Quote of the Day

“Unlike some past council members, I don’t have the capacity to know what the people who are not communicating with me are thinking.” — Eureka City Councilwoman Linda Atkins in response to the July 22 op-ed by a vocal clique of critics.

Arcata child molester gets 20+ years

[Press release from Humboldt County District Attorney's office]

On Wednesday, July 27, 2011, the Honorable W. Bruce Watson sentenced Wayne Thomas Bukowski, 37, of Arcata, to 20 years 8 months in prison for the continuous sexual abuse of a minor, dissuading the minor from testifying against him and committing a felony while out on bond. The sentence was the maximum allowed by law. Bukowski is also required to register as a sex offender for life.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kelly Neel.

Performance to benefit Youth Service Bureau

This Friday, be entertained and support a good cause.

From Bureau coordinator Jeff Pauletti:

“Youth Service Bureau is the only program in Humboldt County and only one of a few in the nation serving runaway and homeless youth. We offer an emergency shelter, and a transitional living program for runaway and homeless youth in Humboldt County. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Youth Service Bureau.”

More information here. Or contact Jeff at jpauletti_ysb@sbcglobal.net (phone) 443-8322 Ext. 201.

Humboldt post offices on list of possible closures

While the United States Postal Service struggles with a bad economy and changing consumer habits, it is looking to downgrade or close 3,653 branches across the country.  Possible closures in Humboldt County:

• Kneeland
• Honeydew
• Blockburg
• Korbel
• Phillipsville
• Redcrest
• Samoa
• Weott

Here’s the California list.

Eureka rush hour shooter was Courthouse Market worker

Mark Anthony Nelson

The suspect in a shooting at the intersection of 14th and H Streets Monday that put a woman in the hospital turned himself in this morning, according to the Times-Standard.

The shooting occurred at about 5:30pm.  Mark Anthony Nelson reportedly fired several shots at the woman, who was driving behind him, through the back window of his car.  She is in serious condition.

Nelson’s co-worker was interviewed on KSLG this morning (listen here). He said Nelson went to work shortly after the shooting and said the rear window had been shot out of his car.

MORE: EPD Issues Press Release Concerning Last Night’s Shooting

Arkley confirms Wal-Mart rumors

Eureka big box fanatic Rob Arkley reportedly confirmed on radio KINS Monday that Wal-Mart is indeed the “mystery retailer” taking over the Gottschalks site at the Bayshore Mall.

The Times-Standard reported last week that “Eureka-based property management company Carrington Co. submitted a building permit application on behalf of its tenant to the city on June 28 but withheld the tenant’s name.”

Sources say the tenant is Wal-Mart, and that Carrington courted the mega-sexist-sweatshop-based retailer to takeover the mall space rather than wait for a stand alone site. A contract between the two was reportedly signed weeks ago.

We would direct you to the KINS podcast of the Arkley interview but the right-wing AM station’s tech savvy-ness is as backward as their politics.  As it stands you have to tune in — with an actual radio — to listen to the cuckoo commentary as it airs.

(h/t Nate Downey)

Jefferson School work party

Here’s your chance to grab some gloves and spruce up the grounds at Jefferson School.

The Westside Community Improvement Association will host a community work party on Tuesday, July 26th from 3-6 pm. WCIA invites you to bring gloves, personal safety gear, gardening tools, cleaning supplies, brooms, shovels, garbage cans, dustpans, rakes, lawn and garden equipment buckets, cleaners, rags, and the like to put the sparkle on Jefferson.

EARLIER: OWNED: Jefferson School | Jefferson School heads toward escrow

Tyson’s cheerleaders come out swinging, lying

Cherie Arkley waves a $30,000 check to pay for her Balloon Track ballot measure.

An Op-Ed by former Eureka City Council members in today’s Times-Standard defends the city manager Dave Tyson against recent criticism, and tops it with a cherry made of horse poop.

Mike Jones, Jeff Leonard, Virginia Bass, Polly Endert, Mary Beth Wolford, Connie Miller, Cherie Arkley and Nancy Flemming repeat the talking point that only a “vocal minority” opposes Tyson.  They criticize City Councilwoman Linda Atkins for saying the majority of the council ignores city residents.  And for good measure, they throw some blame at former councilman Larry Glass.  Old habits are hard to break.

Atkins and Glass, they say, ignored citizens who wanted “the cleanup of the Balloon Track and the Marina Center project.”  But Tyson (and Ms. Arkley’s) stooges never wanted a real clean-up.  Their plan called for a cheap cover-up.

And to refresh the former councilmembers’ memories, Glass and Atkins voted to put the misleading Balloon Track measure on the ballot as requested by their constituents.

“Marina Center Now!” anyone?  These months later it is crystal clear — as it was then to anyone paying attention — that Measure N was a smokescreen.  The Balloon Track is still a toxic mess, the Arkley’s still dig their heels in the mud, and the incompetent tools who used Measure N as a campaign issue struggle to look independent while serving the monied class that put them in office.

OWNED: Jefferson School

The Westside Community Improvement Association closed the deal on Jefferson School Wednesday afternoon.

Working for Wal-Mart

Here’s a taste of what future workers at Wal-Mart can expect.

Video clip from the movie Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

The movie counts the City of Eureka among thousands of cities that fought Wal-Mart and won.  But the 1999 victory for Eureka was only temporary as Wal-Mart prepares to move into the Bayshore Mall.