The old cliché, "When life gives you lemons...make lemonade!" was brought to life last Friday at the Garberville Farmers' Market when students from Redway Elementary School set up a lemonade stand at the Farmers’ Market in Garberville to raise money for their school.
The last three years of California education budget cuts have hit schools hard. Governor Brown has proposed another series of "trigger cuts" if the Tax Initiative, California Proposition 30, doesn't get the votes required to pass this November. Locally, there have been efforts by parents and community members to raise money for school programs and recently students from Redway Elementary School have gotten involved.
News Coordinator, Terri Klemetson, aired this news piece on the August 10, 2012 edition of the KMUD local news. Use the player below to hear the story.
Use the links below to get more Information about the November Tax Initiative: 
According to a Press Release from the Eel River Recovery Project, dated August 10, 2012:
At the same time the Eel River Chinook salmon run is resurging to levels not seen in 50 years, stream margins in dry years are becoming toxic to humans and animals due to blue green algae blooms. Although toxic conditions have not formed since 2009, eleven dog deaths have been documented by the Humboldt County Department of Public Health (HCDPH) that are attributed to toxic algae dating back to 2001, mostly in the South Fork Eel and lower Van Duzen River. Citizens of Fortuna and Redway expressed extreme concern about the public health risk posed by toxic algae at community forums in early September 2011 sponsored by the Trees Foundation. In response to this community need and others, the Eel River Recovery Project (ERRP) was formed and citizens are currently monitoring different river reaches as an early warning system to protect public health.
Humboldt County Public Health staff Harriet Hill samples toxic algae on the SF Eel River at Phillipsville in August 2009: 
The toxic algae problem is relatively new to the Eel River, but it is not unique in the region. It seems that water bodies out of ecological balance are subject to colonization by toxic blue green algae throughout the West. The Eel River toxic species are Planktothrix and Anabaena that can create neurotoxins that are fatal within minutes to dogs that play in algae blooms in stream edges and then lick their fur. Toxic algae does not form in all years and it looks like we may avoid the problem in 2012 due to late rains and a cool summer, but ERRP volunteers are surveilling conditions on the Van Duzen River, South Fork and lower Eel River. Volunteers are taking pictures of locations that have been known to form toxic conditions and automated temperature sensors are being placed nearby. The hope is that a relationship between ambient stream temperature and development of toxic conditions can be established as part of an early warning system. Water temperature sensing devices used in 2012 are on loan to the ERRP from the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Mendocino County Water Agency.
The ERRP is working with the Humboldt County Public Health and contact is made if conditions become threatening or if there is any evidence of toxic exposure of pets or people. The toxic species often are intermixed with other algae species and can only be identified with magnification. They County and State do not currently have a budget for testing for toxic algae except in emergencies, such as when dogs die. ERRP may try to help get grants so we can help the County to get more and better toxic algae data. In the mean time, the best strategy to keep pets and children safe is to make sure they avoid contact with stagnant stream margins that have algae abundant blooms.
It is assumed that nutrient pollution reduction and water conservation are needed to lessen toxic algae risk and to restore the Eel River’s ecological balance. Speakers at the ERRP sponsored a Water Day forum this past May 6 discussed ways to cut down on pollution and agricultural water use and grant funds are being pursued to promote more widespread implementation of the recommended strategies.
The ERRP operates under the umbrella of the Trees Foundation and the 2012 monitoring program is sponsored by a Rose Foundation grant as well as a private donation. The project also includes citizen assisted temperature trend monitoring of streams and fall Chinook salmon counts. More volunteers are needed and those interested participating in any activity can contact ERRP volunteer monitoring coordinator Patrick Higgins, at (707) 223-7200. See www.eelriverrecovery.org for more information.
September 2011 photo is of the same location on the SF Eel as photo at left and shows no sign of toxic algae: 
According to a Press Release from the Eureka Police department, dated August 10, 2012:
On 8-10-2012 at about 1:08 am, Officers of the Eureka Police Department responded to the drive thru of Burger King (417 S Street) for a possible vehicle theft that had just occurred.
Upon arrival, officers contacted the victim who relayed the following information. The victim said she had picked up three male subjects in the drive thru of Burger King. The three subjects were unknown to her. As she was traversing the drive thru, the subjects began fighting with one another. The victim demanded the subjects exit her vehicle. Two of the subjects complied with the victim’s requests, but the third subject, identified as Brian Ray Mello (34 years old of Eureka), refused to exit the vehicle. The two other subjects then attempted to remove Mello from the vehicle, but he physically resisted their efforts.
Due to Mello’s refusal to exit and the physical altercation taking place between the three subjects, the victim became fearful of her safety and stepped out of her vehicle. She continued to demand that Mello exit the vehicle. Mello climbed into the driver’s seat of the vehicle and began driving away. The victim grabbed the vehicle in an attempt to stop Mello from stealing her car. After several feet, the victim lost her grasp on the vehicle and Mello sped away.
Officers searched the area for the victim’s vehicle, locating it moments later at 6th and Myrtle Streets. Mello was in possession of the vehicle and was detained without incident. A field identification was conducted and Mello was positively identified as the subject whom had stolen the vehicle. Mello was taken into custody and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of carjacking and vehicle theft. Mello is being held on $250,000 bail.
The Eureka Police Department reminds citizens to be mindful of their personal safety when traveling and strongly recommends not picking up persons unknown to you.
According To a Press Release from the California Highway Patrol, dated August 9. 2012:
On Thursday, August 9, 2012, at approximately 12:00 pm, The Garberville Area office of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) received a tip of an unoccupied white 2000 Pontiac Bonneville near the Black Oak Ranch north of Laytonville in northern Mendocino County. The vehicle was registered out of Cedar Park, Texas, and was believed to be associated with 20 year old Zachary Ryan Price, also of Texas. Price is the suspect in the stabbing death of one of his family members in Liberty Hill, Texas. The murder took place in early July of this year. It was reported to the CHP that Price was believed to be camping in the area of the Black Oak Ranch, the site of the Gaia Festival this past weekend.
CHPofficers and a CHP aircraft responded to the area in an attempt to locate Price. Through the coordinated efforts of the California Highway Patrol Garberville Area, the US Marshall’s Service, Williamson County, Texas, Sheriff’s Department, the Liberty Hill, Texas, Police Department, and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department, Highway Patrol officers located Price camping in the Black Oak Ranch area at 2:54 pm. Price was taken into custody without incident. Price and his vehicle were turned over to the US Marshall’s Service, who is coordinating the extradition back to Texas.
Photo of Zachary Ryan Price:
According to a Press Release from the Humboldt County Sheriffs' Office, dated August 9, 2012:
On 08-8-2012, approximately 8:30 a.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Response Unit (C.R.U.) served a Humboldt County Superior Court Search Warrant in the Showers Pass area of Humboldt County. While enroute to serve the warrant deputies saw one of the suspects driving on Showers Pass road, near the search warrant location. Deputies stopped the driver, identified as David Collenberg, 30 years old, from Eureka. When speaking with Collenberg, deputies saw a .357 revolver next to the driver’s seat. The revolver was loaded. Deputies were aware Collenberg is a convicted felon and was prohibited from owning a firearm. Collenberg was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle and was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility to be booked on those charges.
Deputies continued driving towards the search warrant location, and saw another person suspected of being involved in the case they were investigating. He was identified as Grady Longacre Jr. 35 years old from McKinleyville. Longacre Jr. was driving an excavator when deputies contacted him. Longacre Jr.had a Winchester Rifle with him on the excavator. Deputies were aware Longacre Jr. was prohibited from owning a firearm. He was arrested for possession of the firearm. Deputies proceeded to the search warrant location where the warrant was served. When deputies arrived they located 961 growing marijuana plants in eight greenhouses on the property, approximately $1,800.00 dollars in US currency, along with 33 pounds of dried and processed marijuana. When deputies searched the residences on the property they located two inoperative diesel powered marijuana grows.
Longacre Jr. was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of marijuana for sale. Collenberg bailed out of jail before deputies could add additional charges of possession of marijuana for sale. Those additional charges will be sought through the Humboldt County District Attorneys Office.
Anyone with information for the Sheriffs Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.
According to a Press Release from the Humboldt County sheriffs' Office, dated August 8, 2012:
On 08-7-2012, approximately 9:00 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office assisted by Hoopa Tribal Police, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Marshalls Office, California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, Humboldt County Drug Task Force ( H.C.D.T.F.), Bureau of Land Management( B.L.M. ) and Campaign Against Marijuana Planting ( C.A.M.P. ) eradicated 26,600 marijuana plants ranging from 4-6 feet in height in the Mill Creek drainage in the Hoopa Reservation. Two helicopters were utilized in the eradication. Several loads of garbage were also removed. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information for the Sheriffs Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.
Shown below- a photo taken at the grow location:
According to a Press Release from the Fortuna Police Department, dated July 23, 2012:
On July 22, 2012 at about 1:39 pm, Fortuna Police received numerous emergency calls reporting a woman in a Toyota pick-up had just run down a male subject in the Safeway parking lot. Upon the arrival of officers, it was discovered through several witnesses and involved parties statements that 20 year old Jessica Riley of Cutten, had been involved in an argument with her boyfriend moments earlier at a nearby gas station. After her boyfriend refused to discuss the situation any further with her, he left the area on foot with a male friend of his. Riley, who was reportedly still upset over the argument, followed the two males in her Toyota pick-up and as the males were walking across the Safeway parking lot, she drove into the parking lot and drove directly for them at approx. 15 mph.
Her boyfriend, whose name was not released, jumped out of the path of Riley’s vehicle and was not struck, but his friend, 20 year old Fortuna resident Marco Alvarez was struck by the vehicle and knocked to the ground. Alvarez was transported to Redwood Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released for moderate injuries. It was further discovered that during the incident, Riley’s 1 ½ year old daughter was in the Toyota pick-up but was unharmed. The child was later released to a responsible adult.
Riley was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Jail on the following charges:
PC 245(a)(1) – Assault with a deadly weapon
PC 664/245(a)(1) – Attempted assault with a deadly weapon
PC 273A(b) – Child endangerment
According to a Press Release from the California Farm Bureau Federation, dated July 23, 2012:
Saying that a highway project has turned into a farmland-conversion project instead, the California Farm Bureau Federation filed documents requesting that state and federal agencies review and reduce the impact on agricultural land. The case involves a planned Highway 101 bypass around the city of Willits.
Acting in federal court in San Francisco, CFBF filed a motion to join in an existing lawsuit that challenges environmental review of the Willits Bypass Project; defendants include the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the California Department of Transportation.
In its motion, Farm Bureau notes that the bypass originally would have affected 150 acres of farmland. But now, more than 2,000 acres of land will be affected-with at least 400 acres removed permanently from agricultural use-as government agencies seek agricultural land to mitigate for wetlands affected by the bypass.
According to a Press Release from Americans for Safe Access, dated July 18, 2012:
Late yesterday, U.S. Representative Sam Farr (D-CA) and 18 co-sponsors introduced HR 6134, the "Truth in Trials" Act, bipartisan legislation to allow defendants in federal criminal prosecutions the ability to use medical marijuana evidence at trial, a right not currently afforded them. Because of a June 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Gonzales v. Raich, the government has the discretion to enforce federal marijuana laws even in medical marijuana states. The Raich ruling also allows federal prosecutors to exclude all evidence of medical use or state law compliance in federal trials, virtually guaranteeing the convictions of medical marijuana patients and providers.
According to a Press Release from Governor Jerry Brown's Office, dated July 16, 2012:
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today made the following appointment.
Rex Bohn, 57 of Eureka, has been appointed to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. Bohn has been a resource manager at United Compost and Organics since 2010. He served as accounts manager at O and M Industries Inc. from 2008 to 2010, vice president at Evergreen Pulp Inc. from 2006 to 2008 and operations manager at Renner Petroleum from 1984 to 2006. Bohn will fill the seat vacated by Jimmy Smith, whose retirement will become effective August 3.
This position does not require Senate Confirmation and the Compensation is $81,576. Bohn is registered as "decline-to-state."
