Donald Nicholson
Miller, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 25, 2023, in the
home he loved in Fortuna. He was born on September 25, 1942, in
Pasadena to Donald Furlong and Shirley Russell Miller.
His father worked
for General Motors and they moved frequently until he became the
owner of Pioneer Dodge dealership in San Jose, and they settled in
the Bay Area, where Don lived for many years.
Don loved nature,
cars and gardening. He brought snakes home at the age of five. One of
the snakes got away and was found in a neighbor’s yard, where a
young boy was playing with it. He was eight years old when he got his
first bird of prey, a sparrowhawk, that he took from a nest when he
was sure the bird was old enough to survive out of the nest. He named
the bird, Michael. Later he got Josephine, a female sparrowhawk,
which he gave to his brother, David. At the age of 13 he found a
screech owl nest in the hollow of a tree. He took one of the baby
owls and named it Sammy. Sammy would sit on Don’s shoulder when he
rode his bike, then Sammy would fly up around Don’s head and land
back on his shoulder. In the early 1960s he found an “eyas” or
“eaglet” golden eagle which he took out of the nest. He took the
bird home and named her “Illegal the eagle.” In 1966 “Illegal”
made headlines in the San Mateo Times when she flew over to a
neighbor’s home and was using her talons to pull up the roofing. He
became a master falconer and hunted with birds of prey, including
eagles, falcons, and hawks for many years. He loved all animals,
especially cats, and there was always at least one in his home. One
cat, who he named Butch, would go for walks with him and the neighbor
kids would ask if Butch could come out and play.
Don and his dad
rebuilt a 1930 Model A Ford, which he drove through his high school
years. He purchased a 1957 Ford T-bird in 1963 and has been restoring
a 1959 Porsche Cabriolet for many years.
His daughter says her dad could do pretty much
anything and everything! From building a beautiful redwood deck with
a hot tub, to laying a large all brick patio, a greenhouse out of
scrap old windows, to a hawk house! He refinished the cabinets and
floors and painted the exterior of his home in Fortuna. He loved
gardening, plants and drinking his coffee. Every morning he would sit
in a chair on his front porch, looking out at the beautiful trees,
begonias, and other flowers he had planted that lined the brick
walkway up to his front porch.
He attended San
Jose State College where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity.
During his time at SJSC, he was Master of Ceremonies at numerous
events including the annual Sparta Sings, Under the Spell of Music.
He graduated with a master’s degree in business.
As a 1st
Lieutenant in the Army, he served in Viet Nam for two years 1969-1970
when he was released from the army to teach at San Jose State
College. His professional career included working for Levi-Strauss
and Westinghouse.
His interest in
art and painting began at an early age and continued until his death.
Don experimented with numerous mediums and finally chose acrylic
because it dried quickly and he could get brilliant colors. He
referred to his style as “ultra-realism” because he wanted his
paintings to look like photographs. After retiring he and his wife,
Sue, moved to Fortuna and they dedicated full-time to his art,
traveling to shows from the North Coast to the East Coast and into
Canada. He won numerous awards for his wildlife art including Alaska
and California Ducks Unlimited Stamps, Washington State Duck Stamps,
and Canada Conservation Stamps. Because he was a gifted artist, his
legacy will live on through his art.
He was preceded
in death by his parents, his first wife, Betty, and his son Alex. He
is survived by his wife, Sue Ann, his daughter Christine Gomez,
grandchildren Jacob and Chloe, and stepdaughters Tamara Orlando,
Teresa Foreman, and Tara Veronda (Tim) and grandchildren Nate,
Ashley, Amanda, Jimmy, Michael, and Ella, his brother Dave (Billie
Kay), Sister Jude Melrose (Phil), and Sister Susie Miller.
A celebration of
life will be held on Saturday, March 11, from 1-4 pm, at 1444 Ross
Hill Road, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building.
Lunch will be served. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to
the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Don Miller’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Carroll
Richard Johnson passed away unexpectedly on January 27, 2023.
Carroll, the oldest of three children, was born on August 17, 1953,
to Shirley Irene Swall and Richard Leonard Johnson. Carroll grew up
in Fortuna. At the age of nine, Carroll started working in the fishing
industry, and spent summers and weekends fishing on his dad’s
commercial boat.
In
1973, at the age of 20, he married his high school sweetheart, Lynne
Dorris, and together they bought their first fishing vessel, the
Helen Marie. Later, they were partners with a friend in owning and
operating the Ocean Fresh Fish market in Fortuna and had three
daughters together. Lynne and Carroll eventually divorced but
continued to be a united front in raising their daughters.
Carroll
fished commercially for salmon,
tuna, and
crab with
the Helen Marie, Lettie M, and Belle J II, and also trawled with the
Clara G, High Sea, and Stormbringer. His most recent fishing vessel
was the Rian Faith, which he fished while living his “retired”
life. Carroll could never stay on land too long before he longed to
be back on the ocean. He once said “I love the freedom and beauty
of this coast. I like to drift with the nets when the wind blows.”
Carroll
had a big presence. He had an enthusiasm for life and was always up
for an adventure. He made many friends along the way and everyone he
met seemed to have a favorite “Carroll story”. Anyone who truly
knew Carroll knew that he was so much more than his struggles, he had
a big heart and gave generously to others his entire life, even if it
was to his detriment. Carroll enjoyed many hobbies such as golf,
bowling, sport fishing, listening to music, traveling, and playing
cards with friends and family. He enjoyed jokes and had many original
sayings for which he will be remembered. He attended church
throughout his life and was a true believer in Christ.
Carroll’s
daughters and grandkids were his world. He took his children on grand
adventures with friends often in tow. Carroll loved to spend time
with his grandkids. He enjoyed watching them play sports, watching
movies, going to the zoo, and teaching them how to fish.
Carroll
is survived by his former wife, Lynne McLaughlin, and their children,
Robin (husband Truman) Renner, Kristen Prince, & Kelli (husband
Michael) Flanagan. His memory lives on with his grandchildren Jaron,
Rilynn, Hudson, Henry, Briggs, and Camden; his father Richard
Johnson; his sister Cindy (Calvin) Fisher, and his brother Bruce
(Joyce) Johnson; as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews; many close
friends, including Brad and Ian, to whom he loved passing down his
fishing knowledge and getting the latest “As The Dock Turns”
scoop on their daily calls. Carroll was preceded in death by his
beloved mother Shirley Maxon and stepdad Lee Maxon.
A
celebration
of life
will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023,
between 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Samoa
Women’s Club, 115 Rideout Ave., Samoa. Friends and family are
invited to come and share their favorite stories and memories.
Beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
In
lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that a donation be made in
Carroll’s name to the scholarship fund of the Humboldt Fisherman
Wives’ Association. The scholarships are available to children and
grandchildren of commercial fisherman for post-secondary education.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Carroll Johnson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
HUMBOLDT TODAY: Hay away! Some cold local cows receive a special meal, Governor Newsom and Walgreens are at odds, plus the latest on our winter weather slog and other stories in today’s newscast with John Kennedy O’Connor.
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors today appointed Sarah West, economic development coordinator for the City of Eureka, to an at-large position on the county’s Planning Commission.
Sarah West | Contributed
“I’m a local planning nerd at heart and worked in the field for several years,” West said during Tuesday’s meeting. “Humboldt is my home. I believe in serving my community, commitment to equity, objectivity and finding solutions that work for everyone. … I’m well versed in the processes of planning from both sides of the dais and as a planning commissioner, it would be an honor to serve all of Humboldt.”
The board also considered applications from Jerome Qiriazi, a transit planner with the Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA), and two former commissioners: Melanie McCavour whose term expired at the end of January, and Mike Newman, who served as former Fourth District Supervisor Virginia Bass’ appointment to the commission for several years.
During deliberations, Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo underscored the need for an increased focus on economic development as well as energy planning and research on the Planning Commission, something “the two new applicants bring in spades,” she said.
“As we consider [the] implementation of our Climate Action Plan and a number of energy measures from the state, I know that Jerome Qiriazi brings an extensive background with energy planning and research, as well as transit planning,” Arroyo said. “[Sarah] West also has that background with economic development, as well as serving on LAFCO [Humboldt Local Agency Formation Commission] and working with a lot of our little districts, which, I think, is a very important skill to bring forward [to the commission].”
Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell indicated her support for McCavour and Newman, noting the pair have provided “proven assets to the Planning Commission” over the years. Bushnell also acknowledged previous issues with commissioners having to recuse themselves from certain discussions due to a conflict of interest, noting that “participation is a very key and important part to the commission.”
A little over a year ago, McCavour almost lost her seat as an at-large commissioner due to a conflict of interest after she accepted a job as the tribal historic preservation officer (THPO) for the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria. Rather than remove McCavour from the commission, the Board of Supervisors requested that she recuse herself from considering any and all projects for which she would be serving at the Rancheria’s THPO.
First District Supervisor Rex Bohn echoed Bushnell’s concern about frequent recusals, especially from employees of local governments and/or agencies that work closely with the county, such as the City of Eureka and the HTA. Bohn expressed his support Bass’ previous appointee.
“I appreciate [Newman]’s ability to read everything, come prepared and … he’s probably the most calming force on the Planning Commission there is,” Bohn said. “That’s where I’m going to be leaning. I’ll be right up front. I know I’ll be in the minority but I’m getting used to that.”
Arroyo asked Interim County Counsel Scott Miles if he could further explain the recusal process. “In what cases would people need to recuse themselves from items or would they not be able to participate in certain items given [their] employment?”
“They would have to recuse themselves in situations in which there was a conflict of interest,” Miles said. “The existence of a conflict of interest would be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the situation and how it interacted with the nature of work that the particular planning commissioner did.”
After a bit more discussion, Bohn made a motion to appoint Newman to the at-large vacancy on the Planning Commission. Madrone interjected, noting that the board would “end up with a split vote no matter what” and suggested the use of a ranked-choice voting system to avoid conflict between board members.
“The person with the number one choice would get three points, number two choice [gets] two points and your third choice would get one point,” Madrone explained. “Then the person with the most votes would be the one that would logically be brought forward by this board to be appointed. Again, what I’m trying to do is avoid having a split vote on the board.”
Seems simple enough, right?
Each member made their selections on paper and handed them over to County Administrative Officer Elishia Hayes to tally. On her first attempt, Hayes misunderstood Madrone’s ranking method. On her second try, McCavour wound up with 17 points, which would be impossible given the most points a single applicant could get under the impromptu ranked-choice system would be 15. On the third attempt, Qiriazi was determined to have the most points. Bohn made a motion to appoint Qiriazi, which was seconded by Bushnell.
Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson noted that “this particular methodology isn’t very scientific.” A somewhat frazzled Madrone apologized for the chaotic process and suggested the board return to the item after adjourning for a closed session item, which the board was already late for. Bohn agreed to pull his motion.
Following closed session, Madrone announced that West had won the “straw pull vote” with 10 points. Qiriazi followed with nine points, Newman with six points and McCavour with five points. Madrone then asked his fellow board members to choose between the two top choices – Qiriazi and West. Wilson selected Qirizari, while the rest of the board voted for West.
The board congratulated West on the appointment and Madrone, once again, apologized for the unintended chaos.
Plans for the North McKay Ranch Subdivision include up to 320 residential units, including up to 172 multi-family units, along with 22,000 square feet of commercial development on a total of about 81 acres. | Image via County of Humboldt.
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The Board of Supervisors today approved a development agreement between the county and Kramer Properties, Inc., for the North McKay Ranch Subdivision, a planned 81-acre mixed-use development that could include up to 320 residential units and 22,000 square feet of commercial space in Cutten.
Local developer Kurt Kramer, the man behind Kramer Properties, attended the hearing remotely, and while he thanked county staff for their help getting the project to this point, he said the gamut of regulatory obstacles he’s had to face leaves the future of this development uncertain.
Supervisors had given the project a conditional green light last March but only after adding a condition whereby the developer could choose to make improvements to pedestrian and bicycle connectivity rather than installing a pair of new traffic signals. The details of those improvements have yet to be hashed out.
After last year’s hearing, however, the county was contacted by a coalition of six nonprofit environmental groups that took issue with findings in the project’s Final Environmental Impact Report. In a letter, the six organizations — EPIC, Humboldt Baykeeper, CRTP, Northcoast Environmental Center, 350 Humboldt and Earthjustice — called for the development to be fully electrified, with no gas hookups or wood stoves, as a means of lowering its greenhouse gas emissions.
Kramer had objected to that request during last year’s hearing, saying it would render the project financially infeasible, but after subsequent negotiations between the various parties he wound up agreeing to make the project hookups all-electric.
First District Supervisor Rex Bohn said it will likely be six to 10 years before the property can get adequate electricity to begin construction. Planning Director John Ford said he’s not sure if it will take that long, though he acknowledged that some off-site utility improvements must be made. The county may be able to use tax-generated housing funds to help finance those improvements, Ford said.
During the public comment period, Colin Fiske, executive director of CRTP (the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities), said that while he appreciates the changes made to the project, he and others still have concerns about the environmental documentation.
Fiske called for more transportation-related mitigations, including requiring the developer to provide bus passes to future residents of multi-family units and reducing the number of parking spaces.
Bohn speculated that the project may never get built with private financing alone, saying Kramer may have to collaborate with public agencies to “push it through.” Noting that the Lundbar Hills development approved nearly 50 years ago has yet to be fully built as planned, Bohn said, “I just want people to know that you’re not going to see 300 units. This is a 30-year build-out, and I don’t think we’re gonna see more than 10 to 12 units a year.”
Bohn manages the 11-acre Redwood Fields recreation facility that sits in the center of this development like the hole in a donut, though he doesn’t stand to gain financially from the project. He said he fully supports it, as he has since it was first proposed nearly three decades ago.
Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson said he appreciated Fiske’s comments but believes “the needle has been moved pretty significantly” toward green alternatives already, with room for further negotiations down the line.
Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo thanked Kramer and county staff for their work bringing the project this far, and then she invited Kramer to share his thoughts. Speaking via Zoom, he obliged.
“You know,” he said, “as a developer in this community for the last 40 years, I just continue to be amazed at the obstacles and hurdles that are put in front of development.”
He said that he could have built the project as put forward last year, but “now, with the added requirement of all-electric [hookups], it’s like, I don’t know how this gets done.”
Kramer said he’s still trying to get the Humboldt Community Services District to bring the project site into its service boundaries, and he’ll have to figure out how to avoid negatively impacting traffic in the Cutten area. He’s also worried about PG&E’s ability to provide the necessary power, given the recent revelation that the utility might be unable to meet demand in Southern Humboldt.
“How much risk is involved in this project? I would argue a ton,” Kramer said. “If I had to do it all over again, would I do it? Not a chance.”
He said that the development community has been effectively chased out of Humboldt County, leaving no one capable of building the housing that’s allegedly so desperately needed.
“And I think we need it, but we continually get in the way of it and we don’t consult with the development community,” he said. “We just start laying out these rules without really fully understanding the impacts.”
The North McKay Ranch project has a 20-year development window, and Kramer said it will likely take “every bit” of that to see it finished given the regulatory obstacles from the county and particularly the state, which recently implemented new building energy efficiency standards.
“You won’t see a shovel turned out there for years,” Kramer said.
Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone suggested that future developments of this kind may require private-public partnerships.
The vote to approve the development agreement and associated resolutions and ordinances was unanimous.
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Interactive map of the project site (outlined in red):
Following community engagement and feedback stemming from last night’s town hall meeting in Ferndale, Caltrans plans to close Fernbridge on Route 211 in Humboldt County twice this month. The bridge between U.S. 101 and Ferndale will be closed overnight from 10 p.m. on March 10 to 8 a.m. on March 11. Then it will be closed from 10 p.m. on March 17 until 5 a.m. on March 20.
Motorists are encouraged to use an alternate route during these time frames.
The first 10-hour closure will allow crews to replace and move some bridge falsework in order to facilitate further repairs. This closure will move forward rain or shine.
The second 55-hour longer closure will allow crews to partially replace the bridge’s deck, repair abutments, repair columns, and conduct paving. This closure is weather-dependent therefore its timing is subject to change.
Enacting these closures will shorten the timeframe that one-way traffic control will be in effect in the area by at least a month. Two-way traffic should resume on the bridge following the second closure.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On March 5, 2023, at about 10:12 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a probation search at a residence on the 500 block of Warren Creek Road, in the county’s jurisdiction of Arcata.
Keene.
Deputies contacted and detained probationer Rocky Karl Keene, age 40, and Tony Jean Correll, age 37. During a search of the residence, deputies located two stolen firearms, ammunition, approximately 3.9 ounces of methamphetamine, over 31 grams of suspected fentanyl in powder form, approximately 5.5 grams of suspected fentanyl in pill form, over 5.7 grams of hallucinogenic mushroom capsules, over 21 grams of various pills, items consistent with the sale of controlled substances and a large amount of cash.
Correll.
Keene was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of convicted felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)), person prohibited in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)), possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)), possession of a controlled substance (HS 11378), possession of a controlled substance for sales (HS 11351), possession of a controlled substance while armed (HS 11370.1(a)), violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)) and violation of Post Release Community Supervision (PC 1203.2(a)(4)).
Correll was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)), possession of a controlled substance (HS 11378), possession of a controlled substance for sales (HS 11351) and possession of a controlled substance while armed (HS 11370.1(a)).
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.
