Victor Garcia has qualified for Ward 1

 Victor Garcia has qualified for Ward 1. If I hear about anyone else qualifying today, I will add to this post.

DA charges Joshua Padilla with all four felonies HCSO arrested him for last week

 

Joshua Padilla is on the must go list today. He is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon.

The Humboldt County District Attorney's Office filed a complaint this morning charging Padilla with all the charges he was booked for with special allegations for Count 2 and 3. All charges are felonies.

Ward 5 Eureka Councilmember Renee Contreras-DeLoach not running for re-election

This isn't the kind of scoop or breaking news I want to post but it just happened. I had a meeting this morning with Ward 5 Eureka Councilmember Renee Contreras-DeLoach. She called me to cancel. She told me she is withrawing and will not be running for re-election. She is not making any further official statement at this time. Not to me, not to other media until she is ready. We happened to talk today and she told me. I know Renee and some of her family members before she ran for Eureka City Council. I am her constituent. She has been the the one Councilmember who has listened and helped me as a Eureka resident. 

I will never vote for former Eureka City Councilmember Jeff Leonard who is the only other Ward 5 candidate and he should not win this by default. I hope someone steps up because the deadline is extended to August 12. Renee is independent and that is rare for any elected official.

My prediction about Jonathan Marcks Jr proved correct with this EPD arrest

 

I don't have time, especially this morning, to summarize the crimes of the Marcks father and son duo and who did what and when. I have covered both. The dad is the convicted molestor.

You can read the most recent post I did. 

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/02/convicted-molestor-jonathan-marcks.html?m=1

This post involves yet another arrest for repeat offender Jonathan Eisenhard Marcks, Jr who got a plea and yesterday was arrested by Eureka Police Department on a Ramey Warrant for PC 1203.2  probation violation in his 2025 case and PC 664/187 (a) attempted murder in a 2026 case.

At 9:35, EPD issued this press release.

Nicholas Lund keeps getting arrested on child pornography charges and keeps posting bail

 

I did this post in February 2026 about 47 year old Nicholas Lund being arrested by HCSO on 2/27/26 on a Ramey warrant for two counts of PC 311.11 (a) (1) possession of child pornography. He posted bond.

I have been checking regularly to see if charges were filed. On 7/27/26, the DA filed charges. For some reason, it was not showing in e court as of yesterday and now it shows the DA charged Lund with one count of PC 311.11 (a) (1) possession of child pornography.

Today, the jail log indicates Lund was arrested by Eureka Police Department yesterday on a Ramey warrant in that 2026 case on one count of PC 311.11 (a) (1). He posted bond; again.

There is no arraignment date listed; yet. There have been other cases in the past where the DA files complaints and there is no arraignment date in the system. Later this morning after the post, 9/29 was entered as the arraignment date.

Thank you Pam Powell and Humboldt County Elections

First, Janelle is running for Eureka City Council Ward 3, then I find out I am still in Renee's Ward 5.

I used to live in Eureka Councilmember Renee Contreras-DeLoach's Ward 5. When I moved, someone who shall remain unnamed told me I was in Ward 1. If you look at the online City Eureka Ward map, I can understand why.

Fortunately, in my one of my conversations with City of Eureka Assistant Manager and Clerk Pam Powell, she gave me a copy of the actual map and told me I was in Ward 5. Humboldt County Elections told me the same.

Renee is the only current Eureka City Councilmember I like. I have written why several times.

Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo reappointed to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation Board of Directors

California Governor Governor Gavin Newsom reappointed Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo "to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation Board of Directors, where she has served since 2019. Arroyo has been a Supervisor at Humboldt County since 2023."

"Natalie Arroyo, of Eureka, has been reappointed to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation Board of Directors, where she has served since 2019. Arroyo has been a Supervisor at Humboldt County since 2023. She has been Lecturer at California State University, Humboldt since 2018. Arroyo held several positions at Redwood Community Action Agency from 2007 to 2022, including Senior Planner for Natural Resources Services and Planner for Natural Resources Services. She is member of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Arroyo earned a Master of Science degree from California Polytechnic University, Humboldt and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Florida. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Arroyo is a Democrat."

Janelle Jackson is running for Ward 3

 

Lt. Janelle Jackson just filed nomination paperwork and 501 for Ward 3. 

I cannot vote for her because I live in Ward 5 but this is the best news for Eureka.

Janelle is a Lt with Cal Poly Humboldt Police, part time HCSO bailiff, she is on the Humboldt Crisis Negotiating Team.  Janelle lives in Eureka. 

In a long time, I feel hope for Eureka City Council.

I briefly spoke with her. Since she is currently in an administrative position, she has flexibility with her hours.

This is one of the posts I have done on Janelle.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2023/09/working-two-jobs-and-sgt-jackson-still.html?m=1

This a post on her Facebook campaign page announcing her candidacy.

3:55 Janelle has qualified as a candidate per City of Eureka Assistant Manager and Clerk Pam Powell.

After 30 plus years in business, Vanity in Old Town is closed

After 30 plus years of business, I was told Vanity in Old Town is permanently closed. I tried calling the cell phone, no answer. Google shows the location as temporarily closed. This Facebook post has more information. Laura called me back, she had nothing else to add to her Facebook statement.

Each local business has different reasons for closing but what is common is the cost of doing business in California and if you are self employed fighting for a dwindling pot of money in the Humboldt stagnant economy.

Biggest drug bust at Cal Poly Humboldt for 40 grams of cocaine

I have reached out to Cal Poly Humboldt Chieg Greg Allen and the Communications Department about a drug bust for 40 grams of cocaine. I believe it is the biggest drug bust any Cal Poly Police Officer has made. You heard it here first.

8:07 a.m.. Former HCSO Deputy Joe Conlin who was also the bailiff for Humboldt Superior Court in Courtroom 1 was the CPH police officer responsible for nabbing the suspect.

9:01 a.m. I am told a press release will be issued.

CPH Police Chief Allen is not in today. Still waiting to hear from Cal Poly Humboldt communications.

11:19 a.m Melissa L Hutsell from Cal Poly Humboldt sent me the press release a few minutes before sending it out to their press list at 11:22. I broke the story, I contacted CPH first and they responded to me first. This is how professionals act unlike certain others in Humboldt who should take note. 

Of course, the suspect is repeat offender Colin Baldridge of Eureka.

Habit Burger and Grill dethrones In-N-Out and is America's favorite

Second year in a row Habit Burger and Grill is America'# 1 choice. In-N-Out has been dethroned but still #2. Have tried both and I prefer Habit, their sides and menu which offers different options.

Crescent CHP arrests GIO scooter driver for DUI

CHP Crescent City CHP posted this today.

"Late Saturday morning, Crescent City CHP Officer contacted and arrested a driver operating a GIO enclosed mobility scooter while under the influence. Driving under the influence is dangerous regardless of the type of vehicle and puts everyone on our roadways at risk.

It doesn’t matter what you’re driving—a car, truck, motorcycle, or even a scooter. If you’re impaired and choose to drive, we will take enforcement action."

David Orluck charged in second case with three felonies

 

The Humboldt County District Attorney's Office filed a complaint today for a second case against David Orluck charging him with Count 1 criminal threats, Count 2 attempting to dissaude a witness and Count 3 stalking. Special allegation for Count 2 states that at the time of the commission of that offense Orluck was out of custody on bail or OR. In my previous coverage, I reported Orluck posted bond.

Orluck was arraigned this afternoon. After hearing arguments from Deputy DA Brandon Boozari and Kreis, Retired Humboldt Superior Court Judge Wilson denied defense request to release Orluck.

OR bail hearing in the second case is on 8/5.

Orluck hired Gregory Kreis for his first case and Kreis is his attorney for the second case. Preliminary hearing in both cases is scheduled for 8/6.

Ward 1 candidate Jason McCutcheon has qualified for the ballot

City of Eureka Assistant Manager and Clerk Pam Powell just informedme Ward 1 candidate Jason McCutcheon has qualified for the ballot.

I was at Eureka City Hall last week when Jason stopped by to drop off the paperwork with his signatures.

Shout out to Humboldt CHP, spent three days wasting time because the jail incorrectly listed CHP as the arresting agency, helpful CHP Sgt suggested I check with HCSO

Shout to Humboldt CHP. I spent three days trying to find out information about Joshua Padilla's arrest. Two of those days are weekends so could not reach anyone until today. PIO is out for training but the helpful Sgt. on duty called meback. The jail log listed the incorrect arresting agency. He said it looks like a HCSO case number. I am waiting to hear back from HCSO PIO Erin Inskip.

She got back to me promptly. "Hi John,HCSO arrest and it occurred in the 2900 block of Janes Rd. In Arcata."

This is the original post.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/08/joshua-padilla-arrested-by-chp-for.html?m=1

Given where the arrest occurred, while I did not include this Linkedin and Facebook search in the previous post, there is a possibility that it is the same person. I am not saying it is and until charges are filed or the preliminary hearing, there is no way to verify.

The booking photo looks similar but hard to verify a 100% from a thumbnail picture.

Convicted felon and sex offender wants to modify/terminate his probation

 

Convicted felon Sergio Frias had been sentenced. It took long enough.

Now thanks to Frias and his attorney Gregory Kreis, I have to waste more time checking on the case for the victims who rely on this source for updates on court cases, especially the alleged and convicted Humboldt predators. 

On 7/10, defense petition to modify/terminate probation was continued to 7/29 so it could be heard by Humboldt Superior Court Judge Steven Steward. It was continued again to 8/3 after argument. Probations conditions remain. Court minutes just say by court. I am guessing for Judge Steward to make his ruling.

Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer is the prosecutor.

E court lists a hearing on 9/5/26 on a motion by the DA to amend the complaint and e court lists motion granted. Before the hearing on the motion? Is there a time machine to travel in the future or is the e court entry now a prediction of the future? I did not see any amended charges in e court. If the motion was granted on 7/29, the court minutes should include that information.

8/3/26: Defense petition granted with no details in court minutes. The 9/5 hearing still shows as scheduled as of 11 a.m.

Rotterdam, San Diego, Las Vegas give a thumbs up to local laundromat; owner gives a shout out to EPD, particularly EPD Chief Stephens

 

(Augie with his wife and one of his daughters)

I have done two posts on Agustin Valdez, the owner of Best Dry Cleaners and Speed Suds in Eureka. I opted to leave out Augie's wife and daughter's names for their privacy.

Augie is the kind of owner you want in any community. He brings the "where everybody knows your name feeling" and genuinely likes people.

Augie is very fortunate to have two stellar employees, Amy at Best Dry Cleaners who regulars know if you went there when Phil owned the business and Latisha at Speed Suds.

Today, when I stopped by to see Augie, he was greeting each customer by name, asking them how they were doing and remembered details about each customer.

The world map was Latisha's idea. Speed Suds gets international and national customers and if they chose, they can place a circle on the map. Today, visitors from Rotterdam were the first to mark  the map with an orange circle for the Netherlands football team. Others traveling who stopped by to do laundry today were from Canada, Las Vegas and San Diego.

Since I stopped by last to chat with Augie, he has made more improvements to the outside area facing 4th street. There is a gate in the back. He has mowed and the outside looks just as clean as the inside.

Nearby businesses have thanked Augie because opening the business has stopped the area from being a magnet for vandalism, loitering, trash and other activity detrimental to the neighborhood.

Augie wanted to thank Eureka Police Department and particularly EPD Chief Brian Stephens who he met at a City of Eureka event. Chief Stephens told Augie to call EPD at any time if any assistance was needed. Augie said it has been great working with EPD and CSET.

The County seems to have plenty of money to waste on buildings, often owned by their good ole boy buddies but can't fix roads, can't give raises to prosecutors or public defenders

 

These are two posts I did on the County of Humboldt buying one of the buildings co-owned by Ming Tree owner Larry Doss.

I also did an earlier post about the other building across from the jail 509 J street and the top floor was supposed to be rented out to various parties and eventually became the North Coast Journal offices.

Yesterday, I was researching and just happened to find these minutes from January 15, 2025 which are relevant to the posts above. It also explains why Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal is on the second floor; sometimes.

The County was looking at 509 J street as a Day Reporting Center or other uses. 

Ming Tree is a private business. Larry Doss is one of the generational families in Humboldt. When he unsuccessfully ran for Fifth District Supervisor, First District Supervisor Rex Bohn and Sheriff Honsal endorsed him. Larry, as many in Humboldt County, on the left and right, benefit from these political connections. It is how "bidiness" is done in Humboldt County.

Outsiders are rarely welcome unless you are willing to suck up for years and take a chance maybe some crumbs will be thrown at you and only if you keep your mouth shut. You need to constantly massage egos and never question the progeny or in laws that are enabled and coddled into some business despite multiple failures.

I don't do that and I am outspoken. As someone local and from a well known family said to me, "you don't suffer fools."

If you challenge the status quo like me; it does not matter how much you gave to the community. The good ole boys and gals who at one time praised you will turn on you and use the cliquey, cowardly small town backroom tactics to make it impossible to survive.

I call these people out for me and for others they have treated badly. Remorse and an apology is unheard of in Humboldt. 

Prior to reporting, I volunteered politically. I asked for nothing but the hope and prosperity promised to this community. 

When I started reporting, I am the one who spoke up and reported on Measure F what other local media ignored. I have called out many people who I campaigned for previously because someone needed to and because they talked a good game but did not deliver. That is journalism. To do so in a rural, isolated community has an added risk.

Who got ads for Measure F? Lost Coast Outpost. Who gets the good ole boy ads, even from conservatives? Again, local media I call out. Those who bad mouth me on Reddit or Facebook or online are clueless or deliberately lying. Anons have zero credibility but smears in today's digital world are one tactic used to silence in a cowardly way what the powers do not want exposed.

There is no Humboldt economy. It has been going downhill every year. Who is "successful" and why depends on who you know, who you piss off and who the bored social media mob decides to target to deflect from their miserable, pathetic, empty lives. If a private owner like Larry, well connected, has to sell buildings to the County of Humboldt; what does it say about the economy of Humboldt? Politicians and certain businesses scratch each others back and the reason we have certain people who are arrogant bullies and control every industry in Humboldt are these informal connections which the other local media has no clue about or refuse to report on because their owners and publishers are good, little minions who know their place. They hang out with the very people they cover and their selective reporting speaks volumes.

There are people who have built their Humboldt businesses with hard work. They take care of their employees, they are too busy working to hob nob with the Humboldt cabal. Many of them have retired or closed businesses because they don't play the game. Others in Humboldt continue to appear "successful" because they stroke the right egos. They don't make eye contact with me because behind their facade of keeping up with Humboldt joneses; I know their secrets and the truth about how they are doing financially.

Now another site, 605 K street is being explored by the County of Humboldt as a possible site for the Day Reporting Center. These are minutes from June 17, 2026.

Downtown Eureka is mostly government offices; many associated with the criminal justice system or safe and sober houses or some other treatment center. Those living pay check to pay check or working part time instead of being on the government dole for life have to reside with sex offenders, drug addicts and the mentally ill. That is affordable housing. Don't like it; then get out. The slumlords of Humboldt may slap on paint on the mold, do a surface carpet cleaning and rent the apartment out to the next desperate person because they control how many housing units are available.

Concerns brought up by decent hotel owners, businesses and hard working residents are ignored by the City of Eureka and the County. I already called out the City of Eureka in a recent post. 

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/07/instead-of-insulting-local-hotel-owners.html?m=1

Nothing has changed. The County of Humboldt is just as culpable.

The County of Humboldt and the local tribes are buying many buildings. What do you think these are being used for? Private industry? Nope. Jobs for people who don't want to work for the government. Nope. More of the social industrial complex that former 4th District Supervisor Virginia Bass, former Fifth District Supervisor Ryan Sundberg supported and First District Supervisor Rex Bohn supports just as much as those on the left they criticize and ran to replace. Rex likes his $100,000 plus government gig so much that he refuses to let anyone else have a chance. He has been in office for too many terms. If Rex knows so much about private industry, let him go out a build a business from scratch without his connections.

Within 10 minutes walking on 4th, 5th and 6th streets in Eureka between E and L streets, I saw this guy who has been screaming obscenities on 4th, 5th and 6th street day and night for the past two days digging through the trash cans outside the Conflict Counsel office. Who do you think is going to clean that mess up tomorrow morning?

Larry Doss and Jon Stone? Nope.

They got their money. 

Weekends are the worst in Eureka. The usual miscreants set up camp, smoke weed, get high, scream, do drug deals on every corner and move temporarily as soon as they see an EPD or CSET vehicle.

Several "hotels" and "motels " are now places for drug deals, mentally ill, criminals who stay for a day,  few days, weeks and loiter around downtown pollute the air with their cheap weed and tobacco smoke on every corner for their side hustle while taxpayers subsidize their lifetime benefits. If you are a tourist making a reservation, most places you stay look nothing like the website and encountering the walking dead of Eureka is your vacation. Some on Eureka City Council now want to increase the TOT because they have zero business sense and don't know how to generate revenue.

Fences and no trespassing signs do not deter the high, walking dead of Eureka who wander these particular streets staggering out from the bushes or their taxpayer funded motel rooms and safe houses on their free phone, blasting music, with their baggy jeans and standard white t shirt calling their bud for a not so clandestine meeting.

I am fed up of dealing with the same faces who appear frequently on the jail log or are well known to anyone living downtown. Every single day, evening and night, I have to be vigilant so someone doesn't destroy or vandalize the apartment, the building and constantly tell people to move because I can't sleep or have any peace. Many of these people don't have a job or motivation to change their situation. They have a lifestyle enabled in Humboldt by clueless elites who think buying a cup of coffee or handing out change and excusing this behavior is "helping." Then, they go back to their comfortable homes away from downtown or go to church on Sunday feeling they "improved" someone's life.

I cannot walk a block without an able bodied man or woman, fairly clean, soliciting me for money. There are constantly people here who are not locals and some have beat up vehicles from other states. They are mouthy, obnoxious and do not fear the police. 

You think tourists want to put up with this when they pay money for a vacation and if the 12% TOT passes, pay more? Right after I did my post calling out those of Eureka City Council insulting hotel owners, I was having breakfast in Old Town and heard a couple say the 12% increase meant they would not come back to Eureka.

Government solution is never to live within your budget. It is always a tax. The rest of us don't have the luxury to just pass a tax, we have to pay our bills, reduce spending and go without to make ends meet.

Larry Doss, Jon Stone, the Supervisors, most of Eureka City Council do not live in downtown Eureka. Humboldt so called leaders and most generational business owners and their sycophants got theirs. Now they say, screw you to the rest of us. Fat cats with no problems slurring their words at their favorite drinking holes or at home whining about needing more money.

The Humboldt cabal has a monopoly because this wasteland is hours away from real civilization. Retired Bay Area and other NIMBYs protest any growth because they are selfish. 

These greedy, self absorbed liberals and conservatives want the rest of us to be dependent, struggling or homeless so they can continue the grant funding and taking advantage of the lack of options to fund their power and lifestyle.

There is no money to give raises to the overworked Deputy District Attorneys, Public Defenders and law enforcement who deal daily with the crisis created by the useless, greedy Humboldt "leaders." But there is money to buy buildings and advance expenses for Sheriff Billybob to fly out on the East Coast? How did Billybob's East Coast speaking engagement and paid vacation help Humboldt County?

If I were living anywhere else, I would be able to monetize my work. 

The people with money or "influence" who claim they want to make Eureka better again or improve Humboldt are full of empty words. It is their choice to continue to let it be a stagnant, empty wasteland. If they are so successful and have vision; prove it with actions and results.

Make sure to look for a fluff, PR piece or press release from the County of Humboldt and City of Eureka in certain other local media next week or soon. KINS or Scott Hammond will trot out one of the generational good ole boy conservatives for a fluff interview which doesn't even ask softball questions. That is usually the standard go to move when I call out

certain people in Humboldt.