Loleta Traffic Collision Update on Conditions: Multiple patients are being transported to hospitals with some being sent to Redwood Memorial and others being diverted to Saint Joseph’s for trauma services. Northbound 101 is still blocked and seems likely to remain so for some time

Loleta Traffic Collision w/ Extrication: Highway 101 Northbound at the Bear River exit for a tree that fell on a vehicle with people trapped inside, now multiple vehicles possibly involved and Northbound 101 is fully blocked; For Loleta Fire, Fortuna Fire, City Ambulance; City Ambulance unit Fortuna 1 is at scene with multiple patients, still assessing and determining patient count

It’s getting close to that time when we are all required to look back and reflect on the year that was. The first whiff of that practice we’ve seen so far was sent in by a reader: Google has rolled out a feature it’s calling “Local Year in Search 2022,” in which they shine a light on the unique internet queries various regions of the U.S. were responsible for.

Would you like to know what Eureka was searching for? We thought you might. According to Google:

• The Eureka area searched for “camping near me” more than any other place in the country
• The Eureka area was the only place in the U.S. with “goblin shark” as its top trending animal
• The Eureka area searched for “astrology” and “horoscope” more than any other area
• ”Pasta salad” was the top trending recipe in the Eureka area

There are a few more nuggets that may or may not help you better understand your neighbors in Google’s year-end rundown. Maybe give it click if you have absolutely nothing else going on. 

(h/t Colin Trujillo)

All day yesterday during BOEM’s offshore wind auction, the big action was focused on the three leases up for sale in the Morro Bay area.

But for whatever reason, this morning it’s Humboldt getting all the love. The bid for the larger of the two Humboldt lease areas now stands at $148.8 million, and the bid for the smaller is at $132.7 million, while the hottest Morro Bay lease is currently going for $105.5.

Why this shift, and will it hold? Unknown — presumably there is all sorts of gamesmanship and strategy that goes into these things. As depicted in the chart above, the Morro Bay lease areas all have the capacity to produce more power, and it seems like they would have better connections to the grid, besides. Has Humboldt’s port infrastructure captured capital’s eye?

Follow along with the BOEM auction at this link. It’s updated every 20 minutes. Once again — we don’t know who has submitted these bids, and won’t know until the auction is all over.

Bidding has closed for the day in the Bureau of Ocean Land Management’s big offshore lease auction.

So far, the bids for the two areas off Humboldt up for lease have reached $141.5 million, and the three larger areas off Morro Bay have reached $260.6 million.

You can follow along with the bids as the resume tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. Just click this link and refresh every 20 minutes. Unfortunately, we don’t get to know who currently has the winning bids — that’ll all be revealed after the auction is closed.

Rich Silacci has resigned from his role as general manager of the Humboldt County Fair Association, according to a report in the North Coast Journal.

In a letter to the HCFA, Silacci said his departure is unrelated to recent events at the fair, including the arrest of the fair’s bookkeeper on suspicion of embezzlement and the resignation of three directors. He added that the job had taken a toll on him and that he plans to remain in Ferndale to offer support as the association searches for his replacement.

The fair association’s bank statements show a healthy balance of over a million dollars. A meeting to discuss the recruitment process for Silacci’s successor is scheduled for December 12.

More at the North Coast Journal.

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The above summary was generated in part by OpenAI’s Assistant language model.

A woman known to sleep in front of Arcata City Hall was found deceased in the alcove outside the building’s front door Monday morning, according to Redheaded Blackbelt. Arcata Police Chief Brian Ahearn confirmed that foul play was not suspected in her death and that the coroner had taken custody of the decedent.

The woman’s dog was found safe and is currently in the care of the Arcata Police Department. The department is waiting for contact with the woman’s next of kin to determine the dog’s long-term care.

Read more at Redheaded Blackbelt.

# # #

The above summary was generated in part by OpenAI’s Assistant language model. 

History has proven, time and again, that there is no group of sophisticates  more qualified to appreciate, interpret and judge art than LoCO readers. Thus, who better to weigh in on the fifth annual Humboldt Correctional Facility Holiday Art Contest than y’all. Your talents are needed, people! Let’s get to work.

In order to encourage the creation of this year’s crop of entries, each of the correctional facility’s housing dorms was asked to create a holiday scene with a provided large canvas, paint and supplies. Click here to view this year’s entries. Votes will be tallied until Dec. 18 and the winning dorm will be given a movie and popcorn night as reward. 

“The holidays can be difficult for everyone, especially those incarcerated and away from family,” said HCCF Programs Sergeant Delia Garcia in an HSCO release about the contest. “The Inmate Holiday Art Contest helps boost morale in the Correctional Facility, promoting positive rehabilitation and creating a safer environment for both the inmates and our correctional deputies.” 

If you’d like to view this year’s art in person you can find it — as well as entries from years past — on the ground floor of the Humboldt County Courthouse. 

Eureka Structure Fire w/ Possible Entrapment: 4800 block of Meyers cross of Higgins, RP reports a female unresponsive inside; HBF engine 8112 is now on scene of a single story wood frame residence with smoke showing from the rear, passing command and initiating fire attack. Next in unit secure water supply. 8112 has removed one victim from the involved structure, requesting a code 3 ambulance and upgrade to a second alarm

December’s Arts Alive was unseasonably warm thanks to an appearance from Duane Flatmo’s giant, flaming El Pulpo Magnifico. If you missed it, here’s some video evidence that, yes, that did happen.

Note: Old Town is still standing.

‘Tis the season! Friend o’ the LoCO James Davis sends along the following beautiful pictures taken at Berry Summit last night at about 8 p.m. — a time when, technically, you are not supposed to be able to take pictures at all.

Willow Creek Traffic Collision: Eastbound Highway 299 at mile marker 23 between Blue Lake and Willow Creek for a report of a vehicle rollover. Roadways are reported to be hazardous in the area; For Willow Creek Fire, Blue Lake Fire w/ Hoopa Ambulance on order

Maybe your invitation was lost in the mail, but President Joe Biden is throwing a fancy-ass state dinner at the White House Thursday evening for French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife. 

Now, you’ll note that LoCO doesn’t often activate its Washington correspondents, but we couldn’t let mentioning this soiree slip. That’s because — as North Coast cheerleader Mike McGuire notes — very important people will be dining on Cypress Grove’s Humboldt Fog cheese at this thing. Whoa! You’ve had that cheese too!

Stare longingly at the full menu below, as reported by Politico: 

Butter Poached Maine Lobster
American Osetra Caviar
Delicata Squash Raviolo
Tarragon Sauce

Calotte of Beef, Shallot Marmalade
Triple Cooked Butter Potatoes
Sunchoke & Creamed Watercress
Red Wine Reduction

American Artisanal Cheeses: The American Artisanal Cheese Course features three outstanding and award winning cheeses:

Rogue River Blue - 2019/2020 World Cheese Awards World Champion Gold Made by Rogue Creamery with milk sourced from Grant Pass, Oregon

Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog - 2022 World Cheese Bronze Medalist Soft Ripened Goat Cheese

Deer Creek Cheddar Cheese from a small family run creamery in Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Orange Chiffon Cake
Roasted Pears with Citrus Sauce
Crème Fraiche Ice Cream

Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay “Napa Valley” 2018
Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon “Knights Valley” 2019
Roederer Estate Brut Rosé N/V

Bon appétit,  presidents.

Great info from @PGE4Me this morning! #WinterWeather https://t.co/u2GG5NOwIJ

— HumCoSO (@HumCoSO) December 1, 2022

We can have nice things. Almost two years after revealing its intentions, Eureka’s Dick Taylor Chocolates announced today that they are ready to give the public a glimpse into some of what they’ve been up to at their new waterfront location. Eureka has a new chocolate factory, y’all! 

“It will take a few more months to move the entire factory so stay tuned for more pictures along the way and a grand opening next year,” said the Dick Taylor crew in their announcement. 

While we await the full vision, sweet tooth-afflicted locals are invited to take a peek at the goodness created thus far at a chocolate factory soft launch scheduled to take place at 333 First St. during Arts Alive this coming Saturday, Dec. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. Yes, there will be samples. 

The Outpost plans to have more on this mouth-watering development later this week. Stay tuned! 

A female occupant of the vehicle was detained, the male suspect fled on foot and was quickly apprehended by deputies. This case is being investigated by @SacPolice. Law enforcement has cleared from the Mitchell Road area. (2/2)

— HumCoSO (@HumCoSO) November 22, 2022

#UPDATE Humboldt County SWAT conducted a special operation this afternoon in Eureka to apprehend wanted homicide suspect from Sacramento. The suspect fled during the op and was involved in a solo-vehicle traffic collision on Mitchell Road. (1/2)

— HumCoSO (@HumCoSO) November 22, 2022

#HappeningNow Heavy law enforcement presence in the Mitchell Road area of Eureka as HCSO SWAT completes a suspect apprehension operation. There is no perceived threat to the community at this time. Please avoid the area while law enforcement works.

— HumCoSO (@HumCoSO) November 22, 2022

North Coast News is live at the scene.

Per Second Street IC, fire in knocked down and primary search is all clear

Engine 8114 at scene of a single story residential structure with fire showing and one exposure threatened. 8114 establishing a supply line, passing command and setting up for fire attack. 8103 is establishing “2nd Street IC”, this will be an offensive fire with primary objective of fire control. Multiple move up and covers for the HBF response area

Eureka Structure Fire: 2nd and Q St for a residential structure on fire with an elderly resident on the front porch; For HBF Battalion 8103, Truck 8181, Engines 8112, 8113, 8114, 8115; Engine 8114 still enroute has a visible smoke column

For those of you delighted in future Bigfoot Jesse Eisenberg’s previous Humboldt dining adventures, perhaps you’d like to know yet another local establishment the Academy Award-nominated actor wandered into whilst presumably hungry. Yes, it is a slow Monday! What of it?

The Outpost can confirm — AKA, we noticed on Facebook — that Eisenberg stopped by Paul’s Live From New York in Eureka over the weekend to snag a slice. Good choice, Jess! Readers may reasonably wonder: Was he reminded of the time, on January 29, 2011, when he hosted Saturday Night Live with musical guest Nicki Minaj? We can’t say for certain, but the PLFNY crew were happy to have him there, all the same.

“So cool to have celebrities show up and enjoy a huge New York slice !!!,” the pizzeria posted on Facebook. Noice! 

Where in Humboldt will Jesse Eisenberg eat next? There’s traditionally not a lot of local news Thanksgiving week, so maybe LoCO will be forced to tell you!

Highway 299 was briefly fully closed by a vehicle fire at Berry Summit. Currently traffic is open to one-way controlled traffic, according to Caltrans. 

Updates from LoCO’s CHP Watch here.

As you might expect, the City of Eureka is eager to capitalize on October’s magical Sara Bareilles Day at Halvorsen Park by figuring out more events that might be worth the effort for that space. 

With that in mind, the city would like to hear from you about your Sara experience. If you’re itching to click some bubbles, you may do so here.

Vehicle was spotted southbound 101 from Samoa at high speed. Officers from multiple agencies are in position but not currently in pursuit

HCSO lost sight of the vehicle as it was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of 101 just north of Samoa

Back Northbound on 101

*Correction HCSO not EPD* Now wrong way Southbound 101 from Samoa

Arcata Vehicle Pursuit: EPD is attempting to catch up to a high speed vehicle northbound Highway 255 towards Arcata from Eureka, requesting APD be notified; Now entering Arcata speeds 100