Patsy Ruth Walker
September 25, 1929 – December 27, 2023

Patsy Ruth Walker (Hackett), born September 25, 1929 passed away peacefully at the age of 94 at Seaview Rehab & Wellness Center in Eureka on December 27, 2023. She was raised on a sheep ranch outside Ferndale by her parents, George and Bertha Hackett (McAllister). She then went on to marry Harold Hall Walker in 1950; they had two children, Danny H. Walker and Michelle Lynn Walker, whom they raised in Mckinleyville.

Patsy graduated from Ferndale High School in 1947. She attended Humboldt State for two years, for secretarial school. She then worked as the School Secretary at Dow’s Prairie in the 1970s after her husband’s passing. She never forgot her farming roots, though, as she loved sheep from a young age and into her adult life; she was the first female sheep shearer in Humboldt County. She considered herself a tomboy who loved to play outside, and always opted for trousers over dresses, when given the choice.

Patsy was very independent, and a breast cancer survivor. She crafted beautiful quilts, tended to her garden and read books from the local library. The table beside the sofa always had a stack of books, as well as the weekly crossword that she was working through. She never missed the evening news, followed by Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. She took pride in her home, her yard and personal appearance, always preferring a fresh perm and coat of Lancôme lipstick. For years, she could be seen running errands in her beloved black Honda Civic, and meeting her friends at Denny’s for breakfast every Friday. She loved Eggo waffles and black coffee, just as much as fish and chips from Seascape in Trinidad.

Patsy was a caring mother and grandmother. She was always there to watch her grandchildren, who fondly referred to her as Gma. She was close with her daughter Michelle, even from afar in Colorado – through weekly phone calls, and later in life, when Michelle moved in to help take care of her. Patsy also took the trip of a lifetime with her daughter Michelle in 2000, staying in Bath, and visiting the English countryside. Meanwhile, her son Danny was always nearby in Humboldt and could often be found snoozing in front of Patsy’s much-loved woodstove.

The real loves of her life though were her kitties; when the black cat that she called Baby eventually passed, she was very upset. Michelle thankfully brought home two new sweet kittens when she moved in, and Baby the second was a happy distraction. She never failed to ask how the kitties were doing.

Pat is survived by her daughter Michelle, granddaughter Cassandra Walker; brother and sisters George Hackett (Fortuna), Charlotte Michel and Jeannette Leonardo (Ferndale). She is preceded in death by her husband, her son, her sister Lorene R. Tipple, and her parents. Pat’s family and friends will celebrate her life privately in the coming days. The family would also like to mention their gratitude to Visiting Angels and Hospice of Humboldt, who helped care for Pat in recent years. Donations in her honor can be made to Food for People in Eureka.

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Alan Richard Wolski
July 7, 1947 - January 9, 2024

It is with aching hearts that we announce the death of Alan Wolski, beloved husband and devoted father to two daughters and a granddaughter. Al was born to Edward and Mildred Wolski in Chicago on 7/7/47, and he always thought of seven as his lucky number. He was a lover of music, nature, night skies, his cats, and most of all, his family. He was a life-long searcher for truth, as seen through his extensive readings from world religions and literature. He had fond memories as a kid exploring the woods and lakes of Wisconsin with his sister, then later, with more siblings on Washington Island, WI. His love of adventure led him to travels around the world, from living abroad in the Virgin Islands to backpacking in Peru. He instilled that love in his daughters, who also ended up living abroad and visiting many countries.

Friends were also central to his life. Al had his jazz, blues and reggae buddies, softball team, camping companions, and long-time high school and college friends. He was known as both a storyteller and a collector of jokes and LPs. Al enjoyed giving back to the community he loved, through volunteering at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center and the Arcata Library, as well as at many community Thanksgiving dinners and the like.

Al was a renowned gardener, often inspiring passersby to inquire how he grew such beautiful flowers. He turned his backyard into a vibrant ecosystem in the middle of town, with thriving tree frog and hummingbird populations. He shared his aptitude for gardening with his clients for over 30 years, helping restore landscapes across Humboldt as “The Garden Sitter.”

He is survived by his wife Mary Ann Madej, daughter Tamara (Jeremy), daughter Angie (Gabriel), and granddaughter Juniper, as well as his siblings Diana (Frank), Mike (Peg), Chris, and Bill (Toni) and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be planned for a sunnier time in the future. Donations in his memory can be made to Friends of the Arcata Marsh or Friends of the Arcata Library.

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John Dexter Freeman passed away on December 11, 2023 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born on January 19, 1942 to John and Jane Freeman in San Francisco.

Dex grew up in Martinez and graduated from Alhambra High School in 1959. After high school he joined the Army, working in the Signal Corps. After the Army he went to work for RCA on Thule Airbase in Greenland. Before leaving for Greenland he met the love of his life, Betty. While in Greenland, tragedy struck when the bowling alley burned down, so he left.

In 1967 he married Betty and returned to California. He got a job with IBM which he loved. In 1967 his first son, John, was born, followed by a daughter, Deanne, four years later and another son, Steven, four years after that. In 1978 he relocated with IBM to Humboldt County. In 1981 he bought his first satellite TV dish. Shortly after he started his own satellite TV business, Teledex Downlink. He retired from IBM in 1997 but continued with Teledex until his passing.

Throughout his life he was an avid bowler and was proud when he bowled a 300 game. He was a member of the Harbor Lanes Match Club and a past president of the Humboldt Men’s Bowling Association. He was a life member of the Elks Club and he was the Grand Chancellor of the Pythian’s for the state of California. He was a lifelong fan of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers. He loved fishing and going crabbing. He loved talking to people. If given half a chance he would get the life story of anyone he met.

He is survived by his wife Betty and his children John(Cynthia) Freeman, Deanne (Tim) Gomes, and Steven(Jennifer) Freeman as well as grandchildren Zack, Ambre, Nathan and Natalie Freeman, Lydia, Eliot, and Oliver Gomes and Alex and Finn Freeman.

There will be a celebration of life on January 19, 2024 at Harbor Lanes Bowling Alley at 6 p.m.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information regarding the whereabouts of Corey James MOORE. An outstanding Felony warrant for the arrest of MOORE has been issued in the charge of:

PC 311.11(a): Possess/etc obscene matter of minor in sexual act.

MOORE is believed to be transient in the Arcata area. If you see Corey James MOORE, do not approach him, but call 911 immediately.

Suspect Description: White male adult, approximately 6 feet 3 inches tall, 200 pounds, with short brown hair, hazel eyes, and a beard.

Attached photo was taken from his California ID Card in 2021.

If you see Corey James MOORE, please call 911. Reference case number: 20230521

Eureka Police Department release: 

Pursuant to California Government Code 7923.625, video and /or audio recordings depicting the discharge of a firearm at a person by a peace officer or custodial officer shall be made public within 45 days of the event by the agency provided the release would not significantly interfere with a criminal or administrative investigation.

The Eureka Police Department has released the body worn camera recording depicting the discharge of a firearm during the November 26, 2023 officer involved shooting. The video can be seen below: 

The department is also releasing the radio transmissions between the officers on scene and our Communications Center that encompass the time from the traffic stop to the officer involved shooting. The audio can be found below:

While both officers involved in the incident were wearing their body worn cameras, the second officer’s camera had a failure. This camera was sent back to the manufacturer to be examined. The examination of the camera by the manufacturer revealed, “The camera experienced an internal processing error preventing the camera from capturing video from the particular time. The error displayed is 100/ ‘Init Failure’.” The camera has been replaced by the manufacturer.

The Humboldt County Multi-Agency Critical Incident Team (CIRT) is continuing to investigate. This is an active investigation and additional information will be released in accordance to the law.

PREVIOUSLY:

• BREAKING: Eureka Police Department Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting Near the Library
• Eureka Police Issue Statement on Today’s Officer-Involved Shooting Near the Library
• Eureka Police Department Identifies Man Shot and Killed by Officers in Old Town on Sunday, Releases Details on Altercation That Preceded Deadly Response
• Eureka Police Department Release the Names of Officers Involved in Old Town Shooting Death

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PREVIOUSLY

• Ground Has Been Broken on Klamath River Restoration, the World’s Largest-Ever Dam-Removal Project
• (PHOTOS) Removal of Copco No. 2 Dam Complete, Restoring Klamath River Flows to Ward’s Canyon for the First Time in 98 Years

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Press release from the Klamath River Renewal Corporation:

Hornbrook, CA – Yesterday, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC), initiated the drawdown process by opening the low-level outlet tunnel in the Iron Gate Dam. Drawdown refers to the slow draining of the water in the reservoirs, which will be lowered in a controlled manner through tunnels located at the base of the dams. Drawdown of the JC Boyle and Copco Reservoirs will begin later this month, and all reservoirs are expected to be drained by the end of February. 

“Witnessing the beginning of drawdown at Iron Gate dam was both celebration of an important moment in the story of Klamath dam removal, and a source of pride for the exceptional work done by so many people to arrive at this day.” Said Mark Bransom, CEO of KRRC. 

Communities downstream of the dams will start to see changes in the river in the coming days, as sediment that has accumulated behind the dams is evacuated downstream. There is an estimated 17-20 million cubic yards of sediment behind Iron Gate, JC Boyle, and Copco No. 1, the three remaining Klamath dams slated for removal. During the drawdown process 5-7 million cubic yards is expected to go downstream during the initial phase of drawdown in January and February. Extensive testing done by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and KRRC consultants has determined the sediment to be non-toxic, mostly consisting of dead algae, gravels, and fine clay particulates.  

“Iron Gate’s drawdown strategy is different than what people may have seen in the past with other dam removals,” noted Bransom. “There was no blast at this dam, instead we had the opportunity to use existing infrastructure, which allows us to precisely control the volume of water going down river, limiting downstream impacts.” 

The initial drawdown period was carefully selected KRRC’s Aquatic Resources Working Group, which is comprised of Tribes, and state and federal agencies. January and February are the ideal months for this process, as there are the fewest threated and endangered species in the mainstem, and winter flows will assist with sediment evacuation.  

While the initial phase of drawdown is expected to be completed sometime in February, because the reservoirs will be drained so slowly, they may refill a bit with spring run-off, and then need to drain again. Water quality is expected to improve in March, after the initial phase of drawdown is complete, but it will likely take up to 24 months for water to return to usual clarity, following the successful establishment of vegetation in the former reservoir footprint areas. Work on the deconstruction of the dams is expected to commence sometime in May or June of 2024 depending on the weather, and be complete by Fall, 2024.  

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The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) is a private, independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization formed in 2016 by 23 signatories of the amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, or KHSA. KRRC is part of a cooperative effort to re-establish the natural vitality of the Klamath River so that it can support all communities in the Klamath Basin. Signatories, which include the States of California and Oregon, local governments, Tribal nations, dam owner PacifiCorp, irrigators, and several conservation and fishing groups, appointed KRRC to take ownership and oversee removal of four hydroelectric dams on the river. 

The U.S. Supreme Court will weigh in on whether cities can legally ban or limit unhoused people camping in public spaces — a case that could grant California officials more power to sweep homeless camps.

The case, originating from the Oregon city of Grants Pass, could overturn or narrow a five-year-old precedent from a federal appeals court that limited how much cities in Western states could criminalize those who sleep on the streets when there aren’t enough shelter spaces available.

In the older case — Martin v. Boise — the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2018 that it’s cruel and unusual punishment to criminalize camping on public property when the people in question have nowhere else they can legally sleep. The ruling was binding on West Coast cities, where rising rates of unsheltered homelessness that later spiked during the pandemic were driving local politicians to pass public camping prohibitions. In 2019 the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of that case.

Since then, California cities have often been subject to federal lawsuits after passing restrictions on when and where the unhoused can set up camps. Relying on the ruling in the Boise case, judges have delayed or outright halted camping bans from being enforced in cities including San Francisco, Sacramento, Chico and San Rafael, finding that the cities had failed to provide adequate alternate shelter options for the residents they were about to sweep from their encampments.

The situation has led city officials — and Gov. Gavin Newsom — have complained that the Boise ruling has tied their hands from addressing the state’s sprawling encampments, arguing they need to sweep camps both for health and safety reasons and for the well-being of encampment residents. It’s led liberal officials into the unusual position of asking a majority-conservative court for more power to penalize the homeless for sleeping outside. In a high-profile case that has particularly drawn Newsom’s ire, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals this month backed a judge’s 2022 ruling restricting San Francisco’s enforcement of certain bans on sleeping on sidewalks and in parks, because the city hadn’t shown there were other locations that were “realistically available” to unhoused residents before a city sweep.

“California’s elected officials who seek in good faith to improve what often appears to be an intractable crisis have found themselves without options, forced to abandon efforts to make the spaces occupied by unhoused people safer for those within and near them,” Newsom’s administration wrote to the Supreme Court in September.

The case is being closely watched by officials across California and could widely affect how they respond to encampments. Newsom’s statement was part of an amicus curiae brief the administration filed in the case. Amicus briefs are legal briefs submitted by parties not directly involved in a given case, but who typically take one side or the other in a case. The majority of the amicus briefs filed in the case were from California entities and, though more than a dozen mostly-Republican-led state governments also filed a brief, Newsom was the only governor to weigh in.

In addition to Newsom’s, other filings include the California State Association of Counties, the California State Sheriffs’ Association, district attorneys for Sacramento and San Diego counties, the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Bay Area Council, and even the Brentwood Community Council.

But advocates for the unhoused say the Boise ruling is clear. They point out that most cities have hardly enough shelter beds to accommodate their homeless populations and that shelters are often near-full on any given night, and say banning public camping or restricting it does more harm than good by pushing homeless people from location to location.

“All you need to do to be compliant with (the Boise case) is stop using our criminal system as the stick here to solve this problem,” said Will Knight, decriminalization director at the National Homelessness Law Center, last year.

In particular, the court rulings have led to a patchwork of interpretations across the state on what qualifies as the “adequate shelter” cities must provide before sweeping homeless camps. The Oregon case that the Supreme Court agreed to hear could provide some clarity — or so California officials hope.

While the Boise ruling said the government can’t broadly ban any public camping without giving people alternative places to stay, Newsom and city officials across California said in briefs filed before the Supreme Court that they want to know whether they can set restrictions on times or locations where camping is allowed.

“All you need to do to be compliant with (the Boise case) is stop using our criminal system as the stick here to solve this problem.”
— Will Knight, Decriminalization director, National Homelessness Law Center

Other questions include whether cities can criminalize public camping for those whom they call “voluntarily” homeless — people who refuse offers of shelter. And California cities have asked the court to rule on whether, in order to ban camping, they need to have a suitable shelter space available for every individual unhoused person no matter their circumstances, or simply have general shelter beds open the day they sweep a camp.

But U.C. Berkeley law professor Jeffrey Selbin, who has studied statewide responses to homelessness, said claims from both sides are overblown.

Selbin said the existing cases neither fully tie cities’ hands, as some politicians say, nor provide a broad right to sleep outside, as some advocates say. He defended the status quo in which cities sometimes must seek guidance from federal judges to know whether their local rules are constitutional under the Boise decision.

In Chico, for example, a federal district judge in 2021 ruled that sending unhoused residents to camp on an unshaded airport tarmac on the outskirts of town was not “adequate” enough shelter to justify banning encampments in town. In response, the city settled the case by setting up a site of tiny homes where it can offer encampment residents a room before proceeding to sweep their camp.

That case, Selbin said, provided direction to other cities, showing that the court cases have “required local jurisdictions to take seriously what it means to provide basic shelter and options.”

The Supreme Court is unlikely to provide that kind of “micromanaging,” Selbin said, predicting instead that the justices will simply overturn the 2018 precedent set by the Boise case and allow cities to broadly criminalize encampments.

“It’s just going to return California to the whack-a-mole of prioritizing punishment over services,” he said.

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