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A double murderer who failed additional murder attempts pleaded guilty. Wesley Starritt was known to Eureka Police for a “pure evil” propensity for gruesome stabbing murders with zero motive. His guilty plea contradicted recent Times-Standard reporting indicating he may switch his plea to not guilty. Wesley’s case saw years of mental health delays as he reportedly claimed he was Lucifer, one of his victims was stabbed 96 times, he reportedly assaulted guards at the jail, and he allegedly threw poop mixed with another bodily substance on someone in jail. The double murderer and quadruple stabber out of Eureka is scheduled for sentencing just before Halloween. *** TS / RHBB (2020)
Sequoia Park Zoo’s red panda Sumo died at 15. He lived way beyond the usual lifespan for red pandas. Staff noted his gentle nature. Condolences especially to the staff and zoo frequenters that interacted with Sumo often. *** RHBB [A zoo employee indicated the possibility of new red panda arrivals between six months to a year. -MC]
Arcata’s hospital will close its birth center in October. This leaves St. Joe’s in Eureka as the only place in Humboldt County for labor and delivery services. The loss follows a trend of rural hospitals struggling to maintain maternity care. Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata noted declining birth rates and financial losses were to blame. We’ll see if this leads to overcrowding at St. Joe’s in Eureka and limited access to local maternity care. *** RHBB [Fortuna also lost its birth center in 2021. - MC]
Eureka’s hospital is closing its rehabilitation unit by November. The St. Joe’s unit assists patients recovering from serious surgeries and accidents. Some worry the proposed alternative, Granada in Eureka, won't offer the same level of care. We’ll see if this cost-cutting move by the Catholic hospital network Providence will lead to longer hospital stays, increased pressure on emergency services, and the loss of essential care for Eureka and its surrounding communities. *** TS
Humboldt County Supervisors discussed our homeless community which was counted at over 1,500 people in January. This year’s numbers were a slight 4.4% decrease from 2022. Supervisors also discussed penning a letter to San Francisco’s mayor citing concerns about sending homeless people to places such as Humboldt County without collaboration, communication, and a discussion of available resources. It’s been reported Humboldt is one of the top three locations San Francisco sends its homeless population. *** TS
Humboldt County Supervisors progressed the possibility of tiny house villages. Recently passed ordinances set standards for tiny house villages and allowing emergency villages during a shelter crisis. As these efforts aim to combat homelessness challenges, possible tiny house villages here will be allowed up to 30 units per acre. A map was presented showing 700 qualifying parcels within half a mile of a bus stop. We’ll see if and when one of these villages begins construction. *** Loco
SoHum’s newspaper the Humboldt Independent ran its final issue after a 27-year run. The family paper’s closure reflects a trend of newspapers disappearing worldwide since the early 2000s, leaving many places without reliable local news coverage. The worldwide shift has unfortunately been to online news less concerned with facts, ethics, and journalistic integrity. The loss of the Humboldt Independent also reflects a trend of economic struggles in southern Humboldt County following the legalization of recreational cannabis. *** RHBB
An elected city council member resigned to improve her mental health. Blue Lake City Councilmember Elizabeth Mackay left her position noting the draining nature of constant public complaints. Her exit highlights the often thankless nature of public service and the tendency for burnout in important positions. Elizabeth said she found the Blue Lake City Council was not her best path to contribute to Blue Lake. *** TS [The public is quick to complain but slower to appreciate the hard work and dedication that keeps things running smoothly. -MC]
A bald eagle rescued in Humboldt County was nursed and released back into the wild. The national bird was found injured and unable to fly before it was treated in Sonoma County. He then took an airplane ride back to our neck of the redwoods for release near his capture site. The eagle, unaware his likeless adorns many a t-shirt in our country, flew into a nearby redwood and freedom to the joy of onlookers. *** RHBB
One of Humboldt County’s best coastal hikes is open to the public again. The Guthrie Creek Trail southwest of Ferndale is now accessible following the reopening of Centerville Road, which was rerouted due to landslide activity. The trail takes you along a stunning and secluded beach hike which is treasured by many. If you know then you know. Also worth noting: The nearby Fleener Creek trailhead is still closed for safety reasons. The area suffered dramatic coastal erosion in recent months. *** Visit Ferndale
The Jam in Arcata may change ownership and its name to The Wild Hare Tavern. A change of ownership notice indicates the venue will be more focused on food and allowing kids. *** r/Humboldt [The Jam bar and music venue in the plaza area has a long history including its former name The Jambalaya and being the site of one of the first ever Foo Fighters shows in 1995. -MC]
A bicycle-powered train carrying about two dozen trash bags of marijuana was spotted in Garberville. The quirky sight highlighted the area’'s economic struggles since the cannabis market crashed, turning what was once lucrative into a bitter joke. One commenter wrote: “Damn that’s like ($40) worth of contractor bags if you clean all the crap out of ‘em.” *** RHBB
The Beach Boys will perform at Cal Poly Humboldt on October 19 as part of the university's homecoming weekend. Led by founding member Mike Love, the legendary band will share good vibrations at a block party with food trucks, similar to 2022’s Portugal. The Man concert. Registration will be required. *** CPH
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