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Cody Hills didn’t know exactly what he’d seen. 

It was late, sometime around 2 a.m., when the motion-activated LED lights outside his house clicked on. He ventured outside to investigate and heard the sounds of an animal on his deck. That’s when he saw it: the hind end of … something going over the edge of the deck and disappearing into the night.

Could that have been a bear? he wondered.

“The next morning I thought I was going crazy,” he said. “I’d never seen a bear out here. …  I’m used to deer and raccoons.”

Hills is among the handful of people who live full-time on Tuluwat Island, the 280-acre land mass (formerly known as Indian Island) located in the middle of Humboldt Bay. Historically home to two indigenous Wiyot villages and site of the 1860 Wiyot massacre, the stolen island was largely returned to tribal ownership in 2019. 

Could a bear really make it out there? Hills doubted himself, even after he saw that his bird feeder had been knocked over. But then he started talking to his neighbors. One told him about his plum tree, which had been torn apart two nights earlier. (The neighbor initially suspected raccoons.)

Former Eureka Mayor Nancy Flemming, who has lived on the island for four decades, said she, too, found evidence of the animal.

“Yes,” she said when reached by phone this afternoon. “Definitely there was a bear.”

Flemming raises chickens, storing their feed inside a metal trashcan with the lid held down by bungie cord.

”And [the bear] took the lid off the garbage can and turned it over,” Flemming said.

How the heck did it get out there?

”I have no idea,” Flemming said, “although some people have said they can swim, and the deer go back and forth constantly. We see them.” But in the 40 years she’s lived on the island she’s never once heard of a bear out there, much less seen one.

Hills’ dad is Leroy Zerlang, chair of the Humboldt Bay Harbor Safety Committee and operator of the 113-year-old M.V. Madaket, the nation’s oldest passenger ferry, which now offers guided tours of Humboldt Bay.

Reached by phone, Zerlang said nobody on the Madaket has spotted a bear, but he has no doubt that it was there. He took a call from the neighbor with the damaged plum tree, who said all the branches had been ripped off and his raccoon trap had been “totally destroyed and thrown across the yard.”

“My dad tells stories of seeing bears swimming across the bay all the time,” said the 65-year-old Zerlang, who added that deer make that swim regularly.

Zerlang had fun talking to his son about the bear. “I go, ‘How big was the son of a bitch?’ and he said, ‘Bigger than your goat.’ And my goat’s fat!” Zerlang said.

The day after his partial sighting, which occurred week before last, Hills went searching around the perimeter of his property, investigating for clues, and before long he found a single footprint in the mud, roughly as wide as a man’s hand and in the unmistakeable shape of a black bear’s paw.

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Austin Reeder, human-wildlife conflict specialist for the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, said he took a report about the bear sighting last week. 

“We do have quite a few bears in Humboldt County, and they can get all sorts of places,” Reeder said. “It doesn’t surprise me that one would swim out to Tuluwat Island. Anyplace there’s a food source a bear will tune into that and head towards it.”

He said CDFW personnel try to work with residents to make sure their trash and other potential ursine-tempting items are secured so bears will return to their natural habitat.

Hills hasn’t seen any signs of the bear since he spotted that footprint, nor has Flemming.

“Hopefully it left,” she said.

Press release from the Fortuna Police Department:

On Monday, July 24, 2023 at approximately 8:45 PM the Fortuna Police Department received a report of a shooting in the area of 16th and L Streets in Fortuna.

Fortuna Officers and Detectives found that subjects in a gray colored sedan drove by, stopping in the roadway near 16th and L Streets in Fortuna, firing rounds from a handgun at two subjects parked in a silver SUV at that location. The expended bullets struck the parked vehicle, fortunately missing the victims in the vehicle. The suspects fled the scene and the victims fled, contacting law enforcement.

Through investigation the suspects were identified and on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at approximately 6:03 PM officers located and arrested the suspects on the railroad tracks behind the 300 block of 9th Street in Fortuna without incident.

Miguel Angel Moreno (age 19) was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charges:

• California Penal Code Section 664/187(A), Attempted Homicide
• California Penal Code Section 26100(c), Discharging a Firearm from motor vehicle at subjects in motor vehicle

Orion Ruben Ramirez (age 18) was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charges:

• California Penal Code Section 182(a)(1), Conspiracy to commit crime
• California Penal Code Section 32, Accessory

No parties were injured and this crime was determined not to be a random act of violence, the victims were specifically targeted.

A 58-year-old man was found deceased inside the bus stop located near the corner of Fifth and K streets in Eureka Wednesday evening. 

The Eureka Police Department tells the Outpost that Humboldt Bay Fire and paramedics were initially dispatched to the scene and attempted life-saving measures on the individual to no avail. A toxicology report is expected to take four to six weeks and EPD is checking area business’s security footage. No foul play is expected at this time.

We will update if we hear more. 

College of the Redwoods release: 

Bear River Rancheria and College of the Redwoods (CR) have established a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to temporarily house CR Residence Hall students at the Bear River Hotel at the same rental rate as dorm rooms. Additionally, the college and the hotel have arranged a free, twice-daily shuttle service for students Monday through Friday to and from the college.

College of the Redwoods is one of only 12 California Community Colleges to offer dormitory accommodations. In recent years, more students are having trouble finding affordable housing off-campus. The strategic location of the Bear River Hotel ensures that students will have convenient access to the college’s facilities and resources, minimizing commute time and expenses.

This partnership aligns with CR’s commitment to offering a supportive environment for its diverse student population, ensuring that no student in need of housing will be turned away.  

“We are delighted to enter into this partnership with the Bear River Tribe,” said Dr. Keith Flamer, President of College of the Redwoods. “These additional housing options will allow our students to fully immerse themselves in their academic journey without the burden of finding suitable accommodation elsewhere.” 

The signing of this MOU marks the beginning of an exciting new partnership between the Bear River Tribe and College of the Redwoods, which may expand to include construction of a regulation-size NCAA artificial turf baseball field alongside the softball field on Bear River Rancheria, where CR teams may practice and compete.

For at least another year and a half, California employers won’t be able to follow In-N-Out’s lead in banning workers from wearing masks on the job.

The state’s COVID-19 workplace rules protecting workers’ rights to decide for themselves whether to wear face coverings are locked in at least until February 2025 and could be extended.

Those regulations prevented the iconic Irvine-based burger chain from applying its new policy prohibiting workers from wearing face masks in its home state, where it operates about 70% of its restaurants.

Instead, In-N-Out’s mask ban will apply to workers at its restaurants in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah. It has a total of 116 locations in those states.

In a memo, the company said it wants to “emphasize the importance of customer service. And the ability to show our Associates’ smiles and other facial features.”

It is allowing employees to wear masks if they present a medical note that “clearly states the reason for the exemption.”

In-N-Out released a different masking policy for employees in California and in Oregon that leaves the choice to mask up to each individual worker. That approach complies with California and Oregon standards that provide continuous protections to employees.

“Keeping the right to mask is more about our freedom and power to make decisions that will keep us safe at work.”
— Ingrid Vilorio, Castro Valley Jack In the Box worker and SEIU member

In a way, the split is a reminder of California’s more cautious response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Democratic state was the first to order its residents to shelter in place and shut down non-essential activity. Throughout the pandemic, state health officials have updated guidelines and rules to adapt to evolving transmission patterns.

In-N-Out went along with those rules during the pandemic, although the company contested local indoor vaccine mandates in the fall of 2021. Its refusal to check customers’ vaccination records led to temporary shutdowns of restaurants in San Francisco and in Pleasant Hill of Contra Costa County, according to press reports.

Cal/OSHA, the agency charged with ensuring occupational safety in California, earlier this year updated its COVID-19 requirements. Among them: “Employers must allow employees to wear face coverings if they voluntarily choose to do so, unless it would create a safety hazard.”

California employers can require masks

California employers can go a step further and require workers to wear a mask, as long as they also provide flexibility for someone who can’t wear one due to medical reasons or a disability.

The state’s pandemic-related regulations for employers have gradually eased, but employers are still required to take several steps in the interest of protecting workers, according to Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 prevention regulations.

These include:

• Notifying employees of COVID-19 cases in the workplace.
• Providing face coverings and free tests to employees during workplace outbreaks, which is defined as at least three cases during a seven-day period.
• Improving indoor ventilation and air filtration to prevent transmission.

California labor organizations plan to continue advocating for public health rules that protect fast-food workers.

Ingrid Vilorio, a Castro Valley Jack In the Box worker and SEIU member, said fast-food employees often lacked basic protections during the pandemic.

“That’s why workers like me went on strike and even testified during Cal/OSHA meetings on the need for emergency safety standards that would keep our colleagues, customers and families safe,” she said.

“Keeping the right to mask is more about our freedom and power to make decisions that will keep us safe at work,” Vilorio added.

Why fast-food workers might want masks

Cal/OSHA enforces its rules with inspections following complaints or accidents, the agency said in an email. It also conducts scheduled inspections.

Alicia Riley, an assistant professor of sociology at UC Santa Cruz who conducted health equity research during the pandemic, said the In-N-Out memo to employees struck her as narrow.

“It assumes a lot about why someone would want to wear a mask. It doesn’t consider the situation we know many workers, especially fast-food workers, are in, which is that they’re not living alone,” Riley said. “They may not be at high risk of serious illness, but they may live with someone who is.”

Earlier this month, the California Supreme Court sided with an employer in a case in which a Bay Area woman sued her husband’s employer after she became severely ill when he caught COVID on the job and brought it home. The court ruled she could not claim workers’ compensation.

Riley said In-N-Out’s mask ban highlights workplace inequities the pandemic exposed. For example, cooks were among the 25 occupations with the most excess deaths in 2020, Riley’s research has shown.

“They may not be at high risk of serious illness, but they may live with someone who is.”
Alicia Riley, assistant professor of sociology at UC Santa Cruz

New COVID outbreaks

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are down from three years ago, but recent outbreaks show some risk remains.

Just last week the Los Angeles County public health department reported an uptick in COVID-19 cases and in virus concentration in wastewater following the July 4th weekend. The department said it also is seeing new outbreaks in nursing homes, where residents are highly susceptible to illness. In the span of two weeks, the department said it had opened 23 outbreak investigations.

Because the virus will continue to be around, public health experts say workplace rules, such as allowing workers to mask if they choose, make sense.

“When we think of a broader public health perspective, measures that help us reduce transmission of any disease that are minimally impactful on other individuals are certainly things we should be interested in maintaining,” said Shira Shafir, an epidemiology professor at UCLA.

“Being able to maintain a workforce, being able to minimize the risk of an outbreak occurring at a facility, these are things that are within the best interest of the business as well as in the best interest of the public,” Shafir said.

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Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

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

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Press release from Redwood National and State Parks:

Orick, CA- On July 19th at Redwood National and State Parks under a light fog and a canopy of coastal redwoods, 26 people became the newest citizens of the United States. The applicants came from around the world including countries such as South Africa, Philippines, Ukraine, and China. 

Redwood National and State Park Deputy Superintendent Leonel Arguello, who spoke at the event, stated, “It is our high honor and esteem to host this naturalization ceremony. We extend our congratulations and warmest welcome to these new citizens. Our nation’s strength is founded on the immigration of new ideas and culture, and in allowing all citizens to meet their full potential and contribute to this great nation. Like a healthy redwood forest, our nation is enhanced by the diversity, resilience, and strength of its newest members.” 

The newest citizens and their family members were able to celebrate this momentous occasion in one of their new country’s most breathtaking places. For many, it was their first time visiting the park. The Humboldt Harmonaires provided the music for the event, including the National Anthem.  

United State Citizen and Immigration Services and National Park Service have a signed a Memorandum of Understanding that advances the meaning and stature of citizenship by building connections between new citizens and America’s parks. Signed in 2006, and renewed in 2021, the agreement has led to special naturalization ceremonies held at many of the 425 places safeguarded by NPS. 

Ceremonies are held in such iconic places as Ellis Island, Yosemite National Park, Cesar Chavez National Monument, Acadia National Park, Death Valley National Park and numerous Memorial Parks on the National Mall. The renewed MOU further strengthens collaborative efforts to hold ceremonies at locations that best represent the strength and spirit of the United States and supports the promotion of citizenship and naturalization. Redwood National and State Parks is honored to be a part of such an important event in the lives of those who participated in the ceremony. 

Jane Cowling Bennett Ford of Fieldbrook passed away in her home at the age of 77 on June 14, 2023. She was born in Bennington on January 28, 1946. 

Jane grew up on a farm in Sandgate, Vermont, and even though her family moved to Garden Grove, California when she was eight years old, she always spoke fondly of her formative years there. Seeking a change of scenery, Jane moved north to Humboldt County as soon as she finished high school and enrolled at Humboldt State University. There she received a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with a minor in Physical Education. Jane loved Humboldt County so much that she convinced her family to relocate to Ferndale, where they purchased The Shaw House as their family home.

After college Jane found herself working as a flight attendant for American Airlines, spending a year in New York City and then landing in San Francisco, where she settled for a number of years. When she wasn’t working, she was using her airline perks to travel the world to places such as Bali, New Zealand, Greece, and the United Kingdom; following a lifelong passion for travel and adventure.

Jane found her way back to Humboldt in her late 20s and discovered her passion for gardening that would stick with her for the rest of her life. Jane was a master gardener and transformed many a barren landscape into an oasis of hedges and rock lined garden beds, filled with an array of beautiful flowers, fruit trees and berries. 

In her 30s, Jane met her first husband (Jerry Peterson) and started a family, settling in Arcata where she lovingly raised her three children. Around the same time she also pursued her passion for helping people and spent many years volunteering at Hospice. It wasn’t until her 40s (once her kids were in school) that she could finish pursuing a Masters Degree in Psychology at Humboldt State University, eventually becoming a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Jane spent many years enjoying her practice and caring for her family. In the summers, Jane and her second husband (John Schmidt) would load the kids and luggage into a big van and embark on month-long road trips around the country, sharing her adventurous spirit with the rest of her family.

Jane’s dedication to helping and caring for others was evident throughout her life. She always said her work as a Marriage and Family Therapist was fulfilling and rewarding because she was able to provide support and care to members of her community. In her personal life Jane’s favorite hobbies were making chocolates and gardening. Both were talents she was always happy to share with others. She delighted friends and family with her extensive assortment of chocolates during the holidays and for the rest of the year invited others to share in the beauty of her garden oasis that she spent countless hours sculpting and caring for.

In her later years, Jane found joy indulging in her love for reading, taking bike rides around Fieldbrook, tending her garden, caring for her cats and chickens, and spending time with her neighborhood friends.

Jane is survived by her three children, Emily Ford-Peterson, Lauren (Matthew Lyles) Ford-Peterson, and Jonathan Ford-Peterson; her granddaughter Amelia Lyles; her brothers,

Tom (Lori) Ford and Tim (Sheila) Ford; her nieces and nephews, Brian Viall, Gary (Debbie) Viall, Sharon (Mark) Viall Drown, Sara Ford (Mike) Cortes, Greg (Dena) Ford; her many great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, as well as her close friends and neighbors.

Jane is preceded in death by her parents Frank Ford and Jeannette Owens Ford, her sister Dora Ford, her sister-in-law Catherine Ford, and her niece Renee Ford.

Jane Ford will be remembered for her boundless love for gardening, her witty spirit, her calm and compassionate nature, and her contributions to her community. Her memory will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

Jane’s life will be celebrated at her family home in Fieldbrook on Saturday, August 12. For more information contact lfordpete@gmail.com.

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