Johnita passed at
the age of 93. She was born in Okaloosa, Iowa, to Homer and Ada
Morrison. She moved with her family in 1936 to Eureka, where she attended Eureka City Schools.
She met her first husband,
Milard Olson, at a young age and moved to Los Angeles,
where she had two sons. A few years later, after divorcing her first
husband, she moved back to Arcata, where she met and
married Clifton M. Kern and had three more children. Johnita was
blessed with five children, six grandchildren, and eight
great-grandchildren.
She lived a long and colorful life. Spending
most of her years waitressing and raising her family until her
husband Cliff passed in 1974 when she decided to return to school to
obtain a realtor’s license.
She loved being a
realtor and helping others find that perfect home. She worked for
Sellers Realty in Arcata until retiring in 1988. After retiring, she
moved closer to her youngest and eldest boys in Santa Rosa, where she spent most of her time volunteering and
traveling the United States and Canada in her motor home.
In 2015
she decided to move back to Eureka to be closer to family and
friends. She enjoyed spending time at the Eureka Senior Center, where
she made some great new friends — or with her friends Sue Scott and
Greg Anderson. She kept in touch with her good friend John Lowry from
Colorado via email and phone calls. In 2019 she could no longer live
alone and decided to move to Timber Ridge in Eureka, where she lived
until moving to the Hospice House.
Johnita was
predeceased by her parents, three sisters, husband Clifton M. Kern,
son Larry Kern, daughter Kathy Richards, granddaughter Heidi Olson,
and daughter-in-law Pam Olson.
She is survived
by her children Thomas Olson, Jim Olson, and Pamela Bower (Wayne).
Grandchildren Chad Olson (Marcia), Cheryl Steiner-Olson, Ian Olson,
Stacy Juchtzer (Rick), Lori Davisson-Orozco (Billy), and Justin
Mather (Christina). Great-grandchildren Kaylee Steiner Olson, Logan
Juchtzer, Halie Juchtzer, TJ Curran, Holly Davisson, Michael Mather,
Jordan Mather, Hailey Vonaseek, and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of
flowers, please make donations to your favorite charity or consider
donating to one of the following: Hospice of Humboldt 3327 Timber
Fall Ct. Eureka, CA 95503, or Humboldt Area Foundation-Dr. Richard
Wolf memorial fund. This fund started the Eureka Dialysis Center.
https://www.hafoundation.org
The family would
like to thank Dr. Alan Matthews, Hospice House, Timber Ridge of
Eureka, and Eureka Dialysis Center.
A special thank
you to her good friend Sue Scott for all the hours spent visiting and
checking in. Her nieces who took the time to visit and help in any
way they could Vicki Dobrec, Irene Stevens, Willa, and Karen
Kern-Steadman. No services are scheduled at this time.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Johnita Kern’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Matthew Gardner Winney, Born October 13, 1953. Aged 68 years. Died September 16, 2022. Survived by family and friends also native to the Humboldt area.
My Dad had the most beautiful green eyes. They were teal, almost turquoise. They reflected his love of the six rivers, the sloughs that feed the bay, the redwoods, mountains and secluded spots that make Humboldt one of the most majestic places on earth. Where the redwoods meet the sea, he wanted to stay behind the redwood curtain. He died at his beach house in Samoa, proving he would never leave that beautiful place.
I will remember him in the wind, the kind of wind that makes you want to be out on the sail boat. I will remember him along the mountainside in the breeze that blows the wild flowers, in the wind that caries the dragon flies.
I will remember him in his flannel, hat and jeans, paddling the canoe out on the slough, with a rollie cig in his mouth and a young sea lion begging for pieces of his sandwich.
His memories will forever be with me, in every natural beauty that makes Humboldt so spectacular- my Dad is now those rivers, those trees, that breeze. Those winding roads down Highway 36, Fickle Hill, Big Rock, Sandy Bar, Kneeland, Pigeon Point, Happy Camp, Weitchpec, College Cove, Strawberry Rock, Big Lagoon, the rocks off Patrick’s Point, all the epic swimming spots that you never want tourists to find out about. Sack lunches and day trips out exploring. The young bears on the river fishing. The blue jays that mock you. The crows that caw at dawn. That’s my Dad, he has returned to the oneness. Humboldt was his favorite place on earth. He never wanted to leave.
My Dad was a fantastic photographer. He captured all the ways I will remember him, in the old school film he loved to use, and the thousands of photos that he amassed thru his lifetime. He was a mechanic, he loved working on cars, restoration work and making demolition derby cars. He was a local historian, in his own right, and has ties to the Humboldt area that go back generations, before the great 1906 earthquake. Before California was a state.
Although his body aged, he was still young in his mind and he hated that his body couldn’t keep up with him.
A private reception will be held at the location of the family plot along with a gravestone placing ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to help support the Samoa Peninsula Fire District.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Matthew Winney’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Stephen James Brinton passed away on October 14, 2022, with his
daughter holding his hand. He was a wonderful father and an amazing
Grandpa. Since he developed an extremely rapid form of dementia in
mid-May of this year, we have already been missing the man he was.
Now, we will miss the man he became and miss the opportunities to
give him hugs and see his wonderful smile. He was a good man.
Steve was born on September 10, 1947, to James and Mable Brinton. He
and his sister Linda grew up in Southern California. He attended St.
Jerome’s Elementary School in Los Angeles. He graduated from St
Bernard High School in Playa del Rey in 1965. He then moved to Orange
County in the summer 1965 and attended Cal State Fullerton, from
which he graduated in 1969 with a BA in Political Science.
Dad lived a life full of love and caring as attested to by his
long-time friend and first wife Sherryl, whom he met as a senior in
college in 1968. He was a published songwriter and enjoyed a wide
variety of musical genres. He loved 1950s cars and collected books
and models, and even owned a few over the years. Dad and Mom (Jan)
met when I was seven years old. Although they separated, he always
remained a wonderful and dedicated father to me. As Grandpa, he
taught his oldest grandson to play guitar and bass and encouraged
both of his grandson’s interest in musical instruments. He loved
learning about the music and games that the boys were getting into
and exploring it after their visits via YouTube. The hardest thing
for him at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was not being able
to give his family hugs.
Steve worked many
different jobs, but closest to his heart were his time at HCAR where
he met his fourth wife, Claudia, and his position at Coast Central
Credit Union in the Card Services division where he met his dear
friend Lynn. After his retirement, Steve moved to the Lazy J Mobile
Home Park in Arcata, where he became friends with many of his
neighbors. He served on the homeowner’s council both as a member
and as the HR Council president for two years. We wish to extend our
deep thanks to his friend Suzanne who was a great support to our
family during this process.
Steve is survived by his daughter
Halona Rude (Michael), his grandsons Joe and Jamie Rude, his sister
Linda Edelman (Bill), his niece Maya Pell, and many dear friends who
were like family in many ways.
Many thanks to everyone who has supported our family through this
unexpected and difficult journey. Special thanks to the wonderful
team at Hospice of Humboldt, just knowing we could call you at any
time made this a little easier. Special thanks also to the caring
staff at Timber Ridge Eureka in the Renaissance unit, you all saw the
wonderful man my Dad was.
No memorial service is planned at this time. Steve’s family
requests that any donations be made in his honor to Hospice of
Humboldt, Breast and GYN Health Project, or the community charity of
your choice.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Steve Brinton’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
The Eureka City Council will convene for another riveting round of civic engagement with its impassioned constituents tomorrow night.
This week’s agenda includes a couple of hot-button items, including a proposal to address homelessness in Eureka. The council will also discuss a few less interesting but nevertheless important items. Yes, I’m looking at you 2022-23 fee schedule update.
Let’s take a look at that agenda, shall we?
Eureka’s Homeless Action Plan
Back in 2016, the Eureka City Council signed a joint resolution with the County of Humboldt to adopt the Housing First model as a means of addressing homelessness in the region. In the time since, staff has worked to develop a city-specific Homeless Action Plan to expand efforts to address mental health and housing needs in Eureka.
The 24-page document outlines the city’s ongoing efforts to reduce homelessness in the City of Eureka by expanding affordable housing, bolstering outreach efforts and expanding partnerships with organizations that provide services to people experiencing homelessness.
“Significant progress has been made toward meeting the needs of community members experiencing homelessness in Eureka. …There is still important work to be done,” according to the plan. “The City of Eureka’s Homeless Action Plan outlines priorities in addressing issues related to homelessness and was created to provide a road map for use in working to address the issue of homelessness in Eureka. This plan details common unifying principles that define our purpose, connect our city and create a positive impact on the quality of life for all Eureka residents.”
The plan also acknowledges the community-wide impacts of homelessness, including compromised public health and safety as a result of environmental degradation.
“Without access to proper waste disposal, homeless encampments near neighborhoods and publicly used lands pose serious health and safety hazards to the community,” the plan states. “Homelessness causes significant fiscal impacts to the public sector and affects local businesses. … Local businesses report a range of problems associated with homelessness including individuals sleeping on the premises as well as the presence of needles and other hazardous/human waste, deterring customers from entering businesses.”
One of the biggest components is increasing engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness. UPLIFT Eureka and the Eureka Police Department’s Community Safety Engagement Team (CSET) have made strides in guiding homeless individuals to critical resources and assistance with navigating those services. Working in tandem with CSET, the city’s new Crisis Alternative Response of Eureka (CARE) team hopes to provide rapid support and therapeutic problem-solving to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
The plan outlines eight specific goals to address homelessness in Eureka, such as increasing the city’s affordable housing stock, bolstering UPLIFT’s rehousing program and implementing a homeless prevention program, among others.
The council will review the plan and consider its adoption. The full document can be found here.
Ban on Digital Signs
The council is slated to approve a resolution that would ban new digital signs in the city’s coastal zone. The council reviewed the proposed resolution during a public hearing earlier this month and, despite strong opposition from a single community member, agreed to move the item forward.
The matter was initiated two years ago when the council adopted an ordinance that rescinded and replaced a section of the city’s municipal code with a coastal sign amendment.
The ordinance was reviewed by the California Coastal Commission in July 2022. At that time, city staff was looking to restrict the number of illuminated digital billboards allowed in the city’s coastal zone and limit the brightness of said signs. Coastal commissioners, including Humboldt County Supervisor Mike Wilson, urged city staff to take the ordinance even further and ban new digital signs in the coastal zone altogether.
Staff agreed and drafted the resolution that will be up for consideration during this week’s meeting. If approved by the council, the resolution will move forward to the California Coastal Commission for certification.
“Because the Local Coastal Program amendment must be certified by the Coastal Commission, staff is asking the City Council to adopt a Resolution of Transmittal sending the Local Coastal Program Amendment to the Coastal Commission for certification,” according to the staff report. “The City Council’s action to adopt the Local Coastal Program Amendment would become effective immediately upon Coastal Commission certification.”
The council will also consider a second separate item that would update the city’s zoning code to ban new digital signs in the city’s inland areas as well.
Zero Waste Action Plan for Local Schools
The council will also receive a report on the city’s Zero Waste Action Plan and efforts to reduce food waste in local schools.
The draft Zero Waste Action Plan has been broken into several sections that will be presented to the council for consideration over the coming months. The section up for consideration this week focuses on schools and how the city can best serve, support and guide local schools in waste reduction.
“Studies show that introducing and teaching environmental topics and waste reduction behaviors earlier in development can foster environmental stewardship in youth, which is then shared with their family and community,” according to the staff report. “Staff [has engaged in] direct outreach, stakeholder interviews, and on-site tours which helped facilitate a realistic understanding of the current state of waste diversion programs, education, and opportunities at local schools.”
The staff report notes that public schools and districts are distinct government entities and not subject to the city’s waste management requirements.
The draft Zero Waste Action Plan is tentatively scheduled for completion at the end of this year.
CORE Hub Presentation
The council will also receive a presentation from the Redwood Region Climate & Community Resilience Hub, better known as CORE Hub.
Although the agenda doesn’t indicate what exactly the presentation will cover, it’s probably safe to assume that it has something to do with offshore wind development on the North Coast since the council recently agreed to sign on as a supporter of the CORE Hub’s North Coast Offshore Wind Community Benefits Network (the Network) strategy.
You can read all about the Network’s community-centered benefits strategy at this link.
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The Eureka City Council will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at Eureka City Hall — 531 K Street. The agenda can be found here.
UPDATE, Nov. 2: The Fortuna Police Department identified the remains as 48-year-old Lewis William Leckliter of Fortuna, who had been missing for approximately three months.
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Human skeletal remains were found near a hiking trail in Fortuna’s Rohner Park on Saturday, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
After receiving a 9-1-1 call, a deputy coroner was dispatched to the scene to recover the remains, Public Information Specialist Samantha Karges said in an emailed statement to the Outpost.
“Due to the advance stages of decay, identification of the decedent was not immediately possible and is pending DNA comparison and analysis,” Karges said. “Foul play is not suspected at this time, however, an external exam to confirm manner of death is scheduled for tomorrow, November 1.”
The discovery was made by a juvenile female, according to Redheaded Blackbelt’s Lisa Music, who first reported it.
More information will be released when available, the Sheriff’s Office said. 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.
An outside investigation has sustained an allegation against Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, finding that she violated the county’s code of conduct by mistreating a staff member during a meeting in the Planning Department late last year.
As we reported in April, an unidentified county planner accused Bushnell of losing her temper, berating and threatening the employee and slamming a door.
The investigation, conducted by Monterey County-based attorney Richard “Ren” Nosky, concludes that the county planner wasn’t blameless in the incident. Their own behavior at the Dec. 29 meeting “played a large role in provoking Bushnell and created an awkward and hostile tone,” his report summary says
But the Second District county supervisor, who was less than a year into her first term at the time, responded poorly.
“Bushnell reacted combatively to the employee, which escalated the tension at the meeting to the point where Bushnell left the room,” the summary notes.
Back in April, Bushnell admitted to getting upset and said she accidentally slammed a door on her way out Planning Director John Ford’s office. Reached by phone on Monday she reiterated that she’d become distressed during the meeting because she felt the county planner was mistreating constituents who were seeking help with cannabis permits.
“I do not wish for my constituents to be treated poorly by any staff member — that’s what happened,” Bushnell said. But she added that she doesn’t want to make excuses for her own behavior. “I still need to do better and not react and let the proper people deal with that. … I’ll do better.”
The investigation report summary says Bushnell’s behavior violated the county Board of Supervisors’ code of conduct in two ways:
First, Bushnell’s conduct violated Section B(3) of the Code of Conduct, which requires that Supervisors, “practice civility and decorum in discussions and debate, and refrain from abusive conduct, personal charges … or verbal attacks upon the character or motives of … staff … which has the effect of disrupting the County’s business … .” Even though Bushnell was provoked, she was overly confrontational with the employee and questioned the employee’s qualifications in front of a constituent. This did not show proper decorum and reflected poorly on her office.
Second, Bushnell’s conduct violated Section B(10) of the Code of Conduct, which requires that Supervisors “support the maintenance of a positive and constructive workplace environment for County employees … .” The policy also requires that Supervisors “address County employees, whether in public or in private, with courtesy and respect.” While Bushnell was provoked by the employee to a degree, it was inappropriate for her to engage with the employee in such a provocative fashion in front of her constituent and other staff members. The confrontation produced a highly awkward situation and did not serve to support a positive workplace environment for those staff members.
The code of conduct was revised last spring in the wake of the employee’s complaint.
That complaint also alleged that Bushnell inappropriately interfered in the cannabis permitting process by personally advocating on behalf of the applicant while disregarding evidence that the applicant had violated a number of county codes.
That finding was not sustained, nor were additional allegations that came in after the Board of Supervisors’ April 4 meeting.
At tomorrow’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Bushnell and her colleagues will discuss the findings of the investigation and consider whether to formally censure her, which would require a “yes’ vote from at least two-thirds of the board members present and voting, per county code. In other words, if all five supervisors are present and Bushnell recuses herself, at least three of the remaining four would need to vote in favor of the formal rebuke for it to pass.
Bushnell said she doesn’t know what will happen tomorrow, but in the past 10 months she’s worked to improve her behavior.
“I’ve done a lot of classes and training since [the incident] just to bettermyself,” she said. “I’ve been in many meetings with the director and staff and constituents and have not had a repeated incident — nor will I, ever. But I do want to say, I won’t let my constituents be beat up.”
After hanging up, she called back to speak on behalf of staff, generally.
“County staff, for the most part, are amazing,” she said.
The Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled to begin Tuesday at 9 a.m. inside board chambers at the county courthouse. You can download the full meeting agenda, which includes instructions for participating remotely, by clicking here.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On Oct. 29, 2022, at about 8:26 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a local hospital for the report of an assault that had occurred earlier that evening in the Willow Creek area.
At the hospital, deputies contacted a 22-year-old male victim, who was being treated for moderate injuries, and the suspect, 23-year-old Dante Blade Rhoades, who was being detained by Arcata Police Department officers.
Rhoades.
During their investigation, deputies learned that the victim was working at a gas station on the 39000 block of State Highway 299 when he observed Rhoades shoplift from the store. The victim reportedly confronted Rhoades about the shoplifting and a physical altercation occurred between the two. Following the assault, Rhoades and the victim were transported separately to the hospital. At the hospital, Rhoades reportedly began causing a disturbance, prompting law enforcement response.
Rhoades was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of battery with serious bodily injury (PC 243(d)).
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.
