UPDATE, JUNE 7: Cassandra Ilene Miller has been located safe in Folsom, CA, by the California Highway Patrol.
###
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office needs the public’s help to locate missing person Cassandra (Cassy) Ilene Miller, age 33, of Loleta.
Miller was reported missing by a family member on May 17, 2023. She was last seen on May 10 at about 4 p.m. in the area of U.S. Highway 101 Southbound near exit 694, Loleta Drive.
Cassandra Miller is described as an American Indian female, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, 210 pounds, with dirty-blonde hair, blue eyes and no teeth. She was last seen wearing a black Bear River Rancheria sweatshirt.
Miller is known to live a transient lifestyle and frequents the Loleta area. She suffers from medical conditions which may put her at increased risk.
Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding Miller’s possible whereabouts should call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251, reference case number 202302289.
A red-footed booby spotted near Trinidad | Photo: Don Galusha
###
While fishing in the Pacific Ocean just outside of Trinidad, local resident Don Galusha captured a pic of a tropical seabird that is extremely rare to our area – a red-footed booby!
The photo, emailed to the Outpost on Monday by Galusha’s friend Shannon Donohue, was taken on May 25, about five miles northwest of Trinidad Head. “I knew it was something rare,” Donohue told the Outpost, adding that she had posted the image to ebird.org to confirm the species.
Rob Fowler, a local birder and birding guide, confirmed the booby’s identity with the Outpost today and said that it is very rare to see this species – usually found in tropical waters – in our area. Fowler added that this is only the second recorded red-footed booby sighting in Humboldt County, with the first being near Sue-Meg State Park in November, 2021.
We can only speculate as to why the booby ended up this far from its usual territory. Red-footed boobies do not migrate, but they are strong flyers and have been known to travel long distances in search of food. Whatever it is that landed our friend near Trinidad, we wish it well. Booby on, little friend!
You freaked out for the FOREST MOON FESTIVAL yet? Or are you playing it cool like a Jedi force bro headed into battle?
Whichever the case, this is your reminder that if all goes well Humboldt and Del Norte County will be overrun with Star Wars nerds this weekend, hopefully spending their galactic credits in local shops and eateries and watering holes. They’re coming to celebrate all things STAR WARS, but they can’t use that name for this weekend’s events due to what I assume is some sort of licensing issue.
Anyway! There is a great big list of events taking place all over the region at this link. Above is the artwork, featuring an idyllic scene of a family gazing awefully up at the Death Star right before it blasts their planet to smithereens. And below is a message from the Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commission, sponsors of the festival, in which among other things they urge you to use the hashtag #ForestMoonFeels23 in all your socials, because it is 2023 and you are at the Forest Moon Festival and those things together give you the “feels.”
Press release from the Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commission:
On June 2nd
and 3rd
of 2023, the Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commission is hosting the
inaugural
Forest Moon Festival, sponsored by Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.
Star Wars Fans, this is the summer event you are looking for.
It will commemorate the 40th
Anniversary of Star
Wars: Return of the Jedi,
the Star Wars film that featured Humboldt and Del Norte Counties as
the locations for the forest moon of Endor, the final battleground
between the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire.
The Forest Moon
Festival will span across the two counties. Epic events have been
created for the whole family to enjoy. The Film Commission hosted
events will take place at The Mateel Community Center in Southern
Humboldt, Beachfront Park in Crescent City, Sequoia Park in Eureka,
and Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata. Other exciting activities that are
happening across the Redwood region include Lucasfilm approved
costumers (Rebels, Storm Troopers, and more) appearances, rebel
training courses, nature walks with state parks, and afterparties to
name a few. Costumes are encouraged throughout the weekend. Please
make sure to visit the website regarding costume policy and other
safety tips.
For
more information on this event (including map and schedule of events,
to be released later) you can visit the websitewww.forestmoonfestival.org.
Any business that wishes to participate should visit and follow the
directions on the vendor page of the website to be included in the
promotional material. Be sure to follow the Forest Moon Festival
Facebook page and Instagram @forestmoonfestival to get all the latest
updates and announcements. Make sure to share your fun on social
media by using #forestmoonfeels23.
Go Lumberjacks! | Photos submitted by the Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics Department
###
Press release from Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics:
Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Rowing ended their season holding an NCAA Division II Rowing National Championship trophy with a confetti filled sky from Cooper River Park in New Jersey. For the third time in program history, the Lumberjacks were crowned National Champions. Humboldt has won titles in 2012, 2014, and now 2023. Humboldt swept the day in very impressive fashion, winning both the Fours Grand Final (12 points) and Eights Grand Final (18 points) to earn a perfect 30 points. It is the third time in the last four regattas that the winning team has finished with a perfect score.
“I could not be more proud of our Women’s Rowing team,” said President Jackson of Cal Poly Humboldt. “A great coaching staff led our outstanding student-athletes to the National Championship! The Cal Poly Humboldt campus, alumni, and friends applaud this outcome, a true legacy in Athletics.”
The ‘Jacks knew going into the day that they had their work cut out for them as they had to take down their rival in powerhouse University of Central Oklahoma, who also won both of their heats on Friday. UCO won three straight national championships from 2018-2021 (no champion was named in 2020). Although UCO has had a lot of recent success, the Lumberjacks proved they were the better team today. Kicking the day off was the Fours Grand Final at 11:12 AM EST. The Humboldt V4+ lineup consisted of: Emily Daniels (Coxswain), Sarah Lorenzini (1), Kylie Mosley (2), Chloe Pieper-Wasem (3), and Gwendolyn Sutton (4).
After placing third at the GNAC Championships just a couple weeks ago, Humboldt knew they had some adjustments to make before the NCAA Championships. With all GNAC schools in the Fours Grand Final, it was a rematch of the GNAC Championships with UCO, Seattle Pacific and Western Washington. Head coach Matt Weise praised both of his assistant coaches in Ashley Donnell and Patrick Hyland for their efforts in preparing the Varsity 4+ crew accordingly.
The Humboldt V4 boat trailed UCO almost the entire race in a very tight race, but in the final sprint the ‘Jacks pulled away to take a near six-second victory in the Fours Grand Final. They finished with a time of 8:06.762.
The dominance of this crew continued as they went the entire year without falling to a Division II opponent, and nothing changed for them on Saturday. Although the ‘Jacks started less than one second behind UCO at the first 500m mark, they increased their stroke rate and completely took over the race.
Humboldt cruised to victory in the Eights Grand Final, finishing with a time of 7:15.143. UCO crossed the finish line in second place and almost five seconds behind the Lumberjacks.
Head coach Matt Weise took over the program in July of 2020 and didn’t have a season in his first year due to the pandemic. In two years as the leader, Weise has shifted the tides of the rowing program. Earning GNAC Coach of the Year just last week, Weise created a National Championship roster and led the ‘Jacks to their first title since 2014.
“This group kept their heads today, they executed the plan and didn’t change anything or try to do too much on a bigger stage,” said Weise. “We talk about doing all the work all the time. The dark mornings, the cold rain, it’s all paid off. I’m really proud of what they accomplished today and proud of our great coaching staff as well.”
Weise also spoke to his appreciation of the support that the team has received this season and what it means to him, stating, “This result is a team effort. We have had nothing but support for the entire team, staff, administration, and community members. For me personally, it is an unbelievable feeling as a coach. I have been a coach nearly 30 years and this is the first National Championship I’ve been apart of. Today was spectacular, it was inspiring.”
The ‘Jacks have checked a number of boxes this year including: the 2023 NCAA Division II Rowing National Championship, a GNAC Varsity 8+ title, Runner-Up at the GNAC Championships, 2023 Coach of the Year in Matt Weise, 2023 Rower of the Year in Dana Foley, 2023 Coxswain of the Year in Sonja Scollon, three First-Team All-GNAC selections (Molly Urtz, Alyssa Paynton, Malia Seeley), and 12 rowers being named to the GNAC All-Academic team (A student-athlete must be of sophomore athletic eligibility or greater, must be in their second season competing at the nominating institution, must be on the roster for the full season and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or greater).
Cal Poly Humboldt now has six NCAA championships in school history. Women’s Rowing holds three titles (2012, 2014, 2023), Softball holds two titles (1999, 2008), and Cross Country has one title (1980).
The Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Rowing team returns to Arcata on Sunday at 3:00 PM. We encourage anyone who wishes to greet the National Champions to show up and celebrate this great accomplishment at the airport. For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Rowing, please visit humboldtathletics.com and follow us on all social media platforms.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
Robert Leroy Ellis Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility
On May 27, 2023, at about 3:45 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 3100 block of Patrick’s Point Drive in Trinidad for the report of a burglary in progress.
According to the homeowner, an unknown male suspect was captured on surveillance video burglarizing the residence while no one was home. Deputies arrived in the area and located items associated with the suspect identifying him as 46-year-old Robert Leroy Ellis, and items stolen from the home stashed nearby. Deputies recovered the stolen items and began searching the area for Ellis.
During their search, deputies located a stolen vehicle parked along the roadway nearby. This vehicle was later confirmed to be associated with Ellis. While continuing the investigation, a Sheriff’s deputy observed Ellis walking on the 100 block of Main Street. The deputy attempted to detain Ellis, who began to flee. Ellis was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit and struggle. During a search of Ellis and his belongings incident to arrest, deputies located the keys to the stolen vehicle and drug paraphernalia.
Ellis was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of burglary (PC 459/461(a)), grand theft (PC 487), possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)), false identification to a peace officer (PC 148.9(a)), resisting arrest (PC 148(a)(1)), possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)), possession of a stolen vehicle (PC 496d(a)) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)(2)), in addition to a warrant for violation of probation.
Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
California Democrats held their annual convention in Los Angeles on May 25-28, 2023. Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
There wasn’t an endorsement vote, or even a straw poll. But there was still plenty of politicking at the state Democratic Party convention over the weekend by the three Democrats seeking to move up to the U.S. Senate and succeed Dianne Feinstein.
U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee were out in full force — courting delegates in the exhibit hall and making their sales pitches at different caucus meetings, tailoring their messages as needed.
At the Women’s Caucus meeting on Friday, Schiff of Burbank made his appeal by reminding the crowd of his experience standing up to former President Trump, and said it was women who voted out that “orange-haired SOB” in 2020. His other key tactic: touting his endorsement from Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who was the keynote speaker of the weekend.
Porter of Irvine pitched her willingness to ‘’shake up Washington,” telling the Women’s Caucus that she has not taken any money from Big Oil, corporations or their political action committees.
Lee of Oakland told delegates she would bring a unique perspective to the Senate, where there are no Black women currently serving, and highlighted her record of trying to address inequality and her readiness to vote her convictions.
The courtship continued later into the evening, with Friday night gatherings hosted by Schiff and Lee. But their tones were starkly different.
Schiff hosted a comedy night, where he dropped f-bombs and joked about his relationship with his wife, Eve (“She said, ‘Adam, we’ve been married for 25 years. We’ve been having the same sex for 25 years. And I just think there’s got to be a better way.’”) and roasted Republican politicians, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Trump.
Meanwhile, Lee’s event was loud and buzzing, with state and local elected officials singing her praises. Porter greeted delegates Saturday morning while serving breakfast items at her exhibit hall booth.
Lee’s supporters were the loudest and most visible at the convention. But it’s unclear whether activists’ enthusiasm translates into Lee or Porter catching up to Schiff’s establishment support and fundraising. Schiff’s Pelosi endorsement stood out, since the convention was so Pelosi-centered — the theme “Don’t agonize, organize!” was a quote from her, and the official tote bags featured her iconic clap-back during Trump’s State of the Union speech.
A poll released last week shows Porter and Schiff ahead of Lee, but more voters undecided. But if two of them manage to prevail in March under California’s top-two primary system, it may be Republicans — not Democrats — who decide the winner in November 2024.
More than 2,500 delegates and officials gathered at the Los Angeles Convention Center for four days ending Sunday.
Here some other key takeaways:
Organizing against MAGA
Delegates united behind the convention theme: “Don’t agonize, organize!”
And there was plenty of agony after the 2022 election, in which some close losses in California congressional races helped tip the scales in favor of Republicans taking control of the U.S. House.
The party said it contacted 850,000 voters on Saturday afternoon — a priority for Democrats. A Public Policy Institute of California analysis last week found that turnout among Democrats, women and voters of color — all key Democratic constituencies — all dropped more from 2020 than among Republicans, men and white voters.
To energize the party base for the 2024 election, there’s little better than going after Democrats’ favorite bogeyman — Trump, the current frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination. So there were plenty of attacks from party leaders against Trump and his MAGA base as extremists against women’s rights and democracy.
And Newsom used his favorite foils and one of his favorite phrases: “This is the free state of California! Eat your heart out, Florida and Texas!”
All hail Pelosi
Delegates also paid homage to Pelosi of San Francisco, the first female speaker of the U.S. House, who lost her position after last year’s election to another Californian, Republican Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield.
The party put together a tribute video, and speakers heaped praise on her leadership. “She reinvented that position,” Newsom said. “She reinvented that office.”
Rep. Nancy Pelosi speaks before Eleni Kounalakis is sworn in as lieutenant governor at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria on Jan. 7, 2019 in Sacramento, Calif. Photo for CalMatters by Randy Pench
In her Saturday morning speech to delegates, she went after D.C. Republicans, but also mentioned how much she’s enjoying her time as speaker-emerita: “Do you know what ‘emerita’ means? It means happiness.”
The state party is the nation’s largest, claiming more than 10 million members. So it’s no surprise that the party faithful don’t agree on every issue — and some of that dissension showed up at the convention.
But California Republicans have their own issues, including a split between those supporting DeSantis for president and the grassroots activists who are still firmly behind Trump, as displayed at the state GOP convention in March.
###
CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
On April 20, 2023 Heaven received a most
precious angel, Emerald Grace Bartolotta (West). Emerald was born on
May 19, 2001 to Charles and Dinah Bartolotta and raised in
McKinleyville.
She attended Arcata Christian School, Arcata High School, and College
of the Redwoods. While attending ACS she was involved in many school
productions and loved to show off her acting skills and will
definitely be remembered for her red boots and red glasses. As an
athlete, Emerald was involved in youth soccer and softball and played
basketball and volleyball for ACS. Emerald was active in basketball,
track, and ran cross country for Arcata High School and was a part of
the AAI program at AHS, where it allowed her to further her artistic
abilities.
Emerald
grew up on the northern California coast where her appreciation, and
respect for such beautiful, natural surroundings inspired a love of
painting and photography. She won several awards for these gifts. She
enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time on the ocean with her Dad,
her partner in crime. Emerald and her mother were very close and
loved going to concerts, movies and on long hikes together. She was
always looking forward to her next visit to Arizona to see her auntie. Emerald loved visiting Florida to see her grandfather “Buddy”, sitting on the Florida beaches, driving his golf cart and beating him at chess. Her trip to Washington DC with Buddy was a highlight for Emerald.
She
was involved in several youth and college groups, and attended Telios
Christian Fellowship. Emerald worked at the Humboldt County Sheriff’s
office as a property technician and enjoyed her work very much. She
was collaborative, insightful, creative, a great team player and
proud to be a part of such an important process. Emerald had a large
role with certain policies in regards to the BWC, body worn camera, and helped develop procedures in the K-9 program. She had great
respect for all of her coworkers in the Sheriff’s Office.
Emerald
was a bright and shining light to her family and to everyone who knew
her. She loved each and every one in her own special way, and
possessed an immense joy for life. Emerald was a wonderful,
supportive, and genuine friend, who could be silly with contagious
laughter spilling over. Most importantly, she was compassionate and
tender when needed and focused on always helping to lift up others.
Emerald had an adventurous and loving spirit and will be remembered
for her beautiful smile which touched everyone she knew. Emerald
loved the Lord and His joy radiated from within her.
I
can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Philippians
4:13
Emerald
is preceded in death by her grandfather Richard McCoy and her great-aunt Rose Bartolotta. She is survived by her parents, Charles and
Dinah Bartolotta (McKinleyville); her aunt Harmony Lautzenheiser
(Show Low, Ariz.); her uncle and aunt Robert and Lori McCoy (Sekiu, Wash.); grandparents Dennis and Debbie Gibson (Bakersfield), Eileen
McCoy (Bakersfield), Charles Bartolotta (Kissimmee, Fla.); cousins
Molly and Ryan McCoy (Sekiu, Wash.) and Tyler Lautzenheiser (Show Low, Ariz.)
Family
and friends are invited to attend Emerald’s Celebration of Life on
Saturday, June 10, at 1 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church in Arcata.
In
lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Arcata Christian
School where a scholarship has been created in remembrance of her.
“Precious jewel, you glow, you shine,
reflecting all the good things in the world.” – Maya Angelou
###
The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Emerald Bartolotta’sloved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
