Woman dies at Big Lagoon

From the Sheriff’s Office:

On 05-30-2012, approximately 1:30 p.m. the California Highway Patrol received a 911 call regarding a female possibly in the water at Big Lagoon. The California Highway Patrol, Humboldt County Sheriffs Office, Arcata Ambulance, Cal Fire and the United States Coast Guard responded to the scene. Once on scene the deputies learned the 47 year old Asian female, from Eureka, was picking flowers along US 101, north end of Big Lagoon near mile marker 110 with another adult female relative at approximately 10:00 a.m. this morning. They became separated and the female relative could not find the victim. The relative searched the area with no success, so she called the victims husband and her husband notifying them of the missing victim. They responded to the scene and assisted in the search.
At approximately 1:30 p.m. they located the victim approximately twenty to thirty feet down the hillside against a tree and unresponsive. They attempted C.P.R. and called 911.

Emergency Personnel determined the victim was deceased and the Humboldt County Coroners Office was notified. It appears the victim fell down the hill and there are no signs of foul play at this time. The investigation is turned over to the Corners Office.

Pony Express correction

When I talked to Cindy Harrington at the McKinleyville Chamber, I misunderstood what she said about using the Activity Center for Pony Express Days. It turns out that Saturday’s Pony Express Festival will be held outside at Pierson Park. The event that will be held inside is tonight’s Clam Chowder Cook-Off. FYI – Jack

Front Page 5.30.12

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Pony Express Days 2012 schedule of events

Pick up a copy of the May 30, 2012 edition of the McKinleyville Press for more details about Pony Express Days. There’s also an article about the history of the event.

Here is a list of locations where you can buy the paper.

You can subscribe by clicking here.

Wednesday, May 30
5:30 p.m. – Fourth Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off at the McKinleyville Activity Center, Pierson Park. Diners will be charged $8 for a bread bowl, $6 for a regular soup bowl or $4 for a kids bowl. Chowders made by professional and amateur cooks. You get to judge which chowders are the best.
Thursday, May 31
5:30 p.m. – Pony Express Days Firemen’s Muster at the Ray’s Food Place parking lot. Watch local firefighters compete in a bucket brigade and hose coupling relay. Free.
Friday, June 1
8 p.m. – Pony Express Dance at the Blue Lake Casino. 21 and over. $10. Wear your best boots and enter the boot contest.
Saturday, June 2
11 a.m. – Pony Express Days Parade. Starts at Mack High and travels south down Central Avenue to the Mill Creek Marketplace. Free.
Noon – 4 p.m. – Pony Express Festival at Pierson Park. Craft and food vendors. Beer Garden, barbecue and live music. Visit the McKinleyville Senior Center and McKinleyville Library for special sales and contests.
Sunday, June 3
All day – McKinleyville Rodeo Association Gymkhana at the McKinleyville Rodeo Grounds on Kjer Road. Take Central Avenue north. Kjer Road is on the west side of Central Avenue near the Clam Beach Inn. Take Kjer Road to the end.

McKinleyville Skate Park Benefit

During Pony Express Days there will be a benefit for the McKinleyville Skate Park. Check it out:

Pony Express Days 2012

Next week the McKinleyville Press will print its 16th annual Pony Express Days edition. Make sure you pick up a copy. Meanwhile, we’re posting a few things here so you can plan ahead.

Here is the poster:

The Pony Express Days Parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 2. It begins at the high school, makes its way south down Central Avenue and ends at the Mill Creek Marketplace. Grab some folding chairs and find a spot along Central Avenue to watch. You are hereby warned that streets will be closed to make way for the parade. You should plan for this. If you live in McKinleyville, this is a good day to use your bicycle. During the parade you’ll be able to get around town much more quickly than people in cars.

Here’s the road closure notice:

Someone will inevitably ask “Why does McKinleyville celebrate Pony Express Days? Don’t those idiots know that the Pony Express never came to Humboldt” WHOA THERE COWBOY! Take it easy. There’s a very logical reason why its called Pony Express Days. In the coming edition there’s an article about the history of Pony Express Days. Everything will be explained.

Here’s the first Pony Express Day Committee, as pictured in a 1968 edition of The Arcata Union:

If you “like” us on Facebook, you can see all sorts of other interesting stuff.

Here are some advertisements from businesses that help keep the Mckinleyville Press alive:

Front Page 5.23.12

To read the entire issue buy a copy today. Click here for a list of newspaper racks and retail locations in McKinleyville, Trinidad, Fieldbrook, Arcata and Eureka where you can purchase a copy for a measly 50 cents.

You can support the McKinleyville Press by subscribing. Click here.

Also, next week we’re printing our 16th annual Pony Express Days edition. If you own a business, you’ll want to advertise.

Deadline Monday to Register to Vote in June Primary

From the Elections Office:

The last day to register to vote in the June 5, 2012, primary election is May 21, 2012.  You should update your voter registration if you have moved, changed your mailing address, changed your name, or want to change or select a political party preference.

You can register to vote in California if you are:
•A U.S. Citizen

•A California Resident

•At least 18 years of age on or before the next election

•Not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction, and

•Not declared mentally incompetent by court action

Registering to vote is simple.  Registration forms are available at the Humboldt County Elections Department, 3033 H Street, Eureka, and at most post offices and libraries.  You can check to see if you are registered in Humboldt County on-line at http://www.co.humboldt.ca.us/election and click on
NEW!! Am I Registered?  Or contact the Humboldt County Elections Department at (707) 445-7481.

Groundbreaking for Trinidad Library!

The ceremonial groundbreaking for Trinidad Library will take place Sunday, May 20 at noon at the library site next to Trinidad Museum on 400 Janis Court.
On hand to mark the occasion will be County Supervisor Ryan Sundberg along with representatives from the over 120 Founding Families who have contributed between $500 and $100,000 to to the Trinidad Library Building Fund.
Early planning for a Trinidad cultural oasis began in 2000. When the Glenn and Janis Saunders family donated three acres of land off Main Street and Patrick’s Point Drive in July 2004, the long-held community dream of a museum, park and library began to take shape.
The historic home housing Trinidad Museum was moved in 2006 and after three years of rehabilitation by Contractor Charles Netzow and private fund raising the museum opened in September 2009.
The museum’s Native Plant Garden, with entirely donated labor, grew into the lush show place it is today. Then the museum’s historic garden, Janis Court, the brick plaza, common areas, and the splendid Saunders Park were completed by summer 2011 with the cooperation and assistance of the City of Trinidad and the State of California.
Hundreds of large and small donors have made the projects possible. Community support has been extraordinary.
Now the final element of Trinidad’s cultural center, Trinidad Library, will be underway.
The Founding Families, which include every Trinidad civic organization and supporters from outside Trinidad as well along with dozens of families and individuals, will be holding shovels in the ceremonial groundbreaking. The entire community is invited to commemorate the occasion.
For information on the Trinidad Library Building Fund Founding Family campaign or for other information on the project, call 677-3816 or 677-5089.

Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse Ceremony May 27

Trinidad Civic Club presents its 17th Annual Memorial Lighthouse Ceremony on Sunday, May 27 at 2 p.m. on the lighthouse grounds off Edwards Street.
The ceremony honors those who have died at sea or who have been buried at sea whose names are engraved at the site.
The ceremony begins with Matthew Marshall’s bagpipe strains followed by Scout Troop #99 flag raising and flag salute.
Civic Club President Susan Morton welcomes guests. Mother Susan Armstrong of Sts. Martha and Mary Episcopal Mission and Christ Church, Eureka will offer a prayer. Dr. Tom Vert will sing an acappella solo. Lt. JG Taylor Andrews of the U.S. Coast Guard will speak followed by City Council Member Mike Morgan giving the bell salute, Memorial Lighthouse Co-Chairman Bunny Subkis will read the memorial names. The program of about 40 minutes ends with a USCG helicopter flyover and Taps played by Matthew Brogdon on saxophone.
All families and friends of those commemorated at the lighthouse as well as community members are invited. Some seating is provided.

Third Friday Jazz at Westhaven Center for the Arts

Join the Randles-LaBolle-Wu Trio on Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m., 501 South Westhaven Drive. Tim Randles plays piano; Shao Way Wu plays bass and Mike LaBolle is on drums.
Fourth Friday Flick
John Webb will select a vintage film for this popular series set for Friday, May 25 at 7 p.m., Westhaven Center for the Arts. Call 677-9493 for information.

DA employee’s claim alleges retaliation, harassment

From the 5.16.12 issue

By Daniel Mintz
Press Staff Writer

A damage claim filed by the District Attorney’s Office’s legal office manager alleges that she’s been retaliated against for questioning “illegal practices” and the county is anticipating litigation.
The claim was filed last October and has been investigated by the county. It was discussed in closed session at the May 8 Board of Supervisors meeting but no action has been taken.
Filed by Eureka resident Jeannie Duncan, the claim includes accusations against several management-level DA’s Office employees. Duncan alleges that District Attorney Paul Gallegos used “county equipment, resources and employee time” for his re-election campaign and accuses Chief Investigator Mike Hislop and Victim-Witness Supervisor Joyce Moser of claiming work time during vacation periods.
Hislop is also accused of “appropriating grant funds” and Moser is additionally accused of “favoritism in handling checks to victims of crime.” Duncan is claiming that after she questioned the alleged improprieties, she was subjected to “discrimination, harassment and retaliation.”
District Attorney Paul Gallegos strongly refuted the contents of Duncan’s claim but said he couldn’t substantially comment due to the matter’s status as a personnel issue with litigation potential.
“When all the evidence comes out I’m confident they’re going to be proven false,” he said of the multiple accusations. “Beyond that, there’s not much I can say, as much as I might like to.”
Duncan has been on administrative leave for about a year. The claim states that she was put on leave for “an off-duty driving violation.” She was charged with misdemeanor drunk driving in a case that’s nearing trial stage.
Gallegos said that he recused his office from handling the case and referred it to the state Attorney General’s Office.
The claim also states that “Gallegos and others used pretext for removing Ms. Duncan from her position so that questions and complaints of unlawful activity could go unanswered and unresolved.”
She’s asking for an unspecified amount of damages in excess of $25,000, which is a routine request in damage claims preceding litigation or settlements.
The county’s Risk Management Department did not respond to an e-mailed list of questions by press time. In a May 10 Times-Standard newspaper report, County Administrative Officer Phillip Smith-Hanes was quoted as saying that Risk Management reviewed Duncan’s claim and rejected it.
Duncan’s attorney, Cheryl Konell Ruggiero of Los Angeles, did not reply to phone messages by press time.
Last summer, Gallegos said a personnel issue was being investigated in connection to failure to claim reimbursements for upfront spending of grant money. About a month after Duncan was put on administrative leave, an outside firm that specializes in grant regulation compliance was hired to do work in the DA’s Office.
Later, when the Board of Supervisors was asked to approve the expansion of the outside firm’s contract, Gallegos said the request “somewhat emanated out of a personnel matter.”