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Nearly six years after the the City of Eureka condemned the notorious apartment building across the street from the Shanty on Third Street, long referred to by locals as the “Heroin Hilton,” the building is getting a much-needed makeover. If everything goes according to plan, it’ll soon be converted into a hostel that will welcome travelers to the Old Town neighborhood.

After the building, previously owned by infamous local slum-lords Floyd and Betty Squires, was closed for what the city deemed “unsafe and unsanitary conditions” – including containing large quantities of hypodermic needles, feces, hazardous wiring and plumbing and cockroach infestations – the then-dingy cream-colored building was boarded up. It sat that way for years.

Then, in September 2021, the space was purchased by local nonprofit Westside Community Improvement Association (WCIA), with financing help from the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission. WCIA’s goal is to transform the neglected building into a beautiful boutique hostel and apartment building that will create jobs and promote tourism in Old Town. The name of the new facility will most likely be the Skyhorse Lodge. 

“This is really about reenvisioning and reinventing that corner of Old Town,” Heidi Benzonelli-Buden, president of the WCIA, told the Outpost in a phone interview Thursday. “Once we are operational this [business] will be transformative.” 

The building in 2017 | File photo: Andrew Goff

The WCIA, which aims to revitalize Eureka buildings and neighborhoods while creating jobs and educational and recreational opportunities, is best known for its work on the Jefferson Community Center and Park – a once abandoned school campus that the group purchased and transformed into a vibrant community hub, which holds classes, a bike library, a community garden, child care services and much more. 

A few years ago the WCIA also started a workforce training program, using funding from the California Community Reinvestment Grants Program, which aims to improve health, wellness and economic justice for communities harmed by the War on Drugs. Benzonelli and the WCIA used the funding to create a 13-week construction training program for recovering addicts and formerly incarcerated individuals to help them re-enter the workforce. 

Working with individuals referred from other local work programs or recovery centers, including the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP) and UPLIFT Eureka and Waterfront Recovery Services, the WCIA helps the participants receive EPA Lead-Safe Renovation training and provides them with a paid job under the guidance of a professional contractor. One of the job-training “cohorts,” as WCIA calls them, restored a recovery house on 14th and C Streets. Now the same program is being used to work on the former “Heroin Hilton” on Third Street. 

Auriah Milanes, project manager for the renovation, told the Outpost that his team has already accomplished a lot of work on the building, including restoring some of the windows and ripping out the “nasty stuff” from the inside. There is still a lot of work to be done, but most of it will have to wait until the city has approved the necessary permits, Milanes said.

Until then, renovation efforts will mostly be focused on the building’s exterior. And if you’ve been past the building recently, then you know that a lot of progress has already been made. Roughly six months ago, the building was completely repainted in vibrant purples, with floral designs by local artist Blake Reagan decorating the boards on the building’s facade. For about the last month, Reagan has been working on a large mural (which is almost complete) on the west-facing wall, featuring a scene of wildflowers, grass, blue sky, clouds and a mirror-surfaced orb that reflects the images of the neighboring business the Shanty and North of Fourth and a cloud in the shape of Pegasus, in honor of the Skyhorse name. 

Reagan has previously done murals for the Jefferson Community Center and said he was excited to be approached by Benzonelli for this project, which gives him the opportunity to do what he loves the most: transforming ugly walls into beautiful ones. 

“[We’re] taking what was the biggest blight in Old Town and making it into kinda the coolest building in Old Town,” Reagan told the Outpost, while he was working on the mural earlier this week. 

The WCIA really wanted to prioritize improving the building’s “curbside appeal,” Reagan said, which is why he painted the temporary murals on the boards that cover the front door and windows. Once the new windows and door are installed, Reagan’s art will be moved inside of the building for display, he said. Though Reagan only painted the art and not the rest of the building, he did get to select the shades of purple for the building.

“I figured this building really needed a healing color to come into its new place in our community,” Reagan said. “I looked up and down Third Street and was like, ‘What color does this street need?’ There’s a lot of beige and a lot of gray. I thought, ‘Let’s give this town some color!’ And I think more building owners should be doing that.” 

Once construction is complete, which will likely be at least a year from now, Benzonelli said, the top floor of the building will hold the hostel and have a combination of multi-bed dorm rooms, and three-person private rooms to rent nightly for travelers. Downstairs there will be an ADA-accessible room, as well as a common kitchen, laundry room and community room for guests to use. The building will also hold several apartments for workforce housing – one that will be for the innkeeper and others that can be rented for long-term stays. 

The WCIA’s work-training program will also continue to be utilized to operate the hostel, once it is open. Individuals in the program will receive training in hospitality and customer service and will be given the opportunity to work in various positions in the hostel, including as receptionists, cleaning crew or even as a doorman. (Yes, Benzonelli said that the hostel will have a doorman and will provide a higher level of service than is typical for a hostel.) 

Benzonelli said that the team is really not trying to rush the completion of this project and she wants it to be done right. She is hopeful that construction may be complete by next year, but said that realistically the hostel will probably open in early 2025. For those who want to see the progress, the WCIA is holding an event at the space on Sept. 30. To honor the wishes of the late Richard Evans, who worked with the WCIA, the organization will be auctioning off some of Evans’ art and pieces donated by other local artists. All of the proceeds will go toward Evans’ favorite local nonprofits. 

The event will also be the first time the Skyhorse building will be open to the public since WCIA took it over. And though the project certainly won’t be complete by this September, Benzonelli invites people to come see the progress that has been made and to learn more about the future of this exciting new addition to Old Town and the good work that the WCIA is doing. 

“We have created jobs, opened buildings and invested in the community,” Benzonelli said. “We’re making progress where people matter.” 

Press Release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

On July 4th, 2023, Officers with the Eureka Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Raymond Allen Payton (age 31), in 1000 block of Broadway in Eureka. After a multi-week investigation, the HCDTF believed Payton was in possession of large quantities of fentanyl pills and several firearms. Payton is a convicted felon and on felony probation with a search clause.  

Raymond Payton

During the traffic stop, EPD Officers found a loaded .38 caliber revolver and a small amount of fentanyl in   Payton’s possession. When EPD Officers checked the serial number on the firearm it was confirmed to be stolen. Due to the narcotics and the stolen firearm located in Payton’s possession, Agents with the HCDTF and Officers with the Eureka Police Department responded to Payton’s residence in the 200 block of Sonoma St., Eureka, to conduct a probation search. 
 
During a search of Payton’s residence Agents located 600 fentanyl “Perc 30” pills, over a 1/4 ounce of fentanyl powder, digital scales, packaging materials, and a non-serialized .40 caliber handgun.
 
Payton was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked for the following charges:

• 11370.1(A) Possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm
• 29800(A)(1) PC Felon in possession of a firearm
• 25850(A) PC Unlawful possession of firearm on person/vehicle
• 25400 (A)(1) PC Unlawful possession of concealed handgun on person/vehicle
• 11351 HS Possession of narcotics for the purpose of sales       

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On July 6, 2023, at about 4:03 p.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the Garberville area conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation near the intersection of Locust Street and Maple Lane.

Deputies contacted one occupant of the vehicle, 52-year-old Massai James Moser.  Deputies learned that Moser was driving with a suspended license. During contact with Moser he had refused to produce his driver’s license and refused to comply with commands to exit the vehicle.  

Deputies placed Moser under arrest for driving without a license and for resisting a police officer.

During a search of Moser and his vehicle incident to arrest, Deputies located a cylindrical tin can containing explosive flash powder, 6.5-feet of green cannon fuse, a clear bag containing ¼-inch ball bearings, 6.5-inch double edged dagger, semi-automatic 22 caliber rifle and ammunition, two grocery bags of commercially concentrated cannabis, and 3.55 grams of methamphetamine.

Moser was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of driving with a suspended license (VC 14601.1(A)), resisting a peace officer (PC 148(A)(1)), felon in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(A)(1)), felon in possession of firearm (PC 29800(A)), possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm (HS 11370.1), possession of concentrated cannabis over 1 oz (HS 11357(B)), possession of bomb making materials (PC 18720), possession of a dirk or dagger (PC 21310), and possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377).

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.

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Travis Schneider’s massive, half-built dream home will be demolished. 

That’s the big takeaway from last night’s meeting of the Humboldt County Planning Commission — well, that and the fact that Schneider appeared in person to offer an emotional apology to those impacted by the numerous permit violations he accumulated while attempting to build a mega-mansion in the Walker Point subdivision, atop a hill overlooking the Fay Slough Wildlife Area.

The six members present (with Commissioner Thomas Mulder absent) unanimously approved modifications to a Coastal Development Permit and special permits, which will allow the local developer and business owner to remove the foundation and framing of a structure that dramatically exceeded its permitted size while violating numerous other conditions of the permit.

Senior Planner Cliff Johnson recapped some of those violations while introducing the agenda item. As originally approved in 2018, the permit called for an 8,000-square-foot single-family residence with attached cellar and garage. The structure Schneider framed up was nearly 21,000 square feet. 

Schneider also built an un-permitted access road within a wetland setback area; built a portion of the house within a 100-foot wetland setback; started construction without a building permit; failed to get a required septic permit; and removed vegetation, including native California blackberries, from the wetland area, which is home to a designated archeological site from a historical Wiyot village.

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After learning about some of these violations, the county issued a stop work order on December 27, 2021, and three Wiyot-area tribes — the Blue Lake Rancheria, the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria and the Wiyot Tribe — were called in for consultation. [DISCLOSURE: The Blue Lake Rancheria is a minority owner in the Outpost’s parent company, Lost Coast Communications, Inc.]

The project has been mired in controversy ever since, and while Schneider initially expressed optimism that he could resolve the permit violations, his quagmire of permit violations proved impossible to escape. By building inside the 100-foot wetland setback, the project automatically came under the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission, whose staff cautioned the county that it wouldn’t take the violations lightly.

“After further review and consultation with the California Coastal Commission, we’ve determined that there is no way for this residence to be permitted … ,” Johnson said at last night’s meeting. 

Facing daily fines of $40,000, Schneider agreed in April to tear down the home and remediate the property to its pre-construction condition. As part of last night’s deliberations, the commission considered a lot-line adjustment between the two parcels on which the project was being built. 

According to a staff report, Schneider intends to convey one of the two redrawn parcels (the larger of the two, at 3.65 acres, delineated in green below) to a land-holding agency for the benefit of the three Wiyot-area tribes.

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Commissioner Peggy O’Neill asked whether the property owner could build a new home on the other parcel in the future. Johnson said yes, though the owner would have to reapply for a new permit.

Prior to deliberations from the commission, Schneider spoke from the lectern, his voice trembling as he apologized and spoke about his intention to “be a positive member” of this community by providing housing to others. 

The video below is queued up to the start of his apology:

Earlier in his comments, Schneider noted that the permit modifications, as written, would require him to perform all remediation work, including removal of the structure and regrading the property, by October 20, which he said would be “very challenging.” He asked for six months after receiving all necessary approvals — or a minimum of five months in the dry season — to complete that work.

Planning and Building Director John Ford said it would make sense for the site to be stabilized during the wet-weather winter months and for Schneider to be given time next year to remove the un-permitted fill material that was brought onto the property.

“I think that’s agreeable,” O’Neill said. “You don’t want to do more damage by working in the wet season.”

The commission agreed to modify the proposed motion, giving Schneider until July 31 of next year to fully remediate the property and requiring him to stabilize the site through the winter. A sentence was later added saying Ford could extend the deadline if there are delays due to “natural circumstances.”

Commissioners Iver Skavdal and Noah Levy both acknowledged Schneider’s apology with appreciation. O’Neill made a motion to adopt the resolution. Skavdal seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Heated Meeting Sparks Accusations of Dishonesty and Discrimination, Opening Rift Between Tribes and Humboldt County Planning Commission
• Despite Silence From Tribes, Mega-Home Builder Optimistic Ahead of Tonight’s Continued Planning Commission Hearing to Address Permit Violation Fallout
• After Rebukes and Apologies for Bongio’s ‘Disrespectful’ Comments, Planning Commission Defers Decision on Mega-Home Permits
• County Supes to Consider Censure of Planning Commission Chair Alan Bongio for Inappropriate Conduct
• Bohn Makes the Motion, Supes Unanimously Censure Bongio for Racist Remarks, Move to Remove Him as Chair of Planning Commission
• A Tour Through the Half-Built Dream Mansion of Travis Schneider, Who Remains Hopeful Amid Mounting Permit Problems
• Alan Bongio, Embattled Humboldt County Planning Commissioner, Resigns
• Planning Commission Set to Rescind Permit for Controversial Schneider Home as Developer Prepares to Tear it Down, Remediate Damage to Property

A Bay Area woodworking employee caught COVID on the job and brought it home during the height of the pandemic. His wife contracted the illness and her symptoms were severe – at one point, she needed a respirator to breathe.

But she cannot claim workers’ compensation injuries from the infection, the California Supreme Court ruled yesterday in answer to questions from a federal appellate court, because while doing so would be a moral good, that good is outweighed by the potential flood of litigation that would force businesses to close, tie up courts and send commercial insurance rates skyrocketing.

“Recognizing a duty of care to nonemployees in this context would impose an intolerable burden on employers and society in contravention of public policy,” associate justice Carol Corrigan wrote in the ruling. “These and other policy considerations lead us to conclude that employers do not owe a tort-based duty to nonemployees to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

It was the second major loss for California employees seeking compensation for COVID infections passed to family members. Last year, a longtime employee of See’s Candies lost a workers’ comp claim after she contracted COVID and passed it to her husband, who died.

Workers’ comp is inherently a bargain, Corrigan wrote in a unanimous opinion: Employees get some guarantee that they’ll be paid in the event of an injury suffered on the job, no matter whether they were at fault, and employers get to limit the amount and extent of that compensation.

The question, then, is whether an employer’s duty to protect its employees from injury extends to their families. The court ruled that it doesn’t. But the court left the door open to more lawsuits, ruling that workers’ spouses who contract COVID can still file negligence claims against employers.

The facts of the case are a reflection of the push-and-pull concerning COVID regulations and essential businesses during the first year of the pandemic.

There’s little doubt that Nevada-based Victory Woodworks ignored San Francisco County health ordinances that demanded that employers quarantine potentially infected employees, the court found. Robert Kuciemba was employed at a Victory Woodworks jobsite for about two months when the company transferred a group of potentially infected workers to his San Francisco job site in the summer of 2020. He worked in close proximity to them and was infected.

His wife, Corby, caught COVID from him. She was older than 65, and her condition worsened until she was put on a ventilator. The couple sued, arguing that Victory Woodworks’ negligence led to her illness.

Though the Kuciembas sued in state court, Victory Woodworks had the case moved to federal court, where it was dismissed, a win for the woodworking shop and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which filed briefs in support of its defense.

Victory Woodworks argued that a win for the Kuciembas would have consequences far beyond workplace compensation.

“There is simply no limit to how wide the net will be cast: the wife who claims her husband caught COVID-19 from the supermarket checker, the husband who claims his wife caught it while visiting an elder care home,” the company argued in a federal court brief.

On appeal, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals sent two questions to the California Supreme Court. First, whether the California Workers’ Compensation Act bars an employee’s household member’s claim against an employer, and second, whether the employer’s duty to protect its employees from COVID infections extends to the home.

During oral arguments in May, justices on the state Supreme Court voiced concerns that a workers’ comp ruling in Kuciemba’s favor would open the door to an “avalanche of litigation” against businesses.

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

Loran Gilbert Wright was born on September 25, 1930 in Ukiah and passed away on June 29, 2023 in McKinleyville.

Loran grew up in Arcata. He told stories about his youth, including summers that he spent with his brothers weeding gardens at Tyee City in the Arcata Bottoms. They slept in an old shed and swam in the Mad River at night. The boys used the money that they earned to purchase school clothes and shoes for the next school year. Loran was not especially fond of school, so he quit attending in the 7th grade and started working on a pig farm in the Arcata Bottoms. In 1948, he decided to enlist in the Navy. He was only 17 years old at the time, so he had to fib about his birthdate in order to enlist. He served for four years, 1948-1952, and was stationed in Hawaii during peace times. When the Korean War started, he was stationed in the Philippines on the USS Philippine Sea. About a year before his enlistment ended, he was home on leave when he ran into Patricia Brown. Loran and Patricia knew one another because Patricia was a good friend of Loran’s sister, Oleva. This chance encounter in Arcata was the beginning of a long and loving relationship that would span the rest of their lives.

Loran and Pat were married a year later, after Loran’s enlistment ended and Pat graduated high school. They married in Santa Rosa and honeymooned at Clearlake. On a subsequent trip to Clearlake, Loran learned to water ski. He and Pat bought a boat, and their family spent many memorable times boating and skiing on Big Lagoon and Trinity Lake. He built three different summer cabins at Trinity Center, where the family gathered and enjoyed boating on the lake.

Loran was an accomplished businessman. He started Sequoia Auto Supply in McKinleyville, Arcata and Eureka with partners, Don Cooper and Jerry Peterson. He and Don Cooper also partnered in starting the McKinleyville Stove Shop and the Eureka Stove Shop. Loran also independently opened the Laundromat on E Street in Eureka and Western Auto Supply in Weaverville.

After their children were grown, Loran built a summer home in Willow Creek. He had a big garden and planted 80 peach trees.

Loran was blessed to “retire” at age 55. He built his dream home at Trinity Center, where he and Pat lived until early 2000. He built two homes in Weaverville for his son, Mitch, and another home in McKinleyville for his son, Marc. He and Pat bought a Honda Goldwing Motorcycle and traveled 85,000 miles on it through the Western United States and Canada. Next, they purchased a fifth-wheel trailer and continued their travels through the Western and Midwestern United States, Canada, Alaska and Mexico.

In 2000, Pat and Loran moved to Weaverville to be closer to their son, Mitchell. They lived in Weaverville for 17 years. They moved back to McKinleyville in 2019 to be closer to their son, Marc. Loran loved hanging out with Marc in his shop, and “supervised” Marc’s crazy building projects. Loran also loved doing yard work, and he became a great gopher hunter. He was in the midst of a gopher hunting contest with his friend Bob Buck, which he was determined to win. The last count was 87 gophers! Just two weeks before his death, he asked his daughter-in-law, Teresa, for more Gopher Hawks.

Loran loved God. His family attended Arcata First Baptist Church. Most recently, he attended the Wesleyan Church of the Redwoods in McKinleyville. He enjoyed walking and meeting his neighbors. He had many friends.

Loran was preceded in death by his son Mitchell Wright in 2011, and by his siblings Jack Wright, Joseph Wright, Harold Wright, and Oleva Mellow (Wright).

Loran is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 70 years, Patricia Wright. He is also survived by his son, Marc Wright, Marc’s wife Teresa, and their children Tyla (Jasper) Brodie and Morgan (Katelyn) Wright. He is also survived by his foster daughter Lois Erhgood (Stockoff), Lois’ husband Jim, and Lois’ children, Russell Brenner and Alisha (Dennis) Wilson. He is also survived by his grandson (Mitchell’s son) Zachary (Tiffany) Wright. Loran had 6 great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Rowan Brodie, Michael and Anthony Brenner, and Dennis Jr. and Delilah Wilson.

A memorial service to honor Loran will be held on July 16, 2023 at 2 p.m. at the Wesleyan Church of the Redwoods, 1645 Fischer Avenue, McKinleyville. There will be a celebration of life at the church’s social hall following the service.

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Mark Robert Maillie was born on April 5, 1964 to Robert Maillie and Jessie Desadier in Roseburg, Oregon. His family later moved to Eureka, where Mark would grow up and meet the love of his life, Shirley. They were married on September 28, 1985.

Mark and Shirley would go on to welcome three children, Max, Rex, and Lindsey. Anyone who knew Mark knew that cancer was present in his life from 2006 on. During this first diagnosis of large B cell Lymphoma, he was told that the survival rate was low. He underwent treatment despite this statistic. In late 2006 the oncologist said he would do one more treatment so he would get one more Christmas with his family. Little did everyone know this treatment was a miracle and put him in remission. From then on he lived with a new sense of gratefulness.

Although cancer is a part of his story, it’s not his whole story. Mark had worked at Pacific Clears 19 years before getting cancer. It was a job he was always fond of. After he got the clearance to work again he got a job at the McKinleyville Services District doing maintenance around town. He loved his job and the ability to be outside doing something different everyday.

When sickness inhibited his ability to work a normal job, he focused on his hobbies. He was an avid fisherman. You could often find him climbing the rocks at the North Jetty to fish, or crabbing in the bay with Shirley. He also enjoyed woodworking. He was known for his redwood planter boxes that he would sell locally. He would even make a birdhouse from time to time, but usually only upon special request. He loved spending hours in his backyard crafting different boxes.

If you really knew Mark you would know that his other love was music, specifically heavy metal. He spent hours finding new bands to support online, even going to see a few of them in concert when they came to the states. He was definitely a real metal head. In his later years he also began collecting antique bottles. Mark and Shirley loved spending a weekend at a bottle show or scouring antique shops for bottles. They were happily welcomed into a wonderful group of northern California bottle collectors. Their collection is proudly displayed in their home.

Our family would like to make a special thank you to his entire team at UCSF medical center, especially Doctor Gansler. They provided many years of support and kindness when the hospital became a second home. Doctor Gansler was much like a second mother to Mark and he trusted her with his whole heart. It’s not often you are blessed to have the same team of people surrounding you for almost 20 years. Our biggest hope is that the research they were able to do on his case would help to save someone else in the future. Our family would also like to thank Dr. Cobb and his team. They have been like family to us and we don’t know where we would be without him. A special thanks also needs to be given to Providence in Home Healthcare. The team there provided Mark with such wonderful care to make him comfortable at home.Especially Sophia, Terrance, and Gina who went the extra mile every time Mark needed anything.

Mark is survived by his mother Jessie Desadier, brother Rodney Summers, wife Shirley, his children Max (Catrina), Rex, and Lindsey (Grady) and his grandsons Jaxson and Tristan; and his mother and father-in-law Judy and John Wolff. He is preceded in death by his father Robert Maillie, his brother-in-law John W. Wolff, his grandmother Percilla Madison, and many aunts and uncles.

Services for Mark will be held August 26 at 12 p.m. at Azalea Hall in McKinleyville.

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