Christopher Nicholas, better known as “Monk” to his friends and family, passed away June 27, 2026. Born in Pasadena to Timothy and Jeri Nicholas, he lived the majority of his life in McKinleyville/Humboldt County. He was a loving husband, bonus dad, brother and uncle, but his favorite name was Papa.

Monk loved everything Humboldt County provided, from fishing to hunting. He enjoyed being outdoors and the small community the county provided. He had many talents and skills. He was self-employed for over 10 years, but had recently went back to work doing HVAC installation, where he proudly worked at O&M Industries for the last year and half.

Chris was an officer of equal indignity with E Clampus Vitus, joining the Ancient and Honorable Order in 6020. Cobra Kai until the day he died. A true friend to the wolverines. Chris served his mother Chapter of Eureka 101 as Noble Grand Humbug. Chris was awarded Dead Salmon just before his passing.

Monk was survived by his wife, Patty Nicholas; step-sons Justin Sotelo, Ryan Sotelo (Toni) and Ryder Meyer; grandbabies Luna Sotelo and Hendrix Sotelo; sisters Natasha Nicholas and Lora Conner; and brother John Conner (Shonna); numerous nephews and nieces, aunts, uncles, and cousins; and too many friends that were more like family to list.

Monk was preceded in death by his mother, Jeri Nicholas, better known as “Big Momma,” and was a self-proclaimed momma’s boy.

His family would like to thank everyone who loved, cared and supported Monk over his lifetime. He will be forever loved, forever missed, but never forgotten. His wife would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who reached out, whether in person or over the phone. It takes a village when trying to overcome loss.

Please join us to celebrate his life, Saturday, Sept. 12, at the McKinleyville Moose Lodge at 1 p.m.

Jean Charlotte Arruda
September 29, 1939 – August 21, 2026

Jean Charlotte Arruda passed away peacefully on August 21, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Jean was born in Alameda to Henry and Helen Turk and grew up on Alameda Island. She graduated from Alameda High School in 1957 and soon began her career with the Oakland Tribune in Oakland. While working there, she met Robert Allen White Jr., whom she married in 1960. Together they started their family, welcoming Jeff in 1962, David in 1963, and Jim in 1967. Raising her three boys would become one of the greatest joys of her life.

Following Robert’s passing in 1983, Jean remained devoted to raising her boys and caring for her family. She later married Frank Arruda Jr. in 1988. Together they built a life filled with travel, family gatherings, laughter, and countless cherished memories. Whether on family vacations, cruises, or simply spending time with family and friends, Jean treasured every moment with the people she loved.

Jean retired from State Compensation Insurance Company in Eureka in 2001. Retirement gave her more time to do what she loved most: spending time with her family and supporting her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Family always came first. From football and baseball games to soccer matches, school events, and countless swim meets, she could almost always be found in the stands or on the sidelines cheering them on. She was their biggest fan and never missed an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments.

Jean was also an avid quilter and enjoyed needlework. For more than 30 years, she shared her love of quilting with a close group of friends who became like family. Through quilting, she created not only beautiful quilts, but also lifelong friendships and treasured memories.

Jean was a proud 56-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, cherishing the fellowship, service, and enduring traditions of the organization. She was also a past member of the Ferndale Portuguese Society and the Eureka Moose Lodge, where she enjoyed many years of friendship and community involvement.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Helen Turk; her first husband, Robert Allen White Jr.; and her husband, Frank Arruda Jr.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff White and Lisa McCombs, David and Lisa White, and Jim and Lori White; grandchildren Matthew White, John and Emily Brown, Morgan Brown, Vincent and Jennifer Gulick, Daniel and Tiffany Gulick, Keith and Paige White, John and Tawnya White, and Krisha and Cameryn White; along with twelve great-grandchildren, all of whom brought her immense pride and joy. She also leaves behind many extended family members and dear friends who will miss her greatly.

Jean will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and unwavering devotion to her family and friends. Nothing made her happier than being surrounded by the people she loved. Her love, encouragement, and support will continue to be felt by her family and friends for generations to come.

Services will be held at Sunset Memorial Chapel in Eureka on Tuesday, September 1, with viewing at 9:30 a.m. and services at 10 a.m.

Arcata Chapter #207, Order of the Eastern Star, will be officiating the service in Jean’s honor at the above location and time.

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

Edith Dorene Hiscox, a devoted mother, community leader, and beloved friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Corvallis, Oregon at the age of 94, surrounded by her loving family. Born on November 19, 1931, at Seaside Hospital in Crescent City, Dorene was the cherished daughter of Charles D. Johnson and Thelma (Hazel) Fultz Johnson.

Dorene’s life was marked by her unwavering commitment to family, community, and service. She met the love of her life, William “Bill” H. Hiscox in high school. They eloped and married on July 21, 1949, in Reno. They returned home to Eureka, where their marriage, a testimony to enduring love, spanned an incredible 72 years, until Bill’s passing.

A graduate of Eureka High School, Dorene pursued her education, graduating from Humboldt State College (now Cal Poly Humboldt), where she excelled in business and secretarial studies. Her career with the U.S. Postal Service began when her youngest son, Tom, left for college. Scoring an impressive 92% on the Postal Service Clerk Exam, Dorene embarked on a distinguished career, ultimately serving as postmaster in Bayside and Ferndale, and retiring from the Gasquet Post Office. Prior to her retirement, she was a respected trainer and interim postmaster, traveling across Northern California to mentor new postmasters and their staff.

Dorene and Bill co-owned several businesses in Fieldbrook, and she, along with her husband “Bill,” was one of the four founding members of the Fieldbrook Volunteer Fire Department. !n a pioneering move, she organized a group of women volunteers, later affectionately known as the “Smokettes,” to provide fire coverage while the men worked out of the area. Her community service extended to two terms as Secretary of the Humboldt County Grand Jury in Eureka.

Family was the heart of Dorene’s life. She took immense pride in her role as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. Her home was a haven of warmth and love, where everyone felt welcomed. As her youngest daughter Sandra fondly recalls, “Mom was a great giver of hugs.”

Dorene’s dedication to her children’s well-being was evident in her involvement as den mother for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, leader for Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls, and a supporter of 4-H, FFA, FBLA, and various sports. She would drive many miles to town to ensure that her children could be involved in the clubs, sports activities and other school functions that they were involved in. Her children would lovingly say that Mom enjoyed the football games as much, if not more than they did.

Beyond her family, Dorene was active in her community, participating in The PTA, Woman’s Club, Grange, and volunteering for numerous causes. She balanced these commitments with her responsibilities on the family ranch, where she milked cows, tended gardens, and cared for livestock. Her children fondly remember churning cream into butter, harvesting the gardens, canning and even doing laundry with a wringer washing machine.

After Bill’s passing, Dorene moved to Stoneybrook Assisted Living in Corvallis, Oregon. There she embraced a new chapter of independence, enjoying visits from her loving family and enjoying her own “apartment” for the first time in her life. As her health began to decline, her family rallied around her, providing care and comfort in her final days. Special thanks to Bill and Pam, and Tom and Carolyn and their children for their dedication and help.

Dorene is survived by her four children, Barbara Jones (Mike), Sandra Abedi, William “Bill” R. Hiscox (Pam), and Thomas H. Hiscox (Caroline), as well as her 14 grandchildren: Monica Weidner (Chris), Michael R. Jones Jr., Sarah Hillyard (Matt), Joe Abedi (Cassandra), Halleh Abedi (Todd), Matt Abedi (Phoebe), Heidi Clodfelter, Jennifer Hiscox, Hillary Gammon, Kelly Hiscox, Racheal Thomas (Robert), William H. “Will” Hiscox (Danielle), Emity Jacobsen (Alex), Jacob Hiscox (Emma), and 37 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband Bill, her parents Charles and Hazel Johnson, her sister Margorie Ingebretsen, and lifelong friends Joan Costa and Betty Lambeth.

Family and Friends are invited to attend her celebration of life on September 19, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at

Mad River Grange
110 Hatchery Road
Blue Lake, California

Private family services will follow.

It was Mom’s wish to be laid to rest alongside Dad — Bill — in the Veteran’s Garden at Ocean View Cemetery.

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

An electric coil is attached to the scalp. Magnetic fields are sent into a particular spot on the brain, penetrating the skull and stimulating nerve cells.

It involves no surgery, no pain (save, perhaps, a mild headache) and patients stay awake through the short sessions. It’s not entirely understood why it works, but the procedure is approved by the FDA to treat major depressive disorder, anxious depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Residents of Humboldt County — where statistics reflect troubling mental health trends — will now have the option of receiving Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) through two providers in Eureka and Arcata.

“I’ve been trying to get several of my patients to get covered for this, out of the area,” said Mariel Bosserman, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Humboldt Counseling Connection .

“It was just impossible because of the logistics,” she said.

The regiment typically involves around 30 short sessions over seven weeks, meaning extended time off work and lodging costs for people to stay hundreds of miles away, something insurance wouldn’t cover. Plus, people typically need “maintenance treatments” further down the line.

Effectively, this made TMS out of reach for many people living in Humboldt County.

Providers there are hopeful now, people will be able to simply drop in for a magnetic session during lunch breaks.

The machine in Humboldt Counseling Connection’s office consists of instruments attached to a seat that resembles, at first glance, a dentist’s chair.

A science fiction-like device scans and maps the parts of a brain, and the sections that need to be stimulated are highlighted on a monitor. A technician will then carefully tilt a treatment coil to match the precise angle needed, and begin sending waves to the right part of the brain.

It’s believed the magnetic fields improve neuroplasticity. A TMS device was first invented in 1985 and has since been researched widely for a spread of conditions. Depending on the treatment, the fields stimulate underactive areas or calm overactive areas.

Providers were interested in TMS because it offers something for patients who haven’t responded to multiple medications.

Bosserman said that research shows generally, about 30% of people respond to their first antidepressant medication. Adding a second antidepressant medication, about half as many people will respond.

“I’ve seen people that have tried like 10 medications in the same class and there’s really no data supporting the efficacy for that. So having another treatment that’s non-invasive is really, really powerful,” she said. While medications work for some, others don’t see improvement or struggle navigating a gauntlet of new side effects, she said.

TMS is particularly used in the U.S. to treat major depression in folks whose symptoms didn’t respond to the first couple of medications.

In studies, about half of people with depression who didn’t receive benefit from medications have a clinically meaningful response with TMS, and a third of those saw their symptoms go away completely.

Joselyn Legacy, director of operations at HCC, said their overall goal is to find what the community needs in mental health care and fill in gaps.

With high demand and a broadly under-resourced system, “we want to not just throw resources at something, but think very intentionally about how we’re meeting the needs of our community,” she said.

“Our mental health system is not quite as robust as it is in some other areas. But I think that by adding in certain things, like adding an option for TMS referrals, we’re really kind of bringing our county up to par with [better-resourced areas],” said Bosserman.

TMS treatments began August 25, and the office is starting with 16 patients.

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Almost concurrently, another local mental health provider is adding the treatment to their repertoire. 

The Arcata office of the Humboldt Center for New Growth is calming. Fabric blocks harsh overhead lighting and fur blankets adorn cozy day beds in therapy rooms.

Previously, the Center for New Growth referred patients to providers in the San Francisco Bay Area or Chico for TMS. But, like at HCC, patients struggled with the logistics involved.

Mental health providers there said TMS fits in naturally with the Center’s other treatments.

“It felt like the right bit of expansion. It gives us another way to work with people’s brains and biology,” said Dr. Carrie Griffin, medical director of the Humboldt Center for New Growth.

Kayla Kinsman, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP who spearheaded bringing TMS to the Center, treats patients using ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and Spravato at the center.

But “there’s a few medical contraindications for ketamine,” she said.

TMS is helpful to add to the roster, she said, because some patients have conditions that make use of other treatments unsafe — say, they can’t take ketamine due to high blood pressure, or they have a history of psychosis. Or, patients may not have responded to these other treatments and it’s time to try something else.

In the U.S., TMS treatment is FDA approved — and thus billable through insurance — for a handful of conditions. TMS was approved by the FDA for major depression in 2008, and gradually more symptoms are being studied with the treatment. Even smoking cessation and pain relief for certain migraines are FDA approved.

Griffin said other countries are using TMS as the main intervention for substance use disorder, and it is increasingly being used to treat PTSD. (While the treatment hasn’t been approved by the FDA for PTSD, U.S. research is showing very positive results.)

Griffin said broadly, much of the work at the Center for New Growth involves addressing symptoms that are an artifact of developmental trauma disorder.

“A lot of what we treat, especially at Center for New Growth, is people who, yes, they meet the criteria for major depressive disorder, yes, they meet criteria for general anxiety, but what they also have is an underlying nervous system foundation of dysregulation and attachment disruption, and that’s caused from chronic failures of caregiving in the early years of development,” she said.

Adults in Humboldt County have among the highest rates of Adverse Childhood Experiences in the state, with about 30% reporting an ACE score of 4 or higher.  Higher ACE scores correlate with adult physical and mental health problems. Humboldt County has roughly double the statewide rate of suicide.

Griffin said she’s interested in offering emerging treatments where patients don’t need “endless amounts of willingness or willfulness.” 

Their overall mission is transforming trauma and suffering into wholeness, she said.

“A lot of the people who come here, they’ve already done a lot of things, right? They’ve already been on a lot of medications through their primary care provider, through other psychiatric providers, they’ve been to multiple different kinds of therapists. Typically, if they’re reaching out to the Center for New Growth, maybe it’s for ketamine work, but it might just be for a more integrative, holistic approach to their mental health care or their physical care,” she said.

The Center for New Growth is starting by treating about 6 patients at a time with TMS beginning September 1.

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When asked why they worked to bring the service to Humboldt County, providers at both location had similar stories. It was needed in the local network of care, it made sense for their practice and people will benefit from having more options.

Humboldt Counseling Connection’s new annex, where the treatment will be offered, is located at 100 H street in Eureka. It accepts Medi-Cal/Partnership and multiple private insurance plans. Visit www.humcounseling.com/tms to learn more.

The Center for New Growth will offer TMS at 770 11th street in Arcata, and can be reached at their main office line at 707-267-7931. It accepts Medicare, Partnership and is contracted with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Fortuna animal activist Jennifer Raymond last night filed a formal complaint with the California Attorney General’s Office, asking the state to step in and take a series of actions aimed at protecting the remaining animals at Miranda’s Rescue and preventing founder Shannon Miranda from diverting funds he allegedly obtained through fraud.

Specifically, Raymond is asking Attorney General Rob Bonta to:

• ask the court to appoint a receiver to care for the remaining animals on the property and oversee their adoptions, arguing, “These animals are currently in real danger”;
• petition the court to dissolve Miranda’s Rescue as a nonprofit organization on the grounds that “its assets have been and continue to be misapplied and wasted, and that the corporation has been conducted in a manner substantially inconsistent with its charitable purposes”;
• assign that receiver to “secure and redirect as necessary any remaining charitable assets to protect creditors defrauded by Miranda’s Rescue and Mr. Miranda”;
• seek the removal of Miranda as an officer, director and trustee of the organization; and
• seize and account for any assets diverted for Miranda’s personal benefit.

Raymond said she really has just one goal.

“I want to get the animals out of there,” she said when reached by phone this afternoon. “Throughout this process, [Humboldt County Sheriff William] Honsal has continually said the animals are Shannon’s property, and they will remain his property.”

Honsal has said that, like everyone, Miranda must be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and California law allows dog owners to humanely euthanize their own pets. Staff from his office’s animal control division are being allowed to inspect Miranda’s Rescue three times per week as the investigation continues.

As Raymond reflected on the situation, she realized that the dogs had been surrendered to Miranda’s Rescue, a purported no-kill animal sanctuary, rather than to Miranda personally. 

“And one of the things that you have to put into your articles of incorporation when you form a nonprofit corporation is that any property that exists when the nonprofit closes down must go to another nonprofit organization,” Raymond said. “And I thought, okay, in California, animals are considered property. These animals were surrendered to this nonprofit. If we could get the nonprofit shut down, the animals would have to go to another nonprofit.”

She continued: “I only really resorted to this after trying everything else — I mean, talking with the sheriff, trying to get the planning department to shut him down to get the animals out of there — and nothing has worked.”

The complaint, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, was filed on Raymond’s behalf by attorneys with the SoCal firm Advancing Law for Animals. Raymond and fellow Fortuna animal activist Jenna Moore kickstarted the current criminal investigation into Miranda’s Rescue in late April when they dug up the bodies of eight freshly buried dogs from a field maintained by Miranda.

Four months later, Miranda has yet to be arrested or charged with any crimes despite an extensive multi-agency criminal investigation that includes the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the Attorney General Bonta’s Office and other state and federal agencies.

The Outpost reached Advancing Law for Animals Co-Founder and Co-Director Ryan Gordon by phone earlier this afternoon.

”The bottom line is it’s unbelievable that law enforcement found a mass graveyard onsite and yet they still have animals on the property,” he said. “We want the Attorney General to step in and basically throw the book at [Miranda]. We know that he’s taken in hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars, and hundreds of animals are not accounted for. None of this adds up, and we’re genuinely concerned.”

A letter accompanying the complaint notes that law enforcement agencies have excavated the remains of at least 138 dogs that Miranda “seemingly shot in the head and then buried as part of his fraudulent rescue and money-making scheme.” The letter also cites public records showing that more than 700 dogs surrendered to Miranda’s Rescue remain unaccounted for.

The Humboldt County Planning and Building Department recently suspended Miranda’s Rescue’s conditional use permit, which means none of the animals remaining on the property can be adopted out until permit violations are resolved.

Meanwhile, Miranda and husband Jim Oxborrow have placed the Las Vegas home they co-own on the market for $1.1 million. 

“It very much appears that [Miranda] used some of the money from animal surrender fees to purchase that house, or at least that’s very plausible,” Gordon said. “He should not be able to sell until that’s sorted out. And the rescue owes people a lot of money for fraud, or it appears that way.”

Gordon said a court-appointed receiver needs to take over “not only to protect the animals but also to preserve assets. That’s our goal.”

Raymond, who purchased a home on property right next to Miranda’s Rescue with the explicit purpose of spying on the operation, said she is growing increasingly concerned for the wellbeing of the dogs and other animals still living there.

 “Those dogs have been locked in kennels now for over four months, and anyone who’s ever worked with dogs in a shelter environment knows that they begin going kennel crazy,” she said. “Most shelters enlist volunteers to come and walk with the dogs, play with the dogs and so forth. These dogs don’t get any of that. They are simply left sitting in the kennel day in and day out, potentially becoming less adoptable by the day.”

Messages sent to Miranda and his attorney, Allison Jackson, did not receive a reply by the time this post was published. We’ll update it if we hear back.

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DOCUMENT: Complaint to AG re: Miranda’s Rescue

PREVIOUSLY

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The ranks of permitted cannabis farms in Humboldt County dwindled a bit more today as the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to revoke 14 cultivation permits over failure to pay long-overdue planning and building fees.

In reality, those permit holders likely stopped growing weed (for the state’s legal marketplace, at least) long ago. In a staff report, Planning Manager Cliff Johnson reminded the board that, way back in February 2025, they directed delinquent growers to pony up their past-due taxes and fees (or enter payment plans to do so) by Dec. 31, 2025, or else face the loss of their permits.

The county has revoked several dozen permits already. As for this latest batch, the board suspended 22 permits permits back in February, giving those growers until March 31 to resolve their debts. Since then, six operators paid what they owed, leaving 16 in line for revocation at today’s meeting. Johnson said one of those 16 paid their bill just last week, and a prospective buyer for another permit agreed to clear the outstanding charges. Staff recommended nixing the remaining 14 permits.

Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell asked whether any of the affected operators also owed Measure S cannabis cultivation taxes. Johnson said they did not and noted that such cases had already been handled in separate revocation proceedings. He added that most permit holders on the list no longer hold valid state cannabis licenses, meaning they can’t operate legally regardless of the county’s decision.

With that, the board cast its unanimous vote, capping off one of the board’s shortest meetings of the year. 

But wait! A couple other odds and ends worth mentioning:

• First District Supervisor Rex Bohn pulled a couple of matters off of the consent calendar to question their fiscal responsibility. One was a nearly $1.5 million bid award to the firm SVT Gruppe, Inc. to provide 10 months of security and transportation services to the Department of Health and Human Services. “I noticed that we went with the highest bid,” Bohn remarked. DHHS Director Connie Beck said she didn’t have a justification immediately to hand, since she didn’t know the matter would be pulled, but would be happy to provide one. Bohn said he didn’t want to reject the request; he just wanted staff to keep the current budget shortfall in mind for such decisions. He made the same gesture regarding the purchase and installation of a new camera system in the Juvenile Hall, questioning the purchase before waving it through.
• In closed session, the board was scheduled to consider green-lighting negotiations to purchase a building at 1101 4th Street in Eureka. Located at the corner of 4th and L, less than a block from the county courthouse, the squat building (pictured below) currently includes three storefronts and a very faded mural. No word yet on what the county aims to do with it.

PREVIOUSLY: Humboldt County Settles Cannabis Code Enforcement Lawsuit for $350K, Agrees to Reform Practices

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On Monday, after learning that the county had reached a settlement agreement in Thomas v. County of Humboldt, a 2022 class action suit regarding cannabis code enforcement practices, the Outpost emailed a county spokesperson seeking comment. This morning, Humboldt County Public Information Specialist Cati Gallardo sent the following statement:

The County of Humboldt can confirm it has reached settlement resolving the lawsuit brought by five property owners regarding the county’s cannabis-related code enforcement program.

The county also wishes to clarify the Ninth Circuit’s decision addressed only whether the Plaintiffs had pled sufficient facts to allow their case to proceed to the next stage in court. It was not a decision on the merits or consideration of the evidence that would be presented at trial. The decision to settle at this stage was based on typical considerations that drive most court settlements, including avoiding the cost, delay and uncertainty of continued litigation.

The settlement includes no admission of fault or liability by the County of Humboldt.

Additionally, the County of Humboldt began revising its approach to cannabis-related code enforcement well before this settlement was reached. That shift was driven by the substantial decline in illegal commercial cannabis cultivation across Humboldt County. The county unilaterally modified its Code in 2025 to reflect these changes before this settlement was finalized. Many of these amendments formally established enforcement practices the county has already put in place. The settlement’s terms and the county’s agreement to further revise the Code builds on this ongoing reform effort.

The County of Humboldt remains committed to fair, effective code enforcement and to implementing the further Code amendments reflected in this settlement.