Letters to the Editor, Opinion
January 30, 2026

Above & Beyond

To the Editor: I am absolutely compelled to write you. I was recently in Eureka’s hospital ICU and then transferred to the hospital in Fortuna.

I felt like I was in hospitals in Beverly Hills! The people in both locations — from the cleaning staff, nutritionists, nurses and aides, doctors and administrators — went above and beyond the call of duty, not only for me but for every patient I observed.

I saw exceptional teamwork that I have never observed before and did not observe complaining. Some of my roommates were absolute asses and yet they were treated fairly and, to the extent possible, joyfully. Jesus would be so proud of his team.

And guess what? I loved, loved, loved the food, especially their meatloaf — it tasted like sirloin. And the vegetables were crisp and very tasty. And the chicken was to die for. The only thing absent was a glass of excellent red wine.

The federal government allocates money to support our hospitals. Federal dollars are being well spent in Humboldt. I believe the federal government owes Humboldt County an award for exceptional service to us.

I am 78. My life was saved. I will never forget how I was treated like a queen in both hospitals. All of these folks deserve a bow from all of us.

Marika Wolf, Eureka.

Other News
Lucy and the Movable Rock
EXTRA!
By Rich Jordan 
September 4, 2026
Lucy was a Cornish game hen, and she was brilliant. She came into my family's life in 1982, joining a long line of other non-traditional pets such as hamsters, guinea pigs, assorted birds, and even a tarantula. We always had a cat or three around, and a dog from time to time. I unabashedly admit that I was mo...
Follow the Dog
EXTRA!
By Michele Francesconi 
August 28, 2026
The game had no rules except one: follow Duke wherever he led. Each day with Duke, my half-collie and half-German shepherd companion, was a celebration as he led me across the mountain to hidden creeks where I drank icy water with my hands. One morning, the sky turned white — no trail, no tree line, no sense ...
‘Saving Radiance’ or ‘Unbearable Disturbance’?
News, September 2026 - Artificial Intelligence
By Ted Pease 
August 26, 2026
Science fiction, Hollywood and pop culture have long speculated — sometimes with fright, sometimes with eager anticipation — on the impacts of technology on human life. Back in 1936, Charlie Chaplin’s “little tramp” viewed industrialization as the dehumanization of society, with humans reduced to cogs on conv...
ASK THE DOCTOR: Dr. Google
Columnists, Jennifer Heidmann's Column
BY JENNIFER HEIDMANN, M.D. 
August 26, 2026
If you have taken part in medical care in the last year, it is likely you have encountered artificial intelligence (AI). It is increasingly used to write medical provider notes, sometimes by directly listening in on visits. It is also widely available to lay people and doctors alike to answer questions about ...