Above: 3D map showing the latest Butler Fire perimeter | AG 

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Press release from the Six Rivers National Forest:

Butler Fire Acreage: 3,971

Butler Fire Containment: 0%

Red Fire Acreage: 113

Red Fire Containment: 35%

Operational Update: California Team 1 (CA-CIMT 1) will assume command of the Orleans Complex today at 6 p.m.

• Butler Fire: Last night, crews successfully completed firing operations to gently back the fire down into the Butler Flat area. The operation resulted in creeping, low intensity fire behavior and successfully met the objective to help protect the Butler Flat community and Salmon River Road. Today, crews will monitor fire from last night’s operations. As the fire moves down the Nordheimer Creek drainage, a similar operation may occur if conditions allow and it is safe to do so. A spike camp has been set up for crews working in the Forks of Salmon area. Today, the Butler and Nordheimer Structure Groups will continue to protect communities and infrastructure along the Salmon River Road with hoselays, pumps and water tanks. Crews will continue to work southwest of Forks of Salmon to scout and re-open lines from the 2024 Boise Fire. Preliminary reconnaissance of the southern portion of the fire is also planned today. A safety plan is in place for the Salmon River Road with coordination with Siskiyou County Roads, Office of Emergency Services (OES), Sheriff’s Office, and the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests. In close coordination with operations, county road personnel will be clearing debris from the road to keep the roadway open and safe for users. Air resources will continue to provide critical support.

• Red Fire: The Red Fire is holding at approximately 113 acres with containment increased to 35%. Smokejumpers and crews are continuing to make good progress on fireline construction. They are methodically working around the complexities located at the bottom right side the fire as the terrain drops off steeply into Blue Creek. Air resources are assisting operations for the Red Fire. More Cultural resource specialists and resource advisors have arrived to work with the firefighters in that area.

Evacuations:

• Butler Fire: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office has evacuation warnings and orders in place for the Butler Fire. An Evacuation Order has been issued for zones SIS-1703 (no residents), SIS-1704 (Butler Creek, Lewis Creek, Bloomer Mine residents and Nordheimer Campground), SIS-1803-A (no residents) and SIS-1707-A. Zone SIS-1707-B remains under a Warning, but residents are advised to be prepared as the situation evolves.

• Red Fire: No evacuations in place or structures threatened.

Closures:

• Butler Fire: Residents should be prepared for potential traffic controls or full closures along the road between Butler Flat and Nordheimer Campground. Nordheimer and Oak Bottom Campgrounds are both closed.

• Red Fire: No closures or road impacts.

Weather & Fire Behavior: With the marine influence, relative humidities remained in the 60s which was higher than originally predicted. The inversion layer present will play a key role in determining site- specific fire behavior. In the valleys and lower slopes, weather will remain cool and smoky. However, on the upper slopes and ridges, weather will be hotter with more exposure to afternoon north-northwest gusts up to 20 MPH. Temperatures are expected to increase significantly starting today with a heat wave in the area ramping up over the weekend. Residents who are sensitive to heat and smoke are advised to take extra precaution and limit exposure over the coming days.

Fire Safety & Prevention: Increasing temperatures this weekend will dry out fuels and increase potential fire danger. On hot summer days, being by the river or in the forest recreating can provide some relief. If you are in the forest, please use caution with anything that can spark a wildfire! The Six Rivers National Forest is not currently in fire restrictions. However, campfires should never be left unattended and should be dead out and cool to the touch before leaving. Take the time to make sure that trailer chains are properly secured and not dragging before driving. Don’t drive over or park on dry grass. Please report suspected wildfires by calling 911.

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Press release from the City of Arcata:

The City of Arcata is notifying the community that the Steel Waterline Replacement Project is set to begin the week of Monday, July 14.

This project involves the removal and replacement of aging water infrastructure and service lines throughout town. Work extents are spread throughout various locations within City limits. Businesses, property owners and tenants will receive a notice on their door 72-hours prior to start of work and “no parking” signs will be posted a minimum of 48 hours prior to start of work. Temporary water will be provided to affected properties during interruption of service. The City of Arcata has contracted with McCullough Construction for this project.

The first phase of this work will begin along Antoine Avenue, Antoinette Court and Martha Court. In the beginning of August, work is anticipated to begin in the Westwood Subdivision along Wyatt Lane, Stromberg Avenue, Roberts Way and Stewart Avenue. The City will update the project construction website monthly with upcoming dates and locations of work as the project progresses, which can be found at cityofarcata.org/current-construction.

Construction will take place Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on some days the contractor may extend work hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Controlled one-way traffic and temporary road closures will occur during hours of construction, however, efforts will be made to maintain pedestrian access throughout the project. Limitations to on-street parking accessibility adjacent to work sites are expected.

The community is encouraged to sign up for notifications on the City’s CodeRED page for announcements and notifications of any active construction projects. If problems are encountered with this project, please contact McCullough Construction at (707) 825-1014 or the City of Arcata Building and Engineering Department at (707) 825-2128.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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After years of soaring rents, increasingly out-of-reach home prices and an enduring homelessness crisis that touches every corner of the state, California is finally creating a state agency exclusively focused on housing issues.

You might wonder what took so long.

Earlier this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced a proposal to split up the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency — an awkward grabbag of disparate bureaucratic operations — into two fresh agencies: One just for housing and homelessness-related departments and one for everything else.

The Legislature had until July 4 to veto the plan. It didn’t (though some Republicans tried). Now the work of standing up California’s first housing agency begins.

Supporters of the bureaucratic reshuffle say the move is long overdue. In surveys, Californians regularly name housing costs and homelessness as among the state’s top concerns. That alone warrants the creation of a new cabinet-level adviser to the governor, said Ray Pearl, executive director of the California Housing Consortium, which advocates for affordable housing development.

“A cabinet-level secretary who will sit with other cabinet secretaries, whose purview will be housing … that is elevating the agenda to the highest level,” he said.

Pearl, like virtually every expert interviewed for this article about the new agency, described the reorganization as “just the first step” in bringing much-needed order and efficiency to California’s network of funding programs for affordable housing.

“Simply moving people around and giving them a new business card doesn’t change the system,” he said.

A spokesperson for the governor stressed that the creation of a new housing agency is part of a broader effort by Newsom to prioritize one of California’s most vexing issues. Since taking the helm of state government in 2018, the governor has ramped up pressure on local governments to plan for more housing, urged them to clear encampments of unhoused Californians and pushed for legislation aimed at ramping up construction.

“This is the first administration to make this a part of our everyday conversation — putting a magnifying glass on the issue of homelessness and finding ways to effectively address it. These structural and policy changes are going to create a generational impact,” said spokesperson Tara Gallegos.

Among the seven cabinet-level agencies, the BCSH has always seemed like the “everything else” wing of state government. Affordable housing grantmakers, lenders and urban planning regulators share agency letterhead with cannabis and alcohol industry overseers, professional licensors, car mechanic watchdogs and everyone at the California Horse Racing Board.

“We used to call it ‘The Island of Misfit Toys,’” said Claudia Cappio, who ran both the California Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing and Community Development in the years immediately before and after 2012 when both were packed into the newly created BCSH. “Imagine a staff meeting of all those things … I learned a lot about horse racing.”

How many financing systems is too many?

Aside from giving housing and homelessness its own box atop Newsom’s organizational chart, the chief selling point of the reorganization has been to simplify the state’s hydra of affordable housing financing systems.

Currently, there is one state organization where affordable housing developers apply for loans, another where they go for most grants, a third where they apply for the federal tax credits that builders use to entice private investors to back their projects and a fourth for the bonds needed to secure many of those credits. This doesn’t include one-off programs for veterans, transit-oriented development and short-term housing for homeless people, which are sprinkled across state government.

Complicating things further, the tax credit and bond funding programs — the backbone of funding for affordable housing development across the country — aren’t even under the governor’s control. Those programs are run by the state’s independently elected treasurer.

“Many, many states have what is essentially a housing finance agency that controls the majority of affordable housing funds,” said Sarah Karlinsky, who directs research at UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation. California’s programs are split up, which is unusual.

Beyond that, “what makes California so unique,” said Karlinksy, “is the fact that the resources are spread across two different constitutional officers.”

That fragmentation appears to be adding to the cost of construction in California. A Terner Center analysis this spring estimated that each additional public funding source delays a project by, on average, four months, and adds an additional $20,460 in costs per unit.

Affordable housing construction is already distinctly expensive here. Building a publicly funded project in California costs more than 2.5 times more per square foot than in both Texas and Colorado, a recent report from the Rand Institute found.

The dance of secretaries

Will the new housing agency solve that problem? Not everyone is convinced.

Of the many ways in which the scarcity of affordable housing affects most people, “the lines on the org chart” don’t crack the “top 100 list,” Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, a Napa Democrat, said about the governor’s proposal at a hearing in March.

Cabaldon noted that executive reorganizations are a semi-regular feature of California governance. The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency is itself the product of a reorganization which spun off California’s independent transportation agency.

“The dance of the secretaries we do constantly, always with grand ambitions,” said Cabaldon. “Simply saying that it’s going to cause more focus, that it will be streamlined, that it will cause leadership level action — but how?”

As written, the new housing agency will consist of the current agency’s housing-related entities along with a new Affordable Housing Finance Committee, which will be tasked with coordinating the housing subsidy programs currently under the governor’s control.

But the major funding sources managed by the treasurer’s office will remain where they are. The California constitution wouldn’t have allowed Newsom to commandeer those functions from the independent treasurer even had he wanted to.

That’s a significant shortcoming, according to the Little Hoover Commission, the state government’s independent oversight agency, which reviewed the governor’s plan before it was passed along to the Legislature. In its final report, the commission recommended that the governor and treasurer strike a formal deal to “create a unified application and review process” for all the affordable finance programs under their respective purviews.

Neither the governor’s office nor the office of state Treasurer Fiona Ma would say if or how they are pursuing that goal.

A single, unified application for every one of California’s public affordable housing funding programs has been the bureaucratic holy grail of California affordable developers and policy wonks since at least the mid-1990s. Though the reorganization stops short of requiring that, it set up both constitutional offices to better coordinate in the future, said Matt Schwartz, president of the California Housing Partnership, a nonprofit that advocates for affordable housing.

“There’s going to be a bit of diplomacy” between the two executive branches to work out a joint application, said Schwartz, who spoke to CalMatters earlier this year after the governor first introduced the proposal. “That’s the longer-term prize that many of us will be pushing to come out of this process.”

Some affordable housing advocates have urged lawmakers to be cautious in mushing the various bureaucracies together.

In a letter to four powerful Democratic legislators, the California Housing Consortium stressed that the application systems administered by the treasurer’s office already “function extremely well.”

That process “is not broken and doesn’t need fixing,” said Pearl, the consortium’s director. Before monkeying with it, he said, “let’s get the agency set up.”

Pearl and the consortium also noted that past legislation has already mandated the creation of a working group to propose a consolidated application. The findings of that group are due on July 1, 2026. That’s the same day the current BCSH is set to officially dissolve and the two new agencies will take its place.

That’s also just five months before statewide elections will be held to replace Newsom and Ma, giving voters a chance to decide who will shape the future of affordable housing policy in California.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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For California progressives, Zohran Mamdani’s New York City mayoral bid offers something of a formula to follow.

When the 33-year-old democratic socialist pulled off a historic upset in the primary last month, Golden State progressives rejoiced. Some deemed his victory a sign that they do not need to pivot to the center to resonate with voters as many California leaders have in recent years.

“It gets people to say … ‘Maybe I can actually be myself and do this,’” said Neel Sannappa, chair of the California Democratic Party’s progressive caucus and an organizer with the Working Families Party, which supports universal health care, the Green New Deal and taxing the rich.

Mamdani is young and charismatic. He chatted people up in the streets with an army of volunteers, drew a cult following with young voters and built a solid base among middle- and upper-class progressives. It helped that his main opponent, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was embroiled in sexual harassment allegations.

But Mamdani’s victory may be much harder to replicate in California, where progressives have had some success — like when U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont won California handily in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary — but have struggled to fully break through.

“Do I see a Mamdani-like election somewhere in 2026 here in California? Potentially,” said Michael Trujillo, a Democratic strategist who worked on former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s campaigns and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

“But if that person exists, they haven’t emerged yet.”

Over the years, California progressives have failed to gain more influence within the state Democratic Party. Voters have rejected left-leaning ballot measures and progressive legislation has stalled. Fueled by frustration over crime and homelessness, voters have recalled progressive district attorneys and elected moderate local leaders.

California progressives who spoke to CalMatters primarily faulted their lack of success on the political influence of corporations, arguing that special interests have spent big to elbow out left-wing Democrats. They pointed to Sacramento’s mayoral race last November, where business-backed Democrat Kevin McCarty defeated his left-leaning opponent Flo Cofer after outspending her two-to-one. Nationwide, progressive members of Congress such as Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York lost to well-funded primary opponents.

The sheer vastness of California also makes it hard to mount effective door-knocking campaigns like Mamdani’s.

“There’s no doubt that Zohran is a unicorn,” said Jane Kim, head of the Working Families Party in California. “There are unicorns that break out that are able to fly at an altitude that’s very hard for us to reach.”

But progressive strategists and candidates argue that Mamdani’s victory demonstrates a desire for a departure from the establishment. They argue that there is a path to victory if they present themselves as agents of change and craft relatable messages that resonate with the working class, especially on affordability.

“(Mamdani) made the campaign not about progressive vs. moderate. He made it about change vs. the status quo,” said Saikat Chakrabarti, a progressive seeking to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco next year. He is the former chief of staff to progressive U.S. Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“People are sick of the status quo,” he said. “I’m the change candidate.”

Changing the electorate

The California electorate, though relatively liberal compared to other states, is not as liberal as portrayed nationwide and has shifted rightward in recent years, said Christian Grose, political science professor at the University of Southern California.

Just last year, Californians embraced tougher penalties for petty crimes, elected leaders promising harder crackdown on homelessness and rejected progressive policies aiming to rein in rent increases, end forced prison labor and increase the minimum wage.

“Progressives and Democrats and Republicans would all be very foolish not to be courting the youth vote. The problem is that they all do a generally pretty bad job.”
— Mindy Romero, founder and director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California

“Even the most progressive or socialist Democrats, if they want to win statewide, they have to reach all those coalition groups in the Democratic electorate, some of which are very progressive and some of which are not,” Grose said.

While much of California’s population is renters and aspiring homeowners, its voters are skewed heavily toward older homeowners, who could view things like rent control and social housing as threats to their quality of life, Grose noted. Homeowners account for almost 70% of likely voters, whereas renters account for only 30%, according to a Public Policy Institute of California survey.

“One path for progressives to win would actually be to change the electorate, to get more renters to turn out, to get more young people to turn out,” Grose said.

That’s what Mamdani sought to do in New York City, and data suggest he succeeded, beating Cuomo in neighborhoods with more young people, many of whom said they liked his affordability policies. As the city pondered rent increases, Mamdani ran on a platform of freezing rent and creating more affordable housing and won 46% of the vote in renter-heavy neighborhoods, Bloomberg reported.

“Progressives and Democrats and Republicans would all be very foolish not to be courting the youth vote. The problem is that they all do a generally pretty bad job of courting the youth vote,” said Mindy Romero, founder and director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California.

Following the November election, California’s young Democrats expressed frustration that their party isn’t doing enough to resonate with their peers, arguing that candidates should take progressive stances on issues such as the war in Gaza and transgender rights, focus on reaching young people on social media and campuses and simplify their affordability message.

“It can’t be an afterthought,” Romero said.

Anti-corporate messaging

Many who spoke to CalMatters hope their firm stance against accepting money from corporate donors will resonate. More than half of California voters “strongly agree” that special interest money has too much sway in state politics, according to a poll released Thursday by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Though affiliated with the Working Families Party, Randy Villegas, who is challenging GOP U.S. Rep. David Valadao in the swing 22nd Congressional District, hesitates to call himself a progressive. The district is one where only moderate Democrats have managed to come close to victory in the past decade.

Instead, Villegas said his path to victory lies in his “economic populist,” anti-wealthy message that focuses on making life easier for the working class. Villegas has sworn off corporate political action committee money, a gesture of authenticity that Sannappa said corporate-backed Democrats do not share.

“You are not having to curtail what you say because some donor that gave you $2,700 in Beverly Hills thinks this certain way about this certain thing,” he said.

“We cannot claim to champion the working class … if we are receiving money from the same corporate PACs that Republicans are receiving money from,” Villegas said.

But Romero said that messaging mostly works with voters who are already aligned with the candidate.

“Not everybody agrees corporate money is bad. They need to be shown exactly what that means for their pocket book, for their family’s well being, or their family’s safety,” Romero said.

Pro-Palestine protesters arrive at the state Democratic Party Convention event center at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento on Nov. 17, 2023. Protestors marched through the streets of downtown, calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Photo by Rahul Lal for CalMatters

And while Democrats widely use the anti-corporate PAC pledge to signal their willingness to stand up to special interests, that promise still allows them to accept other corporate dollars, such as contributions from executives or trade groups.

When asked whether the party would change its approach to accepting corporate donations or shift to the left to address progressives, California Democratic Party Chairperson Rusty Hicks did not address his party’s plans.

“The California Democratic Party has been and will continue to be home to the diverse voices that best represent the Golden State,” he wrote in an emailed statement. “California Democrats are squarely focused on delivering for all Californians – in the halls of government, in places of work and in every community. That’s what voters are expecting of us. And we aim to deliver.”

Will Trump provide the momentum?

Progressives in California are hoping that President Donald Trump, who has executed much more sweeping immigration and economic policies than in his first term, drives voters toward “bold,” left-wing candidates.

“It becomes this populist opportunity to really frame the economy in a way that works for working people and not for the more moderate problem solvers … that tend to be a lot more pro-business,” said Danielle Cendejas, a progressive consultant in Los Angeles.

But it is not a given that progressives would receive a greater boost than other Democrats, Grose said.

“I think it’s more about someone who can effectively take on Trump,” he said. “The politics is secondary.”

Edris ‘Lavada’ Glavich was welcomed into God’s loving arms with family singing her favorite hymns at her side on March 10, 2025, in Eureka. She was 92 years old. Lavada was born on July 18, 1932, in Olustee, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Otto and Emma (Weems) Watts, both from Oklahoma. She loved her lord and was a founding member of the Eureka Church of Christ.

Lavada’s parents, like so many others from Oklahoma, migrated to California when Lavada was three years old due to the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, where they sought better opportunities in California’s agriculture. They worked hard to provide for their family, and when World War II erupted, they moved to Richmond, to work in the city’s booming shipyards. After the war ended, they relocated once again to Eureka, where they remained, loved, and lived life to its fullest.

Lavada eloped with high school sweetheart Raymond Glavich in October 1950 in Reno, Nevada. Within a year of their marriage, Ray was drafted in the Korean War. Within months after Ray left, she gave birth to their first of five children, Dana. During this time, Lavada lived with her parents and began her first job at Marrion’s Florist (later to become Eureka Florist). Upon Ray’s return in 1953, she left her career as a florist to stay at home and raise her growing family. During this period, she continued to donate her time by creating wedding flowers for family and friends. Lavada returned to work in 1977 at Eureka Florist, where she continued until her retirement in 2003. During her employment, she formed many close friendships and developed a strong bond with her work family. She worked for her close friend, Peggy Lemos VanDoorn, and, as the florist changed hands, she continued to work for Pat Sanders & Jan Westlund, and finally for Mary Lou Goodwin and Kris Chorbi.

Lavada loved being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and caring for her family. She had an infectious laugh, a wonderful smile, awesome dimples, and lived life to the fullest. Lavada did not have a single mean bone in her body! She loved flowers and was known throughout her family and friends for her hand-written notes and cards, as well as her Blackberry Pie, Jam and Sausage Breakfast Rolls.

Since 1990, Lavada truly enjoyed her monthly luncheons with the Eureka High School “Lunch Bunch,” which was started by the class of 1950.

Lavada is survived by her sisters, Kay Bonner and Kathy Scriven, her son Dana and his wife Lynette, son Kerry and his wife Merijean, son Jeffrey and his wife Mary, daughter Holly and her husband Ron, son Andrew and his wife Cindy, along with grandchildren, Nathan Glavich and wife Tamara, Derek Glavich and his wife Rachel, Marcia Brady and her husband Carson, Hallyann Roper and her husband James, Don Glavich and his wife Mary, Linden Glavich and his wife Abbygail, Jason Skipper and his wife Shayna, Josh Skipper and his wife Ginny, Alexa Stefanakis and her partner Alex, Dimitri Stefanakis, Gabrielle Daysog and her husband Drew, Molly Glavich and Carson Glavich.

Lavada was blessed with 22 great-grandchildren. Lavada’s family meant the world to her.

She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as many cousins, including the Rosser family, with whom she was very close.

Reunited with loved ones who have gone on before her, parents Otto and Emma Watts, her brothers, Eldon, Dave, and Kenny Watts, and her “special sister” Barbara Glavich.

Lavada’s family is especially grateful to Sherry Reeves and Caren Matlock, who visited Lavada often over the last two months of her life. And special thanks for all the cards that Lavada received in the last stages of her illness. If you knew Lavada, you’ve probably received many cards from her over the years!

A celebration of life for Lavada will be held on July 19 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Christ, 16th and I Streets, in Eureka, with a reception to follow immediately.

Frank Arruda, Jr.
December 30, 1930 – July 4, 2025

Frank Arruda, Jr., “Sarge” a proud United States Marine, Corps veteran and beloved husband, stepfather, grandfather, great-grandfather (and known to family as “the Godfather”) passed away peacefully at home in Eureka on July 4, 2025, at the age of 94, of natural causes. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Rhode Island on December 30, 1930, Frank was the oldest of nine children. In 1946, his family relocated to California in search of new opportunities. In 1952, Frank enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps, where he began a distinguished 21-year military career that took him across the country and around the world. Frank rose to the rank of Master Sergeant and served honorably in Korea, Vietnam, and stationed in multiple bases throughout the World, specializing in aircraft mechanics and metalwork. During his tour in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, he managed the Metal Shop at Marble Mountain Marine Corps Air Facility, often working under direct enemy fire to keep helicopters in the air. After his father’s passing, he returned to the U.S. and completed his military service in Jacksonville, North Carolina, retiring in 1973. Upon his return to Eureka, Frank began a second career at Redwood Kenworth, where he worked in inventory and parts management, retiring after two decades.

Frank was deeply committed to helping others whenever he could. This dedication led him to become involved with several fraternal and community organizations, including the Moose Lodge, the Portuguese Society, the Masonic Lodge, and the Order of the Eastern Star. He served as a Past President of the Portuguese Society and was a long-time flag bearer for the Arcata Eastern Star Chapter. In 2016, Frank was honored by Six Rivers Masonic Lodge, #106, with one of Masonry’s highest awards—the Hiram Award—for his service and dedication. He shared many joyful moments with his brothers and sisters from these organizations. For those of us who knew Frank, his positive outlook and generous spirit will continue to inspire us.

In 1988, he married the love of his life, Jean White, and the two shared 37 joyful years together filled with travel, and family. They especially enjoyed vacations to Maui, cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean and Mexico, and any time spent with their large extended family. There would always be laughter, singing and guitar playing anytime the siblings got together. Frank is survived by his wife, Jean Arruda, and three stepsons: Jeff White and Lisa McCombs, David and Lisa White, and Jim and Lori White. He leaves behind a legacy of love through his grandchildren and great-grandchildren:

• Matthew White, with great-granddaughters Lily and Quinn
• John Brown and Morgan Brown
• Vincent and Jenn Gulick, with great-grandchildren Maddie, Zach, and Jacob
• Daniel and Tiffany Gulick, with great-grandchildren Makenzie, Grant, and Carter
• Keith and Paige White, with great-grandchildren James and Emma
• John and Tawnya White, with great-grandson Trent
• Krisha and Cameryn White, with great-granddaughter Briella

Frank is also survived by his sister Emmie Arruda Peterson and her husband John, his brother Leonard Arruda and wife Debbie, and his sisters-in-law Judy Arruda and Pat Arruda. And his best friend Angelo and Roberta Marcelli along with many nieces and nephews who adored him.

A special thank you to Franks caregivers: Holly, Rosie, and Hospice of Humboldt. Masonic services will be Monday, July 14, 10 a.m. at Goble’s Funeral Home (560 12th St., Fortuna), followed by graveside Military Honors at Sunset Memorial Park (3975 Broadway St., Eureka).

Pall Bearers: Vincent Gulick, Daniel Gulick, Keith White, Matthew White, John White and Krisha White.

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College of the Redwoods (CR) announced today that they’d reached a deal with the Humboldt County Fairgrounds to use their facilities for their new rodeo program, which was announced last year but hasn’t started competing yet. According to Molly Blakemore, director of marketing and communications at CR, the fairgrounds aren’t charging CR for use of their facilities, but CR will be paying for upgrades to their lighting systems and cattle chutes out of a $100,000 fund CR set aside for the program.

Press release from CR: 

College of the Redwoods (CR) is kicking off its inaugural rodeo season this fall with a major partnership that gives the new team a home base for training and growth. CR and the Humboldt County Fair Association (HCFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), allowing R Rodeo to practice, train, and house their animals at the historic Ferndale Fairgrounds starting August 1, 2025.

“This is a milestone collaboration for our rodeo community,” said Interim Athletic Director Ryan Bisio. “We’re so thankful to the wonderful folks at the Ferndale Fairgrounds for sharing our vision and giving our rodeo athletes a home. Years of dedicated work by many people has created this exciting outcome. I know our coaches and student-athletes can’t wait to get started at the Fairgrounds next month – with their eyes set on our inaugural intercollegiate competitions this fall.”

The agreement allows CR’s growing rodeo team — currently three men and one woman, with more student-athletes actively being recruited — to utilize the arena and related facilities for practices and training from late August through mid-June. The team will also have access to stalls for their horses and the opportunity to host one off-site rodeo event each year.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with College of the Redwoods to bring collegiate rodeo practices to the Humboldt County Fairgrounds for the first time,” said Moira Kenny, CEO of the Humboldt County Fair Association. “This exciting collaboration celebrates our shared roots in agriculture and western tradition while supporting the next generation of student-athletes. This partnership represents a new chapter in our mission to support youth and community programming, and we’re honored to provide a home for CR’s rodeo athletes to train and grow. It’s exciting to see the fairgrounds continue to evolve as a hub for tradition, education, and western heritage.”

CR has also proposed improvements to the arena facilities as part of the partnership, aimed at enhancing usability and safety for both student-athletes and community members.

With its inaugural season on the horizon, the CR Rodeo Team is positioning itself as an exciting new chapter in the college’s athletics program and a point of pride for Humboldt County’s agricultural and western heritage.