Audrey Mary Campbell Sandberg
November 2, 1918 - June 24, 2023

Audrey Sandberg was born November 2, 1918, in Weaverville and grew up in Trinity County. She passed away at home with her family by her side on June 24, 2023, in Eureka, at the age of 104.

Audrey attended Fortuna High School, graduating with the Class of 1936. She married Kenneth W. Sandberg in 1940 and they were blessed with two daughters, Lynette Sandberg Sheldrake and Ava Sandberg Vizenor.

Audrey was a self-described stay-at-home mom who was active in her daughters’ school PTA at Lincoln Elementary. She served as a Blue Bird Troop Leader and helped in the school cafeteria. She then went to work outside the home, and held various jobs over the years, including cooking for Eureka City Schools, and working for Kennedy’s Office Supply, Warren Starkey & Gray Insurance, and Redwood Drugstore.

Throughout her life, Audrey was actively involved in the local community. Among her accomplishments were life memberships in California State PTA and Eureka Sequoia Garden Club, of which she was a 50-year plus member and past president. She was an honorary member of the Eureka Women’s Club. Other organizations that Audrey belonged to include the Eureka Heritage Society, Humboldt County Historical Society, Society of Humboldt County Pioneers, and Redwood Coast Village.

Audrey was a contributing editor to the Humboldt Historian, Spring 2021 Issue, authoring an article about life in the town of Bridgeville in the 1920s.

Audrey was an avid bird watcher and card player, enjoying her twice-weekly card games with friends at Eureka Women’s Club. She enjoyed singing in a women’s choral group, which was led by Pearl Micheli. Audrey loved flowers, her favorite being yellow roses, which her daughter Lynette has chosen for her mother’s memorial bouquet.

In recognition of reaching her 102nd birthday in November 2020, Audrey received a special proclamation from First District Supervisor Rex Bohn and the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors.

Audrey is survived by her daughter Lynette and son-in-law Tom Sheldrake of Eureka, six grandsons: Christopher, Kyle, and Erik (Brandee) Sheldrake, Todd, Troy (Nancy), and Craig (Marci) Vizenor. She also leaves behind eight great-grandsons, three great-granddaughters, andnumerous great-nephews and nieces. Audrey was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth and her daughter, Ava Vizenor.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Becky Tanenhaus, for her kindness and gentle care, and to Hospice of Humboldt for their care of Audrey during her last months.

The community is invited to a Celebration of Life to honor Audrey’s memory on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 1 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, 819 15th Street, Eureka. Guests are asked to enter from the J Street parking lot.

Memorial donations in Audrey Sandberg’s name may be made to Hospice of Humboldt or to the charity of your choice.

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We are sad to announce the passing of Patricia Joanne Jackson of Eureka. She died at age 65 at Providence St. Joseph Hospital on June 2, 2023. Patty passed away with her family by her side after a courageous two-year battle with ALS.

She was born in Roseville to Clarence and Virginia (Sewell) States on June 11, 1957. She grew up in Sheridan and went to Lincoln high school. As an adult, she lived in Burnt Ranch for many years before moving to Eureka. She worked at the Eureka City Schools’ central kitchen and later at the Eureka High School cafeteria, a job she dearly loved because of her fondness for children. Cooking and gardening were her main hobbies. She was an amazing cook and made almost everything from scratch. She had a green thumb and her garden always showed it.

She was married to Jerry Jackson on December 21, 2011. It was each of their third marriage. It was Patty’s beautiful smile that melted Jerry’s heart. She was beautiful, inside and out.

One day before they were married, Jerry was eating some cookies that Patty had made from scratch and remarked, “Boy, these cookies are the best I’ve ever had. What are they called? She replied, “I Want to Marry You cookies.” Jerry responded, “You’re kidding. You have to be making that up.” “Nope, that’s their real name.” “Yes, I can see why.” As the old saying goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Jerry later proposed to Patty while they were waltzing at the Elks.

Patty was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves behind her husband Jerry, three brothers, Harold, Steven, and Danny, four children, Denise Crouch (John), Tina Collins (Tim), Derek McIntosh (Julie), Loreesa Roberts (Cameron), and seven grandchildren, Hannah, Khristina, Isaac, Claire, Brea, Cora, and Holden. Shortly before she passed, she found out she would be a great-grandma and have another grandchild.

At Patty’s request, there will be no memorial.

If you want to donate in her memory, go to als.net and click on “Donate Now” at the top of their webpage.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Which Mural Should Welcome Travelers to Eureka? The City Has Selected Its Top Three Design Proposals for the Herrick Overpass, and Wants to Hear From YOU!

So y’all have done your civic duty by telling the City of Eureka which of the three proposed designs for the Herrick Overpass mural you prefer, right? If you haven’t go do that here right now.

Now that you’ve done it, tell LoCO, via the poll below. Which one is the best?

To review: Here are those murals again.

“Elements of the Lost Coast” by Carl Avery Studios

“Guardians of the Salt Marsh” by Honeybrush

“Eureka Rising” by Lucas Thornton

Now — which one is best?

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This afternoon the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury dropped its seventh report from the 2022-23 session. This one reports on an investigation into the county’s Child Abuse Services Team, or CAST.

In a press release, published below, the Civil Grand Jury has some nice things to say, noting the importance of the work done by CAST personnel and tipping a cap to the “dedicated, hard-working professionals” in the team and noting that the system functions well “for the most part.”

Naturally, some things could stand improvement. Front-line responders to child abuse situations could use more — and more current — training, the report says. And the understaffing that currently plagues the whole county naturally affects CAST as well.

The report, which you can download in full via a link below, lists seven recommendations. Among them is one stating that the District Attorney’s Office should lead the development of training for first responders in “culturally appropriate best practices” to situations of alleged child abuse.

All law enforcement agencies in the county should receive such training, the report notes.

Below is a press release from the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury, followed by a link to the full report:

Children are the most vulnerable members of our society. When they are subjected to abuse, be it sexual, physical, or emotional, there is a team who come from a variety of agencies here in Humboldt County that works to minimize trauma and hold criminal offenders responsible for their actions.

This is the Humboldt County Child Abuse Services Team, more commonly referred to as CAST.

The 2022-23 Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury, while investigating a complaint that involved a juvenile, discovered that CAST was a little-known and even less understood organization. 

We investigated Humboldt County’s CAST, learning that this complicated system involves many players.  We found dedicated, hard-working professionals focused on protecting children, and a system that for the most part functions well. 

We also discovered that some of the front-line responders to child abuse situations would benefit from additional training, and that an issue common to most governmental agencies in Humboldt County — understaffing — makes accomplishing the already difficult mission of CAST more difficult than it could be.

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DOCUMENT: Civil Grand Jury Report on the Humboldt County Child Abuse Services Team

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Previous 2022-23 Civil Grand Jury reports:

• ‘IT’S OK TO VOTE’: Grand Jury Issues Its First Report of This Cycle, Focused on Humboldt County Election Integrity
• In its Second Report of the Year, the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury Tackles the ‘Dysfunctional’ State of Child Welfare Services in the County and the ‘Toxic’ Work Atmosphere Within the Department
• CITY of MCKINLEYVILLE? It’s Time for Real Talk About Incorporation, Grand Jury Sez
• Civil Grand Jury Finds ‘Appalling and Dangerous Conditions’ at Humboldt County Animal Shelter
• ‘Not Adequately Prepared’: Civil Grand Jury Says Humboldt County Must Improve Its Disaster Planning

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For years the City of Eureka has been searching for ways to de-uglify the southern gateway, specifically the Herrick overpass, and create a more visually pleasing and inviting experience for those entering our fair city from the south. Many different design ideas have been entertained over the years, including adding a “landscape sign” to the greenway next to the overpass. Even a sculpture that we at LoCO thought strongly resembled a bluetooth earpiece was considered at one point. 

Last month the city announced that it had finally landed on and obtained funding for a project idea: to add a mural, along with a “Welcome to Eureka” sign, to the Herrick overpass. Now, after receiving more than 30 design submissions for the mural, the City has narrowed it down to three options and wants the community to decide on the winner. 

The first proposal is entitled “Elements of the Lost Coast” and was designed by Carl Avery of Cottonwood. The work features bright colors and designs influenced by Avery’s Yurok heritage. The design includes some quintessential Humboldt-related imagery, including redwood trees on the south-facing side of the overpass, and some California poppies and a crab on the north-facing side.

The second proposal, “Guardians of the Salt Marsh” by artist Honeybrush of Sacramento, focuses on our local marshes. Several of our marshes’ winged inhabitants are featured in the mural, with the iconic great blue heron as the focus. 

The third option comes from local artist Lucas Thorton and is entitled “Eureka Rising.” The mural depicts an aerial view of Humboldt Bay, with the sun rising over the coastal mountains in the background. The mural also includes a tribute to the Wiyot Tribe, with a traditional basket weave design wrapping around the center column.

So, there you have it! These are the top three contenders for the mural that will be travelers’ first impression of Eureka. Which one do YOU want representing our city? You can vote for your favorite design at this link. And waste no time, because the poll will close on Friday, July 7 at noon!

After the votes have been tallied, the City of Eureka’s Art & Culture Commission will hold a special meeting on July 11 at 12:30 p.m. to review the options and formally recommend a design to the Eureka City Council for approval. The council will then make its final decision for the mural design at its meeting on July 18. 

The mural will be painted between July 28 and August 5, during this year’s Eureka Street Art Festival, which will focus on beautifying the Southern section of Broadway. In addition to the mural, the City will also be adding new “drought-tolerant landscaping” to the greenways next to the overpass as part of the project. The mural and landscaping have already been fully funded by Caltrans and Clean California grants. The next phase will be installing a “Welcome to Eureka” sign on the overpass railing. The City says it is still seeking funding for the second phase and it will be completed at a “later date.”

You can view the full mural proposals here and direct any questions to Swan Asbury, Eureka’s economic development manager by calling (707) 268-1830 or emailing sasbury@eurekaca.gov.

And don’t forget to vote! Here’s that link again. Click on it and put in your two cents. This is really happening, people!

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On 7/4/2023, at about 1:46 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a call regarding human remains found by a community member in the area of the Ferris Riffle on the Trinity River in Hoopa, approximately 25-feet from the riverbank.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies and a deputy coroner responded to the scene. A member of the community responded with a boat to assist deputies in recovering the remains. The decedent has not been identified, however is described as a male, approximately 5’10, 195 pounds with a tattoo of a fine line encircling the neck with an angel in a diamond shape at the center of the throat, “Yurok” tattoo on the left forearm, and monochromatic roses tattooed on the right shoulder.

Anyone with information about this case 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 and reference Case Number 202303072.

For many Californians, the proposal of a state-run single-payer health system remains a ‘pie-in-the-sky’ idea, and odds are it could remain that way, especially if leading advocates can’t agree on how to get there.

Democratic leaders and advocates who are looking to transform the current complex health care system are divided on their approach. On one side, a coalition of health, labor and civil rights advocacy groups is standing behind Senate Bill 770, which seeks an incremental path toward “unified financing,” where a statewide system would pay for health care for all residents. This could be single payer or a similar model. The bill would task a workgroup of experts and consumers to come up with next steps in advancing toward this goal and deliver a report to the Legislature by next June.

SB 770 also calls for the Newsom administration to engage the federal government, which would need to approve such a system in California, on this issue. The bill, authored by San Francisco’s Sen. Scott Wiener, is currently making its way through the Legislature — last week it received the green light from the Assembly Health Committee and is headed to a fiscal committee next.

On the other side, the California nurses union, a longtime driving force behind the single-payer movement, opposes Wiener’s bill, arguing it could derail its own legislation, Assembly Bill 1690. That two-year bill authored by Assemblyman Ash Kalra, a San Jose Democrat, would establish a single-payer system dubbed CalCare. The bill was introduced earlier this year, but won’t come up for a hearing until the next legislative session. There are currently no details in the CalCare bill, but union leaders said they are using their previous attempt at single payer, Assembly Bill 1400, as a starting point. AB 1400 died last year after its author, Kalra, opted not to take it up on the Assembly floor because he was short on votes.

Last week, Kalra joined the nurses union in publicly opposing Wiener’s bill, calling it a “detraction” from his and the nurses’ ongoing efforts.

With the full intention of moving forward with a single-payer policy bill in January, I respectfully express my opposition to SB 770 as further delay/detraction from our collective efforts to bring single-payer healthcare to California.
Statement link:https://t.co/uXIJYHUamC

— Ash Kalra 🌱 (@Ash_Kalra) June 26, 2023

Single payer has been politically dicey even in blue California because of pushback from the health industry, including health insurers and some physician groups, but also powerful business interests, such as the Chamber of Commerce, citing the tax hikes that would be needed to fund such a system. Still, the status quo costs too much and leaves too many people behind, experts and health advocates say.

Carmen Comsti, lead regulatory policy specialist with the California Nurses Association, said the two bills are conflicting because legislators can use Wiener’s bill as an excuse to vote down the bill backed by the nurses union next year.

“We do not believe the Legislature would pick up and pass single payer if they just authorized another work group to consider the program,” Comsti told CalMatters. Instead, it opens the door for legislators to say: “It’s too soon to talk about CalCare and single payer because we’re studying it,” she said.

“To get the Legislature to adopt a full blown single-payer program in one fell swoop has not proven to be viable politically.”
— Michael Lighty, president of the coalition sponsoring Wiener’s bill

But Wiener and those supporting his proposal see the two bills as complementary, not conflicting. For example, to carry out a single-payer system, California would need to eventually seek a waiver, or permission from the federal government, to skirt current rules that dictate how the state can spend federal health dollars. Wiener’s bill would start those conversations, the author said.

“If CalCare passes, then at that point California will go to the federal government and make waiver applications. The work here, having those discussions with the federal government will be helpful; it dovetails,” Wiener said during last week’s hearing.

Some Democrats who sit on the Assembly Health Committee noted they see Wiener’s bill as a way to get the ball rolling on single payer while they wait for wider support from their colleagues.

Kevin McCarty, a Sacramento Democrat, noted the nurses’ single-payer bill last year was “dramatically short” on votes. “It’s nowhere close,” McCarty said. “In the meantime, are we going to be purists or try to get more? That’s what I think (SB 770) is trying to do. I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive.”

Michael Lighty, president of the coalition sponsoring Wiener’s bill, said the point is to follow up on the findings from the Healthy California for All Commission, a group assembled by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The group’s work culminated last year in a 105-page report, but no action.

Lighty is a veteran in the single-payer movement and at one point worked as the director of public policy for the nurses union. The California Nurses Association is actually part of the health coalition he leads, but on this particular piece of legislation, they haven’t seen eye to eye.

Another main concern for the nurses union is the language used in the commission’s report and Wiener’s bill. “Unified financing does not equal single payer,” Comsti said. She argued that if “unified financing” includes programs that leave room for health insurers or any middlemen to profit, then that essentially goes against the single-payer system they’re seeking.

“There is this disagreement now and I hope in the future that rift heals, but we all want the same result. We want everyone to have true universal access to health care.”
— State Sen. Scott Wiener, Democrat from San Francisco

Lighty sees the language argument as an issue of nomenclature; ultimately both sides want the same outcome, he said. And after multiple failed attempts to get to single payer, perhaps it’s time for a new way in, he said.

“To get the Legislature to adopt a full blown single-payer program in one fell swoop has not proven to be viable politically,” Lighty told CalMatters.

By 2031 health care spending in California is projected to increase by $158 billion; a “unified finance” system can help slow down that growth, according to the Healthy California for All Commission report. Most importantly, extending coverage to all Californians could save about 4,000 lives a year, the report said.

“Folks on both sides of this bill have historically worked very closely together on expanding health care access,” Wiener said. “There is this disagreement now and I hope in the future that rift heals, but we all want the same result. We want everyone to have true universal access to health care.”

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

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