OBITUARY: James Morris Johnson, 1936-2025
LoCO Staff / Tuesday, July 15 @ 6:56 a.m. / Obits
James
Morris Johnson, known as
“Morris”
May
19, 1936 - May 9, 2025
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Morris. He passed peacefully with his loving wife by his side. They recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary.
Morris was born on May 19, 1936 in Bemidji, Minnesota. He was the second of six children. The family moved to California when he was a small boy in search of work — first to Pondosa, then to Eureka, where he had newspaper routes to help with the support of his family and was in the paper for his work ethics as a young boy. When he was a young teenager he began working for Doug Rex at Rex’s Redwood Gifts on Broadway. He saved up money to buy a table saw that blossomed into a lifetime of creative and thoughtful woodwork his entire life, and even created the infamous Hot Dog Sticks that were sold at the Trees of Mystery gift shop, amongst many other family favorites such as redwood planters and piggy banks.
He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, clamming and camping. When he was a young boy he bought a little boat and had it at the bay for his adventures. He often told the story of sneaking into the neighbor’s crop and rolling watermelons down to the creek and floating them down so they could sneak them. Watermelon is his favorite.
Morris loved to tell jokes and stories and sometimes you could fall victim to a little prank. He also loved to roller skate, walk on stilts and dance, and he was very good. He always had his radio tuned to country music and was always singing. Through friends he met the love of his life, Gwendene Barnett. They married in April of 1957. The following year their oldest daughter Tani Marie was born, followed by Charlene Sarah, Deborah Lynn and then Rita Ann.
He worked at Arcata Plywood Mill until they closed, then was transferred to Durable Plywood until they closed, then went on to work at Fortuna Veneer. Morris worked over 20 years in the local plywood industry before early retirement.
Ours was a wonderful life of camping, hunting (I, Rita was a week old in Hunting Camp and enjoyed many birthdays there), fishing, and bonfires on the beach. Bailey Canyon was a favorite campground on Ruth Lake where we learned to water ski. Dad would fish and then take us out on the lake for a day of skiing and swimming. Also camping/fishing both Stone and Freshwater Lagoon, then later dad and mom made a nice little cabin that was enjoyed year round. Later in life, Morris and Gwen were gifted a trip to Maui that sparked a new creative bug in him that lead to the many statues that are enjoyed by so many today, even landing him another spot in the Times-Standard, a listing in 101 Things To Do In Humboldt, and many stop from PokeMon Go-ers!
He was preceded in death by his parents Ida and Leon Smith (he was born a Johnson but considered his step-father his Dad), his brothers Leon, Burton, and Kenneth, his son-in-law David, and great-granddaughter Emily. Shortly following Morris’ passing, our family suffered another tragedy of the death of his great-great-grandson Hunter James. But we take great comfort in knowing Hunter has the most unconditionally-loving Grandpa he could ever have holding him.
Morris is survived by his wife of over 69 years, Gwendene, daughters Tani, Charlene (Greg), Debbie (Richard), Rita (Doug), 10 grand-children and 33 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild (hold our Hunter tight Grandpa, we know you are!).
Special thanks to the staff at Hospice of Humboldt for their dedication and care, and Ayers Family Cremation whose staff is very kind and thoughtful.
Family and friends are gathering to share stories and memories with root beer floats July 19th.
“Do
not stand at my grave and weep,
I
am not there, I do not sleep,
I
am a thousand winds that blow,
I
am the diamond glints on snow.
I
am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I
am the gentle Autumn’s rain.
When
you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I
am the swift uplifting rush,
Of
quiet birds in circled flight,
I
am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do
not stand at my grave and cry,
I
am not there, I did not die.”
~Robert Hepburn
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Morris Johnson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
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OBITUARY: Garrett James Christian, 1970-2025
LoCO Staff / Tuesday, July 15 @ 6:56 a.m. / Obits
Garrett
James Christian
March
19, 1970 – May 25, 2025
Garrett James Christian, 55, of Eureka, passed away on May 25, 2025. He was born on March 19, 1970, in Eureka to the late Michael and Vicky Christian. Garrett grew up between Turlock, McKinleyville, and Eureka, where he built a life rooted in family, service, and a deep love for the outdoors.
After graduating from high school, Garrett proudly served in the United States Marine Corps, where he was deployed during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. His time in the military left a lasting impact and instilled in him the values of strength, resilience and honor.
Following his service, Garrett spent many years living in Auburn, California, where he worked for Diamond Well Drilling. Known for his strong work ethic and practical skills, he was a dependable and hardworking presence on every job site.
Later, Garrett returned to Eureka and worked for the county, continuing his legacy of service to the community. He found peace and purpose in the outdoors — whether hunting, fishing or simply spending time in nature, it was where he felt most at home.
Garrett is survived by his siblings Sean, Amy, Rebecca and Stephanie, as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family members who loved him dearly. He will be remembered for his quiet strength, steady presence, and deep connection to the land and people around him.
He will be missed more than words can say and cherished always in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Garrett Christian’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Humboldt County Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Deny Review of Cannabis Fine Case
Ryan Burns / Monday, July 14 @ 4:03 p.m. / Cannabis , Courts , Local Government
West façade of the Supreme Court Building. | Photo via the U.S. Supreme Court.
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PREVIOUSLY
- Federal Judge Tosses Class Action Suit Challenging Humboldt County’s Cannabis Code Enforcement Process
- Appeals Court Reverses Dismissal of Class Action Suit Challenging Humboldt County’s Cannabis Abatement Penalties, Sending the Case Back to District Court
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Humboldt County has asked the U.S. Supreme Court not to hear a case challenging the legality of fines issued as part of its cannabis code enforcement process.
On Thursday, attorneys for the county filed a brief urging the Court to deny a petition to review Thomas v. Humboldt County, a case we’ve written about before. (See links above.) In that class action suit, local landowners argued that their constitutional rights to due process were violated when the Planning Department slapped them with exorbitant fines and fees for weed-related code violations, some of which stemmed from the activities of previous owners.
In their petition for review, the plaintiffs, represented by the nonprofit Institute for Justice, argue that the Seventh Amendment’s right to a jury trial should extend to instances wherein local governments issue civil penalties over alleged cannabis violations.
That’s not the way things have worked for the past hundred-odd years. Ever since the 1916 Supreme Court case Minneapolis & St. Louis R. Co. v. Bombolis, courts have held that the Seventh Amendment does not apply to states and local governments. But the Thomas plaintiffs argue that the Supreme Court should overturn that precedent, which would require places like Humboldt County to provide jury trials in civil penalties cases.
Their request, which runs to 300 pages and goes by the highfalutin legal terminology “Petition for a Writ of Certiorari,” says, “Places like Humboldt County, California, impose ruinous fines—and even take people’s homes—without ever proving the government’s case to a jury.”
Humboldt County’s system is particularly egregious, the writ argues.
“The County fines people millions of dollars for basic permitting and land-use violations that pose little or no harm to the community,” the writ states in its introduction. “Like many state and municipal governments, however, Humboldt channels these claims through administrative tribunals. Doing so deprives the accused of their fundamental right to a trial by jury.”
Another key element of the plaintiffs’ argument is that the “hearing officer” who’s charged with finding facts and making a ruling on the alleged code enforcement violations works for county code enforcement.
“Unsurprisingly, Humboldt never loses on its home court,” the writ observes.
But in its opposition brief, attorneys for the county say the original district court ruling was correct when it described plaintiffs’ allegations as “implausible and overwrought.” The plaintiffs all either created violations themselves or purchased properties knowing about existing violations — and more to the point, none of them have actually been fined; all penalties are merely “proposed,” according to the brief.
The brief concludes by saying “this is not the right time or vehicle to entertain the question” of whether the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial should extend to states and local governments. A case involving the federal government would be better suited to review than one featuring tiny little Humboldt County, the county’s attorneys say.
Furthermore, they argue, this case “is based on an untested pleading with an implausible, indeed feverish, rendition of events,” and beyond that, it’s “rooted in federally illegal conduct — commercial cannabis cultivation.”
Messy, in other words.
However, some big guns are backing the play of the Institute for Justice. A pair of conservative think tanks — the Cato Institute and the Buckeye Institute — each filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to grant review and overturn the Bombolis decision. So did Steven Calabresi, co-chairman of the Federalist Society, which has spent decades helping to pack the federal judiciary (including the Supreme Court itself) with right-wing appointees.
Still, the request is something of a long shot, just in terms of the math. The Supreme Court receives more than 7,000 of them each year but only agrees to hear between 100 and 150.
If you’d like to get deep into the weeds and read the briefs yourself, you can find links to all of the filings in this case on the Supreme Court’s website.
BREAKING: Avelo Airlines is Leaving Humboldt County, Closing Its Base in Burbank
Isabella Vanderheiden / Monday, July 14 @ 1:16 p.m. / Airport , News
Photo: Avelo Airlines
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Four years after its public debut, Avelo Airlines is ending air service on the West Coast. The airline will end flights between Humboldt County and the Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) on Dec. 2.
In an emailed statement shared with the Outpost, Avelo spokesperson Courtney Goff said the ultra-low-cost carrier will reduce flights out of Burbank next month before closing the base completely. “Avelo will be exiting the Eureka/Arcata market, and the last flight will be December 2. Customers have been notified about the changes to their reservations and all their refund options.”
“We will be pulling out of the West Coast completely but still operate at over 40 cities across the East Coast and internationally,” Goff continued. “Avelo has previously made several changes over the past few years to our West Coast operations to improve our financial results. Despite the investment of significant time, resources and efforts, our West Coast operations have not produced the results necessary to continue our presence there.”
As many of our readers are aware, Avelo has come under fire in recent months after it brokered a deal with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to run U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights out of its new hub at the Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, sparking a nationwide boycott against the airline.
Asked whether its decision to pull out of West Coast airports had anything to do with the boycott, Goff said: “Protests nor our contract with DHS had any effect on our decision and did not impact our business.”
“This was not an easy decision,” the statement continued. “Our company’s deepest operational roots are in BUR, having launched our first flight there over four years ago during the COVID pandemic. There is rarely one singular reason why decisions like this are made, and this one is no different. We believe the continuation service from BUR in the current operating environment will not deliver adequate financial returns in a highly competitive backdrop. The aircraft in BUR are expected to support growth in our East Coast bases, where we have significantly more opportunity to continue our path to sustainable cash flow generation.”
Avelo’s last flight out of Humboldt County is Dec. 2.
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PREVIOUS AVELO COVERAGE:
- FLY TO L.A. FOR $20? Brand New Budget Airline Launches with Humboldt to Hollywood as Inaugural Route
- VEGAS, BABY! Cheap, Twice-Weekly Direct Flights Between Humboldt and Las Vegas Begin Nov. 18
- NO MORE VEGAS, BABY: Avelo Air Cancels Direct Route (Again) Between Humboldt and Sin City, Effective Jan. 8
- Soon You Will be Able to Fly to Burbank Any Day of the Week You Like, Provided That Day is Not Tuesday or Saturday, County Announces
- Avelo Airlines to Launch ICE-Led Deportation Flights Out of Arizona (But Not California, the Company Says)
- ‘Tell Avelo to Go to Hell’: Eureka Residents Applaud City Council Decision to Boycott Airline Over ICE Deportation Flights
Humboldt Made Dishes on the New Arcata-Based Friday Night Market, Which in All Likelihood is Coming This September
Hank Sims / Monday, July 14 @ 11:34 a.m. / Our Culture
Logo!
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PREVIOUSLY:
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Facebook commenters, please for God’s sake note: It will not compete with Eureka’s Friday Night Market, which ends in August.
But if — and more likely, when — the Arcata City Council agrees to terms at its meeting this Wednesday, then the new Arcata Friday Night Market will be something close to fulfilling the original vision of the popular weekly festival.
That’s according to Humboldt Made executive director Rosa Dixon, who told the Outpost this morning that the original plan was for Friday Night Market to spend a month at town each summer, before upping stakes and moving to another town the next month. So in one summer you’d have a month of markets in Eureka, another month in Arcata, another month in Fortuna, Blue Lake, McKineyville, Garberville, etc., etc.
That was before Eureka proved such a welcome home for a semi-permanent home for the weekly festival. But earlier this year, Dixon said, she was approached by Arcata City Councilmember Alex Stillman, who wanted the market to come to her town after this year’s Eureka stint was concluded. And somewhat to her surprise, Dixon and partners at the Arcata Chamber of Commerce put it together in time.
The proposed Arcata Friday Night Markets will be a little different, Dixon said. They’ll start at 5 p.m. instead of 5:30. There’ll be only about 60 vendors, as compared with Eureka 130 or so. There’ll be one stage for musical acts, and all the activities will be confined to the Plaza and the streets that surround it. And with September being the first full month of students back at Cal Poly Humboldt, the party will undoubtedly have something of a collegiate flair.
Again: Technically, this is all pending the Arcata City Council’s approval Wednesday night, at the meeting starting at 6 p.m. Here’s a PDF of Humboldt Made’s full written proposal to the council.
Press release from Humboldt Made:
As the beloved Eureka Friday Night Market comes to its season end on August 29th, Humboldt Made is excited to announce a new collaborative partnership with the City of Arcata and the Arcata Chamber of Commerce to host three Friday Night Markets on the Arcata Plaza this fall. These events will take place on September 5th, 12th, and 26th, building on the success and community spirit of the Eureka Friday Night Market, and will mark the beginning of a new tradition in Arcata.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring the Friday Night Market to Arcata,” said Rosa Dixon, Executive Director of Humboldt Made. “With the success of the Eureka market, we’re thrilled to bring this event to a new community. Arcata has such a unique charm, and this market will celebrate that while providing an incredible opportunity for local businesses and the Humboldt community to connect. It’s a perfect way to welcome students back for the fall semester and continue supporting local entrepreneurs.”
“Friday Night Markets are about more than just shopping – they are about building community,” Rosa continued. “With the full support of the City of Eureka, we have created a space where Humboldt’s vibrant local economy thrives. Now, with Arcata joining the fold, we will continue to choose Humboldt, supporting our local businesses and enriching our community. This is the spirit of Humboldt, and we are proud to see it grow.”
“Throwing events on the Plaza has become my specialty and something I truly love doing for the community and I’m thrilled to be able to work with the Humboldt Made team to try something new out on the Plaza but keep the unique flare that Arcata has!” said Glo Baker, Operations and Events Manager of the Arcata Chamber of Commerce.
The Friday Night Market in Eureka has become a beloved tradition, drawing thousands of attendees each week to Old Town Eureka. The event features over 150 local vendors, live music across multiple stages, a certified farmers market, and a beer garden showcasing Humboldt-made beverages. It has become a cornerstone of community engagement, supporting local artisans, farmers, and performers, and fostering a sense of unity among residents and visitors alike.
Building upon this success, the Arcata Friday Night Market will offer a similar experience, tailored to the unique character of Arcata. The key elements of the proposal include:
- 60+ Vendors: Featuring food trucks, farmers, makers, artists, and community organizations showcasing local talent and products.
- Live Music and Entertainment: A diverse range of performances to create a festive environment.
- Cal Poly Humboldt Student Welcome Zone: A designated area to welcome students back to Arcata with fun activities and local resources.
- Humboldt Made Bar: Featuring local breweries, wineries, and distilleries, the beer garden will offer a taste of Humboldt’s craft beverage scene.
- Family Activities and Youth Programming: Kid-friendly activities and programs designed to engage the whole family.
- Choose Humboldt Activation Booth: Promoting local businesses, storytelling, and giveaways to raise awareness about supporting Humboldt County’s economy.
- Projected Attendance: 5,000-7,000 attendees per market, creating a vibrant community atmosphere.
- Plaza Street Closures: Streets around the plaza will be closed from approximately 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM to ensure safety and maximize space for the market.
- Free Booths for Plaza Businesses: Arcata Plaza businesses will be offered free booths to participate in the event, with additional exposure for surrounding businesses.
- Discounted Booths for Chamber of Commerce Members or Humboldt Made Members.
For more information or to inquire about vendor opportunities, please visit Arcata Friday Night Market Event Page or contact Gloria Baker at gloria@arcatachamber.com.
(VIDEO) Humboldt Band Jacki & The Jollies Funkily Requests You ‘DON’T GO’ in New Space Age Music Video
Andrew Goff / Monday, July 14 @ 10:30 a.m. / Our Culture
Weren’t you just saying your life was lacking drag disco aliens? Well, then your Lost Coast Outpost invites you to kick off your week on the good/weird foot by allowing the new music video starring Jacki & The Jollies to invade your senses. Resistance, as they say, is futile.
A vehicle for The Jollies’ track “Don’t Go,” the Tyson Ritter-produced clip uses both Eureka’s Friday Night Market and The Basement in Arcata as settings and features background vocals and stylish strutting from local performer Komboujia.
If you like seeing Humboldt artists in Humboldt places, give the video your precious three minutes. Then — should you crave more of these sounds for your brain/butt — note that Jacki & The Jollies are scheduled to funk up the Gazebo Stage at the July 25 edition of Eureka’s Friday Night Market.
Do go.
(UPDATE: We have also been informed that J&TJ will play some tunes and be interviewed on KSLG sometime mid-morning on Wednesday. Turn your dials.)
# # #
“Don’t Go” video credits, via YouTube:
Directed by Tyson Ritter
-Vocals: Jacki Maxwell + Komboujia
-Bass: Paul Sundberg
-Drums: James Forrest
-Guitars: Christian Figueroa & Mike Dronkers
-Cello - Jesse Alm
-Guitar solo - Chris ReynosoStarring Jacki & TheJ, Komboujia, Thrash and Recycling, Ultra Payne, with special guests William English III and Nate Zwerdling.
OPINION: Offshore Wind Is Humboldt County’s Opportunity — and Responsibility
Wil Franklin / Monday, July 14 @ 10:25 a.m. / Business
Photo: Maia Cheli, Schatz Energy Research Center.
Why do I support offshore wind development in Humboldt County? It’s not just about economics, though the potential for a few dozen to a few hundred long-term jobs is certainly welcome. Every job matters. But the real reason goes deeper — it’s about reversing a dangerous cycle of decline and stepping into a role that serves both our local community and the wider world.
Humboldt County, like many rural communities, is caught in a downward disinvestment cycle. As opportunities vanish, people leave. As people leave, businesses shutter. As businesses disappear, fewer jobs remain — and so more people move away. It’s a self-reinforcing loop, a kind of economic gravity pulling everything downward. It starts with one or two closures on Main Street and ends with boarded-up storefronts, declining school enrollment and homes sold below value because there’s no one left to buy them. This is what disinvestment looks like, and it feeds on itself. The longer it continues, the harder it is to reverse.
Offshore wind presents one of the most meaningful opportunities we’ve had in decades. Let’s be clear: no action comes without a reaction. A project as large and complex as floating offshore wind will have impacts — on our port, our landscape, our ecosystems and our way of life. We must face that honestly. There will be difficult conversations, trade-offs, and things we’ll have to manage with care and responsibility. But avoiding change doesn’t mean avoiding consequences — it just means choosing a different kind. Inaction, too, has a cost.
And yet, there’s something extraordinary — almost cosmic — in Humboldt Bay’s position. By pure geographic coincidence, we sit just miles from some of the most powerful wind resources on the entire planet. The winds off our coast are world-class, unmatched in consistency and strength. And Humboldt Bay just happens to be one of the only ports that can facilitate the staging and assembly of wind turbines. That natural gift isn’t just an opportunity. It’s a responsibility.
We have the chance to contribute to something much larger than ourselves: the global shift away from fossil fuels and toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. That’s not hyperbole. If we capture even a portion of that offshore wind potential, we’ll be helping to reduce carbon emissions, fight climate change and accelerate a necessary transformation for all of humanity. Here in Humboldt, we don’t have to look far to see the impacts of a changing climate. Warming oceans are changing fisheries, changing feeding grounds and changing primary productivity. Grey whales showing up to their historical feeding grounds are finding food deserts and distress. Rising sea levels threaten our coastlines and our culturally significant religious sites and ancestral homes. We all see and live in the smoke from catastrophic forest fires each summer.
We know from lived experience that more extreme weather events are becoming the norm, not the exception.And yes, a decentralized bottom-up approach like putting solar on every home is also important. As is conserving and generally consuming less. All-of-the-above will be required of us. But none of the bottom-up approaches help solve the energy demands across California, the nation and the world. We can do so much more with the gift of the serendipitous providence of the Port of Humboldt Bay.
That’s a legacy we can be proud of. Our community — long defined by resilience, independence and a strong relationship with the natural world — can wear this effort as a badge of pride. Helping the world transition off destructive fossil fuels isn’t just a moral imperative. It’s a service. And it’s a service Humboldt County is uniquely equipped to provide.
Offshore wind won’t solve every problem we face. But it offers a chance to change the trajectory — from disinvestment to investment, from decline to revitalization, from despair to hope. With careful planning, community engagement, and a clear-eyed view of both the challenges and the potential, we can make this work for Humboldt. And we can do it in a way that our children — and the planet — will thank us for.
Let’s not walk away from that responsibility. Let’s rise to it.
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Wilfred Franklin was born and raised in Humboldt. He is the Director of North Coast Small Business Development Center where he combines his teaching and entrepreneurial past to help build a connected, diverse and equitable economic base in our region.