Charles (Charlie) Albert Womack passed away peaceful- ly on December 30, 2024, at age 101, in Eureka, after a brief illness.

Charlie was born at home near Pineville, Louisiana, and at age one traveled in a Ford Model T to Northern California with his parents, grandmother, and aunt and uncle. The trip took over a month, stopping to sleep at friendly farmers’ houses.

They settled in Crannell, where his father worked at the Little River Redwood Company. As a teenager, Charlie delivered milk door-to-door.

Charlie served in WWII as a Navy Seaman 2nd Class radio operator aboard a Liberty ship in the Pacific Ocean. The ship visited Guam, New Guinea, Hawaii, and Australia. After the war, he used the GI Bill to study accounting.

Charlie met his future wife, Marguerite, at Arcata First Baptist Church youth group. They were married in 1949 and settled in the Sunnybrae area of Arcata where they lived for over 65 years and raised their three children. He applied for a mechanic’s job at PC Sacchi Chevrolet in Arcata, but the bookkeeper had just resigned so he was given that position, which he held for over 25 years.

His final employment was at Opie’s Cars in McKinleyville. He was an entrepreneur, owning the Stump House in Eureka, building the Arcata Carwash, owning several rental properties and a laundromat, all while working full-time at various car dealers in accounting.

After becoming empty nesters, he and Marguerite enjoyed years of square dancing and going to garage sales. They travelled to Hawaii twice, enjoyed cruises, and made long road trips to visit family well into their golden years.

He was predeceased by his wife, Marguerite, in 2017, his sister Gloria, and his parents Watson and Willie. Survivors include his three children: Leland (Margaret) of Escondido, California; Barry (Claudia) of Joseph, Oregon; Cheryl Maple (John) of Eureka; seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

We would like to thank the caring staff at Timber Ridge Care in Eureka, where he lived his last years. Charlie will be fondly remembered for his kind, gentle nature, sense of humor, and positive outlook. He rarely complained and made the best of whatever came his way. A private memorial service is planned.

Kathy Dorene (Wells) Sutherland (June, 13 1946 - December 23, 2024), a longtime Humboldt County resident, passed away at the age of 78 at her daughter’s home in Hanford, California on December 23, 2024.

She was born on June 13, 1946, to parents Ike and Nancy Wells in Tillamook, Oregon. When she was three years old, the family moved to Whitethorn, where she attended several years of elementary school until her dad moved them to Mayfield, Idaho to try his hand at cattle ranching. Idaho is where she found her love of horses, which she never outgrew. She loved everything about helping her dad on the ranch. She often spoke of it as being some of her best childhood memories.

When she was 14, the family moved to Redway for her dad to return to the logging industry. Not long after her return to Humboldt County, she met the love of her life, William Sutherland, and on January 30, 1963 she was married at the young age of 16. At age 17 she became a mom for the first time with the birth of her only son, Tommis Sutherland, then just one year later her daughter Valerie Sutherland was born. In the early years of her marriage and motherhood she did her part to help her family financially. She took in other people’s laundry to wash and iron, she cleaned motel rooms for a few years, then worked at the Miranda Market as a meat cutter.

In 1978 she gave birth to her last daughter, Jenny Sutherland, and shortly after that she began her school bus driving career. She was an exceptional driver, receiving School Bus Driver of the Year one year and countless Safe Driving Awards. She is remembered fondly by many students that considered her as the best bus driver ever. She retired after 32 years with a zero accident clean record.

She was always a very active, hard-working person. Over the years she built fences, rebuilt barns, remodeled her kitchen, fixed the water pump, kept the yard up, grew vegetable gardens, canned tons of food, always had animals to care for and she loved to sew and crotchet. She was a strong, beautiful, kind person. After retirement one could often find her playing slots at the Bear River Casino until her life-crippling disease, rheumatoid arthritis, made it impossible for her to do much but crotchet, and crotchet she did, up until five days before her passing. She made countless baby blankets that she happily shared with neighbors and family members.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 61 years, 11 months William Sutherland; her children Tommis (Alita) Sutherland, Valerie (Dan) Welzbacker, Jenny Sutherland (Jason); her brother Bill (Judy) Wells; her sister Ellen Vaughn; brothers-in-law Daniel (Marlene), George (Teresa), Johnny (Lorna) Sutherland; sisters-in-law Dora Minikal, Mary Bigger; grandchildren Kyle, Travis Harrison, Larissa (Nick) Arbuthnot, Donavan Pogue, Amy (Justin), Molly (Frank), Jimmy Sutherland (Kayla); great-grandchildren Makala, Austin, Aubree Harrison, Lila, Camden Arbuthnot, Quinn Bramlett; step-grandchild Emily Welzbacker; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, friends and other family members.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Ike and Nancy Wells; in-laws Daniel and Wilhemina Sutherland; brother Dale Wells; sister Laura Methin; sisters-in-law Peal Coffer, Dorothy Sutherland; brother-in-laws Clearance Sutherland, James Sutherland, Thomas Bigger, Robert Vaughn, Ken Methuin; as well as several nieces, nephews, friends and other family members.

A memorial will be held for Kathy at the Briceland Cemetery on May 10, 2025 at 2 p.m., with a get-together of food and refreshments after, at Beginnings in Briceland.

Kristi Lynn Parsells was born on July 19, a sunny day in 1976, amidst the towering redwoods of Humboldt County. She unexpectedly passed away on November 6, 2024, at the age of 48, due to her heart complications. Throughout her life, she called the cozy town of Rio Dell her home. Kristi was a force of nature with an infectious sense of humor and warmth that could light up even the gloomiest of days. She was the kind of person who made strangers feel like friends and friends feel like family. When Kristi was around, everyone would flock to her like the renown leader she was. She was truly inspiring and artistic in her own ways.

Kristi blossomed over the past few years into a true aficionado of plants and succulents, transforming her outdoor space into a vibrant oasis of natural beauty that attracted many. Her artistic talent shined through in the magnificent displays she created, where each succulent was thoughtfully placed to enhance the harmony of color and texture, while delicate waterfalls trickle nearby, adding a soothing soundtrack to her garden paradise. With each new arrangement, Kristi infused her love for nature into her work, turning her once simple garden into a breathtaking exhibition that not only reflects her passion but provided a serene sanctuary for herself, Kaleb, and all who happen upon it.

Kristi’s greatest accomplishments were her beloved sons, Dannon, born in 1999, and Klayton, who came into the world in 2001. The love she had for them was her life’s masterpiece. In the past six years, her joy further blossomed when she took on the cherished role of Meemaw to her grandson Kaleb. The bond they shared was a testament to the loving and nurturing heart she was known for.

Her family was her world, and she leaves behind a legacy of laughter and resilience.

Kristi is survived by her children, Dannon Parsells (Emylee Sutton) and Klayton Miller (Dylan Collins); her parents, Sherry Ridenour and Robert Parsells (Karen Hower); her siblings, Tina (Trevor) Burns, Heidi (Truman) Elick, Terra Town (Sean O’Neal), Colin Town (Leah Mandon), Houston Town, and Michael Ridenour; nieces and nephews Tristan Jeffers, Wyatt Burns, Forrest and Dakota James, Gabe, Shiloh, and Selah Town; aunts and uncles Larry (Kathy) Parrish, JayDean Parrish, and Connie Otis (Ed Hower); cousins Veronica, Austin, and Hailie Haselip, Kendra Walin, Candy Parrish, and Bobby Parrish; and of course, her grandchildren Kaleb, Michael, Anthony, and Leilani.

A celebration of Kristi’s extraordinary life will be held at Rio Dell Fireman’s Hall on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 1 p.m.

As we gather to remember Kristi, we hold close these words: “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.”

Anthony Neil Carroll (Tony)
Sept. 3, 1963 - Dec. 24, 2024

Tony was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is the son of Darrell and Wilda Carroll. Tony departed this life on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024 at 3:15 a.m. in Eureka California. He suffered from congestive heart failure and various other ailments.

Tony is survived by his mother, Wilda Carroll; his sister Libby (Carroll) Walker; three daughters: Paris Cole, & Madison (Carroll) Martinez of California; five grandchildren, also from California, who he adored — Hunter, and Turner McHatton, Kinsley, Benny Jr. and Eveligh Uber; also a daughter, Sarah Kamp, of Iowa

Preceding Tony in death are his loving wife Pamela Carroll and his father Darrell Carroll.

Tony accepted Christ at an early age, and often spoke to others, of his Savior. When Tony was young he loved to fish and often caught the most fish of the day, when on camping trips with his parents and sister.

Tony enjoyed the simplest things in life. He has always had a love for animals, especially cats. He loved to sing old songs, and he loved to watch western shows and read Louis L’Amour books. He enjoyed football. He liked the Green Bay Packers and the Chiefs. Tony was full of life, very care-free, kind hearted and loving. Tony would give the shirt off of his back to help someone in need especially a friend. He loved to laugh and make those around him laugh as well. Tony will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

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

PREVIOUSLY

• Developer of McKay Ranch Subdivision, a Proposed 320-Unit Housing Development in Cutten, Seeks Annexation from Humboldt Community Services District

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The North McKay Ranch Subdivision could eventually provide hundreds of new homes for local residents — if it ever gets built.

The long-planned development near Cutten calls for up to 320 residential units and 22,000 square feet of commercial space to be built in phases over many years, but movement on those plans has come to a standstill. Eleven months after developer Kurt Kramer applied to get the project site annexed into the Humboldt Community Services District — a necessary step to supply its buildings with water and sewer — no action has been taken.

“They haven’t turned it down,” Kramer said in a recent phone interview, “but it’s a year later and nothin’s happened. It’s embarrassing.”

Kramer is frustrated by the inaction, which he sees as a sign that the state and local governments can’t be serious when they talk about how much California needs new housing construction.

“This is crazy,” he said. “It’s basically stopping progress.” He suspects that the inaction may be related to the “progressive” political bent of the district’s board, which has manifested as a “no growth” attitude, from his perspective.

“I would like to think that when people say they need housing, that they mean it, but I just don’t believe them anymore,” Kramer said.

Terrence “TK” Williams, general manager of the Humboldt Community Services District (HCSD), said it’s not a matter of political willpower but rather a question of financing: Who’s going to pay for the new infrastructure?

The district’s board of directors did consider Kramer’s annexation request last February, Williams said, and two of the board members — Heidi Benzonelli and Michael Hansen — were designated as an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter further. However, they have yet to figure a way to make the finances pencil out.

The district’s primary idea has been to ask the County of Humboldt for a larger share of property tax revenues, but the county has proved unwilling to give that up. Williams said district personnel has met several times with county staff in hopes of finding a path forward that doesn’t saddle HCSD’s current ratepayers with the costs of the North McKay Ranch Subdivision — or any other new development within its boundaries, for that matter.

Williams explained that the HCSD is already over-extended financially.

“Over the past 20 years, the District has invested tens of millions of dollars of ratepayer money to construct water and wastewater infrastructure that will support a population of over 45,000 people,” he said. “These investments have been in response to significant pressure from the County of Humboldt and from developers for housing projects that were supposedly imminent.”

But those developments have not materialized. Rather than booming to 45,000 residents, the current population within HCSD’s boundaries has remained relatively flat at about 20,000, Williams said.

“This means that the infrastructure that was built to support 45,000 people was paid for and is being maintained by fewer than 20,000 people,” he said. “This is the primary reason that the District’s rates are as high as they are.”

As shown in the map below, the North McKay Ranch Subdivision site is located just outside of the district’s service boundaries (shown in red) but within its sphere of influence (in yellow). (Zoom in to see the the project site itself, shown in black.) 

Because the property sits outside HCSD’s current boundaries, the district doesn’t stand to gain much in the way of property tax revenue by annexing the parcels in question. Most of that revenue would instead go to the state and the county. The reason has to do with California’s taxation methods and something called “incremental property tax revenues.”

Since the 1978 passage of Prop. 13, annual property taxes have been capped at one percent of each property’s assessed value, which has reduced state and local government property tax revenues over time. And in recent decades, the state has been redirecting more of those revenues to schools, leaving less for cities, counties and special districts.

For example, Humboldt County’s General Fund used to receive between 30 and 40 percent of the tax revenues on properties in its jurisdiction. But since 1992, when the state legislature shifted the way it shares those revenues, the county’s portion has dwindled.

“[T]he General Fund now receives about 16% on average,” Humboldt County Public Information Specialist Cati Gallardo said in an email. Again, that’s down from 30 to 40 percent a few decades ago. 

Still, the county’s share of new property tax revenues dwarfs that of the HCSD, which only receives about 2 percent of property taxes within its boundaries. And Prop. 13 made matters worse.

Prior to 1978, the county would “share” an agreed upon portion of its property tax revenues with special districts like HCSD whenever there were new developments within those districts’ service areas. When a property is subdivided and developed, it substantially increases in value, which means more property tax revenues. This additional amount is called “incremental property taxes.” 

But in the post-Prop. 13 world, special districts in Humboldt County, including HCSD, no longer get a cut of those incremental property taxes. 

In meetings with the county, HCSD personnel has asked for an extra two percent of incremental property tax revenues from the county for any new development within its boundaries. This revenue would help pay for the infrastructure needed to serve the North McKay Ranch Subdivision and any future projects.

When the Outpost first spoke with Williams about these negotiations, shortly before Christmas, he remained hopeful.

“The County has not rejected the proposal for incremental property taxes but has also not yet agreed to provide [them] to the District,” he said.

But according to Gallardo, it’s not likely to happen.

“It is not standard practice for counties to divert tax revenue to a CSD,” she said in an email. An exception might be made if the community services district were assuming responsibility for a service that the county was already providing, but that’s not the case here. 

“The district has requested an additional 2%, in the area proposed to be annexed, which would reduce the General Fund’s share from 16% to 14% and provide HCSD with an additional $30,000 annually at full buildout,” Gallardo said.

But if the North McKay Ranch Subdivision gets built, the county will need those revenues in order to provide services for its residents, she explained. 

“Based on a [proposed] full buildout of the subdivision, which will take many years, we estimate the General Fund would receive roughly $270,000 per year to provide the broad range of public services needed including law enforcement, road maintenance and social services, among others,” Gallardo said.

The county was under the impression that HCSD had gotten the message that its request had been denied.

“[D]uring the most recent meeting, it was understood that the district would explore alternative funding options,” Gallardo said.

When we followed up with Williams this week, he asked for additional time to consult with the members of the ad hoc committee — Benzonelli and Hansen — and eventually he emailed a statement saying the district doesn’t consider the negotiations closed.

“The representatives of the District who have attended meetings with the County have left with the impression that … [they] would continue negotiating with the County regarding property tax allocation,” his email says. Without those revenues, the district’s options are limited.

Williams pointed to a state law that prohibits the use of ratepayer money to finance projects that support growth geographic expansion. Which is bad news for Kramer and his project.

“Given the District’s limited resources, we can only focus on pursuing grants that help reduce the cost of providing services to our existing ratepayers,” Williams explained.

Kramer remains flabbergasted by the situation. 

“It’s really unbelievable,” he said. Because his project site is within HCSD’s sphere of influence, he’s legally prohibited from seeking water and sewer hookups elsewhere. 

“So they got me stuck where I can’t do anything on my own, and yet they won’t take me in, so I can’t get additional hookups,” he said.

He has managed to get hookups at one house in the Phase One portion of the site plan (in green on the map at the top of this post) but said that process required probably $10,000 and special permission from LAFCo (the Humboldt Local Agency Formation Commission).

“So I’m hooked up to that one, and now I’m trying to just develop the two lots on either side and sell those homes off. And I can’t do it!” he said. “So it’s a mess.”

Gallardo pointed out that, regardless of the county’s negotiations with HCSD, the development agreement for the North McKay Ranch Subdivision says that Kramer, as the developer, is required to install water tanks, replace a sewer main and pay HCSD-imposed backbone fees before receiving service from the district.

Kramer said that’s yet another obstacle.

“That’s the way they’re going to kill the second phase of the project is by not doing anything — not putting in pipes in the ground that benefit the project. … Everything that that development [agreement] was written up for basically [says] it was my responsibility to do all of these capital improvements. Now they doubled my connection fee, and none of that fee goes to any improvements that benefit the project,” he said. “This is the other end of ‘no growth.’”

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Jan. 8 at approximately 2 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies were dispatched to a report of a dead body under the Trinity River Bridge, at Highway 96 and Tish Tang Rd. 

HCSO Deputies and Hoopa Valley Tribal Police officers responded to the scene and located the reporting party. Deputies located a male subject in thick brush below the bridge. The subject had been deceased for what appeared to be several days. Investigators from the Humboldt County Major Crimes Division and a Humboldt County Deputy Coroner were then called to the scene to conduct a death investigation. The deceased male was later identified as Paul Dean James Jr., 42, of Weitchpec.

James was frequently seen in the Hoopa Valley; however, he hadn’t been seen since December 30.  A welfare check BOLO (“be on the lookout”) for was issued on Jan. 7, when James had not been seen for a week. His manner of death has not been determined at this time and the case is still under investigation.

A forensic autopsy will be conducted by the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office. More information will be released after the autopsy is conducted.

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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Press release from the Humboldt County Administrative Office:

Make your voice heard on local airport development plans at one of the Department of Aviation’s upcoming public open house meetings.

The Humboldt County Department of Aviation is updating its Airport System Plan Study for the six public-use airports it operates. This study, required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is a planning effort which outlines potential long-term development concepts to meet the needs of each airport, its users and the surrounding communities while adhering to current FAA design standards.

To share the draft study’s findings, the department will host four public open houses. These events offer an opportunity for residents and airport users to review the draft study, ask questions and provide feedback. Department of Aviation and airport consultant staff will be available at each meeting to answer questions.

How to Attend

Open houses to discuss the plan with the community will occur on Tuesday, Jan. 21 and Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the following times and locations: 

- Murray Field Airport (EKA) on Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
- California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) on Tuesday Jan. 21 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
- Rohnerville Airport (FOT) on Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Garberville Airport (O16) on Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 2 to 3 p.m.

All interested community members are encouraged to attend and share their input. 

For more information and background on the Humboldt Airport System Plan Study and how to share your input on the draft study, please call 707-839-5401 or email aviation@co.humboldt.ca.us.
Please note that public restrooms will not be available at the Murry Field, Rohnerville and Garberville airport locations. Attendees are encouraged to plan accordingly. 

The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equal access to all county programs, services and activities through the provision of accommodations for individuals with qualified disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With 72 hours prior notice, a request for reasonable accommodation for the public meetings can be made by calling 707-839-5401. 

For more information on the Humboldt County Department of Aviation, please visit FlyACV.com.