UPDATE 12:11 P.M.:  Buzzfeed is reporting, “There have been many reports this past hour about Google being down. Don’t worry, Google isn’t down. A major internet provider out of California, Level 3 Communications, is having connection issues with their link to Google.”

UPDATE 12:06 P.M.:  Google coming back up. 

Those using Google Search, Gmail, Google Analytics, Youtube, etc. may be unable to access their sites. Mark Otto, Designer at GitHub and Creator of Bootstrap, tweeted around 11:30 A.M., “Google, Gmail, YouTube are all down. Google has forsaken us.”  But other tweeters noted that the services are working in their area.  LoCO reporter, Kym Kemp, has not had access to a Google site for over 20 minutes. 

The USGS is reporting two earthquakes—one 5.7 at 8:47 P.M followed by another 3.5 at 8:55—occurring near Greenville which is about 20 miles southwest of Susanville.

CHP Press Release:

The Humboldt and Garberville California Highway Patrol (CHP) offices will conduct a joint speed enforcement operation on US 101, in Humboldt County, on Monday, May 27, 2013. This route experiences a high volume of traffic during holiday travel dates and the goal of the CHP is to ensure the safe passage of each and every motorist on this major Humboldt county thoroughfare.

To assist the CHP in this traffic safety effort, Northern Division has received a federally-funded grant titled, “Reduce Aggressive Driving Incidents and Tactically Enforce Speed (RADIATES).” The CHP Northern Division will plan future anti-speed campaigns between now and
September 30, 2013. 

“All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on our local roadways by speeding,” said Commander Adam Jager, of the Humboldt Area CHP office. This message was echoed by Garberville Area Commander Brett Fabbri, who said, “We must do whatever we can to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on US 101”. 

This operation will focus on enforcing speed laws and other primary collision factors related to aggressive driving. The operation is planned to be in force all day on May 27th. 

Funding for this program was provided from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

 

 

According to the Lake Co. News, an accident on Hwy 20 about two miles east of Clearlake Oaks was reported shortly before 9 P.M. It has reportedly

…killed one person, injured several others and sparked a wildland fire.

…Firefighters arriving at the scene reported finding multiple vehicles involved, including a motorcycle, whose rider died at the scene.

There also was at least one person trapped in another vehicle and several walking wounded, according to radio reports….

A small wildland fire was burning to the north of the highway, with a slow rate of spread, reports from the scene indicated.

The Facebook page of the news just reported that Hwy 20 is closed in both directions.  Follow it for updates.

UPDATE  5/23: More details are now available here. The road appears to be open according to Caltrans.

“Right now, Northern California bud, that trademark, that stamp, is really some of the best in the world,” says Special Agent Roy Giorgi with the California Department of Justice as Planet Money takes on the story of how the marijuana economy is working.

“I’ll buy in California and sell to New Yorkers,” says Chuck, the robotic voice that represents a California dealer that has moved east. The Planet Money story portrays this black market sale as something a bit new, a reaction to dropping prices on the West Coast.

Dealers aren’t the only ones with an incentive to move marijuana out of California. The legalization of medical marijuana led to a rush of pot farmers with permits to grow marijuana legally. That in turn led to a supply glut — and plummeting wholesale prices. Some growers haven’t been able to unload all their crops at the price they want on the local, legal market. So they break the law and send it out of state.

Of course, the movement of cannabis out of Humboldt and to states on the east side of the country has been going on for decades. Nonetheless, the story is good and offers a simple explanation of the marijuana economy and how law enforcement plays a part in keeping prices up.

LoCO has a question in to FPD as to whether the woman’s name is Frink or Fink. (Confirmed as Fink)

Fortuna Police Press Release:

On May 22, 2013 at approximately 0857 hours, officers with the Fortuna Police Department responded to the 900 block of 8th Street for the report of property owner/tenant dispute in an apartment. Upon arrival officers contacted Michelle Frink Fink(28) and Joel Guevara both of McKinleyville within the apartment. During the contact it was learned that Guevara was currently assigned to felony probation for narcotics related offenses in Humboldt County.

During a search of Guevara’s property officers located 121.8 grams of suspected heroin, 1.2 grams methamphetamine, 11 methadone pills, drug paraphernalia and documents consistent with the trafficking of narcotics.

Joel Guevara was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Jail, he was charged with the following crimes;

HS 11350 – Possession of a Heroin
HS 11379 – Possession of Methamphetamine
HS 11364 – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia 
PC 1203.2 – Violation of Probation

Michelle Fink was arrested and transported to the Fortuna Police Department, where she was released on a citation for the following crime;

HS 11364 - Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

 

Updated 6:06 P.M. with photos from Southern Humboldt Fire Chiefs Association Public Information Team member Doug Bryan who was at the fire.

A two acre fire has been reported off Goodman Ranch Rd. west of Redway, northeast of Shelter Cove.  CDF and multiple other fire departments are deploying.  As updates come in, LoCO will update.

UPDATE: Calfire says the they have helicopter 102 on the fire, several crews and engines and a dozer.  They say that Redway VFD has a water tanker on the spot and that Telegraph Ridge VFD is there, too.  The estimated containment is at 1630 hours  (4:30 P.M.)

UPDATE 6:08 P.M.: Fire was officially 3.4 acres.

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