Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office’s Marijuana Enforcement Team:

During the month of May and June 2024, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) and Humboldt County Code Enforcement received numerous complaints regarding a property in the 5000 block of Hwy 254, Miranda. The Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) was able to establish probable cause for a search warrant to be issued for the property. On June 27, 2024, deputies with the Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), Humboldt County Code Enforcement and Department of Cannabis Control served the search warrant at the property.

One property was investigated during the service of the warrant. The parcel did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate and process cannabis commercially. During the service of the warrant, deputies seized and destroyed over 70.5 pounds of cannabis bud, 395.4 pounds of cannabis shake, and 77.9 pounds of Kief.

Additional violations with civil fines are expected to be filed by the assisting agencies. No arrests were made during the service of the warrant. The case will be forwarded to the DA’s Office for review.

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.

This morning, local realtor Lauren Lazio issued an urgent call for help finding a three bed/two bath home to buy in Eureka’s Second Ward. The city council seat representing this area – which includes (parts of) Henderson Center and the neighborhoods surrounding the Eureka Mall shopping center – is currently filled by Kati Moulton, but it’ll be up for election this November.

“If you or someone you know has a nice house in ward 2 that isn’t currently for sale and want to sell it please contact as soon as possible!” Lazio wrote in a post to a 707 Classified Facebook page. 

“Thank you in advance and hopefully we can find this awesome buyer a great house asap!”

Is someone – dare we suggest – ward shoppin’?

Reached by phone, Lazio said she has “no idea” why her client is seeking a home in this very specific location. Her Facebook post has since been removed. 

If a city council campaign is indeed this mystery-buyer’s intention, the haste reflected in Lazio’s post is warranted. The filing deadline for Eureka council candidates is August 9th, and the average escrow period in California lasts around 30 to 60 days. The few days it would take for a seller to accept an offer, and for the house to be inspected and appraised, would leave around ten days of wiggle room. 

The City of Eureka website clarifies that “a candidate must be a registered voter of the ward that they wish to represent at the time nomination papers are issued.” 

Ward Two incumbent Kati Moulton wanted to give the hopeful buyer the benefit of the doubt during a brief phone call with the Outpost this morning. 

“Maybe they just want to live in Ward Two because it’s a wonderful part of our community,” Moulton said. “I live there on purpose!” 

But a run for the council position does seem to be what’s happening, the councilmember said. If that’s the case, Moulton added, this person is looking to “game the system.” 

“It sounds like a power play by someone with more money than me,” she said.

The average home in Eureka is currently valued at $423,567, according to Zillow. 

Moving to a specific area to run for office isn’t new to Humboldt politics. In 2022, Larry Doss moved to a property he owned in Orick full-time in part to qualify as a candidate for Humboldt County Fifth District Supervisor race, Doss told the Outpost at the time.

The upcoming Eureka council election will be a novel one. It will be the first to employ a ranked-choice voting system – in which voters rank candidates from most to least desired – a change that was approved by Eureka voters in 2020 and recently solidified by the City Council. 

Kati Moulton. Photo: City of Eureka website

It’ll be interesting to see how ranked-choice voting shakes out given Eureka’s by-district voting system, which voters approved in the 2016 general election and requires folks to pick a representative who lives in their ward. In at-large elections, on the other hand, people may vote for anyone, regardless of their address. (Arcata does this.) In the 2020 election, 1,253 people voted in the Ward Two city council race. 

No one has officially announced a campaign for the Ward Two seat, but Moulton indicated that she will run for reelection. She was elected to the council in 2020 in a race against three other candidates, and won by a large margin with more than 40 percent of the votes. Eureka’s Fourth Ward seat, currently occupied by Scott Bauer, will also be up for election in November.

For the time being, Moulton said she hopes her constituents are “seeing and appreciating” the work she does on their behalf. As far as a potential “carpetbagger” candidate in Ward Two? We’ll have to wait and see.

DOCUMENT:

• “Memorandum,” Ninth District Circuit Court of Appeals,” June 25, 2024.

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On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco sided with the City of Arcata and Arcata Police Department (APD) detective Eric Losey in the case of Kyle Zoellner v. City of Arcata.

After charges against Zoellner were dismissed in the case of Humboldt State University student David Josiah Lawson’s stabbing death in May 2017, Zoellner sued the City – including select officials and APD officers – on five claims: unlawful arrest, malicious prosecution, inadequate medical care (while in custody), a Monell (violation of federally protected rights) claim, and defamation (two separate instances of). 

And initially, he won. 

In Oct. 2022, a jury sided with Zoellner and ordered the City and Detective Losey to award him over $750,000 in damages, but U.S. District Court Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley overturned that order just days later. 

This month’s appeals iteration of the case, heard in court on June 10, was Zoellner’s attempt to overturn the District Court decision to overturn the jury’s order.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals stuck with Judge Scott Corley on Tuesday, finding that each of Zoellner’s five claims failed. 

“Because the district court reached the correct result, we affirm,” the Court’s decision states.

The first two parts of Zoellner’s case, the unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution claims, turned on whether or not the APD had sufficient probable cause to arrest him as a suspect when officers arrived on-scene at a party early in the morning of April 15, 2017, to find Lawson stabbed. As the Circuit Judges wrote, proof of either claim would require a lack of probable cause, which requires a lower standard of evidence than a conviction.

The Court of Appeals found that the bar for probable cause in Zoellner’s arrest was met.

“Here, ample undisputed evidence supports a ‘fair probability’ that Zoellner may have committed the crime,” the Circuit Judges wrote. “Zoellner was identified by witnesses at the scene as the ‘stabber’ and his clothes were covered in blood.”

The Court also struck down Zoellner’s third claim – inadequate medical care – stating that while Zoellner was not immediately taken to the hospital by APD Officer Devon Nilsen, he also initially refused medical treatment.

“Shortly after Zoellner requested medical treatment, Officer Nilsen took him to the hospital,” the Court wrote.

The Ninth Circuit had two instances of defamation to consider. The first, against Arcata Police Detective Todd Dokweiler, concerned a statement Dokweiler submitted to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office saying that “other witnesses had seen Zoellner stab the victim” (despite the fact that no witness had identified Zoellner by name). 

The second was against Police Chief Tom Chapman for his statement to press that “it was a white male who stabbed and killed a black male,” which led Chapman to think it was “prudent and logical to look at race as an issue.”

The Court struck down both claims, finding that Detective Dokweiler’s statement was protected under California’s litigation privilege (which protects statements made in the course of official duties and in judicial proceedings from claims such as defamation), and that there was no evidence proving cause and effect between Chief Chapman’s statement and Zoellner’s claimed damages.

“We agree with the district court that Zoellner suffered his claimed injuries ‘simply because of the charges that had been filed against him,’” the decision states.

On the final claim, the Monell (rights violation) claim, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found it failed because it did not identify facts proving the City of Arcata and APD personnel had “final policymaking authority” over his prosecution or “knowledge of the alleged constitutional violation.”

“AFFIRMED,” the decision concluded, upholding the failure of Zoellner’s suit against the City and Detective Losey.

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Disclosure: The author previously worked for the City of Arcata, beginning in 2019. She was uninvolved in the case this article covers.

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PREVIOUS LoCO COVERAGE OF THE LAWSON CASE:

• Jail Records Reveal Name of Suspect in Fatal Arcata Stabbing
• Arcata Police Receive Anonymous Email Detailing Specifics of Arcata Homicide, Beg Author to Come Forward; Suspect Officially Named
• ‘He Was the One’: Josiah Lawson, Humboldt State Student and President of Brothers United, Remembered at Campus Prayer Service
• Zoellner Pleads Not Guilty to Arcata Stabbing Murder; Bail Set at $1 Million
• United by Tragedy, HSU Community Celebrates the Life and Mourns the Death of David Josiah Lawson
• ‘It Should Not Have Happened’: Friend of Arcata Murder Victim Believes Racism Delayed the Emergency Medical Response That Could Have Saved His Life
• ARCATA MURDER HEARING: First Witnesses Cast Doubt on Whether the Police Department’s Suspect Could Have Stabbed Victim; More Testimony Coming Tomorrow
• ARCATA MURDER HEARING: Witness Testifies That Lawson and Zoellner Were Grappling as the Victim Bled; Police Officer Describes Chaotic Crime Scene
• ARCATA MURDER HEARING: Friends Testify on ‘Girl Fight’ Between Lawson and Zoellner’s Girlfriends Prior to Fatal Stabbing
• ARCATA MURDER HEARING: More Testimony on the Knife Found at the Scene; Lawson’s Friend Testifies He Saw Zoellner Drop Something Shiny
• Judge Dismisses Case Against Kyle Zoellner, McKinleyville Man Arrested in Stabbing Death of HSU Student David Josiah Lawson
• Arcata’s Police Chief, Vice Mayor React to Zoellner Hearing Ruling
• ARCATA MURDER HEARING: Kyle Zoellner to Be Released After Judge Reinholtsen Rules Not Enough Evidence to Hold Him For Stabbing Death of Josiah Lawson
• (PHOTOS) Protesters March Through Arcata Demanding ‘Justice for Josiah’
• HSU Faculty, UPD, Brothers United Participate in Radio Town Hall on Lawson Case Tonight; Arcata Mayor Releases Statement; HSU Walk Out Planned Tuesday
• (PHOTOS/VIDEO) After Busy Week, Family and Friends of Josiah Lawson Still Seeking Justice
• Josiah Lawson’s Mother Offers $10k Reward for Information Leading to the Conviction of Son’s Killer
• Arcata Calls in Outside Investigators, Approves $21K Reward for Info Leading to Conviction of Lawson Killer
• Kyle Zoellner Appears in Court to Request Law Enforcement Return His Cell Phone, Laptops; Judge Says No
• (VIDEO) This Morning’s Lawson Murder Press Conference Offers Few Updates
• Public Investigator Working With APD in Josiah Lawson Case
• Kyle Zoellner, Once Suspected of Homicide in David Josiah Lawson Slaying, Files Claim Against City of Arcata For Defamation, Pain and Suffering, Emotional Distress
• (PHOTOS) Hundreds Turn Out for Eureka MLK Day People’s Rally and March for Justice
• DA: Grand Jury Declines to Indict Anyone in David Josiah Lawson Case
• (VIDEO) Justice for Josiah Activists Hold First Monthly Vigil Since Grand Jury Decision; Charmaine Lawson Vows to Keep Fighting
• ‘Justice For Josiah’ Advocates Demand Arcata City Council Turn Lawson Case Over to the State
• Arcata Police Release Images of Potential Josiah Lawson Stabbing Witnesses, Ask Public’s Help
• TWO YEARS
• (WATCH) ‘Who Killed Josiah?’: Documentary Takes a Look at the Lawson Case
• California Attorney General’s Office Says it Will Not Take On Josiah Lawson Case
• ‘Racism Kills!’ Supervisor Bohn Adjourns Meeting and Leaves Chambers Amid Outcry Over Derogatory Joke
• Humboldt High Schoolers Announced as First David Josiah Lawson Scholarship Recipients
• Josiah Lawson Documentary Set to Air on Los Angeles Television Later This Month
• (AUDIO) Charmaine Lawson, Arcata Police Chief Ask Witnesses to Josiah Lawson Slaying to Come Forward in Public Service Announcement.
• (VIDEO) ‘Justice for Josiah’ Activists Shut Down Arcata City Council Meeting
• Outside Review of Lawson Case Complete; Emergency Response Deemed Appropriate But More Training Recommended
• On the Third Anniversay of Josiah Lawson’s Death, Arcata Police Once Again Ask for Witnesses to Come Forward
• (VIDEO) Charmaine Lawson Interviewed for TV Documentary Series ‘Still a Mystery’; Episode on the Murder of HSU Student Josiah Lawson to Air Tonight
• Civil Grand Jury Finds ‘Failures’ and ‘Ineptitudes’ But No Direct Evidence of Racial Bias in Review of Josiah Lawson Homicide Investigation
• Submissions Sought for David Josiah Lawson Oration Festival
• Charmaine Lawson Settles Lawsuit Against City of Arcata; Terms Include $25,000 Contribution to Scholarship Fund, New City Mural and Additional, Undisclosed Terms
• Eureka City Schools Board Overturns Mural Ban, Making Way for BIPOC Student Art
• Five Years
• Charmaine Lawson Continues to Seek ‘Justice for Josiah’ Five Years After Her Son’s Death
• ZOELLNER v. ARCATA: Kyle Zoellner’s Attorney Attempts to Revive Claim for Damages Against the City of Arcata at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

DOCUMENT: 

• “Humboldt County Hiring:Status, Process, and the Future,” Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury, June 2024
  

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Press release from the Humboldt County Grand Jury:

The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury has released the fifth report of their 2023-2024 term, entitled Humboldt County Hiring: Status, Process, and the Future.

Understaffing in Humboldt County government is systemic, appearing in all departments, and affects how well or poorly our county government serves the public. The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury investigated county hiring practices, finding that understaffing is one of our largest challenges, that the causes are many, and that while there may be no complete solutions, there are things the county can do to help.

We reviewed current hiring processes for the three largest Humboldt County employee groups: The Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Public Works. These three entities employ approximately seventy percent of county employees and account for a majority of the county’s general fund budget. As of April 2024, approximately 500 of the 2400 currently allocated positions were vacant.

We did a statistical comparison with six other Northern California counties of similar population to get an idea of where Humboldt County stands, finding we have a vacancy rate of twenty-one percent, second highest in our survey, and an employee retention rate of eighty-four percent, average for all but two of the counties in our survey. The survey also revealed that all the counties are struggling with the same hard-to-fill positions such as Social Workers, Deputy Sheriffs, Correctional Officers, and Engineers.

Challenges to recruitment and retention are not limited to financial considerations like salary and benefits. The length of time from recruitment to onboarding can be an obstacle to hiring, and the requirement to use the services of the California Department of Human Resources for some of the hardest to fill positions is a major impediment. A relative lack of recruitment and retention tools and incentives is another factor.

Crucially and ironically, Humboldt County Human Resources is itself understaffed. As of April of 2024, two of the eighteen allocated positions were unfilled. Three positions are funded by a COVID- era federal grant that expires in the summer of 2024, leaving just fifteen funded positions. Widely accepted industry standards call for a County of our size to have about twenty-five people in Human Resources.Certain hiring practices vary by department, with some departments having been more proactive than others in recruiting and shortening hiring timelines. Unlike the other counties surveyed, Humboldt County Human Resources does not have a single Policies and Procedures manual, instead relying on informal guidelines and a collection of documents and PowerPoint slides. No standard metrics to measure county-wide hiring success or internal performance of the hiring steps exist, and the use of annual performance reviews is inconsistent.

It is the conclusion of the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury that bold, sweeping ways to address these issues, such as raising salaries and improving benefits packages, are not practical given Humboldt County’s financial situation. There are, however, many small, inexpensive, and relatively easy to implement things that can be used to make hiring and retention faster, smoother, and more effective. These recommendations and much more information can be found in our report.

The 2024-2025 term for the Civil Gand Jury is right around the corner, and the Superior Court is seeking more jurors. If you want to serve your community in a unique way that could improve local government this is your opportunity. Applications to serve on the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury can be found at this link. Additional information provided by the Civil Grand Jurors Association of California can be found at this link.

Rural schools in California already struggle with declining enrollment, staffing shortages and wildfires. Now they’re facing the possible loss of money they’ve relied on for more than a century.

The Secure Rural Schools program, which brings extra money to counties with large swaths of untaxable public land, faces an uncertain future in Congress as it awaits renewal. Despite bipartisan support, the program has yet to pass on its own or as part a larger funding bill. If it doesn’t pass, it will expire.

“This money is an absolute lifeline,” said Jaime Green, superintendent of Trinity Alps Unified in Trinity County, where more than 70% of the land is owned by the U.S. Forest Service. “If it doesn’t get renewed, thousands of people in rural communities will lose their jobs, thousands of children will be harmed. It’s mind boggling to me that we’re in this position.”

Since 1908, the federal government has compensated counties that have large tracts of U.S. Forest Service land, making up for lost tax revenue. The extra money goes toward schools, roads, public health and other services that ordinarily would be paid for through local property taxes or timber revenues. More than 700 counties nationwide, including 39 in California, receive funds. Last year, the amounts varied from $4.1 million in Siskiyou County to $30,000 in San Luis Obispo County. Even Los Angeles County got some – $1.4 million, thanks to the Angeles and Los Padres national forests. Overall, the program has doled out $2.4 billion nationwide over the past decade.

In its modern incarnation, the Secure Rural Schools program has to be reauthorized every three years. The most recent round of payments in May – $33.7 million for California – will be the last unless Congress votes to extend the program by Sept. 30.

“It doesn’t look like a lot of money on paper, but when you look at the communities it serves, it’s crucial,” said Kindra Britt, spokesperson for California County Superintendents, which advocates for superintendents who oversee the state’s 58 county offices of education. “Since 1908 this has been a safety net for rural schools and now it’s disintegrating.”

Rural school funding ‘not a red-blue issue’

The program used to be funded independently, but for the past 20 years or so it’s been attached to larger bills. Finding a home for the program has been a challenge. Earlier this year advocates tried to incorporate it into a defense bill, but that didn’t pan out. The House version of the bill is currently attached to the Farm Bill, but some say it’s a longshot it will stay there. Nonetheless, its sponsors continue to lobby for its survival.

“Everyone agrees this is a good program. This is not a red-blue issue,” said Noelle Ellerson Ng, associate executive director of the School Superintendents Association in Washington, D.C. “But Congress has never been more polarized or unproductive, and it’s also an election year. This isn’t flashy, it’s a relatively small amount of money, and it’s just been hard getting it the attention it deserves.”

The legislators who sponsored the bills, Sen. Mike Crapo, a Republican from Idaho, and Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat from Colorado, did not answer questions about the bills, despite repeated attempts to reach them.

In the House, the bill is currently in the forestry subcommittee of the Committee on Agriculture, where it’s awaiting a hearing. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican whose district includes much of northeastern California, is hoping the program will pass in the Farm Bill, which legislators will likely vote on in September.

“As a supporter of the Secure Rural Schools program, Congressman LaMalfa worked to include an extension of the program in the House’s 2024 Farm Bill,” said Alexandra Lavy, a spokeswoman for LaMalfa. “This was one of many bipartisan initiatives included in the House’s bill, and Congressman LaMalfa will continue advocating that it remains in the final version of the bill.”

“Since 1908 this has been a safety net for rural schools and now it’s disintegrating.”
— Kindra Britt, spokesperson for California County Superintendents

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat representing southwestern Washington, is a cosponsor of the bill. She said Congressional bickering should not threaten services as fundamental as education.

“Our rural schools didn’t cause the dysfunction in federally managed assets, and I refuse to let our children bear the consequences,” Gluesenkamp Perez said. “The Secure Rural Schools program is an investment in the equality of our children’s opportunities, and I refuse to allow partisan politics to undermine it. Rural schools are already enduring painful cuts.”

Impact on rural students

Green, the Trinity Alps superintendent, has been to Washington, D.C., seven times to lobby for the program. He’s passionate about the issue because he remembers what happened in 2016, when the bill lapsed and his district lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The district had to cut back on basic building repairs, and the following year a mold outbreak forced the closure of the elementary and high school. Some students went to school in portables for nearly four years, until the mold could be removed.

Losing that money was gut-wrenching for the entire community, he said.

“Are you going to fix a roof or feed a kid?” Green said. “Those are the kinds of decisions we were forced to make.”

Bode Gower, who’ll be a senior this fall at Ukiah High School in Mendocino County, has also been to Washington, D.C., to lobby for the program. He worries that his school will lose popular extracurricular activities like Model United Nations and Native American Youth Club without the Secure Rural School funding. In rural areas, sports and clubs are especially important because there’s not much else for teenagers to do, he said.

“Are you going to fix a roof or feed a kid? Those are the kinds of decisions we were forced to make.”
— Jaime Green, superintendent of Trinity Alps Unified in Trinity County

Gower even started a coalition of Northern California rural youth to advocate for school funding. The group has more than 70 members.

“Rural communities are often overlooked because we don’t have the ability to influence policy to the extent that urban areas do,” Gower said. “But we need to give rural youth a chance to succeed. These cuts directly impact young people in rural areas.”

Need for permanent funding source

Jeff Harris, superintendent of schools for Del Norte County, said the Secure Rural Schools program not only needs to be renewed, but needs to become permanent — possibly endowed through a trust fund. It’s impractical to fight for its renewal every three years, and it’s impossible to budget for because the amount varies, sometimes greatly.

This year, Del Norte got $570,000 through the program. That would have been enough to hire a few teachers, but Harris was reluctant to spend the money on ongoing expenses because he didn’t know if it would be renewed. So he put it toward facilities.

“It’s frustrating, because we can’t plan anything year to year,” Harris said. “If the money was consistent, it’d be a game changer. It would go directly to kids.”

Like most rural communities in California, Del Norte has limited options for raising money. Approximately 80% of the county is public or tribal land, which means the county can’t collect property taxes on it. Home values are relatively low, so the property taxes the county does collect are low, as well. And things tend to be more expensive in rural areas. Construction costs are a third higher than in other areas, Harris estimated.

“We’re not a business, we can’t just raise prices,” Harris said. “We’re at the mercy of what the state and federal government give us. It shouldn’t be this political hot potato every three years — it’s about educating kids.”

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

Donald M. Decker, age 93, of Burnt Ranch, peacefully passed away on June 28, 2020 in Texas. Born on February 15, 1927, in Arcata, Donald was the cherished son of Leroy C. Decker and Delpha L. (St. John) Decker. Raised in the serene surroundings of McKinleyville, he bravely served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. After the war, Donald was a partner in JC Timber and dedicated himself to its success until his well-earned retirement.

Donald and his beloved wife, Evalyn M. Decker, who passed away on April 24, 2024, in Texas, at the age of 94, were inseparable partners for nearly 70 years. Evalyn, born March 4, 1930, in Sacramento, was the cherished daughter of Alfred B. and Grace L. (Stanton) Franke. Her family’s move to McKinleyville saw them open the Airway Inn, a beloved local grocery store and restaurant. Evalyn’s passion for creativity shone brightly throughout her life, from her gardens brimming with produce to her skillful knitting, painting, crocheting, and sewing. She lovingly fostered community spirit through a cherished knitting circle in Burnt Ranch, where friendships were woven together with every stitch.

Together, Don and Evalyn nurtured a vibrant family, deeply rooted in love and shared experiences. They leave behind their children: Donna Poff of Kelseyville, Rodney Decker of Oakley, Idaho, Timothy Decker of Van, Texas, and Gregory Decker of Vancouver, Wash. Their legacy continues through their six adoring grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, each a testament to their enduring love and guidance.

Donald found purpose and joy in tending to his orchard and gardens in Burnt Ranch, where his homemade apple cider became a treasured gift to all who visited. His dedication extended to serving as fire chief for the Hawkins Bar Volunteer Fire Department for two decades, embodying a commitment to community that defined his life.

Evalyn’s artistic spirit illuminated every corner of their home, from her gardens to the colorful canvases she painted, to the crocheted blankets gifted to every family member. Her creative endeavors were a gift shared generously, inspiring all who knew her. She was renowned for her sourdough pancakes, a staple at breakfasts and family gatherings, where her warm smile and culinary delights brought joy to all. Ask any of her grandchildren, Grandma always made the best chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

Both Donald and Evalyn were lovingly cared for until their final days by their devoted son, Timothy, a testament to the enduring bond of family that defined their lives.

A celebration of Don and Evalyn Decker’s remarkable lives will be held on June 30, 2024, at 12 p.m. at Willow Creek Veterans Memorial Hall, 100 Kimtu Rd., Willow Creek. Following the celebration, a potluck lunch will be shared as we gather to reminisce, laugh, and honor the memories that bind us together. Internment at Greenwood Cemetery in Arcata.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hawkins Bar Volunteer Fire Department in honor of Donald M. Decker, whose commitment to community and service will be remembered always.

A middle-aged man was rescued by helicopter after a group of six teen hikers and two summer camp counselors found him – severely injured, unable to walk and exposed to the elements – along the Lost Coast Trail on Tuesday morning.

The solo hiker was lying in the trail near Punta Gorda Lighthouse when the group found him around 9 a.m. He was covered in blood and shivering violently, said Maria Vollmar, who is the program director for Lost Coast Camp, a Petrolia-based summer camp that organized the trip. Vollmar, who had dropped the group off at the trailhead earlier that morning, ran to meet them after learning of the emergency via satellite phone. 

By the time she arrived, the group’s two counselors – Solomon Reinman, 26, and Jack Davis, 28 – had stabilized the hiker. The two are wilderness first-aid certified and knew what to do. After calling for a helicopter rescue by satellite phone, they cut open the man’s jacket and dressed the deep cuts on his arms, then wrapped him in a sleeping bag and covered him with a tarp. The hiker was conscious but could not remember what had happened to him or how long he had been there. Although he was found above the high tide line, the man was slightly wet, Vollmar said. 

Meanwhile, the teens, who are all boys ranging from 12 to 15 years old, hung back and remained calm. “The campers had all gotten a brief first-aid training from the [Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department] the day before, so they were aware of what was going on,” Vollmar, who is 27, told the Outpost over the phone. When Vollmar arrived, she and the teens pulled out their camping stoves to make hot water bottles, which they put under the tarp with the hiker to warm him up.

“The campers were all just really, really helpful and steady and kind,” Vollmar said. “Sol and Jack just really did an amazing job helping this man.”

A CalFire helicopter arrived about 90 minutes after the call, Vollmar said. 

Jeremy Ward, a Fire Captain at CalFire, said that the helicopter was able to land on the ground near the hikers. 

“The male was hypothermic, he was disoriented and had some cuts to his torso,” Ward said. Responders “transported him via air to Eel River heli-base in Redway, and from there he was ground transported by an ambulance to the nearest medical facility.” 

Ward didn’t have any more information about the man’s current status.

After the hiker was airlifted away, Vollmar, Reinman and Davis sat down with the campers to talk about what had happened. 

“They all expressed a lot of gratitude for us having first-aid certification and training to be able to handle the situation,” Vollmar said. “They felt really safe, and they felt really grateful for the training from the fire department so that they were kind of clued in to what was going on and why.” 

Lost Coast Camp requires that every trip leader is wilderness first-aid certified, Vollmar said, but they’ve never dealt with an injury more severe than a sprain or heat stroke since the organization was founded in 1997.

“Just seeing how well everyone was able to respond under pressure was really inspiring, for the skill of our staff,” Vollmar said.

Because they were down a sleeping bag, the group hiked out, regrouped and reentered the trail yesterday evening. 

They are on a multi-day backpacking trip from Mattole Beach to Black Sands Beach near Shelter Cove, a popular 25-mile stretch of the Lost Coast Trail in the King Range National Conservation Area. Walking mostly along the shore, hikers must carefully plan around high tides that are sometimes impassable. The area is considered somewhat dangerous; one person drowned and another injured after the two were swept out to sea at Black Sands Beach a couple of years ago.

Vollmar and Ward both cautioned safety to those who brave the wilderness.

The injured hiker told his rescuers that this was his first backpacking trip, Vollmar said. “We highly recommend that anyone going backpacking for the first time go with a friend, and highly recommend having first-aid training if you’re going to be on the trail.”

Ward said that CalFire responds to emergencies in the area several times a year, from lost or stranded hikers to vegetation fires. 

“We would advise folks that if they are hiking into these really remote areas, there are some satellite communications devices that people can get, they’re becoming more affordable,” he said. 

“At the very least, I would reach out to some friends or family and let them know specifically where you’re going and when they can expect you to check back in.”