Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Jan. 10, 2023, at about 11:17 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the Willow Creek area conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by two people.

When deputies contacted the occupants, the passenger, later identified as 26-year-old Matthew Dewayne Clyde Richards, provided deputies with a false name. During their investigation, deputies found Richards to be in possession of over 3 grams of suspected fentanyl and drug paraphernalia. Richards was also found to have an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest.

Richards was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a narcotic controlled substance (HS 11350(a)), possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364) and false identification to a peace officer (PC 148.9(a)), in addition to warrant charges of felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1))

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.

PREVIOUSLY:

• “Scanner Traffic Indicates,” Jan. 10.

###

A 19-year-old man was arrested last night after allegedly breaking into the Big 5 Sporting Goods store on Broadway and attempting to steal a shotgun and ammunition.

Police arrived as the man — Kaleb Anton Tufts — was leaving the store and the suspect did not comply with officers’ instructions, according to Eureka Police Department spokesperson Brittany Powell. He was eventually taken into custody by force.

Powell says police were notified when employees who were closing the store at about 10 p.m. heard windows being shattered and a man entering.

Police later determined that Tufts had attempted to steal a different shotgun from the same store earlier in the day.

Environmentalists slammed Gov. Gavin Newsom for slashing billions of dollars from initiatives that the governor has repeatedly called top priorities: efforts to combat climate change and transition to zero-emission vehicles.

Facing a projected $22.5 billion deficit, Newsom today proposed to eliminate $6 billion in climate spending in his 2023-24 budget. The governor helped push a five-year $54 billion climate package approved by the Legislature during last year’s session, but he now proposes to cut it to $48 billion.

More than half of those proposed cuts – $3.3 billion – come from the state’s clean transportation initiatives. Newsom hopes to offset those reductions with federal funds and perhaps a new bond reserve, but the move comes just five months after the state approved a historic mandate for electrifying cars.

Now climate advocates are questioning whether the state will be able to fund its ambitious electrification efforts and ensure California transitions to clean cars as it faces an economic downturn.

“We recognize the financial situation, but this is exactly what we’ve been nervous about,” said Mike Young, political and organizing director at California Environmental Voters, an advocacy group. “We actually need to be investing and defending more of our climate investments and really pushing for that. We can’t get out of our situation if we’re going backwards.”

Money for zero-emission vehicle incentive programs, such as rebates for car buyers, and charging infrastructure would be cut by $2.5 billion. About $1.4 billion of that amount would be shifted to the state’s fund for its cap-and-trade program, a market that is paid into by fossil fuel companies. That leaves a net decrease of $1.1 billion.

“We’re committing a $48 billion package, which is just an unprecedented investment in this space.”
— Gov. Gavin Newsom

At a press conference today, Newsom said he is not concerned that the $1.1 billion cut would keep the state from meeting its electrification goals. He said climate and transportation was cut “because of the magnitude” of the investment those areas already had. He added that he is confident that California could make up those shortfalls with federal Inflation Reduction Act dollars. His budget plan also says he might ask the Legislature for a bond issue.

“We’re committing a $48 billion package, which is just an unprecedented investment in this space,” he said. “Our commitment is firm.”

Still, those dollars would have been used to build more charging stations in disadvantaged communities and provide electric car subsidies for people who cannot afford to buy electric cars.

The cuts would also affect the construction of chargers and other infrastructure for heavy-duty trucks, a much-needed investment as the state considers another ambitious proposal to ban sales of high-polluting diesel trucks and phase in zero-emission models. The proposed budget cuts $1.5 billion from the general fund and shifts responsibility for $839 million of those dollars to the state’s cap-and-trade fund. Another $2.2 billion in funds would be cut from transportation spending for some rail and public transit projects.

David Weiskopf, senior policy advisor at NextGen Policy, a progressive climate group, worries that the state’s reduced investments could delay much-needed action on climate change. He said a steady funding stream is necessary to prevent fluctuations in climate investments, especially as the state continues to experience the increasingly dire effects of climate change, which has led to worsening heat waves, droughts and floods.

“Climate needs to be central to every agency’s mission and budget,” Weiskopf said. “Until we adopt a more comprehensive approach, the fate of our state remains tied to the hope that we have only good budget years.”

Several legislators contacted by CalMatters today did not respond to questions about the governor’s proposed cuts to the climate budget.

Newsom’s top environmental official, Secretary for Environmental Protection Yana Garcia, said low-income communities will still be prioritized. She said the budget cuts are minimal and that proceeds from future cap-and-trade auctions can play a large role in helping fund these investments.

“Despite the hard decisions we had to make this year I’m proud that we’ve continued to prioritize our zero emission vehicle investments related to equity,” she said. “The proposed budget includes a continued focus on heavy-duty zero emission vehicles and charging infrastructure as well, given the pollution these vehicles spew into communities.”

“Climate needs to be central to every agency’s mission and budget. Until we adopt a more comprehensive approach, the fate of our state remains tied to the hope that we have only good budget years.”
— David Weiskopf, NextGen Policy

Newsom shifted much of the funding burden to the state’s landmark cap-and-trade program, which has faced heavy criticism from legislators and activists. The program allows big polluters such as oil refineries and power plants to buy credits to offset their emissions. Businesses that produce excess emissions can buy or trade credits that allow them to keep polluting.

The biggest problem is that an oversupply of credits in the system allows businesses to hoard. That means businesses can keep polluting far past state limits in later years — which could also result in low allowance prices and reduced revenue from auctions, according to the Legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal advisers.

Environmentalists say the state can’t afford to eliminate any investments given the severity of the climate crisis.

“Every dollar that we have to delay means accepting greater harm – losing $6 billion in climate funding unquestionably hurts the state more in the long-term than it saves in the near term,” Weiskopf, of NextGen Policy, said.

Young, of California Environmental Voters, said environmentalists had long been planning for a potential deficit and were hopeful that the passage of Proposition 30 could have secured long-term funding for much-needed investments in zero-emission vehicles. But the ballot measure failed in November after Newsom opposed it. It would have raised as much as $5 billion annually by imposing a 1.75% personal income tax increase on Californians with incomes above $2 million per year. Most of that money was set aside for zero-emission car subsidies and more charging stations.

Environmentalists who campaigned on behalf of the measure had long feared California’s financial challenges and budget shortfalls could further delay the state’s move toward electric vehicles, said Young, who worked on the Prop 30 campaign.

“Our goal for Prop. 30 was always to build stable financial funding for this, because we knew that this would be coming ahead and unfortunately, it came sooner than later,” he added.

Newsom’s proposed budget release comes as California experiences a deadly bout of intense rain and flooding. The governor allocated new funding towards flood preparedness and response, including $135 million for the next two years to reduce urban flooding. Delta levees will also get $40.6 million for repairs and upgrades.

###

CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Connie Sue Beattie
Oct. 27, 1950 – Dec. 5, 2022

Our sweet Connie Sue was born October 27, 1950 in Lebanon, Oregon to Barney and Katherine Cox. She was the first born of her parent’s seven children. Connie was only a few months old when her parents moved to Eureka, where she graduated from Eureka High School in 1968. After high school she married Larry Beattie, with whom she shared three children — Troy, Aaron and Emily Beattie.

Connie was known far and wide for her 27 years she spent working at Alice Birney Elementary School in her roles as monitor and as a literary paraprofessional, as well as her work at Lafayette Elementary School as an after-school aide, and even her time she spent watching children at Jefferson Elementary School so that Spanish speaking parents could learn English. To know Connie was to hold a special place in her heart. She cared so deeply and passionately for all students who passed through, so much to where she never forgot the name of a single student she met and would often run into them wherever she went and would always know who they were. Many of times she would take students whose families could not afford much out to eat at the Angelo’s Pizza Parlor and give them money to play the games in the arcade.

Connie held many other careers, including housekeeping and caring for the elderly. She worked as a private caregiver for many years and was such a strong patient advocate and dedicated addition to the families. While her students and those she cared for were much of her passion, anyone who knew Connie knew her vast love for gardening and rocks. There was not a single parking lot, gravel pit, sidewalk, riverbank, beach, etc. where Connie could not find the most beautiful pebbles and stones, which she would spend much of her life collecting and filling her house with jars and her backyard with beautiful designs and patterns. Her backyard was something out of a magazine, with flowers of all varieties and colors.

Another of the many great passions in her life was traveling with her friends and family. Some her greatest stories came from her many road trips with her cherished friends Marsha Allen and Vicki Bozzoli.

Connie is preceded in death by her grandparents, Grandpa and Grandma Cox, as well as her Grandpa and Grandma Colbert; brother Kim (Buzz) Cox; nephew Chad Perkins; longtime friends Gloria Fanucchi, Rosemary Poletski and Nancy Delaney; as well as her many beloved pets who she thought of as her children.

Connie is survived by her parents Barney and Katherine Cox; brothers Tim, Jim, and Greg Cox; sisters Laura Huddleson (spouse Paul Huddleson) and Pamela Hardwick; children Troy Beattie (significant other Misty Brisco), Aaron Beattie (significant other Kaycee Fore), and Emily Manfredonia (significant other Jon Benton); grandchildren Miranda Benton, Nicholas Manfredonia, Mason Beattie (significant other Suzanna Church), Laycee Van Ness, Breauna Manfredonia (spouse Trent Prigmore), Madilynn Beattie (significant other Daniel Maxwell), Maycee Van Ness, Jonnie Benton, Austin Beattie, Conner Beattie, and Justin Benton; as well as great-grandchildren Blaike and Bryleigh Prigmore, DJ and Matthew Maxwell, Junior, Cassandra, Luis, Daniella, Roxanna (Roxy) and so many more nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends that she loved so much.

Connie was the glue that held the family together and there are no words descriptive enough for the loss we are all feeling. We will carry her memory with us in everything we do.

A celebration of life is going to be held Saturday, February 4, 2023 at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka at 1 p.m. We ask that anyone that shared a fond memory of Connie or even just remembered the warmth of her presence, come join us in our final goodbyes and celebrating her life; any and all are welcomed, just as she would want. Please contact Emily Manfredonia to RSVP at 707-498-0672.

The family would also like to extend a major thank you to the Humboldt Bay Fire Department, Humboldt County Sheriff Department, the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office, the staff at Redwood Coast PACE, Providence Home Health, and so many more that cared for Connie on her journey through this life to the end.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Connie Beattie’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Sentencing was postponed today for an Arcata man arrested during a record-setting drug bust in September.

Judge Kaleb Cockrum said he prefers that Jose Lomeli Osuna be sentenced by retired Judge Christopher Wilson, who is expected to return as a visiting judge at some point. In December Wilson said he planned to sentence Lomeli Osuna to 14 years, with six years in custody and the rest on mandatory supervision.

Lomeli Osuna.

Then-District Attorney Maggie Fleming strongly objected, saying Lomeli Osuna, 69, deserved much more time behind bars.

Today Deputy District Attorney Ian Harris reiterated to Cockrum that the prosecution disagrees with Wilson’s plan.

Lomeli Osuna pleaded guilty in December to all charges and special allegations. He has two prior convictions for drug trafficking.

On Sept. 9 the Humboldt County Drug Task force served warrants at six different locations, seizing a total of 30 pounds of meth, 5.5 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of heroin, 2 pounds of Fentanyl, 150 marijuana plants, 50 pounds of processed marijuana, two revolvers and more than $100,000 in cash.

Under new California law, people convicted of selling, transporting or possessing drugs for sale cannot be sent to state prison. That means Lomeli Osuna would have to serve the time in Humboldt County Correctional Facility, which may not be feasible.

Cockrum, commenting on Wilson’s proposed sentence, said “it’s not impossible.”

But he also said he believes other sentences, including higher sentences, may be more appropriate.

Because it’s not known when Wilson might be back on the bench, no new sentencing date was scheduled. A status hearing was set for Jan. 24.

Lomeli Osuna is represented by Conflict Counsel Meagan O’Connell.

###

# # #

A planned drag show fundraiser in Ferndale has been canceled over concerns about an extremist backlash after a conservative church in town posted a warning message about the event on its public-facing sign.

Photo via Facebook

The all-ages “Roaring ‘20s Drag Event” was supposed to be a fundraiser for Lost Coast Pride, a nonprofit organization created two years ago in response to an anti-LGBTQ message posted on a sign outside St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. 

Kaelan Rivera, a disabled Navy vet, queer trans man and founder/executive director of Lost Coast Pride, has helped to organize the first two Pride marches held in Ferndale, and in a phone conversation today he said the drag show would have raised funds for the third installation of the event, which serves as both celebration and protest in the face of discrimination.

The show was being arranged with help from Paul Beatie and Cheri March, who own and operate Ferndale Music Company and The Old Steeple, a live music venue housed inside the former Methodist church beside the Ferndale Cemetery. 

“Paul and Cheri reached out and said, ‘Hey, you can use the Steeple as a venue,’” Rivera said. “Paul did the PA system for last Pride festival [in Ferndale], so they’re very supportive of the LGBTQ community.”

Together they decided to hold the event on the first weekend in February, and Rivera was in the process of planing the event — making fliers, gathering contributions from people in town, etc. — when things took a turn.

“Paul and Cheri got a hold of me and said, ‘Have you seen the sign?’” Rivera said.

Bramwell stands outside his church during the 2021 Pride march in Ferndale. | File photo.

St. Mark’s, led by controversial Pastor Tyrel Bramwell, had posted a new message on the illuminated sign standing at the corner of Fern Avenue and Berning Street. “BEWARE,” it read in all caps, “DRAG SHOW FOR KIDS COMING TO THE OLD STEEPLE.”

Photos of the sign were posted to social media, including the Ferndale Community Page on Facebook, and while the vast majority of responses condemned the sign’s message, calling it an example of hatred, bigotry and bullying, word about the event continued to spread. Some of the responses were worrisome.

In an emailed statement, Beatie and March told the Outpost that they made the painful decision to cancel the event “out of an abundance of caution” after being alerted to online blowback.

“Friends and customers reached out to us regarding threatening Facebook messages that pointed to the possibility of extremists attending the event to disrupt it,” the statement from Beatie and March reads. Asked for specifics or screenshots they said the post in question had been deleted.

In a follow up call, Beatie said he’d been alerted to a comment on Facebook asking for the names and addresses of organizers. “We flagged that post and it was removed,” he said, adding that Rivera and Lost Coast Pride still have his support.

Violence and disruptions at drag shows have become increasingly common across the country, especially after last year’s shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., which left five people dead and at least 17 others injured. Right-wing media outlets and politicians stoke anti-LGBTQ hatred and violence with unfounded claims that drag shows serve as “grooming” events where sexual predators ensnare helpless children. 

Rivera thinks that’s ridiculous. 

“You know the show ‘To Catch a Predator’?” he asked. “You notice that you never saw a drag queen on there? There were men of the cloth, men of faith busted for going out and trying to have intercourse with minors [but] I’ve never seen a drag queen ever prosecuted.”

He said the Lost Coast Pride event was going to be an all-ages show, not a “drag show for kids.”

“Drag is performing,” Rivera said. “It is a performance; it is a show; it is an inspiration. … Those are the things that drag is about. It’s about freedom; it’s about being yourself [and] it’s about entertainment.”

He said there certainly are adult drag shows, where the content can be more overtly sexual, but that the event he was planning would have been appropriate for all ages.

Bramwell (whose contributions to local right-wing talk radio station KINS were canceled for being too incendiary) recently gave voice to some common fear-mongering messages in a video posted to YouTube. Speaking about the recent all-ages drag show held at the Jefferson Community Center, Bramwell claimed the event served to facilitate “grooming, indoctrination [and] desensitization to perversion and evil.”

“The devil was on the prowl at this event and he is devouring [children’s] souls,” Bramwell says in the video.

Reached by phone on Tuesday, Bramwell stood by those comments and said the message posted on his church sign was a justified warning.

“That kids should be invited to such a thing definitely goes against scripture,” he said. “We’re really wanting to protect children from the indoctrination happening by exposure to performance art that historically was for gay men, behind closed doors.”

Bramwell said drag shows represent a “rejection of God’s order,” namely that there are only two genders, male and female. 

“We’re definitely trying to push back against the lie that’s being promoted today … that there are more than two genders and that it’s okay to support the confusion a person may be going through by advocating falsehoods … .”

In their emailed message, Beatie and March said they reached out to Bramwell in hopes of finding a compromise, to no avail. Here’s their full statement:

We made the painful decision to cancel the show out of an abundance of caution. 

We never thought it would come to this. Our driving mission as owners of The Old Steeple is to offer a creative space where everyone in our community feels safe and welcome. Members of Lost Coast Pride are our friends and neighbors, and the drag show was part of a fundraising event and vendor fair that was open to all ages. Contrary to St. Mark’s Church’s deliberately sensational sign, it was not a “drag show for kids.” 

Our first step was to reach out to pastor Tyrel Bramwell, who agreed to meet with us in person. We asked that he either remove the sign, or at least alter it to eliminate the insinuation that the show was specifically for children. He refused to do so unless we required Lost Coast Pride to make their show adults only, at which point he would remove “kids” but still call us out by name for having a drag show. We agreed to disagree, and at this point, we decided to proceed with the event and “turn the other cheek” — basically, to ignore the bully. We also felt buoyed by support from the majority of the Ferndale community, most of whom are very reasonable, loving people.

But by the end of the day the rumblings of discontent started to trickle in. Friends and customers reached out to us regarding threatening Facebook messages that pointed to the possibility of extremists attending the event to disrupt it. As parents and community members, it’s our responsibility to keep our community safe. Children take music lessons at our building, and their safety is paramount. We don’t know that this is the “right” decision but it feels like the prudent decision, and personally that’s what is right for our family. We continue to support Lost Coast Pride and the LGBTQ+ community and would like to work together in the future. As disappointed as we are, we hope to turn this into a time of self reflection and regrouping, so that we can move forward more effectively with our mission of inclusivity.

Cheri & Paul

As of today, the sign outside St. Mark’s had been updated:

“I’m so frustrated,” Rivera said, though he added that he understands the decision made by Beatie and March. “It’s amazing to me that there’s like 20 people in this town and everybody kowtows to them. … I don’t understand how we’ve let one man and one church spew so much hate — which is why we have a Pride march, because it’s crap.”

Rivera said he’s still hoping to hold the drag event and is working with other Ferndale residents to locate another venue. 

“I would like to keep it here in town,” he said. “Maybe the fairgrounds.” He’s hopeful that another business might reach out “if somebody is wiling to take that risk — and I know it’s a risk,” he said.

Humboldt County Drug Task Force release: 

On January 9, 2023, HCDTF Agents received information that 38 year old Phyllicia Korn was traveling from the Bay Area via Greyhound bus with a large quantity of fentanyl. Agents obtained a search warrant for Korn and the tent where is known to live in the Arcata area. At about 2030 hours, Agents observed Korn exit the Greyhound bus at the Arcata Bus Terminal. Upon searching Korn pursuant to the search warrant, Agents located approximately five ounces of suspected fentanyl.

Agents then responded to Korn’s tent to search for additional evidence pursuant to the search warrant. Upon arrival, Agent contacted 35 year old Sean Gendron inside the tent. Gendron was detained without incident. Upon a search of the tent, Agents located two firearms and a usable amount of suspected methamphetamine. Both Korn and Gendron were subsequently arrested on the following charges:

Phyllicia Korn:

-H&S 11352(a)- Transportation for sales of controlled substances
-H&S 11352(b)- Transportation of narcotics across three consecutive counties
-H&S 11351(a)- Possession for sale
-H&S 11364(a)- Possession of drug paraphernalia

Sean Gendron:

-H&S 11370.1(a)- Possession of controlled substances while armed
-H&S 11377(a)- Possession of controlled substances
-PC 29800(a)(1)- Felon is possession of a firearm
-PC 30305(a)(1)- Felon in possession of ammunition

Anyone with information regarding this case in encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.