Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its annual awards night dinner on March 10th. The evening, hosted by the lodge is to recognize members that volunteer their time to the lodge and community. The lodge volunteers work in the kitchen preparing meals, serving in the dining room and lounge. They also work at maintaining the building, grounds and RV park. The lodge depends on these members and thank them for their support. Pictured from left to right: Elks of the Year, Howard Ritter; Citizen of the Year, Jack Harris; Lodge Exalted Ruler, Shawn Doebel; Volunteer of the Year, Jeri Long and Officer of the Year, Danny Rickman.

Elks National Drug Awareness Program Poster and Essay Contest Winners for 2024

The Elks Annual Drug Program provides kids and young adults the opportunity to express their feelings on rejecting peer pressure and what it means to be drug free through their participation in the Drug Awareness Program’s Poster/Essay and Video contest. Entries progress through local Lodges, District, State and National competition. The 2024 local winners were from Pacific View Charter School Third Grader, Lila Brazil for her Poster and from Sunny Brea Middel School Eighth Grader, Simon Zagone for his Essay. Each receive a cash award of $100.00 from the Eureka Elks Lodge and $100.00 gift card for placing First in the North Coast District, with a Certificate of Achievement Award. Pictured from left to right: Lodge Chairman, Jack Harris; Lodge Exalted Ruler, Shawn Doebel; Essay winner, Simon Zagone and in front Poster winner, Lila Brazil.

Veterans Car & Motorcycle Show

Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its Veterans Car & Motorcycle Show on Saturday, September 23rd. Over 200 attended the events with 69 cars, motorcycles and trucks on display. The event brought in over $4,500.00 for funds to help local veterans with dinners, warm clothes , boots and rain gear for winter. Also, to help supplement food needs & veterans pantry & clinic.

Pictured from left to right are the Elk volunteers that put on the program: Jack Harris, Louise Harris, Anne Poole, Joe Massie, Dan Rickman, Ernie Nunes, Pierre Carbonneau and Sheri Schaal. Front Barry Smith and Kevin Christie.

Flag Day 2023


Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its annual “Flag Day Ceremony” on June 10th. This patriotic program honors the early American flags from the Pine Tree flag to our current Stars and Strips. All the Elks Lodges take a day close to June 14th to honor our American flag. The Elks were proud to invite Eureka Emblem Club No. 298, Boy Scott Troops No. 27 and 54, International Order of Jobs Daughters Bethel No. 86, Eureka Commandry No. 35, Knights Templar and Mad River Community Veterans Honor Guard to participate in this ceremony.

Mother’s Day Breakfast

Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its annual Mother Day breakfast and Mother of the Year Award. This year’s mother of the year is Karen Hunter. She was born in Humboldt County and Attended Fortuna Union High School. She was Administrative Assistant for Cox Communications/ Suddenlink for 25 years. She has been active in the community serving Easter Seals Society, American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, a member of the County Board of Education and a member of Soroptimist. She has been a volunteer at the Elks Lodge and served as a Trustee. She has four children, eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and one on the way. Her hobbies are card making, baking, reading and raising her two dogs, Buster and Posey. She and her husband Dennis have been married for 39 years and reside in Eureka. Picture from left to right, seated; Her brother Ken Hughes, husband Dennis Hunter, honoree Karen Hunter, Elks Exalted Ruler Shawn Doebel and Karen’s mother Janice Hughes. Back row, Daughter in law, Meadow Bell, son Alex Johnson, grandsons Tyle and Dylan Evenson and daughter Yvonne Evenson.

2023 Installation of Officers

On March 25th, Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its 122nd annual installation of officers. The lodge was founded in 1901 and first met in old town on 2nd street, between F & G. In the early 1920s it moved to the corner on 5th & H Street and later moved to its current location at 445 Herrick Avenue. It is one of the most active lodges in California with over 1400 members. They give their time and financial support to help with many charitable actives in our community. Pictured from left to right, front row: Lecturing Knight, Larry Vance; Loyal Knight, Nina Strang; Exalted Ruler, Shawn Doebel; Leading Knight, Barry Smith; Treasurer, William Lambo; Inner Guard, Shawna Bobillot. Back row: Esquire, Brett Engle; Tiler, Dan Rickman; Organist, Gina Black; Secretary, Ernie Nunes; Trustees, Karen Hunter, Sherie Bialous, Scott Thomason, Pierre Carbonneau and Alan Bobillot.

2023 Citizen of the Year

Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 awarded Ryan Derby, Humboldt County Office Emergency Service Program Manager, (OES) Citizen of the Year. OES role is to stabilize an emergency so the on-going response efforts can be incorporated into routine government operation. County Sheriff, Billy Honsal and County Supervisor Rex Bohn praised Ryan for his outstanding work in the county. They complimented him for his quick response to any emergencies. Pictured from left to right: Under Sheriff, Justin Braud; County Supervisor, Rex Bohn; Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler, Marta Martinez; honoree Ryan Derby and Sheriff, Billy Honsal.

Annual Volunteer and Award Night

Eureka Elks Lodge No. 652 held its annual volunteer and award night dinner. The evening is to thank those members who help with the many activities and helps maintain the lodge. They help in the lounge, kitchen, waiting on tables and maintenance of the grounds and RV park. This year’s honors, pictured from left to right: Officer of the year, Shawn Doebel; Volunteer of the year, Silvia Vader; for her year as Exalted Ruler, Marta Martinez ; for over 25 years of service to the lodge, Donna Jordan and Elk of the year, David Eberhardt.