1.31.10 Rio Dell City Council meeting February 2, 2010 6:30pm Agenda includes proclamation in support of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th anniversary, approval of $66,915.00 pay request, approval of amended fitness program description for the police department, receipt of the annual whistleblower report, approval of services agreement with Winzler & Kelly for the wastewater project, two closed door items regarding small claims actions against the city and initiated by the city against an individual, etc. California got (phone) wires crossed on jobless help in 2009, costing at least $4.6 million - Sacramento Bee Class cuts wreak havoc at California universities - Sacramento Bee The state of the union is comatose - New York Times For desperate foster teenagers, a quest for adoptive ties - New York Times 1.29.10 Arrests Made in Cutten Burglaries Part 1 of the Special Meeting (Rio Dell City Councils Wastewater Treatment Plan) Child pornography hearing postponed for Rio Dell man - Times Standard EPA probes its own actions in California town with toxic-waste dump - Los Angeles Times 1.28.10 Vehicle Pursuit Leads to Arrests The driver, later identified as Beau Jackson McCabe, 27 of Rio Dell, failed to yield and traveled into Loleta and then back toward US Highway 101. McCabe drove at speeds that reached 50 mph while crossing into oncoming lanes several times. 1.27.10 Arson Investigation Proposed state budget cuts would cost more than they save - Times Standard California awarded billions in federal high-speed rail funds for project linking Anaheim and San Francisco through the San Joaquin Valley - Sacramento Bee Bernie Madoff's brother, Peter Madoff, under investigation into ponzi scheme - CBS News Once again, birds of a feather... Investigation into building department and illegal permits underway - Sacramento Bee Allegations include ignoring local codes, issuing illegal permits, cronyism, etc. Schwarzenegger proposes building and operating California prisons in Mexico - SFGate 1.26.10 Arrests made during pop search warrants Humboldt County DHHS Crisis Intervention Team receives ACLU Patriot Award Rio Dell Planning Commission meeting Wednesday Jan. 27th at 6:30pm Agenda includes discussion of policy regarding commissioner attendance, update on proposed annexation for RLF Redwood Properties (33 acre parcel south of Blue Slide Rd.), receipt of Humboldt's draft regional housing needs allocation plan, and discussion regarding consideration on notice preparation of a joint EIR/EIS for the Bear River Ridge Wind Power Project 1.25.10 Missing Person Jerry George 29 More... California inmate release plan begins today - Sacramento Bee Federal homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing program - Time Magazine Benefits upgrade for thousands of veterans? - Time Magazine Bail burden keeps U.S. jails overcrowded; costing taxpayers an additional $9 billion annually- NPR 3 part series examining the multi-billion dollar bond industry and their powerful lobby 1.22.10 Part 2 of the January 19th Rio Dell City Council meeeting is online! California Supreme Court Bolsters Protection For Marijuana Users NPR Old Town Bar and Grill building in old town Eureka is spared the wrecking ball - Times Standard 1.21.10 Bought and paid for: the supreme court's disastrous ruling - Vanity Fair The split decision grants Constitutional rights to corporations for the first time; the Founding Fathers could be heard rolling over in their graves. The January 19th, 2010 Rio Dell City Council Meeting Part 1 is online. EPD make arrests recover stolen vehicle more.. EPD arrests two suspected heroin dealers. 1.20.10 Last night, the city council tackled the question again of whether using public funds to pay for a private after-hours exercise program, available to every city employee ($100 a month, per person), was an appropriate use of taxpayer money "within the mission of the city." Multiple attendee's spoke out against the use of general fund money for this employee perk. Councilmember Mike Dunker moved to declare the use of public funds for the general employee exercise program a valid and substantial public purpose; which the city can't fund in the current climate but would have left the door open to fund the exercise program in the future. The motion died for lack of a second. 1.19.10 FBI broke the law for years in phone record searches - Washington Post 1.18.10 Lost Martin Luther King speech to be heard after 50 years - NPR The Guantanamo "suicides": a Camp Delta sergeant blows the whistle - Harper's Magazine 1.17.10 Rio Dell City Council meeting Tuesday 1.19.10 6:30pm Agenda (includes the council packet in a searchable format) Includes: determination whether the expenditure of city funds to a private after hours exercise program for general employees "promotes a valid and substantial public purpose within the mission of the City" (currently the city pays $100 a month for every employee who choses to participate), receipt of the annual police report, approval of an agreement with Winzler & Kelly to study the Mozzetti irrigation site for a groundwater anti-degredation analysis, etc. *the city is no longer pursuing a wastewater treatment plant at the old Eel River Sawmill site but still plans on irrigating the treated effluent at the Mozzetti site. Earthquake repairs on Lloyd building begin - Times Standard Despite the fact that the entire facade is pulling away from the building and poised to crash down on 5th St., building owner Floyd Squires anticipates spending only $3,000 to make the necessary repairs. Judge J. Michael Brown ruled in favor of Squires in 2008 when the city tried to force earthquake retrofitting of the four-story unreinforced masonry building. Brown ruled that Squires had proven he was "actively working" on the issue despite never haven taken out a building permit for work at the site. Squires also owns the apartment building on H St. that suffered extensive damage as well. Background information on Mr. Squires can be read here. The great tea party rip-off - New York Times 1.15.10 Martin Luther King Jr. Turns 81 Pot case forces grocery to close - Eugene Register Guard "After he was fired, Clark’s former employee informed investigators of the alleged food-stamps-for-marijuana plot, according to a search warrant affidavit Bergin filed in October in Lane County Circuit Court." More 1.14.10 Suspected Heroin Dealers Arrested City of Eureka Code Red emergency notification system update Taking on City Hall - North Coast Journal 1.13.10 Earthquake Update Damage Assessment.pdf 1.12.10 Rio Dell City Council reverses direction on the new wastewater treatment plant project at the old Eel River Sawmill site in the recently annexed area of Metropolitan (which was annexed specifically for this project) due to the project being "cost prohibitive." Instead, a new SBR wastewater system will be put into the existing facility. Treated effluent will still be discharged onto 24 acres in Metropolitan as originally planned. Numerous studies and presentations by Winzler & Kelly have been paid for over the years regarding this project. Read tonights Wastewater treatment plant presentation by Winzler & Kelly. City staff had even been sent back east to tour a wastewater treatment plant similar to the one the city was considering. For historical information see the 10/28/06 Wastewater Study Session or the 11/6/07 Public Hearing regarding the wastewater plant project for starters. Murder Suspect Arrested 3 gun shots heard from dispatch...MORE! Rio Dell Police looking for stabbing suspect after daylight attack on Wildwood Ave.- Times Standard Old Town Bar and Grill building to be demolished after Saturday's earthquake - Times Standard Eureka dusts itself off after 6.5 quake - Los Angeles Times 1.11.10 City of Rio Dell to hold a special meeting of the council tomorrow, 1/12 at 5:00pm to decide the policy direction of the proposed wastewater system, amend the scope of service for 2009 Streamlined Water-Effect Ratio Procedure for Discharges of Copper, and receipt of an investigative report regarding the Mozzetti irrigation site, soil and groundwater subsurface issues. 1.10.10 Video footage from inside the Arcata Co-op available at CNN. Click on the video link "earthquake shakes store." Damage assessment from yesterday's 6.5 magnitude earthquake was given in a multiagency press conference earlier today (footage coming soon). Reports include a chemical spill at the College of the Redwoods resulting in a campus closure, one hospital admission due to a broken hip, water damage in the County Library, limited land slides, some houses knocked off their foundation, fallen chimneys, etc. The Lloyd Building at 5th & D St. is taped off as there is significant damage to the unreinforced masonry building; the facade looks like it is pulling away from from the rest of the building. It was noted in the press conference that the City of Eureka had taken court action in the past to try and force the property owner, Floyd Squires, to improve the property. Seattle Times earthquake story Residents are asked to call in reports of any damage suffered. The following are hotline numbers for reporting damage; Eureka 441-4164 Arcata 822-2426 Ferndale 786-4224 Fortuna 725-7600 County of Humboldt 445-7245 Historic photos of the 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquake damage to Humboldt County here 1.9.10 Breaking News! 6.5 earthquake hits Humboldt County at 4:27pm, the epicenter was located 22 miles WNW of Ferndale. USGS information available here. Serious damage; including collapsed houses, houses knocked off of their foundations along with broken windows and broken gas/water lines, reported in Eureka. One fire department's generator reportedly failed which prevented them from opening the bay doors to take the fire trucks out. 5:36pm - FM station 100.3 located in Ferndale reports that the Ferndale Police Department is currently cruising the town to monitor damage and assist as needed. Reports also say that injuries have been reported from the Bayshore Mall in Eureka. At the mall, ceiling panels fell, items were knocked off of the shelves and the floor buckled. Janet at 100.3 says that in Eureka, there are reports of people being "knocked off their feet". There is no official tsunami warning at this time. The earthquake is reported as being felt as far away as Grants Pass, OR and Redding, CA. Fernbridge and Ferndale are reported as having power, and obviously there is some power here in Rio Dell. Trinidad, Orick, Arcata, Blue Lake, Mad River, Dows Prairie and Eureka are reported as not having power. LAN lines seem to be down in McKinleyville. Reports say that the earthquake was not felt in Sacramento. PG&E is urging residents to check for gas leaks - walk around the house if it is safe, use your nose and listen for a hissing sound. Call PG&E if you believe you have a gas leak. 5:48pm - PG&E says that Arcata should have power around 7:45pm, still no tsunami warning. 5:56pm - Earthquake is reported as being felt in Chico, CA. Ferndale is still feeling aftershocks. Did you feel the earthquake? E-mail us at steve@riodelltimes.com. 6:03pm - The USGS has changed their reports of the depth of the 6.5 earthquake to 4.7 miles deep. 6:09pm - Downtown Ferndale is being reported as "a mess", and first time responders are down there. Janet at FM station 100.3 in Ferndale is reporting live. The station number is 786-5978, or 786-KWPT if you have any news for them. 6:47pm - PGE reports 18,000 are without power currently. There have been seven aftershocks so far; the largest was 4.5 at 6:21pm. personal note: thank goodness for the structural repairs that we were eventually allowed to do on our home that had suffered significant damage from earlier earthquakes. The City of Rio Dell and RCAA did everything possible to prevent the needed repairs to the foundation and structure required by HUD in the CDBG First Time Homebuyers Program; eventually resulting in a grand jury investigation and an investigation by housing and community development (structural report here). Our house would have collapsed in this earthquake if it was left in the condition it was; which was "overlooked" by the local building inspector. We have to wonder if there are other houses out there inspected and "rehabed" by these same people that still have significant structural defects. Eureka Police Investigate Shooting Schwarzenegger plans deep cuts in the $82.9 billion dollar spending plan introduced Friday - SFGate 1.8.10 H1N1 Vaccine 10 - 2 at Rohner Park Saturday the 9th. Second Arrest in Van Alstine Murder The January 5th, 2010 Rio Dell City Council meeting is Online! 1.7.10 Read the full city council packet from the 1.5.10 meeting here; includes check register, council reports and all of the other material provided to the council members (searchable) Monstrous acts: the troubled life and violent death of Greg Hawkins - Northcoast Journal 1.6.10 Arrest made in murder case The "Elect Mike Downey for Humboldt County Sheriff" campaign brings in the endorsements 1.5.10 Rio Dell City Council votes 3-1 (Mayor Woodall dissenting) that fitness camp for the police officers serves a "direct and primary public purpose" which warrants using city funds. All city employees are also eligible for city paid fitness camp; the motion to declare that a "direct and primary public purpose" was tied 2-2 (Woodall and Thompson dissenting and Marks absent). The issue will be on the next agenda again according to Interim City Manager Jim Stretch who had brought up the issue. In his written report to the council, Stretch states "In 40 years of public service, I have address(sic) this topic only once and now in less than one month the issue has presented itself twice. It is highly unusual." The prior issue was the taxpayer funded employee Christmas party held recently at the Riverlodge in Fortuna. The $100 per person monthly fee paid by the city for each employee that decides to participate in fitness camp is in addition to their receiving free water from the city. *Corrected: the Interim City Manager's name is Jim Stretch. 1.4.10 Ryan Christopher Carroll arrested for murder School placed in lockdown. McKinleyville High School went into lockdown briefly... 1.3.10 The numbers are in. Record Breaking Year for the Rio Dell Times! 2008 to 2009 Yearly Totals: The Rio Dell Times .com increased visitor traffice 28.6%. Data traffic increased a whopping 76.6%. In 2009 we had 3,776 unique visitors from around the world. California's scary sneak preview - Washington Post California state budget picture bleak as lawmakers head back - Sacramento Bee Judge rules Schwarzenegger can't furlough 3 unions - Sacramento Bee |
12.31.09 Barricaded Subject An Arizona man shot and killed himself this morning after barricading himself inside his mother’s Eureka residence late last night. At about 10:00 p.m...Update! Greg Hawkins was wanted for questioning in the shooting death of Cynthia Langrall in Glendale Arizona-AZCentral.com Here is the 1.5.10 Rio Dell City Council Meeting 6:30pm - Agenda Includes: food collaborative business plan presentation by Planwest (to be located at the former Eel River Sawmill site), determination as to whether city funds being used for an employee fitness program has a direct and primary public purpose, changes as to the processing and approval of city warrants, $68,000 progress payment to KG Walters Co. for work related to the solids and disinfection management project, etc. 12.29.09 Part 2 of the December 15th Rio Dell City Council Meeting is online Community Events updated 12.28.09 Robbery at Local Grocery Store Part 1 of the December 15th Rio Dell City Council Meeting is online 12.26.09 New laws set to go into effect Jan. 1st in California - Sacramento Bee Genesis 2.0 Project aka Hadron Super Collider - Vanity Fair North Korea's Dollar Store - Vanity Fair *Investigation into the organized crime syndicate that funds Kim Jong Il while introducing counterfeit money into the U.S. economy. 12.24.09 Major car accident near Shively Rd. closes Hwy 101. CHP and CalTrans on site trying to remove a large motorhome that was crashed into by a woman in a white SUV who was "doing loops on the northbound side" of Hwy 101 and then "tried to run the other vehicle off the roadway." A total of 3 cars were involved; the motorhome, the white SUV and a third car that wound up pinned underneath the motorhome- CHP Traffic Incident site Unemployment in California The Sacramento Bee Unemployment in the US. United States Department of Labor 12.23.09 Grand jury wants three California city councilmembers booted - McClatchy Schwarzenegger to seek federal help for California budget; threatening "massive" cuts in social services and offshore drilling - Los Angeles Times 12.21.09 Suspicious Death Ruled a Homicide 12.18.09 The disgraced former Blue Lake Police Chief David Ray Gundersen is still in limbo on weapons charges. The next court date is January 15th, 2010 for another disposition hearing. 12.17.09 Gang Sweep in Eureka; 4 arrests made Marijuana Investigation and Arrest. Lots of guns lots of pot etc. also : Methamphetemine Arrest 12.16.09 Search warrant served in Rio Dell, stolen property recovered Ruth and Douglas Boltzen of Ogle Ave. arrested. Free H1N1 vaccine shots offered Saturday 12/19/09 from 10:00 - 2:00 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. Contact Humboldt County Public Health for more information. Kill the healthcare bill - CBS News The watered down "reform" now being debated is nothing more than a massive gift to the insurance and pharmaceutical industry. The senate has opposed any measures that would lower costs, decrease the profit margins of their largest donors or provide basic healthcare to the millions that are currently uninsured or underinsured. The Obama administration is desperate to pass any healthcare legislation, no matter how pathetic and ineffectual it might be. 12.15.09 Rio Dell City Council Meeting 6:30pm - Agenda Includes discussion regarding the legality of using scarce city funds to pay for city employee Christmas party at Riverlodge in Fortuna ($200 deposit has already been paid) (the two employee groups eventually agreed to pay for their own Christmas party rather than use public money as they have done every year), possible exploration of funding options to consider a city owned water bottling enterprise (utilizing the old springs that used to provide Rio Dell water decades ago), public hearing regarding the planning commissions' denial of the minor subdivision application for Anthony Micheli (denial was upheld, effectively ending the proposed development), etc. Video will be coming soon. 12.14.09 Death Investigation Update Humboldt County's pot culture is a boon for some, irritant to others - Sacramento Bee Intoxicated by power, Blair tricked us into war - London Times re. public inquiry into the build up to the Iraq invasion. This is a vitally important inquiry that the U.S. doesn't have the courage to undertake; there is a deafening silence from the mainstream media regarding this inquiry. 12.13.09 Death Investigation Extreme Ice Survey - time lapse video and hi-definition photos of glaciers 12.12.09 Number of Cops Fatally Shot Up 24% in 2009 - CBS News Humboldt Creamery nightmare continues - Times Standard Scotia Forever (letter to the editor) Northcoast Journal Cleanup Mess - Northcoast Journal re. the balloon track cleanup project in Eureka The pros and cons of expanding medicare - Time re. proposal to expand medicare to those 55-64 12.11.09 The most recent Rio Dell City Council Meeting is Online. The audio is greatly enhanced by Steven L. Wolff. Extreme countermeasures are in effect for the low talkers. More to come! 12.10.09 Bank Robbery and Arrest 12.9.09 Fourth Humboldt County H1N1 Death Reported also: Burglary Arrest 12.7.09 Bank Robbery of Bank of America 12.5.09 Humboldt County District Attorney offers a plea bargain in the Whitmill & Flores case; Nicole Quigley (9) was killed by these two racing at speeds over 100 mph on State Route 299 while drunk. The plea was accepted and will result in gross vehicular manslaughter charges rather than murder. The father of the victim states "We have the most incompetent DA in the state." - Times Standard 12.4.09 Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services H1N1 Update 12.3.09 RTC Tech Business Award Winner 12.2.09 Mushroom Fair 2009 12.1.09 City Council Meeting 6:30pm Agenda Includes two public hearings and final approval of amendments to business license ordinances and street dedication and improvement for the maintenance and repair of sidewalks. *The city council packet from the last meeting is available here; which provides the details about the street dedication and repair of sidewalks amendment in a searchable .pdf file. The city is also going to request quotes from qualified law firms to provide city legal services which are currently provided by David Martinek. Read the agenda for more items... There will also be a Public Hearing on December 4th at 3:00pm regarding the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning and Technical Assistance General Allocation application. The city is seeking public input at the meeting or in writing however the materials a person would need to review in order to offer an opinion are only available at City Hall during open business hours. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
March |
Defy You | Offspring |
 Sharon@riodelltimes.com or Steve@riodelltimes.com Rio Dell Times also known as http://www.riodelltimes.com Copyright October 7th, 2005. All rights reserved. The Rio Dell Times is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. |
