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UPDATE, 10:56 p.m.: Third Election Report! More Than Two Thousand More Votes Counted, Not Much Change in Eureka

At the North of Fourth party, Kati Moulton holds a recent comic she drew. Photo: Andrew Goff.

About 2,300 more votes counted — 1,100 in Eureka — and it’s fairly static, at least in Eureka. See the Third Election Night Report here.

Measure F now has 31.8 percent of the vote, up 0.3 percentage points from the last report. In the Fourth Ward race, incumbent Scott Bauer now stands at 69.7 percent, and Second Ward incumbent Kati Moulton leads by a narrower margin, with 58.84 percent.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 8:29 p.m.: Ward 2 Eureka City Council Kenny Carswell is Kickin’ it at the 707 Bar

Photo: Isabella Vanderheiden

It’s a surprisingly quiet night over at Old Town’s 707 Bar where Second Ward candidate Kenny Carswell was awaiting election results with a small group of friends. He’s competing for the city council seat held by incumbent Kati Moulton.

Asked how he’s feeling about tonight’s election, Carswell said he’s optimistic and “really looking forward to being a voice for Eureka if elected.”

“I’ve just really enjoyed getting to dig deeper into local issues [during my campaign],” he told the Outpost. “I’ve had really good conversations while out talking to people in the neighborhood. Being someone that’s from here, it means a lot to me and I look forward to continuing to learn more.”

We’ll check back in later tonight!

— Isabella Vanderheiden

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UPDATE, 9:44 p.m.: Eureka City Council Incumbents Gettin’ Down at North of Fourth with the “No on F” Campaign

From left to right: Ward 2 candidate Kati Moulton, Ward 4 candidate Scott Bauer, and “No on F” representative Solomon Everta. | Photo: Isabella Vanderheiden

Spirits are high at North of Fourth in Eureka where city council incumbents Kati Moulton (Ward 2) and Scott Bauer (Ward 4) are hosting a joint election party with the “No on F” campaign. As if things aren’t exciting enough, they’re even hosting trivia!

The incumbents are leading in both city council races, according to the second round of election results. Moulton is leading in the Ward 2 race with 60 percent of the vote, compared to Carswell’s 39 percent. Bauer is leading with 71 percent, to Syphanthong’s 28 percent. 

“I’m feeling humbled,” Bauer told the Outpost. “I just want to thank the residents of Ward 2 for giving me a chance to represent them for another four years.”

Similarly, Moulton said she’s feeling “very hopeful” about tonight’s results. “If nothing else, the people of Eureka have been very engaged through this entire election process,” she said. “So, whatever happens [with this election], it is going to be what the people of Eureka want to see happen.”

Both candidates were happy to see Measure F tanking, with Moulton happily saying, “Eureka is no-nonsense. We don’t like being bamboozled.”

— Isabella Vanderheiden

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UPDATE, 7:54 p.m.: Thavisak “Lucky” Syphanthong’s Crew Turns Out at Chapala Café

Photo: Isabella Vanderheiden

Turning the anxious gaze away from the national polls for a moment…

Eureka’s city council candidates are gathering for election parties throughout Old Town. Ward 4 council candidate Thavisak “Lucky” Syphanthong is awaiting tonight’s election results alongside family and friends at Chapala Café.

“I’m feeling excited and happy – a lot of emotions at the same time,” Syphanthong told the Outpost. “This is my first time running for public office … I wish I had more time to do some things, like door knocking and more public events, but I got to meet a lot of neighbors and citizens of Eureka throughout my campaign. I started my campaign in August, I can’t believe it’s gone by so fast.”

We’ll check back in with Syphanthong when the first round of election results rolls in!

— Isabella Vanderheiden

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UPDATE, 5:42 p.m.: LONG LINES

Photo: Andrew Goff.

Pretty long wait at the Elections Office right now, at least by Humboldt standards. Seems to be a good turnout election!

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 12:34 p.m.: Chris Rogers Makes Election Day Stop at Los Bagels

Chris Rogers talks to passers-by outside of the Eureka Los Bagels. By Dezmond Remington.

California Assembly candidate Chris Rogers, who is touring through all five of District Two’s counties today,  made a stop at the Eureka Los Bagels.

For Election Day, Rogers is visiting Trinity, Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties in 24 hours. Last night, he hosted a happy hour at The Diggins in Weaverville and this morning he was at a cafe in Crescent City. He’s off to Ukiah and then Santa Rosa, where he plans on waiting out the election results.

At Los Bagels, Rogers talked with passers-by outside and served some bagels. 

“I’m just happy it’s Election Day,” Rogers said. “We feel good about [our chances], but if this district doesn’t go Democrat, that means there may be bigger problems. We may have lost Congress or maybe the presidency. This election is bigger than one race. We’ve done everything we need to do. Now we just wait.”

— Dezmond Remington

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UPDATE, 10:29 a.m.: Early Morning Vandalism in Arcata, Where Voting Seems Brisk

Photo: Dezmond Remington.

Pro-Palestine, anti-voting graffiti popped up around Arcata polling stations and drop box locations this morning, including at grocery stores in the city. The Mad River Union has a report with photos. Police are investigating.

The defacement of the Arcata Community Center was all cleaned up by the time Outpost reporter Dezmond Remington arrived. But there was a line out the door of people waiting in line to vote, which was a perhaps a sign that more people are choosing to vote in-person than they did four years ago.

Your correspondent dropped a ballot off at the Jefferson Center this morning. They seemed to be doing pretty good business there as well. It was more active than I remember it being in 2020. No lines, though!

— Hank Sims

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It’s Election Day! 

Election Day is always a big party here on the Lost Coast Outpost, and this year the party happens right here on this thread. We’ll be updating throughout the day with various election news from around the county. Once polls close, we’ll head out to the various election parties for scene reports, and we’ll follow the results as they come in.

Maybe we’ll even cast an eye toward a certain national race! Who knows!

As a reminder: The first wave of Humboldt County results should be published shortly after 8 p.m. — let’s say sometime between 8:30 and 9, if past history is anything to go by. This will be the biggest tranche of votes — probably more or less half of all votes to be counted — and it should give us an idea if any of the local races are total blowouts. Here was the early voting state of play as of yesterday.

Are you a Eureka or Arcata voter trying to figure out who to vote for for City Council? You might want to check out this cycle’s LoCO Elections, in which the various candidates answered questions from readers.

Having trouble figuring out how to vote on those darned state races, or the state propositions? Check out the great resources made available by our friends at CalMatters. Also, the local HOPE Coalition has a comprehensive rundown of various organizations — political parties, nonprofits, unions, newspapers — and what they’re recommending on the props.

Already filled out your ballot but wondering how to get it back to Election Central to be tabulated? Check out yesterday’s post for a full list of options.

Eligible to vote, but not registered to vote, but still wanting to vote? California has same-day registration — instructions here. It’s kind of a headache for all concerned and you really should get your act together in advance next time, but no one’s going to hold it against you this time. Everyone wants you to vote.

OK, check back here throughout the day and night! Let’s do this!

Press release from the California Highway Patrol:

On Monday, November 4, at 1103 hours, the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Humboldt Communications Center received a call involving a solo-vehicle traffic crash on southbound State Route 169, south of Notchko Flat Road. CHP Humboldt Area units responded to investigate the incident.

Upon initial investigation, it was determined that the driver of the Nissan was traveling southbound State Route 169, south of Notchko Flat Road, approaching a left curve in the roadway. For unknown reasons, the driver allowed the Nissan to travel off the west edge of the roadway and down a descending embankment. This caused the Nissan to overturn until the roof of the Nissan collided with, and came to rest against, a tree. Responding emergency medical personnel declared the driver of the Nissan deceased on the scene.

State Route 169 was closed periodically for approximately three and a half hours and has since been reopened. The use of alcohol and/or drug(s) is unknown at this time. This incident is still being investigated by the CHP Humboldt Area.

For additional information, contact CHP Humboldt Area Public Informations Officer P. Craft at (707) 822-5981.

Whoever wins the presidency, the 2024 election has outsized implications for California.

The elevation of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris to the highest office in the land would make her the most powerful Californian in nearly four decades. Former President Donald Trump’s return to the White House would thrust the state back into leading the resistance against his Republican administration, as it did during his first term from 2017 to 2021.

With public polls showing the two candidates in a dead heat and a distinct possibility that the outcome of the race won’t be called for days — not to mention the weeks or months of legal wrangling that could follow — state officials, industry leaders and activists are already preparing for either scenario.

What lies ahead is a nerve-wracking fork in the road that hinges on perhaps tens of thousands of voters in a handful of states thousands of miles away. If Harris wins, a political perspective honed in California would shape the future of the entire country, potentially bringing the state’s priorities nationwide and additional resources home. If Trump wins, Californians would face another four years of governance consumed by combative showdowns between the state’s Democratic leadership and Washington, D.C., potentially distracting from or even setting back progress on addressing California’s own problems.

“No state has more to lose or more to gain in this election in November,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a press conference last week, as he reflected on the “chilling effect” that Trump’s mass deportation plan would have on California’s economy.

Newsom’s office declined to discuss the stakes of the presidential election for California. Nor did representatives make Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire or Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, both Democrats who will shape the legislative agenda and state budget next year, available for interviews.

But across state government, officials are gaming out California’s response, especially if they find themselves once again trying to “Trump-proof” the state. Newsom and his budget team are developing a proposal for a disaster relief fund after the former president repeatedly threatened to withhold emergency aid for wildfire recovery from California because of its water policy.

“The best way to protect California, its values, the rights of our people, is to be prepared, so we won’t be flat-footed,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose team has been working with advocacy organizations and attorneys general in other states on how they would answer another Trump administration. “We will fight as we did in the past if that scenario unfolds.”

During Trump’s first term, California sued more than 100 times over his rules and regulatory rollbacks. Bonta said his team has preemptively written briefs and tested arguments to challenge many of the policies they expect the former president could pursue over the next four years: passing a national abortion ban and restricting access to abortion medication; revoking California’s waiver to regulate its own automobile tailpipe emissions and overruling its commitment to transition to zero-emission vehicles; ending protections for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children; undermining the state’s extensive gun control laws, including for assault weapons, 3D-printed firearms and ghosts guns; implementing voter identification requirements; and attacking civil rights for transgender youth.

“Unfortunately, it’s a long list,” Bonta told CalMatters. “We are and have been for months developing strategies for all of those things.”

“Hopefully we’ll never need it because it will be President Harris,” he added. “It’ll gather dust on a shelf.”

What does a Harris presidency mean for California?

The impacts of a Harris presidency on California are less certain. While Trump routinely made the state a punching bag in his campaign, Harris distanced herself from her deep California roots as she sought to strike a more moderate image for swing voters.

“It’s always great to have someone from your state in the highest office,” said Jennifer Barrera, president and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce. “Whether or not that would benefit California, it’s hard to say.”

Many elected officials and other political figures, including outgoing U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler and Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland, developed close ties with Harris during her decades rising through the state and could jump to her administration, giving California a further voice in national policy.

That in turn could help drive more resources home on priorities where California is closely aligned with Harris’ platform, such as expanding access to abortion, and ensure extra attention for issues of greater importance to the state’s economy, such as tourism, international trade and skilled immigration.

Adam Kovacevich, founder and CEO of Chamber of Progress, a left-leaning tech industry association, said that while Trump is viewed as a wild card who could punish major companies that he believes opposed him, “there’s widespread optimism that Harris will care again.”

Tech hopes for a more productive relationship with Harris, who “had an open door for the industry” during her time in California, than the Biden administration, which is regarded as antagonistic, Kovacevich said — and that could pay dividends for the California budget.

“It’s tech industry success that plays a huge role in funding the state’s social safety net,” he said.

Lowering the cost of housing, which voters routinely rate as the biggest problem facing California, is a central plank of Harris’ agenda. Though federal regulations, namely updated code requirements, only make a marginal difference, according to Dan Dunmoyer, president and CEO of the California Building Industry Association, he believes the spotlight could encourage a change in approach at the local level, where permit delays and excessive fees are the most significant impediments to development.

“Rhetoric is powerful and it can focus the attention,” Dunmoyer said. “It’s nice to have candidates fighting over who is going to do the most for housing.”

Some advocates hope that a Harris administration would provide a sympathetic channel to export more of the California way to the rest of the country.

After organized labor scored major wins under Biden, Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Labor Federation, said unions would push a Harris administration to continue expanding workers’ rights. Many of their priorities are policies California already adopted, including extending organizing rights to farmworkers and domestic workers, rewriting classification rules for independent contractors, and creating protections for employees that refuse to attend anti-union captive audience meetings.

“The amazing thing about Kamala Harris is that she was in California while we were passing all these forward-thinking bills,” Gonzalez said.

What does a Trump presidency mean for California?

With Democrats in control of every state office and holding supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature, a Trump victory would completely upend policymaking in California. During his first term, legislators focused on counteracting his federal agenda — though not always successfully. Jerry Brown and Newsom, whose governorships both overlapped with Trump, took executive actions to limit the fallout of his rollback of environmental regulations, including launching a pollution-tracking satellite and negotiating with auto companies to maintain higher mileage standards.

CalChamber’s Barrera said those conflicts between federal and state rules that put business in the middle — such as a law that restricted employer participation in workplace immigration raids — are a greater concern for industry than any particular policy a president might pursue.

“Having the state react, it sort of puts things in limbo,” she said. “When the two aren’t aligned, it creates some problems for our members that operate on the national level.”

“The best way to protect California, its values, the rights of our people, is to be prepared, so we won’t be flat-footed.”
— Attorney General Rob Bonta

Others worry that California would resist Trump’s plans by going further in the opposite direction, in potentially counterproductive ways. In 2019, as the Trump administration narrowed federal water protections, California adopted even more expansive state regulations that developers complained made it more complicated and costly to get building permits.

“The anti-Trump factor is real,” Dumoyer said. “I expect that if Trump says the sky is blue, they’ll say it’s black today.”

Divided partisan control could also further gridlock Congress, setting up the nation’s largest state as the battleground for major policy fights, especially in areas that are not of interest to Trump.

Kovacevich, from the tech association, said advocacy groups seeking more oversight of the industry have been very active in Washington, D.C., for the past four years and enjoyed a lot of success with the Biden administration. If Trump wins, they will turn to California to lead the way on regulating artificial intelligence and children on social media, as well as enforcing antitrust law.

“Congress is an environment of legislative scarcity,” he said. “California is an environment of legislative abundance.”

In many ways, California is more protected from swings in federal regulations than other states, because it has a robust regulatory framework of its own that often goes much further than the federal government.

Gonzalez said unions see an ongoing challenge to the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board as a much bigger threat than any actions Trump might take, given that California law is already stronger than federal law on minimum wage, overtime pay and wage theft protections.

“He can’t do anything through the Department of Labor that would undo that,” she said.

Immigrant community on the defensive

With frustration and anger over the U.S.-Mexico border growing among voters and both candidates emphasizing tougher enforcement, immigration is likely to be a major issue regardless of who wins the presidency, plunging California’s large immigrant community into an uncertain and terrifying moment.

As Newsom put it last week, “the impacts from valley to valley, Silicon Valley to Central Valley, will be outsized” — particularly if Trump also revives his push to limit legal immigration, including refugees, foreign workers and international students.

The California Immigrant Policy Center, an immigrant rights advocacy group, has already led 15 scenario-planning exercises with hundreds of people from organizations across the state to prepare. Executive Director Masih Fouladi said the immigrant community, millions of whom are undocumented, will be on the defensive either way the election goes, though the mass deportations Trump has threatened are a more immediate concern.

“We know that the Trump administration is going to target California. They’ve been targeting California throughout this election cycle,” Fouladi said. “We need to do a lot in California to make sure that we are defending, protecting our communities.”

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

Lance Anderson went to be with the Lord on October 19, 2024, at age 83, surrounded by his family. He lived in Garberville for the past six decades.

Lance was born in Roseburg, Oregon, on February 12, 1941, to his parents, Darrell and Hazle Anderson. As a youngster, he and his family moved several times as his father was in the lumber industry. After leaving Roseburg, they moved to Warrenton, Oregon, for a few years and then to Humboldt County. They lived in several towns, including Fortuna, Redway, and Myers Flat. When Lance was a sophomore at South Fork High School, he was in downtown Garberville one afternoon, saw the girl of his dreams working in Thoresen’s Department Store, and asked the clerk, “Who is that girl?” The clerk responded, “Oh, that’s one of the Williams’ girls!” This was the first time he saw his future wife, Ladonna, but she didn’t know about this until just a few years ago when Lance mentioned it during one of his sermons at church.

Later, when Lance was a senior and Ladonna a sophomore at South Fork High, he asked her out to the prom. This was when she first noticed him, and of course, she said, “Yes.” From that point on, they were together as boyfriend and girlfriend. They ran into a bit of a conflict with Ladonna’s father, Ed Williams, who wasn’t terribly fond of Lance dating his daughter in those early days. But that did not stop the two of them from seeing each other; in fact, they developed nicknames for each other so that the parents wouldn’t be aware of their courtship. They called each other Sadie and Jed and would sometimes sneak out of the house, saying they were going to see their friend Sadie or Jed. They wrote secret letters to each other under their assumed names and met up at friend Pat Tobin’s house, who was aware of their plan. After graduation, Lance attended San Jose State University for two years before moving back to Garberville. He and Ladonna were married at the Benbow Inn on April 7, 1963. At their wedding reception, Lance was talking to a friend who bet him they would have kids right away, to which Lance replied, “Not for five years.” They ended up having three kids in less than three years, so he had to pay the $5 bet, which he was not pleased about but said the three kids were worth it!

They lived in Garberville for a few months before moving to San Jose, so that Lance could continue his education. He completed his third year, and by the end of that spring term, their first child, Tami, was born in May of 1964. They then moved back to Garberville, and their second child, Andy, was born in January of 1966, followed by their third child, Heidi, born in March of 1967. Lance’s dedication to his family was unwavering, and his love for them was evident in every aspect of his life.

In 1964, Lance began working in Garberville at William’s Chevrolet and the Texaco gas station, both owned by Ladonna’s father. He worked there for quite a few years before buying the Shell gas station, which he owned and operated for many years. During this same period, Lance was asked to fill in as a guest speaker one Sunday at the church that he and Ladonna attended. Soon after, he began to preach regularly and eventually became the full-time pastor at Weott Christian Church for over 30 years. The years spent at Weott Christian were wonderful, creating a lifetime of memories. He and Ladonna were participants in the Jesus Movement during the 1960s and 70s, where their house became the stopover point for the young hippies in love with Jesus migrating from Berkeley, to the Rising Son Ranch in Alderpoint. On many occasions, Lance and Ladonna would return home to find some hippies camped out in one of their cars, on their porch, or in the kid’s playhouse in the backyard. They would spend the night, and Ladonna would feed them a big pot of homemade soup and breakfast the following day. Soon, they’d be on their way to the Rising Son Ranch, a Christian commune. Many of these young people came to know Jesus through their interactions with Lance and their time at Weott Christian. Lance was also the owner of Nice Cars in Garberville, the original creator/owner of Shotz Coffee in Fortuna, and the owner of Craftsman Estate and Jewelry in Ukiah. For the past 18 years, he served as the pastor of the Fortuna Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer, a position he held until his death. Lance’s impact on the community was profound, and we’re confident his positive influence will be felt for generations to come.

He had a deep passion for classic cars, which he shared with his son Andy. They often showcased their vehicles at car shows, drove down the Avenue, and gave the grandkids rides in the AutoXpo cruises. His love for classic cars was a source of joy and connection for him and his family. He also enjoyed working with his daughter Heidi at Craftsman in Ukiah. He was also a talented artist who created many beautiful sketches, watercolors, and oil paintings. Another aspect of his life that brought him great joy was the annual mission trips he and his family/friends/Weott Church members took to connect with the families of the church they helped build in Mexicali, Mexico.

Lance’s influence extended far beyond his immediate family. He positively impacted many people throughout his life. He officiated countless weddings, baptisms, and funerals, helped save marriages, families, and lives, and unselfishly sacrificed his time, resources, and tireless labor for those he could help. His dedication to his faith and his community was unwavering. He was a funny, wise, good-natured man who loved the Lord, his family, friends, food, artwork and antiques, and classic cars. His sense of humor was infectious and could always be counted on to lighten the mood. He also very much enjoyed a good old-fashioned church potluck. Lance’s kindness, patience, and understanding were the cornerstones of his relationships, and his ability to connect with people on a personal level was one of his most endearing qualities.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ladonna, and children, Tami Northern (Jeff), Andy Anderson (Blanca), and Heidi Wyatt. Lance was also the father figure of great nephew Jesse Broussard (Hollie, deceased). His legacy lives on through his eight grandchildren, Taylor, Andrew, Benjamin (Willow), Sophie, Christian (Stephanie), Chandler, Breesia, and Samuel, and four great-grandchildren, Kylo, Posie Mae, Kove, and Scarlett. He is also survived by his sister Lynne Neyman (Lyn), niece Jody Zweifel (James), and nephews Andy Neyman (Shannon) and Jonathan Neyman (Chelsea), along with great nieces and nephews Tyler, Austin, Madison, Jesse, Ashley, James Winston, Forest, Cyrus, and London. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Lovay Broussard, and multiple nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Darrell and Hazle Anderson.

Lance led a full, godly life and died as he lived, secure in his faith. We take comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering but safe in the presence of the Lord. He will be remembered for his love of his family and others, generosity, and willingness to help those in need. 2 Corinthians 5:8 is a promise we hold onto…“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” and his life can be summed up by 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

A celebration of life service followed by a reception is planned for Saturday, November 23, at 1 p.m. at the Fortuna Middle School gymnasium, 843 L Street, Fortuna. Friends and family are invited to attend.

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

Billy Frank Evans Sr.
December 3, 1940-August 23, 2024

It is with the saddest news to his whole family that Billy Frank Evans Sr. passed away peacefully on August 23, 2024, in the comfort of his own home down in Alton, with his amazing and beautiful daughter Tammy Evans right by his side.

He was 83 years young. A life well lived is a life well remembered.

Billy was born in Ferndale on December 3, 1940 to Chet and Leona Evans. When he was 6 years old his family relocated to the little town of Alton.

Billy later would meet the love of his life, Wilma Pauline Morton. They were married in 1961, and in 1966 they purchased the home he would live in for the rest of his long-lived life.

Billy worked hard his whole life. He loved old-growth timber falling, and the woods were where his heart belonged, doing just that until he retired from “PL” — Pacific Lumber. If he wasn’t working you could find him working on something at home. He was a collector, to say the least — if it wasn’t lumber and chainsaws it was restoring many things over the years. But he was most proud of his 1948 Ford pickup.

If you couldn’t find Grandpa Bill at home he was more than likely out at the cabin without service and with close family hunting or fishing. In his later years going out to the cabin and sitting by a nice fire was his favorite place. We were all very blessed to be out there when he was, and it was always a fun time. If you were lucky you could try your hand with him at some cribbage or hear one of his jokes. He was truly one to make you laugh if he felt like it.

Billy Sr. is proceeded in death by his parents, Chet and Leona Evans; siblings: Harlan Evans, Laverne Evans, Bonnie Yost, Chesley Evans, Buddy Evans and Margie Bauter; grandson Dakota Evans; great-granddaughter Jessalynn Evans.

Billy Sr. was survived by his ex-wife and best friend Pauline Evans; his sister, Evelyn Flothe; his children Sharon Hicks, Billy Evans Jr (April) and Tammy Evans; his grandkids, Billy Evans III (Melita), Joshua Evans (Terri), Austin Evans (Ashleyanna), Jessica Evans, Jasmine Menroe-Page (Doug), Hannah Pollard (Michael), Tavin Evans, Garyn Evans, Jimmy Daetwiler, Jessica Gonzalez, Dusty Hicks and Brandon Hicks; bonus grandkids Cody Burns, Haley Green (Alex), Jenny Metcalfe, Bruin Gormley Robbins, Persephone Robbins, Breezie Donahue; 24 great-grandkids; special nephew Frank Colling; special niece Michelle Evans; and numerous brothers, sisters in-law, cousins, nephews, nieces on top of the many friends that he knew.

He touched so many lives. He was our hero and will be greatly missed!

Please join the Evans family for a potluck celebration of life on Saturday, November 9 at 1 p.m. at the Rio Dell Fire Hall. Come share stories and eat some good food!

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

Linda Angela Rovai suddenly and peacefully left us Oct. 23, 2024. Born May 23, 1949, she was the eldest of the four children of Louis and Mary Rovai. She was preceded in death by her sister Paula Rovai Miller; her brother: Louis Rovai Jr as well as her parents, Louis Rovai and most recently, Mary Micheli Rovai.

Linda attended and graduated from Rio Dell Elementary, Fortuna Union High School and HSU (now Cal Poly Humboldt). Linda was a student athlete and was part of the HSU woman’s volleyball team. After graduating from HSU in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, she graduated from Cal State Hayward in 1977 with a Master of Science degree in Special Ed and counseling. She continued her education at the University of California Santa Barbara and graduated in 1985 with a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration.

Linda began her teaching career in Oakland at the Elmhurst Middle School. It was there that she formed special friendships that lasted for a lifetime with Lis Tsukushi, Larry Spencer and Vida Ellis among many.

Linda would eventually move from the Bay Area and settled in Ojai. It was in Ojai that she found her life’s calling as a counselor for students with disabilities at Ventura College. This is where she truly shined. Linda understood the challenges that faced young adults. Her thoughtfulness and insights helped many students that would pass through her door.

Family meant everything to Linda. In 2021, Linda made the difficult decision to temporarily relocate from Ojai to Rio Dell. She spent this time lovingly taking care of her mother, making sure her mother’s passing was as gentle and peaceful as possible. Linda treasured this gift of being able to spend these last few years sharing memories with her mother and renewing connections with friends and family.

Linda had many interests, one being genealogy. Linda spent countless hours researching our heritage, crafting a beautiful book filled with recipes, stories and photos that celebrated our roots. Her Italian heritage was a source of immense pride. She cherished sharing this rich history. Her passion for preserving our lineage and celebrating our heritage will always be a guiding light for our family. Linda instilled in us a deeper appreciation for where we came from. Her legacy will live on in the meals we share and the stories we tell. Some of Linda’s favorite Italian recipes included torta (more greens!!), pasta burro, biscotti and homemade raviolis.

Linda’s definition of family included her dear friends. It’s not often a person is lucky enough to find a group of friends that become family. Linda found this with a close group of women – or, as she referred to them, her Sisterhood. Time and distance couldn’t dampen the bond of their sisterhood, and they found creative ways to stay present in each other’s lives. When Linda moved back home to take care of her mother, the Sisterhood had weekly Zoom meeting to ensure they stay connected to one another. This was especially important to Linda because these weekly meetings gave her an opportunity to nourish her soul.

Linda’s generous spirit illuminated the lives of everyone around her. Her kindness knew no end, always willing to help those in need, reminding us that there is so much more to this world. Linda saw beauty in the simplest moments and believed in the power of connection, nurturing relationships with a warmth that drew people in. Her legacy of love and compassion will forever inspire us.

Linda is survived by her godson; Anthony (Kellan) Hickman and children: Gavin & Gianna; Sister Rita (Stan) Johnson and children: Angela Johnson DeMatos and children: Lourenco & Sánta; Amy (Ven) Letter and children: Madisyn, Kobe & Matthew; Kelsey Johnson Van Dissel and son, Kees; Brother-in-law Kim Miller and children: Amber (Ben) Brown and son, Theo; Sky (Katee) Miller Foxx and children: Corinne ‘Coco’ Jones and Scarlett Poppy. She is also survived by her dear friends; Karen Hickman, Barbara Hoffman, Joan Willicombe, Shirley Ronkowski, Judy McKinley, Arla Bravo and Bonnie Skinner

Family and friends are invited to attend Linda’s memorial services at the Rio Dell Fire Hall on Sunday, November 10 at 2:30 p.m. Please bring photos or memories to share.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to the Eagle Prairie Elementary School (95 Center St., Rio Dell, CA 95562), the Rio Dell Volunteer Fire Department (50 W. Center St., Rio Dell, CA 95562) or to a charity of your choice.

If you would like to celebrate Linda in a more personal way; enjoy your favorite Italian dish while you sip a margarita.

Ciao Linda. May you rest in the peace, kindness and generosity that you shared with us.

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A lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday accuses Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Campadonia of using excessive force during the traffic stop and arrest of an unhoused man in Garberville last year.

The suit, filed by Eureka attorney Benjamin Mainzer, alleges that while making an “unnecessary arrest” of plaintiff Darrin Dickson, who had been living out of his car, Campadonia lost his temper, yelled profanities and shattered the driver’s side window with his baton, injuring Dickson’s eye, face and scalp in the process. 

Campadonia then proceeded to grab Dickson by the throat and strike him in the face with his elbow, according to the suit. The complaint further alleges that after arresting Dickson, Campadonia had the man’s vehicle towed and impounded, against office policy, in retaliation for Dickson exercising his constitutional rights.

Humboldt County is also named as a defendant, accused of depriving Dickson of his constitutional rights by inadequately training, supervising and disciplining deputies; by regularly permitting them to use excessive force; and by sanctioning Campadonia’s behavior via an internal investigation that concluded that his actions did not violate office policy.

The county previously rejected a claim for damages that Mainzer’s office submitted on behalf of Dickson back in March.

Reached via email, Humboldt County Public Information Specialist Catarina Gallardo said “This is an important issue for the county. However, this is a legal matter and in order to respect the integrity of that process the county will not discuss this topic with the press at this time.”

Let’s take a closer look at the specific allegations:

According to the suit, Deputy Campadonia initiated the traffic stop on the evening of Sept. 26, 2023, pulling Dickson over near the intersection of Redwood Drive and Sprowl Drive in Garberville after seeing him run a stop sign and accelerate at an unsafe speed. 

The two knew each other from previous “peaceful” interactions, but Campadonia considered Dickson “uncooperative” because, in those previous meetings, Dickson had “elected not to answer questions Campadonia posed to him,” as is his Constitutional right, the suit alleges.

This time, as Campadonia approached his vehicle, Dickson rolled the driver’s side window down just enough so they could speak to each other. Campadonia asked him to roll it down further or open the door, but Dickson said he could hear the deputy “just fine,” according to the suit.

Meanwhile, a second deputy sheriff, Julian Aguilera, had arrived. 

Campadonia then yelled at Dickson, “Open the fucking door!” and shortly thereafter he ordered him to get out of the car, even though there was still no officer safety reason for Dickson to exit the vehicle,” the complaint says.

Ten seconds later, Campadonia deployed his extendable baton and smashed the driver’s side window, striking Dickson in the forehead and causing a bleeding contusion, according to the lawsuit. “Glass from the shattered window hit Dickson’s face and got in his right eye causing a corneal abrasion and other bleeding cuts on his face and scalp,” the complaint continues.

The suit says Deputy Aguilera tried to de-escalate the situation a couple of times, even using his hand to push away a taser that Campadonia had pulled and pointed at Dickson’s chest while yelling, “Do you want to get fucking tased?”

“Deputy Aguilera did not believe there was any reason for Deputy Campadonia to have drawn his taser, point it at Dickson and threaten to tase him,” the complaint says.

But Campadonia continue to escalate the situation, reaching into the vehicle to grab Dickson — momentarily by the throat — and in the ensuing struggle, striking Dickson in the face with his elbow, according to the complaint.

Around that time, officers from the California Highway Patrol arrived.

”These officers attempted to calmly speak to Dickson, but Deputy Campadonia continued to yell and curse at Dickson thwarting their efforts to deescalate the conflict that Deputy Campadonia had created,” the suit says. “Dickson told these officers that he feared for his life.”

Dickson was eventually arrested without further incident, and according to the complaint, Campadonia told him at the scene that his car was parked legally so he could leave it where it was.

“However, in retaliation for what Deputy Campadonia perceived as [Dickson’s] earlier noncompliance, Deputy Campadonia intentionally acted contrary to Dickson’s wishes and had Dickson’s vehicle towed and impounded in contravention to Department policy 502.2.3,” the suit says. “Deputy Campadonia knew or had reason to know that Dickson lived in his vehicle and knew or had reason to know that by towing and impounding the vehicle, he was taking away his only shelter.”

The lawsuit lists 10 specific claims for relief, including:

• assault,
• battery,
• unreasonable search and seizure — excessive force,
• substantive due process violations for seizing Dickson’s vehicle,
• liability from the county for ”perpetrating, sanctioning, tolerating and ratifying the outrageous conduct and other wrongful acts” and
• negligence.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction requiring deputies to undergo training on de-escalation tactics and excessive force; general and compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees, costs of the suit and “other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.”

Reached by phone, Mainzer declined to speak on the record about the case. 

Early last month the Outpost requested a copy of all body-worn camera footage from county deputies during this incident. The county denied the request, saying the footage is exempt from disclosure because the use of force did not result in death or “great bodily injury.”

We believe that that determination is legally unjustified and we continue to work toward getting the footage released.

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DOCUMENT: Darrin Dickson v. County of Humboldt, Ryan Campadonia and DOES 1-40, inclusive