Richard “Dick” Cahill peacefully passed away at the age of 86 with his family at his side on March 3. Dick was the second of seven children born to Leonard and Bridget Cahill and grew up in Loyalton.

Developing his strong work ethic no doubt came from his family dynamics. During the Depression years, Dick’s job around home was his morning and evening chores of milking the family cows by hand: Lucy 1, Lucy 2 and Lucy 3. Being in a large family, it was his personality to be peacemaker among his siblings.

Having been active in high school government and sports, especially football, Dick graduated from Loyalton High School in 1955. His family moved to Arcata and Dick enrolled in Humboldt State College, where he became part of the Lumberjack Football teams from 1955 to 1958. In his senior year he received recognition as an All-American Tackle. Later, in 1963-1964, he played for the local Humboldt Foresters and was inducted into the Humboldt State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. So many wonderful friendships were created over those years.

Dick spent a brief stint in the military at Fort Hood in Texas, Killeen Base, High Security Operations, where he served as secretary to the Commander.

He returned to Humboldt County to finish his education and graduated from HSC in 1965 with a teaching credential in Social Studies and Physical Education. While at Humboldt, Dick met the love of his life, Pat Regli, and the two were wed in Ferndale on August 5, 1961, later settling there for 55 years. As their children grew up, the Fortuna-Ferndale sports rivalry became an interesting and entertaining family issue.

Dick started his teaching career at Westwood High in Lassen County, but quickly returned to Humboldt, where he began his legacy at Fortuna High School. Dick, more commonly referred to as “Coach Cahill”, taught several subjects at Fortuna High. He believed some of the best teaching happened outside of the classroom, and as such, committed his extra time to supporting Fortuna’s student athletes. During his tenure at FUHS, Dick coached baseball, JV football, varsity football for 21 years and was Athletic Director. In 1978 he was named the NCS Division II Coach of the Year and inducted into the Fortuna High Hall of Fame in 2014. He was very grateful when former students and players greeted him, just to say hello or thank him for what he had taught them while reminiscing about fond memories.

Retiring from his 31-year teaching career in 1995, Dick spent quality time with his four children and their families in Humboldt County and Visalia. Some of his favorite activities were traveling, golfing, cheering on the 49ers, abalone diving in Fort Bragg, and spending time at the family cabin at Ruth Lake. He especially enjoyed attending and encouraging the sports and various activities of his seven grandchildren, and was always a great source of entertainment wherever he went.

Dick is deeply missed, but he leaves a legacy that will continue to live on in the hearts of many. What Dick accomplished in his lifetime, he did humbly, quietly and sincerely. When confronted with challenges, he was always optimistic and reminded others to see the bigger picture and not “sweat the small stuff” in life. Treating all with respect and dignity, his moral compass always pointed in the right direction, inspiring others to live their lives the same way.

Dick’s dedication and commitment to his family, job and students consumed most of his days. He was an active member of Ferndale’s Assumption Parish, serving on the finance committee for many years and also volunteered at the Ferndale Museum.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Bridget Keough Cahill; brothers John, Bill, and Gary Cahill; in-laws A.J. and Elizabeth Regli; brothers-in-law John Silva, Alan Rohrbach, Dale Gier, Joseph Regli, and Jimmy Regli; sister-in-law Eileen (Wes) Simpson.

He is survived by Patricia, his wife of 62 years and children: Denise, Visalia; Christopher (Lea), Fortuna; Jennifer (Rob) Budwig, Ferndale; and Greg (Sandi), Visalia; grandchildren: Zach (Kayla) Cahill and Great Granddaughter, Amelia, Katrina (Travis) Mendes, Nolan Cahill, Ava Cahill, Bridget Cahill, Grant Cahill and Grady Cahill; sisters: Shannon Rohrbach, Catherine (Don) Dellabalma, and Nancy Silva; in-laws: Elaine Cahill, Carole Cahill, and Camille Regli, Phil (Harlean) Regli and John (Sally) Regli: cousin Mike (Carol) Cahill as well as many Cahill and Regli nieces and nephews.

A 7 p.m. rosary will be held on Friday, March 31, at the Assumption Church, Ferndale. The funeral mass will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Mario Laguros on Saturday, April 1st at 10 a.m., also at Assumption Church. Interment will immediately follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Fortuna Veterans’ Hall, Main Street, Fortuna from 12:30-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be sent to: Fortuna High School Football Program, 379 12th St. Fortuna, 95540; Hospice of Humboldt, 3327 Timber Fall Ct., Eureka, CA 95503; Humboldt Senior Center, Alzheimer Services, 1910 California St., Eureka 95501; or your favorite charity.

###

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

James Arnold McAuley died on March 8, 2023 at age 91. The son of William and Margaret McAuley, he was born in Merced, California and grew up in San Francisco.

He was known as Jim to many, as Mac to his close friends and contemporaries, and as Coach McAuley to a large and very special group of people.

After serving in the Air Force, Jim came to Humboldt in the 1950s. He attended and graduated from Humboldt State, meeting his wife of 68 years, Janis McClaskey, and where he is remembered in the athletic Hall of Fame. He began his coaching career with a successful stint at Arcata High School, followed by one year at Santa Rosa Junior College.

In 1967, Jim was recruited to return to Humboldt County to start the football program for the fledgling College of the Redwoods, which resulted in a ten-year run at the helm of CR football. The first football team in 1967 won three games and lost six, with several close losses. The next season CR won the State Championship, starting a remarkable nine-year window where the team won 84 games, losing 7, with one tie. In all, from 1968 to 1976, CR won three California state championships, two Northern California championships (in years when the state championships were not contested), and nine Golden Valley Conference championships. He also coached baseball for a several years, as well as the golf team for many years.

Jim said the success of the CR football teams was the players, and otherwise largely due to the coaches he worked most closely with, Fred Whitmire and Tom Giacomini. In 1977, after stepping down as football coach, Jim became the Athletic Director at CR until his retirement in 1991.

The community responded to the success of College of the Redwoods football by building a covered, on-campus stadium for the Corsairs, through private donation of time, money and materials. That effort was extraordinary, as a stadium rose out of the south-east corner of the campus. Fans, whether at Eureka High School for home games in the early years, or at Community Stadium on the CR campus, provided loud and strong support of the local team.

As a coach, he was honored as the California Community College Football Coach of the Year four times. He is a member of the California Community College Commission on Athletics Hall of Fame and the California Community College Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Additionally, he is a member of the Arcata High School Hall of Fame, and the College of the Redwoods Hall of Fame.

He enjoyed fishing for much of his life, as well as time spent with Frank Powers, who Jim met while teaching at Arcata High School. The Powers and McAuley families had adjoining properties with cabins along the Salmon River near Cecilville, California for many years.

His retirement years included golfing into his 80s, cribbage in the club house at Eureka Golf Course, and travel with his wife Janis. Measured by the depth of his character, he was loved and respected by his family. He is the father of Lynn McAuley Rambach (Glenn) who passed in 2017 and Bill (Cynthia) McAuley. He has two grandsons, Neil (Michelle) McAuley and Ross McAuley and one great granddaughter, Marie Lynn McAuley. He is survived by his sister Barbara Wolff and three nephews and a niece.

The family would like to specially thank Fred Whitmire, who was Jim’s hand-picked successor as head football coach at CR. Fred was instrumental in ensuring a steady flow of visitors, cards, and letters during Jim’s final days. The family would also like to thank those who were able to see him recently, the nurses and staff at St. Joseph Hospital and Granada Rehabilitation.

The family will hold a private memorial. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made a favorite charity.

###

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

Paul Ronald (Ronnie) Wright beloved by family and friends suddenly passed away on February 27, 2023, at the age of 83. Paul was born in Phoenix, Arizona, but spent his formative years in Yucaipa, California and Salt Lake City, Utah. He is survived by his devoted wife of 12 years, Dolores Wright; and two of his four children, Geoffrey Wright and Cynthia Freeman; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and five siblings. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 45 years, Kathleen Wright; children Jacqui Bursztynsky and Emily Wright; sibling Michaeleen Butterfield and his parents Helen Malpass and Paul Wright, Sr.

Paul was especially known for his dedication to his family, children, grand-children and great-grandchildren and his community. Throughout his life he held leadership roles in many of the children’s activities. He was a Girl Scout leader; Boy Scout leader; International Order of Rainbow for Girls – Rainbow Pop and Board Member; Jobs Daughters International – Associate Guardian; and DeMolay for Boys. Additionally, he was an active volunteer for nearly twenty years with the Northern Counties Logging Interpretive Association, a precursor to the Timber Heritage Association, and volunteered thousands of hours supporting their causes of acquiring, preserving and displaying antique steam powered and other logging equipment, in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties. He was also docent at the Humboldt Maritime Museum. He dedicated many summers with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at his home in Eureka, where he taught them horseback riding, camping skills, woodworking, boating, and antique car renovation. He took his protégés on many camping adventures, numerous times to the beach and area lakes, car shows and across the western states to visit many national parks.

In his professional life he held many upper management roles in Bell Laboratories; New Jersey, Pacific and Nevada Bell; and with AT&T. He helped to design many up-and-coming technologies in phone services, computer systems development and leadership within the telephone company. He was dedicated to many charities in his home and state communities, and through his dedication to helping others succeed, brought hope and service to Masonic and Masonic youth organizations.

Paul was greatly dedicated to his extended fraternal family within the Masonic Orders, including the Masonic Lodge, Order of Eastern Star, Order of Amaranth, White Shrine of Jerusalem, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Scottish Rite, Shriners and was a previous member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. He began his affiliation with the Masonic Lodge in New Jersey in his late thirties. He was Raised to Master Mason and served in many positions during the forty plus years of service. He held many of the highest offices in these organizations, including Past Master of multiple Masonic Lodges, Grand Steward with the Grand Lodge of California; Grand Junior Warden with the Order of Eastern Star of California; Grand Royal Patron of the Order of Amaranth and member of Ferndale and Camelia Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star; the Black Diamond Court with the Order of Amaranth in California; Member with Tall Cedars of Lebanon in New Jersey; Member of the Jinn’s Band and Renegades Mini Car Unit with the Aahmmes Shriners in California; and Member of Scottish Rite in California. Other community service included membership with the Model A Club and the Eureka Rhododendron Club.

A memorial service, open to all, is planned for March 17, 2023 at 10 a.m. at the Goble’s Mortuary at 560 12th Street in Fortuna, immediately followed by a reception with light refreshments. A public viewing is available from 3 to 7 p.m. on March 16, 2023 at the mortuary. A private graveside service is planned for family after the service.

###

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

HUMBOLDT TODAY: We’re not out of the woods yet, folks. A wet weekend ahead could add to the weather-related woes making life on the North Coast more difficult. But the good news is Humboldt Today has decided you get to pick this year’s Best Picture. You lose some, you win some. Those stores and more on today’s newscast with John Kennedy O’Connor.

FURTHER READING: 

• Will Eureka Finally See Development on the Big Gravel Lots by the Boardwalk? City Looks to Declare the Parcels Surplus and Seek Proposals for Mixed-Use Project.
• Fortuna Police Conduct Old-Fashioned Weed Bust Downtown; 100 Pounds, Plus Money, Guns and Shrooms, Confiscated; One Arrested
• Yurok Tribe Taps Law Enforcement Veteran to Investigate MMIP Cases
• California Storms Create Paradox: Too Much Water in Reservoirs, Too Soon
• Rio Dell’s Long-Suffering Sewage System Took Another Dump Tonight

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 EPIC and the Center for Biological Diversity:

Conservation groups and Humboldt residents filed a legal challenge this week to a fourth attempt by Caltrans to approve the controversial Richardson Grove Project.

The project would realign portions of Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park to facilitate oversized commercial truck traffic, risking damage to a grove of ancient redwoods that are up to 3,000 years old. To realign the road, Caltrans proposes cutting and paving over roots of adjacent old-growth redwood trees.

The challenge was brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Protection Information Center, Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, Friends of Del Norte, and several individual Humboldt residents with generational family ties to Richardson Grove.

“In its unrelenting pursuit of this unnecessary and fiscally foolish highway construction project, Caltrans has ignored its obligations to adequately evaluate the environmental impacts and is prepared to sacrifice the iconic Richardson Grove and desecrate our state park,” said Peter Galvin, director of programs at the Center for Biological Diversity. “We simply can’t and won’t let this beloved remnant of primeval forest be damaged.”

“Caltrans has pulled the same play from the playbook: Deny obvious impacts and push ahead,” said Tom Wheeler, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center. “We are stuck in a Groundhog Day nightmare where the agency refuses to take accountability for its sloppy work.”

“The fact that Caltrans refutes as ‘non informative’ new scientific research on the effects of paving over the roots of redwood trees demonstrates the callous nature of their dogged approach to completing this needless project,” said Don Gillespie of the Friends of Del Norte. “Richardson Grove deserves better.”

The recent Caltrans approval of the project violates the California Environmental Quality Act, a state law that requires public agencies to evaluate and disclose the environmental impacts of a project and to limit or avoid those impacts to the extent feasible. Caltrans failed to prepare an environmental impact report for the project, did not consider or evaluate significant environmental impacts, did not adopt effective and enforceable mitigation measures, and failed to circulate a valid environmental review document for public review and comment. Each prior approval of this unnecessary road widening project has been halted by legal action and a state or federal court stop work order.
Since the project’s inception in 2007, new research published in 2021 has documented how cutting and paving over the roots of old-growth redwoods causes long-term harms to coast redwood forests.

Researchers with the California Department of Forestry, Utah State University and Michigan Technological University found that road construction significantly harmed adjacent old-growth at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, causing growth suppression, elevated water stress and crown dieback of redwoods. This study and other evidence was submitted to Caltrans but the agency has denied that the research could better inform the project.

Richardson Grove State Park is considered the gateway to the redwoods, where tourists often first encounter large redwoods when heading north on Highway 101. It is home to one of the last protected stands of accessible old-growth redwood trees in the world. The park has essential habitat for protected species, and its creeks support runs of imperiled salmon and steelhead trout.

The plaintiffs are represented by the law firm Gross Klein PC. The CEQA case filed on March 7, 2023 is #CV2300375.

###

Asked about the latest developments with the project last week, Caltrans District 1 sent the Outpost the following statement:

The Richardson Grove Improvement Project along U.S. 101 in southern Humboldt County would make minor adjustments to the current alignment of the highway to accommodate industry-standard STAA trucks. The project would improve the movement of goods in and out of the area. No old-growth trees would be removed and the roadway would look much the same after construction. Additionally, the project’s limited root disturbance would not affect the continued health of old-growth redwoods in the project area.  For this proposed project, Caltrans recently made available the Responses to Comments on the Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report. Those responses are available here. For up-to-date project information, please visit the project web page.

Press release from the Fortuna Police Department:

On March 8, 2023 at approximately 1030 hours, the Fortuna Police Department responded the 500 block of 9th street, to conduct a probation compliance search of a residence belonging to 39-year old Jarrett James Stergiou.

Upon arriving, Officers contacted Stergiou and located the following items inside his home during a probation compliance check.

1. Approximately one hundred pounds of marijuana, which included several pounds of processed and packaged marijuana for sales.
2. Psilocybin Mushrooms
3. Live handgun ammunition
4. Approximately $45,000.00 dollars in U.S. Currency

Mr. Stergiou denied ownership of the cash and it was further determined that Stergiou is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Mr. Stergiou was subsequently arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for the following charges:

1. California Penal Code 30305(a)(1)- Felon in possession of ammunition
2. California Penal Code 1203.2(a)- Probation violation
3. Health and Safety Code 11377(a)- Possession of a controlled substance
4. Health and Safety Code 11359(b)- Possession of marijuana for sales
5. Health and Safety Code 11357(b)- Possession of over 1 ounce/28.5 grams of marijuana

The Fortuna Police Department was assisted by the Humboldt County Drug Task Force and the Humboldt County Marijuana Eradication Team. Any questions regarding this incident can be directed to the Patrol Commander, Lieutenant Matthew Eberhardt at (707)-725-7550.

Two winters’ worth of snow has already fallen in the Sierra Nevada since Christmas, pulling California from the depths of extreme drought into one of its wettest winters in memory.

But as a series of tropical storms slams the state, that bounty has become a flood risk as warm rains fall on the state’s record snowpack, causing rapid melting and jeopardizing Central Valley towns still soggy from January’s deluges.

The expected surge of mountain runoff forced state officials on Wednesday to open the “floodgates” of Lake Oroville and other large reservoirs that store water for millions of Southern Californians and Central Valley farms. Releasing the water will make room for the storm’s water and melted snow, prevent the reservoirs from flooding local communities — and send more water downstream, into San Francisco Bay. The increased flows in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta could help endangered salmon migrate to the ocean.

So what’s the downside? These same storms are prematurely melting a deep and valuable snowpack that ideally would last later into the spring and summer, when farmers and cities need water the most.

The storms have created a tricky situation for officials who manage state and federal reservoirs in California, since they have to juggle the risk of flooding Central Valley communities with the risk of letting too much water go from reservoirs. They must strike a balance between holding as much water in storage, as long as they can, while maintaining room in reservoirs for more water later in the season.

“Water management in California is complicated, and it’s made even more complex during these challenging climate conditions where we see swings between very, very dry, very, very wet, back to dry. We’re now back into wet,” said Karla Nemeth, director of the Department of Water Resources.

Rivers in the San Joaquin Valley are forecast to flood today or Saturday. Eleven locations are expected to reach the flood stage, although no “danger stage” flooding is anticipated, according to Jeremy Arrich, deputy director of the Division of Flood Management with the Department of Water Resources.

To make room for more water, state and federal officials who manage California’s major dams and reservoirs are releasing water. Some will flow into the ocean — which aggravates many water managers, Central Valley legislators and growers, who often say freshwater that reaches the bay or ocean is wasted. However, efforts are underway to divert much of the released water into depleted groundwater storage basins.

On Wednesday, the Department of Water Resources increased outflow of water from Oroville from about 1,000 cubic feet per second to 3,500 cubic feet per second. By Friday, total releases could be as high as 15,000 cubic feet per second, according to Ted Craddock, deputy director of the State Water Project.

Oroville is now more than 75% full, containing 2.7 million acre-feet of water — up from less than one million in the beginning of December. In spite of releases, the reservoir’s level will keep rising. Craddock said inflow in the next five days could hit 70,000 cubic feet per second. That’s about half a million gallons of water per second.

In 2017 Oroville’s levels reached so high that the overflow water damaged its spillway. An emergency spillway had to be used, eroding a hillside and triggering evacuation of about 200,000 people in nearby communities.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced a similar operational move for Millerton Lake, the reservoir behind Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River, which supplies water to growers throughout the Central Valley.

The two-day rainfall totals will be “quite astounding” and “will lead to some really significant runoff,” said State Climatologist Michael Anderson. More storms are expected next week and later in March.

Rain on snow

Today’s storm is creating what watershed scientists and weather watchers call a “rain on snow” event. Earlier this winter, freezing elevations hovered as low as 3,000 feet, meaning precipitation above that fell as snow.

That has changed, Anderson said. Freezing levels have risen to as high as 7,000 feet in the southern and central Sierra Nevada, where the bulk of the snowpack has accumulated. A National Weather Service forecast shows freezing elevations even higher, at 9,000 feet, and warned that “snow will melt easily below 5,000 feet,” since it is already approaching the melting point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

State officials say the premature snowmelt from this storm likely won’t have much effect on supplies this spring and summer.

“This winter, there has been an accumulation of snow at lower to mid-level elevations, which will experience melt during this storm and will generate runoff into foothill and valley communities,” said David Rizzardo, manager of the state water agency’s hydrology section.

“However, at higher elevations, where the vast majority of the snowpack is, we will not experience significant melt. Even with higher snow levels above 8,000 feet in these storms, we still anticipate seeing additional snow accumulation at the higher elevations that will add to our snowpack totals, especially in the Southern Sierra.”

John Abatzoglou, a UC Merced professor of climatology, said deep, soft snow has the physical capacity to absorb a great deal of rain. The snow may even freeze the rain, rather than vice-versa, effectively increasing the snowpack volume, at least for a while.

“As you add liquid to the snowpack, it gets denser, it gets warm, and it gets more apt to melt when the next storm comes,” he said, noting that more atmospheric river events are coming next week.

Diverting underground

While the latest storms flood river valleys, state regulators have taken action to capture as much stormwater as possible before it flows into the ocean and use it to recharge groundwater basins.

On Wednesday, the State Water Resources Control Board approved a petition from the Bureau of Reclamation to divert 600,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin Valley flood waters into wildlife refuges and groundwater recharge basins. Diversions can begin on March 15 and continue until July.

“Given the time it takes for water to reach the downstream point of diversion at Mendota Dam, the approval period will allow for floodwater capture following storms expected this weekend,” the water board explained in a news release.

The action is intended in part to help meet Gov. Gavin Newsom’s goal of increasing groundwater storage by over 500,000 acre-feet per year, spelled out in his Water Supply Strategy released last summer.

But environmental groups protested the water board’s action.

Greg Reis, a hydrologist with The Bay Institute, said it will allow the bureau to divert all of the San Joaquin River except for 300 cubic feet per second — what he calls “a very, very small” amount of water. Floodwaters, he said, are important for ecosystem function and survival of fish, including threatened spring-run Chinook salmon.

He compared floodwaters in a river to a person’s increased pulse when they exercise.

“If you don’t get your heart rate up when you exercise, you don’t get the health benefits,” he said. “Same thing for a river. You’ve got to get the flows up, and the 300 cubic feet per second is certainly not adequate for a river like the San Joaquin.”

###

CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.