Press release from the California Highway Patrol:

On December 21, 2022, at approximately 11:53 a.m., the California Highway Patrol Humboldt Area received a call of a possibly deceased male, located on the south shoulder of eastbound SR-299, west of SR-200. Officers responded to the scene and located an adult male with fatal injuries. Officers began a suspicious death investigation and requested the Humboldt County Coroner respond to the scene. An autopsy will be conducted to assist in determining the cause and time of death.

Preliminarily, it is believed that during the late night hours of the 20th, and the early morning hours of the 21st, the deceased party was walking on the south shoulder of eastbound SR-299 when he was struck by an unknown vehicle. Evidence collected at the scene is consistent with the suspect vehicle having been a semi truck which may have minor to moderate damage to the front right side of the cab, to include missing mirrors.

The identification of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Further details will be released when available and appropriate.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Humboldt Area Office of the CHP at 707-822-5981 or the CHP Humboldt Communication Center’s non-emergency line at 707-268-2000. You can also email Humboldt_Area@chp.ca.gov with any information.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Recovery efforts continue following Tuesday’s M6.4 earthquake. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) remains activated and is coordinating with local, regional and state partners to provide resources to communities impacted by the earthquake.

CLEANUP ASSISTANCE

Community members impacted by the earthquake can obtain Red Cross Clean Up Kits consisting of a mop, broom, scrub brush, sponge, all purpose cleaner, gloves, mask and bucket, free of charge at the Rio Dell Fire Hall. Rio Dell citizens may utilize the two dumpsters located outside of Rio Dell City Hall, at 675 Wildwood Avenue, to dispose of earthquake debris. Please do not dispose hazardous waste in these receptacles. Hazardous items not fit for disposal in these receptacles include leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic as household hazardous waste. Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients and require special care when you dispose of them. More information regarding hazardous waste disposal can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/hw/household-hazardous-waste-hhw

SUPPORT SERVICES

FOOD, WATER, FACILITIES

Supply distribution is being moved from the Rio Dell Fire Hall to the Middle School.

Monument Middle School:
95 Center St, Rio Dell, CA 95562

• Bottled water (amount depending on how many occupants per household)
• Portable showers
• Charging stations (for cell phones or other electronic devices)
• Portable toilets
• Snacks

American Red Cross Overnight Shelter:
Fireman’s Pavilion at Rohner Park, located at 9 Park Street, Fortuna, CA 

• Shelter
• Cots and blankets
• Hygiene kits
• Snacks and full meals for overnight guests
• Water
• Charging stations
• Portable showers

HOUSING AND STATE PROGRAMS

The Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services has deployed a Mobile Outreach Team to support community members impacted by the earthquake. Staff members are located at the Rio Dell Fire Hall and are assisting residents with food, water and other necessities. Staff are also available to assist community members in applying for services, such as CalFresh, and provide housing resources. Current CalFresh recipients who have lost food due to the power outage or earthquake can also request replacement benefits by filling out a CF 303 form on the state’s website here, by logging on to their account at Benefitscal.com or by stopping by the Rio Dell Fire Hall, 50 Center St. in Rio Dell or one of DHHS’s offices.

MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE 

An earthquake and its aftermath can be both physically and emotionally overwhelming. Talk with your family about how they are feeling. Children and older adults are of special concern in the aftermath of disasters.  Behavioral Health staff, including a licensed psychologist, are on-site in Rio Dell and available to speak with community members in need of mental health support.

Additional DHHS resources available:

• Adult Protective Services 24-hour hotline number 707-476-2100
• Child Welfare Services 24-hour hotline number 707-445-6180
• Behavioral Health Warm Line 707-268-2999
• Behavioral Health 24-hour Crisis Line 707-445-7715

ASSISTANCE FOR AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKAN NATIVE AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOUSEHOLDS

The Northern California Indian Development Council, Inc (NCIDC) is accepting applications from income-eligible American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian households affected by the earthquake. NCIDC can assist with the cost for hot water tank repairs, heating system repairs, and similar health and safety-related issues caused by earthquake damage. They are also offering food assistance due to failed refrigeration, and can customize case-management responses for other issues on an as-needed and eligible basis.

NCIDC’s online intake is at: intake.ncidc.org. You can also call them at 707-445-8451 (or toll free at 800-566-2381) and ask for emergency services to discuss the intake process and determine your eligibility for services with a case manager.

BUSINESS SUPPORT

The Humboldt County 2022 Earthquake Business Recovery Survey
Local businesses impacted by the earthquake are asked to complete a Business Recovery Survey created by the County’s Economic Development Department GoHumCo. This survey will be used to track, monitor and quantify business losses in Humboldt County following the earthquake.Losses will be totaled and shared with federal and state agencies as we seek outside support for our community. The survey may be accessed here: humboldtgov.org/recoverySurvey

Small Business Development Center, RREDC and GoHumCo’s recording of the December 21 informational meeting for the business community regarding the earthquake can be reviewed online at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fVOSiqSdTpVwEc2te_kclaYmx7L0XmF6/view?usp=share_link

BUSINESS GRANTS

Vocality Community Credit Union is offering short term grants to businesses for immediate needs such as plywood to cover broken windows. For more information, contact: https://www.vocalityccu.org/contact-us

Humboldt Area Foundation & Wild Rivers Community Foundation are available to assist  nonprofits, tribal agencies, and service agencies in identifying grant funding. Contact: grants@hafoundation.org, 707-442-2993.

WATER SAFETY

Water has been restored to approximately 90% of city customers, however, the entire city remains under a Boil Water Advisory. If you have water, boil it for at least one minute or use bottled water for drinking and food preparation until further notice. Water is safe for bathing and non-consumption activities. For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/dwa-comm-toolbox/before/tools/What-to-Do-During-a-Boil-Water-Advisory.docx

Residents are advised to periodically run water to allow trapped air out. Residences with multiple stories are asked to run water from the highest location (ex. the highest shower head in your home). 

The Boil Water Advisory for the Fortuna community of Forest Hills has been lifted.

COMMUNICATIONS RESTORED

In response to communication infrastructure failure within the Rio Dell community due to the earthquake, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Verizon have provided the community with the following resources to restore connectivity while equipment is repaired:

• A WiFi Hotspot and Charging station to the Red Cross Overnight Shelter.
• A Satellite Trailer Emitting Equipment Remote (STEER) providing cellular and internet capability to the Rio Dell Community. 
• A Cell on Wheels (COW) providing cellular coverage to the impacted communities. 

DONATIONS

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services is not currently accepting material donations. To make a financial donations to assist with the response can be made directly to the following:

• Rio Dell Fire Department- Venmo: @RioDellFire-Department, GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3036e4ec,  or mailed to 50 W Center St. Rio Dell, CA 95562
• Pay it Forward Humboldt: 707-616-9191, payitforwardhumboldt@gmail.com
• American Red Cross: 1-800-435-7669, redcross.org

STAY INFORMED

The most important thing you can do while the community recovers is to keep informed.

• Sign up to receive Humboldt County Emergency Alerts at: humboldtgov.org/alerts
• Subscribe to OES news releases at: humboldtsheriff.org/subscribe

For updated information regarding the Humboldt County earthquake response, please go to humboldtsheriff.org/emergency and visit @HumCoOES on Facebook and Twitter, or call 707-268-2500.

Press release from Rep. Jared Huffman’s office:

Today, Rep. Jared Huffman’s (D-San Rafael) legislation The Katimiîn and Ameekyáaraam Sacred Lands Act passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives and is on its way to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. The legislation will place federal lands located in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties in California into trust for the Karuk Tribe. 

“Today, we can finally correct a historic injustice and return sacred land to its rightful owners, the Karuk Tribe. Thanks to the partnership of Senator Padilla and the Karuk’s tireless work, our Sacred Lands Act will now become law. These lands, known as Katimiîn and Ameekyáaraam, are not only majestic, they are central to Karuk history, religion, traditions, and identity. Placing them in trust ensures that the Karuk culture and way of life can endure for future generations,” Rep. Jared Huffman said.

“For Karuk people, the lands covered by our bill represent the center of the world, which is why they deserve unrestricted access to these ancestral sites in order to practice their religion and preserve their customs for future generations,” said Senator Padilla. “Restoring these lands to the stewardship of the Karuk Tribe is a long overdue moral imperative, and I look forward to the President singing our bill into law.”

“It means the world to have our most sacred sites returned to us. The Karuk Tribe appreciates the hard work of Congressman Huffman, Senators Padilla and Feinstein, and their teams. This accomplishment is great for the Karuk People and all of Indian Country,” said Karuk Chairman Russell “Buster” Attebery.

Background
For Karuk people, the land identified in this legislation is the center of the world. The historical village and ceremonial site of Katimiîn is the location of a final series of annual Pik-ya-vish world renewal ceremonies. Pik-ya-vish translates as “to fix it,” how Karuk people approach their responsibility to keeping these places in balance with their cultural and spiritual values. Ameekyáaraam, just down river from Katimiîn, is the site of Jump Dance and First Salmon Ceremony – both vital components of world renewal ceremonies and for pre-contact inter-tribal coordination of fish harvest up and down the river to ensure long-term sustainability of salmon runs. These ceremonies were also ways to keep the world in balance between individuals and families. This area is essential to inter-generational teaching and learning needed to ensure future generations of Karuk people know and understand Karuk culture and customs. 

Currently the tribe has a Special Use Permit with the United States Forest Service (USFS) that allows access to the grounds for ceremony. This access is not guaranteed and in some years the tribe is interrupted by public intrusions during private and sacred components of the world renewal ceremonies. Only USFS lands will transfer to the tribe; all private lands, allotments and existing rights associated with those will be excluded.  

A copy of the legislation can be found here. A map of the Katimiîn area can be found here.

A 25-year-old Tennessee man pleaded guilty this morning to the second-degree murder of a mentally ill man who died 12 days after he was found brutally beaten in an Old Town alley.

Whited.

Connor Oneal Whited, charged with fatally beating 55-year-old Brett Alan Keiling on Sept. 26, 2019, faces 15 years to life in state prison. He is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 27, which is his 26th birthday. Whited has been in custody since about a month after the beating, so he has more than three years of custody credit.

He had been scheduled to enter his plea last week but changed his mind. This morning he was hesitant at times as Judge Kelly Neel advised him of the rights he was giving up by admitting his crime.

“Do you have any questions for me?” the judge asked Whited.

After a very long pause, Whited said, “Am l going to be OK?”

“In prison?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know.”

Neel went on to advise Whited to take advantage of programs while in prison and to avoid conflicts with other inmates.

He must serve the entire term, which with credits will be approximately 12 years, before being eligible for parole. Because he was 22 at the time of the murder, he also is eligible to apply for the state’s Youthful Offender Program.

If accepted into that program he could be eligible for parole a little earlier.

“It’s possible,” Neel told Whited.

Whited’s victim, Brett Keiling, was an Indiana resident who had recently arrived in Eureka. Keiling had a long criminal record in his home state, along with a long history of mental illness.

Whited himself was declared mentally incompetent a few months after his arrest.

Now, Judge Neel told Whited this morning, “You are on medication and doing well, which you weren’t at the time (of the murder.)”

When Whited was arrested, Eureka police said the beating was a targeted attack, not a random crime.

Whited is represented by appointed attorney Joe Judge. Deputy District Attorney Luke Bernthal is the prosecutor.

Cedar Creek Fish Passage - Project Update from California Trout on Vimeo.

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Press release from California Trout and CDFW:

Nine miles of wild fish habitat on a South Fork Eel River tributary, blocked for more than 60 years, is now accessible once again thanks to a fish passage restoration project recently completed by California Trout, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and partners. Cedar Creek provides a significant portion of the cold water that flows into the Eel River’s South Fork in the summer. With the removal of an 8-foot-high dam on the creek, migratory Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead and Pacific lamprey will have improved access to the creek during all their life stages.  

In fact, on Dec. 7, CalTrout staff observed adult Chinook salmon already spawning above the former dam’s location. These fish likely would not have been able to make it past the dam if it were still in place, given this fall’s low water levels. 

“The initiation and completion of this project is a testament to CDFW’s engineering and fisheries staff and their commitment to restoring California’s natural resources while creating long-lasting partnerships with private landowners such as the Yangshe Gomde Buddhist Retreat Center and restoration groups such as CalTrout,” said Scott Monday, Environmental Scientist with CDFW’s North Coast Watershed Improvement Center in Fortuna who has worked on the Cedar Creek dam removal project since 2017. “This dam may have very well sat in place another 60 years without this crucial collaboration and cooperation.”

The Cedar Creek dam, located approximately 700 feet upstream from the confluence of South Fork Eel River, was left over from a fish hatchery decommissioned after a major flood in 1964. The dam was serving no practical purpose and almost completely blocked fish passage on this otherwise-healthy, cold-water creek. 

Before the construction crew moved in to remove the concrete dam, fish biologists spent many hours finding and moving to safety all the fish and amphibians in the section of the creek that was diverted during the demolition. Hundreds of young steelhead, a juvenile coho salmon and two adult Pacific lamprey were among the rescued fish. 

“The project on Cedar Creek is part of CalTrout’s Reconnect Habitat initiative, with a goal of giving salmon and steelhead access to diverse habitat by removing barriers and getting obsolete dams out,” said Matt Metheny, North Coast Program Manager for California Trout. “Access to the cold-water habitat above the old Cedar Creek dam is now even more important to young steelhead and salmon as climate change warms the South Fork Eel to dangerously high summer temperatures for fish.”   

The Cedar Creek fish passage restoration project aligns with Governor Newsom’s commitment to protect wildlife during the extended drought. Funding for the project came from CDFW and the state Wildlife Conservation Board. Project partners include the Yangshe Gomde Buddhist Retreat Center, McBain Associates, SHN Engineering, Hanford Applied Restoration & Conservation (Hanford ARC), and Ross Taylor and Associates. 

CalTrout completed another important fish passage restoration project on the Eel River in 2018, when it reconnected Woodman Creek fish habitat to the Eel River after more than a century of blockage. The project, with funding and permitting from CDFW’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program, opened up 14 miles of prime spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead and Chinook salmon. 

“The Eel River has the potential to be one of California’s healthiest watersheds for salmon and steelhead populations to thrive,” Metheny added. “Removing the Cedar Creek dam is the latest step in the process to reconnect fish habitat and recover the Eel River to a state of wild abundance.” 

About California Trout 
California Trout partners with numerous government agencies, Tribes, and conservation groups to conduct research, habitat restoration and advocacy, to restore vibrance and abundance to California’s freshwater ecosystems and to keep them that way for years to come. Founded in 1971, CalTrout has been working for more than 50 years to protect salmon and steelhead strongholds, reconnect fish habitat, integrate fish and working lands, steward source water areas, and restore estuaries. 

About the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The mission of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is to manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.

Longtime Humboldt County Planning Commissioner Alan Bongio has stepped down, relinquishing the position he’s held for nearly a decade, according to a statement issued this morning by First District Supervisor Rex Bohn, who appointed him to the commission in January 2013.

Skavdal | LinkedIn

In his place, Bohn has appointed Ferndale resident Ivar Skavdal, who was general manager of GHD Engineering’s U.S. operations before retiring early this year. Prior to that he spent 34 years working for Winzler and Kelly, where he was president/CEO and chair of the board. Skavdal facilitated the merger of Winzler and Kelley and GHD in 2011, according to Bohn.

Bongio has faced a stream of criticism and scrutiny over his behavior and incendiary comments made during an August 18 Planning Commission meeting. During a hearing to consider permit modifications for a mega-home project with multiple permit violations, Bongio railed against local Native American tribes, repeatedly referring to them as “the Indians,” deriding their influence over the project and at one point alluding to a racist stereotype.

Amid the subsequent furor, the Board of Supervisors censured him for his racist remarks and moved to remove him from his position as chair of the Planning Commission. At the time, Bohn said he couldn’t kick Bongio off the commission, saying, “I can’t fire my friend. I’m sorry.”

Here’s today’s statement from Bohn:

Alan Bongio, my Planning Commissioner for the last 10 years and long time Chair of the Commission, has stepped down to focus on his family and business. I appreciate his service in this capacity which is basically a volunteer position. I wish him the best in the future.

I am appointing Ivar Skavdal who has agreed to represent the First District. Ivar is a 7th generation born Humboldter [CORRECTION: Bohn later clarified that Skadval’s grandson is 7th generation; Skadval himself is merely 5th generation] who lives in Ferndale and was educated at Franklin Elementary, Zane Middle School, and Eureka High School.

Ivar attended Humboldt State University and Chico State University. He is a registered Civil Engineer who started as a student intern with Winzler & Kelly Civil Engineering Firm and earned his way to CEO President of the firm in 2002. He facilitated the merger of Winzler and Kelley and GHD in 2011, served as president of GHD USA, and served on the GHD global Board of Directors. GHD has over 12,000 employees worldwide. His experience will serve Humboldt well.

Ivar has recently retired and would like to give back and serve the community that gave him his start. I am excited as we move forward with offshore wind and Nordic Fish Farm to have someone with his expertise who has overseen projects of this size and magnitude. I am fortunate to find someone of this caliber to appoint to the Planning Commission and look forward to his contributions.

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Sue passed away at St. Joseph Hospital from heart and kidney complications on November 15, 2022. She was 62.

She was born to Maryann and Concepsion Sanchez Jr in Encino, Calif. on March 2, 1960. She moved with her family to Eureka in 1969 on her ninth birthday and remained for 53 years.

She attended local schools — Worthington, Zane, Eureka High, and College of the Redwoods. She was married to Dave Morgan for 25 years, until his passing in 2009. They had two sons, Steve and Brad.

Sue was a preschool teacher for many years, being with children was one of her favorite things. As her sons went through local sports, she was their biggest fan, attending all their games sitting in the front row cheering every player on, while their dad was filming every game. If she wasn’t in the front row, she was volunteering in the snack bar or keeping score for another game. Sue loved supporting all local sports and kids who wanted to play the game.

Sue loved arts and crafts and especially drawing her colorful freehand designs. She also loved her weekly lunches with her granddaughter Allie and watching her grandsons play their sports, continuing the family traditions. She never missed a family gathering, as being with her family was most important to her. The joy of her life had been to see her sons marry and become parents, making her a G-ma, as her grandchildren called her.

She leaves behind her two sons and their families, Steve and Whitney, grandsons Parker and Dawson. Brad and Kathy and granddaughters Allie, Kayla, and Taylor; her stepdaughter Lynzi; her mother Maryann and stepfather Bill Smith; sister Leslie and Alex Albright and brother Danny and Pilar Sanchez; stepsister Carla; nephews Vinny Sanchez, Travis Adams; nieces Brittany Sanchez and Terra Adams; sister in-law Melanie Morgan Gosselin and nephews Mike, Travis and Will Morgan and niece Crystal Morgan Mayberry; and sister-in-law Laurie Sanchez. Many more aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father Concepsion Jr., her brother Mark Sanchez, husband Dave and brother in-law John Morgan, grandparents Sam and Lee Basso and Peggy and Concepsion Sanchez Sr.

The family would like to thank all the medical professionals who helped Sue for many years with dialyses weekly and all the care they showed her. She will be missed and remembered often for her warm heart and witty remarks.

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