Safety and Public Awareness
News reporting arrests, weather warnings, product recalls, and other important information relating to safety and public awareness, are found in this category.
According to KMUD News, dated Aug. 30, 2012:
"A fatal crash took the life of a 30 year old Fortuna woman today. The California Highway Patrol says Elena Esquivel was killed when her Subaru hit an electrical pole and she landed on the bank of the Eel River. Electrical poles crossed both lanes of traffic, shutting down Redwood Drive near Dean Creek for more than 6 hours. Matt Harvey is an officer with the California Highway Patrol. He says this is the 8th fatal collision they’ve had this summer."
Use the player below to listen to or download an audio clip of this story and interview with CHP Officer, Matt Harvey, which aired on the KMUD Local News on Thurs., Aug 30, 2012- Cynthia Elkins reporting.
Image from Redwood Times
Two recently posted stories relate to Humboldt County Planning Department's notifications of land owners that they own parcels that have been, "identified as a parcel of uncertain status, sometimes referred to as a shaded parcel."
There seems to be some confusion among the general public as to the exact content of these letters. Copies of the two letters sent by the Planning Department are posted here, each as a .pdf file.
- Click here to view letter 1, sent September 13, 2011.
- Click here to view letter 2, sent July 12, 2012 - note: this letter has been redacted to protect the identity of the recipient.
"Shaded Parcels", a term used to indicate parcels that have been shaded in on a map with pencil by Humboldt County Planning Department Staff denoting uncertain legal status, are once again in the news. Earlier this summer Humboldt County sent notifications to 25 property owners in the Seely Creek area, between Redway and Briceland, informing them that their parcels appear to be illegally subdivided. Subsequently around ten of those land owners met with Planning Department Staff at the Planning Department Office in Eureka.
In a story airing on August 24, 2012, KMUD Reporter Daniel Mintz discusses the issue and interviews Interim Planning and Building Department Director Martha Spencer. Use the player below to hear or download the audio clip.
In-Home Health Care Workers continue fight for wage and benefit increase
Written by Bob FroehlichIn-Home Health Care Workers, known as In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Workers, have been in wage and benefit negotiations with Humboldt County for almost a year and a half with no reslution to this point. IHSS Workers are asking for a wage increase from the minimum wage of $8.00 an hour to $9.50, and additionally are asking for health benefits and union recognition.The group is calling for Humboldt County residents to contact Supervisors to voice support for their cause.
According to the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services Web Page: "In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a program directed by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) that provides aid to blind, aged, and disabled individuals who are unable to remain safely in their own home without the aid of a care provider. In Humboldt County, The Department of Health and Human Services Social Services Branch manages the IHSS program. Humboldt County In-Home Supportive Services is committed to having elders, disabled adults and disabled children in Humboldt County live to their highest personal potential in the least restrictive environment. Designed as an alternative to out-of-home care such as nursing homes, the Humboldt County IHSS program has a team of Social Workers, Public Health Nurses, Mental Health Clinicians, Eligibility Workers, and Vocational Assistants that work together in determining the needs and eligibility of the applicant."
Additional Resources on this Issue:
California United Home Care Workers - http://www.cuhw.org/
KMUD News Coordinator Terri Klemetson recently aired two pieces related to this story. The first which aired on KMUD Local News on August 23, 2012 includes an interview with Margaret Lewis, one of the negotiators for the IHSS workers.The second, airing on August 24, 2012, contained information about the issue from Mark Lovelace, Humboldt County District 3 Supervisor. Use the players below to hear or download these audio clips.
Interview with Margaret Lewis
Interview with Mark Lovelace
Attorney for Seely Creek "shaded parcel" owners explains strategy
Written by Bob Froehlich"Shaded Parcels" have been in the news recently in Humboldt County. According to an article in the Times Standard, "Parcels become shaded when the planning department finds that a lot has been recorded for taxes with the assessor's office, but not for development with planning staff. Planners then “shade” the parcel on a map with a pencil to indicate its uncertain legal status. Parcel owners must record their property with both departments to have it considered a legal parcel."
On the August 23, 2012 edition of the KMUD Local News, Terri KLemetson, KMUD News Coordinator, interviewed Eric Kirk, a local attorney who is representing some of the property owners affected by the recent notifications of shaded property status sent out by the Humboldt County Planning Department.
Use the player below to hear or download an audio clip of this story.
