Release from the Office of California State Senator Mike McGuire:
McGuire’s Holiday Food Drive Smashes All Records, Collects A Staggering 14 Tons of Food and $52,000 (and Still Counting)
Partnering with Six Local High Schools, KHUM and Food For People, Community Rallies For Those in Need
In an overwhelming show of generosity, the community dug deep yesterday to help thousands of neighbors in need at the 8th annual Humboldt Holiday Food Drive, collecting a staggering 30,000 pounds of food and more than $52,000—all in support of the life-changing work of Food for People, Humboldt’s Food Bank.
Senate President Designee Mike McGuire has teamed up with Food For People, KHUM radio and six local high schools for the annual Humboldt Holiday Food Drive for eight years in a row.
With $52,000 going to Food for People—and donations still coming in—this year’s Food Drive raised 50% more than last year, alongside a whopping 29,650 pounds of food to keep Food for People’s pantry stocked through May. This is an amazing feat and it’s become the largest Food Drive in Humboldt County.
“Just Wow! You are amazing, Humboldt! In a year where Food for People is seeing record demand, neighbors stepped up like never before to help the hungriest,” said Senator McGuire. “We owe huge gratitude to the hard-working high school students of Humboldt County and generous Humboldt neighbors who delivered the biggest haul we’ve ever seen in the history of the Food Drive. Words can’t describe our gratitude. We are sincerely grateful for this outpouring of support and generosity.”
Last year, Food for People distributed over 2 million pounds of food to low-income households in every corner of Humboldt. The need is especially great for thousands of kids. A quarter of those served by Food for People are children who depend on others to have enough to eat.
In addition to the community donations, majority of the non-perishable food was collected by thousands of dedicated high school students from six local high schools: Ferndale, Fortuna, St. Bernard’s, Eureka, McKinleyville and Arcata.
St. Bernard’s collected the most food this year with an eye-popping 12,683 pounds for Food For People. They will receive the coveted Golden Can Award and a $750 check from Senator McGuire for their efforts to be used towards their next school dance.
McKinleyville High School worked harder than ever to raise $3,060, the most of any school, and will also take home the Golden Can Award and a $750 check from Senator McGuire.
“We have never seen anything like the Humboldt Holiday Food Drive. The outpouring of support is truly amazing and we are so grateful! The food and funds collected during this event will make a tremendous impact on our friends and neighbors experiencing food insecurity and hunger this winter. We are exceptionally grateful to Senator McGuire, his incredible team, our amazing student leaders for their creative, compassionate, and thoughtful leadership to help people in our community experiencing hunger,” said Carly Robbins, Executive Director of Food for People.
Lost Coast Communications General Manager Nicole Bondurant, Senator Mike McGuire, Food for People Executive Director Carly Robbins, and KHUM DJ Greta Stockwell
The Eureka Police Department today released the names of the two officers involved in the shooting death of 31-year-old Cutten man Matthew Williams, an incident that followed a pursuit and altercation in Old Town on Nov. 26.
The pair are K9 officers, Jeremy Sollom and Nick Jones. According to EPD, Sollom has over seven years of law enforcement experience while Jones has over four years.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation and additional information will be released in
accordance with state law,” EPD said in a brief release announcing the involved officers.
Read previous coverage of the incident at the links below.
Press release from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is continuing the temporary recreational crab trap restriction from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Lopez Point, Monterey County, (Fishing Zones 3 and 4) due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement of humpback whales and leatherback sea turtles with trap gear. The recreational trap restriction will be in effect until at least the next risk assessment. The temporary trap restriction currently in effect in Fishing Zone 1 (Cape Mendocino to the Oregon state line) will be lifted at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at which time the use of recreational crab traps in Fishing Zones 1, 2, 5 and 6 will be allowed. A Fleet Advisory remains in effect for the recreational fishery for all Fishing Zones (1-6). CDFW reminds recreational crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, is allowed during a temporary trap restriction. CDFW also encourages recreational crabbers to implement best practices, as described in the Best Practices Guide.
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in all Fishing Zones (1-6) will remain delayed due to high numbers of humpback whales and a recent confirmed entanglement of a leatherback sea turtle in commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear lost in a previous season.
CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place on or around Dec. 21, 2023, at which time Director Charlton H. Bonham will re-evaluate available data to inform the potential for a commercial fishery opener and modification of the recreational trap restriction. For more information related to the risk assessment process, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/crab.
Norma Lee Nored (Alcorn) was born on November 5, 1934, and left this world surrounded by
love on December 4, 2023. She is now reunited with her beloved husband, Gene Nored, who
preceded her in death in 2012, and her siblings Clyde, Kenneth, and Virgil.
As a teenager, Norma’s family, including her father Granville Alcorn, and Mother Alice Alcorn
(Kennetz), embarked on a journey from Sanger, Calif. to Arcata, seeking opportunities in the
lumber mills. The love of her life, Gene Nored, also followed to Arcata and they were
married as high school seniors! Together, they shared the joy of raising three children: Sharon
Nored, Glenda Nored (Gabel), and Bryan Nored.
Norma dedicated many years of her life to her work at Food Mart until the well-deserved day of
her retirement. Norma and Gene found joy in the simple pleasures, such as deer hunting and
sharing the fruits of their labor with family and friends.
One of Norma’s cherished pastimes was spending evenings on the phone, connecting with her
extensive network of friends and family. Norma had an appreciation for keeping connected to
everyone. A glass of wine (with two ice cubes) in hand while catching up with her twin sister
Donna was a common sight!
Family held a special place in Norma’s heart, and her love extended to her surviving twin sister,
Donna Goddard, her children Bryan (wife Kathy) and Glenda (husband Kyle), as well as her
grandchildren Michael Poer (wife Amy), Steven Poer, Daniel Nored (wife Kyla), Lindsey Esh
(husband Patric), and Kristy Gabell.
Norma faced the pain of losing her daughter Sharon in 2020, but her memory lives on in the
hearts of those who loved her. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Allen, Matthew,
Jackson, Bo, Lacey, Jeremey, Adeline, Eleanor, and Tenzlee.
Raise a glass of wine (with two ice cubes) as we bid farewell to Norma Lee Nored. May she rest
in peace with all of her loved ones who passed before her.
Funeral services will held December 11 at 11 a.m. at Greenview Cemetery.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Norma Nored’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Outpost file photo of a PG&E chopper. | Luke Patterson
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Press release from PG&E:
EUREKA, Calif. — As part of its ongoing efforts to keep customers safe, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will use helicopters to conduct maintenance work on a transmission line in Humboldt County. The company will use helicopters to conduct work on the overhead transmission line, including pole replacements and line repairs; customers may see a line hanging from the bottom of the helicopter which is normal practice for this type of work.
From Monday, December 4 to Saturday, December 9, PG&E helicopters will be visible along the transmission line located in the vicinity of Bridgeville and Garberville, including near Eel Rock Road. From Sunday, December 10 through Thursday, December 14, PG&E will use helicopters to conduct similar maintenance work in the Swains Flat area.
“Using helicopters to maintain our overhead transmission lines is the safest and most efficient way for PG&E to upgrade equipment and make repairs and is less intrusive to the community than using machinery to complete repairs from the ground. We know that PG&E customers in the Humboldt area value their privacy and we want the public to know that this maintenance work conducted by PG&E coworkers is focused only on PG&E transmission lines and equipment,” said Dave Canny, Vice President of PG&E’s North Coast Region.
Flights will begin around 0800 each day and last until sunset and are expected to conclude on December 14; however, weather delays may push to flights to additional days.
The city-owned parking lot at Third and G Streets could become a parking garage. | File photo: Andrew Goff
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Good news for people who fear the City of Eureka values people over parking! What if the city built you a building for parking?
Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery says the city is working with the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) and the Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) to track down funding sources and determine the feasibility of building a parking garage somewhere in Old Town Eureka.
“We are looking at different locations,” Slattery told the Outpost in a phone interview this morning. “To build these things there has to be a certain ingress and egress, stuff like that. Ideally, it would be located at the Third and G parking lot – where the old City Hall used to be – because it would be right next to the EaRTH Center, the city’s [future] multimodal transit center. If that doesn’t work there are a few other locations, like the lot at Second and H [Streets].”
The size and capacity of the parking garage have yet to be determined, Slattery said. Ideally, the garage would be able to accommodate the number of parking spaces that will be lost when the city moves ahead with its plans to develop several city-owned lots in Old Town and downtown, which adds up to around 200 spots. The height of the structure would be determined by the size of the lot, but Slattery said the structure would probably be two or three stories tall.
“It’s all very preliminary but it’s something we’re looking into,” Slattery said. “We should have some more information around the beginning of the year.”
Incumbent Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson this morning announced that he’s running for a third four-year term on the board.
One challenger has filed paperwork to run against Wilson: Rogelio “Roy” Gomez, Arcata resident and owner of Eureka cannabis dispensary Heart of the Emerald. Gomez has accused Eureka City Council members of being “undemocratic anarchists” out to dismantle capitalism. Earlier this year he filed a claim for damages and alleged that city council members violated a municipal code of ethics in a dispute related to a special event permit to sell alcohol at Gomez’s former event venue, Forever Found.
Here’s the press release issued this morning by Wilson’s campaign:
Mike Wilson announced today that he will seek a third term as Humboldt County supervisor. “I want to keep doing all I can to improve and diversify our economy, create more affordable housing, deliver outstanding public services, foster resiliency for the challenges ahead and protect our natural resources and open spaces,” said Wilson.
An environmental engineer who grew up in Humboldt County and earned an MS in Environmental Systems Engineering from Cal Poly Humboldt, Wilson has represented the third district—Arcata, Blue Lake, Freshwater and Manila—on the Humboldt County board of supervisors since 2016. Prior to becoming county supervisor, Wilson served nine years on the board of the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District where he supported a balanced approach to economic development of the harbor and environmental protection. Since 2019, he has served on the California Coastal Commission.
During his time as Humboldt Bay Harbor Commissioner, Wilson lead successful efforts to restore wetlands and estuaries, expand oyster and seaweed farming, clean up the contaminated Samoa Pulp mill site, and create sustainable, living wage jobs. As county supervisor, Wilson has worked to increase safe and walk-able neighborhoods, protect cherished open landscapes, create affordable housing, increase renewable energy production, and expand emergency and long-term mental health services.
Specifically, Mike has played a key role in these accomplishments over the last seven years:
Creation of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund for Humboldt County;
Developing a clean-energy micro-grid at the Redwood Coast Regional Airport;
Seeding the Humboldt Childcare Stabilization Fund with one million dollars;
Expanding transit services to include micro-transit and greater regional bus services;
Developing new source of on-going funding for arts and culture programs;
Improving pedestrian and driver safety with speed tables in Freshwater and Manila;
Expanding trails and public assess and working toward completion of the Humboldt Bay Trail; and
Regulating flavored vapes to reduce youth tobacco addiction.
Wilson has also worked to ensure that large-scale projects proposed meet the needs of Humboldt residents. “I’ve worked with community leaders, labor unions, tribes and many agencies to ensure that offshore wind energy projects will minimize impacts to our ocean, landscapes and communities while providing well-paying jobs, inclusive job training and meaningful contributions for housing and infrastructure,” said Wilson. “We have a long, challenging road ahead as we consider one of the largest proposed offshore wind projects in the country. Robust community engagement will be critical at all levels.”
“Supervisor Wilson is a champion for Humboldt County and the North Coast. He has always stood up for working families and he fights for the unique needs of rural communities,” said Mike McGuire, incoming State Senate President who represents the North Coast. “He’s a leading voice to protect our coast as a Coastal Commissioner and no one works harder to combat the climate crisis than Mike Wilson. Now more than ever, we need Mike on the Board of Supervisors.”
“I have really appreciated how Supervisor Wilson collaborates with the city on solving problems,” said Arcata City Council Member Stacey Atkins-Salazar. “The monthly interagency coordination meetings on housing and homelessness that he helped establish have been invaluable in our working with the Arcata House, Open Door Clinics and county departments to lead the way on our comprehensive response. Mike is always available when we need him.”
“I’ve been working with Mike since his time on the board of Friends of the Dunes when we built the Nature Center. He’s a problem solver who dives in with an engineer’s mind to figure out how to move things forward. I appreciate his engagement with the community and perspective on protecting our environment and preparing for climate change,” said Manila resident Carol Vander Meer.
Supervisor Wilson is grateful to also receive endorsements from: Arcata Mayor Sarah Schaefer; Arcata City Council Members Stacey Atkins-Salazar, Alex Stillman and Kimberley White; Blue Lake Mayor, Adelene Jones; Blue City Council Member Elizabeth McKay; former State Senator Wesley Chesbro; former 3rd District Supervisors Julie Fulkerson, John Woolley and Mark Lovelace; Harbor Commissioners Stephen Kullmann and Craig Benson, and Wiyot cultural leader Cheryl Seidner.
“I’m grateful for Humboldt’s unparalleled natural beauty and community spirit. However, there are some real challenges facing Humboldt County and the region. That’s why I’ll keep collaborating with others, digging in to overcome obstacles and helping to bring all possible resources to the county,” said Wilson.
“I genuinely love this job and have been honored to be able to serve and give back to the community that has given so much to me and my family. With your support, I will continue to bring a balanced approach to issues, listen to all points of view and work with all sides to develop positive solutions.”
