On August 11, 2003 Chris Giauque was reported missing and may be a victim of a robbery-homicide. In 2012 it was announced that a $200,000 reward is being offered in the case. Click here to see information about the case and the reward being offered.
Use the player below to hear an interview with Bob Giauque, Chris Giauque's father, announcing the $200,000 reward offered in the case. This story was aired by Cynthia Elkins on the KMUD Local News. Feb. 6, 2012
Listen below to another piece on the Giauque case, aired on March 14, 2012 - Eileen Russel reporting.
Missing Person, Chris Giauque
The Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team was mobilized this last weekend, Sunday, Jan 6, 2012, to assist two fishermen whose drift boat hit a rock and partially sunk in the South Fork Eel River by Richardson Grove.
Use the player below to hear more on this incident, including an interview with Diana Totten, former Chief and now the Acting Media Liason for the team. This piece was aired on the KMUD Local News by News Coordinator, Terri Klemetson, on Monday Jan. 7, 2013.
The two photos below were provided by Diana Totten.
The photo below was taken by Jeffrey Freeman.
After decades of struggles over water and years of negotiation, an agreement, the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA), was finally signed by 42 stakeholders. This agreement was slated to expire at the end of 2012 unless congress gave authorization for the agreement. To give congress more time to enact the required legislation, all the parties to the KBRA agreed to extend the deadline for congressional approval.
According to a press release from the Karuk Tribe, dated Dec. 31, 2012:
The 42 parties that originally signed the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement have all agreed to extend the deadline for congressional action necessary to implement the Agreement. The 42 Parties comprise Klamath River tribes, irrigation districts, conservation groups, fishermen, local and state governments.
As originally drafted, the KBRA would have terminated on December 31, 2012 unless Congress passed authorizing legislation. Because it was increasingly clear that Congress would not act before the KBRA’s self-imposed deadline, the Parties agreed to a KBRA amendment that would extend the agreement until December 31, 2014. The Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement does not have a termination date and the changes do not affect the proposed dam removal date of 2020. Other proposed amendments simply clarify the groups’ original intent.
The Agreements aim to restore and protect one of America’s greatest salmon rivers in a manner consistent with a healthy agricultural economy. According to Leaf Hillman, Natural Resources Director for the Karuk Tribe, “This Agreement is the only approach that can restore salmon runs while benefitting Klamath Basin agriculture.”
For decades Klamath Basin communities have battled over the region’s most precious commodity: water. Massive fish kills, irrigation shut offs, and fishery closures have created economic insecurity for tribes, farmers, and rural communities throughout the Klamath Basin and for small fishing communities all along the California and Oregon coasts.
The KBRA and companion Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) are the products of years of negotiation between Klamath River Tribes, area farmers, fishermen, dam owner PacifiCorp, and conservationists.
The Agreements were signed by 42 parties but need congressional authorization for full implementation. The Agreements would provide greater water certainty to irrigators who have seen diversions shut off in the middle of growing seasons, but cap those diversions in a manner that provides greater flow assurances for fish. Water storage would be increased in Upper Klamath Lake and four dams further downstream removed. Dam removal would improve conditions for salmon and save power customers money because, under terms of the Agreements, dam removal is cheaper than mandatory infrastructure upgrades required by a new dam license.
“We now need leadership from Senator Wyden and Senator Feinstein to move this through congress or else the Klamath will soon plunge back into a constant state of crisis and economic uncertainty,” adds Hillman.
A summary and copy of the amendments are available at www.klamathcouncil.org.
For more information use the player below to hear an interview with Craig Tucker, Klamath Coordinator for the Karuk Tribe, aired Thurs., Jan. 3, 2012 by KMUD News Correspondent, Christina Aanestad.
Additional resources:
According to a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, dated Dec. 24, 2012:
"On 12-23-2012, approximately 6:00 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a man on top of the Shop Smart Grocery Store, 3430 Redwood Drive, in Redway. The caller said the man was pouring gasoline on himself and was attempting to light himself on fire. Deputies, California Highway Patrol Officers and fire personnel responded to the scene.
When deputies arrived on scene, they saw a crowd had formed in the parking lot. The suspect identified as Ricardo Guerra, 43 years old from Whitethorn, was standing on the roof with his two dogs. Guerra was holding a one gallon plastic jug filled with gasoline and was pouring it over his body. Deputies made verbal contact with Guerra and attempted to talk him down from the roof. When deputies spoke with Guerra he held up a lighter and then began pouring gasoline down the west wall of the store while screaming he was going to burn the building down.
He then picked up a concrete cinderblock and rocks which he threw from the roof towards the crowd below. He then began pacing back and forth across the roof edge. He then threw the gasoline filled container at the deputy along with rocks. When firefighters attempted to put a ladder up against the building, Guerra came at them with a cinder block over his head. He then threw the cinderblock at the firefighters attempting to strike them with it. Deputies and CHP Officers then accessed the roof using the fire department's ladder while fire personnel stood by with a hose in case Guerra lit himself, the law enforcement officers and the building on fire.
Once the law enforcement officers accessed the roof, Guerra ran at the officers with a jug filled with gasoline and threw gasoline on one of the deputies striking him in the chest and face, before running away from the deputy. Guerra then hung off the roof which was thirty feet above the ground below. The deputy and a CHP Officer grabbed Guerra and brought him back onto the roof."
The press release further states that Guerra allegedly attempted to ignite a lighter that he was holding against a deputy and screamed, “Die, die, die”, and that he attempted to fight with law enforcement officers, but was overpowered by the officers.
The press release concludes by indicating that, "After Guerra was restrained, he was brought to an awaiting ambulance with the assistance of the fire personnel on scene. He was transported to a local hospital. After he was medically cleared he was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for felony battery on emergency personnel, attempted arson, obstructing and resisting law enforcement by use of force and violence and being under the influence of a controlled substance. His bail is set at $50,000.00."
The HCSO requests that anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity 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 Center for Biological Diversity:
The Center for Biological Diversity is distributing 50,000 free Endangered Species Condoms for holiday and New Year’s Eve celebrations around the country. More than 600 volunteer distributors will hand out the condoms at events in all 50 states. The condoms are part of the Center’s 7 Billion and Counting campaign focusing on the effects of rapid human population growth on rare plants and animals.
“There are more than 3 billion people on the planet under the age of 25. The choices this generation makes will determine whether our planet and its wildlife and natural resource base are burdened with 8 billion or 15 billion people. The difference between these paths can be measured by how many other species are left to roam alongside us,” said Jerry Karnas, population campaign director with the Center. “Our Endangered Species Condoms are a great way to get a conversation started about how the growing human population is affecting the wild world around us, especially animals already teetering on the edge of extinction.”
Click here to read the entire press release.
Endangered Species Condoms photo compliments of the Center for Biological Diversity:
According to information received by KMUD News from the California Highway Patrol:
On December 21, 2012 at approximately 5:54 am the California Highway Patrol responded to the report of a semi-truck collision on State Route 162 east of US-101 in Mendocino County. A semi-truck was traveling eastbound when the roadway surface gave way and slid downhill. The semi-truck driver was uninjured and was able to guide his vehicle across the crevice in the roadway. Damage to the semi-truck was limited to its trailer and there was no release of cargo or other materials. The portion of roadway that slid away is approximately 25' wide by 20' deep. SR-162 is closed to both eastbound and westbound traffic at this time.
The roadway will remain closed at mile post marker 1.75 until repairs can be made to the roadway. Alternate routes to the Covelo area are Dos Rios Rd. from the west and Mendocino Pass from the east. Holiday travelers are reminded that winter weather conditions and recent storms may make these alternate routes inaccessible to some vehicles and commercial vehicles should not attempt these roads.
Photos below are courtesy of Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
According to a press release from the Arcata Police Department, dated Thursday, Dec. 19, 2012:
On December 19th, at approximately 3:00 pm, officers from the Arcata Police Department responded to the report of a vehicle collision at Days Inn Motel, 4701 Valley West Blvd. Upon the officers arrival, they discovered a black Toyota Tacoma truck had slammed into the rear of a parked Chevy Tahoe. The driver of the Toyota advised officers that he was the victim of a robbery and kidnapping.
The victim had been staying at the motel with a female acquaintance for the past couple of days. A few minutes prior to the collision, the female accompanied by two men who were unknown to the victim, barged into the motel room brandishing knives. The trio demanded the victim take them to his storage unit where they believed he had money. The victim and the female got into his Toyota truck where the female demanded he drive to the storage unit. The two male accomplices were to follow them in another vehicle. Upon leaving the parking lot of the motel, the victim rapidly accelerated the Toyota truck and purposely collided with the parked Tahoe in the hopes the collision would foil the robbery and bring the police. Immediately after the collision the two male accomplices fled on foot. The victim struggled with the female until she was able to break free and run to her vehicle which was still in the parking lot. The female then fled the scene in her vehicle.
The female suspect has been identified as twenty-nine year old Patrice Denise Denham of Dallas Texas. Denham's vehicle is a 2009 red Honda Civic. The vehicle has a Texas temporary plate number of 64R4424.
The first male accomplice is described as a white male adult in his twenties wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
The second male accomplice is described as a white male adult in his twenties wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black jeans.
Anyone having information on this robbery, the whereabouts of Denham or the identity of her male accomplices is encouraged to call the Arcata Police Department at (707)822-2424 or leave an anonymous tip at the Arcata Police Department's Crime Tip Line at (707)825-2588.
Recently school construction bond financing has been in the news. Click here for story in the Pasadena Sun. In 2010 Southern Humboldt County voters approved Measure L for local school construction projects. KMUD News Coordinator,Terri Klemetson, interviewed Southern Humboldt Unified School District Board President, Dennis O'Sullivan, about Measure L bond financing. That interview, aired Dec. 11, 2012 and can can be found in the archived local news. Click here for that link (sixth story into the newscast).
In a followup to this story, Terri Klemetson interviewed Humboldt County Treasurer, John Bartholomew. A portion of that interview aired on Dec. 19, 2012.
Use the player below to hear the extended interview with Bartholomew.
The latest storm hitting northern California caused numerous power outages in Humboldt and adjacent counties. Strong winds and rain compounded to bring limbs and trees down on power lines causing outages ranging from Trinidad to Willits.
In the KMUD News Facebook Group a post by KMUD News Coordinator, Terri Klemetson,reported that as of 2 pm, Dec. 20, 2012, PG&E indicated that, "We have reduced the number of customers effected by outages in Eureka, Arcata, Fort Bragg, Kneeland, McKinnelyville and Trinidad as we work on making repairs to our facilities."
As of around that time the following outages, and number of customers affected, were listed by PG&E as follows:
ANNAPOLIS 164
ARCATA 340
BAYSIDE 13
BLUE LAKE 27
BURNT RANCH 1
ELK 1
EUREKA 405
FERNDALE 10
FIELDBROOK 8
FORT BRAGG 82
GARBERVILLE 1
GUALALA 54
KNEELAND 134
MANILA 1
MCKINLEYVILLE 107
ORLEANS 3
PETROLIA 2
TRINIDAD 13
WILLITS 124
Total Customers-1490; Outages-42
Click here for a PG&E power outage map.
According to a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, dated December 17, 2012:
Three new Humboldt County Sheriff's Deputies have been been hired and sworn in. Two of the new hires, Luke Mathieson, 24 years old from McKinleyville and Spellman Stallworth, 25 years old from Arcata, are graduates of the College of the Redwoods Police Academy.
The third new deputy, Destry Henderson, age 32 is from from Lakeport, California where he served as a Lakeport, Police Officer for eight years prior to accepting the job in Humboldt County.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office currently has two open deputy positions which it is recruiting for, and fifteen frozen deputy positions due to budgetary constraints.
New Deputies, Mathieson (shaking hands with Sheriff Mike Downey) in the photo on the left and Stallworth in the photo to the right:
Deputy Henderson is shown in the photo below:
