Join us for a 12-hour food drive Friday, 6am to 6pm, in Redding or Chico. Help stuff a RABA or B-Line bus at Les Schwab with food donations! LIVE UPDATES2 McKinleyville men arrested after deputies uncover drugs and gunsby Vada Hepner both of McKinleyville were arrested after deputies uncovered drugs and guns during a search warrant on Marray Road on Jan (Courtesy of Humboldt County Sheriff's Office) — Two men were arrested after deputies uncovered drugs and guns during a search of a McKinleyville home according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) The HCSO says it received multiple complaints about criminal activity relating to a home in the 1500 block of Marray Road deputies served a search warrant at the home Deputies detained 14 people who were in the house when they arrived Officials said a large amount of drug paraphernalia and multiple firearms were found in the bedrooms and living areas of the home Deputies also say they found an active marijuana cultivation in a garage attached to the house of McKinleyville was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF) for operating or maintaining a drug house and cultivating 6 or more plants of marijuana was also arrested and booked into HCCF for being a felon in possession of a firearm possessing a firearm without ID markings and possession of unlawful paraphernalia The HCSO thanked the community for helping to identify this location Anyone can call and report criminal activity to the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539 « Appeals Court Reverses Dismissal of Class Action Suit Challenging Humboldt County’s Cannabis Abatement Penalties, Sending the Case Back to District Court OBITUARY: Nicholas Kaleo-O-Alii Liegl, 1983-2024 » Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office: Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to several incidents involving shootings along roadways in the county two individuals were involved in an altercation inside Toni’s 24-Hour Restaurant the dispute escalated as they drove northbound on Highway 101 Shell casings were later recovered on Central Ave suspects shot at a victim’s vehicle while both vehicles were driving on Highway 96 in Hoopa following a physical altercation involving several adult males that occurred near the Hoopa Modular Building One 23-year-old male sustained non-life-threatening suspected gunshot wounds to the chest and side area was taken to a local hospital for treatment was taken into custody and booked at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for an outstanding warrant for battery with serious bodily injury (PC 243(d)) was also taken into custody and booked for assault with a deadly weapon in McKinleyville for several reports of a possible drive-by shooting in the area that came from a dark blue or green SUV 10 bullet casings were found on Walnut Ave Connections between the incidents and involved parties are being considered based on details gathered so far in the investigation Some of the witnesses were reluctant to provide details regarding these incidents 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 President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting at the White House. WATCH LIVEMan arrested after threatening to kill gas station employee in McKinleyvilleby Arianna Martinez MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — A man was arrested after threatening to kill a gas station employee in McKinleyville, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). On Nov. 22 at about 7:30 a.m., deputies were called to the Chevron gas station on Central Avenue for reports of a disturbance involving a man refusing to leave and threatening the cashier with a knife. When deputies arrived, the suspect, later identified as Eric Robert Thompson, 59, of McKinleyville, was leaving the gas station. Officials said Thompson gave them the knife and was detained for questioning. During the investigation, an employee said Thompson had previously been asked not to return to the store due to his erratic behavior. When Thompson returned to the store, the employee told him he had to leave, and that he was not welcome. Thompson threatened to kill the employee, and he threw a knife at the clerk. The clerk had to move out of the way to avoid being struck by the knife. HCSO said security footage from the gas station confirmed the clerk's statement. Thompson was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for assault with a deadly weapon and threatening a crime with intent to terrorize. Officials said the case is still under investigation. Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity should call the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff's Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539. LIVE UPDATESMissing man last seen in McKinleyville on Sunday — The Arcata Police Department is asking for the community's help in locating a missing man in the North Coast area 25-year-old Roy Tsatoke was last seen in the McKinleyville area on Sunday the Arcata Police Department asks that you contact their office at (707) 822-2428 To report errors or issues with this article please email the editorial team « Trump’s Freeze on Federal Loans and Grants Has Been Rescinded, But Not Before it Sowed Panic and Chaos Locally Hydesville Man Arrested Following High-Speed Pursuit on Highway 36 » The Sheriff’s Office has received numerous community member complaints regarding criminal activity relating to a residence on the 1500 block of Murray Road Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to those complaints by executing a search warrant at the problem residence.  14 subjects were detained while the house and vehicles were searched pursuant to the warrant A large amount of drug paraphernalia and multiple firearms were found within the bedrooms and living areas of the residence Deputies also located an active marijuana cultivation in a garage attached to the residence.  was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF) for operating or maintaining a drug house (HS 11366) and cultivating 6+ plants of marijuana (HS 11358(c)).  was arrested and booked into HCCF for being a felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)) possessing a firearm without ID markings (PC 23920(a)) and possession of unlawful paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)) The Sheriff’s Office appreciates the community’s help with identifying this location   We encourage community members to call and report criminal activity to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539 « Jury Convicts Gregory Mattox of Voluntary Manslaughter; Sentenced to 21 Years CalFire is Planning to Move Its North Coast Headquarters to Rio Dell, So Why Are City Officials Worried? » A McKinleyville Community Forest access point located up Murray Road about two miles past McKinleyville High School a community forest of their own has been a long-awaited but good-as-guaranteed idea for more than a decade inching toward reality through years of paperwork But now that McKinleyville finally owns 599 acres of forest bordering the east side of town tangible progress has picked up – and relatively quickly considering all it took to get to this point located up Murray Road a couple miles past town Visitors park in a pullout next to a locked gate but MCSD is developing a parking lot there that is expected to open soon.  The forest has been open to the public since the land transfer how and whether to use it is still a little confusing A map of the McKinleyville Community Forest (click to enlarge). McKinleyville Community Services District website The property is long and skinny – stretching from Murray Road to just north of North Bank Road – with town to the west and Green Diamond-owned land to the east It’s primarily filled by second and third growth Sitka spruce Three-quarters of the trees are under 30 years old and some areas were harvested as recently as 2017 The property overlaps the Widow White Creek and Mill Creek watersheds and is home to at least seven species considered rare Nearly 11 miles of logging roads cut through the forest and some of them lead into private land still owned by Green Diamond though the boundaries aren’t always clear.  For an unincorporated town with a full-time parks and recreation staff of three whipping the thing into shape is a big undertaking; it’s the first community forest owned by a community services district in California building necessary infrastructure and just waitin’ for the trees to grow the forest is easily more than a decade from realizing its full potential.  A sign in the to-be-opened parking lot on Murray Road eager community members have been calling up and popping by the McKinleyville parks and recreation office How about restrooms?” (One such McKinleyville-an was visiting the office for a status update when this reporter arrived for an interview with Parks and Recreation Director Kirsten Messmer who stepped into her role at the beginning of July.) “We’re at step one,” Messmer said during the interview we need to create this plan to guide where we want to go.”  That plan will be shaped by the McKinleyville Community Forest Committee Its job is to recommend actions to the McKinleyville Community Services District Board of Directors the unincorporated town’s elected government body that oversees water and sewer street lighting and parks and recreation (other sectors are under the county’s jurisdiction).  The committee is big – 14 members (at the moment) and three alternates – composed of forest and natural resource professionals and members of the public Two non-voting seats are filled by MCSD board members and a currently empty 15th seat will be filled by a representative from the Wiyot Tribe A few subcommittees will form to focus on the forest’s bigger priorities – like funding and security – and those subcommittees will have seats for community members.  “I feel really great about how many committee members we have,” Messmer said “People are interested in being a part of the project and have a lot of knowledge and expertise that lends to this At its inaugural meeting, the committee discussed priorities for the forest Messmer said at the meeting: developing a management plan and mapping out a trails plan.  The management plan will be a blueprint for the forest. It will grow from a 116-page framework plan that was prepared for MCSD by the forestry consulting firm BBW & Associates back in 2021 The framework plan preliminarily explores long-term goals and management ideas for the forest phase one of the forest’s first official trail is already complete.  but that organization hasn’t done any work in the McKinleyville Community Forest yet.) 3 p.m.: After this post was published RCMBA Board Member Sean Tetrault emailed the Outpost to say the organization “was part of the process of laying out the conceptual trail plans that the MCSD used with Green Diamond” during the permitting process “I and other volunteers spent hours working on maps and in conversations trying to help facilitate this great community addition,” he said Regarding the community forest and its network of trails “It’s a great addition to the community and we are all excited to see MCSD make it a success.”] “The first thing you gotta do is go walking through the woods where there never was anything – which is really fun – but it’s a lot of labor and a lot of exploring before you find anything that’s even usable,” Fyfe said in an interview with the Outpost Although the forest contains unofficial trails created by former trespassers on foot or bike many of the routes are ecologically damaging or unsafe to use While some existing trails might be restored MBTTA is currently identifying completely new routes allowing MCSD to direct trail development exactly as it sees fit MBTTA completed phase one of the forest’s first MCSD-approved trail last month Starting at the marked Murray Road access point it’s a mile-long route called Scroll Keeper that runs alongside the road The trail is open and ready to use by hikers but MBTTA plans to improve mountain bike features along the trail in the near future (The trail isn’t marked yet; find it to the right after crossing the gate at the Murray Road access point.) “[It’s] kind of like the backbone of the network,” Fyfe said “Everything that we’re going to be building is going to come off of that trail.” Now MBTTA is working on jump lines exclusively for mountain biking and has identified five other potential multi-use trail routes these trails would total around six to eight miles stretching throughout the forest and creating a foundational network from which future trails may sprout Fyfe plans to present the five new routes to the committee at a future meeting Trails may be the most popular feature of a community forest but McKinleyville is looking at a long list of other needs Security is perhaps the stickiest of challenges facing MCSD as it aims to develop the forest which has been the site of illegal activities of varying severity since long before the land transfer people have dumped loads of garbage or abandoned entire cars and used the property for shooting practice.  someone managed to lodge their car inside the jump track MBTTA is currently building The disruption was a big hit to the community given the thousands of dollars’ worth of labor and equipment people have donated to help develop the track Fyfe thinks that people have started to respect the property more now that it’s a community forest.  it’s been kind of known that we’re developing this So we’ve noticed a really positive change and that’s been really great,” Fyfe said Enforcing MCSD’s rules and regulations – no weapons no fires – is beyond the scope of MCSD staff MCSD will clean up trash and “patrol” the forest for potential issues but enforcing most of them will be up to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.  In addition to trails and security, the committee scratched the surface of other priorities for the forest, like budget, restoration, equipment needs and entrance point development. The committee meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m Messmer said those who want to stay in the loop can also call the parks and recreation office at (707) 839-9003 to sign up for a community forest email blast list.  It’s gonna be really cool to see what all we develop out there and how it all comes together and how the community keeps coming together to make things happen,” Messmer said.  “But we definitely need to make a plan with intention and with the help of our very specialized committee members and then utilize that plan as we move forward.”  “I am taking everything one day at a time,” she said In the meantime: There is a lovely panoramic view of town and the ocean from a logging road on the property’s northern border just steps from the Murray Road access point — A McKinleyville man was arrested over the weekend after being found with fentanyl and a large amount of cash during a probation search the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) said deputies investigated a vehicle on Luck Star Court as the driver of the vehicle was on summary probation for unlawful possession of a controlled substance with a search clause The HCSO said deputies observed a knife on Huntzinger so they detained him for the deputies' safety deputies found aluminum foil containing fentanyl and a large amount of cash in his pockets Deputies also found additional cash--totaling over $2,00--a baggie containing fentanyl and other drug paraphernalia inside his vehicle The HCSO said deputies seized a total of 28.34g of fentanyl Huntizinger was ultimately taken into custody and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for possession of a controlled substance for sale transporting a controlled substance for sale possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance To report errors or issues with this article please email the editorial team « THE ECONEWS REPORT: Celebrating Klamath Dam Removal Through Art OBITUARY: Betty Jane Eberhardt, 1929-2025 » Press release from Mary Burke for Supervisor: For more information, visit burkeforsupervisor.com and follow the campaign on social media Supporters at a campaign launch event earlier today LIVE UPDATESDeputies arrest McKinleyville man after finding ammo and taser during probation searchby Miranda Angel — A McKinleyville man was arrested on several weapons-related charges after being pulled over for expired registration the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) says was a previously convicted felon and was on probation for burglary and domestic violence Deputies said they asked Byrd for his license but he was unable to provide anything asked of him and a passport card belonging to someone else Byrd was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for the following: Anyone with additional information is asked to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539 — Deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) arrested Michael Armas last week following a robbery and attempted burglary The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) responded to a report of an attempted robbery at ACE Hardware on Central Avenue at around 10 a.m tried to leave the store with several power tools and used pepper spray on employees before fleeing in a pickup truck The HCSO said deputies later responded to Armas's home but he failed to comply with their commands leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant deputies responded to a report of a man attempted to break into a home on Van Wycke Street The HCSO said the resident reported that he had never had interactions with Armas before and didn't know who he was Deputies responded to the scene and took Armas into custody based on the arrest warrant and the attempted break in the Sheriff's office said Armas was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of second-degree robbery The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity to contact them at (737) 445-7251 or use the HCSO Tip Line at (707) 268-2539 « (VIDEO) EVEN MORE BRETT: ‘Humboldt’ Songwriter’s Latest Splashy Music Video Celebrates the Fall and Rise of the Klamath River (UPDATE) What Was Up With That Smoke Warning in Eureka Earlier Today? » Lindsey Kauffman (left) and Aaron Gamble | Booking photos Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a call for service regarding theft of fencing from a private property on Central Ave A concerned citizen reported to the Sheriff’s Office dispatch center that they observed a male and female stealing the fencing from the property and placing it into a tan pickup truck on Nov Security video footage from a nearby home corroborated the witness statement Deputies responded to the scene of the theft and contacted the victim The deputies confirmed that the theft was greater than $950 and a felony theft investigative report was taken Based upon the witness statement and the video evidence deputies followed up on this investigation by searching various locations in McKinleyville The deputies subsequently located the suspect’s vehicle at a private residence  The two suspects caught in the video were contacted and apprehended on scene without incident The stolen property was recovered and returned to the owner were booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility around 12:15 p.m 16 for Grand Theft (PC487(a)) and Conspiracy to Commit Crime (PC182(a)(1)) Kauffman had an additional charge for Probation Violation (PC 1203.2(a)(2)).  LIVE UPDATESMcKinleyville man arrested for burglary and drug possessionby Adam Robinson — A McKinleyville man was arrested in connection to a burglary on A Avenue over the weekend The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) said deputies responded to a reported burglary on Friday The victim told deputies they found their car window shattered with the interior rummaged through they said the victim's garage appeared to have been burglarized Footage from the home's surveillance cameras captured a man entering the garage and leaving with a power tool The HCSO said deputies were able to identify the suspect as Nicholas Ford of McKinleyville at Pierson Park around 12 on Nov Authorities said deputies had probable cause to believe Ford committed the burglary the HCSO said deputies found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in his clothes Ford was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of burglary The Sheriff's Office said some of the stolen items were recovered and returned to the victim Anyone with additional information regarding this case is urged to contact the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or the Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539 — A felon was arrested with an illegal AR-15 rifle level 4 body armor and methamphetamine following an investigation by drug agents in McKinleyville this week the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) began receiving information that Richard James Steele a convicted felon banned from possessing any firearms and ammunition was using controlled substances and in possession of several assault weapons the HCDTF said agents served a search warrant on Steele and his home in the 2100 block of McKinleyville Avenue Steele was reportedly detained in his driveway without incident the HCDTF said agents found three grams of meth they said Steele informed agents that he had a storage unit in the 2300 block of Central Avenue filled with several firearms After Steele signed consent to search the unit agents reportedly found a non-serialized AR-15 short-barreled rifle a non-serialized .40 caliber handgun with a threaded barrel the HCDTF said Steele was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for being a felon in possession if a firearm being in possession of a sawed-off shotgun/short-barreled rifle being in possession of an undetectable firearm being in possession of a controlled substance and possessing drug paraphernalia The case remains under investigation and the HCDTF is asking anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics-related crimes to call their office at (707) 267-9976 « Deputies Investigating Armed Robbery at McKinleyville Smug’s Pizza Thursday, Sheriff’s Office Says Three Fortuna Kids Arrested for Breaking Into Rohner Park Pavilion » Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the ACE Hardware Store on the 2700 block of Central Ave in McKinleyville for the report of attempted robbery.  attempted to leave the store with several power tools and sprayed pepper spray at employees before leaving the scene in a pickup truck Deputies responded to Armas’s McKinleyville residence where he failed to comply with commands; an arrest warrant was then issued for Armas.  deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 800 block of Van Wycke St. for the report of Armas attempting forced entry into the home through the front door The resident reported that he had never had interactions with Armas before and didn’t know who he was Deputies arrived on scene and took Armas into custody based on his arrest warrant and his most recent attempt to force entry into a residence Armas was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for second degree robbery (PC 211).  LIVE UPDATESMcKinleyville woman gives birth to healthy son while battling breast cancerby Arianna Martinez — A McKinleyville woman found out she was pregnant with her second child as well as renowned breast cancer specialist and surgeon She says the anticipated arrival of her son Chelsea had a goal birth weight of at least five pounds for her son consuming lots of deer meat which her partner hunted On the first day back to her cancer treatments Chelsea says a deer gave birth right outside the window in the garden saying Dane is a perfectly healthy little guy « (UPDATE: It Has Been Removed) Motorhome Loses Brakes on Fickle Hill and Comes to Rest Dangling Over a Bluff’s Edge in Arcata OBITUARY: Danny Ray Smith, 1969-2024 » Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Chevron gas station on Central Ave in McKinleyville for the report of a disturbance involving a male subject refusing to leave and threatening the cashier with a knife Deputies arrived on scene as a male subject was exiting the Chevron station The subject surrendered the knife and was subsequently detained for questioning had previously been asked not to return to the store due to his erratic behavior  When Thompson came back to the store The clerk had to move out of the way in order to avoid being struck by the knife Security footage from the business provided evidence corroborated the clerk’s statement and Thompson was arrested without further incident Thompson was then transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for: If anyone has any 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 « (BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS) The Klamath Hydropower Dams Are All Gone As of Today Eureka City Council Candidates Will Meet in Televised League of Women Voters Forum on Oct. 14 » The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) needs the public’s help to locate missing person Dylan Stout Stout was last seen in the Kneeland area on Friday by an HCSO deputy when a pursuit was initiated on a stolen vehicle that Stout was believed to be driving.  Stout was reported missing by a family member on the morning of Oct stating that he hasn’t been seen since before a Sept 27 incident involving a crashed stolen vehicle the stolen vehicle that Stout was driving crashed through a closed metal gate then continued forward and proceeded to crash into a bank where the vehicle rolled onto its roof Upon law enforcement’s arrival to the vehicle Deputies conducted a search including a specialized K-9 but Stout was not located; he has not been seen since Dylan Stout is now the subject in a missing person investigation following the report from his family A search is being conducted in the Kneeland area utilizing a California Highway Patrol (CHP) helicopter Stout is described as a 6’4” white male adult with blue eyes Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding Dylan Stout’s possible whereabouts should call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251