PREVIOUSLY: WELCOME, NONI AND TULE: Sequoia Park Zoo’s Orphaned Black Bears Emerge Into Their New Play Space

The Sequoia Park Zoo would like to add some adorableness to your Friday:

What’s the best part about mornings at the Zoo? ZOOMIES! Black bears Noni and Tule love to play chase after breakfast. This week, they started using another area of their habitat with large trees and have already become tree climbing masters. Chasing each other up the trees quickly became part of the zoomie sessions!

Bears use their front legs to grip the tree with sharp, curved claws, and they use their back legs to push themselves up the tree. They descend with this same technique (but in reverse order), using a move we like to call the Scoot and Slide! Check out this video to see the Scoot and Slide in action.

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Press release from the County Administrative Office:

Construction for the Humboldt County Courthouse Fourth St. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Modification Project will begin on Monday, Aug. 7.

This project is part of the county’s continued efforts to bring all county programs, services, and activities into compliance with the ADA.

Background

The Humboldt County Courthouse, located at 825 Fifth St. in Eureka, houses the Humboldt County Superior Court of California and many public-facing departments for the County of Humboldt including offices of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, County Administrative Office, Sheriff, District Attorney, County Counsel, Treasurer-Tax Collector, Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Clerk-Recorder, Department of Human Resources, Victim Witness and the Child Abuse Services Team (CAST).

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors’ chamber, where many public meetings, including Board of Supervisors and Humboldt County Planning Commission meetings, take place, is located inside the Humboldt County Courthouse. State offices are located in the courthouse including the Humboldt County Superior Court and California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.    

The Humboldt County Administrative Office’s ADA Compliance Team has actively planned to make ADA modification improvements to the Fourth St. entrance of the Humboldt County Courthouse. Upon completion of this project, community members will have improved access to the programs, services, and activities provided at this facility.

About the Project

This Humboldt County Courthouse Fourth St. Modification Project’s primary focus is to make ADA accessibility improvements to the Fourth St. entrance of the courthouse. Improvements will include the installation of new sliding doors, a parking lot with an ADA compliant van accessible parking stall, an accessible path linking the entrance to the public right of way, decorative security barriers, moisture barrier replacement, and new flooring and paint. The project will be completed in two phases, starting with the exterior of the building, and concluding with the interior. 

Exterior work for phase one will begin on Monday, Aug. 7. Due to the work required for this project, the Fourth St. courthouse entrances will be completely closed while exterior work takes place. The Fifth St. entrance of the courthouse will remain open, and services will continue to be provided to the public without interruptions. 

For the duration of phase one, a temporary unloading zone for vendors will be provided in the dirt parking lot on the north side of the jail. Vendors can access the courthouse by using the ramp directly in front of the jail and enter the building at the Fifth St. entrance.

The Fourth St. courthouse entrances are expected to reopen on Monday, Sept. 11.

Phase two of this project will consist of interior work at the Fourth St. courthouse entrances. Work for phase two is anticipated to begin on Friday, Sept. 8 and is expected to be completed on Monday, Oct. 9. During phase two, work will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends to avoid service interruptions.
The County of Humboldt is committed to ensuring that county programs, services and activities are in compliance with the ADA.

Temporary accommodations are available for programs and services located in the Humboldt County Courthouse to visitors who are unable to access the courthouse due to the closure of the Fourth St. entrances. For more information regarding temporary accommodations please contact the ADA Compliance Team at (707) 445-7266 or email ada@co.humboldt.ca.us. For questions regarding Humboldt County Superior Court, please email ADARequests@humboldtcourt.ca.gov or call (707) 269-1202.

Community members are encouraged to plan accordingly when visiting this facility. The County of Humboldt appreciates your patience while we work to make these critical improvements.
This project is aligned with the goals of the county’s Facilities Master Plan (FMP) by investing in county facilities and improving ADA accessibility. The FMP is a document prepared to guide investment in county facilities over a period of 10 to 20 years. Prior to the adoption of this plan, county facilities were inspected, and community members were able to share their feedback through surveys and outreach. This plan was approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2020 and supports community resiliency by establishing efficient facility operations that accommodate growth and improve accessibility. Additionally, this project is aligned with the county’s ADA Compliance Plan, adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2021.

The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equitable access to all county programs, services, and activities regardless of an individual’s ability. Please visit humboldtgov.org/ADA to learn more.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Matthew Dean Black Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility

On Aug. 2, 2023, at about 10:15 a.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol on State Route 299 near North Bank Road observed a motorcycle reported stolen out of the Eureka area traveling on the highway.

The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and upon further investigation, the driver, 40-year-old Matthew Dean Black, was taken into custody without incident. A female passenger of the motorcycle was detained and later released at the scene.

Black was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle (PC 496d(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.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Aug. 3, 2023, at about 1:56 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Garberville Town Square for the report of an assault.

Bogosian

Upon arrival, deputies contacted two men, one with moderate facial injuries. During their investigation, deputies learned that the two had been hanging out together at the Town Square when an argument occurred between them. At some point during this argument, one of the men, 50-year-old Paul Bogosian, reportedly began to physically assault the other, causing injury.

Bogosian was arrested without incident and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of assault likely to produce great bodily injury (PC 245(a)(4)) and battery (PC 242).

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.

Earl Eliot Eddy (75) of Blue Lake, CA, passed away on June 1, 2023 at the VA Memorial Hospital of Long Beach, CA from a terminal lung disease.

He was a very boisterous and fun-loving person, with a booming voice. Earl made a friend wherever he went. He was the social glue of the Eddy family, always keeping up with his siblings, cousins, and his many step-mothers. He loved to tell embellished stories of his life and the shenanigans of his children’s lives.

He led an active lifestyle. His favorite physical activity was golfing; he regularly played softball; and he attended spin cycling class multiple times per week. Additionally, he participated in armchair sports, watching his favorite movies and shows with a large bowl of buttery popcorn.

Earl enjoyed a 45-year career in construction management after obtaining his bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach. His career took him all over California until he opened his own company, Milestone Builders, in Anaheim, CA in 1986. Milestone Builders closed in 1993 due to a recession, and he and his family moved to Grand Rapids, MI. He lived there for 20 years and retired in 2014, then moved to Northern California to be near his children in Humboldt County. In retirement, he worked periodically as a Consultant/Owner’s Representative.

Earl was always involved in his community, serving on multiple committees and projects. He most recently served on the Blue Lake Planning Commission, the Blue Lake Community Emergency Response Team, the Blue Lake Old Crows, and the Humboldt Housing Project.

He is survived by his wife, Lynette Eddy; his children Matthew Eddy (Amy Aiello), Nicholas Eddy, and Aluka Eddy; and his grandchildren Raven Eddy, Savannah Aiello, Luella Eddy, Marlon Eddy, Anna Franklin, Preston Franklin, and Molly Franklin.

If you were acquainted with Earl, please join us for a small, casual Celebration of Life in his honor on Saturday August 19, 2023, from 2 – 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, at the Mad River Grange (110 Hatchery Road) in Blue Lake, CA. 

Andy Kitna was truly one of a kind.

We are so very glad he joined us, just wish he could have stayed longer.

Andy was born in Fortuna, California. He graduated from Fortuna High in 2005. He played soccer, basketball and Little League in Fortuna. He was never a great student but was smart, had a great memory and was so incredibly funny.

No one was more kind-hearted than Andy. He was a complicated young man but loved simple pleasures. He loved his family, movies, books and critters. An avid reader, most of his favorite authors were introduced to him by his father. They passed books back and forth his whole adult life. They also shared a love of the Lonesome Dove series, trading quotes often. He was also a fan of the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Bears. He enjoyed fishing at Ruth Lake with his buddies and bottom fishing off the Oregon Coast with his Dad.  Andy was a named member of the Grouse Mountain Hunting club and was a long-time blood donor.

Andy grew up with shelter pets. The two summers before he was old enough to drive he volunteered at Miranda’s Rescue. His beloved grandmother helped get him to his little job there, cleaning out cages and walking dogs. Once he bought his own home he had fur friends Murray and then Mabel. His first real job was working as the kennel attendant for the Fortuna Police Department.  

Andy then worked at the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department as a Correctional Deputy from 2006 until his death. He was known there for his kindness and calm demeanor. We thank the Sheriff’s Department for their nice press release and are strengthened by all the kind comments that followed. He was loved and respected by so many more people than he realized.

Andy married the love of his life, Samantha, in 2016.  Even though the marriage didn’t last, we are so grateful for the joy that relationship brought to his life.

Andy suffered from complications of Type I Diabetes and depression but it was an undiagnosed intestinal bleed that took his life. Thank you to Dr. Nathan Brinckhaus for trying to get Andy to follow through with testing that might have detected it.

Andy Kitna is survived by parents Kris and Edna and sister Emily. He also leaves behind Aunt Betty Rowell and cousins Kelli and Kurt in Santa Rosa. He is predeceased by his grandparents Jim and Trudy Kitna, grandmother Lillian Rowell, and uncles Marvin and Roger Rowell.

We’d like to thank the law enforcement community for all the kindness and offers.

We are a little family in shreds so services will be private.  

UVA UVAM VIVENDO VARIA FIT Safe journey Sonny Boy.

PREVIOUSLY: GOING DOWN: Eureka Stabbing

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Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On August 2, 2023, at about 6:37 p.m., Officers with the Eureka Police Department responded to the 100 block of W Sonoma Street in response to a 911 call of a physical altercation between an adult female and an adult male friend of her roommate.

Upon arrival, officers located the female and male and determined both had sustained wounds consistent with stab wounds.

Humboldt Bay Fire and City Ambulance arrived and transported both to a local hospital, where the female was ultimately pronounced deceased. The male was treated at the hospital for his injuries and released.

The exact details of the incident remain under investigation by the Eureka Police Department Criminal Investigation Unit. The female has been identified; however, her identity will not be released at this time, pending notification of next of kin.

This is a complex and active investigation and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Nunez at rnunez@eurekaca.gov or (707) 441-4109.

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