Blue skies

The fog burned off in Mack Town and skies are blue. Yahoo!

Raw from the NWS:

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION…CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
350 AM PDT THU MAR 31 2011

CORRECTED TYPO

.SYNOPSIS…STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE REGION WILL RESULT IN
WARMER AND DRIER WEATHER FOR INLAND AREAS TODAY AND FRIDAY….WITH
LOW CLOUDS AND FOG ACROSS COASTAL AREAS. A WEAK SYSTEM WILL BRING
A CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO THE AREA LATE FRIDAY THROUGH LATE SATURDAY.

&&

.SHORT TERM…WATER VAPOR SATELLITE AND MODEL ANALYSIS SHOW A
STRONG 588 DM RIDGE NEARLY CENTERED OVER THE WEST COAST. MODELS
ARE SHOWING A SLIGHT WARMING OF H85 TEMPERATURES TODAY OVER
YESTERDAY SO EXPECT INLAND TEMPERATURES TO WARM SLIGHTLY. KUKI HIT
A HIGH OF 80 YESTERDAY SO EXPECT LOW 80S TODAY WITH WIDESPREAD 70S
ACROSS INLAND HUMBOLDT AND TRINITY COUNTIES.ALONG THE COAST
WIDESPREAD LOW CLOUDS AND FOG ARE IN PLACE. PRESSURE GRADIENT
LOOKS SIMILAR TO YEST SO HAVE THE COAST BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY
BRIEFLY IN THE AFTERNOON WITH CLOUDS FILLING BACK IN BY 00Z.
EXPECT THU NIGHT/FRI MORNING TO BE SIMILAR WITH THE THERMAL LOW
OVER THE INTERIOR VALLEY REMAINING IN PLACE. THE NAM AND THE LOCAL
WRF ALSO SEEM TO BE HANDLING THIS FAIRLY WELL IN THE BL MOISTURE
FIELDS. FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY EXPECT MID LEVEL CLOUDS AND
INCREASED MIXING TO BEGIN MOVING IN AHEAD OF THE NEXT TROUGH SO
THIS SHOULD KEEP LOW CLOUDS AND FOG AWAY FROM THE COAST. THE
TROUGH SATURDAY BRINGS SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER AIR BACK TO THE
REGION…HOWEVER MOISTURE APPEARS TO BE LIMITED WITH THIS SYSTEM.
THE GFS IS SHOWING ONLY A TENTH OF AN INCH IF QPF IN THE NORTH AND
NONE IN THE SOUTH.

.LONG TERM/SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY…SUNDAY WILL BE MUCH COOLER
AND DRY BEHIND THE TROUGH. H850 TEMPERATURES LOOK TO DIP DOWN TO
AROUND -3C OVER ACV. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE RIDGE
QUICKLY BUILDING BACK INTO THE AREA ON MONDAY…H850 TEMPS QUICKLY
REBOUND BACK TO AROUND +10C OVER ACV. AFTER THIS MODELS BEGIN TO
DIVERGE IN HOW THEY HANDLE THE RIDGE. THE GFS BRINGS ANOTHER
TROUGH THROUGH ON WEDNESDAY…WHILE THE ECMWF HOLDS ONTO THE RIDGE
LONGER. THURSDAY AND FRIDAY THE GEM/ECMWF/GFS ALL BRING A TROUGH
THROUGH THE AREA…HOWEVER THERE ARE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCES IN STRENGTH AND LOCATION OF THE TROUGH. GENERALLY WENT
WITH A MIDDLE GROUND ON THE FORECAST AND DIDNT MAKE MANY CHANGES
TO THE FORECAST. MKK

Animal Shelter is filling up and needs to find homes for these fuzzy fellows

By Jean Durbin
Animal Shelter Correspondent

Some of the dogs featured here are former Humboldt County Shelter dogs that are now under the care of the two local volunteers who are working under the auspices of Bones Pet Rescue. Contact for this group is Jean Durbin, (707) 839-3148. Most of our dogs can be seen on the Bones Pet Rescue website http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA199.html or on the private adoptions link for the Sequoia Humane Society http://www.sequoiahumane.org. All other animals are at the County Shelter. The Shelter is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; it is closed Saturday and Sunday and is located at 980 Lycoming Avenue, between Airport Road and the Coast Guard Station in McKinleyville. Phone 840-9132. All County Shelter animals can be seen on the web at petharbor.com, petfinder.com, and http://www.co.humboldt.ca.us/sheriff.

SHY CHAD URGENTLY NEEDS TO LEAVE SHELTER! LOOKING FOR FOSTERER OR ADOPTER ASAP.
This sweet boy, who’s still just a teenager (15 months old) has gotten short shrift in his brief life. Stray to the County Shelter 4 months ago, his shy personality did not fare well in the stressful, lonely shelter environment and last week he became a ‘rescue dog’. To save his life, we local Bones Pet Rescue volunteers want to see to his safety and a good forever home. But, we need to move Chad out of the shelter as soon as possible. Chad is a personable boy, very polite and gentle, and loves to play. He is a mix of Tennessee Treeing Brindle Hound and pit bull terrier. We are looking for a quiet foster or adoptive home where he can have the patience, understanding and loving direction that will allow him to be the fine fellow we know he is. Call Jean at 707-839-3148 for more information about adopting or fostering Chad.

TIMBER: Please help Timber get into a great new home soon! He has been here SO long (8 months now, except
for a 2 week adoption where he was expected to be perfect). is is a sad, all too typical story: abandoned by owner who
Timber loved and relied on; stint in a shelter; failed adoption (another change); back to the shelter. Being adult, black and a Pit Bull Terrier doesn’t add to his chances. Timber is very vulnerable to being euthanized if the shelter gets too full. He’s a handsome, gentle 3 year old boy who will thrive with someone who makes him an important family member. He loves people and is eager to please. He gets along great with other dogs, is house-trained and loves to play with rope toys. Please help Timber have the chance he deserves to have a wonderful life! He will love you more than you can imagine!

ADOPT HAPPY, LOVE-BUG FAITH! What a cuddly lover girl this pretty, young adult is! She loves to play, loves people and other dogs. Her favorite things are to be playing with and being with her humans. If you’re looking for a younger adult dog who has a zest for life, is happy, outgoing, friendly and great with kids and other pets, meet Faith! Her previous owners, who had to move and couldn’t keep her, say she got along great with the kids in the family (ages 4 to 17), the family’s other dogs, cats and chickens. To meet this beautiful sweetheart, adoptable through Bones Pet Rescue, call Stacie at 707-825-0455 or Jean at 707-839-3148. She is being fostered locally.

RAYA: This sweet, pretty golden girl is just a love and can’t wait to shower her human friend with hugs and kisses. Raya has paid her dues and is ready for a forever home where she is loved and given lots of coziness and attention. Raya had her ears cut off without benefit of anesthesia and was also starving when she arrived here. But still she remains a happy girl who just longs to love and be loved. She is about 4 years old and a ‘just right’ size. Raya loves to romp and run; she’s responsive and loves learning new things. If you’d like to help Raya discover that humans can be kind, come meet her!

ADOPT HAPPY, ‘MARSHMALLOW’ THOR: A young adult boy who is content, friendly, cuddly and sweet. He came to us needing to have surgery for his turned in, very irritating, eyelids and treatment for heartworms. All have been taken care of and he’s in excellent health. Thor loves people and loves to play. He rides well in the car, will tolerate a crate, is responsive and eager to please. Only about 2 years old, this 70 pound bundle of love wants only to have a faithful, caring human buddy to spend his life with. Thor is in a foster home in Eureka and has gotten an outstanding rating from his humans and the 2 resident dogs. He’s a neutered American Bulldog mix and up to date on vaccinations. Call Jean at 707-839-3148 to meet this great dog! He is adoptable through Bones Pet Rescue.

SLIM: Poor Slim…he was very emaciated when he came to the shelter 3 weeks ago after being found in Ferndale. We don’t know his story but we are glad he was found before he died. He’s a very friendly boy who likes to be with people. He wants to find a new human pal who wants to give him a good life and be his best friend. Now with added weight, he’s a very handsome young man of about 4 years. Slim is a typical Walker Hound: he wants to be busy, is very affectionate, needs room to explore and run. Hound lovers shouldn’t wait too long to meet him!

MELLOW KITTIES: ROXANNE, NUTMEG, JANE These three girls love to hang around the house…on the sofa, in a chair, or on a sunny window sill, or by the fire….anywhere cozy and comfy. They are gentle and like being around people.
Pretty, sweet and kind of shy, tuxedo girl Roxanne is about a year old and would really like a cozy, loving new home; she has been here for a very long time. Quiet, lovely Nutmeg is in her golden years and has a tuxedo patterned calico coat and gets along great with other cats; and Jane, black & white and with a cute pink nose, is about 7 years old; she is a bit independent, loves to eat!

Score! Nearly half a million bucks for our fire dept.

From Mike Thompson’s office:

REP. MIKE THOMPSON ANNOUNCES OVER $480,000 IN GRANT FUNDING FOR ARCATA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

Funds will be used to help recruit additional firefighters

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) today announced that the Arcata Fire Protection District will receive $483,236 in grant funding to help recruit new volunteer firefighters in the Arcata, McKinleyville, Bayside, Manila, and Jacoby Creek communities. The funds, which are provided through the Department of Homeland Security’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, will preserve public safety and create good-paying jobs.

“During these tough economic times, one of the things we can’t afford to cut is funding for our firefighters and first responders,” said Rep. Thompson. “This grant will help ensure local fire departments have the personnel they need to keep our community safe. We can’t choose when the next fire or natural disaster will strike, but we can take steps to make sure our fire departments are as prepared as possible.”

“We’re thrilled to have received this crucial funding,” said Arcata Fire Chief John McFarland. “The SAFER grant will allow us to support and enhance the volunteer firefighters who protect our community by providing them with disability insurance, educational assistance, and a modest pay-by-call system to lessen the impact that volunteering has on their families. This will be a huge benefit to our community as well as our department.”

Nationwide, the SAFER program provides competitive grants to fire departments and volunteer firefighter support groups. The objective of the program is to help these departments increase the number of trained, frontline firefighters available in their communities. Grant funds may be used to recruit and retain new firefighters, or to rehire firefighters who were laid-off due to the economy.

Aerial photos from KMUD of Highway 101 slide

Click here for some excellent KMUD aerial photos of the slide.

CORRECTION

The Planning Commission meeting on Thursday is cancelled, NOT the one tonight as previously reported. Jack screwed up on that previous report. It’s a hybrid failure.

Thursday meeting cancelled

Thursday’s meeting of the Humboldt County Planning Commission is canceled due to the mudslide.

Hwy. 101 slide photos (Mudslide near Dean Creek)

From Humboldt County Public Works:

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Concerts to go on despite Hwy 101 closure

From Center Arts via Facebook:

We have had a few folks inquire if the Hwy 101 road closure will affect our performances for the upcoming week, the answer is no, the show must go on!
We plan to have Crosby/Nash, Lenka, Bright Eyes, Animal Colllective and Bella Fleck with no trouble.

Alternatives to Highway 101 (From County Roads Dept.)

From Humboldt County Roads:

Highway 101 between the Avenue of the Giants Exit at Silvendale and the Redway Exit at Dean Creek Exit has been closed due to a slide. The local roads around this area are not an option for travelers. The roads to the west, Briceland/Thorne Road, Wilder Ridge, and Mattole Road have all experienced damage in the recent storms. To the East, the Alderpoint Road has also had storm damage. The Dyerville Road has experienced heavy snow fall, it has been plowed but there is still snow on the road and it one lane in many places. These rural roads can not handle a large volume of traffic or use by heavy vehicles. For the public’s safety Humboldt County Public Works Department is recommending Highways 299, 5, and 20.

Hwy 101 could be closed 2 to 3 days

ROUTE 101 REMAINS CLOSED NORTH OF GARBERVILLE DUE TO MUDSLIDE

Eureka – Caltrans has announced that Route 101 in Southern Humboldt County remains closed due to a large mudslide approximately one mile north of Dean Creek, approximately 60 miles south of Eureka. The mudslide is 600 feet wide, extends 1,500 feet above the roadway, and continues to move.

Current estimated time of reopening to one-way controlled traffic may be as soon as two to three days, weather dependent. Caltrans will issue another update by 10:00AM on Friday, April 1.

Caltrans District 1 Director Charlie Fielder said, “We are doing everything we can to get Route 101 reopened as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and will continue updates as more information becomes available.”

The alternate route for motorists is Interstate 5, which can be reached north of the slide from Routes 36 or 299 and south of the slide by Route 20. For the most current road information on all State highways, please call 1-800-427-7623 (1-800-GAS-ROAD) or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov.