Human waste smells; lakes made of the stuff should reek. But unless you’re standing next to it, the Arcata wastewater treatment plant usually doesn’t. (Too badly.) That hasn’t been the case recently: the odor drifts over Highway 101, into drivers’ nostrils when they hit South G Street, out into Sunny Brae and into dozens of domiciles. 

The plant is the obvious mother of smells that have terrorized Sunny Brae recently, but it’s not the only parent. 

“Why does the Arcata sanitation plant smell so bad these days?” one person asked the Outpost a couple days ago. “Starting a month or two ago, the smell has been intense when driving north approaching Arcata. Today was particularly bad, but up until a few months ago I never noticed it.” 

“When I first began to smell it, I thought it was my vehicle burning coolant. Then I realized it wasn’t coming from my truck; it was everywhere,” said another in February. “I’ve asked everyone I can think of. Some people theorized that it’s the Arcata Marsh… but in twenty years of living around it, I’ve never smelled this, so I’m not sure that that is the answer.”

Well, my fetid friends, the facility is only partly to blame. Arcata’s director of environmental services Emily Sinkhorn told the Outpost that the facility had some of the highest levels of water inflow in a day ever recorded over the winter. Much of it was groundwater, funneled into the plant by aging sewer pipes. Expecting more heavy rain, city staff lowered the water levels in the oxidation ponds to ensure they had plenty of room; nature decided to throw their planning in the toilet and it hardly rained at all until Wednesday. The bacteria in the oxidation ponds, exposed to air, created a mighty stench and wafted for miles. 

But Sinkhorn said they managed to alleviate the problem during February and March. New and improved infrastructure at the facility gives the city greater control over where they send water, from treatment wetlands to UV disinfection basins to enhancement marshes, and they eventually managed to tamp down the smell. 

But residents in Sunny Brae kept on complaining, and Sinkhorn says the sources of these other smells are still unknown and likely outside city limits, perhaps a broken septic system. People described the smells as sulfuric or like sewage. They’re worse near Old Arcata and Golf Course roads.  

City staff are ensuring that there aren’t any problems with Arcata’s sewer system, which, so far, has held up under scrutiny. 

“We really appreciate detail when people call in,” Sinkhorn said. “‘I was here at this time, and the smell was coming from this direction.’ That is helpful for us. We will continue to follow up, particularly on the city’s infrastructure. We take that very seriously.”

Press release from the Humboldt Local Agency Formation Commission:

The Humboldt Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) is seeking applications from interested community members to serve as the Alternate Public Member on the Commission. This is an unique opportunity for a Humboldt County resident to contribute to decisions that shape local agency boundaries, service delivery, and governmental structure.

The Alternate Public Member participates in Commission meetings and serves as a voting member in the absence or disqualification of the Regular Public Member. The appointment is for a four-year term ending June 30, 2030. To obtain an application, please visit www.humboldtlafco.org or email info@humboldtlafco.org. The application submittal deadline is June 19th.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On April 2, 2026, at approximately 8:56 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Boiler Avenue and Eucalyptus Road in McKinleyville to investigate a report of gunshots.

Upon arrival, deputies contacted witnesses who provided an address in the 800 block of Eucalyptus Road and a description of a male subject reportedly firing a gun in the area. Deputies responded to the residence, where they located a 17-year-old male outside who matched the description and took him into custody. 

With assistance from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division, deputies obtained a search warrant for the residence. During the search, they located multiple firearms, ammunition, and evidence indicating that firearms had been discharged in the area.

Deputies arrested 26-year-old Christopher Scott Thomson of McKinleyville, a convicted felon, on multiple weapons-related charges. He was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and booked on the following charges:

• PC 29800(a)(1) — Felon/Addict in Possession of a Firearm 

• PC 30305(a)(1) — Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition 

The 17-year-old male, who was on active juvenile probation, was transported to Humboldt County Juvenile Hall and booked for PC 29820(b) — Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile Ward of the Court.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Crime Tip Line at (707) 268-2539.

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PREVIOUSLY: 

• This Summer, Let’s All Do Our Part to Keep These New, Nasty, Invasive, Infrastructure-Destroying Mussels Out of Ruth Lake
• A New Invader Threatens California Water Supplies. Can the State Stop Its Spread?

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Press release from the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District and the Ruth Lake Community Services District:

Protecting Our Water Supply and Natural Resources from Aquatic Invasive Species

The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District (HBMWD) and the Ruth Lake Community Services District (RLCSD) are jointly announcing the implementation of a mandatory 30-day quarantine program for all watercraft entering Ruth Lake with ballast tanks or other components that cannot be drained. This measure is essential to prevent the introduction of Golden, Zebra, and Quagga mussels which are highly destructive aquatic invasive species that pose a serious threat to our water infrastructure, the lake’s ecosystem, and the region’s long-term water supply.

Why This Matters to Our Community

Ruth Lake is a critical water resource for the Humboldt Bay region. As your water wholesaler, HBMWD’s mission is to safeguard and sustainably deliver clean and reliable water to our community while protecting our natural resources and providing a resilient water supply for present and future generations. Invasive mussels have devastated water systems across the western United States, clogging intake infrastructure, degrading water quality, and costing communities millions of dollars in damage and remediation. Once established, these species are virtually impossible to eradicate. Prevention is our only viable defense.

How the Quarantine Program Works

All watercraft entering Ruth Lake are subject to the following requirements:

1. Watercraft Survey. All boat owners and operators must complete a Watercraft Survey form documenting vessel information and recent launch history.
2. Physical Inspections. All watercrafts will go through physical inspections to ensure they are completely cleaned, drained, and dried. If watercraft fails inspection, it must go through a mandatory 30-day quarantine.
   
3. 30-Day Quarantine for Ballast Tank Watercraft. Any watercraft with ballast tanks or components that cannot be fully drained (such as wakeboard boats) will automatically fail inspection unless the vessel already carries a BLUE exit band from Ruth Lake. This quarantine period is in lieu of your watercraft going through decontamination.
4. Clean, Drain, and Dry. All boaters are reminded to clean their gear, boat, and trailer; drain all bilge, ballast, wells, and buckets; and allow equipment to fully dry before launching in any water body.
   

Where to Obtain Quarantine Bands

RED quarantine bands are available at the Ruth Lake Marina and Ruth Recreational Campground for $10.00.

For boaters in Humboldt County, quarantine bands are also available at two convenient locations: Reynolds RV (646 Hwy 36, Fortuna) and Pacific Outfitters (1600 5th Street, Eureka). Signage with quarantine instructions will be posted at all major launch and access locations.

A Shared Responsibility

Protecting Ruth Lake is a community effort. We are asking every boater, angler, and lake visitor to do their part. Compliance with the quarantine program is not optional.

Failure to comply may result in revocation of boating privileges and potential citation or eviction from the lake. These measures are in place to protect the water supply that serves our entire region, both now and for generations to come.

For More Information

• Ruth Lake Community Services District: www.ruthlakecsd.org
• California Department of Fish & Wildlife — Golden Mussel Information:
  wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Species/Golden-Mussel

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The roadmap is set. After four years of planning and public outreach, the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) has approved a master plan to guide the development of a 300-mile hiking, biking and equestrian trail along the abandoned railway between Humboldt Bay and San Francisco Bay. Once complete, the Great Redwood Trail is projected to be the longest rail-to-trail project in the nation.

Map of the envisioned path of the Great Redwood Trail. Click to enlarge.

The 738-page master plan — linked here — lays out a comprehensive framework for designing, constructing and managing the northern segment of the planned route, which follows the tracks of the defunct Northwestern Pacific Railroad through scenic stretches of rural Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties. (The southern portion of the trail is overseen by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit and isn’t covered in the GRTA’s master plan.)

The wide-ranging document sets standards and priorities for community engagement and government-to-government partnerships with North Coast tribes. The plan also looks at each section of the railway, outlining various “opportunities” for recreation as well as potential “constraints” that could interfere with the trail’s build-out over the coming decades. 

State Senator Mike McGuire, a driving force behind the monumental trail project, touted the approval of the master plan as a “major milestone,” but the real work has only just begun.

“This is a very momentous time, but it is also the beginning of a lot of work to come,” GRTA Operations Manager Bridget Nichols told the Outpost in a recent phone interview. “This document is really a celebration of hundreds and hundreds of hours of so many different people coming together to help us guide this process and move forward with a lot of care and intention. … It outlines where we’re going to go and gives us guidance on how to best incorporate tribes, community members, ecosystems and recommendations from government agencies and local municipalities.”

Segment by Segment: Complexities and Opportunities Along the Great Redwood Trail

While some stretches of the Great Redwood Trail won’t see construction for at least another decade, several sections have already been built, are currently under construction or are deep in the project design phase. Of the 300-plus miles of envisioned trail, 47 miles are already open to the public, including nearly 12 miles along Humboldt Bay.

The master plan doesn’t set specific timelines for the completion of each stretch of trail, but it does rank the feasibility, impact and project readiness of the 43 segments on a scale of one to three stars. (Check out this table for a segment by segment breakdown.) 

An abandoned train car near Dos Rios.

“The [segments] with more stars tend to be tier one,” Nichols said. For example, the Alderpoint section, a five-mile stretch between Cain Rock Railroad Bridge and Steelhead Creek, is ranked “tier one” because the rail line will be easier to convert than, say, the southern portion of Eel River Canyon, which is riddled with collapsed bridges and decaying train cars. “The Alderpoint segment is very feasible, infrastructure-wise, and we have community groups that are ready for it.”

The GRTA is working with Revitalizing Opportunities for the Alderpoint Region (ROAR) to help plan the riverside trail segment and set up jobs for local folks once construction begins.

“They want a better community for their children and for their families to live in, so we’re looking at ways to plan this trail segment that brings life and vitality back to Alderpoint,” Nichols said. “Building the trails would give local contractors an opportunity to work in their own backyard. … We’re also looking at how they can build jobs around maintaining the trail and the surrounding area to keep [residents] employed and to give them something of value that they want to participate in.”

“A lot of times, when we develop one segment of the trail — like the connection between Arcata and Eureka — that the community really wants, we’ll have more help and drive to make it happen,” she added. “We anticipate things like that happening as more and more segments get built.”

Other potential opportunities along the Alderpoint stretch include a cycling loop along Carter Creek that would connect to Fort Seward and a 30-acre campground and day-use area on a piece of GRTA-owned property near Steelhead Creek. As far as complexities go, there is a damaged bridge just south of Steelhead Creek that may require retrofitting or reconstruction. 

Many of the bridges, trestles and tunnels located elsewhere on the trail may be subject to reconstruction or replacement depending on the severity of the damage. The Loleta tunnel, for example, will require “significant remediation” because it’s structurally compromised.

The most complex segments of the trail — including a remote 42.5-mile stretch from Longvale to Island Mountain in Mendocino County and another section between Holmes and Stafford in Southern Humboldt — will have to undergo significant environmental remediation before construction can begin. About a dozen “constraints” are noted along both segments, especially through Eel River Canyon, where numerous landslides have destroyed bridges and collapsed tunnels.

“We’ll have to remove the rail cars that have slid into the Eel River and other railroad-related infrastructure,” Nichols said. “These are large restoration projects, but they’re not unachievable. We have funding that’s dedicated specifically to restoring the Eel, which is a Wild and Scenic river. As a state agency, it’s our responsibility to leave this area in a better place than the railroad did, and we’re really looking at this ultimately as a restoration project.”

It’s a huge undertaking. That stretch through Eel River Canyon is about as rural as it gets, and there aren’t many roads out there. Much of the surrounding area is protected by the Wildlands Conservancy, which acquired the 26,600-acre Eel River Canyon Preserve a few years ago, and most of the rest is owned by old ranching families. 

Given the access limitations, Nichols said the GRTA will have to work with adjacent landowners to get the railroad ruins out of the canyon. 

“Now that we’ve completed the master plan, we can actually get into the nuts and bolts of how we’re going to do it, possibly through private access roads,” she said. “It’s going to be a huge project and a massive undertaking, that’s why we don’t have those segments of trail slated [for completion] for many years. There’s also a lot of cultural resources we want to address in the area, and work with tribes to make sure we’ve done our part before any of it is open to the public.”

Addressing Tribal Concerns

The envisioned path of the Great Redwood Trail passes through the ancestral lands of more than 20 tribal nations. Leading up to the public review process, a group of Wailaki descendants and their allies expressed concern about potential impacts to the Eel River Canyon Preserve and demanded a more prominent role in the decision-making process. 

During the development of the draft master plan, the GRTA sought input from 35 tribes across Northern California through in-person meetings with indigenous leaders, webinars and community workshops, and incorporated their feedback into the final document (section 2.2, pages 52-55). Several tribes expressed interest in either ownership or stewardship of segments of the trail that pass through their ancestral lands and asked for their leadership to be included in the design and planning process.

In the first few pages of its executive summary, the master plan underscores the importance of “early and ongoing collaboration with local tribes” to protect culturally significant resources. Still, GRTA Executive Director Elaine Hogan acknowledged that “deep and trusting relationships with Tribal Nations and members take time to build.”

“Therefore, it’s on us to reach out often and in as many ways as we can,” Hogan wrote in an emailed statement. “We’ve heard specific concerns, inspiration and excitement, and everything in between. Every relationship, perspective, and conversation requires individual respect and attention.”

The GRTA Board of Directors is looking to hire a tribal liaison who will help assemble a tribal advisory board that will ensure tribal concerns are top of mind throughout the trail development process, Hogan said.

“While many Native folks engaged early and often, the relationship- and trust-building doesn’t stop once the Master Plan is done,” she continued. “[I]t is most helpful when Tribal leaders are willing to have direct conversations with GRTA staff about their needs and wishes. We’re doing our best now with our lean staff to advance these conversations, and look forward to even more once our Tribal Liaison Consultant is in place. We’re also hoping to formalize more Tribal partnerships as we move forward with design and implementation.”

The board has also passed several actions to increase tribal involvement in the trail project, including a professional services agreement with the Wiyot Tribe for cultural monitoring and memorandums of understanding (a government-to-government partnership) with both the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians and the Blue Lake Rancheria.

In a statement issued following the board’s approval of the master plan, Jason Ramos, Tribal Chairman of the Blue Lake Rancheria, said the Great Redwood Trail provides a “critical opportunity to restore fish habitat, protect cultural resources, and build an economy that benefits the North Coast communities who have always called this place home.”

“The master plan for trail development represents a meaningful step toward ensuring that Tribal communities are not just consulted, but are genuine partners in how this land is stewarded and celebrated,” he continued. “Blue Lake Rancheria is committed to staying at the table every step of the way.” 

[DISCLOSURE: The Blue Lake Rancheria is a minority owner of the Outpost’s parent company, Lost Coast Communications, Inc.]

Improving Safety and Expanding Emergency Response

Yet another concern that’s been raised throughout the public review process is the issue of safety along the trail — especially on the remote, undeveloped stretches where emergency services are scant and cell service is nonexistent. Property owners along the trail have also expressed concerns about trespassing and other nuisance behavior from trailgoers.

In an interview with the Outpost last year, Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said it would be “impossible for [HCSO] to enforce anything along that trail, yet it is going to be our responsibility to do so.”

Nichols, the GRTA spokesperson you heard from earlier in this story, clarified that the agency never expected the sheriff’s office to patrol the trail. “We’ve been in direct communications with Sheriff Honsal and other first responders, and we take his concerns seriously,” she said. “A formalized approach to emergency response and enforcement will be needed, and we’re planning for that now, before segments are open to the public.”

Last year, the GRTA board approved contracts with two community-based organizations — The People of New Directions in Humboldt County and Friend of Boon in Mendocino County — to provide property management and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness on the trail. However, those organizations are focused on trails that pass through urban centers that are already open to the public.

“We plan on building out our own field operations and staff to be stationed in the back country who are trained in wilderness first response. We also plan on creating formal agreements with local law enforcement and volunteer fire departments to strengthen the rural emergency response capacity,” Nichols said. “We’re looking at this as an investment in community resilience, not a burden on local agencies.”

The GRTA is using the Lost Coast Trail as a case study to understand how first responding agencies work together to patrol a remote region. The master plan notes that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) uses an overnight camping permit system that helps staff and emergency responders keep track of who is camping on the trail and where they may be located. When an emergency does occur, the responsibility is shared among the BLM, sheriff’s office and U.S. Coast Guard. 

“If the location [of an emergency] is close to a road or access point, the [HCSO] is the first responder,” the master plan states. “If it is easier to access from the water or by helicopter, the U.S. Coast Guard responds first. Humboldt County and the BLM also have an ATV that can be used to respond to incidents on remote portions of this trail.” 

This kind of model “really demonstrates how remote trail systems can operate successfully with the right planning partnerships and management structures in place,” Nichols said, noting that private property matters will be handled on a case-by-case basis. 

In the meantime, while the GRTA works out next steps for each segment, the agency is asking residents to avoid sections of the defunct rail line that aren’t officially open to the public.

“I know that there’s a lot of enthusiasm and people really want to get out there,  but … it’s not all open to the public yet,” Nichols said. “We really want to encourage people not to go on unopened segments of the trail yet because we want to be the agency that follows through with the neighbors, reviews the safety of the infrastructure in that area and works with the tribes to protect the cultural resources.”

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If you’re still itching to make your thoughts known, the senior civics class at Redwood Montessori is conducting a survey on the Great Redwood Trail — linked here. The findings will be presented to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors in May.

And if you’d like to take it up a notch and have some decision-making power in the future of the trail, you might want to apply for the opening on the board of directors. More information here.

Michael Francis Jude Goodman was born in Escondido, California, on March 23, 1950, to J.D. and Barbara Jean Goodman. Michael died in Eureka on March 31, 2026.

Michael first came to Humboldt County in 1973 to pursue a BA degree in Philosophy at Humboldt State. He graduated and married his beloved wife, Hollie Ann (née Shaffer), in 1975. Michael then took an MA in Philosophy from San Diego State in 1978 and a PhD in Philosophy from Michigan State in 1986.

He was hired as a lecturer at Humboldt State in 1984, secured a tenure-track position, in 1987, and climbed the ranks to full Professor of Philosophy. Michael retired in 2023. His areas of specialization in scholarship and teaching were logic, philosophy of science, epistemology and the philosophy of David Hume, although as a junior faculty he taught many different courses, such as the history of philosophy, epistemology, metaphysics/ontology, philosophy of law and moral philosophy/ethics. Michael published four books in philosophy and many papers in philosophical journals. One of his favorite academic activities was to read papers at conferences. He delivered papers in Oxford (UK), New York, Athens (Greece), Cordoba (Argentina), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Ann Arbor (Michigan) and many other places. Michael had an abiding love of classical literature, with a special place in his heart for Shakespeare and Dickens.

Michael contracted polio as an 18-month-old in 1951. Paralyzed from the waist down for eight months, he received daily therapy at the Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Multiple surgeries occurred over the years and he was ultimately able to engage in many sports activities. He was most passionate about surfing, baseball and racquetball. He couldn’t run fast but he always gave it all he had, whatever he tried. Music was another driving force in Michael’s life.

He was a musician and songwriter; he recorded 29 albums of music and played acoustic and electric guitars, bass, harmonica and some keyboard. He never liked the sound of his singing voice but he tried hard anyway.

Michael started surfing at Tamarak, in Carlsbad, in 1962. His last surf session was in Crescent City in 2011. He loved the waves, the salt water, the freedom of movement, bottom turns, cutbacks, some nose riding, trimming and just riding. He joined the short-board movement in 1967-68. His love of surfing as an activity was unmatched. Michael’s second sport love was baseball, played Little League, Pony League and tried to play in high school but was cut from the team because he couldn’t run fast. He never got over that. In the early 90s, he made friends with some people when he was coaching Little League in Arcata and joined their softball team. Some of the best fun he ever had, he said.

As to racquetball, he learned to play in 1976 and decided that he wanted to get good at the sport. He progressed and in 1977 wrote an article about strategies that players with some physical challenges could use. The article was published and the racquetball company Ektelon offered him a player contract. He ended up playing professional racquetball for Ektelon for about 5 years. A great bit of fun and it kept him in good shape. The other thing that Michael really loved to do was take his boat out on Big Lagoon fishing for trout and steelhead. He often said that being on the water was some kind of substitute for not being able to surf anymore.

Michael is survived by his beloved spouse, Hollie; their children Matthew (Catheline) Goodman, Anna Goodman, Jay (Lauren) Goodman, and Moira Pitlock; grandchildren Caleb Pitlock, Faith Pitlock, Grayson Pitlock, Cibella Goodman, Adlei Goodman and Jack Goodman; brothers John (Colleen) & Mark (Eileen) and their families; sister Mary Rojas and her husband Tony Rojas; and his brother-in-law Mark Shaffer. He is also survived by his dearest friends Don & Karen Bale of Vista, Calif., Steve Castaneda of San Juan Capistrano, Frank Caetano of Arcata, Ed Hirsch of Arcata, John McGuire of Eureka, Ben Marschke of McKinleyville, Stan Mortel of East Lansing, Michigan, and Jimmy Foot of McKinleyville.

Michael was a devoted parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Arcata. He was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and he greatly valued the many friends he made in the church and in the Knights, and also the lawn crew.

Funeral information below:

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Arcata, 11 o’clock on Tuesday the 7th, with a reception at his home following the service.

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

Carl (Mike) Pullen was born and raised in Fairfield, California. From birth, he was blessed with a strong body and a handsome face. But it was his brilliant mind — paired with a rare ability to apply knowledge in practical, effective ways — that truly set him apart.

Mike was an only child, the son of an only child, and that independence often showed once you knew him well. Knowing Mike taught those close to him how to appreciate the good in people and forgive — or sometimes simply overlook — the rest. After all, life itself is a mixed bag.

Mike graduated from Fairfield High School in 1975 and went on to attend a two-year diesel mechanic trade school in Tennessee. After completing his training, he returned to Fairfield, where he owned and operated a decorative iron shop.

During those years, Mike drove a cammed-out, performance ’69 Mach 1, which he regretted selling until the day he died. He was lucky to have a grandfather, Royce Pullen, who managed the machine shop, as a civilian, at Travis Air Force Base, and together they built a blueprinted street-strip motor. For the muscle car enthusiast, Mike described his cherished Mach 1 like this: “It was a three-fifty-one Windsor, bored thirty-over with TRW forged slugs, a lumpy Crane cam, and Harland Sharp roller rockers up top. It had a seven- fifty Holley double-pumper feeding it, and it would twist to six-five-hundred all night.” For the rest of us, it was a race car barely pretending to be a street car and Mike loved to race it around town.

In 1985, Mike married local Fairfield beauty Shelley Culotty. Together they were blessed with two sons, Nolan Pullen and Trevor Pullen, both of whom have grown into stand-up men. Nolan and his wife, Marissa Estrada Pullen, further blessed Mike with two beautiful grandchildren, Bryce Pullen, age seven, and Byrdie Pullen, age three, who brought him great joy and pride. Mike loved being a father. He taught his boys how to hunt and fish, how to weld, and how to work with their hands — skills they carried to the highest levels and which made him deeply proud.

Following his marriage, Mike made several career transitions. He became a certified welder and worked in gas refineries, then spent a few years maintaining grounds for the Fairfield School District.

In 1989, Mike began studying for the Hospital Inspector of Record (IOR) exam through the State of California’s Office of Statewide Planning and Development Department. At the time of his death, Mike still held a valid class A, IOR license, bearing one of the oldest active numbers in the state.

After receiving his certification, Mike worked at a Northbay Hospital in Fairfield for several years before making the move to Redcrest, in 2007. He fell in love with Humboldt County and often declared he would never leave — and he never did. He spent countless hours exploring the backroads on his Harley and hiking alongside the South Fork of the Eel River with his dogs, Beastie, Chloe, and Evie. He often said that while he may not live in the most beautiful place on earth, there is no place more beautiful than Humboldt County.

Mike served as the Inspector of Record for Saint Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals for almost sixteen years. During his tenure, he worked with numerous design teams and construction crews, closing many complex projects — most on time and within budget. Mike was accomplished, and if you asked his partner of twenty-two years, Denise Eastham Phelps, she would tell you that bringing Mike home to Humboldt County to perform hospital project inspections was one of the best things she ever did for her community.

When it came to his work, Mike always focused on efficiency, integrity, and cost-effective outcomes. He often said, “I always ask myself what’s in the best interest of the project — that’s my focus.” He would have wanted that principle remembered.

Mike battled Type II diabetes for many years without complaint. After enduring several amputations in recent years, he succumbed to acute kidney failure on January 3, 2026, at the age of sixty-eight, in the ICU at Saint Joseph Hospital in Eureka.

It is often only when life is ending — or has ended — that we truly grasp how short it is: a highly perishable product with a fixed expiration date. We spend the first half building it and the second half trying to keep it from falling apart. Not long before his death, Mike said, “I’d rather be under construction when I die.” And so he was.

Gratitude is at the heart of finding good in the world — especially in our relationships with the ones we love. Mike is deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.

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