The most recent lease auction for the Humboldt Wind Energy Areas shows that wind energy developers are excited about the potential for floating offshore wind off of Humboldt’s coast. Where will these floating turbines be built? The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District is visioning how they can be built locally, with family-wage blue-collar jobs building our renewable energy future.

Larry Oetker, Executive Director of the Harbor District, joins Gang Green to discuss port redevelopment plans and what Humboldt Bay may look like in 10 years time.

Every year at the Humboldt County Fair you joke about bidding on one of those farm animals raised by a child. Every year you think about splitting the cost with a bunch of your friends and getting the whole animal butchered. You dream about having local, organic meat at your table and the rest tucked away in your freezer.

That dream is a lot closer than you think.

Farmers usually transport livestock to a facility approved by the USDA for processing before it can be sold. With Mobile Slaughter Operators (MSOs), farmers can sell the living animal first and then have it slaughtered and butchered. Here’s how it works: You purchase an animal locally, pay the rancher to care for the animal and collect the meat after the animal is harvested.

Back in 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 888 – Mobile slaughter operations: livestock into law, allowing cattle, goats, sheep and swine to be slaughtered on the ranch where they were raised. With the rising interest in how and where meat is produced, demand also went up for local slaughtering. This is where MSOs step in.

Meet Clyde Dalton, licensed to kill.

Dalton, age 30, owner and operator of the Lost Coast Mobile Slaughter Service, brings his truck out to farms and slaughters your animal. If you are worried about sanitation or the humane aspect of slaughter, Dalton follows guidelines provided by USDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Every year he pays a licensing fee to be a livestock meat inspector with the CDFA and completes a training program provided by the Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety Branch of the department.

Stepping away from the bureaucracy of an LLC, Dalton operates on knowledge and practice. Born in Fortuna but raised in Carlotta, he has been raising animals as well as slaughtering them since he was a kid.

“I was probably around six years old and I got used to the process,” Dalton told the Outpost on a recent tour of his operations. “I remember being interested in where our food comes from.”

The Lost Coast Mobile Slaughter Service has been in operation for roughly a month, and most business is coming from local small farms. He has not been able to operate within city limits because of his primary tool for slaughter — his gun. Using a firearm within city limits is prohibited in most scenarios, and that includes the killing of livestock.

“I’m hoping to get a bolt gun in the future so that I can adjust and possibly do work within city limits,” Dalton said.

To be clear, he does not butcher livestock. He simply slaughters. He charges a flat fee depending on the animal, but is learning to pivot as things change.

Just recently he slaughtered a massive bull weighing somewhere around 2,200 pounds. It took him three hours to kill, skin and clean. He also cleared out its innards and left the head for the owners to deal with. As part of the category he operates in, Dalton is technically not allowed to keep, dispose of or process any of these parts.

“Once I have the animal ready I leave all that for the owner,” Dalton said. “I take the carcass to the butcher shop and that’s it.”

In the same week that he slaughtered the massive bull, he took care of two pigs and two sheep over the course of three days. It is tough and honest labor.

“Somebody’s gotta do it,” Dalton said. “And I don’t mind it because I grew up hunting.”

The main reason Dalton is even able to run a business like this is because of his truck, which was custom-built by Dalton himself over the course of six months. There are three major components that aren’t inherently part of the truck. There’s the welded pillar that can swivel so that Dalton can hook up a carcass and lift it from the ground. There are the tracks inside, used to hang the carcasses for storage and travel. And there are the chains to keep the hooked carcasses from sliding back and forth on the tracks.

He welded every necessary piece, installed easy-to-clean flooring, bolted down a large container for water used to spray the inside of the truck and the carcasses clean.

His truck is not perfect, but it is an impressive start. He solves his problems as he goes and keeps in mind potential issues. Things like driving out into muddy areas on farmland can be difficult for keeping the truck and carcasses clean.

“I’m already thinking about having to slaughter an animal on a hill,” Dalton said. “Those areas can be tough because if I lift the animal here, the weight of it might swing it away from the entrance.”

It is important that his truck is so custom. Unlike cement trucks, you cannot just go out and buy a slaughtering truck. Such a thing hardly exists.

There have been attempts at making them commercially available. These have names like “Mobile Slaughter Units” or “Meat Harvest Units.” One I could find is strictly limited for poultry, known as a Poultry Processing Unit, and it costs $150,000. It is not really something a farmer, much less the average person, could afford.

All of this started because Dalton likes being outside every day. He is a skilled handyman: he welds, does fencework, builds kennels, paints houses, helps with his in-law’s firewood business, and just about anything that keeps him busy. On top of all the work, he is raising his two kids alongside his wife Aryn.

All of them are self-proclaimed animal lovers, and they have a whole pack of dogs that run on their property with their young cow.

“My little girl tells me she doesn’t want me to slaughter our cow.” Dalton said. “I’m not sure I ever will.”

Dalton believes that the slaughtering of an animal affects the quality of the meat. Considering the stress of it all, he tries to slaughter as quickly and humanely as possible.

“Some farmers have these animals like they are pets,” Dalton said. “Sometimes it’s hard for them to kill the animals themselves. It can be sentimental.”

Dalton has goals to expand and even adapt in some areas but since he just started, his main focus is letting us know that he has time to kill.

Gail Christie Johnson was born March 17 1925, in Eureka to Frederick and Ruth Johnson. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side on December 9, 2022. A lifelong native of Eureka, Gail graduated from Eureka High School in 1943. Right after graduation, Gail enlisted in the US Army, were he served in World War 2 from 1943-1946. During his time in the Army, he served with the 728th Railway Battalion in the European Campaign. On February 9, 1946, Gail married his high school sweetheart, Delores Simpson of Arcata, Together they celebrated 70 years of marriage. During those years they raised their son Larry and daughter Marcie. Once home from the Army, Gail took a job as a typesetter and compositor. His first printing job was with the family business called Times Printing, then on to Art Craft printers and finished his 40-year career with the local Times-Standard.

Throughout the years, Gail, Delores, kids and later grandkids, spent a lot of time traveling. They enjoyed all kinds of traveling. Anything from tent/trailer camping to a few trips to Hawaii and everything in between. They were blessed to have visited several states throughout the US. One of the last trips Gail took was “The Veterans Honor Flight” to Washington DC, with his longtime friend Neil. Gail was not an easy man to keep down. He was always busy helping others, volunteering, and his favorite past time of golfing. He was known at the Muni golf course as “Boomer.” He remained a long-time member of the Muni “8 o’clock gang” well into his early 90s. In addition to golfing, Gail loved deer and duck hunting, fishing, and exploring the woods outside of the Willow Creek and Hawkins Bar area.

In addition to being an outdoors person, Gail was also a very devoted Methodist. He was the oldest living member of the Eureka Methodist Church. He became an official member at the young age of 13. He was well known for lending a hand around the church. Anything from going to the church early on Sunday mornings when he was a kid to light the boiler to warm up the sanctuary to years of serving on various church committees. You often could find him and his friend Neil making repairs at the church, in their spare time. In addition, he also spent years delivering meals for “Food for People” and serving as a volunteer and shuttle driver for St. Joseph Hospital for over 30 years. In fact, he just recently retired from both those jobs when he was about 94 years old.

Gail was preceded in death by his wife Delores, his parents Frederick and Ruth Johnson and by his sister Lois Speer. He is survived by his son Larry Johnson (Marjorie) of Eureka, his daughter Marcie Speirs (Brian) of Vacaville: his granddaughter April Barnhart (Mark), Christopher Johnson (Jessica), Ryan McElhaney; great-granddaughter Chelsea Jackson (Kolby), great-grandson Logan Alto; and his great-great-granddaughter Leslie Mae Rose Jackson. With the addition of his great-great-granddaughter 3 years ago, that made five generations of Johnsons who are lifelong natives of Humboldt County.

In addition, he is survived by several nieces and nephews. Gail was also very blessed to be survived by his very special friend Jacky Reise. Jacky held a very special place in his heart these last few years. They were a perfect match for each other and spent many hours together going for rides in the car, checking out his favorite casinos and going out to dinner.

The family would like to thank Gail’s daughter-in-law Marjorie and Jacky for being at his bedside every step of the way. It means so much to him and all of us. We would also like to thank the staff at Eureka Timber Ridge for the great care these last few months and the staff at St. Joseph Hospital and Seaview rehabilitation for the amazing care these last few weeks. Thank you to Dr. Lei Han for helping us keep him comfortable and peaceful the last few days.

The family will be having a private viewing and graveside service. There will be a memorial service after the first of the year at the Eureka Methodist Church. We will announce date and time soon.

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

Press release from the Humboldt County Administrative Office:

If you worked in child care or operated a facility during the pandemic, you may be eligible for up to $3,000 in bonus payments through the Humboldt Child Care Stabilization Fund. Child care centers and family child care providers are eligible to receive up to $4,000 or $6,000, depending on type of facility. The payments are part of the Retention Bonus Program, which awards funds to child care business owners and employees who worked directly with children through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Humboldt County’s local child care system was devastated during the pandemic, and to help stabilize the system and ensure families have access to child care going forward, the Board of Supervisors earlier this year unanimously approved a $4.8 million program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), that provides grants, loans and subsidies to local child care providers and families.

“During the pandemic we saw so many caregivers needing to stay home to care for their children because their child care needs could not be met. To determine how we could help our communities navigate the pandemic, we surveyed the business community and heard from many community members, including county employees and essential service providers, and all listed child care as a top priority,” said Virginia Bass, 4th District Supervisor and Chair of the Board, “The Board’s $4.8 million investment to create the Humboldt Child Care Stabilization Fund is so important as it not only supports local child care providers, but it also supports our community and economy. I am so proud these funds are now being distributed in our community and would like to thank our partners for helping us bring this program to fruition.”

The Child Care Accountability Team, comprised of local child care experts and community leaders have developed several programs to distribute these funds in ways that will make a lasting impact on Humboldt County’s child care industry, the essential people who work in the industry, and the local economy. Grant funds are administered by the Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), and since September, AEDC has provided nearly $500,00 in grants to local child care providers.

“Child care providers who worked through the pandemic did so in a time that was particularly difficult for them. Besides the developmental challenges of social distancing and masking with toddlers and preschoolers, most centers had to significantly cut the number of children they could serve, impacting their already small income,” said Susan Seaman, program director for AEDC. “During the pandemic, we saw a 30% closure rate of available child care, with at least 6% closing permanently. This grant is to try to support those who held on and are going to continue to serve our workforce.” 

Retention Bonuses For Employees

Any individual who worked in child care or operated a facility between July 1, 2021, and plans to remain in operation until at least June 30, 2023, is eligible for the program. Bonus amounts will be based on the hours you worked during the operation period. 

• Full-Time Employees (21-40 hours/week) - $3,000
• Half-Time Employees (12-20 hours/week) - $2,000

Payments for employees will be made in two installments, one for the period between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. The second installment will be made following the end of the period between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023.

Retention Bonuses For Centers & Family Child Care Providers

Each licensed child care center or family facility that can show that they were open between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023, will be eligible for the retention bonus. Bonus amounts are based on the size and type of facility and are as follows:

• Child Care Centers - $6,000
• Large Family Facility (up to 14 children) - $5,000
• Small Family Facility (up to 8 children) - $4,000

The bonus will be paid in two installations, the first within 60 days of receiving the completed application. The second will be following the end of the eligibility period which is June 30, 2023.

There are still Bonus Retention Program funds available, and providers and caregivers are encouraged to apply. Applications are easy to fill out and are available in both English and Spanish at humboldtchildcare.org. Applicants should be aware that there are tax implications for those who receive Retention Bonus Program funds, and since everyone’s situation is different, awardees are encouraged to work with a tax consultant to understand what this means for them. 

The next local child care grant program to be implemented is a $10,000 forgivable loan program which will allow providers to upgrade child care facilities. This program will open in January 2023, and the county will make an announcement when the application process begins. For more information, please visit humboldtchildcare.org. 

Screenshot of real-time diversions to the Klamath Irrigation Project, from this Bureau of Reclamation website.

Press release from the Yurok and Karuk tribes:

Last week Tribal communities celebrated as Klamath dam removal plans were approved. This week, the celebration was cut short as the Bureau of Reclamation proposed a plan to cut Klamath River flows by 40%.

“We are hurt and frustrated,” said Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers. “We are on the verge of the biggest salmon restoration project in history and now we learn of plans to de-water the river.”

Several consecutive years of drought has led to irrigation diversion curtailments, poor water quality, and fish kills. With mounting political pressure on federal agencies to fill the only water storage feature on the mainstem Klamath, Upper Klamath Lake, the Bureau of Reclamation has floated a proposal to cut river flows by 40% when flows are already below recommended minimums.

“The river is already suffering from inadequate flows. The salmon simply have no more to give,” noted Yurok biologist Barry McCovey. McCovey adds that endangered Coho salmon are currently spawning in the mainstem of the Klamath River because flows in tributaries in which they normally spawn are too low. “Cutting water now will kill salmon eggs, possibly wiping out the entire run.”

Adding insult to injury, the Klamath Drainage District in Klamath Falls, OR is currently diverting nearly 1,000-acre feet of water a day from the Klamath. This diversion is deemed illegal by federal agencies, but so far, no law enforcement agency has acted to stop it.

“We are removing dams and Congress has provided significant restoration dollars to the Klamath, but at the end of the day fish still need water,” said Karuk Chairman Russell ‘Buster’ Attebery. “We call on the Administration to act promptly to stop illegal water diversions.”

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Dec. 16, 2022, at about 1 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a business on the 1600 block of Holly Drive in McKinleyville for the report of a security alarm activation.

Deputies arrived in the area and located 48-year-old John Robert Posey III hiding between parked vehicles. Deputies contacted Posey and learned that he had been siphoning gasoline from vehicles belonging to the business just prior to deputies’ arrival. During a search of Posey incident to arrest, deputies located drug paraphernalia.

Posey was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of tampering with an automobile (VC 10852), trespassing (PC 602(K)), petty theft (PC 488) and possession of drug paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)).

When the price of gas rises, so do the number of gas-theft incidents. Here’s how you can help protect your vehicle:

• Always park in well-lit, well-traveled locations.
• Park in your garage or driveway whenever possible. If you have to park in the street, do so under street lighting near your house.
• Avoid parking in public places for extended periods of time.
• Position your vehicle so the fuel door is seen from a main road.
• Consider installing a locking gas cap, even if your fuel door locks.
• Always lock your vehicle and remove any valuables from sight, even if you are home.
• Consider installing motion-activated security cameras or alarms.
• Remember to call 911 if you see suspicious behavior, such as someone putting a siphon into a gas tank or acting strangely around parked cars.

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.

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Cardboard standees of R2-D2, C-3PO and Wicket the Ewok at the Eureka Visitor Center.

Have you ever wanted cocktails served to you by a Wookie? Maybe your out-of-town relatives would enjoy having an Imperial stormtrooper as their hotel concierge. Or perhaps you just want to see a kid’s face light up when they see the real Endor.

“Star Wars” fanatics could soon journey to the North Coast from far and wide to partake in just such cosplay-enhanced fantasies during a multi-day “Return of the Jedi”-themed festival.

At this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine laid out some of her ideas for growing the local showbiz scene, including plans to develop a three-day community event — tentatively called “Forest Moon Days” — based on our region’s featured role as Endor in the 1983 “Star Wars” sequel “Return of the Jedi.”

“We want it to be like a three day “Star Wars’ community event — sort of like ‘Twilight’ has in Oregon,” Hesseltine said, referring, presumably, to the four-day “Forever Twilight” festival held each September in Forks, Ore Wash.

That festival, themed around the mega-popular teen romance/fantasy film and book series, attracts thousands of tourists each year, Hesseltine said, and she imagines a similar crowd descending on Humboldt and Del Norte. 

The idea, she explained, would be to hold the festival during the first weekend in June to coincide with established events such as Eureka’s Friday Night Market and Arts! Alive. Guest speakers from the film production could potentially be brought in, and the Film Commission would collaborate with local businesses “so we would get everybody to buy into it,” Hesseltine said.

She suggested that employees of local hotels and restaurants might dress up in “Star Wars” garb and maybe serve themed food. (Evidently Ewoks are carnivores who consider human flesh a delicacy, so I dunno, maybe go with a fern theme instead?)

Hesseltine, who first floated this idea more than five years ago, noted that there will be copyright and intellectual property issues to navigate, “and we’d be working with Lucasfilm on that. But this could potentially be a huge tourism activity.”

The Redwood Sky Walk is ready for its closeup. 

The other big item on Hesseltine’s Christmas wishlist is a professional soundstage, a place where film and TV productions could record audio and shoot special effects.

“We’d be the only one between San Francisco and Portland,” she told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. Such a facility would likely entice production teams to our region and keep them here longer, she added, explaining that past Hollywood productions only stuck around long enough to get footage in our natural surroundings.

“‘A Wrinkle in Time’ perhaps would have continued to stay here if we would have had a soundstage, but instead they filmed just the exterior shots [before leaving],” she said.

The Film Commission has been pushing for a soundstage since 2014, and Hesseltine said her “optimistic timeline” would see one up and running by 2024. 

No location for the soundstage has yet been identified. Earlier in Tuesday’s meeting a group of entrepreneurs had seen their dreams of converting a former lumber mill into a cannabis-growing compound go up in smoke, by all appearances, and after Hesseltine’s presentation Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone (jokingly?) suggested that vacant industrial site as an option.

A few film industry professionals and Film Commission employees were on hand to advocate for the soundstage concept. Director/producer and HSU film school grad Tracy Boyd, for example, said there’s enormous potential for Humboldt County to grow as a regional film hub.

“I can personally attest that no single investment can generate that growth more effectively and sustainably than the presence of a soundstage facility,” Boyd said. Shortly thereafter he added, “As the movies have taught us, if you build it, they will come.”

The Film Commission is funded in part through local government subsidies, along with grants. in June 2019, the county approved a new agreement with the commission directing five percent of the local Transient Occupancy Tax and an additional $20,000 annually to promote Humboldt County through programs of film and video productions.

Hesseltine told the supes that over the past dozen years there have been more than 250 film shoots in Humboldt and Del Norte counties, more than 200 of those here in Humboldt. 

“That’s approximately 14 million direct dollars that have come into the community [from] outside of the county,” Hesseltine said.

She also mentioned that she’s hoping to collaborate with local governments to launch some sort of incentive program to lure film productions here via tax breaks, rebates and other financial stimuli. The sci-fi TV series “Eureka” supposedly takes place in our county seat but the production was lured to shoot in Canada by such incentives, according to Hesseltine. 

After the presentation, the board unanimously agreed to extend the county’s professional services agreement with the Film Commission through June of next year. Coincidentally, Hesseltine said there may be “a major studio feature film” production coming here next summer.