’d like to meet retailers in the middle so they can still do business. Bushnell said local businesses are already checking IDs.

Pereira said that while she hears their concerns, her department will continue to bring forward what they believe to be best practice for public health. Madrone and Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo thanked Pereira and her department colleagues for their work, with Arroyo saying she thinks the ordinance will ultimately serve the collective good.

Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson asked about the matter of nitrous oxide canisters, aka Whippits, and Pereira said her department has reduced staff capacity to address that while they’re working on implementing the tobacco ordinance. Staff has compiled some resources and reached out to Senator McGuire’s office but will need more time to craft a policy, she said.

The board accepted the report without directing staff to make any changes to the tobacco ordinance.

###

Odds and ends:

• The board ratified a certificate of recognition for Edmund Michael (Mike) Belmont, a local tree service worker who responded to a request for backup from the Rio Dell Volunteer Fire Department regarding a man stuck in a tree. Belmont scaled a 150-foot tree, only to discover that the man had committed suicide. “Mike was instrumental in the effort to lower the victim to the ground by guiding the victim through the limbs and branches while ground staff lowered the rescue system. This heroic, selfless act was above and beyond the call of duty,” the unanimously approved certificate says. 
• The board also ratified a retirement resolution for former Fifth District Humboldt County Supervisor Jill Duffy following a decade of employment as executive director of the Humboldt Waste Management Authority. Eric Keller-Heckman, the organization’s new executive director, said, “No amount of words can put into perspective the impact that she had not only on HWMA as an organization, but their staff in general.”
• While proclaiming February Black History Month, the board recognized Florence Parks of North Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters as an exceptional community member, noting that”her contributions have been a positive, and much needed, influence on all who have been fortunate enough to interact with her.”
• During the public comment period on matters that weren’t on the day’s agenda, a series of speakers urged people to vote against Proposition 1 next Tuesday (or whenever they might submit their ballots). The measure, backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, would authorize $6.38 billion in bonds to build mental health treatment facilities and provide housing for the homeless. But speakers at today’s meeting said it would “destroy a person’s right to self determination” through involuntary commitment, largely targeting already marginalized communities.

Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

The Eureka Police Department along with agents of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) conducted minor decoy operations resulting in no citations for selling alcohol to minors on February 19, 2024. The actions were the result of a Minor Decoy operation in which minors under the direct supervision of department agents, attempted to purchase alcohol from 11 retail licensees in Eureka.

Clerk who sell to a minor face a minimum fine of $250, and 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC may take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor. That may include a fine, suspension, or the permanent revocation of the license.

“Conducting these operations helps us increase public safety as well as reduce underage drinking.” said Chief Brian Stephens.

“Businesses should always check IDs before selling alcohol,” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough. “Preventing access to people not old enough to legally purchase alcohol improves safety on our roadways and in our communities.”

Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a much higher risk of being involved in a crash than older drivers. About 25 percent of fatal crashes involve underage drinking according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped to below 10 percent in some cities. In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of minor decoys is a valid legal tool of law enforcement to make sure that licensees are complying with the law.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from ABC through the department’s Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) program.

UPDATE, 3:10 p.m.: The Sheriff’s Office wrote media outlets a few minutes ago to say the original name they had for this suspect — Alexander Sarkozy — was wrong. Actually, a spokesperson wrote, his name is Nicholas Alexander Sarkozy.

We sat there dumbfounded for a minute, then wrote back: Nicholas Sarkozy? Like the former president of France?

The Sheriff’s Office press person wrote back: His name is Nicholas Alexander Sarkozy.

This did not sit right, so I did my own research.

On the one hand, I discovered that there was no person named Nicholas Sarkozy in booking logs that night. There was, on the other hand, a person named Nicholas Santiago arrested at that time by a Sheriff’s Office deputy on charges of drunk in public and use of a taser.

On the other hand, this site does have a record of a person named “Nicholas Alexander Sarkozy” with a picture that looks very like the picture below.  However, that site notes that, among other things, this person had been charged with giving a false name to police.

I asked again whether the Sheriff’s Office could be certain that this person was named Nicholas Sarkozy, the same unusual name that belongs to a recent president of the Republic of France, given that the person was recorded as being booked under the name of “Nicholas Santiago.”

The Sheriff’s Office spokesperson replied: “He was identified by the jail staff as Nicholas Alexander Sarkozy.” Which I guess I take to mean: They later identified him as Nicholas Sarkozy, and he does in fact wear that improbable name. Whatever.

Also — and we did not catch this at the time — the Brass Rail is in Redway, not Garberville, as the Sheriff’s Office corrected a second ago.

— Ed.

###

ORIGINAL POST:

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Feb. 24, 2024, at about 2:24 a.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to the Brass Rail Bar and Grill located at 3188 Redwood Dr. in Garberville Redway for the report of a disturbance with a person being shot in the hand with a taser.

Upon arrival, the deputy contacted several witnesses who reported a subject, later identified as 38-year-old Nicholas Alexander Sarkozy [See above — Ed.], started a verbal confrontation with the 44-year-old victim outside the bar and fired a taser at the victim striking him in the hand.  The victim sustained a puncture wound from one of the taser probes and was treated by medical personnel on scene and released. 

Alexander Sarkozy was arrested for assault with a stun gun (PC 244.5(b)), public intoxication (PC 647(f)) and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. 

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.