Unfortunately for drivers, the Redwood Curtain isn’t a completely impenetrable barrier from the outside world. The ongoing Iran War has forced the price of crude oil to exceed $100 a barrel, up from about $70 before the war’s start. Gas is edging $6.50 a gallon here in Humboldt; the price of diesel threatens to climb to a dizzying (probably false) summit of $8 per gallon. 

Anecdotally, I’ve heard people chattering about alleviating their gas station-induced misery by taking advantage of the public bus system, perhaps commuting to work and back every day. But it doesn’t sound like too many of them have actually taken the ride. 

It usually takes several months of elevated gas prices before a noticeable amount of people start taking the bus, the Humboldt Transit Authority’s deputy general manager Katie Collender told the Outpost in an email. If the price of gas stays high, she predicted more people would “definitely” start taking the bus more often. 

Has public transportation usage has increased anywhere else? We couldn’t find an answer to that anywhere. It may be too soon to tell.

Nationally, the average price of a gallon of gas is a tad over $4. The last time that happened was in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Collender hasn’t responded to a request for follow-up information.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Identification of Charles Marrs

In May 1993, Charles Marrs (63 years old) fell into the Trinity River near the Big Rock River Access area in Willow Creek. A California Highway Patrol officer and Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the call. The CHP officer observed Marrs’ body floating past the north end of Clover Flat. The river was searched by boat, roadway, and with the assistance of a Coast Guard helicopter; however, Marrs’ body was never located.

In 1995, a skeletonized human arm and hand were discovered in the Trinity River near the north end of the Hoopa Airstrip. A DNA sample was obtained from the remains and entered into both the California Missing Persons DNA Database and the National Unidentified Persons DNA Index. The DNA profile was routinely compared against profiles from missing persons and other human remains in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), but no matches were identified.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) partnered with Othram Inc., a forensic genealogy laboratory, to determine whether advanced forensic DNA testing could help establish an identity for the unidentified remains or a close relative. With funding provided through Representative Jared Huffman’s Community Funding Grant, a DNA extract from the remains was sent to Othram Inc. Othram scientists used forensic genome sequencing to develop a comprehensive DNA profile. Once completed, Othram’s in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to generate investigative leads.

In July 2025, the HCSO received a report from Othram indicating the DNA profile may belong to Charles Marrs. The report identified several genetic relatives, including a nephew. HCSO investigators contacted the nephew, who confirmed that his uncle, Charles Marrs, had drowned in the Trinity River. The nephew provided a DNA sample, which was sent to the CA DOJ for comparison to the unidentified remains.

In March 2026, the CA DOJ notified the HCSO that the two DNA samples were related, confirming the remains belonged to Charles Marrs.

The HCSO extends its gratitude to the California Department of Justice DNA Laboratory and Othram Inc. for their outstanding work and assistance in resolving this case and providing closure to the family of Charles Marrs. The HCSO also thanks Representative Jared Huffman for securing the funding necessary to complete this important work.

Identification of Gregory Hugh Oliver

In August 1996, the Arcata Police Department responded to a report of a human skull found off Fickle Hill Road in Arcata. The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office also responded and took possession of the remains. A DNA sample was obtained; however, it was determined to be degraded due to exposure to the elements. The partial DNA profile was entered into both the California Missing Persons DNA Database and the National Unidentified Persons DNA Index. The DNA profile was routinely compared against profiles from missing persons and other unidentified human remains in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), but no matches were identified.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) later partnered with Othram Inc., to determine whether advanced forensic DNA testing could help establish an identity for the unidentified remains or a close relative. With funding provided through Representative Jared Huffman’s Community Funding Grant, a DNA extract from the remains was submitted to Othram Inc. Othram scientists used forensic genome sequencing to develop a comprehensive DNA profile. Once completed, Othram’s in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to generate investigative leads.

In December 2025, the HCSO received a report from Othram indicating the DNA profile may belong to Gregory Hugh Oliver, who had been reported missing to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. Oliver was last seen by family in 1983. The report also identified several potential genetic relatives. HCSO investigators located a DNA sample from Oliver’s mother, which was submitted to the CA DOJ for comparison to the unidentified remains.

In March 2026, the CA DOJ notified the HCSO that the two DNA samples were related, confirming the remains belonged to Gregory Oliver.

The HCSO extends its gratitude to the California Department of Justice DNA Laboratory and Othram Inc. for their outstanding work and assistance in resolving this case and providing closure to the family of Gregory Oliver. The HCSO also thanks Representative Jared Huffman for securing the funding necessary to complete this important work.

Anyone with information regarding this case or any missing person or cold homicide investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Mike Fridley at (707) 441-3024.

PREVIOUSLY

• Inside the Efforts to Identify Humboldt County’s Missing Dead

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

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California clocked its second-worst snowpack on record Wednesday, a potentially troubling signal ahead for fire season.

It’s an alarming end to a winter that saw abnormally dry conditions briefly wiped from California’s drought map in January, for the first time in a quarter-century.

Though precipitation to date has been near average, much of it fell as rain rather than snow. Then March’s record-breaking heat melted most of the snow that remains. The state’s major reservoirs are nevertheless brimming above historic averages and are flirting with capacity, and a smattering of snow, rain and thunderstorms are dousing last month’s heat wave.

But experts now warn that California’s case of the missing snowpack could herald an early fire season in the mountains.

On Wednesday, state engineers conducting the symbolic April 1 snowpack measurement at Phillips Station south of Lake Tahoe found no measurable snow in patches of white dotting the grassy field.

“I want to welcome you call to probably one of the quickest snow surveys we’ve had — maybe one where people could actually use an umbrella,” joked Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources. “We’re getting a lot of questions about are we heading into a hydrologic drought? The answer is, I don’t know.”

State data reports that California’s snowpack is closing out the season at an alarming 18% of average statewide, and an even more abysmal 6% of average in the northern mountains that feed California’s major reservoirs.

Only the extreme drought year of 2015 beat this year’s snowpack for the worst on record, measuring in at just 5% of average on April 1st, when the snow historically is at its deepest.

“I think everyone’s anticipating that it will be a long, busy fire season,” said Lenya Quinn-Davidson, director of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network.

“Without a snowpack, and with an early spring, it just means that there’s much more time for something like that to happen.”

‘It’s pretty bizarre up here’

In the city of South Lake Tahoe, which survived the massive Caldor Fire in the fall of 2021 without losing any structures, fire chief Jim Drennan said his department is already ramping up prevention efforts.

“It’s pretty bizarre up here right now. It really seems like June conditions more than March,” Drennan said. “People are already turning the sprinklers on for their lawns.”

Without more precipitation, an early spring may complicate prescribed burning efforts. But Drennan said fire agencies in the Tahoe basin can start mechanically clearing fuels from forest areas earlier than usual.

“That means we can get more work done,” he said.

It also means homeowners need to start hardening their homes now, said Martin Goldberg, battalion chief and fuels management officer for the Lake Valley Fire Protection District, which protects unincorporated communities in the Lake Tahoe Basin’s south shore.

Goldberg urges residents to scour their yards for burnable materials, create defensible space and reach out to local fire departments with questions. The risks are widespread — from firewood, wooden fences, gas cans, plants, pine needles — even lawn furniture stacked against a house.

“In years past, I wouldn’t even think of raking and clearing until May,” Goldberg said. “But my yard’s completely cleared of snowpack, and it has been for a couple weeks now.”

‘A haystack fire’

Battalion chief David Acuña, a spokesperson for Cal Fire, said fire season is shaped by more than just one year’s snowpack.

Climate change has been remaking California’s fire seasons into fire years. And California’s recent average to abundant water years have fueled what Acuña called “bumper crops of vegetation and brush.”

“Most of California is like a haystack. And if you’ve ever seen a haystack fire, they burn very intensely because there’s layers of fuel,” Acuña said.

Like Quinn-Davidson, Acuña wasn’t ready to make specific predictions about fires to come.

But John Abatzoglou, a professor of climatology at UC Merced, said the temperatures and snowpack conditions this year offer a glimpse of California in the latter decades of this century, as fossil fuel use continues to drive global temperatures higher.

How this year’s fires will play out will depend on when, where and how wind, heat, fuel and ignitions combine. But it foreshadows the consequences of a warmer California for water and fire under climate change.

“This,” Abatzoglou said, “is yet another stress test for the future in the state.”

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Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On March 31, 2026, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Officers with the Eureka Police Department (EPD) responded to Sangha Tattoo Studio in the 500 block of F Street for a report of a burglary.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that multiple windows to the business had been broken, and access had possibly been made to the interior. Officers conducted a search of the building and did not locate any suspects inside.

Officers obtained video surveillance footage from nearby businesses, which showed a male subject wearing a facial covering breaking the windows of the business.

Video footage indicates the incident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. Additionally, a vehicle described as a silver or gray Ford truck was observed parking near the business prior to the incident and leaving the area shortly after the incident occurred.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Eureka Police Department is requesting anyone with information related to this incident to contact the Criminal Investigations Unit at 707-441-4300.

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After nearly 30 years in business, the New Harris General Store is closing its doors. 

“We have done everything we could to keep the store open. We have poured our time, our energy, our hearts, and our resources into it, even working without pay at times and investing more than we will ever recover financially,” the owners wrote in a statement posted to Facebook, which can be read in full below. “In the end, we have had to face the reality that it is no longer sustainable to continue.”

For decades, the family-owned business has served as the only grocery store for folks living in the far reaches of Southern Humboldt, offering organic food, plant starts, homemade baked goods and countless other handcrafted items. But beyond the goodies and the groceries, the New Harris Store has provided a place to gather with neighbors and friends. It will be sorely missed.

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Dear Friends and Community,

After much reflection, many long conversations, and every effort we could possibly make, Rob and I have made the difficult decision to close our The New Harris General Store.

This has not been an easy choice. For nearly 30 years, (27 years with doors open, many years in preparation) this store has been far more than a business to us. It has been a place of service, connection, friendship, and community. It has been one of the great honors of our lives to welcome you here, serve you, and be part of the everyday rhythm of this place we love.

We have done everything we could to keep the store open. We have poured our time, our energy, our hearts, and our resources into it, even working without pay at times and investing more than we will ever recover financially. In the end, we have had to face the reality that it is no longer sustainable to continue.

There is real sadness in this ending. There is also relief in knowing we gave it everything we had. We can close this chapter with clear hearts, knowing how much love and care lived here.

We want you to know how deeply grateful we are for your support over all these years. Thank you for your loyalty, your kindness, your stories, your friendship, and your trust. Thank you for allowing us to serve you and to be woven into the life of this community for so long.

Watching our community change and dwindle has been hard, and saying goodbye to this chapter is painful. But we are not leaving. We love this community deeply, and we will continue to be here, redirecting our energy into new ways of doing what we love and of supporting the place and people we care about.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for close to 30 years of love and connection. We will always treasure the memories, the relationships, and the privilege of having been part of your lives.
With love and heartfelt gratitude, Kim,  Rob, Terra, Jeff and Family.
We still have many items for sale, come in, call, come by say hi, we’ll be here for a bit longer, Monday through Friday 11:00 to 5:00.

Mark Kelly Reed
September 18. 1957 - March 17, 2026

Mark Kelly Reed was born in Eureka on September 18, 1957 and passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 17, 2026. He was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Hayes Reed; his mother, Clara Mae Reed; and his brother Jerry Reed. He leaves behind his loving wife of 30 years, Patricia Reed. Mark was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle and loyal friend who will always be remembered for his big heart, generosity and a love he shared with everyone who knew him.

Mark graduated from Eureka High School and followed in his mother’s footsteps, building a career as a realtor for 25 years. He later worked as a property manager and also spent 10 years working along side his mother as a bail bondsman. He took pride in his work, but what mattered most to him was always his family and the people he loved.

Mark had a deep love for music and the outdoors. Some of his happiest times were spent camping at Shasta Lake and in Redding, surrounded by family and friends. He loved being out on the water, taking his boats out for a cruise and enjoying life with those closest to him. His final trip was one he truly treasured, renting a luxury houseboat so he could bring together his closest family and friends for one more special time filled with love and memories.

Mark was well loved by many and had countless close friends. He was the kind of person you could always count on, never hesitating to help someone in need. His kindness, sense of humor, and loyalty left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him. He was also a long time NASCAR fan and enjoyed watching races whenever he could.

Mark is survived by his nephew, Jerred Reed; his sister, Lori Reed; his step-sister, Ava Blackwell; his adopted daughter, Sara Balke; his grandchildren, Justin and Emily; along with many extended family members and dear friends who will forever hold his memory in their hearts.

Mark will be forever loved, deeply missed, and always remembered.

A celebration of his life will be held at Trinidad Town Hall on April 12, 2026 between 1 and 5 p.m. For more information, please call Patty Reed at (707) 498-6889.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Coral Rainey for the kindness, compassion, and loving care she provided to Mark in his final days.

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

Alan Duane Wright passed away on March 24, 2026, in Eureka at the age of 76, with his daughter Lena by his side.

Alan was born to Donald and Lois (Hoskins) Wright on April 25, 1949 in Eureka. He was the second child born of three children to Donald and Lois. Donna was first in 1948 and Marlena last in 1953. The family moved to High Street in Eureka in 1950 and lived there for many years. Alan attended Alice Birney School, Jacobs Junior High School and Eureka High School. Alan was in high school when he started working at the Eureka Seafood Grotto on Broadway as a dishwasher, then cook and then manager and chef. Over the years he also cooked for The Café Marina, The Cabaret, The Cutten Inn and Coney Island. He also worked for many years with the Mission Linen Co.

Alan loved motorcycles like his father and was a fan of NASCAR Racing. Alan was outgoing, loved people and was always joking and laughing. In 1969 he married Judy Delp and together they had two children — Lena and Brian Wright.

Alan is survived by his daughter Lena Kestler and his son Brian (Shari) Wright and daughter Elleigh. He is also survived by his grandchildren Alyshea Molina and Jada Wright, his great-grandchildren Uriah and Sequoia Funk and October Wright. Also surviving are his two sisters, Donna (Michael) Heuer and Marlena (Billy) Gillespie; his brother Dennis Wright; his aunt and uncle Lynda (Jack) Murphy; his nephew Jody Ables; his nieces Tiffany McLearn and Traci Walden. He also leaves behind cousins Michael Shaffer, Mickey Harris and Chuck Wright.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lois Wright (1999); his father, Donald Wright (2011); his nephew Tyler Walden (2000); his cousin Renee Stillramm (2025); his cousin Linda Skaife (2025); and the love of his life, Judy Wright Davis (2023).

The family would like to thank the Ida Emmerson Hospice of Humboldt, the Senior Resource Center and The PACE program for all they did to help and care for Alan. The family also wants to say thank you to Cindy Hermes, Rebecca Thurman Barbara McGee and Lynden Jacaway for their loyal friendship and love. The family would also like to thank Dr. Angela Smith with the Kidney Care Services of Humboldt for the care she gave to Alan.

Alan had a song he used to sing — “Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day!” He will rest in peace at Ocean View Cemetery Eureka alongside his family in the Wright family plot. There will be a celebration of life planned at a later date. Memorial donations may be made in Alan’s memory to Ida Emmerson Hospice of Humboldt or The Senior Resource Center.

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