Brian Harper died unexpectedly, with loved ones at his side, on Friday, April 28, 2023. Brian was born on August 25, 1957 to James and Eileen Harper. His childhood was spent in Allenhurst, New Jersey with his five siblings. After graduating from Ocean Township High School, Brian bought a one way ticket to California. He never looked back! He spent time with his brother Kevin in Santa Cruz, and also with his brother Jim in Florida. After his stint in Florida he made a decision to get back to California and ended up in the Kettenpom area, where he married Lynne Stephens and his beloved son Zuma was born. Brian and Zuma were devoted to one another, working together at Brian’s business and living on adjacent properties. When Brian was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, Zuma made his Dad’s comfort and care his highest priority.

Brian owned and managed Specialized Woodworks, which he established on the premises of Dazey’s Supply in 1986. His growing business brought him to larger quarters in Redway. A highly skilled artisan, Brian created specialty cabinetry and custom woodwork pieces, and installed kitchens as well as commercial and domestic infrastructure. Many homes and businesses in our area display the results of his design and skill. Brian used his business as a nexus for community development, generously donating to many community and nonprofit events and productions. He got along very well with our community’s younger generations, and made himself and his workshop available for youth work experience programs, involving South Fork High School students who were interested in woodworking, guiding them toward good work habits, and sharing his skills as a fine craftsman.

Brian was dedicated to the idea of personal participation in building our community. He was a longtime volunteer at People Productions and the Mateel Community Center’s Reggae on the River, working with Roger Safier, who became one of his close friends. Brian was great friends with David Thomas and Karyn Lee Thomas and the late Harold Mendes, and Harold brought Brian into Rotary. Brian became President and service co-chair of the local Rotary in 2013-14. He was proud of his Paul Harris Plus-One status in the organization, which is awarded for philanthropic and service contributions. Brian’s longtime dear friend Peter Connolly brought him into the Redway Volunteer Fire Department, where he was trained by Ernie Branscomb. Brian’s natural leadership abilities brought him to the position of Assistant Chief, a position he held until his retirement in 2022. Brian gave many years of service as a volunteer and board member at Heart of the Redwoods Community Hospice. He was one of the famous Flaming Chefs of our hospice’s Taste of the Cove, Barbeque and Brew and other events. He was always one of the earliest to arrive, setting up tent pavilions and tables, starting the barbeques and cooking the food, and was always one of the last to leave after taking down and stowing all the equipment. He hosted and participated in Thursday Night Poker with a multi-generational group of friends, a regular gathering that took place for decades.

Brian’s dear friend and companion Randalyn Perkins introduced him to the adventures of international travel, and they enjoyed many trips in the company of close friends, including Karyn Lee Thomas and David Thomas, Brian and Robin Elie, Peter and Debby Connolly, and others, visiting Argentina, Brazil, France, Greece, Italy and South Africa with them. In their company, he learned to appreciate fine wines and the best quality liquors, which he enjoyed for the rest of his life. He loved his visits to Mexico and returned to that culture many times over the years.

Brian was the center of a circle of companions, many of whom developed their own connections through their relationship with him. A person of great charm and charisma, Brian loved to laugh and was famous among his friends for his dry wit. His smile could light up a room. He had a gift for making people feel valued and recognized. No matter where Brian was on any day, whether it was Specialized Woodworks, Signature Coffee, or his favorite restaurant, the Lost Frenchman, people would stop by for a chat.

Brian is survived by his beloved son Zuma, and his siblings Kevin, Doug, Joann and John and their families. He was a favorite with his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his oldest brother Big Jim and his parents. Brian’s extended family includes Kathleen, Josh, Laura and Selena Sweet; Stephen Dazey; his dear friends Keith Gifford and his wife Kazumi and their daughter Namiko; Peter, Debby and the Connolly family; David Thomas and Karyn Lee Thomas; Roger Safier; Randalyn, Jake and Aaron Perkins; Brian and Robin Elie; his long time neighbors in the Kettenpom area and Redway, and throughout Southern Humboldt and beyond, more friends than can be named. We will miss him for the rest of our lives.

A public memorial and celebration of the life of our cherished friend and community member will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 at a location near Garberville. Light fare, non-alcoholic beverages and mixers will be provided; you are invited to bring your own alcoholic beverage to share. Brian never said “no” to dessert, and guests are invited to bring a potluck dessert to honor that sweet tooth. Volunteers to help with different parts of the memorial will be gratefully welcomed. Please text (707) 923-2890 to RSVP, let us know the number of attendees in your party, whether you can join a crew, and to receive directions.

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Edmond “Tooter” Ray Thompson
June 15, 1951 - April 17, 2023

On April 17, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. we had to bid farewell to our loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend Edmond Ray Thompson (better Known as “Tooter”). Tooter passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka.

Tooter was born on June 15, 1951 in Ouachita, Louisiana and he moved to McKinleyville at the age of 3 with his mother and four siblings. He spent most of his childhood hunting, fishing, skating and riding bikes with friends. In 1970 at around age 19 he began working for Simpson Timber Company pulling green chain until eventually operating a forklift; which remained his position until he retired at the age of 62 in June of 2013.

Through a majority of his adult life Tooter spent his time away from work hanging at the local bars acting somewhat rowdy with his brothers and pals brawling with any and all who came knocking for trouble. He also enjoyed fishing the ocean very much for halibut, lingcod, rockfish, salmon, etc… pretty much if you can name it he liked to catch it. He would even make a few trips to Alaska to chase the halibut and salmon of the last frontier. Tooter was also very passionate about hunting each season: stomping through the woods or driving through the hills with his son, nephews, and pal Danny searching for that next buck to fill the freezer. In his later years these drives would come to be his favorite pastime and he loved every minute he spent off the grid just searching for wildlife.

In 1979 Tooters daughter Toni was born. Then in 1980 he married the love of his life, his wife Tina, and his son Jared was born in 1989. Soon after the birth of his son his rowdy ways mellowed and he focused on spending time with family and teaching his son those life lessons that his son still uses to this day.

Tooter was preceded in death by his mother Adele, sister Olafey, and four brothers Hilton, Connie, Morris, and Donald. He is survived in death his brother Wayne, his three sisters Wander, Gloria, and Imagene, his wife Tina, son Jared, Daughter Toni, Granddaughters Meghan, Nicole, and Krista, and multiple nephews nieces in laws and many, many friend around the county and afar. If you knew Tooter his friends were his family as well.

There will be a small celebration of life potluck at the Moose Lodge in McKinleyville on June 10, 2023 from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in the picnic area in the back. All are welcome so come pay your respects, bid your farewell, and have a good time remembering Tooter for the wonderful person he truly was.

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Fred A. Zak was born in Eureka on June 12, 1949. He passed away in Eureka on May 11.

He grew up in Eureka, in the neighborhood around 16th and S streets with lifelong friends Jeff Nissen and Dave Ball, enjoying all kinds of sports, especially home run derby whiffle ball, duck hunting along with a few more mischievous activities. He attended Franklin Elementary, Eureka Junior and Senior High Schools, graduating in 1968.

Fred excelled in football and track in high school, where he is remembered for his speed and sure hands as a wide receiver and running the hurdles in track. He went on to play football at CR. He then attended Humboldt, studying environmental health.

During this period of his life, he took time off from studies to work in Lake Tahoe and to move to Green Bay, Wisconsin to experience the cold winters, which he loved, and his favorite team, the Packers. After a couple of years, he returned to the west coast, settling in Portland where he completed an environmental health and safety degree. This led to a job as a health and safety inspector at the Hanford Nuclear Site in Richland, Wash. This was the site of the first full scale plutonium production reactor in the world, and the source of the plutonium used in the first atomic bomb. Fred was involved in the largest environmental cleanup ever undertaken, which is still in progress.

After 10 years of exposure to the hazards at Hanford, Fred moved on to Monroe, Wash. for a job as a safety inspector at the Monroe Correctional Complex, one of the largest prisons in Washington. Fred worked there until he retired in 2017, at which time he returned to Eureka, purchasing his childhood home, where he lived the rest of his life.

Fred never married. He leaves behind a niece, April Hicks and her husband Steve in Boise, Idaho and several lifelong friends, including Jeff Nissen, Larry Matson and Dane Hart, who cared for him in his struggles with cancer over the last couple of years. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Geri and Tony Zak, his sister Debbie and his stepbrothers, Joe and Jim.

Fred will be remembered as a loyal friend who would do anything for you and a stubborn, determined nature that allowed him to stick to his guns in all situations. You can almost imagine the stories this will lead to when friends gather to celebrate his life over a couple of beers.

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… for news!

ADDITIONAL READING:

• Hey, Where Did Our Bird E-Scooters Go? Struggling Company Has Flown From Eureka, Fortuna
• Murray Road 76 Station Held Up at Gunpoint Just After Midnight, Sheriff’s Office Says; Deputies Seeking Heavyset Male Captured on Security Cam
• BREAKING: Mad River Hospital Announces That It’s Looking to Sell to SoCal-Based Hospital Company
• Swain Slough Bridge Closure
• Del Norte Supes to Consider Agreement With Klamath River Renewal Corporation; Sediment Following Dam Removal Still A Concern
• BEAR CUBS: The Zoo Now Has Two New, ‘Non-Releasable’ Bear Cubs Gracing the New Bear Habitat

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It must have been the springtime chirping of so many real birds that made us finally notice the absence of their two-wheeled namesake — the fleet of Bird electric scooters that migrated into Fortuna in late 2021 and into Eureka a few months later. 

For a while there, Outpost employees and other residents could be seen zipping around Old Town on the app-activated devices, twisting the handlebar accelerator to reach the scooters’ max speed of 15 miles per hour on our daily commutes — or maybe just a joyride. 

The scooters were scattered all over the sidewalks … until they weren’t. We emailed the company to ask what happened, and in response we got a prepared statement confirming that they’ve flown the coop.

“Unfortunately, we do not see an immediate path to supporting our near-term requirements for building an enduring business in Eureka,” Bird Government Partnerships Manager Garrett Gronowski says in the statement. “As a result, we will be removing our operations in the community.”

Same applies in Fortuna, he said.

The Santa Monica-based “shared micromobility company” experienced a meteoric rise, reaching a billion-dollar “unicorn” valuation within a year of launching, and eventually partnering with more than 300 cities worldwide. When Bird scooters arrived in Fortuna mid-pandemic, the company billed its devices as “a naturally socially distanced way to get around.”

In a presentation to the Eureka City Council last April a Bird rep said, “Our mission is to improve the quality of life in cities by reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality and providing affordable and reliable alternative transportation options.”

Alas, like many Silicon Valley phenomenons before it, the company’s fortunes reversed nearly as quickly. In 2022, after admitting that it had overstated revenue for more than two years, Bird laid off nearly a quarter of its employees as it faced the prospect of bankruptcy, or even going out of business altogether. 

In recent months Bird has pulled its scooters out of numerous cities, including San Francisco. 

Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery said he saw the writing on the wall months ago, but he’s nonetheless disappointed about the loss of an eco-friendly transportation option for city residents. A bike-sharing company that briefly partnered with the city has also gone away.

“We need to find a vendor that’s going to be good for everybody,” Slattery said, referring to neighboring communities and their residents … . “We need to find a solution for the whole region so you can utilize the [Bay Trail] and have that consistency.

Slattery said city staff will continue to work with the City of Arcata and the County of Humboldt in an effort to develop more clean transportation options.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On May 23, 2023, at about 12:28 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a business on the 1000 block of Murray Road in McKinleyville for the report of an armed robbery.

According to an employee of the business, an unknown male suspect reportedly entered the business and brandished a firearm at the employee, demanding cash. The suspect then fled the store on foot.

The suspect is described as a heavyset male, approximately 5’8” to 5’10” tall, last seen wearing a blue hooded Carhart jacket, dark pants and a red bandana over his face.

This case is still under investigation. Anyone with information about this case or the identity and whereabouts of the suspect 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, reference case number 202302378.

Press release from the Sequoia Park Zoo:

In partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC), the Sequoia Park Zoo is excited to announce that two non-releasable bear cubs, currently known as “Oak” and “Tule”, have officially moved into the Zoo’s new Bear and Coyote habitat. The cubs will not be visible to guests - but might be heard playing behind-the-scenes in the care quarters - while they become acclimated to their new home. Animal care staff will monitor the health and comfort of the cubs over the next month, a standard practice among zoos, before introducing them to visitors. Guests can expect to start seeing the cubs in late June.

Oak and Tule were rescued by Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care in Spring 2022 and have grown up and bonded together during their year-long rehabilitation. Oak weighed 6.5 lbs when she was found orphaned in Oak Run, California, in early May 2022. Unfortunately, Oak never displayed the appropriate fear response to humans, despite the best efforts of her care team to prepare her for life in the wild. 

Tule (pronounced Too-Lee) was only weeks old when he was found in April 2022 on the Tule River Nation Reservation. The local community spent several days searching for his mother but were unable to locate her, and the Tule River Tribal Police Department transported him to LTWC for rehabilitation. Tule’s initial exam revealed that he weighed only 3.7 lbs and had a variety of health issues. Veterinary staff consulted with specialists from around the world about his unique case. Although most of his health issues are resolved, tests and medical exams determined that Tule’s coat will not regrow, which is essential for him to survive in the wild. Due to their conditions, CDFW determined that both cubs were non-releasable.

Oak and Tule were the first orphaned bear cubs admitted to LTWC in the Spring 2022 season. On the LTWC webcam, they have often been seen wrestling, chasing, and socializing with each other. We thank Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care for their hard work and dedication to Oak and Tule, and we are deeply grateful to Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria for their generous support of the new habitat. The Sequoia Park Zoo looks forward to fostering Oak and Tule’s continued friendship and growth and sharing their stories with our guests.

Every year, the state of California must find homes for a small population of animals that are deemed non-releasable. Facilities like the Sequoia Park Zoo play an important role in providing permanent homes for non-releasable animals and creating educational opportunities to learn about conserving and living with wildlife.

Oak and Tule goofing around in their former home at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.