(UPDATE: We have removed the name and photo of the missing juvenile because he has been found.) 

Eureka Police Department release:

The Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office are seeking the community’s assistance in locating 14-year-old [name removed after he was found] who went missing around midnight last night near Winship School in Cutten.

[removed] is described as a 14-year-old, white male, 5’10/140 lbs, with light brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black socks, and black shoes.

If you have any information, please contact the Eureka Police Department at 707-441-4060 or the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251.

The Hill Fire burning south of Willow Creek is now listed at 4,600 acres as of Thursday morning, with 0% containment. Growth has slowed compared to previous days, but crews continue a full suppression effort which is detailed in the Six Rivers National Forest release below:

Yesterday, fire activity moderated compared to previous days. Fire managers are using a full suppression strategy with crews going direct where possible while also utilizing indirect tactics in areas that pose a potential risk to firefighter safety. A few spot fires were identified to the north along Friday Ridge and resources on scene began constructing direct and indirect containment lines. Crews constructed dozer lines to the west and north of the fire. Aircraft continued to perform retardant drops along the perimeter of the fire.

The latest Hill Fire perimeter map. Click to enlarge

Today, the primary focus will be to the north of the fire where crews will scout for possible opportunities to construct direct dozer line south of Route 1. Firefighters will also conduct firing operations along Route 1 to strengthen the potential containment line along Friday Ridge. Aircraft will continue to perform retardant drops to slow the spread of the fire. Federal and state air resources on scene include helicopters, air tankers, and air attack. Fire behavior is expected to be moderate today with continued dry conditions. The North Coast Interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team and CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 2 are now fully integrated and working in unified command.

Fire camp will be at the Veterans Park in Willow Creek, CA., beginning today, July 18, 2024.

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Press release from Senate President Pro tem Mike McGuire:

RIO DELL – Today, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast), state and local leaders, and the Rio Dell community celebrated the groundbreaking of a total rebuild of the city’s water system, which was extensively damaged in the 2022 earthquake.
The $12.9 million investment from the State of California was approved in the days following the 6.4-magnitude earthquake. Once completed, Rio Dell’s aging water system will be fully replaced, at no cost to local ratepayers. 

“After that December 22nd quake shook the Eel River Valley, Rio Dell’s water system was near total collapse,” said Pro Tem McGuire. “We committed to Rio Dell neighbors that the State would deliver, and today, a promise made is a promise kept. Nothing is more essential than clean and reliable drinking water. This rebuild will be a massive shot in the arm for the City for decades to come and will save residents millions, since the State is covering all costs associated with the project.” 

Once completed, the new water system will include 2.85 miles of new piping, 279 updated service lines to homes, 30 new fire hydrants, and five new highway under crossings.  
 
“This project is about making sure Rio Dell is a safe and thriving community for generations to come. And at zero cost for local residents who are already struggling to get back on their feet, this is a huge win for our community,” said Rio Dell Mayor Debra Garnes. “We’re so grateful for Senator McGuire’s and the State Office of Emergency Services partnership, for their commitment and follow through to get this job done for Rio Dell.”

Construction is expected to start this summer with the demolition of an out of service, dilapidated redwood tank, that will be replaced by a modern and structurally-sound concrete tank with twice the storage capacity that will serve the community for decades to come.

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Note: names in this story have been omitted or changed to protect the identities of moderators and members, and no posts or comments are reproduced here (broad generalities only!) so as to uphold the expectation of privacy that comes with personal experiences shared in a closed group. 

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If you suspected your man of cheating in the days of yesteryear, you’d have limited options to smoke him out: search pockets, analyze shared bank accounts, stake out some haunts, open and honest communication …

None of them are ideal. 

Today, there’s an easy solution: “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” (AWDTSG) Facebook groups. 

Designed to help women avoid men deemed “dangerous or toxic” (in the words of Paola Sanchez, who founded the first AWDTSG group in New York City in 2022) these forums, which have sprung up in over 200 city- and area-specific communities, together comprise more than 4 million participants.

If you’re a North Coast resident, odds are you know at least one woman who is part of “are we dating the same guy - humboldt, CA uncensored,” a fast-growing local chapter founded by two friends about a year and a half ago.

Spanning various industries and walks of life, the nearly 4,000 members of the private group flock to the page to dish on “red flags” (negative experiences with men) and “tea” (intel on potential dates) as they splash around in the puddle that is the Humboldt County dating pool.

The AWDTSG system is simple: upload a picture of the man in question, state your story or suspicion and await the magic of the digital masses. In one fell swoop, a woman may learn there’s another woman. Maybe several others. And in confirmed cases of cheating, the two-timer is outed not only to the women he’s kept in the dark, but also to thousands of others who now know his name, face and alleged wrongdoings.

“We wanted to create a centralized place for the gossip,” one of the two anonymous moderators of Humboldt’s page, both of whom grew up and dated locally, told the Outpost in an incognito conference call.

A published list of rules from the AWDTSG Humboldt Facebook group.

And did they ever. The comments sections of posts in the Humboldt group are usually teeming with tidbits and tales within hours, and the tea is so hot that it can leave observers wondering, as one group member the Outpost spoke with did: “Holy shit, are all the men in Humboldt County horrible?” 

While there is likely a bad news bias at work – women may be more likely to post men they already have icky feelings about, or chime in on those they’ve had negative experiences with – the reputation-ruining power of allegations made in groups of thousands raises the question: Does a man’s privacy go out the window if he’s deemed dangerous by women he’s dated? 

And if so, what are the boundaries of “unsafe” behavior?

For AWDTSG participants, the answers to those questions seem to be “yes” and “any interaction that leaves a woman feeling uncomfortable.”

Posts in the Humboldt AWDTSG group tend to fall into three general categories: cheating checks, preventative screenings and warnings.

Cheating checks entail what the group’s title suggests. Women upload pictures with a simple ask: “Is he cheating?” 

In the Humboldt group, adulterers often turn out to be men who frequent the coastal cities but aren’t in Eureka/Arcata full time: firefighters, pot growers or others with reason to move about and ample opportunities for infidelity.

“Basically, the people who travel,” a moderator said, “They’re the real sneaky ones.”

Screening posts are made in the early stages of a relationship (even before a first date) and feature red flag and tea emojis followed by question marks, which translate to a request for stories that may ward the poster off or incentivize her to keep talking to the post’s subject. 

These are frequently met with one comment in particular: “RUN” (often accompanied by evidentiary screenshots of communications or arrest records).

The vetting function of the group comes in especially handy in the modern era of app-based and online dating, in which women set off on first dates with strangers. As one group member pointed out, Humboldt has limited rendezvous options that don’t involve either alcohol or outdoor activities in secluded places – increasing risks in first date situations.

“We all grow up being told not to meet strange men from the internet,” said Sarah, another Humboldt group member. “You used to be more likely to meet someone through a friend group or a workplace, you could see how someone interacts with their peers … . Now, it’s easier for men with bad reputations to get around that and portray different versions of themselves.”

The third variety of posts are deterrents, made solely to warn others. 

These cautionary tales cover a broad swath of “walking red flag” archetypes: “man covertly dating many women at once,” “man who gets drunk and disorderly on dates,” “man who lies,” “man with drug problems,” “man who has disturbing, unrevealed arrest records,” “man with physically and/or emotionally abusive tendencies,” “sexually pushy man” … the list goes on. 

The AWDTSG system breaks down when “snitches” screenshot posts and send them to the man in question, potentially adding a new element of danger for women – as this Vice piece points out. While warning posts are often made anonymously, it’s clear to see how some men would be able to identify the posting party without her name.

“For me the women who told me I was on there didn’t divulge the info of who made the post and put out my info, but the woman I went on a date with was easy for me to identify obviously,” one Reddit user wrote in an r/MensRights forum after he was allegedly the subject of complaints in an AWDTSG group. 

Metropolitan AWDTSG groups, such as those in Chicago and London, have already experienced men threatening women who posted about them or suing members for defamation and invasion of privacy. 

So far, the Humboldt moderators say they’ve received only “empty threats” from men who are made aware that they’ve been posted about – no lawsuits – but the mods also said that every time they’re made aware of a “snitching” incident, they worry someone will get hurt.

“That’s why we have all the anonymous features turned on, so that people can post without revealing all of their identity,” one said, “We try to tell them [group members] about plausible deniability.”

Deniability is difficult in an interconnected community like Humboldt, where each person lives within only one or two degrees of social connection from all others and anonymity exists only for relative hermits. But that’s also what makes Humboldt’s page so effective: It’s almost guaranteed that group members will have intelligence on each man posted. 

“I’ve learned stuff about my own family on there,” said one of the AWDTSG Humboldt moderators.

Some Humboldt members believe the service the group offers outweighs questions of men’s privacy or safety concerns for users.

“If the cost is a man’s reputation and the benefit is a woman’s safety, I think that is less destructive than a woman being in a dangerous or abusive situation,” said Sarah, adding that while it may be “gnarly to have all your dirty laundry aired by a court of exes,” the actual U.S. court system can re-traumatize women bringing claims such as sexual assault, rape and or intimate partner violence. 

AWDTSG is an “imperfect response” to the dangers that women face dating, according to Sarah.

“I wish we hadn’t gotten to this place, but this is where we’re at,” she said.

There is no question that women experience more risk in dating: nine out of every 10 rape victims in the U.S. are female and one in five women has been raped in their lifetime, compared to one in 71 men, according to data compiled by the National Domestic Violence Hotline. 45.4 percent of those female rape victims were assaulted by an intimate partners, compared to 29 percent of male victims. And one in seven American women have been injured by an intimate partner, compared to one in 25 men. 

“It is fundamentally frightening to date as a woman,” one group member told the Outpost. 

Humboldt’s AWDTSG group has also provided tangible support and resources to women in dangerous situations during its first years in existence, according to its moderators. 

“We’ve had a few domestic abuse cases come up, some missing people, and we’ve rallied around families,” one said. 

Some men oppose the pages and have called “BS” on the argument that AWDTSG groups protect women, but others believe that women are entitled to share experiences with male daters who engage in conduct unbecoming.

“There’s nothing to be fearful of if you are behaving as a respectful member of the dating community,” said Charlie, who grew up dating locally and learned of the Humboldt group from a partner. 

Positive replies in Humboldt’s group support his point on dating karma: comments such as “he’s great!” or “I had a good experience!” or “that’s my ex, he’s a good guy” are not uncommon.

“No girl has ever complained about a guy not getting handsy on a first date, or asking nice questions at dinner,” said Martha, another Humboldt group member.

Charlie also said that he’s witnessed a “lack of accountability” for men dating locally that underscores the value of a forum like AWDTSG in his eyes.

“Since high school, I don’t think there’s a single female friend of mine who’s gotten off scot free dating in Humboldt County,” he said. “I think there’s this fear that a lot of men have that falsehoods are going to be shared and it’s going to ruin someone’s life, but ultimately I feel like it’s more important for women to be safe.”

Blasting men on Facebook may be a messy, ethically ambiguous way to handle the dangers of dating. But the AWDTSG system seems to be working as intended: red flags, suspicions and yucky gut feelings are being met with confirmation, and – ultimately – new members are joining “are we dating the same guy - humboldt, CA uncensored” each week.

“Is it ethical? No, not necessarily. Am I going to keep using it? Yes,” said Sarah. 

Michael Andrew Ponsano was a passionate learner and shared knowledge generously. On June 13th, 2024, he left this Earth in the company of family, after battling cancer. His spirit ticks on in us all like the vintage clocks he maintained and cherished. 

Those close to Michael knew that to ask “what are you up to?” was to set 45 minutes aside as he shared the gift of explaining not just what he was working on, but how it works, who invented it, what it sounds like when it breaks (“ka-chunk-CHUNK”), and how we’re going about fixing it, together. And it always ends up as a together project, because that was his spirit; his joy to witness and participate in the miracle of it all—of science and light and life and wonder. This spark could draw anyone in. He inspired all around him to wonder why, how, and what if? 

As a young man, Michael was a handsome and talented trumpet player and drum major in the marching band at Bret Harte High School in Angels Camp, CA. He married his high school sweetheart, Catherine Randall, in 1978 before joining the Air Force. They were stationed in England when their first two children, Angela and Nicholas, were born. While Michael served as a radar technician over the next four years, the family enjoyed exploring Western Europe and visiting family in England and France. 

After he was honorably discharged, they returned to the US and the family welcomed two more children, John and Jessica. From 1990, the family built their life in Eureka. Michael started the Ponsano Service Company, and became well known across the North Coast service industry thanks to his knack to Macgyver any emergency repair needed at beloved local restaurants. On a given day he would start early, perhaps making sure the oven range at The Whalers’ Inn in Fields Landing was firing, then driving up to Klamath Glen to ensure that the Steelhead Lodge’s fryer was up and running for the dinner rush, he’d swing by Rolf’s to check on the ice machine, make his way down to Arcata to add a quick fix to the 100 year old oven at Los Bagels, and finally back to Eureka, kickstarting the refrigerator compressor at Sea Grill before climbing into the oven at Ramone’s for repairs ahead of midnight baking.

In 2004, Michael met Christine Minnehan. The two fell deeply in love and married in 2008. Michael was overjoyed to formally adopt their son, Michael Minnehan. Michael spent the remainder of his years adding his artistic touch and exquisite taste to every inch of their home. He devoted hours of research to his painstaking rebuild of “Maggie,” his cherished MG. He delighted in building tools to manufacture parts for special projects. Michael’s touch on “Winnie,” the custom Winnebago, was key to his and Christine’s peaceful and solitary holidays in the mountains, where they would spend hours reading and relaxing.

As we say goodbye, we hold onto the curiosity he inspired in us. Our time on earth is a miracle, and Michael understood this as scientific fact. We honor him by approaching each beautiful moment with our own scientific minds of wonder. Never stop questioning, never stop exploring. Venture from the sidewalk and stroll in the grass. Savor. Insist on quality. Demand integrity. Eat the donuts. Both of them. Ride your bike to the river. Catch the fish for dinner tonight. Open the red wine you had been saving. It’s all for you, for the ones you love. Even when you don’t have much, you have it all.

Michael is mourned by his family, friends, neighbors, recipients of his perfected sourdough bread, dear cat Missy, and trusted friend Emmanuel Enriquez. 

Michael is survived by his wife Christine; his children Angela Ponsano, Nicholas Ponsano (Christine), John Ponsano (Heather), Jessica King (Arnold); his grandchildren; Lorraina, Miles-Dru, Rosabella, Mason, Haley, Ezra, Selkie, and Montague. He is preceded in death by his adopted son Michael Minnehan, and his brother Vincent Ponsano. 

Friends and acquaintances on the North Coast area are invited to a donut reception behind the duck pond in Sequoia Park on August 4th, at 3 p.m.

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

Mayor Kim Bergel unveiled her selections for the coveted titles of Artist of the Year and Business of the Year at last night’s Eureka City Council meeting. 

Out of the dozen artists and businesses selected for monthly recognition by the city’s Arts and Culture Commission and Economic Development Commission, Bergel got to hand-pick her personal favorites: multi-media artist Becky Evans and the Spa at Personal Choice in Old Town.

Becky Evans | Screenshot

Many of our readers will recognize Evans as the creative mind behind “30,000 Salmon,” a collaborative art installation first assembled in 2002 to commemorate the devastating Klamath River fish kill that left more than 30,000 salmon dead. (Later counts estimated that as many as 100,000 salmon died in the ecological disaster.) The installation reemerged at Morris Graves Museum in 2023 to celebrate dam removal on the Klamath River. 

“I remember when I first saw your Waterlines Project,” Bergel said, referring to Evans’ series on drought in California. “It just had this incredible impact on me [and] a sense of spiritual connection. … Thank you so much for all you do for our community and for our environment.”

Speaking at last night’s meeting, Evans thanked Bergel and the city council for the “very unexpected honor” and underscored the importance of the arts. “I really believe strongly that arts can bring people together.”

“I can see how art transforms people’s lives,” she continued. “People think, ‘Well, it’s just kind of an extra thing. It’s an add-on. It’s nice, but how does it really make a difference in people’s lives?’ I can tell you from my own experience in seeing the many, many children and students from pre-school all the way up through graduate school … their lives were impacted. … It does transform people’s lives and brings us together.”

Susan Santsche | Screenshot

Bergel also took a moment to highlight Susan Santsche, owner of the Spa at Personal Choice. Bergel commended Santsche, a breast cancer survivor, for having the remarkable ability to “take lemons and turn them into lemonade.”

“She spearheaded the effort to get 3-D mammography technology here in Humboldt and has undoubtedly saved many lives in our community,” Bergel said. “You’ve guided your business through the pandemic with grace. … It is truly an honor to know you and to celebrate you.”

Santsche thanked Bergel for the heartfelt acknowledgment and underscored the importance of community resilience. “I think Humboldt has something really great to offer because out of your greatest weakness comes your greatest strength,” she said. “When you don’t have everything given to you, you have to go out and create it.”

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• Man Arrested Near Bridgeville for Homicide, Says Sheriff’s Office

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release: 

On 7/14/2024 in the late evening, Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 27000 block of Highway 36 near Bridgeville to investigate the report of a possible shooting. Deputies responded and located one deceased male. Melvin Portillo, age 20 of Sacramento, California, was subsequently arrested for homicide. There are no outstanding suspects or parties, and there is no danger or threat to the public.

Next of kin has been notified. The identity of the decedent has been positively identified as Rafael Orlando Castillo-Cortes, age 34, of Sacramento. Castillo-Cortes and Portillo were known to each other prior to this incident. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week to determine the cause of death.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathies to Rafael Orlando Castillo-Cortes’s family and friends during this difficult time. 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.