In Loving Memory of Billie Rose Lichti
May 22, 1937 - April 8, 2023
Born in Chickasha, Okla. Resided in Carlotta, Calif.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Billie Rose Lichti, who peacefully passed away at the age of 85, on the early morning of Saturday, April 8, 2023. She passed in her sleep while holding her daughter’s hand. Billie’s life began in Chickasha, Oklahoma, in 1937, of Chickasaw Indian heritage and one of six children born to Maxwell and Geneva Williams. Billie moved to California during the Great Dust Bowl in 1938. She could tell some great stories about their trek out west. They settled in the central valley of California and lived the farm life. Billie, as most young folks did in those days, picked her share of cotton. She attended high school in Arvin, California, where she met Jim Clark, a senior to her freshman. They married before Billie graduated in 1953. Their first child, Denise Doreen also arrived in 1953. Jimmy LeRoy came in 1955 and Wallace Farrell came 13 months later in 1956. Their youngest, Darren Sue (aka Sam) joined the family in 1959.

Billie moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and married Ted Lichti in 1975, inheriting his two children: son Bruce and daughter Rocky. Billie helped Ted run Wilsons Hardware and an apartment complex he owned in Pittsburg. Billie worked right alongside Ted from 1975-1983 . They sold everything and moved to Humboldt County in 1983. They opened Country Cousins Hardware in Carlotta in 1984 and closed it in 1988 to work on opening a restaurant. They purchased an old VFW Hall out on Highway 36. Billie worked with Ted to renovate the old hall, later opening Pepperwood Falls Country Inn in 1992. Billie served some of the best Prime Rib in Humboldt County. The locals loved that they could get their own beers out of the fridge and pay on the honor system. It was a place to eat, meet up with friends for some pool, or to attend a dance or a wedding. Pepperwood Falls closed in 1996 after Billie’s health began to fail. In 1998, Sam and her husband Lenny, along with their two daughters, moved to Humboldt County to help with both the care of Billie, and the continued renovations of the VFW hall, which had become a large family home. Billie and Ted hosted many parties, family reunions, and weddings for family and friends over the years. It was a sad time for everyone when Billie could no longer play the role of hostess that had given her so much joy and pleasure over the years.

Billie loved to play Bingo and play the slots and had more wins than anyone. She loved annual trips to the horse races, where the winning continued. She loved to play Mexican train with the family, and cribbage. She and Ted played cribbage every day on the same cribbage board. She once had a perfect score of 29! She loved to watch The Price is Right, so the family learned to keep their phone calls to either before or after the show. Billie was a fantastic candy maker, baker, and cook. No one made a better pineapple upside-down cake than her. She had a very close relationship with her son-in-law Lenny and she made more of those cakes for him than could be counted. She always said she bet she was the only mother-in-law whose son-in-law told her he loved her at the end of every phone call. She was generous to a fault and had a heart for helping those in need: family, friend or stranger. Billie was, for a time, a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. She had approximately 35 years of sobriety and loved all of her fellow AA friends. Billie’s last 20 years were a series of ups and downs health-wise. She had been in Hospice 3 times. Once graduating from Hospice, and once discharging herself so she could travel. We called her the “energizer bunny” and “the cat with 12 lives”. She had more dress rehearsals for dying than anyone should have to endure.

Billie was preceded in death by her parents Maxwell and Geneva, her brother Mike, and by three of her four children: Denise (2001), Jimmy (2012), and Wally (2000). Losing her children was Billie’s biggest struggle, something that grieved her daily. As she got closer to her last days, she spoke often of being reunited with them. Billie was a Christian and had no doubt that there was life after death with her Lord and the children she missed so much.

She is survived by husband Ted, daughter Sam (Lenny), stepson Bruce (Becky), and stepdaughter Roxanne (Freddie), the granddaughter she helped raise, Cynthia (Chris), her four sisters: Maxine Murphy (Mick), Jane Midwell, Nan Holliday, and Susie Reppert. Billie leaves behind 11 grandchildren: Cindy, A.J., Jimmy, Samantha, Lindsay, Alex, Jenny, Cynthia, Christina, Teddy, and Michael. Billie cherished her 16 great-grandchildren: Teddi, Tyler, Taryan, Liam, Brooks, Ben, Maddox, Emily, Charlotte, Tristan, Owen, Rachel, Hattie, Jamie, Blake, and Bryson. Billie has five surviving great great-grandchildren: Aric, Carter, Bailey, Theodore, and Ellacyn. She will be missed by her grand god-children Ben and Tesha, as well as her great grand god-children Taylor, T.J., and Avie. Billie leaves behind in-laws Gayle & Doug Salter, and Teri & Steve Glazer. Billie will be remembered by her many nieces and nephews, especially her niece Kelly who visited the most and kept her belly and freezer full. Billie also leaves behind her forever daughter-in-law Debi, her almost adopted daughter Lisa and close friends Claudia and Sky.

Billie’s family would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Ruben Brinkhaus and his office staff, who treated Billie with compassion and provided her with over-the-top care. Over the years, this included house calls and office drop ins and anything else she needed. Special thanks also go out to Hospice of Humboldt, Home Care, Respite Care, for without them we could not have kept Billie at home as long as we did. There is no better end of life care. A special thank you to Billie’s care provider Paula, who showed respect and tenderness. To the staff at the Hospice House for Billie’s last days…thank you for showing such care and concern, for allowing us to grieve, visit, and interact in our own way, and for encouraging us and guiding us in saying goodbye.

A memorial service to celebrate Billie’s life will be held on Monday, May 1st, 2023 at 3 p.m. at Hydesville Community Church. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Shriners Children Hospital, Hospice of Humboldt, or a church or charity of your choice in Billie’s honor.

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Rebecca Bair Kurwitz passed away in Eureka on Friday, April 14, 2023, following a brief illness. She was the last surviving child of Marie Melanson Bair and Thomas Edward Bair III. Though her parents were Humboldt natives, she was born in Los Angeles California on July 16, 1941 during a period when her father was training horses for motion pictures. She attended Canal School and College Elementary, graduating from Arcata High in 1958. She lived most of her youth at the Bair Family ranch in the Arcata Bottom, and resided in McKinleyville at the time of her death.

She is survived by her husband, George Kurwitz; seven children; Melinda Myers (Patrick Swartz), Merry Rogers (Jack), Christina Otteson (Jay), Matthew Myers, Sean Taggart, Kelly Buckman, and Ken Kurwitz (Dawnelle); 12 grandchildren; Samuel (May) and Augustus Johnson, Brendan (Jodi), Ryan (Sam), and Isabella McDonald, Kacey Soares, Zachary (Kate), Jeffrey (Chelsey), and Tyler (Nayeli) Myers, and Katelyn, Jacob, and Nathan Kurwitz; 7 great-grandchildren; Elias, Noah, Tristan, Lachlin, Tayler, and Rhett Myers and Lindon Lorenzen. There are so many more young people who call her grandma; too many to list here. Her many nieces and nephews will miss her dearly, but especially her sisters’ daughters, Sophie and Lillie Steinbock, Rose Steinbock Alvarez and Jan Carr.

She was predeceased by her grandson Lance Lorenzen, along with her siblings Martha Bair Steinbock, Mary Bair Paita, and Thomas Bair IV.

Mom was kind, generous and compassionate. She tirelessly and endlessly took care of everyone she met as well as she did her children and grandchildren. She gave of herself happily to those most vulnerable and alone in the world. She was an advocate for those who didn’t have anybody to look out for them.

She volunteered at Planned Parenthood and for numerous Democratic Party campaigns, but more recently she just helped whoever needed help, with whatever they needed. She was most recently busy enjoying planning her 1958 AHS class reunion. She bought shoes for other people’s kids, dropped off food to people who were ill, and she dearly loved numerous dogs and cats. Her Border Collie, Bulldozer, is beside himself with grief. Dogs weren’t the only animal she devoted herself to carrying for. Chickens, geese, cats, parrots, kids, it didn’t matter what it was, if it needed help, she’d give it a home (often over dad’s eyerolls). It was important to her that her adopted son, Sean was able to stay connected to his tribal community and Yurok heritage.

She laughed easily and often, which she’d tell you is the mark of a well-lived life. She loved making cookies with her great-grandchildren, sewing beautiful gifts for new babies, and reading a copious number of books.

In lieu of flowers, she would have preferred a contribution in her honor to your favorite charity,

Services will be held June 2, 11 a.m., at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka. Please contact the family for details. Her remains will be interned in the Bair Family plot at Greenwood Cemetery.

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Daniel Esmond Forbes passed away on February 22, 2023 at age 85 while on a daily walk near his home in Arcata.

He was born June 11, 1937, in Compton to parents Joseph McCue Forbes Sr. of Illinois and Mary Jean Childs Forbes of Ohio. Brother Joseph McCue Forbes Jr. was born in August 1940.

The Forbes family moved to Arcata in 1946, when Joseph Sr. became a professor and coach at Humboldt State College (HSC). The family lived in a house on upper B Street, now part of the Cal Poly Humboldt campus, as well as the historic Bair-Stokes House on 13th Street, before building a mid-century modern home at the foot of Fickle Hill Road. Throughout these years, Danny attended College Elementary School on the college campus and then Arcata High School, where he was voted to have best legs.

As Department Chair for Health and Physical Education, his father Joseph M. Forbes was instrumental in constructing the track, football stadium and field house at HSC. Joe Sr. encouraged diverse students from his former teaching job at Compton Junior College to become students at HSC. Upon his retirement in 1975, the Joseph M Forbes Physical Education Complex was established in his name. This facility is now known as the Forbes Gymnasium and the Recreation and Wellness Center.

With first wife Audrey Ann Ritola, Dan had three children: Linda Ann born June 1958, Alan Daniel born May 1960, and Sheri Ann born December 1961. After graduating from HSC, Dan was employed by Safeway (now Wildberries Marketplace) and was an active member of the JCs (Junior Chamber of Commerce). He then earned a teaching credential and taught several grades over the years, including special education and shop, at Bloomfield Elementary School, Stewart Elementary School, and Sunny Brae Middle School.

He married Linda Hall Swarts on August 11, 1968, a true love match. For the rest of their lives together, they used “Love is You”, “XXOO” and “Strangers in the Night” as terms of endearment to declare their enduring love for one another. During summer breaks from teaching, the couple traveled back and forth across the US collecting antiques, Frank Sinatra memorabilia, embossed glasses, music boxes and advertising dolls. Dan kept immaculate records and the couple eventually were able to boast that they had visited every county in the lower 48 states.

Inspired by early breweries Anchor Brewing Company and New Albion Brewing Company in the 1970s, Dan and Linda visited Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (Chico) and Hopland Brewery (Hopland), some of the first California microbreweries to set up shop in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Thereafter, Dan dedicated vacation time to visiting all microbreweries in the US. Little did he know that the number of microbreweries would explode in the following decades. Undeterred, Dan was passionate about collecting logo pint glasses, coasters, and business cards well into retirement, planning routes across the US. When he got home, he created cabinets and organized files in which to display these collections, some of the largest in the nation. Across more than three decades, he visited more than 6,000 microbreweries.

Dan and Linda enjoyed attending the East Coast Breweriana Association (ECBA), the National Association of Breweriana Advertising (NABA), and the Brewery Collectibles Club of America (BCCA) annual conventions, where they made lifelong friends. Meanwhile, Dan offered his “extra” collectables and graphic design skills for display in local breweries. In retirement, he made friends with local brewers and together they traveled to the World Beer Cup Competition in Denver, Colo. to represent local breweries.

Linda and Dan decorated their home with visually stunning displays that they shared with friends and family via countless gatherings, dinners, holiday parties, garden tours, and beer tastings. Dan was the consummate host, sharing jokes and pouring everyone’s beverage of choice from behind the bar. His home reflected his high standards for visual display, and his friendly demeanor welcomed new and old friends alike. Linda and Dan would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in 2023.

Dan was preceded in death by his father Joseph Forbes (1976), mother Mary Jean Childs Forbes (2011), and brother Joseph Forbes (2018). He is survived by his wife Linda Forbes; children Linda Smith, Alan Forbes and wife Rebecca, and Sheri Forbes; grandchildren Danielle Jackson and husband Todd, Katie Smith, Amanda Key and husband Tim, Matthew Forbes, Madalin Forbes; and great grandchildren Colton Smith, Todd “TJ” Jackson II, Asher Key, Evryn Key, Josiah Jackson, Elijah Smith, and Emery Key.

A celebration will be held on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at their family home in Arcata to remember Dan for the kind and loving husband, son, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend he was. Friends and family are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please support your local breweries.

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HUMBOLDT TODAY: Law enforcement is investigating an apparent murder-suicide that left two men dead in Fortuna; one man’s reckless driving along a waterfront pedestrian trail in Eureka ends in his death; plus, you’ll soon need to buy towels somewhere else. Those stories and more in today’s online newscast with John Kennedy O’Connor.

FURTHER READING: 

• During a Welfare Check, EPD Officers Find Two People Dead Inside a House on Fairfield Street
• Man Dies After Being Ejected From His Ford Van While Speeding on Eureka Waterfront Trail, EPD Says
• Two Arrested for Fentanyl, Illegal Guns Following Vehicle Investigation on Little Fairfield, Sheriff’s Office Says
• Man Asleep Behind the Wheel While Parked in Blue Lake Intersection Discovered With Drugs, Pepper Spray, Burglary Tools, Sheriff’s Office Says
• Salmon OUT, Yellowtail IN: Nordic Aquafarms Announces Species Switch-Up at its Planned Humboldt Facility
• Two Men Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide on Newburg Road, Fortuna Police Say

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.

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In the fall of 2016, the owners and operators of Emerald Family Farms, LLC, offered a tour of their operation near Berry Summit to demonstrate just how well prepared they were to succeed in California’s regulated commercial cannabis marketplace.

As we reported at the time, they’d organized an agricultural co-operative with nearly 100 growers, enlisted in the county’s brand new “track and trace” pilot program, signed a distribution deal and hired public accountants, trademark attorneys and marketing experts.

“Humboldt County is the Napa of cannabis,” co-owner and CEO Patrick Murphy told a reporter with PBS NewsHour later that year. “It is by far and away the largest production zone of high-quality cannabis in the world.”

Five and a half years later, with the Emerald Triangle’s legal cannabis market decimated under the weight of rampant over-production statewide, Emerald Family Farms has failed.

On Wednesday morning, the company’s assets — along with those of two related entities, Humboldt Health Care, LLC, and Emerald Family, LLC — are set to be auctioned off in Courtroom Four of the Humboldt County Courthouse.

The assets include:

• 52 acres of land in Willow Creek, including a 42-acre farm on the banks of the Trinity River with a 20,300-square-foot commercial building and an 890-square-foot office building,
• property housing a 15,000-square-foot warehouse on Ericson Court in Arcata,
• commercial cannabis licenses, including ones for cultivation, manufacturing and distribution, and
• personal property including “maintenance materials, supplies, equipment, vehicles, inventory and tools, all intellectual property, and brand names.”

So what the hell happened? The picture’s not totally clear. Murphy could not be reached for comment. A former employee, who left the company a couple of years ago and signed a non-disclosure agreement, told the Outpost that he heard Murphy “skipped town and changed his number.”

But a good deal of information can be gleaned from a lawsuit filed last May against the Emerald Family companies by a Delaware-based cannabis equity firm called Pelorus Fund REIT, LLC.

According to the suit, Pelorus loaned Emerald Family Farms a whopping $18 million in 2021 and has never been repaid. (Messages left for the plaintiff’s attorneys were not returned by publication time.)

Lawyers for Emerald Family Farms actually issued a press release about the loan shortly after it went through. Published by Redheaded Blackbelt, the release said this influx of capital, along with a distribution deal with Cresco Labs, would “elevate EFF into one of California’s largest cultivators of high-end, sustainably grown cannabis products.”

As collateral for the loan, Emerald Family Farms put up virtually all of its assets, including a deed of trust encumbering its real estate along with security interest in everything from cash and property to patents, trademarks, products and proceeds, per the lawsuit.

Emerald Family Farms allowed a “Cultivation-Processor” cannabis license to expire in January 2022, and the following month the company defaulted on the loan by failing to make its full debt service payment. 

“Borrowers did not pay any amounts to Plaintiff following the Notice of Default and in fact have not paid any amounts to Plaintiff since January 2022,” the complaint says. The unpaid balance is listed as “approximately $19,325,454.12.”

Pelorus sued Emerald Family Farms for judicial foreclosure, breach of contract and injunctive relief, seeking reimbursement of the loan plus interest, delinquent property taxes, attorneys’ fees and other costs.

Per the terms of the loan agreement, Pelorus Fund was entitled to appoint a receiver to take control of the assets Emerald Family Farms had put down as collateral. Wednesday’s auction of those assets is the result of that court-ordered receivership.

According to an auction listing online, the opening bid will be $3.5 million, with subsequent bids increasing in increments of $500,000. Making the sales pitch to potential buyers, the listing claims that the Willow Creek property’s weed entitlements make it “the largest cannabis facility in Humboldt County, and one of the largest cannabis facilities in the State of California.”

(For the record, the defaulted operations of Emerald Family Farms are practically mom-and-pop-sized compared to new commercial grows popping up to our south, such as this 134-acre outdoor farm set to open in Santa Barbara County.)

But the auction listing insists that our county’s name still rings out:

“Cannabis that is produced in Humboldt County is considered superior and world famous, is entitled to strong product branding protections, and commands a higher price than cannabis produced in Trinity County.”

Happy bidding, everyone.

Press release from Eureka Police Department:

On April 21, 2023 at approximately 12:05 p.m., officers with the Eureka Police Department (EPD) were dispatched to the 2700 block of Fairfield Street to conduct a welfare check on the occupants of the residence.

The reporting party stated they had not been able to contact the occupants for several weeks.

Upon arrival, officers found the house secured. Officers requested assistance from Humboldt Bay Fire and gained access into the residence.

Inside the residence, officers found two deceased individuals. EPD’s Criminal Investigations Unit was contacted and authored a search warrant for the residence.

The search warrant was executed by EPD Detectives and the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office. The search of the residence revealed no signs of suspicious activity or foul play.

This is an ongoing investigation in conjunction with the Coroner’s Office. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Eureka Police Department at 707-441-4060.

Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On April 23, 2023 at approximately 11:30 p.m., the Eureka Police Department received information of a traffic collision off the Eureka Waterfront Trail near the Tooby Road parking area.

Upon arrival, officers located a Grey Ford van approximately 300 feet off the trail in the field. The vehicle was occupied by one male driver, who was ejected from the vehicle. The driver was declared deceased at the scene.

The initial investigation has revealed that for unknown reasons the vehicle had accessed the area behind the gate located on Pound Road. The vehicle then drove to the trail access and began traveling south on the trail at a high rate of speed.

The driver was unable to navigate a turn at the end of the trail and the vehicle left the roadway, rolling numerous times before coming to rest in the open field.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Jeremy Sollom at 707-441-4060 ext. 1315 or Officer Mark Sheldon at ext. 1339.