###

Situated at the gateway to Redwood National and State Parks, the long-overlooked community of Orick has struggled for years to realize its potential as a tourist destination. Now, a group of Cal Poly Humboldt students is trying to change that. 

The student-led project, “Orick Rising,” aims to draw more visitors to the economically depressed town by revamping and beautifying its main street. The hope is that increasing curb appeal will encourage Highway 101 travelers to stop, explore and spend money in town.

While the project’s primary focus is increasing tourism in Orick, the students are working with locals to ensure their vision honors the unincorporated community’s “cultural identity” and improves the “overall quality of life for residents.” 

“We want them to be involved,” said Nancy Nazario, one of four recreation administration majors working on the project. “Some people are averse to change, but, hopefully, any improvements that are made are in the hands of the community. … We’re working on a time constraint — this is just a one-semester project — but, in the future, I’m hoping to come back, even to just work on small improvements.”

“We started off with the idea of just bringing some basic ideas to the community to find out what they really want,” said Mike Sanchez, another recreation administration major at Cal Poly Humboldt. “We really wanted them to identify with the ideas we came up with, so it’s more reflective of [Orick] and doesn’t feel like we’re just coming in to improve the economy.”

Last semester, the group of students put together a report, “Orick Rising: Assessing the Tourism Potential of Orick, California,” that looked into the region’s tumultuous history and current challenges, analyzing how “natural, built, cultural and economic systems shape a community’s identity, functionality and appeal for residents and visitors.”

The report outlined several short-term strategies to attract travelers, including the development of a trail along the levee and the construction of a new visitor’s kiosk and/or self-guided tour system that would share the town’s history via QR codes.

The students also floated the idea of putting together a festival-type event that would complement the Orick Rodeo but occur during the off-season. However, that idea seemed a little too ambitious for a single-semester project, Sanchez said.

The group of students presented the report at a community meeting in September, where Orick residents were encouraged to provide feedback and share their own ideas.

“Meeting participants showed support for projects by applying stickers to project boards,” said Ara Pachmayer, associate professor of tourism management at Cal Poly Humboldt. “Of the meeting attendees, many residents expressed interest in moving forward with the main street beautification proposal, and that is what the class is pursuing with the community.”

Now that they’ve got a plan in place, the students are meeting with the Orick Main Street Beautification Planning Group, a collection of local stakeholders. 

Humboldt County’s Economic Development Program Manager Peggy Murphy attended the September community meeting and said she was impressed by the students’ proposal, noting that she was “truly inspired by the professionalism, openness and grace each of them has shown throughout the process.” While the beautification project may seem like a small step in improving Orick’s economic future, “real change often begins with a catalyst.”

“Downtown and tourism-oriented investments help create a stronger sense of place,” Murphy said. “Orick sits at the gateway to the redwoods, one of the most iconic destinations in the world, yet it has historically captured only a fraction of the tourism economy passing through. Strengthening the town center and adding amenities that reflect local culture, and landscape could help Orick tap into that opportunity.”

“Also, these kinds of projects often spark broader economic development,” Murphy added. “This momentum has the potential to attract small businesses, hospitality services, eateries and recreation-based enterprises that diversify the local economy.”

Sociology major Steven Ochoa hopes the beautification project will provide the morale boost needed to encourage property owners to improve the façades of buildings along Highway 101 and, eventually, bolster infrastructure all throughout town.

“We can see that as being a little bit outside of tourism, but that infrastructure is still really important when you’re trying to invite potentially thousands of people that are going to the redwoods and aren’t stopping in Orick to now stop there,” Ochoa continued. “We don’t want to overwhelm what is there already, right?”

The students’ current focus is tracking down the grant funding needed to bring the project to life. Until then, the group will keep meeting with the planning group to set priorities and finalize beautification plans.

###

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

###

California is fighting back after President Donald Trump’s administration instigated homeless housing cuts that local service providers said would be “devastating.”

Two recently filed lawsuits accuse the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of illegally going over Congress’ head to make massive changes to the way federal homelessness funds are distributed.

“HUD’s new grant rules would effectively defund permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing programs across the nation, eliminating proven tools that help residents exit homelessness sustainably,” Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti said in a statement. “This is another instance of the Trump administration prioritizing its political agenda above the needs of our most vulnerable community members.”

Santa Clara County and San Francisco sued the Trump administration this week, in conjunction with the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the National Low Income Housing Coalition. A separate lawsuit was filed last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and a handful of other states. It marked the 47th time California sued the Trump administration in 44 weeks.

Now, homeless service providers are waiting anxiously to see how the litigation plays out and wondering if the impending legal battle will further delay the money they desperately need.

“It’s just the matter of how long it’s going to take that concerns me,” said Robert Ratner, director of Santa Cruz County’s Housing for Health, which coordinates the county’s homelessness response. “Because while we’re waiting for these issues to get resolved, we have programs that are going to run out of money to support people.”

The Department of Housing and Urban Development did not respond to a request for comment.

In a statement last month, HUD Secretary Scott Turner said the changes are aimed at “stopping the Biden-era slush fund that fueled the homelessness crisis, shut out faith-based providers simply because of their values, and incentivized never-ending government dependency.”

At issue are changes the Trump administration made to its funding policy last month. Jurisdictions applying for a piece of about $4 billion in federal homelessness funds now can’t spend more than 30% of that money on permanent housing — a significant decrease. Los Angeles County, for example, currently spends more than 80% on permanent housing. Instead, the federal government wants localities to prioritize emergency shelter and temporary housing programs that require participants to be sober or participate in treatment.

While shelters offer a temporary respite from the streets, permanent housing can end someone’s homelessness. For years, the federal government has prioritized funding permanent housing using the “housing first” method — a strategy that moves people into housing as quickly as possible, without requiring them to first get sober or agree to addiction treatment. Veering away from both of those principles marks a major policy shift.

Last year, California communities won more than $683 million in federal homelessness funds through what is called the Continuum of Care program. About 90% of that went to permanent housing projects, which currently house tens of thousands of Californians, according to Newsom. The new rule threatens to put those people back out onto the street, he said in a news release.

“While we’re waiting for these issues to get resolved, we have programs that are going to run out of money to support people.”
— Robert Ratner, director, Housing for Health

The new policy also prohibits the use of federal funds for diversity and inclusion efforts, support of transgender clients, and use of “harm reduction” strategies that seek to reduce overdose deaths by helping people in active addiction use drugs more safely. And it gives preference for projects in cities, counties and states that ban homeless encampments.

Both lawsuits allege that the Trump administration’s funding changes violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution by defying the rules Congress set out for distributing the funds. Congress authorized a two-year grant cycle in 2024, meaning local jurisdictions wouldn’t have to reapply for funds in 2025. The Trump administration flouted that decision when it suddenly forced jurisdictions to reapply, the lawsuits allege.

The lawsuits also claim the administration didn’t go through proper protocol before enacting the changes to its funding strategy, which would have included giving cities and counties more time to comply with the new rules, and allowing stakeholders to comment on the changes.

In Santa Cruz County, Ratner is of two minds about the lawsuits. On one hand, he believes the abrupt way the Trump administration rolled out the funding changes was “very inappropriate.” But he worries a lengthy court battle could tie up funds his county needs to pay people’s rents.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness sued the Trump administration over similar allegations tied to a smaller, $75 million pot of homelessness funding in September. A judge sided with the Alliance, and temporarily barred the federal government from distributing those funds. But now that money is frozen, unable to help unhoused residents as the case moves forward.

Ratner worries that could happen again in this case. Santa Cruz County is set to start hitting serious financial problems as soon as February, Ratner said. That’s when a $1.2 million supportive housing grant, which currently houses about 50 people in different apartments around the county, is set to expire.

The Trump administration doesn’t expect to start awarding Continuum of Care money until May. It’s unclear how the lawsuits will affect that timeline.

In the meantime, Ratner and other homeless service providers are trying to remain optimistic.

“At this point, we don’t know how long the litigation process will take, but we’re hopeful it leads to a more workable path forward,” Sacramento Steps Forward CEO Lisa Bates said in a statement. “Of course, any delay in federal funding would have real impacts on communities across the country, including ours, to operate shelters, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and essential system coordination.”

Rebecca I. Frambach of Willow Creek, a resident of Humboldt County, passed into God’s perfect memory on October 26, 2025, at the age of 56 years. She died very peacefully at Santa Rosa Providence Memorial Hospital, surrounded by two very dear couples, who for years were like family to her. 

She is survived by her beloved mother Avis (“BEA”) Frambach and only sibling, her proud sister Laura Frambach, both of Sheffield, MA. Also by her loving Uncle Richard and Aunt Mary Frambach, of New Hampshire. And by her dear Aunt Martha Abbondandelo. In addition, she was deeply loved by literally hundreds of precious friends, her spiritual brothers and sisters! These are fellow members of congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, starting with her childhood congregation of Great Barrington, Mass. for 19 happy years. After that, she moved to help out the small but very caring Valley City, N.D. congregation for 20 happy years. After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, she readily moved to New Orleans, Louisiana to volunteer in the Disaster Relief Committee of Jehovah’s Witnesses to aid affected ones and their moldy homes for a year! Lastly, she again moved up to beautiful Willow Creek for 17+ wonderful years to help out the close knit, very loving congregation in the volunteer work she always loved the best: sharing in spreading hope of the best future ever possible, through God’s Kingdom government soon to bless all mankind permanently. 

She is predeceased by her beloved and wise father, Ronald Frambach.

Becky made it her life’s work to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who shared kingdom good news while he was on earth for 3 1/2 years. (Please see Matthew 24:14 in the Holy Scriptures).  She devoted her heart and energy to serving as a regular pioneer in the volunteer ministry for 40+ years starting at age 16. 

She supported herself by a variety of part-time jobs, and the one she enjoyed the most was her reflexology business, where she could help many people find relief and comfort with her special type of “hands on“ treatment.

Becky‘s early years were spent enjoying quality family time, spent mostly by delighting in God‘s handiwork which is all around us. Starting in the 1970s, the Frambach family enjoyed roughing it by tent camping, then in the 1980s, graduating to  pop-up trailers, which were taken all over New England, especially the beautiful White Mountain area in New Hampshire. She and her sister grew to know our Grand Creator by studying His beautiful creations on these camping and adventure trips. 

Two of her favorite joys were her hobbies, which brought her endless delight. She loved taking photographs of people, places, and all of life’s adventures — carefully labeling them, storing them in countless albums, and sharing them with others.  

She also cherished staying connected with friends. At the beginning of each month, for decades, without fail, Becky would compose unique cards, some of which included heartfelt poems, to send out to every couple who was celebrating their wedding anniversaries, and special milestones.

She carried out this tradition with zeal, joy, and deep satisfaction — much to the delight of those who received her treasured cards!

What sustained her more than anything – filling her with happy hope, vigorous zeal for the life-saving ministry, and endurance through hard times – was the beautiful promise of a future on earth. This promise comes from our loving God, who canCorey Shannon-Johnson’snot lie, and is recorded in the Holy Bible. In Revelation, chapter 21, verses 3, 4, it says: “God… will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more… The former things have passed away. Look! I am making all things new.” And in verse 5, He continues: “Also he says, ‘write, for these words are faithful and true.’ “ And Christ himself promised in John chapter 5, verses 28, 29: “Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the Memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out… to a resurrection of life!”

On Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 2 p.m., there will be a memorial service held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, at 65 Blue Jay Lane, Willow Creek.

###

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

Jeffrey Lynn Meisner, born on July 25, 1956, passed away on November 12, 2025 in Arcata. He was 69 years old.

Jeff was a man of deep faith and compassion, known for his kindness and generosity. A devoted member of Faith Center Foursquare Church in Eureka, he lived his life guided by his love for the Lord and a sincere desire to serve others. His gentle spirit and giving nature left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

He shared 23 cherished years with his loving partner, Ramona Roth Cooke. Jeff was a proud father to his daughter Miranda Islas and sons Jordan Meisner and Seth Meisner. He also leaves behind five beloved grandchildren.

Jeff is remembered by his brothers Jerry Meisner and Tom Meisner. He also held a special bond with his extended Roth family: Judy Ingraham, Linda Lynes, and Larry Roth. And beloved friends Andrew, Sarah and Willow.

Those who knew Jeff will remember him as a man of quiet strength and unwavering kindness. His presence brought comfort and warmth to those around him, and his absence will be deeply felt.

May his memory bring peace to all who loved him.

###

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

###

Humboldt County’s First District supervisor, Rex Bohn, says a formal complaint accusing him of being abusive and hostile toward staff was filed by his colleague, Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone.

If this is the first you’re hearing about a formal complaint against Bohn, that’s not surprising. There hasn’t been much media coverage of it. But Bohn himself brought it up, unprompted, during the Nov. 4 Board of Supervisors meeting. In the midst of deliberations about misconduct by Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, Bohn remarked that he’d been accused of misconduct as well.

The Outpost promptly asked the county for a copy of the complaint and related documents, pursuant to the California Public Records Act. On Monday evening, the county released those documents to both the Outpost and blogger John Chiv. 

The documents include a partially redacted copy of the complaint, which says Bohn’s alleged misconduct occurred during a June 24 meeting to discuss the county’s Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) Ordinance, which was passed in 2023. From the complaint:

As soon as the meeting started it became obvious that this meeting was initiated by Supervisor Bohn to lobby for an acquaintance of his. This person was the owner of 30 or more Chevron Stations in Northern California who was selling his business, as a whole. The owner was upset that the new TRL Ordinance was going to cost him to lose his tobacco sale license for 3 stations in Humboldt County. One in McKinkleyville [sic], one in Garberville, and one in Willow Creek.

The ordinance in question was unanimously approved by the board in June. Among its many provisions is one saying a tobacco retail license can only be transferred to a “parent, child, spouse or domestic partner.”

The complaint says that during this June meeting, Bohn “aggressively pushed on staff to offer some sort of waiver for his friend,” and when they explained that they lacked the authority for such a move, he “continued his attack on staff.”

In a phone interview, Bohn disputed that characterization. 

“Was I animated? Yeah,” he said. But his insists that he didn’t yell, call anyone names or otherwise abuse staff. As for the underlying dispute, he’s still upset about the ordinance’s provision limiting license transfers.

“The bottom line is, our health department told people they had their cigarette licenses for 50 years, and now they’re being told that if they sell their stores [the new owners] couldn’t get that license unless they’re directly related,” Bohn said.

He said he was arguing on behalf of the owner of Redwood Oil Company, which owns nearly two dozen gas stations and mini markets across five counties, as well as the owner of Country Club Market on Humboldt Hill.

“I was raised in a corner grocery,” Bohn said. “We can’t keep putting small businesses out of business.”

Asked why he voted to approve the TRL ordinance given these misgivings, Bohn said staff failed to highlight this specific provision of the 40-page ordinance.

However, recordings of Board of Supervisors meetings show that staff did highlight that aspect of the ordinance. For example, video of a June 2023 staff presentation introducing the ordinance shows Elaine Hogan, then-program services coordinator for Tobacco-Free Humboldt, discussing that provision specifically. She says limiting transfers to family members is designed to reduce the total number of tobacco retail licenses in the county over time. (The link above is queued to that moment.) Video of the board’s June 3 2025 meeting shows Public Health Director Sofia Pereira addressing that provision again. 

At any rate, the complaint goes on to say staff tried to reason with Bohn, telling him they planned to come back to the board in a month or two with suggestions for changes to the ordinance. But Bohn would not be placated. From the complaint:

Supervisor Bohn continued his rants and I spoke up and asked him to calm down and [told him] how inappropriate it was to be pushing so hard for this waiver. He said “I know I am an asshole, I am just an asshole”. This is not the only incidence of this behavior on Bohns part.

“It’s Madrone making a complaint against me,” Bohn told the Outpost today. (Madrone has not yet responded to a voicemail left for him this afternoon.) 

In Bohn’s account of the incident, he said to staff at one point, “I’m sorry I’m an asshole, you guys. I’m sorry, but I’m pretty passionate about this.”

Bohn addressed his objections to the license-transfer portion of the tobacco ordinance at a Board of Supervisors meeting last month, and he reiterated his position in our interview. “There’s just no reason for us to dictate business like that,” he said. He added that, while staff with the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services say they notified tobacco retailers about the new rules, the ones he’s spoken to say they had no idea about the transfer restrictions.

Asked whether a third-party investigation into the complaint against him has been resolved, Bohn replied, “I have no idea; I’m not participating.” He later noted that he refused to talk to the investigator.

As readers might recall from the Bushnell misconduct incident, the Board of Supervisors Code of Conduct and Ethics spells out the process for investigating misconduct complaints against county supervisors. The complaints are initially reviewed by a committee consisting of the county administrative officer, director of human resources and county counsel.

On July 10, HR Director Zach O’Hanen emailed Bohn to say that the committee had met and determined that the allegations against him should be examined through an impartial third-party investigation. O’Hanen followed up in late September with an “investigation interview notice.” It said external investigator Kimberlie Revai had been retained and explained, “The purpose of the investigation is fact-finding, and no decisions will be made until all relevant facts are gathered and you are given an opportunity to explain your side of the story.”

The notice went on to say, “Please cooperate fully with the investigator and answer questions in a complete and truthful manner. You are being requested to attend the interview and to answer the questions accurately, completely, and truthfully.”

Bohn replied a few days later: “I will not be participating to save the County Money, Thanks Rex.”

We’ll update this post if we hear anything back from Madrone.

###

DOCUMENTS

• Rex Bohn complaint (redacted)
• Committee response to formal complaint
• Investigation notice to attend
• Bohn’s response to the notice

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On December 2, 2025, at approximately 12:11 a.m., the Humboldt County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a residence on the 3000 block of Barber Creek Rd., Hydesville, regarding a domestic violence incident. The suspect in this case was later identified as 65-year-old David Bernard Privat. 

As deputies were responding to the residence, a deputy traveling on Rohnerville Rd. observed a white Chevrolet Suburban towing a trailer at a high rate of speed approximately one mile from the reported location. The deputy immediately recognized the vehicle as belonging to Privat and initiated a traffic stop near Rohnerville Rd. and Puddin Rd. in Fortuna.  The deputy contacted Privat and detained him for further investigation while another deputy contacted the victim at the Barber Creek Rd. residence.

Based on the victim’s statement and evidence located during the investigation, it was determined that a violent crime had occurred and Privat was taken into custody. The victim sustained minor injuries and did not require immediate medical attention. Deputies contacted the on-call judge, who granted an emergency protective order for the victim.

Privat was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and was booked on charges including:

• P.C. 664/187 Attempted homicide
• P.C. 273.5(a) Inflicting corporal injury on spouse
• P.C. 236 False imprisonment 
• P.C. 29800(a)(1) Felon in possession of a firearm

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.

###

Press release from the Humboldt County Superior Court:

The Attorney General’s request for a preliminary injunction in The People of the State of California vs. St Joseph Health Northern California, LLC (CV2401832) is set to be heard on December 10, 2025, in Department 4 of the Superior Court for the State of California, Humboldt County, beginning at 8:30 a.m. 

This case has generated substantial public interest and media attention. In light of this interest, as well as limited seating in the courtroom, the Court will allow the public to observe the proceedings via Zoom.  The Zoom meeting link for courtroom 4 is here; more information is available at the court’s website.

Whether observing in person or via zoom, everyone must comply with courtroom conduct rules so that the parties and their counsel may be heard and the decorum of an open court be maintained.  Those rules include: no talking and remaining quiet while in the courtroom; cell phones and other electronic devices in silent mode or powered off; hats removed; no photography, video, or audio recording without prior permission from the Court; and complying with all instructions from the courtroom Bailiff.  Guidelines for observing via Zoom are available at the Court’s website, listed above; microphones must be muted at all times.  Anyone failing to comply with those rules and guidelines may be removed from the courtroom or from the Zoom meeting room.  

The date, time and location of the hearing is subject to change, so please check the courtroom calendars the night before on the Court’s website by using the QR Code.

###