Staff with Cal Poly Humboldt’s Marine Mammal Research and Education Program are still investigating the deaths of two humpback whales that washed ashore on two local beaches over the past two weeks.
While the cause of death for each whale has yet to be determined, external and internal examinations revealed that both — a subadult male found on Mad River Beach on July 3 and an adult female found on Centerville Beach on July 11 — were in “advanced stages of decomposition” when they were evaluated by university and North Coast Marine Mammal Center staff.
“Both whales … were resting on their backs, limiting our ability to determine the cause of death through external examination,” Allison Lui, stranding coordinator for the university’s Marine Mammal Stranding Program, told the Outpost via email. “An internal examination of the female whale also confirmed advanced decomposition of the internal tissues, further limiting our ability to identify a cause of death.”
“Whale strandings can result from a variety of natural and human-related factors, and it is often not possible to determine a definitive cause of death, particularly when animals are in advanced stages of decomposition,” she added. “While samples are collected for testing, decomposition may reduce their diagnostic value.”
Lui acknowledged that it is “somewhat unusual” for two humpback whales to wash ashore in such a short timeframe but said local researchers typically respond to “one to two” humpback whale strandings each year.
“Although every stranding is important and evaluated when possible, humpback whale strandings do occur periodically along the California coast,” she said. “Seasonally, we typically see more humpback whales along the North Coast during the summer and fall as they return to productive coastal feeding grounds.”
A dead female humbpack whale was found about three-and-a-half miles north of Centerville Beach on July 11. | Photo provided by the North Coast Marine Mammal Center.
This most recent whale stranding marks the fourth humpback whale death on the California coast since the beginning of June. Scientists with the UC Santa Cruz Marine Mammal Stranding Network conducted necropsies on two whales found on the central coast last month and identified domoic acid, a marine biotoxin associated with harmful algal blooms, in both samples.
One whale, located near Sunset Beach in Santa Cruz County, had “particularly high levels” of domoic acid, indicating the toxin played a “significant role in its death.” The other whale, local to the Pacific Grove area of Monterey County, had lower levels of domoic acid, but scientists believe the toxin still contributed to its death.
Cal Poly Humboldt scientists are still awaiting test results for two whales found on the North Coast.
As a reminder, if you find a dead or stranded marine mammal on a local beach, contact Cal Poly Humboldt’s Marine Mammal Stranding Program at (707) 826-3650 or marinemammals@humboldt.edu. Researchers encourage residents to photograph and document animals, but please remember to keep a safe distance.
Injured or sick stranded marine mammals can also be reported to the North Coast Marine Mammal Center at (707) 951-4722.
John Davis III. | Photos via California Department of Justice.
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Press release by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
On 10/25/2021 at approximately 09:07 A.M., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to contact the son of John Davis III who requested to report his father as a missing person.
Sheriff’s Deputies learned that on 10/23/2021 at approximately 04:00 A.M., Davis and his son left their residence in McKinleyville, CA, to go hunting in the area of Mile Marker 8 on Highway 162. It was estimated they arrived at their destination at approximately 07:00 A.M. on 10/23/2021.
Davis and his son parked their vehicle at the bridge then walked approximately 3 miles southeast from Mile Marker 8 of Highway 162 to set up camp. The two men set up a tent along the Eel River then hiked around the area to hunt bear and deer. Later that evening they returned to the camp and tent to sleep.
In the early hours of 10/24/2021, Davis and his son awoke to water flooding their tent caused by a massive rainstorm, which occurred during the nighttime hours. Davis decided to stay in the area and his son chose to walk back towards their vehicle parked on Highway 162. Davis’ son waited numerous hours at the car for his father who never arrived. Davis’ son returned to the tent campsite on 10/24/2021 and was unable to locate his father or the tent. Davis’ son contacted family members to inform them Davis was missing, and family members responded and checked for Davis but were unable to locate him on 10/24/2021
During the morning of 10/25/2021, Davis’ son drove to Willits and contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report his father as missing.
Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area on 10/25/2021 and observed water levels on the Eel River were elevated to the point where searching the river’s edge would be dangerous for all personnel.
During the afternoon of 10/25/2021, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office deployed Search and Rescue personnel to search for Davis. Approximately 12 Mendocino County Search and Rescue personnel, along with Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputies, and Sheriff’s Office Detectives assisted with the search. Searchers utilized ATV’s and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to assist with ground search efforts.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office personnel searched the area from the bridge to approximately 3 miles upstream of the Eel River, and the surrounding areas of the 8 Mile Bridge location. Search efforts on 10/25/2021 were unsuccessful in finding Davis or any evidence related to this investigation.
Following the initial search, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office requested mutual-aid assistance from Search and Rescue personnel throughout the Northern California area. Search efforts continued for the following ten weeks, which included 7 operational periods and hundreds of logged search hours. During this time, no evidence or items related to Davis were located by search personnel.
Over the next multiple years, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office continued search efforts, which included mutual-aid searches, assistance from National Guard overflights, California Highway Patrol search planes, and Butte County Air assets. These efforts did not yield any evidence or investigative leads.
On 07/08/2022, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office personnel performed the 10th search operation and nothing of note was located. At this time, search efforts were suspended until further investigative leads were developed.
On 02/01/2026, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service from an individual who was fishing on the Eel River, approximately 2 miles north of the Dos Rios Bridge. It was reported that the caller located a long bone, which was believed to be human. The reporting person marked the area with GPS coordinates where the bone was located. The bone was collected and turned over to Sheriff’s Deputies, which was eventually turned over to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Detectives provided a photograph of the collected bone to the Chico State University Forensic Anthropology Department, and the bone was identified as being human. Detectives contacted the California Department of Justice Missing Persons DNA Program and requested the bone be analyzed in an attempt to extract deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for familial DNA comparison.
Due to the recently located remains, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office planned another search operation in the area where the human bone was located. Members of the Davis family were contacted by the Sheriff’s Office and informed of the recent developments.
On 02/03/2026, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office initiated an 11th search operation, which included the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Detective unit. During the search, personal property items were collected and later identified by Davis’ family members as being potential matches for items that belonged to Davis and may have been in his possession in 2021.
On 06/16/2026, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received information from the California Department of Justice confirming the collected bone from February of 2026 was a positive DNA familial match for the mother and father of missing person John Davis III. This information was immediately relayed to the Davis family and another search operation was scheduled.
On 07/11/2026, a large-scale search operation occurred with mutual-aid resources from other Counties to include a large contingency of personnel from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team.
During the operation on 07/11/2026, personnel were deployed from the last known location of the missing person to the 8-Mile Bridge on Highway 162, to the Dos Rios Bridge on Highway 162, and continued north along the Eel River to the area where the bone was located on 02/01/2026. The operation on 07/11/2026 included over 70 Search and Rescue volunteers from numerous Counties.
Numerous bones were photographed, collected, and secured during the operation on 07/11/2026. Pictures of the collected bones were sent to the Chico State University Forensic Anthropology Department. The bones that were photographed and collected on 07/11/2026 were determined to be non-human, but are being sent to Chico State University for additional analysis and formal determination regarding the bone origins.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the numerous Search and Rescue teams and law enforcement organizations who assisted with this investigation and the 12 separate search operations related to this missing person case.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
The Humboldt County Planning & Building Department has received new reports of another email scam targeting the community.
In this scam fraudulent emails claim to be from Humboldt County Planning & Building Director John Ford and/or the Humboldt County Planning Commission. The scammer tells the victim that they have reviewed their permit application and an “application review and approval fee” is required before “official approval” can be finalized. The emails also include instructions on how to wire funds to pay the fee and settle the account.
The county’s Information Technology Security team has confirmed Humboldt County’s system has not been hacked. The scammers appear to be using information gathered from publicly available documents, such as Planning Commission meeting agendas and staff reports. The County of Humboldt wants the public to know that the Humboldt County Planning Commission does not issue invoices, so anything from the Planning Commission asking for payment is a scam.
While the Planning & Building Department may contact you regarding an application or legitimate past due fees, the County of Humboldt will never ask you to:
Mail large sums of cash
Wire funds to a private account
Use a credit card over the phone, or
Pay with gift cards or pre-paid money card
If you have any questions about the status of your pending permit application or past due fees, please call 707-445-7541.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who believes they may have been targeted or have been a victim of this type of fraudulent activity to report the incident immediately by calling 707-445-7251.
Please remember these tips to help protect yourself from fraud:
Spot imposters. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity or a company you do business with. Do not send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request, whether it comes as a text, a phone call or an email. Do not open attachments in emails from unknown sources.
Do online research. Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” Or search for a phrase that describes your situation, like “application review and approval fee” or “Planning Commission application fee call.” You can even search for phone numbers and email addresses to see if other people have reported them as scams.
Don’t believe the name in an email or your caller ID. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake email account names and caller ID information, so the name and number you see are not always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If someone emails you asking for you to take action, do not click links in the email or open attachments. If you think the person contacting you might be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine. Contact information for the Planning & Building Department can be found online at HumboldtGov.org/Planning-Building.
Talk to someone. Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert or just tell a friend. If you have applied for a county permit, contact the Planning & Building Department at 707-445-7541 and ask questions.
Do not rely on personal information. Living in the digital age, access to information is easier than ever. Scammers are often able to get their hands on very personal information, providing it to their victims to make their scam look more legitimate. Do not trust a scammer who is able to provide your personal information. If you followed the above tips and still are not sure, call back at a publicly listed number for the organization from which the scammer claims to be or contact a loved one directly for assistance.
The College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees has invited three finalists to advance in the search for the College’s next President/Superintendent: Dr. Mark C. Fields, Dr. Thad Russell, and Dr. David Williams.
The finalists will visit College of the Redwoods September 8–11, 2026. Campus visits will include public candidate forums, meetings with constituent groups, and interviews with the CR Board of Trustees. Additional details, including the schedule of candidate forums and opportunities for the campus and community to participate, will be released in the coming weeks.
The nationwide search was conducted in accordance with the College’s President/Superintendent selection process. Community feedback gathered through town halls and an online survey helped inform the position profile used in recruitment.
“We sincerely thank the staff, students, faculty, and community representative who have worked tirelessly as committee participants and administrative support for this pivotal search which has resulted in an excellent slate of finalists.” said search co-chairs Board Vice President Richard Dorn and Trustee Dr. Colleen Mullery. “We look forward to welcoming the finalists to our campuses and giving our College and broader community an opportunity to learn more about each candidate.”
Dr. Mark C. Fields
Dr. Mark C. Fields is a seasoned, student-centered leader who currently serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at College of the Siskiyous located in rural Northern California. His career in higher education includes adjunct and full-time tenured faculty, associate dean, dean of academic affairs, and acting vice president of instruction, all within the California Community College System.
Fields is a graduate of the University of California Davis’ Wheelhouse Aspiring Leaders Institute, and the Community College League of California’s Aspiring CEO Program. He serves on the Membership Engagement Committee and has participated in legislative advocacy for the California Community College Association for Occupational Education. He regularly presents at professional development sessions and at conferences including the Association of California Community College Administrators.
A proud community college graduate, Fields earned an associate degree in Administration of Justice from Merritt College in Oakland. He earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Cal-State Long Beach where his research focused on distance education, a master’s degree in public administration from Cal-State Northridge, a B.A. in Business Administration from Woodbury University. Like many of our students, Fields completed all of his education while working full-time and raising a family. Five generations of the Fields family have attended a California Community College.
Prior to higher education, Fields started his career in public service with the California Highway Patrol, honorably retiring at the rank of lieutenant.
A life-long California resident, he was born and raised in Oakland, CA, and has lived and worked in urban and rural communities literally from border to border. These experiences provide him with a unique perspective on the needs of our students and campus community.
Dr. Thad Russell
Dr. Thad Russell has devoted more than three decades to helping community colleges create opportunities for students, strengthen communities, and prepare the workforce of tomorrow.
As Vice President of Instruction at Porterville College, Russell provides leadership for instructional programs, accreditation, enrollment strategy, workforce development, and institutional planning. He believes community colleges are strongest when people work together around a shared purpose and remain connected to the communities they serve.
Russell’s path to higher education leadership began with firsthand experience of the opportunities community colleges create. As a first-generation college graduate who worked full time while raising a young family, he understands both the barriers many students face, and the life-changing impact education can have. Those experiences continue to shape his leadership and reinforce his belief that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed.
Over the course of his career, Russell has served as a faculty member, academic administrator, Dean of Career Technical Education and Workforce Development at College of the Sequoias, and Vice President of Instruction at Porterville College. Before entering higher education, he spent twelve years in private-sector management.
Russell earned a Bachelor of Science in Technical Education from Pittsburg State University, a Master of Science in Education from Kansas State University, and a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from the Roueche Graduate Center at National American University.
Russell and his wife, Kelly, have both dedicated their careers to higher education. Together they enjoy traveling, experiencing new cultures, and spending time with their family. They are proud parents of two sons, Derrik and Ian.
Dr. David Williams
Dr. Williams has served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Solano Community College since 2017. He is most proud of his work bringing education to justice-impacted students (Rising Scholars), promoting equitable teaching practices, diversifying hiring at the college, and removing systemic barriers to student success. He serves as the college’s Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) and was the first DEIA Advocate for the California Community Colleges Chief Instructional Officers (CCCCIO) Association. As part of the CCCCIO, he has also mentored deans of color throughout the state, helping them navigate their leadership roles and preparing them to advance in their careers.
He is a frequent conference presenter and has served on various statewide committees, including the Rising Scholars Advisory Committee, the Curriculum Committee (5C), and the Success Metrics Advisory Committee. As a member of the DEIA Implementation Workgroup, he helped draft the regulatory language that added evaluation of DEIA efforts to community college employee performance reviews, and as a member of the Working Learner Taskforce, he helped craft new streamlined rules for attendance accounting.
Prior to his administrative career, Dr. Williams was a full-time Professor of Theatre History and Film at Texas Tech University; he also taught at American River College, Cosumnes River College, and UC Berkeley. He has been an adjunct and full-time faculty member as well as a classified professional and classified manager at various institutions. He holds a Ph.D. in Theatre History from UC Davis.
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College of the Redwoods will release additional information about the finalists’ campus visits and candidate forums in the coming weeks. Information about the search and the finalists can be found at https://www.redwoods.edu/about/hr/president.php
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal is in Arlington, Va., this week to testify in a formal DEA hearing about whether or not cannabis should be reclassified from Schedule I to the less-restrictive Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.
He’s scheduled to testify today as a key expert witness for three states that oppose the federal government’s push to relax weed’s legal status: Nebraska, Indiana and Idaho.
Last Monday, the Outpost emailed the Sheriff’s Office to ask how Honsal came to be a witness for those states. (He’s appearing voluntarily, according to court documents.) We also asked who is paying for his travel and some specific questions about his planned testimony.
We heard back the next day.
“Sheriff Honsal is not going to comment on his testimony,” Public Information Specialist Erin Inskip responded. We followed up with a list of questions not directly related to his testimony, but rather about the circumstances of the hearing and other matters. Inskip said she’d try to get responses by last Thursday; we have yet to receive any.
But thanks to pre-hearing statement filed by the attorney representing those three anti-rescheduling states, we have a preview of what Honsal is likely to say. He’s expected to testify that California legalization of medical marijuana via Prop. 215 (1996) was “a turning point” that triggered the “green rush” across the Emerald Triangle.
He’s expected to further testify that loopholes in the state’s medical marijuana framework attracted bad actors from across the U.S. “as well as organized criminal groups, including Bulgarian, Chinese, and Russian organizations” that purchased property throughout the region to mass-produce cannabis for interstate and international distribution.
“In his experience, violence … is frequently used by organized crime groups and drug trafficking organizations to control workers, eliminate competition, and protect profits,” the statement reads. Elsewhere it says, “Based on his experience, ‘[Honsal] believes that legalization and changes in marijuana laws contributed to a significant expansion of the illicit marijuana market rather than its elimination.”
Local growers say they were disappointed to hear of Honsal’s plans to testify against loosening federal restrictions on cannabis, and they’re surprised by the claim being attributed to him here: that legalization led to an expansion of the illicit market.
That’s not what Sheriff Honsal used to say, according to Ross Gordon, a policy specialist working with the Humboldt County Growers Alliance.
“For many years, dating back to 2018 [or] 2019, Sheriff Honsal has really consistently, in his public statements, been supportive of legalization,” Gordon said in a phone interview last week. “He has consistently made the point that legalization of cannabis in California and in Humboldt County has reduced the size and scale of the illicit market, and also criminal activity associated with the illicit market.”
In October 2019, for example, Honsal told the Board of Supervisors that the number of illegal marijuana farms in the county was going down, adding, “that is what we call a win.” He acknowledged that a subset of people remained “hellbent on breaking the law” but said his enforcement team was making headway.
“And as far as we can tell, [such statements] really reflected the situation on the ground,” Gordon said. “We’ve seen this really dramatic decrease in illicit activity and criminal activity since legalization has been implemented.”
Gordon said the sheriff’s messaging around legalization changed over the past couple of years, starting around the time Honsal got involved with the Northern California Coalition to Safeguard Communities, aka “the NorCal Coalition,” a multi-county nonprofit organization whose stated mission is to combat human trafficking.
In August 2024, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office accepted a $334,615 grant from the NorCal Coalition, whose president is Sheriff Honsal himself. The group, whose board includes the sheriffs from Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Trinity, Siskiyou and Shasta counties, receives 100 percent of its funding from the Howard G. Buffet Foundation by way of another nonprofit, The Center to Combat Human Trafficking, which is financed by Howard’s dad Warren, one of the wealthiest people in the world.
As previously reported, Howard Buffett has what the Daily Beast once described as “a long history of donating millions to law enforcement agencies while serving as a part-time, unofficial member of some of them.”
The Sheriff’s Office planned to use its $334,615 grant award to hire three full-time employees — a property evidence technician, a program coordinator and a public information specialist — plus training and equipment for the new staff, a human trafficking campaign and Cellebrite computer software.
In an interview with KMUD radio last week, Honsal said he and the other sheriffs in the NorCal Coalition requested funding from the Howard Buffett Foundation specifically to combat human trafficking in the region’s weed industry.
“This is just a funding source to add to shrinking budgets when it comes to marijuana enforcement in our North State,” he said.
Some of that grant money is paying for the NorCal Coalition’s use of a Butte County-owned helicopter for aerial surveillance in southern and eastern Humboldt County, as well as other counties. The low-altitude flights have caused anxiety among local growers with memories of pre-legalization CAMP raids.
Honsal acknowledged this community fear in his KMUD interview but said the helicopter remains an important tool for the NorCal Coalition and the Sheriff’s Office to do their jobs. They respond to complaints of illegal activity and survey for environmental crimes and other violations.
Earlier today, the fully licensed and permitted Alpenglow Farms in SoHum posted footage of the helicopter circling overhead.
Gordon said the expansion of activity from the NorCal Coalition has coincided with messaging about increasing criminal activity — “particularly press releases and press statements coming not necessarily from the sheriff himself, but from the NorCal Coalition … saying the illicit market is getting worse since legalization, or there are more problems, more crime or more labor trafficking.”
Local growers have been confused by this messaging, Gordon said. “That is not consistent with our understanding of what’s going on, and we’ve asked for clarification, like, ‘Why is there this belief or this idea that criminal activity associated with cannabis is getting worse post-legalization?’ … We want clear data.”
The DEA hearing
If weed is rescheduled, it would give legal cultivators access to commercial bank loans as well as federal agriculture grants and subsidies. It would also allow them to deduct business expenses on federal tax returns.
In October 2022, then-President Joe Biden asked the DEA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review how cannabis is scheduled, and less than a year later, HHS recommended that marijuana be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III. In May 2024, the DEA proposed a rule that, if finalized, would transfer marijuana to Schedule III. And in December, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the U.S. Attorney General to “complete the rule-making process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III” as quickly as possible.
The administrative hearing now underway is part of that process. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said, “This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information.”
The proceedings, which began on June 29 and are scheduled to conclude later this week, are being heard by DEA Administrative Law Judge Derek C. Julius, who will hear arguments both for and against cannabis rescheduling. He can then make one of three recommendations:
that weed should be reclassified as Schedule III, the category for substances with accepted medical uses and low to moderate potential for addiction;
that it should be downgraded only to Schedule II, i.e. substances with accepted medical use but high potential for addiction; or
that the U.S. maintain the status quo, with cannabis on par with heroin and LSD, substances with no known medical use and a high potential for abuse.
However, the Justice Department and DEA are free to ignore the judge’s recommendation entirely.
The three states that have recruited Honsal as an expert witness are not only opposed to rescheduling cannabis; they’re also suing the Trump administration in an effort to rescind the president’s executive order on medical marijuana.
Gordon acknowledged that Honsal’s “expected” testimony, as presented by the attorney for Nebraska, Idaho and Indiana, may not reflect what he actually says during the hearing, and he also noted that much of Honsal’s anticipated testimony refers to the period between Prop. 215, which legalized medical use, and Prop. 64 (2016), which legalized all adult usage.
Still, local growers are concerned that the sheriff might indeed blame legalization in general for an increase in criminal activity.
The Humboldt County Growers Alliance asked Honsal to issue a public statement explaining why he’s participating in this DEA hearing and what he intends to say. The group also requested “a clear statement” about how full legalization of cannabis in California has influenced crime in Humboldt County.
“From our perspective, that’s really important that the sheriff speak publicly to this,” Gordon said. “I think it’s a matter of importance not just for us as an industry, but really for everyone in the county to understand.”
The Outpost has submitted a Public Records Act request for information about Honsal’s participation in the DEA hearing.
JoAnn Christine Turretto born on June 23, 1962, to Phyllis (Thorson) and Gregory A. Turretto in Santa Clara, California, passed away on June 28, 2026, peacefully at Ida Emmerson Hospice House in Eureka, Calif.
JoAnn lived what she called “the most fun” life. It was filled with love, a little bit of chaos and lots of laughter.
Her father, Gregory A. Turretto, was a mechanic and engineer who built hot rods with his own two hands and taught her how to weld. Her mother, Phyllis Turretto, worked in elementary schools as a secretary.
JoAnn grew up with her father working on carnival rides in their backyard in Morgan Hill, being picked up from school in the coolest hot rods and other cars, spending time baking with her grandmother, and in her teenage/early adult years working many jobs she loved, going on many adventures, and making memories with friends and family.
She attended Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Calif., where she graduated in 1980.
She made many friends and memories in that time.
She married David S. Eldridge on March 20, 1999, and welcomed their first child, Isabella “Bella” Eldridge, in September 1999, followed by their second child, Hunter Eldridge, in July 2002.
They moved to Rio Dell in 2005, where she made their house a true home, held many parties, welcomed many friends, and made every holiday magical (especially her favorite, Halloween). She spent her later years driving her beloved 50th edition Chevy Camaro, and spending time with her grandchildren, who gave her her most favorite name, “Gammie.” She spoiled and loved her grandbabies with all of her heart and soul. They were the light of her life, and her pride and joys.
JoAnn is preceded in death by parents Phyllis and Gregory A. Turretto; brother Gregory R. Turretto; uncle Edgar Thorson; grandmother Margaret Thorson; and other beloved grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
She is survived by husband David S. Eldridge; daughter Isabella “Bella” Rexford (Christopher Rexford); son Hunter Eldridge’ grandchildren Daniel Turretto-Rexford, Dean Turretto-Rexford, Ella-Ann Rexford, Brantely Turretto-Rexford, and Christopher “CJ” Rexford Jr.; and many loving cousins and friends.
JoAnn lived for her children and grandchildren, who love her more than life itself. She was blessed with such loving family and friends.
Turn on some ‘70s and ‘80s rock ‘n’ roll and remember her fondly and reminisce the times we had with her. She will be missed dearly.
The family would like to give a huge thanks to Hospice of Humboldt Ida Emmerson Hospice House staff for taking amazing care of her in her last few days, treating her with the utmost kindness and dignity.
There are no memorial arrangements at this current moment, as family is taking their time to grieve.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of JoAnn Turretto’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
“The work of a teacher is never truly finished. Long after the classroom grows quiet, the lessons continue in the lives they have changed.”
Arthur John Bettini (“Art”) — teacher, historian, mentor, outdoorsman, academic leader, devoted husband, and cherished friend — passed away peacefully on May 11, 2026, at the age of 87.
For nearly four decades, Art devoted his life to education. He believed the purpose of teaching was not merely to transmit knowledge, but to awaken curiosity, encourage thoughtful inquiry, and inspire students to discover both the richness of history and the possibilities within themselves. Thousands of students passed through his classrooms, yet his influence reached far beyond lectures and textbooks. He taught people not simply to study history — but to experience it.
Born on June 9, 1938, in San Diego, California, to John Bettini and Ann Nigro Bettini, Art grew up with a love of history, nature, and learning. One of his earliest role models was his stepfather, Ivan L. Bennaka, who served with the 10th Medical Battalion of the renowned 10th Mountain Division during World War II. Ivan’s quiet example of courage, perseverance, and service helped shape the values that Art carried throughout his life.
After graduating from Herbert Hoover High School in 1956, Art entered the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1960.
UCLA proved to be one of the defining chapters of his life.
Art was elected President of the UCLA University Cooperative Housing Association (UCHA), and served demonstrating the leadership, fairness, and commitment to community that would characterize his career.
He was deeply influenced by the distinguished historian C. Page Smith, whose passion for history profoundly shaped Art’s own philosophy of teaching. Smith’s wartime service in the 10th Mountain Division, followed by a distinguished academic career, and the enduring partnership between Page and his wife, Eloise, became enduring sources of inspiration for Art.
Art also studied under Ulysses S. Grant IV, the noted geologist, paleontologist, educator, and grandson of President and General Ulysses S. Grant. For a young historian, learning from the grandson of one of America’s greatest Union generals and one of the most consequential civil rights’ presidents, brought history vividly to life and reinforced Art’s conviction that history is ultimately about people, their stories, and the generations they influence.
Another life-changing event occurred on Christmas Eve 1958, when Art went on a first date with fellow UCLA student Julianne Spring Phillips. That evening began a love story that lasted more than six decades. They married on August 20, 1961, and built a home filled with books, art, music, conversation, hospitality, and lifelong friendships. Their marriage reflected the same intellectual companionship, mutual respect, and unwavering devotion that Art had admired in Page and Eloise Smith.
Early in his career, Art made a decision that reflected his values more than his ambitions. Rather than accepting a higher-paying position with Douglas Aircraft, he chose teaching, accepting a position at the UCLA Psychology Clinic School. He often said that this decision shaped the remainder of his life.
From 1961 to 1963, Art taught at the UCLA Psychology Clinic School. In September 1967, he joined the founding faculty of Moorpark College as a History Instructor during the college’s inaugural year. Over the next 27 years, he became one of Moorpark College’s most respected educators, innovators, and academic leaders before retiring as Dean in 1994.
Art believed that history should never remain confined to a classroom.
In 1971, he created California History on the Road, one of the most innovative community college history courses of its era. It transformed the entire state into a classroom. Students traveled more than 1,500 miles to more than 30 locations, visiting the birthplace of California in Old Town San Diego, the Star of India, Balboa Park, the haunted Whaley House, Hotel del Coronado, the Ray Bradbury Building in Los Angeles, Huntington Library and Gardens, Gold Rush towns, John Steinbeck’s and Doc Ricketts’ Cannery Row, Jack London’s home, the Robert Louis Stevenson House, Hearst Castle, Fort Ross, and coastal communities, museums, battlefields, and state parks. Guided by Art, local historians, and National Park Service interpreters, they learned history by standing where history had unfolded.
Decades later, students still remembered those journeys.
One former student wrote:
“Through this course that he created, he profoundly influenced me and many of his students in how we came to love California and feel a deeper and lifelong connection to it.”
Another reflected:
“Monterey, Point Lobos, and Big Sur are among the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I doubt I would ever have experienced them without Art’s class.”
Those words capture Art’s greatest achievement. He did not simply teach California history — he inspired students to know California, appreciate California, and ultimately to love California.
His commitment to experiential learning extended into the wilderness. Art also taught backpacking and outdoor education, leading generations of students into California’s mountains and forests. Yosemite National Park became one of the defining experiences of those courses. Students hiked through Yosemite Valley, climbed the Yosemite Falls Trail to Yosemite Creek, explored the country surrounding El Capitan, and fished for rainbow trout in the clear streams of the High Sierra.
Those trips taught far more than backpacking. They fostered resilience, stewardship, teamwork, curiosity, and a lifelong appreciation for California’s extraordinary natural heritage. One former student later described a wilderness trail that Art had introduced to him as “a lifetime gift.”
Outside the classroom, Art found joy in backpacking, fly-fishing, photography, travel, reading, and thoughtful conversation. The High Sierra remained one of his favorite places. Whether sharing a campfire, preparing freshly caught trout seasoned with fresh-picked wild onions from surrounding meadows, discussing the philosophies and the impacts of Aldo Leopold, John Muir’s writings, the wilderness meadows and sleeping beneath breathtaking shooting stars and Greek constellations, or introducing students to the wilderness for the first time, he believed that some of life’s greatest lessons were learned outdoors.
In 1973, Art co-authored The American Response, reflecting his lifelong commitment to historical scholarship. Throughout his career he served as teacher, professor, author, administrator, and dean, yet those closest to him knew he rarely measured success by titles. What mattered most were his students, his colleagues, his friendships, his family, and the opportunity to help others discover their own potential.
Following retirement, Art and Julianne settled in Arcata, Calif., where they embraced another chapter devoted to reading, travel, volunteer service, conversation, art, and enduring friendships. Their decision to move to Humboldt County they credited to Alex Stillman, the grand dame of Arcata. Their home became a place where visitors found thoughtful discussions, books lining the walls, beautiful artwork, generous hospitality, and two people who genuinely delighted in the company of others.
Julianne’s passing on April 14, 2021, after nearly sixty years of marriage, was the deepest sorrow of Art’s life. During his remaining years, he continued to be sustained by devoted friends, neighbors, caregivers, and former students whose affection reflected the many lives he had touched.
Those who knew Art remember a man of quiet intelligence, humility, patience, integrity, kindness, wit, and generosity. He listened carefully, encouraged generously, and never stopped learning. Former students remained lifelong friends. Colleagues sought his counsel. Friends treasured his wisdom. He possessed the rare gift of helping people become better versions of themselves.
Perhaps Art’s greatest accomplishment cannot be measured by degrees earned, books written, offices held, or honors received.
It is measured by the countless lives he quietly transformed.
One lifelong friend, reflecting on 54 years of friendship, expressed Art’s legacy in the simplest and most meaningful words:
“Art was a teacher who changed my life.”
That simple statement speaks not only for one student, but for many.
The influence of a great teacher cannot be measured at graduation, retirement, or even at the end of a lifetime. It continues in the lives of those who carry forward the curiosity, integrity, generosity, and love of learning that great teachers inspire. Art understood this. His classroom was never limited to four walls. It extended across California’s mountains and coastlines, through its missions and historic towns, into the lives of his students, and ultimately into the generations they, in turn, would influence.
Art was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Julianne Spring Bettini.
He is survived by his son, Marc Bettini; by generations of former students; by colleagues; neighbors; caregivers; and by an extraordinary circle of lifelong friends whose lives remain richer because they knew him.
Arthur John Bettini devoted his life to helping others discover history, appreciate California, love the natural world, and believe in themselves.
His classroom has closed.
His lessons endure.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Arthur Bettini’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
