Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Jan. 17, 2023, at about 10:53 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the Hoopa area conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation on Highway 96 near Moon Lane.

Deputies contacted two occupants of the vehicle and observed controlled substances and drug paraphernalia in plain view. During their investigation, deputies learned that the passenger of the vehicle, 33-year-old Ethel Louise Reed, was in possession of an unsecured loaded firearm, which was later located during a search of the vehicle. Reed was confirmed to be a convicted felon restricted from possessing firearms. During a search of Reed incident to arrest, deputies located over 90 prescription pills and over 3 grams of suspected fentanyl.

Reed was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance while armed (HS 11370.1(a)), felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)), carrying a loaded firearm not registered to the individual (PC 25850(c)(6)), possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (BP 4060) and possession of a narcotic controlled substance (HS 11350(a)).

The driver was released at the scene.

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.

Loretta Alexandre
January 5, 1941 - January 14, 2023

Our beloved Mom, Loretta Jean Alexandre, peacefully passed away on January 14, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was so iconic in the town of Ferndale, one only needed to mention “Loretta” and everyone knew who you were talking about.

Born January 5, 1941, in Eureka to William and Mary Trutalli, Loretta was raised on her parent’s dairy farm in Ferndale. She and her younger brother, David, spent their entire lives in the town of Ferndale.

Loretta was an inspirational woman who was a role model for how to love others. She attended Ferndale High School where she was actively involved in Future Homemakers of America, graduating in 1958, then attending Humboldt State University. Loretta dated Joe Alexandre, a Portuguese immigrant from the Azores who was living on a dairy farm in Ferndale. She had been smitten since the age of 15 and they married on April 23,1960.

Loretta and Joe settled in Ferndale’s Grizzly Bluff area, where they were pillars in establishing a tight community and culture of farmers and friends. They all worked and played together, as they raised their families in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Always with abundant laughter and great food, their community shared each other’s lives, through births, deaths, celebrations, floods, and windstorms, usually with lots of cows in the mix! Loretta’s kitchen was always open for a cup of coffee and a conversation, and she could be counted on to lend a helping hand (or lead the charge).

Raising her three children, Renae, Blake, and Kristina, was Loretta’s highest priority, while she also supported Joe in their dairy business. Even though her home was impressively organized, Loretta never was able to find her barn boots! She kept busy with involvement in her children’s activities, throughout their school years, with sports, 4-H & FFA activities.

As her kids grew older, met their spouses, and developed their own lives, Loretta’s grandchildren became her pride and joy. She then became “Noni,” not ever missing a soccer, football, basketball, track, or volleyball game. She was in the stands watching with pride at every fair show too.

After living at the dairy for three decades, Joe and Loretta moved to their new Ferndale home in 1991. Loretta never lost her love for the beauty of Ferndale. Her 30-year dream was to build her own home and Joe supported her in every decision as he knew she had worked on every detail in the plans. Loretta agreed the business came first, but now Joe was saying, “Whatever you want, Sugar,” as she supervised every board and nail. When she reflected on those years, she would say, “The best year of my marriage was building our home with Joe.”

Loretta became known for her love of antiques and was able to fill her dream home with them. Many parts of her beautifully decorated home were built around her favorites. Her love of antiques took her across the country, and she shared numerous antiquing trips with her dear friends and family. Loretta could recall where every piece in the house came from, and the friends she went with and many memories from the trip.

In 2000, Loretta was fully supportive when Joe wanted to purchase a restaurant with a group of friends in downtown Ferndale. “Poppa Joe’s”, became an “old man’s daycare” where the local retired guys would play cards, drink coffee and tell stories, while tourists and locals enjoyed breakfast or lunch. Loretta and Joe celebrated 44 years together before his passing in 2004, and she continuously stayed involved with managing Poppa Joe’s restaurant.

Loretta loved to go camping in Benbow. Joe would drive her little trailer down so she could have fun in the sun with girlfriends and he would return home to fend for himself for the week - which always became a great story. Loretta’s friends were a big part of her life; she was well loved for her generosity, thoughtfulness and cheerfulness.

Loretta was also a planner and had a stack of annual calendars in which she recorded her daily life, appointments, birthdays, or special events on each day. With wonderful creativity and design, she also made memories last through scrapbooking. Her petite little fingers crafted more than 90 extraordinary books of her grandchildren over the years. Specially personalized, these became priceless gifts to grateful family members.

Loretta was a positive force in many communities: Dairy Farming, Poppa Joe’s, Portuguese Catholic Heritage, and Ferndale, where she sang alto in the Ferndale Community and Church choir for decades. She loved to sing. Her choir members became like family, and she enjoyed their fellowship and hosting the annual choir party at her home. Friends till the end, choir members visited Loretta in the hospital days before her passing, and they sang a glorious ‘Amazing Grace’ together.

She is survived by her children: Renae Alameda, Blake & Stephanie Alexandre, Kristina & Will Saltekoff; grandchildren: Justin Lewis, Makenzie Alameda & Nick Bobroff, Joseph & Alexa Alexandre, Christian & Callie Alexandre, Vanessa & Justin Nunes, Dalton Alexandre and Savanna Alexandre; great grandchildren: Caden Lewis, Canaan & Callahan Alexandre, Jora Nunes, and Brylynn Alexandre.

Loretta is preceded in death by her husband Joseph Francis Alexandre, brother David Trutalli, parents William Trutalli and Mary Silveira, grandsons, Jace and Hunter Alameda.

Pallbearers: Darin Trutalli, Justin Lewis, Joseph, Christian & Dalton Alexandre, and Justin Nunes.

Honorary Pallbearers: Ken Mendes, Jerome Davis, Glenn Martella, Bruno Pialorsi, Curt Adorni, Leland Tomasini, Will Saltekoff, Frank Boldrini.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Joe Alexandre Memorial Scholarship Fund where the family supports Ferndale High School graduates with a passion for agriculture. (P.O. Box 1155, Ferndale, Ca 95536).

An intimate family burial blessing has already taken place. Family, friends, and anyone who’s life Loretta may have touched are welcome to join the family on April 23 at 10:45 a.m. at the Catholic Church of the Assumption (564 Berding Street, Ferndale, Ca 95536) where the Mass Intention is for Loretta. The Celebration of Life will follow at 12 p.m. at Portuguese Hall in Ferndale (355 Ocean Avenue, Ferndale, Ca 95536).

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

Maureen (Renie) Ellen Myers
April 16, 1948 - December 19, 2022

Renie died peacefully in her sleep on December 19, 2022 in her lifelong home in Eureka.

Renie is survived by her children Dennis (Allie) Higgins and Faryn Rushing; grandchildren Holly, Cody and Ryan Higgins and great-granddaughter Hadley Higgins; her siblings Denny (Gay) Myers, Chuck Myers and Mary Myers; her nieces Carie, Kelly, Amy, Deana, Erin Myers, and many great-nieces and nephews; her lifelong friend Debbie White; and her children, Jill, Lyndsay and Keith. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ellen Lillian Kaski and Frank George Myers.

Renie loved playing Yahtzee on Friday nights, playing bingo at the casino and going to baseball games with her beloved Pomeranian, Jaycee. Renie was an animal lover and always had many animals throughout the years that she loved dearly and spoiled like her own children. Renie worked at Lincoln Elementary School for many years, the same school she attended as a child.

Renie loved her children unconditionally and always provided for them in any way that she could. Her son Dennis, who she adored and was always the man in her life who she looked to for strength. He filled her with pride. He gave her three grandchildren and a never-ending source of support and love. Faryn, her only girl who she cherished beyond belief. Renie dreamed of having a little girl of her own and was enamored by Faryn as soon as she made her appearance, all those years after Dennis. She loved her children with her entire heart and supported them through the good times and the bad. Being a mother was something she adored and her children knew they could always come home, no matter what.

Renie had many close friends throughout her life, some from the very beginning. Debbie White, her lifelong best friend, who was always by her side. They went to the same grade school, raised children together and remained friends until the very end. Suzie Staggs, Sherry Ball, Janice Stewart, Debbie Wilson, Janis Cozart are just some of the people that were with Renie through it all, totaling 300 years of friendship and memories.

A celebration of life will be held at the Wharfinger Building on February 11 at 1 p.m.

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

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Opening day was delayed and delayed again thanks to low meat weights and elevated domoic acid levels followed by price negotiations and the recent winter storms, but commercial crabbers finally got their pots in the waters off Humboldt County’s coast this morning as the commercial Dungeness crab season finally began. 

“Since the season officially opened on the 1st, with the weather and the price negotiations, they went out today and by Gentleman’s Agreement didn’t drop pots off the boats until 8 a.m.,” said local photographer Matt Filar, who was up well before dawn to document the occasion.

“The pots soak for a couple days, and then they pull them at 8 [a.m.] on Thursday, then bring the first catch in to dock, where they unload, weigh and then load them onto trucks that take them to Washington (Costco, mostly).”

As first reported by our friends at KMUD News, any excitement from the local crabbing fleet was tempered by a price per pound that’s less than half of what they earned last year — $2.25, compared to last year’s $4.75.

Harrison Ibach, President of Humboldt Fisherman’s Marketing Association, told KMUD News Director Lauren Schmidt on Tuesday evening that this is the first time since 2012 that the price-per-pound fell below three dollars.

Ibach attributed the price drop to a recent agreement between an Oregon fleet and processors, and he said the price could drop even lower later this week.

Fishermen are encouraging locals to purchase their crab right off the boat, down at the Woodley Island Marina, according to KMUD News Director Lauren Schmidt. 

Filar has graciously shared a few of his photos with the Outpost, for which we thank him.

Photo: California State Parks.

Press release from California State Parks:

California State Parks today closed Mattole Road in Humboldt Redwoods State Park until further notice due to the recent storm damage and the risk for a potential landslide. The closure is located 1.5 miles west of the juncture with Highway 101. Mattole Road runs west from the highway at the confluence of the south fork and main stem of the Eel River, then traverses through Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

This is an active situation, and the extent of the damage or stability of the roadway is currently unknown. There is potential for a landslide in this area and drivers and pedestrians should stay well away in case of significant subsidence. For drivers on the west side of the closure, the best detour is to go west and north on the Mattole Road towards Ferndale, then connect to Highway 101 from there.

There is no current estimate of when the road will reopen but up-to-date information will be provided at the park’s website: parks.ca.gov/HumboldtRedwoods. The public is also urged to check road closures at Caltrans’ website: QuickMap.dot.ca.gov.

There are a number of park units in the North Coast Redwoods and across the state impacted by the winter storms. For the latest updates, please visit parks.ca.gov/incidents and check with the park unit you plan to visit before heading out as conditions can change without notice.

UPDATE: 5 p.m.: Today we were playing around with what that might look like and thought, what the hell, let’s share our dress rehearsal with Humboldt. We will evolve this thing with time, but we’re curious what you think! Let us have it!

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Original Post: Early last month, the social networking site Nextdoor.com exploded with the information that a very competent local news anchor at one of our two local television news operations had been, as that anchor would put it, “given the sack.”

JKO, enjoying downtown Eureka’s lunch options. Photo: Andrew Goff.

“Is anyone upset that [redacted local television station] got rid of John Kennedy O’Connor from the news desk?” asked one bewildered Nextdoor poster from the “Eureka High” neighborhood.

This question kicked off a furious whirlwind of rage directed at [redacted television station now owned by weird cable network], in which the Nextdoor community bemoaned the loss of the man who had come to inhabit their television screens at 6 p.m. He was not from here, clearly, but he was curious about the place, and he mixed a gracious and affable demeanor with just enough of the Paxmanesque or Sackurite strain of the British Broadcasting Corporation style to show that he was not to be trifled with, not to be taken lightly, and that for half an hour a day Humboldt was the most important place in the world and he was here to serve you.

Nextdoor demanded answers.

“Seriously! You replaced John Kennedy? Are you out of your minds!” asked a member of the Kneeland community, rhetorically. “He was the best anchor you’ve had to date!”

“WE listen to the nightly [newscast of redacted television station based on Humboldt Hill] BECAUSE of JOHN KENNEDY O’CONNER [sic],” emphasized a McKinleyville-based person, presumably on behalf of their family. “He’s excellent … how lucky we were to land him here!!!”

“Hoping to see John Kennedy on Lost Coast Outpost in the not-too-distant future :-),” smiled a commenter from the “Sequoia Park” neighborhood, emojifully.

Well, well, well! Give the prize to that last commenter, because as of today [redacted]’s loss is our gain! Please sound the trumpets and welcome John Kennedy O’Connor to Team LoCO! 

Now, you might be familiar with JKO’s work even if you never watch local news. You might have seen some of his interviews with local political figures like Karen Paz Dominguez and Brett Watson, many of which found a second life on Facebook due to their being unusually good, by Humboldt County TV news standards.

Or you might remember that time that he was our guest on Humboldt Holding Up, the pandemic-era LoCO podcast series. Or possibly you are a hardcore fan of the Eurovision Song Contest, and you know him as a world-renowned authority on the contest’s history.

What’s he going to be doing for the Outpost? You’ll soon see! We have a billion ideas, and one of them will launch sometime this week. We’re all very excited about putting John’s passion, talent and experience to work for the LoCO faithful.

Welcome John Kennedy O’Connor, everyone!

Oh, and by the way and completely apropos of nothing, please answer this question.

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It has been quite a month! 

Just 28 days after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake kicked off the region’s most seismically active and destructive month in more than a decade, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors today unanimously ratified a local emergency proclamation for the other natural disaster to strike Humboldt County over that stretch: a succession of major winter storms that toppled trees, disrupted utility services, damaged homes and roadways and caused mudslides and widespread flooding.

“All [of] that affected everyone within Humboldt County,” Sheriff Billy Honsal said at today’s single-item meeting of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. 

Last week Honsal declared a local emergency on the grounds that the storms posed an imminent threat to public safety and have caused significant damages to public and private property. The declaration opens up a request for state and federal relief funds, he explained, but whether that request will be granted depends on the amount of damage done.

The storms have caused more than $3 million in damages to public roadways, according to Ryan Derby, manager of the county’s Office of Emergency Services. Derby, who appeared alongside Honsal this morning to brief the board on the situation, said he’s still waiting for initial damage assessments from other departments. 

“The hope with that is to meet the threshold to get Humboldt County included on the major disaster declaration from the federal government,” Derby said.

“And I know at this point we’re getting initial damage estimates still from the earthquake,” he added. “So it’s just [a matter of] parsing out what was storm related, what was earthquake related, and making sure that we’re tracking those for the appropriate disaster numbers.”

Fifth District Supervisor and Board Chair Steve Madrone asked whether individual residents will be eligible for state or federal assistance, and Derby said that remains to be seen. The federal Small Business Administration has a threshold — at least 25 homes at 40 percent damage or more — before releasing individual assistance funds, and Derby said the county has yet to reach that mark from the recent storm damage.

“And because we have 16 counties in the coastal region that are part of this state of emergency, we will qualify for a federal declaration, but individual assistance is unclear at this point,” Derby said. 

Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo asked whether emergency funds may be available for sediment removal from local waterways that experienced heavy deposits during the storms.

Likely not, Derby said, adding that mitigation for the next natural disaster may be the best approach for such issues.

Locals can submit damage reports to the Sheriff’s Office’s website, though Derby cautioned, “Submitting those claims doesn’t provide any mechanism for relief through the county. It’s largely a tracking mechanism that we use to submit [information] to the state.”

Honsal stressed the importance of planning for the future.

“We have to prepare for the next disaster now,” he said. “We have beaten this drum over and over again over the last couple years, and so we really want to just remind people [to] prepare for that local emergency … at their homes and at their businesses.”

Honsal recommended ready.gov as a resource for such preparations.

People seeking more information about the emergencies and recovery efforts can call (707) 441-5000 or (707) 268-2500.