Ray Cline of Fortuna passed peacefully at home on April 28, 2023, at the age of 97.

Ray was one of 10 siblings born in West Virginia to Lonnie Ballard and Bertha Cline.

Ray was a WWII Veteran serving his country on the U.S. Navy’s Biddle DD151 destroyer. While on leave from the Navy he married the love of his life, (Iris) Fern Cline. After his discharge from the military, they moved and settled in Humboldt County in 1946. Shortly thereafter, they added four children to their family: Lonnie, Michael, Mary (Susie) and David.

Dad was a man that could do most anything. He was most proud of the house that he built for his family. Most of his career was spent working in the woods as a logger and in many of the sawmills of Humboldt County, retiring as a sawyer from Pacific Lumber Co.

His favorite thing to do was work around his home. It gave him so much pleasure when family and friends stopped by to visit him.

He was preceded in death by his wife Iris (Fern), his son Lonnie and eighjt of his siblings. He is survived by his sons Michael Cline, Sr., and David Cline, and his daughter Mary (Susie) Kirchman, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to a graveside memorial service that will be held at Fortuna Sunrise Cemetery on Monday, May, 15 at noon. Following the memorial service there will be a gathering at the Fortuna Monday Club.

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HUMBOLDT TODAY: A group of Eurekans is suing the city over its plans to make way for the construction of downtown housing; an Arcata restaurant closes indefinitely due to fire damage sustained Thursday night; plus, the Foggy Bottoms Boys hope to provide you a chill experience this summer! Those stories and more in today’s online newscast with John Kennedy O’Connor.

FURTHER READING: 

• The Foggy Bottoms Boys Give the Scoop on the Local Farm’s Soon-to-Open Loleta Ice Cream Shop
• Fire at Arcata’s Campground Restaurant Last Night Contained With Minimal Structural Damage, Fire District Says
• Arkley-Affiliated Group ‘Citizens for a Better Eureka’ Files Second Lawsuit Against the City Over Development Plans

HUMBOLDT TODAY can be viewed on LoCO’s homepage each night starting at 6 p.m.

Want to LISTEN to HUMBOLDT TODAY? Subscribe to the podcast version here.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On May 4, 2023, at about 9:51 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a bank on the 12700 block of State Highway 96 in Hoopa for the report of a robbery.

According to bank employees, an unknown male suspect entered the bank and handed a bank teller a note indicating that he was in possession of a firearm and demanding money. The male fled the business with a large amount of cash and was observed being picked up by a red mustang. Deputies conducting follow up to this investigation located the mustang parked at a nearby residence on Tish Tang Road. The vehicle was unoccupied, and the suspect was not located.

The suspect remains outstanding at this time and is described as a light-skinned male, possibly in his mid-20’s, thin-build, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and 130 pounds, with brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown hoodie, black mask, white t-shirt and dark pants.  

This case is still under investigation. 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.

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If you follow the Foggy Bottoms Boys on social media – it’s the beloved Ferndale-based farm headed by self-described “fabulously gay farmers” Cody and Thomas Nicholson Stratton – then you already know that the dynamic duo recently announced plans to open an ice cream shop, where they will be serving artisanal soft-serve and classic ice cream made from the milk of their own Jersey cows. 

Though the Boys have been intentionally tight-lipped about the name and location of their newest venture, on Friday morning Thomas gave the Outpost the full scoop. In honor of the cows from which their milk comes, the new ice cream will be called Jersey Scoop and, as many people already guessed on Facebook and Instagram and maybe if they’ve noticed the “coming soon” sign already on the window, the shop will take over the space previously occupied by the Loleta Bakery.

“It’s really exciting for us,” Nicholson Stratton told the Outpost, adding that the space, which has a somewhat controversial history, has been vacant for a long time. With the bakery’s closure, plus the more recent closure of the once very popular Loleta Cheese Factory, Loleta has been in an economic slump and Foggy Bottoms is hoping to help breathe life back into the town’s Main Street. “We absolutely believe in the concept of not just us thriving, but multiple other businesses coming in and thriving.” 

A look at some of the Jersey Scoop soft serve

The space will basically be Foggy Bottoms Boys’ new headquarters, Nicholson Stratton said, with a main office where people can place orders for dairy and meat products and book tours of the farm. It will also have a kitchen, industrial freezers to hold their products, and the ice cream shop. The shop will include a classic ice cream-dipping cabinet with rotating, seasonal flavors, and — possibly even more exciting — a soft-serve machine, which will include one featured flavor that changes weekly. In addition to the ice cream, the shop will serve some other light fare, including sandwiches, soups and pastries from Ferndale bakery Patches’ Pastries. You’ll also be able to buy pints of the artisanal ice cream to take with you. 

Jersey Scoop ice cream will also be available for purchase in local grocery stores. At least to start, Nicholson Stratton said, the company will release two flavors for the stores – one will be a rich and creamy classic vanilla, and the other will be a new “fun flavor.” But the name and flavor of the new ice cream is something Nicholson Stratton was not willing to share yet.

“That info is for sure under wraps,” he said. Nicholson Stratton’s other half, Cody, posted a social media contest asking for flavor name suggestions. They didn’t end up using any of the names, exactly, Nicholson Stratton said, but they did base the name on one of the suggestions. 

As far as when this will all happen, Nicholson Stratton said the company still has to go through some inspection processes and is shooting to have the ice cream shop open by mid-summer. Because the process for being able to sell products in grocery stores is a little more arduous, he said, it will probably take a bit longer for the ice cream pints to hit shelves. 

If you are just so excited to taste the creamy treats of Jersey Scoop that you can’t wait until then, Nicholson Stratton said that the farmers plan to have their ice cream available at the Arcata Farmers Market before they have them anyplace else. The hope is to have ice cream pints available for purchase at their Farmers’ Market booth within the next month.

The other great way to help ensure the ice cream business gets going as quickly as possible is to help support the Foggy Bottoms Boys by purchasing their products (if you don’t already).

“What will help us get there [is] if anybody wants to go to Foggy Bottoms Boys and order and pick up at the Farmers’ Market or order and we can deliver to you on Sundays; that would be great,” Nicholson Stratton said.

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PREVIOUSLY: 

• (AUDIO) HUMBOLDT HOLDING UP: Getting to Know the Foggy Bottoms Boys, Gay Ferndale Farmers and Social Media Stars
• Ferndale’s Foggy Bottoms Boys Honored as Climate Smart Farmers of the Year

Last night the ventilation system at the upscale off-Plaza restaurant Campground caught fire, sending flames and smoke like a beacon.

The images were spectacular, but the damage was not as bad as it might have been. Chris Emmons, assistant chief of the Arcata Fire District, tells the Outpost this morning that the built-in sprinkler systems performed admirably in containing the fire, and the staff of the restaurant were able to safely evacuate themselves and customers. 

“As spectacular as it looked, it was actually lucky, for lack of a better term, that it didn’t spread,” Emmons said.

In short: Not much damage to the building, though of course restaurant operations will be affected for a while.

Emmons said that it will have a more complete rundown of the fire and a tally of the damage in a press release today. We’ll update with that when they send it.

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UPDATE: And here it is:

On 5/4/2023 at 9:45 P.M. a unit from Arcata Fire was dispatched to a local alarm at Campground restaurant in Arcata. While in route, the Fortuna Emergency Command Center upgraded the response to a full commercial structure fire dispatch.

Firefighters arrived to a three-story building with a restaurant on the ground floor and apartments on the upper floors. The first engine that arrived on scene found smoke and flames coming from the ventilation fan on the roof and fire in the kitchen area of the restaurant. The fire was found to have traveled from the kitchen area to the roof vent.

Additional Arcata units arrived and began evacuating the remainder of the structure and looking for extension of the fire throughout the building. The restaurant staff did an excellent job of evacuating patrons from the restaurant before firefighters arrived on scene. Mutual aid resources arrived on scene and assisted with all operations.

The fire was reported to be accidental due to the hood ventilation system having a buildup of grease that had ignited. The extinguishing system held the fire in check and slowed the spread.

Mutual aid resources were released to provide coverage of the Arcata Fire Protection District while Arcata units remained engaged in the incident.Estimated damages come to $100,000.

Upon completion of the incident, all units were returned to their respective jurisdictions. Thanks go out to Humboldt Bay Fire, Blue Lake Vol. Fire, Fieldbrook Vol. Fire, Westhaven Vol. Fire, Samoa Vol. Fire and Kneeland Vol. Fire for providing mutual aid.

If you have questions, please contact the Arcata Fire Protection District at 707-825-2000.

David James Renfer, a beloved member of the community and a dedicated father, volunteer and golfer, passed away unexpectedly on April 30, 2023. Although we are heartbroken at this tremendous loss, we take comfort in knowing David is with the Lord he loved so deeply. He was born in Portland, Oregon on July 10, 1985. He was 37 years old.

David’s greatest love was being a father to his two boys, Connor and Kasey. Fatherhood changed David’s life and he truly found his identity in being a loving dad. He embraced every moment and opportunity to be there for Connor and Kasey, whether it was grabbing his glove to play catch at a moment’s notice, or never missing a single practice, game or recital. David was especially known for being at least 30 minutes early every day for after-school pick up so the boys never had to wait. He demonstrated his deep love for his boys through words and actions every day. The boys were his world.

David grew up with a love for sports, especially golf and tennis. Playing in tournaments from a young age, he became a highly skilled golfer and famously long-driver off the tee. Some of his proudest accomplishments were reaching the state finals his senior year and the hole-in-one he hit during a junior high match at Quail Lodge Golf Club. After graduation, he continued his passion for the sport by playing regular weekly golf competitions at Eureka Municipal Golf Course.

David cherished the opportunity to pass on his love for sports to others through coaching. He volunteered as a coach and mentor to teach young players the fundamentals of baseball, basketball and soccer. His enthusiastic and encouraging coaching style made him a beloved figure among the youth sports community.

Recently, David found a new passion as a youth group leader at his local church, Faith Center. He enjoyed working with young people, sharing his love for the Lord, and making a positive impact on their lives. David’s dedication and enthusiasm for his work inspired many of the youth in his group, and he quickly became a beloved mentor.

David will be remembered for his infectious smile, his youthful enthusiasm, and his brightly-colored golf shirts. His love for his family and friends was unwavering. David had an incredible ability to comfort others through his strong faith in the Lord.

He leaves behind his wife Natalie, his two sons, Connor and Kasey, his mother Kimberly Walker, father Len Renfer, sister Jenny Kamnikar (Shaun), niece and nephew Hailey and Walker Kamnikar, brother Danny Renfer, mother-in-law Vicki Casey, sister-in-laws Valerie Canfield and Stephanie Goodwin (Beau), nieces and nephews Ella and Cade Canfield and Carter and Amelia Goodwin, grandparents Jim and Bonnie Walker and Dorothy Renfer. He also leaves behind a large extended family and community. David was preceded in death by grandparents Leonard Renfer Jr. and Linda Renfer and Father-in-law Ben Casey.

A memorial service will be held on May 7th, 2023 at 3:00 pm, at the Faith Center Church of Eureka. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his memory to Redwood Fields to benefit youth sports programs. Donations may be sent in the form of check to P.O. Box 327, Cutten, CA 95534.

David, we love you and miss you dearly. We will cherish our memories until we meet again.

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David Joseph Lindstrom
February 9, 1932 – April 6, 2023

Dave Lindstrom passed away on April 6, 2023 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 91 years old.

Dave was born in Eureka on February 9, 1932. He grew up in Fairhaven on the Samoa Peninsula, where most of the Lindstrom family had settled. His first six grades were in one room at the Rolph School, which is now used by the Fairhaven Fire Department. After that, he attended Eureka Jr. and Sr. High School, where he ran track and played the trombone in the band.

He became interested in flying as a young boy, when the US Navy flew in several planes for an airshow at the Blimp Base, located near the current Fairhaven airport and dragstrip. At 14 years old, and to the surprise of his parents, he started flying lessons with Al Camilli. After some four hours of dual flight, he soloed and received his student license.

After graduating from Eureka high School in 1949, he took jobs at the local mills while going to Humboldt State College. After a year and a half at HSC, the Korean War broke out and he joined the Navy in the Aviation Division. After attending several schools from Jacksonville, Florida to Barbers Point, Hawaii, he received his “combat air crew” wings and was sent to an anti-submarine squadron located at Los Alamitos Navy Base. After training with submarines off San Diego and qualifying on “jeep” carriers, they made their first six-month tour off Korea. He said the most exciting times were getting shot off the 590-ft. carrier by the catapult. The carrier was the USS Bataan, which was said to have the fastest catapult in the Navy at the time, launching the planes to 90 knots, or over 100 mph, in 70 feet. The trick was getting back onto the carrier after a four-hour flight in the dark, which always made for “exciting” times.

After four years in the Navy, he returned home to resume working as an electrician. He spent his spare time building drag racing cars in his parent’s garage, one of which was the first “slingshot” dragster in Humboldt County. He went on to win multiple championships at the Samoa Drag Strip. His racing was put on hold when he married Deanne Walsh and began raising a family.

He continued his love of hunting throughout his life, with his best memories being times spent with his family and friends at the family hunting camp near Bug Creek Butte, becoming known locally as “Lindstrom Rock,” where his grandfather and father had hunted since 1917. He also made many out-of-state hunting trips with his family and friends, including hunting trips for mule deer, elk, caribou, and antelope.

Dave was also an avid fisherman. He especially loved salmon fishing in the local ocean waters. He built a cabin cruiser in 1963 in his parents’ garage and named her the “Dawn Marie” after his daughter. He was able to enjoy many salmon fishing trips with family and friends over the years.

After working as an electrician for about 14 years upon returning home from the Navy, he started his own electric motor repair shop, Arcata Electric Motor Service, and ran it until his retirement in 2004.

In the mid 1970s, he was able to resume his love of flying. He first bought a 1947 Stinson taildragger, then progressed to a Cessna 206 and later a Cessna 210. He enjoyed flying whenever he had the chance, including vacations as far away as Florida, flying to Fort Bragg to go diving for abalone, and to Baja, Mexico for fishing trips. He eventually sold the planes and bought a commercial fishing boat, naming her the “Josie L” after his mother, which his son Dale still operates, mainly for crab fishing in the winter months. He later bought a second and larger boat, naming her after his granddaughter Molly, which was used for offshore albacore fishing for a few years.

Dave is survived by his children, Dale Lindstrom, Dennis Lindstrom and Dawn Lindstrom, Jami Sanchez, Lani Bomshtein, stepson Jason Rainwater, his 7 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Josephine Lindstrom, his grandson Walter Lindstrom, and many lifelong friends, including Doug Lewallen and Bud Peterson. The family would like to express our gratitude to the Veterans Administration and Hospice of Humboldt for the wonderful care they gave our dad throughout the last years of his life.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 13 at 2 p.m., at the Veteran’s Hall in Arcata. All friends and family are welcome to attend and share stories and memories of Dave. Refreshments will be served.

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