Hidden away on Ukiah’s North State Street lies a Wildcat’s study spot haven, Black Oak Coffee Roasters. Black Oak has served not just as a coffee shop but also as an ideal study spot for Ukiah Wildcats for years now. Other typical study locations, like home or a library, can be distracting and too familiar to allow you to focus. Places like Black Oak provide somewhere to go that will get you to focus on your schoolwork and get it done. 

Chiara Barber, a junior attending the middle college program and a frequent patron of Black Oak, praises Black Oak for its comforting atmosphere and its effect on getting her to get her school work done, “I like coffee shop vibes… there’s something about just being in a coffee shop and opening your computer to do your homework …you can’t beat it.” 

When asked how often students come in to study, Heidi Peterman, a worker at Black Oak, responded, “I feel like the majority of the people I see in there are they’re like people my age, that seem like they’re studying or they’re there for like work stuff.”

Compared to other coffee shops in Ukiah, like the many Starbucks locations, Black Oak brings a charm that you can’t get from local corporate franchises. Peterman recalled an experience at Starbucks where she said, “It feels sometimes like I’m rushed to get out of there. And there’s not a …relaxing environment that doesn’t invite people to like stay for a long time.”

Another draw to Black Oak is the fact that it is a local business as described by Peterman and Barber. 

Customers appreciate Black Oak’s consistent quality coffee, flavorful pastries, and other food items. Peterman, hired on in late May, has enjoyed one of Black Oak’s cheese danishes during every shift since. “Even when I wasn’t, like, working there and I would study, I’d always get, like, a cheese danish. I don’t know, it just, like, gets me in my zone.”

We asked Wildcats what they thought about Black Oak, and over half of those who participated in the survey said they enjoyed studying at Black Oak and agreed that it helped them focus. Black Oak’s Chai and Matcha drinks seem to be a favorite among wildcats as well.

For Wildcats looking for a different study environment, Black Oak could be the place for you, as Peterman says, “It’s a chill environment, and … it’s good coffee and you could just sit there for hours and work”.

Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. On Sept. 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked. Two crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City, killing 2,977 people, including 441 New York first responders who died from the collapse, fire, smoke or by jumping to escape. A third plane struck the Pentagon, killing 179 people, while the fourth crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers fought the hijackers and prevented them from reaching Washington, D.C.

At Ukiah High, staff and students reflected on what the day means now.

Science teacher Adam Lane remembered being a UC Davis sophomore when he first heard the news. Alone in his apartment without a television, he walked to the campus gym to watch the coverage. “I went there and just kind of watched it all, just kind of shocked, stunned,” he said. Friends were asking one another if this was the start of World War III. “It was the biggest…terrorist event in my life. Pretty significant thing. … It changed the way we did lots of stuff from visas and passports to the way we still board planes today.” Lane recalled a friend in the Army who was grounded on a runway bound for the Middle East when flights were halted: “It was pretty crazy to hear how they were mobilizing.”

Math teacher Brian Montgomery also remembers the day vividly. He was a sophomore in high school when the attacks happened. “I was actually ditching my ceramics class to go play video games when they put it on the TV,” he said. The news rattled him. “It might have been the first time an attack got that close and really hit at home. I think it showed our lack of security. Wow, we were infiltrated that deep.”

English teacher Michael Riedell called it the most difficult day of his career. In his third year of teaching at the time, he said many students were frightened and looking to him for reassurance. “So many people were so confused and so many students were so afraid. And I didn’t know what to say because really we didn’t know if World War III had just started. I felt like my job was to tell people that everything was going to be okay. But I really had no idea and nobody did.” For Riedell, the attacks marked a turning point. “It pretty much started two wars, directly or indirectly … it really impacted lives all around.”

Photography teacher Lech Slocinski said that for today’s teenagers, the tragedy can be hard to grasp: “It’s hard for people today to comprehend it because they weren’t around when it happened.”

Students at Ukiah High, many of whom were not yet born in 2001, are still learning about the event. Freshman Gavin Hunter admitted, “I don’t know much about 9/11,” but he understands why it’s remembered: “I know we remember it today because of all the people killed. It was a tragedy.”

Sophomore Anne Marie Brown also reflected on the ongoing impact. She noted that two planes crashed into the Twin Towers, trapping many people inside. “We still talk about it because so many lives were changed that day,” she said, adding that the grief of families who lost loved ones remains.

Nearly a quarter century on, Sept. 11 is both a history lesson and a living memory at Ukiah High — something teachers who witnessed it firsthand recall with clarity, and students continue to grapple with from a distance.

On Sept. 10, 2025, conservative activist Charlie Kirk — founder of Turning Point USA — was tragically assassinated during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. As of publication, police have released a photo of a suspect, but haven’t confirmed an identity yet. The story spread quickly online and has started another round of debates about political violence and free speech.

Here at Ukiah High, some students and teachers shared how they felt about the news.

Junior Jonas Ingle said he respected Kirk’s openness and knowledge, even if he didn’t always agree with him. “I would never wish death on anyone, especially not like that in front of thousands to see, including kids,” Ingle said. Junior Wyatt Foster also said he thought the attack was wrong. “I don’t think he should have been shot for what he said. He may have been a political person, but he wasn’t trying to change laws — he was just trying to speak on a college campus and hear others’ opinions.”

Junior Eli Cohen said he first heard the news through “chatter on campus” and checked his phone to confirm it. He said that while he didn’t agree with most of Kirk’s views, “nobody deserves to be shot in the neck. He had a right to be there, he had a right to speak, and he did a really great job of getting kids in our country involved.”

English teacher Michael Riedell said that debate and discussion are essential parts of being on a campus. “Whatever you think about his politics, what Charlie Kirk was doing was mostly just getting into debate. Which, especially being on a school campus, that’s what we’re supposed to be doing,” Riedell said. He added that free speech is one of the most important parts of democracy, saying, “An attack on him really is essentially an attack on American democracy.”

Other students spoke more critically of Kirk but still said violence wasn’t the answer. Senior Kayla Luevano said she often disagreed with him but stressed that he was still a person with a family. She added that his death also shows how serious the problem of gun violence is in America. Sophomore Ann Marie Brown also spoke critically and said the shooting showed how dangerous political disagreements can become. Sophomore Zoey Palmer said she disagreed with his views but felt sympathy for his family, and said political violence is never the solution.

UJunior Coltan Gourley offered a more nuanced perspective, saying, “His opinions of things are iffy — sometimes they’re good, sometimes they’re not. He’s a good father, a good political and faithful person, but him as a person is debatable.”

Junior Lucus Fradella said that while he disagreed with some of Kirk’s politics, he also felt Kirk had a right to share his views on campus. Lucus told UHS News that he believed Kirk had been reconsidering some of his positions and that political disagreements should never lead to violence. He emphasized that, “Just because you don’t have the same opinion doesn’t mean you should be shot. It’s your First Amendment right.”

Science teacher Adam Lane summed it up simply: “I don’t think anyone should be killed based on what they believe or what they’re speaking out for or against. I think it’s a pretty sad state of what our politics has become.”

Students and staff at UHS had different perspectives on Kirk himself, but everyone agreed that political violence has no place in society.

For many high school seniors, graduation is a moment filled with pride, joy, and hope, a celebration of the past and the promise of what’s ahead. But for some, that moment feels less like stepping into a new chapter and more like being pushed off a cliff into the unknown.

“After your senior year is really the first time in your entire life that you actually get to choose,” says Adrienne Bakewell, Ukiah High School’s mental health counselor. “There’s a ton of overwhelm and stress from having to make large decisions, and then possibly, stress and depression from how things turn out.”

For some students, the weight of that freedom can be crushing. And for Angel Murguia-Martinez, a member of the Ukiah High graduating Class of 2017, the journey after high school became a silent struggle that ended in heartbreaking tragedy.

On Valentine’s Day, 2024, Murguia-Martinez went missing. He had walked away from his Ukiah home late in the evening and disappeared unresponsive to messages, concern quickly grew among friends, family, and coworkers. In the days that followed, the Ukiah community launched search efforts and spread awareness on social media. Despite ongoing efforts, weeks turned into months with no answers, leaving his loved ones in a painful state of uncertainty.

In March 2025, nearly a year after his disappearance, Murguia-Martinez’s ‘body was discovered in the Low Gap area by a cleanup crew. The confirmation brought an end to the long search, but also marked the beginning of a new wave of grief for those who had held onto hope. The discovery devastated his family and deeply impacted the Ukiah High School community, where Murguia-Martinez had been known for his kindness, quiet strength, and love of music and video games.

UHS News spoke with Murguia-Martinez’s family and said they remember him as quiet, deeply kind, with a heart full of music and a passion for gaming. After graduation, he found joy in his job at GameStop, which was a place where his enthusiasm and gentle spirit truly shone. But beneath the surface, he was quietly enduring a darkness that few could see.

“Angel did have some serious bouts of depression that consumed him,” his family shared with UHS News. “We sought help for him. We tried. But in the end, it was what took him from us.”

His story is a painful reminder that some of the brightest smiles can hide the deepest wounds. Bakewell explains, “There’s a lot of misunderstanding with depression, especially in young people. Just because someone is laughing with friends or showing up to school doesn’t mean they’re okay when they go home.”

According to Murguia-Martinez’s family, his downward spiral seemed to deepen after losing his grandmother, the woman who helped raise him. Though Murguia-Martinez did see a counselor for a time, like many young people navigating mental health, the support was not consistent, and eventually, he stopped going.

“In our community, mental health care is virtually non-existent,” his family says. “I believe that Angel really lost a battle that no one ever really ever knew he was fighting.”

Silence can be deadly. That’s why Murguia-Martinez’s family is speaking out, urging others to listen, to check in, and to never assume someone is “fine” just because they’re functioning. Murguia-Martinez’s family wants students to know that it’s okay not to be okay, and it’s essential to ask for help.

“I would want them to know that they are not alone,” his family says. “I would want them to know that the amount of pain and hurt this has placed on our hearts and souls has been devastating. Even if you think you are not loved or that you will not be missed I can promise you that you are loved more than you know and you would be missed…Tremendously”

Bakewell also wants to ease the pressure students may feel when trying to support a friend. “You’re not expected to fix it. Just walk with them. Lead them to someone who might be able to help.”

Bakewell agrees that the emotional terrain after high school is often overlooked. “We’ve literally lived our whole lives with structure—bells ringing, classes scheduled, people checking in,” she says. “And then suddenly we say, ‘Go make the biggest decision of your life—and do it on your own.’ No structure. No safety net. It’s easy to flounder.”

To honor Murguia-Martinez’ memory and try to protect others from similar pain, his family is working to place a memorial bench at Low Gap Park. “If you see someone sitting there alone then just maybe you could take a moment and be the person that changes their mind when they feel they have lost their battle.”

Later this school year, Ukiah High welcomed a new face to campus—School Resource Officer (SRO) Michael Jensen, a member of the Ukiah Police Department. UHS News sat down with Officer Jensen to learn more about him and what he does here at school.

Officer Jensen has worked in law enforcement for several years. He started in Del Norte County as a K-9 handler, then worked as a resident deputy and field training officer (FTO) with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office in Point Arena. Now, he’s with Ukiah PD and serves as both an FTO and an SRO for Ukiah Unified School District.

So what does a school resource officer actually do? “My job is to keep the campus safe and investigate any sort of crime that could occur,” Officer Jensen told us. But it’s not just about law enforcement. He also helps connect students, families, and teachers with helpful resources and even mentors students who are interested in careers in law enforcement.

Though he’s based at Ukiah High, Officer Jensen supports all schools in the district. He said, “A lot of my duties are to investigate crimes, offer resources like counseling, and just be someone students can talk to.”

He also shared some of the laws that guide how he works on campus. For example, before searching a student’s belongings, he needs to have “reasonable suspicion,” which is a lower standard than “probable cause” used outside of school. This rule applies to school staff too.

In short, Officer Jensen is here to keep students safe, offer support, and be someone students can turn to—whether they need help, have questions, or are thinking about a future in law enforcement.