Peggy Ann Radcliffe
October 26, 1937 – October 26, 2025

It is with sad hearts we are announcing that our mom, Peggy Radcliffe, has left this life at Fortuna Rehabilitation on October 26, 2025. It is also a happy time knowing that she finally got to go home and see her Savior Jesus and be in His loving arms, free from the physical pain and heartaches she endured.

Peggy Ann Reed was born on October 26, 1937, in Oakdale, California, to Marjorie Harrison Reed and Clifford Andrew Reed. She attended Oakdale High School. She married Burse Ross Radcliffe Sr. on December 25, 1953.

Peggy and Burse had five children: Ross (Angie, Robbie), Robert (Derek, Marissa), Susan (Jamie, David), Danelle (Andrew, Jennifer, Jessica), and Michele (Richard, Janelle). Peggy loved her children with all her heart. She always taught them right from wrong and to work hard. She took us to Sunday School and church, swimming every summer, Disneyland, camping on the South Jetty, and too many places to name. Our mom always encouraged us in so many ways till the very end of her life.

Mom always enjoyed her work life. She worked as a school bus driver for the Southern Humboldt School District from 1966 to 1976. She owned and operated a tourist business called “The Squirrel” in the summertime when public school released for the summer. This had been a public school bus that had been in an accident with the roof crushed in. It was painted a beautiful bright red with a painting of a squirrel on a panel on each side of the bus. The top of the bus was clear plexiglass so that the passengers could see the giant redwoods. The Squirrel picked up riders from the Benbow Inn and other stops in Garberville and Redway. The Squirrel bus would wind its way up the Avenue of the Giants, stopping along the way at gift shops and Founders Grove, where we all took the 20-minute trail. Then everyone had lunch at the Scotia Coffee Shop and toured the Scotia Mill, then wound back down the freeway, stopping at Rockefeller Forest. The folks that rode were always so amazed that Peggy could get the bus down through the redwood trees to the parking lot at Rockefeller Forest. It was a very tight squeeze for a bus.

Our mom drove the bus, and her good friend and coworker from school bus driving, Peggy Etcheverry, narrated the entire trip. Many of our cousins and friends got to ride along with us, and they now talk about how riding The Squirrel is one of their best memories growing up.

She worked for Harold Mendes at Mendes Shopping Center as a cashier and meat wrapper. She also worked as a motel maid for Mrs. Scown in Garberville. She never felt too proud to do any work and told her children, “Your labor is for hire, not your pride.” She often lived by the Bible verse, “Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord.”

She worked for Community Cornerstone in Redway, driving their folks. She drove the senior bus in Redway that was called the Quail Bus. She learned how to drive a truck and got her Class A driver’s license. Peggy and her husband Burse had a good time driving a lumber truck owned by Burse’s brother Reggie and his wife, Jackie Radcliffe.

Peggy’s house was often filled with people and laughter and love. She had music parties. She played her 12-string guitar with her friends Neil and Murray, who brought their guitars and mandolin. Many people came to these music parties. It was a lot of fun.

Peggy loved all her grandchildren very much. She went to all their games and events when they were growing up. When the grandkids got into high school, she supported them more by working at Humboldt Transit Authority as a bus driver to help pay for their tuition at Canyonville Bible Academy in Oregon. She got up very early to work at this job. Peggy was proud to be a transit driver and enjoyed that job and her coworkers.

Peggy did volunteer work at CASA of Humboldt. She was a member of NAMI. She was always trying to educate herself. She took college classes and was always reading a book. Peggy had many interests in life and enjoyed her life very much.

I realized writing this that I would have a hard time including all the many things she did during her life. She took a trip to the San Diego Zoo with her very good friend Cynthia Winters. My mom enjoyed her friendship with Cynthia and had lots of good conversations and fun times. Peggy’s other lifelong friend was Ruby Huck. They walked together almost every day for many years.

The most important thing to her was her children and grandchildren! She really didn’t waste a minute in her life! She planned many family reunions and get-togethers through the years. My mom enjoyed her times with her sister Shirley and brother-in-law Douglas Low, and loved her sister Andrea and her husband Al Kennemer very much. She loved going to Al’s truck terminal and that whole truck driving world.

I know she would want me to express also how much she appreciated Jackie and Reggie Radcliffe. After her husband Burse’s passing, they came almost every evening and kept her company. They did this for many months. Mom also enjoyed a special visit from her Texas niece, Exene Hadley, a few years ago. They went to Shelter Cove and had a good time. She loved all of her nieces and nephews very much.

Peggy moved to Fortuna 15 years ago. She found a home at the Fortuna Church of the Nazarene and especially loved the ladies from the Thursday Ladies Group. She found love and acceptance and healing with these ladies and her special friend Lucinda. Mom also loved the ladies at the Rohnerville Assembly of God Church and attended there for a time.

Peggy gave to many charities her whole life, the first being a quarter that her grandfather gave her as a young child when she was 9 years old to go to the movies, but she instead took it across the street and gave it to the Salvation Army. Her grandfather was unhappy with her for doing this. She always did what she thought was right, and if other people didn’t like it, she didn’t lose any sleep over it.

As a school bus driver in Southern Humboldt, when asked by some members of the community to not pick up the children of the “back-to-the-land folks” who had moved with their parents to the area, she responded by going to the school board meeting that was discussing this issue, where people were up in arms about these children. Peggy stood up and said, “I am required by law to pick up all children, and that is what I’m going to do.” Well, that settled it!

She never liked anybody being treated any different from other people and would always take up for people who were being treated in a mean way. Her niece Kim Faddler said that her Aunt Peggy was an inspiration for her becoming a firefighter. Kim said when she was young and saw the things my mom did, such as taking jobs that were not traditionally held by women, it gave her the inspiration to become a firewoman. She was an inspiration to us all to do what was right, to work hard, to do your best, to not make fun of anyone, and to be a help to someone else who is in need.

Mom supported Wounded Warriors, Mountain of Mercy Drug Rehabilitation in Honeydew, Operation Christmas Shoebox, and many other organizations. She was married to Burse Radcliffe for 42 years. They made a good home for their children with many happy memories. They got to enjoy a lot of things together — their family, their friends, music concerts — and they mostly seemed to just enjoy drinking coffee together at the kitchen table, having conversation.

Mom enjoyed her special times with her niece Marjean and her husband Alan Streeper, and nephew Chuck Low, and niece Jennifer Low. These cousins from Sacramento helped her through some hard times, and they had lots of good times together also. She also loved her nieces Lori McDonald and Kym Faddler very much. She was so proud of you girls, and she was so happy and touched that you came to visit her recently.

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband Burse, son Ross, and grandson Robbie; brother Clifford Reed; brother-in-law Lowell and wife Lorraine Radcliffe; brother-in-law Reggie Radcliffe; brother-in-law Bill Lillie and wife Beverly Lillie and their son Bill Jr.; sister-in-law Faye and husband Rufus Lee; and sister-in-law Barbara Blake.

Mom leaves behind her children and grandchildren and their partners: son Robert and granddaughter Marissa; daughters Susan (Paul), Danelle, and Michelle. Grandchildren Angie, Marissa, Jamie and David, Andrew, Jennifer and Jessica, Richard and Janelle. Great-grandchildren Leanna, Devin, Adriana and Jocelyn, Cole, Finnegan, Clover, Emerson, and Parker Burse. She also leaves behind sister-in-law Wilma Reed.

Mom’s good friends were Ruby and Gus Huck, Cynthia Winter, Churratha Fulmer, Dick Hardy, Rhonda Hardy-Jewett, Doyle Womack, and Sandra Harmon. Mom often said Della Womack was a good neighbor. If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me.

A LIFE WELL LIVED

Burial arrangements made by Goble’s Chapel in Fortuna. A funeral service will be held Friday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. at the Fortuna Nazarene Church, 1355 Ross Hill Road. Pastor Nicole Johnson will officiate. There will be a meal at the Nazarene Church afterward. You are welcome to bring a side dish. Please come and share a memory of Peggy Radcliffe.

Weather permitting, there will be a graveside service the next day at 11 a.m. at the Briceland Cemetery. Pastor Bruce Willis will officiate.

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Press release from the City of Eureka:

As part of the C Street Bicycle Boulevard project, the City of Eureka will soon introduce four new one- way intersections. The new one-way intersections will be on C Street at the 7th, 14th, Buhne, and Harris Street intersections. These four intersections will prohibit certain directional traffic depending on the C Street entry points, as described in more detail below.

When traveling south on C Street from Old Town, the first one-way conversion will occur at the intersection of 7th Street. Vehicular traffic will be prohibited from proceeding southbound on C and will be directed to turn left towards Myrtle on 7th Street. Additionally, vehicles traveling east on 7th Street will no longer be able to turn right (southbound) on C Street.

At the intersections of C and 14th Streets and C and Buhne Streets, motorists will be prohibited from turning onto C Street in either direction. At these intersections, C Street motorists will be directed to turn right or left off of C Street. Newly installed rapid flashing beacons will help pedestrians and bicyclist navigate these intersections safely.

At the C and Harris Street intersection, vehicular traffic traveling east on Harris will no longer be able to turn left on C Street towards Henderson Center. Northbound C Street traffic will be prohibited from proceeding north on C and will be directed to turn right on Harris Street.

New street signage will instruct pedestrians and motorists how to navigate these new changes. The City will also install new traffic rated planter boxes at these intersections to discourage wrong way travel on C Street. Local access for residents will be maintained.

The main goal of the C Street Bicycle Boulevard is to create a safe, low stress environment by reducing vehicle volume and speeds, making C Street a more comfortable space for all modes of transportation.

Please direct any questions to the City of Eureka’s Engineering Department at engineering@eurekaca.gov or (707) 441-4194.

The internet is abuzz today, as a newsletter from Arcata High Principal Kristin Ferderber and mailed to the AHS community recently makes the rounds.

Some Arcata High students walked out of class today, in protest of the actions described and also because they believe the newsletter was written by AI.

Here’s the relevant text from the newsletter.

The past two weeks have been a time of both challenge and reflection for our school. Recent events—including an incident at our Homecoming Dance where non-AHS students gained unauthorized entry, brought alcohol onto campus, and used abusive and racist language toward staff—have underscored the importance of our collective commitment to safety, respect, and belonging for every member of our community.

In a charged moment at a recent football game, I made a serious mistake:

I repeated the racial slur that was directed at me by a non-AHS student, intending to convey the gravity of the situation to a colleague. Regardless of my intent, repeating that word was wrong. As your principal, I recognize my actions caused pain, especially for our Black students, families, and staff. The impact of hearing such language from me, in any context, is significant and hurtful, and I take full responsibility for that.

These incidents have brought to light not only the need for vigilance in maintaining a safe and secure environment at all school events, but also the importance of modeling integrity and care in every interaction. I am committed to making sure our campus is a place where all students feel safe, respected, and valued—free from fear, disrespect, or exclusion.

Moving forward, we are taking immediate steps to strengthen campus safety and event supervision, including a review of our entry protocols. I am also committed to ongoing personal growth, listening to our community, and participating in the healing process necessary to restore trust.

I am deeply sorry for my actions and their impact. I promise that word will never be repeated by me. I am here to listen, to learn, and to work with you to build a stronger, safer Arcata High School for all.

Thank you to those who have shared their experiences and perspectives with honesty and courage. Your voices are essential as we move forward together.

With respect and commitment,

Kristin Ferderber
Principal, Arcata High School

UPDATE, 1:15 p.m.:

The Sequoia Park Zoo also posted about this incident on social media, with two photos of the visiting bear.

It was an eventful morning at Sequoia Park Zoo! 

Staff conducting the Redwood Sky Walk daily inspection spotted a wild American black bear within the Zoo facility.  Emergency procedures were implemented immediately, and the facility deployed a rapid response to assess and resolve the situation.

We are grateful to Eureka Police Department and California Department of Fish and Wildlife for their swift response and assistance in creating a calm and safe resolution. This was an exemplary execution of our emergency systems which resulted in the best outcome for everyone involved – including the bear!

The wild bear did not appear aggressive and was observed interacting with Tule, Ishŭng, and Kunabulilh through their habitat fencing. At no point did the wild bear enter any animal habitats and, after a brief exploration of the enrichment items around the night house, the bear was safely coaxed back into the woods through a service gate.

Overall, he was a very polite visitor. He stayed on the boardwalk path, kept two feet on the ground and didn’t try to climb over the railings! (But seriously. When we say “wildlife welcome”, this isn’t exactly what we have in mind. )

The perimeter fencing separating the Zoo from Sequoia Park is intact and secure, and it is currently unknown how the animal gained access to the Zoo. We will continue to monitor the situation. Wild bears and other animals call Sequoia Park home, and we remind our guests to responsibly live alongside them by observing wildlife from a distance, staying on marked trails and always being aware of your surroundings.

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Original post:

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The Eureka Police Department posted the following message to its Facebook page shortly after 10 a.m.:

This morning, our officers responded to Sequoia Park Zoo to assist with an unusual guest — a wild bear decided to stop by and check out the exhibits.

Rest assured, the bear is not aggressive and seems more curious than anything else (perhaps hoping to apply for a membership). Our officers are on scene to help keep everyone safe while California Department of Fish and Wildlife works on gently encouraging the bear to move along to a more appropriate habitat.

The zoo remains secure, and there is no immediate threat to the public. We kindly ask that you give wildlife plenty of space and follow any directions from staff if you’re visiting today.

It’s not every day we find ourselves helping with crowd control for a bear who doesn’t quite understand “stay behind the railings.” Thank you for your patience as we let nature take its course…safely.

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Batten down the hatches, Humboldt. We’re about to get soggy.

The trusty meteorologists over at the National Weather Service are warning of “strong mid-level troughing over the Northeast Pacific.” Translation: A big ol’ atmospheric river is likely heading our way, bringing the potential for heavy rain, high winds and copious snow starting late next week and into the following one.

As shown in the map above, Humboldt County finds itself square in the crosshairs of this thing, with a “high risk” of both heavy rain across the county and heavy snow in the hills.

Expect the lowlands to flood, and avoid travel if you can. For the kids’ sake, let’s hope this thing passes by Halloween.

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As Halloween draws near, the Community Access Project for Eureka (CAPE) is doing its darndest to make sure all local kids have the opportunity to trick-or-treat in their outfit of choice with its annual costume drive.

CAPE is accepting monetary donations and new costumes for kids of all ages until Friday, Oct. 24. There are a few specific costume requests: a large-sized Jack Skellington, a toddler-sized Bingo from Bluey and a L. Clawdeen Wolf from Monster High.

If you wanna make someone’s spooky dream come true, you can deliver your donations to the Adorni Center (1011 Waterfront Drive) and the Uplift Eureka Resource Center (1111 E Street). More information can be found below:

Spooky season is right around the corner, but with your help it can be a little less scary and a lot more fun!

The Community Access Project for Eureka (C.A.P.E.) is putting on our annual Halloween Costume Drive to benefit local children in need. Halloween costume donations will be accepted until October 24th at the Adorni Center and Uplift Eureka Community Resource Center. Monetary donations are also welcome and will be used to purchase children’s preferred costumes.

We are looking for new costumes for children ages 0 to 17 that are appropriate in nature. Information on specific costumes needed can be found at eurekaheroes.org or by calling 707-672-2253.

Thanks for your help in making Halloween fun for everyone!

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

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Women in California today have fewer places to give birth than they did a decade ago. Legislation signed this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom aims to create more options for them by making it easier for birth centers to operate outside of hospitals.

The “Freedom to Birth Act” by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, a Democrat from Oakland, streamlines burdensome licensure requirements that have prevented birth centers from receiving state approval. Without licensure, birth centers frequently can’t contract with health insurers or Medi-Cal. That leaves patients who can’t pay cash unable to use midwives or birth centers.

The legislation was introduced and signed following reporting by Cal Matters over the past two years revealing that vast areas of California have no hospitals or birth centers following dozens of closures. In some areas, pregnant people may have to drive two hours to give birth at a hospital.

“The fact that (CalMatters is) quoted in every letter of support that was sent to the Legislature and to the governor’s office asking for his signature says a lot,” said Sandra Poole, a lobbyist with the Western Center on Law and Poverty, which co-sponsored the legislation. “The information you provided was foundational in the work that we did in this area.”

Birth centers, which are most commonly owned and operated by midwives, specialize in low-risk, out-of-hospital births. Research shows that midwife-led deliveries at birth centers are safe and lead to fewer interventions like cesarean sections.

Over the past three years, at least 20 birth centers have closed in California, according to CalMatters reporting and the California chapter of the American Association of Birth Centers. Of the roughly 30 facilities left, only four are licensed by the state public health department.

The birth center closures come at the same time that hospitals have closed dozens of labor and delivery wards. Nearly 60 maternity wards have closed since 2012, according to a CalMatters database.

The new law removes a mandate that birth centers operate within 30-minutes of a hospital with labor and delivery services and removes duplicative Medi-Cal requirements. The measure passed unanimously in the Assembly and the Senate.

“Red tape should never stand in the way of proven solutions to deliver affordable and accessible healthcare for Californians. By signing (the law), our state has taken a much-needed step to address the maternal health crisis,” Bonta said in a statement.

Survey: More than half of women consider midwives for birth

The new law is a crucial step toward making birth centers and out-of-hospital births more accessible, advocates say.

“When we first started looking at this issue there were 10 licensed birth centers on the state website. Then you start calling folks and it became six, and now we’re down to four,” Poole said. “It’s going in the wrong direction for sure.”

Poole said she’s hopeful the relaxed regulations will encourage more birth centers to open and allow those that have given up on licensure to try again. Doing so would also make the services more accessible for low-income families. Medi-Cal, the state insurance program for people with disabilities and low-income people, pays for half of all births in the state.

Most births happen in hospitals, but midwives deliver a growing number of babies in the state. Planned out-of-hospital births increased by 30% over the past decade even as birth rates overall declined, according to data from the Medical Board of California.

A 2018 survey by the California Health Care Foundation found that more than one-third of pregnant patients would be interested in having a midwife for a future birth. That interest was highest among Black women. More than 50% of women who wanted a midwife at birth said they didn’t use one because insurance wouldn’t pay for it.

Cindy Haag, a licensed midwife, has operated Pacifica Family Maternity Center in Berkeley for 13 years. In the beginning she tried to get licensed thinking it would be easy. Instead, Haag said the process was onerous and confusing. The health department didn’t even know what a birth center license was when she applied, Haag said, a story that multiple midwives who have attempted licensure have told CalMatters. The application was denied.

Without licensure she couldn’t take Medi-Cal patients.

“It’s really sad because it changes the diversity and the accessibility,” Haag said.

In recent years, Haag has come to an agreement with a local Medi-Cal plan to take some of their patients who want to give birth with a midwife outside of the hospital. Still, without full licensure, the birth center is limited on how much it gets reimbursed for Medi-Cal patients.

“We are doing the right thing because we care about accessibility, but it’s not for our financial gain,” Haag said.

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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.