[UPDATE: Re-opened With Chains Required] Snow Prompts Closure of State Routes 299 and 199

Ryan Burns / Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 @ 9:42 a.m. / How ‘Bout That Weather

UPDATE, 3:20 p.m.:

Caltrans is reporting that State Route 299 has reopened, though chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drives with snow tires on all four wheels. This applies only to the stretch of road from about three miles west of Willow Creek to the junction with State Route 96.

Meanwhile, travel along State Route 199 has also reopened, though there’s one-way controlled traffic three miles south of the Oregon border due to construction.

Chains or snow tires are required on State Route 36 from 6.3 miles west of Dinsmore to the Humboldt-Trinity County line. 

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Original post:

Traffic cam atop Berry Summit, east of Blue Lake, looking south. | Image via Caltrans.

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If you needed an excuse to hunker down inside your home this Valentine’s Day, the weather is providing one. State Route 299 has been closed east of Blue Lake to Willow Creek due to snow. Likewise, State Route 199 is closed east of Gasquet — same reason.

If you’re heading north, chains are required from Klamath to Crescent City unless you’ve driving a four-wheel vehicle with snow tires installed, and there’s one-way controlled traffic on that stretch.

For the latest road conditions, click here.


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(UPDATE) Stop Stealing the Richards’ Goat Goat

Andrew Goff / Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 @ 9:28 a.m. / Crime

Missing: Goat


UPDATE: Faith in humanity momentarily slightly increased! Says THE GOAT:

“Thanks to the many people who shared our message, the goat has been returned less than 24 hours after posting this! A Valentine’s Day miracle! Thank you, Humboldt!!! Charlie can now continue posing with all the touring bands who come through, cheering on karaoke singers every week, and looking fabulous!”

Great. Goat on. 

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Original Post: Oh, enough of this! Our fair county has already previously mourned the loss of Richards’ Goat’s beloved goat statue only to celebrate its unlikely resurrection. But today we are again reminded that people are prone to suck-ish behavior. 

Over the weekend Charlie the Goat was once again goatnapped by rogues, according to a bummed out post on the Richards’ Goat Facebook page. Here’s a rundown of how the crime went down from the bar’s owners:

“Whatever possessed you to walk into the bar at 11:37 p.m. on Saturday, check the theatre a couple times to see how many people were in there, then put on sunglasses  and sneak our beloved goat statue out of the bar at 11:51, stopping to hide it under a table next to the door for a few minutes, in front of multiple surveillance cameras  We just want it back.”

Richards’ Goat’s post goes on to note that, as has been the case with most local establishments, it’s been a rough period — from “someone randomly driving into our front window, sales down over 70% during the Covid years.” The post goes on to give a description of the perpetrators. 

So keep an eye out for that goat. Or, if you are one of the people who stole it, bring that goat back. After that, no more goat stealing. Thank you. 

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OBITUARY: Robert (Bob) James King, 1937-2023

LoCO Staff / Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 @ 6:56 a.m. / Obits

A life well lived! Robert (Bob) James King passed away in the early morning hours of February 8, 2023, at his home in Pacific Manor. Bob was preceded in death by his loving wife Glendine (Glennie) King, his parents, Howard and Catherine King, and his brother Richard (Dick) King.

Bob was born to Howard and Catherine King in Buffalo, New York on November 15, 1937. At a young age, his family moved all over the country, finally settling in Sherman Oaks. There Bob attended school, eventually receiving a football scholarship to University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). On the field, his Coach called him the toughest guy on the team, both physically and mentally, and off the field Bob joined the Phi Delta Fraternity and earned his Business degree. If you asked Bob about the highlights of his college years, he would have said they were marrying the love of his life, Glennie, in March of 1959, and living in Malibu close to the ocean with his teammates.

Upon graduation from UCLA, Bob landed a job working in management, placing him at a desk inside in Los Angeles. That didn’t last long, Bob was quickly able to find a job as a grade setter that paid the same and he was able to be outdoors, setting him on a path that he never could have imagined. He was noticed quickly, by the owners of the company who were bidding jobs up in Northern California and they asked him to move to Humboldt as a supervisor. Bob and Glennie moved, spending first a short time in Lake County and then landing in Humboldt, where they never looked back! Once in Humboldt, he received his contractor’s license and joined Arthur B. Siri - Hooker & Co., which later became Redwood Empire Aggregates (REA), where he spent 50 years at the helm. As the company grew, they added North Coast Paving and Rock in Del Norte and Parnum Paving in Ukiah. Over the years, Bob received many honors, awards, and acknowledgements, including the 2014 Construction Person of the Year Lifetime Achievement award. “Black Top Bob ” loved construction and the people he worked with, always willing to lend a helping hand, share his expertise or just encourage them to keep on going. In 2010 Bob retired from construction, but those who knew him know that retirement didn’t bring rest but rather just a change in his activities. Bob could be seen on his daily drives that took him through the Arcata Bottoms to Blue Lake to check the River Bar, curving back to McKinleyville to check on property, his horses and grab a bite to eat, driving up to Trinidad to check the ocean and then to Orick, returning back to McKinleyville to meet up with his brother and friends, and ultimately heading home to Arcata just in time for dinner. Bob never sat still.

For many years, Bob sat on the Board at Pacific Union, served as Rotarian, and was a member of the Lutheran Church in Arcata. Bob loved everything about this County, but especially the great outdoors. Bob was an avid hunter and fisherman and in Humboldt had everything he truly loved at his fingertips. He could clam or duck hunt in the morning, fish, or crab in the afternoon, and even sneak in an early evening hunt if he wanted to. If you knew Bob he probably at one time or another, brought you an abalone, smoked salmon, crab, elk meat, venison, or something fresh from his ice chest that he had just caught or shot. Bob loved spending time at his second home in Shelter Cove and his cabin in Covelo. He also loved to backpack in the Marble Mountains with his kids, he would even volunteer to take neighborhood kids along. He rarely left the area, unless it was for hunting, snow and water skiing, or to go abalone diving. Some of his greatest memories were spent on a month-long annual hunting trip in Idaho with his great friends, annual Colorado hunting trips with his sons & grandsons, and many ski trips all over the Country. Bob had a love for all animals as well as ranch life, owning cattle and horses. Each year, Bob looked forward to the cattle drives on horseback in the Trinity Alps, an activity he truly loved to share with friends and family.

Bob is survived by his four children Cindy Graham, Wendy David (Brian), Danny King, Terry King (Tina) and his ten grandchildren, Cassie Graham, Kody King, Taylor King, Kaylee David, Kalyssa King, Cortney Fasnacht (Michael), Hunter Graham, Kandace King, Tanner King and Johanna Graham. He is also survived by four great grandsons (Brentton, Andrew, Tucker, Rayden) and a great granddaughter (Hali). Additionally, by his sister in-laws Joyce King and Lelani Overstreet, brother-in-law Gary Overstreet, and many nieces and nephews. We will forever carry with us Bob’s special love and appreciation for nature and the beauty of God’s magnificent creation.

We want to extend a special thank you to his caregivers, Bernardino and Selena Casarez, and Jennifer Mello, who not only took care of Bob but ensured that he felt loved; we would not have made it the last two and half years without you. To Doctor Senffner and his staff, it was truly a blessing to have you by Bob’s side for so many years!

A visitation will be held at Paul’s Chapel - 1070 H St., Arcata — from 4 to 7 p.m. on February 17 and a family graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on February 18 at Greenwood Cemetery – 1757 J St., Arcata. We hope that you can join us for a celebration of Bob’s life on April 15 at 1 p.m., at the Ingomar Club – 134 M St., Eureka.

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



OBITUARY: John Prevost, 1940-2023

LoCO Staff / Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 @ 6:56 a.m. / Obits

John Prevost
December 14, 1940 -January 1, 2023

John Prevost of Fortuna passed away on January 1 surrounded by family. John was the first of six children born in Kansas City, Missouri to James and Kathleen Prevost. He is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Deborah Prevost, his daughter Kathleen (Kevin) Moisan, son John Prevost, stepdaughter Cortney Prevost Clendening (Ron Bissell), his granddaughter Clare Moisan, grandsons John Prevost and Elijah Clendening, siblings Rita Smith (John), Jim Prevost (Kay), Tom Prevost (Helen), and Helen Prevost and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Cecilia Prevost.

John graduated from high school at 15 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. While in the Navy he attended North Carolina State earning a degree in electrical engineering. He served on diesel and nuclear submarines for most of his career. He was one of the first enlisted men to make the transition to officer on a nuclear submarine. On one patrol, his submarine docked in Humboldt Bay and he fell in love with the area. He retired from the Navy in 1978 as a Lieutenant Commander.

After leaving the Navy, he worked at Lockheed in Sunnyvale during which time he also earned his MBA from Pepperdine. He married Debbie in 1983 and they moved to Fortuna in 1984. He worked at the Ultrapower power plant in Blue Lake before his 17-year employment with Pacific Lumber Co., where he was an Assistant Superintendent of the power plant and Director of Environmental Services. He retired in 2003.

In 1990, John was elected to the Fortuna City Council and served for four years. During his time on the City Council, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the California League of Cities. He also served on the Fortuna Planning Commission for several years.

John spent his years of retirement doing many of his favorite things. He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed reading historical fiction about European naval wartime. He was a devoted family man who especially loved telling stories from his time in the Navy, a competitive game of darts, cribbage, dominoes, backgammon, and a good shake of the dice with his wife, kids, grandkids, or friends. John and Debbie created great memories spending a month in the British Isles, visiting New England in the fall, and touring National Parks in Utah to name a few of their travel destinations.

John loved his family and friends and will be missed.

Per his final wishes, John will be buried at sea in a committal service performed on a United States Navy vessel while deployed.

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



OBITUARY: Kathy Gale English, 1954-2023

LoCO Staff / Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 @ 6:56 a.m. / Obits

Kathy Gale English
Oct. 3, 1954-Feb. 10, 2023

We are saddened that our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend to many, Kathy Gale English, age 68 of McKinleyville, spread her wings on February 10, 2023, listening to “Wind Beneath my Wings”, after a very short and courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family throughout her short battle.

She was born on October 3, 1954, in Scotia to Floyd (“Bud”) and Pauline Jester. She graduated in 1972 from McKinleyville High School in McKinleyville. She was an avid gymkhana equestrian, and she was good. She had a room full of first place trophies and much more. Her love for the sport was endless. She worked at Lewis Department Store in McKinleyville while in high school and after.

She married the love of her life at the time; Larry Roth, Sr. on June 16, 1973, in Reno; they resided in McKinleyville to start a family. In 1977, she gave birth to her one and only child, Larry Ray Roth, Jr., whom she was always so proud of no matter what he did. He was her pride and joy and biggest and greatest accomplishment. They had a bond that no one could break. She had only one son, but her nephew, Shane Roth, was like a second son to her and she cared for him and his family just as much.

She worked for Arcata Planning with her husband Larry Sr., then she ventured off to work for Blue Lake Forrest Products in Blue Lake. She took time out of her career to be one of her mother’s care providers. In July of 2006 she decided to change things up and go work for Franz Bakery in Eureka. There she made many friends, from her coworkers to her customers. She was recently talking about retirement but never could pull the trigger because she knew she wanted to stay active and busy and would miss all her friends she had made. She was a hard worker.

When she wasn’t working, she loved to spend time with her son, grandkids, family and friends. In 2015 her son married wife Kimberly Rossig Roth and in 2017 her granddaughter graced her with her presence, then in 2020 she was graced with her grandson. The memories that we all have, and share are numerous and unforgettable. Up until the day of her diagnosis she was working fulltime at Franz Bakery in Eureka and she would get on the floor and play games with her grandkids. The memories of coloring, playing play dough, feeding the horse and racing in the yard will always be with us.

She leaves a legacy of a son, Larry Roth, Jr. married to Kimberly Rossig Roth, step grandson Brent Rossig, granddaughter Taya Roth, granddaughter Kaydence Rossig Roth, grandson Karter Rossig Roth, sister Diane Resendes (Joe Resendes), Brother-in-law Tony Roth, nephew Shane Roth (Gina Roth) and their family, along with extended family and many good friends. She is preceded in death by her father Floyd Jester, mother Pauline Jester, and sister Shirley Ann Roth. As per Kathy’s wishes there will not be any services, but her son may decide to have a BBQ which will be announced later. Spread your wings and fly.

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



OBITUARY: Merry Marie Pack, 1962-2023

LoCO Staff / Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 @ 6:56 a.m. / Obits

Merry was born August 1, 1962, in Eureka. Merry passed away unexpectedly at home February 7, 2023 in Hoopa.

Merry spent most of her childhood living in Sunnyvale, California where she attended high school. After high school she traveled around working for the carnival. Finally settling in Hoopa in 1988 with her three sons.

Merry spent many years working for the Hoopa Volunteer Fire Department serving the residents of the Hoopa Valley until she was diagnosed with COPD. She was a very compassionate woman who touched all those around her with kindness and love. There is nothing Merry loved more than to be a grandmother. She loved each of her grandchildren and will always be “Grammie” to all who needed a mother or grandmother in their life.

Merry was preceded in death by her beloved grandparents Dorothy and Vern Westphal; her mother, Shirley “Honey” Brownell; her father, James Thomas Markin III; as well as her grandson, James Michael Richard Pack Jr.

Merry is survived by her three sons — Marty Paul Pack Jr and his wife Amanda Reed, James Michael Richard Pack Sr and his wife Carly Pack and Daniel Ray Pack and his wife Natasha Campos-Pack; and daughters Sandra Vader and her husband Raymond Vader Sr, Serena Westbrook, Crystal Jourden and her busband Randy Jourden; and Merry’s three brothers: James Markin IV, Tim Markin and David Markin; Merry’s sisters Darlene Stevens and Sherry Markin.

Merry was a devoted grandmother to Alexandra Nix-Pack, Thomas Nix-Pack, Ruby McCovey, Jillian Marshall, Rindy Marshall-Cossey, Xatimniim ”Max” Pack, Owen Pack, Abbie Reed, Ava Reed, Anaiah andreoli, Stephanie Schaum, Elizabeth Schaum, Breanna Schaum, Will Schaum, Drew Schaum, Shelbi Pack, Isaiah Pack, Jesus Campos, Margarita Campos, Alicia Campos, Victor Campos, Asela Gonzalez, Jose Gonzalez, Temptation Asenbauer, Infallible Asenbauer, Awa-a-way Vader and Raymond Vader Jr.; as well as great-grandchildren Annie Marie Nix-Pack-Lara, Aaliyah Faith Nix-Pack-Woodman, Aurora Violet Nix-Pack-Woodman, and Faith Marie Nix-Pack, Catherine Westbrook, Christian Westbrook and Kianna Westbrook.

She is also survived by her aunts: Marcy Casey and her husband Tim Casey and Sandra Kagay; her uncle Lloyd Douglass and his wife Anna Douglass; along with numerous cousins, adopted family and friends.

Merry Marie Pack Passed away unexpectedly on February 7, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of love and kindness that will never be forgotten. Her family takes comfort in knowing that she is reunited in heaven with those whom she loved so deeply from this world. May she rest peacefully knowing that we will remember her always.

Services will be held Tuesday February 14,, 2023, at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Hoopa at noon. Reception will follow directly after the service at Hoopa Valley Trading Post.

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



OBITUARY: Katherine Annette Martin, 1947-2023

LoCO Staff / Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 @ 6:56 a.m. / Obits

Katherine Annette Martin, 75, a resident of Fortuna, passed away on January 3, 2023. She was born on March 19, 1947, to Martin B. Marks and Wanda M. Altree and was raised in Scotia along with her brothers, Chris Marks (married to Nancy Marks) of Walla Walla, Washington, who preceded her in death, and Skip Marks (married to Sue Marks) of Meridian, Idaho. She graduated from Fortuna Union High School in 1965.

She was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend who was an avid collector who loved being able to help others in finding things they are looking for as well. Many friends of her kids and grandkids, whom she loved just like her own, also referred to her as Mom or Nana. Many will miss her stories, giving nature, quick wit, sarcasm, and different perspective about life and the world around us.

She was blessed with and survived by three children: Kim Lyons of Salyer, Anthony Martin (married to Tamra Martin) of Grants Pass, Oregon, and Raena Mullan of San Mateo. She had seven grandchildren: Macey Randall (married to Nick Randall) of Eureka, Trevor Mullan of Eureka, Andrew Martin of Bethlehem, Penn., Connor Mullan of San Mateo, Shane Mullan of San Mateo, Sara Martin of Grants Pass, Ore., Sophia Martin of Grants Pass, Ore., and two great-grandchildren: Maya and Emmett Randall of Eureka.

Honoring Katherine’s wishes, she wanted no funeral services. She will be cremated and her ashes scattered in Scotia this summer. A celebration of life will be held on April 15, 2023 at the Royal Crest Mobile Estates Clubhouse in Fortuna at 2 p.m.

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