March 1, 2012 - Turnagain Times
Transcription
www.turnagaintimes.com Hope Happenings FREE page 4 Mountain News page 8 T U R N A G A I N TIMES Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & Moose Pass VOL. 15, NO. 5 March 1, 2012 Tyoneks not to blame for Cook Inlet beluga population decline Tribal members claim an influx of northern native hunters led to the whales’ plummeting numbers Part 3 of a three-part series By Jim Magowan Turnagain Times correspondent “Everybody is beating around the bush about what happened to the beluga whales. I know what happened, they got hunted, they got killed by hunters that moved to Anchorage from up north,” said Frank Standifer, president of the Dena’ina Alaska Native village at Tyonek, who, along with other family members, met for an interview to discuss the decline of the Cook Inlet beluga whale population. “We didn’t do it and we’re not going to take the blame. We only took one or two whales a year. It was market hunting by hunters from up north that did it. They made a lot of money selling beluga meat. In the ‘70s and ‘80s there were thousands of belugas. We used to see them all the time from our fish camp on the North Forelands. We watched kings (salmon) jumping out of the water to get away from the beluga.” “We watched them jump out of the water to catch kings,” added his wife Sue. “When the beluga caught a king they would toss it and play with it like a cat plays with food.” See Page 11, Cook Inlet Belugas Eastern Aleutian Tribes board votes to keep Whittier Clinic open By Ken Smith Turnagain Times The board of directors of Eastern Aleutian Tribes voted unanimously last week to keep the Whittier Clinic open. Six months ago the board was considering closing the clinic because it was losing money – over $1 million since 2004. The board’s decision to keep the clinic open was made in large part because of a federal grant of $100,000 that was approved this year. “The board was really concerned that we maintain health care in Whittier for people who can’t get to Anchorage to get care,” said Michael Christensen the executive director of Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc. “There was a threat six months ago that the funding would go away as the federal government began doing budget cuts to the lowest utilization clinics. We have very low utilization at the clinic.” The Whittier Clinic had 789 patient visits last year, less than See Back Page, Whittier Clinic PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE, AK PERMIT NO. 353 ECRWSS Postal Customer Inside this Issue Around the Arm ........................2 Letters to the Editor ..................3 In Memory ................................3 Cooper Landing News ...............5 Out of the Town .........................6 Moose Passings........................7 Trooper Report ..........................9 News Briefs ............................10 Ken Smith/Turnagain Times Indian and Bird business signs must be moved by July 1 to comply with the DOT. DOT gives final notice to Indian and Bird businesses to move signs They must be moved out of right of way by July 1 By Ken Smith Turnagain Times In 2004, the state Department of Transportation sent letters out to businesses in Indian and Bird located along the Seward Highway, notifying them that they had to remove their business signs from the right of way to comply with a voter approved state law that made it illegal to have outdoor advertising visible from the road. Seven years later, two businesses have complied and five have not. On Feb. 17, the DOT sent a letter to the last holdouts, giving them a July 1 deadline to comply or else the department would come done and remove the signs. A copy of the letter sent to the Bird Ridge Motel, one of the noncompliant businesses, was obtained by the Turnagain Times. On page 2, a paragraph stated “If the sign is not removed by July 1, we would be left with no other choice but to remove the sign through our own action. In that event, we will place the sign on your property (with your permission) or store it at another location for either your subsequent retrieval or the department’s disposal following a 30-day hold.” It was further stated that the cost of removal would be paid for by the business. Erik Lambertsen, owner of the motel, staunchly maintains a position that businesses have a right to advertise with a sign near the road, and that the DOT is usurping that right. “The DOT is trying to establish their right to the air space above the right of way, and their idea is to take down any – what they consider – clutter,” he said. “I think they consider signage to be clutter and not something that they want to encourage.” The state legislature passed a law stating that the “presence of billboards visible from Alaska’s highways endanger Alaska’s uniqueness and its scenic beauty. It is the intent of the people of the State of Alaska that Alaska shall forever remain free of billboards.” And the business signs in Indian and Bird are considered such unsightly billboards. The Seward Highway is also a highway designated as a “Scenic Byway.” The non-compliant businesses that received a letter from the DOT are: Bird Ridge Motel, Birdhouse Garage, Diamond Jim’s Liquor Store, Brown Bear Saloon and Turnagain House restaurant. The two businesses that had signs in the right of way but removed them are the Indian Bible Chalet and Essential 1 gas station. Shoreside Petroleum, owner of Essential 1, challenged the DOT in court to allow for an encroachment permit to leave its roadside sign, but the Alaska Superior Court on Sept. 18, 2009 upheld the decision of a review panel of the state Department of Transportation to deny Shoreside’s request. Since that ruling, the DOT has been working to remove all signs in the state as authorized by the state to manage and maintain the right of way and keep it clear of encroachments and illegal outdoor advertising. As was stated in the letter, “This decision upheld the department’s legal position and reinforced our responsibilities for stewardship of the public rights of way.” The state also risks losing federal dollars to maintain the Seward Highway as well as other state highways if it does not comply with the anti-billboard law. “It’s always a danger that we could lose federal money,” said Jill Reese, the DOT right of way agent overseeing the process of sign See Back Page, DOT Orders Signs Moved Page 2 Turnagain Times March 1, 2012 Around the Arm By Paddy Notar Turnagain Times Correspondent The Academy Awards happened. The only movies that I saw that were nominated for anything were The Muppets and Midnight in Paris. They both won an award so I must have good taste. I could watch The Muppets a dozen times. It’s a very good movie. Of course Midnight in Paris is about a writer, so why wouldn’t I rent it and not return it for three weeks? Woody Allen is one of the best. Speaking of the best, I highly recommend the Sushi Garden’s Hamachi. It’s similar to yellow tail and incredibly fresh. I went to Sushi Garden on Huffman last week and was very impressed with all of the dishes I tried. I’m a big Ahi tuna sashimi fan but everything from their miso soup to the Udon noodles was just deli- cious and fresh. I had a head cold, like everyone else, and loaded up on the wasabi. It’s not the cure, but it sure clears your head up for a while. The chefs are friendly, know what they’re doing and give you tastes of all sorts of things. If you’re on Huffman across from Blockbuster Video, do yourself a favor and go there and say hello to the new owners Danny and his wife. Danny’s a former commercial fisherman and brought in some new great sushi chefs, including a very talented head sushi chef. You’ll recognize him in his bright green shirt. What were the only three movies to win Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay? Answer to follow. The Roundhouse Museum and Girdwood Inc. are having a benefit Mardi Gras party on March 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. It’s being held at Hugh and Liz Ashlock’s cabin at 120 Kitzbuhl Road in Girdwood. For $40 you get beer, wine, pizza, more food, and beer and wine. How much do you spend on a night out? That’s what I thought. The best part of it all is that proceeds are going to the Roundhouse Museum. There will be a costume contest as well, so dress accordingly. I’m simply amazed at how many events Alyeska Resort can have. The USASA is having a rail jam competition on Friday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday is the slope-style competition from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Right before and during all of that fun, where, if I participated I’d break my neck, is Lucero playing at the Sitzmark on Thursday, March 1 through Saturday, March 3 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Yes, you’ve heard about them before. They’re an alternative country punk band from Memphis and they are worth seeing. They’ve put on some nice shows at Alyeska and I hope they come back this summer and do another one of their fun, outdoor concerts. Tickets are $20 in advance in $25 at the door. Seven Glaciers restaurant continues their Sunday special for locals with a $49 prix fixe menu by Chef Jason Porter. It goes on from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. through April. Jason is one of the best chefs around. Do go and try it once. It’s worth every penny. Wednesday, March 7 is Absolut Trivia night at the Sitzmark from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. It’s a chance to show your smarts and impress your friends or look like an idiot. After a couple of Absolut cocktails, I’d say the latter. Answer to the trivia question: “It Happened One Night,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Silence of the Lambs.” Don’t forget about Open Mic night at the Sitzmark with Julia Dykstra. It goes on every Monday from 9 p.m. to midnight. So, bring your harmonica have some Absolut and let loose. It’s always a good time and Julia is the best host in town. Or is it hostess? Great, now I want a cupcake. Don’t forget about pushing the clocks up on March 11. It’s time for daylight savings time. What two states don’t touch their clocks? Arizona and Hawaii do not get involved in the daylight savings time issue. Drive safe and don’t be afraid to pull over if someone in their four-wheel time machine is too cool to stay more than two feet from your bumper. You’ll live longer and your family will appreciate it. Spring is almost here. Enjoy. Together We Can The mission statement of Girdwood Health Clinic Inc. (GHCI) is for a nonprofit clinic providing health care to all visitors and residents of the Turnagain Arm communities of Girdwood, Hope, Bird Creek, Indian, Sunrise and Portage regardless of ability to pay. Turnagain Arm Health Center (TAHC) owns the clinic building and has funds acquired from the lease of the building for the past 6 years. GHCI owns and operates the new nonprofit clinic in the building owned by TAHC. Together these two organizations have the resources to develop a Community Health Center (CHC) for the entire Turnagain Arm Area. TAHC began in 2004 with the mission to establish a nonprofit Community Health Center. In 2005 TAHC wrote a grant and received the old Post Office from the Denali Commission. In 2006 TAHC rented the old Post Office to Girdwood Clinic, a private clinic. The private clinic paid to renovate the gutted Post Office building into a functional clinic. GHCI was formed in October 2010 with a mission to transform the private Girdwood Clinic into a nonprofit clinic. On Dec. 22, 2011, GHCI received nonprofit status from the IRS and began operation as a nonprofit clinic by assuming the business of the private clinic. Their first action was to implement a discount sliding scale fee schedule to provide low income insured and uninsured persons with basic health care services. With the support of TAHC and the funds they have received from renting the building, the new nonprofit clinic would be able to work towards Community Health Center status and apply for funds to expand services and build a new clinic building. GHCI has asked TAHC to join them to work together for a sustainable nonprofit CHC for the entire Turnagain Arm area. There are more than 25 federally funded CHCs across Alaska from Ketchikan to Kotzebue. Together we can build one too! Please send you comments supporting the merger of TAHC and GHCI to: GHCI, P.O. Box 1130, Girdwood, AK, 99587; email [email protected] TAHC, P.O. Box 1426, Girdwood, AK, 99587; email [email protected]. Tax deductible donations may be mailed to GHCI at the above address. We are having a community meeting at the Girdwood Community Center from 7 to 8 P.M., Wed., March 14th, to unveil our plans for the Girdwood Health Clinic expansion and the Hope satellite project. The Turnagain Times is published the first and third week of each month by Midnight Sun Communications, LLC, Girdwood, Alaska. By Mail: P.O. Box 1044 Girdwood, Alaska 99587-1044 Publisher & Editor Ken Smith Production Artist Matthew Bailey Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & Moose Pass By Phone: (907) 783-1135 By Fax: (907) 783-1136 By Email: [email protected] © 2012 Midnight Sun Communications, LLC March 1, 2012 Turnagain Times Page 3 Opinion PADDY WAGGIN’ We’re slowly, but surely, losing family structure in this country. Fifty percent of women in their 20s are now having kids out of wedlock, and almost every marriage seems to fail. You only have to look at your friends or siblings to see what I mean. I remember being 10 years old and every Sunday I would put all of the sections of the New York Times together at a newsstand at four in the morning, meet my parents at church and then we’d all head out to breakfast. We went out to breakfast every Sunday, and it was one of those things you looked forward to the entire week. Sometimes we’d drive to go get cider doughnuts about 15 miles away. That was considered a real treat, and the doughnuts, warm and covered with cinnamon and sugar, were some of the best you ever had. The farm had an apple orchard and farmers market, and we’d spend half a day climbing trees and sitting in the sun. It seems like in today’s PADDY NOTAR world family time is spent in front of the TV or playing a Wii bowling game. What happened to everyone spending time together and talking about their lives? I cherish the memories of going over to my grandmother’s Italian grocery store and spending time with my cousins. We would sit elbow to elbow in her small kitchen while she brought out course after course of the best Italian food on the planet. She took seven hours just to make her tomato sauce. Everything was made from scratch, including the wine. Nowadays, it’s a drive thru or frozen pizza and we don’t talk about our day. We just eat as fast as possible so we can go Google something. It seems like we’re in a big hurry to run in a circle. What happened to talking to one another and having a nice meal? What happened to connecting to your siblings, relatives and friends? When can you honestly say is the last time that you made dinner for everyone that you care about and asked how their lives are going? It doesn’t happen enough. I remember homeless people coming around my grandmother’s grocery store. It didn’t matter what day or time it was. No one was ever turned away. She offered them a meal and told them to take whatever groceries they needed and to pay her when they could. My father used to say if he had a dime for every dollar they owed her he’d be a millionaire. I remember sitting down next to a few homeless men on a Sunday. I didn’t care. I wasn’t brought up to judge people like that. They were hungry, kind, and my grandmother wanted to make sure they had a hot meal. It was pretty simple to under- stand. The part that I despised the most was having to go out to her garden and pick the vegetables that she would cook with. She would always say, “Pasquale, go pick me three eggplants and some tomatoes.” The problem that I had was that grandma had 400 pounds of chicken manure placed all around the garden. They were the most incredible, sweetest vegetables in the world but the garden smelled really bad. Life is a trade off with things like that. I could have a great meal, but I had to deal with all of the elements that went into achieving it. As I got older, I realized that sometimes the tastiest things in life don’t smell so good at first. When my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, my father, his brother and his sister decided that she couldn’t keep running the store. Her energy was gone and she wasn’t getting better with time. She passed away soon after. I’ll never forget waking up from a nap and telling my father that grandma said goodbye to me. I fell asleep in the afternoon and had a dream that she waved goodbye and kissed me on the cheek. After an hour, the doctor phoned my father to tell him that she didn’t have long to live. She passed a couple of hours later. I didn’t feel bad because she lived the life she always wanted. Grandmas are the best. Family is the most important thing in the world. At least that’s what my mother and father taught me. Siblings and all others in your circle can be a royal pain but you never turn your back on them. Sure, you’ll have some serious ups and downs, but somewhere, sometime, down the road, you’ll laugh about them together as you sit down to a hot meal or cider doughnuts and talk about what’s going on in your lives. You don’t need a million dollars to hang out together in a tree or pick vegetables for a meal with you cousins. Like the late comedian George Carlin once said, “The other night I ate at a really nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.” Clinic is important to our community nities. If we want to guarantee the clinic will always be here for us, we must help it transform it into a government sanctioned Community Health Center. On Dec. 22, a discount sliding fee scale schedule went into effect at the non-profit Girdwood Clinic. People with no insurance or high deductible insurance can now get free or more affordable care. The clinic’s board of directors has submitted an application to the state of Alaska for a budget appropriation sponsored by Sen. Cathy Giessel. If we receive funding from the state, a telemedicine cart will be installed in Hope making our clinician here in Girdwood accessible to their community as well, and it will fund expanded hours. Please write a comment on Rep. Mike Hawker’s 2012 Constituent survey and ask for his support. Letters to the Editor Turnagain Arm Health Center should give building to clinic To the Editor: Turnagain Arm Health Clinic is “dedicated to promoting health and wellness…” TAHC owns a building; Girdwood Health Clinic needs a building to operate. Obviously, the clinic needs the building to continue its valuable service to our community. TAHC should promote health by giving the building to GHC. TAHC states it is dedicated to promoting health; why then are they involved with property management? TAHC continues to be very evasive about their plans for the building, ignoring questions and postponing answers. Is it a possibility that a personal agenda may be driving whatever decision they reach? Barbara Bowers Girdwood To the Editor: Have you ever been out of your mind in excruciating pain? Until I was hurt in an accident, I never fully appreciated having a clinic close to home. Receiving medication to make the pain go away was a huge relief! A sustainable health clinic in Girdwood is important to the Turnagain Arm Commu- In Memory BRENT WILCOX Sep. 25, 1956 ~ Feb. 20, 2012 Brent G. Wilcox, 55, died unexpectedly in Girdwood, Alaska on Monday, February 20, 2012. He moved to Alaska and started working at Alyeska Resort in July 2001 as a doorman. He was quickly tapped to be a reservationist where he moved up the ranks over the years. Brent was promoted to Revenue Manager in the fall of 2009 where he has been a critical part of the hotel’s pricing and forecasting team. Adept with technology platforms and complex hospitality booking systems, Brent worked handin-hand with a variety of hotel departments in establishing sound practices and policies for hotel rates, package and overall guest service. “Conscientious and dedicated, Brent was one of the resort’s hardest workers,” said Mark Weakland, general manager of The Hotel Alyeska. “He never stopped learning, always taking on new challenges as they presented themselves. Brent will be greatly missed.” During his tenure at the resort, Brent was recognized multiple times by the Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association’s annual Stars of the Industry program and received numerous employee of Jacky Graham Girdwood the quarter nominations by his supervisors. Brent was born in Pasadena, California and grew up in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He attended La Jolla Country Day School, The Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut and graduated with honors from the film school at UCLA. He loved to write and he loved music but most of all he loved sharing his special perspectives and special musical selections on public radio. Brent’s passion for public radio led to over 30 years on air and fans worldwide. His first show was in Los Angeles on KCRW 89.9 FM with his show FRGK (Funny Rock God Knows), then moving to Cambria, California, he took his fans to “Dreamland” in San Luis Obispo. For the last 11 years, Brent shared his love for world music, progressive and alternative rock, avant-garde, and experimental music with his extended family at Girdwood’s independent radio station KEUL 88.9 FM. His radio show “Smoke and Mirrors” aired every Sunday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. He was also the station’s Jazz music director. Locals always knew they could find Brent around town enjoying a good meal and a science fiction book. Brent is survived by his mother, Jane, and siblings Sarah, Rick, Ron and Dean. Page 4 Turnagain Times March 1, 2012 Hope Happenings By Shyla Malone Turnagain Times Hope Correspondent These snowy days, when the wood smoke hovers above the tree line, the log cabins nestled into their woodland settings and the mountains playing peek-a-boo behind the clouds, remind me of how lucky I am to live in a place with such rustic beauty. Living in this woodland paradise comes with hazards as well, with all this snow, the moose have moved down to graze, roaming our yards and roads. Many have calves, so be careful and keep an eye on your animals if they go outside; there have been reports of a few of the moose charging a couple people and injuring a few pets. Otherwise, I see a lot of people getting out and enjoying the last few beautiful days of winter we have left, whether they’re taking a stroll or going for a snowmachine jaunt. In the next couple of weeks, the snow will start to melt away, the air will get warmer, and winter will slip into spring. School News The middle school class on healthy snacks is going great, they learn how to make healthy nutritious snacks for themselves. They also provide the snacks for the students and parents that attend the snowboarding lessons at Alyeska, as well as the students who remain at the school. The K-3 classes are learning about plays and will be performing a rendition of the Lion and the Mouse sometime in March (the date was unknown as of this writing). There are only four more lessons of snowboarding left. The students are sure going to miss this, as it is one of their favorite school activities. Hope school has picked out a Physical Education specialist. Charlie Stephens from Soldotna will come to our school and help out in the P.E class and program. He starts on Monday and will come once a month until the end of the school year. Grades K-7 will start a Jump Rope for Heart P.E program on Monday as well. This program will teach them basic jump rope skills and possibly a few tricks. It also promotes a fun way to keep your heart healthy. Congratulations to Shane Cork for getting his driver’s permit. Ameri-Corps There is an exercise class for seniors at 10 a.m. on Saturdays. This class is doing really well from what I hear and is super fun, so if you’re interested, stop by or call Lisa Simono at 301-2499. Lisa Simono has been spring cleaning the recycling shed located at the Discovery Café. Just a little reminder, if you have any plastic bottles with the numbers 1 and 2 on them, please bring them to the recycle shed. Also crushed aluminum cans, the Parent, Teacher, Student, and Community Association gets 30 cents a pound for all donated aluminum cans. If you wish to recycle yourselves that’s fine as well, by promoting recycling, the hope is to lessen the impact these items have on our landfills. Mrs. T and Hope students will be handing out aluminum can crushers after school to those people who signed up with Lisa for one. If you would like one and didn’t sign up, call Lisa Simono at 3012499. Library News The library book club has chosen the mystery book “Dark Mirror” written by Barry Maitland as their book for March. They will meet on March 24 at 3 p.m. If you’re interested in the book club, call the Hope Library at 7823121. The library is in the process of giving away all their VCR tapes for free. They want to get rid of them before the end of March to make room for new DVDs. If no one comes to claim them, they will go to the dump. Permanent Fund Dividend applications are located at the library, if you are in need of one, stop by the and one of the superb volunteers can help you out. The library is open everyday from noon to 3 p.m., depending on volunteer schedules. A list of volunteers and their schedules is posted on the library’s front door and on the bulletin board of the post office. There is also a wide new selection of DVDs and books for you to peruse through. Church News Church is every Sunday at 3 p.m. The food bank is on Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m., and Bible study is at 3 p.m. on Thursdays. This Sunday, Feb. 19, there will be a church potluck held immediately after church services. Other News Hope EMS department has seven new Emergency Trauma Technicians: Maura O’Connell, Eric Johnson, Lisa Simono, Joyce Burgin, Tom Burgin, Alex Ipalook, and Herbie (who works for Nova). Congratulations to you all, and thank you for volunteering. Tito’s Discovery Café will be open from March 1 to April 20. Poem of the Month Glittering yellow nuggets, Oh so hard to find Loony you’ve driven most Despite their golden dreams. – Shyla Malone State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Mining, Land and Water Realty Services Section 550 West 7th Avenue Suite 1050 A Anchorage, AK 99501-3759 ADL 231275 Proposed Partial Reconveyance Federal Mining Claims AA-56277, AA-56278, AA-56282 and AA-56283 The Division of Mining Land and Water has made a preliminary decision under AS 38.05.035(e) and (b)(9) to reconvey to the United States of America approximately 40 acres of erroneously conveyed State land, located within the S½ of Section 34, Township 11 North, Range 2 East, Seward Meridian, Alaska. The reconveyance consists of those portions of four federal mining claims located within the S½ of Section 34, located roughly four miles north of Girdwood. The public is invited to comment on this preliminary decision. A copy of the Preliminary Decision is available from the address above or by contacting Diane Sam at (907)334-2550 or by email at [email protected]. Comments must be in writing and received at the above physical address, email address or fax number (907-269-8509) before 4:30 p.m., on April 2, 2012, in order to be considered. Be sure to reference ADL 231275 in your comments. Following the comment deadline, all written responses will be considered and this decision may be modified to incorporate public comments. Only persons who comment during the public comment period will be eligible to file an administrative appeal of the Final Finding and Decision. A copy of the Final Finding and Decision will be sent to any person who comments on the Preliminary Decision. The final decision will include appeal instructions. The Department of Natural Resources, complies with Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services or special modifications to participate should contact the TTY number 907-269-8411 or the address above. The Division reserves the right to waive technical defects in this notice. /s/ Jerri Sansone, Chief, Realty Services Section • Published: March 1, 2012 March 1, 2012 Turnagain Times Page 5 Cooper Landing News By Susanna LaRock Turnagain Times Cooper Landing Correspondent Local Fisherman Takes Plunge into Icy River Saturday, Feb. 25, was a beautiful day to go fishing on the Kenai River. The sun was shining it was a balmy 9 degrees and the water was beautiful. Local fly fishing enthusiasts, Fly Bob and Gary Brown were out enjoying what nature had to offer when Fly Bob stepped on to some thin ice on the river and fell through. Gary Brown witnessed him fall and immediately called 911. Local volunteer fireman, Andrew Brown heard the call on the radio at about 10:40 a.m. and was the first to respond. State Troopers responded and got to the scene of the accident quickly as well. Jonathan Osowiecki, volunteer fireman, drove the fire truck with strong ropes and a sled gurney to the scene of the accident. The two troopers and two volunteer firemen worked to get Fly Bob out of the water as quickly as possible. They tied a loop at the end of a rope and had Fly Bob put his head and one arm through. They pulled him through 15 feet of ice before they finally got him on top of some ice that would hold him and got him onto the sled gurney, so they could pull him to the ambulance and emergency crew standing by with equipment to help Fly Bob after his cold water emersion. Fly Bob spent nearly 20 minutes in the icy waters of the Kenai River and had to be Life Flighted out after his very scary ordeal. 1st Annual Snowshoe Softball Extravaganza Huge Success Saturday afternoon Feb. 25, many Cooper Landing residents gathered at the Community Hall and ball field for the 1st Annual Snow Shoe Softball Extravaganza. The event was the idea of local, Charlotte Curry and local BIRCH AmeriCorps member, Kristen Troxclair Fuller helped to plan it. Funds were raised for the Cooper Landing Fire Department in the form of donations from participants and spectators. Over 90 residents and friends got out for this fun event. There was a snow shoe softball game, with costumes encouraged, ice skating for the kids, with an ice skating rink provided by the Cooper Landing Volunteer Fire Department, ice bowling, and a pot luck. There was also a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses and artists, and there was a trophy for the winning team made by Rabbit, and prizes given for best costumes. The participants signed up before the game and were put on the red team or the yellow team. The red team was the victors in the end and the winners of the trophy. Sean Norris won first place in the costume contest with his golfer costume complete with clubs, a nod to the previous issue of Turnagain Times in which the event was mistakenly called 1st Annual Snowshoe Golf Ball Extravaganza. Many volunteers worked to make this event possible, including RAVEN AmeriCorps member Krissy Route, and Volunteer Firemen, Dan Michels, Dan Osborne, Carl Allendorf, and Andrew Brown. Carl Allendorf spoke before the game and explained that the Cooper Landing Volunteer Fire Department would be applying for a grant through Alaska State Division of Forestry. The Grant is a 10 percent cost shared grant through Rural Volunteer Fire Assistance. The goal was to raise $1,000 through donations from the community and use the money from the grant and donations for much needed equipment. At the end of the day the Snowshoe Softball Extravaganza raised $706. An anonymous donor made up the difference and the $1,000 goal has been reached. Fun was had by all who attended and the community will look forward to this becoming a yearly tradition. Training Opportunities for Those Wanting to Volunteer for Cooper Landing Emergency Services 6:30, and 7:30 p.m. Please call the Cooper Landing School 595-1244 to make reservations for this delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner, served by Cooper Landing School students. Get out enjoy a great meal and a Cooper Landing tradition, and show your support for Cooper Landing School. March 10 Ski Event at Russian River Trauma Campground Trails An Emergency Training Class will be offered in Moose Pass March 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11. An EMT 1 Bridge Class will be offered through Moose pass Fire/EMS Department March 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, and 31; April 1, 6, 7, 8 and 14. Both of these classes are great training opportunities for anyone interested in volunteering for Cooper Landing Emergency Services or Fire Department. Please call Cheryle James for more information. St. Patrick’s Day Dinner March 7 There will be a fun ski event March 10 at the Russian River Campground ski trails starting at 2 p.m. Depending upon conditions, there will be skijoring, classical, and skate ski friendly competitions, with special recognition for those participating in all three events. There will be a bonfire cook out and all are encouraged to bring snacks and beverages to share. This event will be a fundraiser to support groomed ski trails. Ski Cooper Landing pins made popular by Shelby will be available for purchase, they are a limited edition item. Sackett’s Roadhouse will have specials available that evening for participants in the event. Get out March 10 show you support for the folks who work so hard to bring Cooper Landing groomed ski trails, and enjoy the beauty of skiing Cooper Landing. Free Specialty Clinic at Senior Housing Raven’s View Commons Peninsula Community Health Services, in conjunction with Cooper Landing Health Clinic, is offering a free specialty Clinic March 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Senior Housing Raven’s View Commons. There will be free skin cancer screenings. If a biopsy is needed the cost will be the responsibility of the patient. The fee will be eligible for a sliding discount or billed to insurance. Patients should bring insurance cards. There will also be free fall risk assessments available. The Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Fundraiser has had a change of date. The dinner will be held at The Sunrise Inn on Wednesday, March 7. There are seatings available at 5:30, Double Musky Inn Cajun Cuisine Girdwood, Alaska Since 1962 “Laissez les bon temps rouler!” Closed Mondays Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday .................. 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday ........................ 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Page 6 Turnagain Times March 1, 2012 Out of the Town: Anchorage Bowl Arts & Entertainment By Robin Rosemond Special to the Turnagain Times Fat Tuesday has come and gone in New Orleans. The Crescent City has quieted down and only two people were shot. I haven’t walked so much in ages. That’s what you do in New Orleans. You walk. You can also ride your bike, which is a practical and pleasant way to travel here. There are no hills and the bicyclist is treated with respect, unlike Alaska where you can get run over by a truck at any moment. New Orleans has a way that is slow and easy. It gets under your skin and you feel apart of something wonderful. Don’t get me wrong, I miss the ice and snow and I miss Fur Rondy! You can still participate in all the local madness of Rondy through March 6. March 3, The Jack River Kings are playing at The Tap Root. This great local band is comprised of some of the best rock and country musicians Anchorage has to offer. Its members obviously enjoy playing music together, and the result is a blend of country and power rock. They will rock the Tap Root and the great thing is there’s room to dance! So order some wings and a beer and indulge in the great melodies of this feel good band. Tap Root, 3300 Spenard Road. For more information call: 345-0282. Lamb Of God is plying the Egan Center March 9.The bands title Lamb of God (in Latin Agnus Dei) appears in the Gospel of John, with the exclamation of John The Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” in John 1:39 when he sees Jesus. Although in Christian teachings, Lamb of God refers to Jesus Christ in his role of the perfect sacrificial offering, specific Christological arguments disassociate it from the Old Testament concept of a “scape goat” which is subjected to punishment for the sins of others, without knowing it or willing it. These teachings emphasize that Jesus chose to suffer at Calvary as a sign of his full obedience to the will of his Father, as an “agent and servant of God”. The Lamb of God title has found widespread use in Christian prayers and as a form of contemplative prayer. Agnus Dei has also been the subject of musical settings by well known composers. It’s fitting that Lamb of God, the heavy metal band that’s coming to the Egan center March 9 is arriving in early spring to rock the house! Family Tree and UP Concerts are bringing Lamb of Robin Rosemond/Turnagain Times Nothing says heaven like ribeye steaks at Leatha’s in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. God to Alaska for one show only. Decepticide, Kallahan, Chased Through The Woods, and Dire are the opening acts. This is an all ages show. Full bar will be available with proper ID. Tickets are $40 advance, $45 day of show. The Egan Center 555 W 5th Avenue. For information call (800)-745-3000. The SpiN Electronic Music Festival is coming March 10 to the Egan Center. This promises to be a journey into a fresh dimension of Light, Sound, and Themed Stage Design. SPiN, Alaska’s Electronic Music Festival marks the beginning of Alaska’s entry into world festival scene. This should not to be missed. With headline acts including Matt Darey, StoneBridge, Matt Aubrey, and Holevar this festival is likely to sell out; so buy your tickets in advance! For more information call: 469-271-1412 Illusionist Magician Eric Giliam brings his magic to the Discovery Theatre stage March 11 for two performances. Top Shelf Entertainment is proud to introduce local boy Eric Giliam, Alaska’s finest professional ma- eberle gician and illusionist. This show is certain to be Eric’s finest to date with the debut of several grand illusions sure to leave the audience in awe. The all-ages show will demonstrate to the audience that not everything seen on stage can be explained. Tickets are available at CenterTix.net or 263-ARTS. Traveling north through Mississippi on Fat Tuesday, we searched for a good BBQ spot and found Leatha’s for a late lunch. On the road to Birmingham, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi Leatha’s BBQ has a well-deserved four stars on the internet. It’s a laid back, family owned restaurant with humble appeal. They were out of beef ribs, so we ordered ribeye steaks, cole slaw, fried potatoes, potato salad and baked beans. Deliciousness. I will go back. There’s a photo of Leatha’s family hanging on the wall of the historic restaurant. Leatha’s BBQ: 6374 US Highway 98 Hattiesburg, Mississippi. For information call (601) 271-6003. Write to me: rosebud61155@ mac.com or check out my blog: www.rosemondpost.com. EYECARE South Anchorage Providing Family Eyecare for Turnagain Arm and South Anchorage Comprehensive eye exams, contacts, glasses and vision therapy in a state of the art facility Located on the corner of Old Seward and O’Malley across from Lowe’s Now accepting new patients “Life is worth seeing” Tel. 344-3700 1 0 9 9 8 O’M a lle y C e nt r e D r iv e , A nc hor a ge A K 9 9 5 1 5 March 1, 2012 Turnagain Times Page 7 Moose Passings Willow Hetrick Turnagain Times Moose Pass Correspondent Sportsmen’s Club Annnual Meeting The Moose Pass Sportsmen’s Club held its annual meeting on Jan. 25 at the Community Hall. The club elected officers for 2012. Jan Odhner replaced Mark Kromrey, who graciously served as President for three years. Bobbie Jo Kolodzieski replaced Judy Odhner, who served as Vice President for five years. Dawn Campbell and Ben Ikerd agreed to serve additional terms as Secretary and Treasurer respectively. The audience acknowledged their appreciation for those who have dedicated so much of their time to the community. The meeting’s agenda also included presentations from community organizations. Phil Ingersol, Fire Captain with the Moose Pass Volunteer Fire Company, discussed accomplishments and goals for that group. Jill Buttrey, librarian for the Moose Pass Library, discussed the library issues. One of the topics postponed was a meeting to discuss the building security and access to portions of the building with keys and locks. Jeff Hetrick gave a short presentation on the Moose Pass Advisory Planning Commission. The Club also canvassed the attendees and membership (some absent) to agree to various committee assignments for the Annual Solstice festival, June 23-24, 2012. The minutes from the meeting will be available at the next meeting. Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Report Our Valentine’s Day meeting began with a joint budget work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration and several school board members. The administration presented their preliminary 2012-2013 budget. The intent is to maintain current programs, and to accomplish this they are requesting approximately $1.25 million above the current local support, in addition to the use about $2.5 million of their fund balance. It is uncertain that there will be any increase in state funding, and also the negotiations with employee groups makes this a very preliminary estimate. At our regular meeting we heard a presentation from Dan Bevington, the KPB Floodplain Administrator, on the status of floodplain management and KPB Chapter 21.06 implementation. Much of the 2011 overview involved actions taken in the Seward-Bear Creek Flood Service Area. We had four ordinances up for public hearing, and passed all four by unanimous consent. These included approving the KPB energy policy guide, appropriating $240,000 from the interest gained from the Spruce Bark Beetle fund to fund the program through June, and appropriating funds from the Central Peninsula Hospital plant replacement and expansion fund for renovating the hospital’s imaging department. Of local interest, Ordinance 2011-42 authorized a land exchange of 0.56 acres in Seward between the borough and the City of Seward. The details of the Seward utility’s use of the property and the improvements on the land acquired by the Borough on the Seward school property remain to be detailed by the City Council and the School District. We passed seven resolutions on the consent agenda. One supported Chugach Electric’s application for State assistance on improvement to the Hope/ Sunrise power distribution line system, stemming from the outages this winter, sponsored by the Mayor. Two ordinances were moved on for public hearing on February 28. Ordinance 2011-19-71 would appropriate $35,000 to pay for outside counsel to defend against a lawsuit brought by the Kahtnu Ventures group that was proposing the ambulatory surgical center in Kenai. The other appropriates funds from the State through SB 84 to provide vocational and technical instruction to grades 9-12. Seward will receive $179,898 for an addition to the Seward High School shop from this appropriation. Ordinances moved to public hearing at our 3-13 meeting, include Ordinance 2011-19-70 which would appropriate $200,000 to hire consultants to determine the course of action to pursue regarding curtailing health care costs. Ordinance 2011-1972 would appropriate $4.7 million to construct a radiation oncology facility at CPH, although discussions with a private group, which is proposing a center adjacent to the hospital, may negate this. We also have an ordinance appropriating funds to purchase new sales tax software. Our next meeting will be February 28th. As always, I can be reached at 224-6784, or [email protected]. ak.us, and the information on all meetings is available atwww.borough.kenai.ak.us. The Seward Annex office is also available for information. Forest Service Trails Updates By Irene Lindquist Many phone calls from folks concerned with venturing out after reading the Chugach National Forest Avalanche updates. Awesome, thanks for checking on conditions. But also have had folks needlessly cancel trips to cabins on Seward Ranger District winter used trails in areas safe from avalanches. For more detailed information please call the following people in the categories listed: Avalalanche specific information on Seward Ranger District, primarily for Summit Lake area call Alex Mclain at 288-7710, cabins call Pat Cook at 2887711, winter used trails/area/ cabins call Mike Fitzpatrick at 288-7714, Pat O’Leary at 288-7702, Irene Lindquist at 288-7748 and John Eavis at 288-7701. Snowpack has settled with the warm temps this past week, freezing at night will help make travel a little easier, though, off trail travel by snowmobile is still a chore. More areas of overflow beneath snow to watch out for, and ice/snow bridges that have collapsed making travel up creek and river bottoms a bit more difficult and challenging. So where’s the good news? Travel with classic skis or snowshoes through the woods are very good due to the ever-increasing snowpack. Lots of good exploring, especially when you can’t find the trail because of all the snow. Exit Glacier Road to the glacier is packed and in great condition, possible to skate ski, though grooves make it more challenging. Check out Seward Nordic Ski Club and Cooper Landing Grooming Report websites for latest groomed trails. ANCHOR INN For reservations call 1-877-870-8787 Vacation Condos for rent • Hotel Accommodations Affordable Rates • Satellite TV • FREE Parking Phone in Room • Full Service Restaurant • Laundromat Cocktail Lounge • Grocery Store • Gifts & Souvenirs Free Shuttle Service Call for details Why stay elsewhere when the Anchor Inn offers inexpensive, attractive lodging, close to Girdwood, by beautiful Prince William Sound! Phone: 472-2354 Fax: 472-2394 P.O. Box 750 • Whittier, AK 99693 email: [email protected] ' "!%!! " "$" !!! "! ( !%&/&!$' 1((!/((%" % %# 1((!/((%!"%!% !! " "!!& .0,,-*-( .0,,-*-,00+..*%"#" ( --1*!!&&!(+** & 22/*- Page 8 Turnagain Times March 1, 2012 Mountain News By Amy Quesenberry Special to the Turnagain Times Lucero at the Sitzmark Lucero returns for three nights this weekend, March 1, 2 and 3. The punk/alt-country band will play whiskey-soaked tracks from their eighth album, Women & Work, scheduled to be released on March 13. Integrating horns, pedal steel guitar, keyboards and even a full-on gospel chorus, Women & Work is a fully realized Memphis country-soul record. The Saturday night of Lucero is part of Odom Southern Wine and Spirit’s theme night presented by Jameson Irish whiskey and Pabst Blue Ribbon. Participants dressed in southern rock costumes will be eligible to win prizes. Show starts at 10 p.m., 21 and over. Tickets are available online, at the Sitzmark and Ticket Offices, or by calling 754-2275. $20 advanced, $25 day of show. Beer Dinner Alyeska and Denali Brewing Company are hosting a beer dinner on Sunday, March 4 at the Sitzmark Bar & Grill. A special three-course menu designed by Chef Jason Porter will feature Halibut Sliders paired with Agave Gold, Beer Cheese Soup paired with Single Engine Red, and Braised Short Ribs paired with Matt Porter. Dinner will be served between 5 and 8 p.m. and the cost is $39 per person. An optional Chuli Stout Ice Cream Float can be added for $5. A representative from Denali Brewing Co. will be on hand to answer questions and share stories about the brewery. Military Monday Alyeska thanks the Armed Forces with a day of free lift tickets on Monday, March 5. Military members also get 50 percent off gear rentals (excludes demo) and lunch specials at Glacier Express and Sitzmark. Special room rates are also available. Offer valid for immediate family members with military ID. Jared Woods will perform après ski music at the Sitzmark from 3 to 7 p.m. “Get Out” Sale If your ski and snowboard gear has seen better days, it might be time to forgo the duct tape and update your look. During the month of March at Alyeska Mountain Shop and Max’s Sport Shop you can save 20 percent off on outerwear and up to 30 percent with purchase of jacket and pants together. Save 20 percent off skis and snowboards and up to 30 percent a full system purchase that includes bindings. Featured brands rotate weekly throughout March and include Salomon, Burton, Bonfire and 686. Look for additional savings at Glacier Gift & Gallery and Sundry Shop. Pipeline Masters The Third Annual Pipeline Masters Super Pipe Comp will take place on Saturday, March 10 at 5 p.m. The event is open to skiers and snowboarders ages 13 to 17 and 18 and up. Prizes provided by Zaks Boardroom and Alyeska Mountain Shop. Register at the Ticket Office until 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Entry $25. Helmets required. Call 754-2275 for more information. Absolut Trivia Join Dana and Jen every Wednesday at the Sitzmark for Absolut Trivia Night in March and April. Teams of up to six people can compete in this epic battle of wits. All players will be entered in a raffle to win a private snowcat for twelve, and additional raffle tickets will be awarded to those who purchase Absolut cocktails. Games begin at 8 p.m. McNally & Hot Sauce Shannon McNally and Hot Sauce will play three nights at the Sitzmark on March 8, 9 and 10. Shannon McNally is an alt-country singer-songwriter with a sultry, mellow CONTINENTALAUTOGROUP.com OVERFLOW voice. Her band is called Hot Sauce. Show starts at 10 p.m., 21 and over. Tickets are available online, at the Sitz and Ticket Offices, or by calling 754-2275. $10 advanced, $15 day of show with two-for-one tickets on Thursday night. Potcheen on St. Patty’s Ultimate party band from Colorado Potcheen will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Sitzmark for three nights on March 15 to 17. The band plays Irish pub standards with flavors of bluegrass, zydeco, punk, jam, blues & rock all rolled up in a pirate sensibility. The Saturday night of Potcheen is part of Odom Wine and Spirit’s theme night presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey and Guinness Stout. Dress in green and win prizes. Show starts at 10 p.m., 21 and over. Tickets are available online, at the Sitz and Ticket Offices, or by calling 754-2275. $10 advanced, $15 day of show with two-for-one tickets on Thursday night. Alyeska Chugach Open The 2012 Chugach Open will showcase Alyeska’s challenging double black diamond terrain with select venues typically not open to the general public, testing even the most experienced freeriders. The three day competition is scheduled for March 22 to 25. New this year! Top men and women ski and snowboard finishers will be entered in the World Heli Challenge Alaska in Valdez. Open to all disciples, divisions for 18 and older and juniors (ages 13 to 17). To register for the Chugach Open go to www.alyeskaresort.com/ chugachopenregistration. Seven Glaciers Expands Dinner Schedule !$ ! " ! ! ! # ! *' )%&( Ad Advertised prices p aree valid thruu March M 31, 31 2012. Stock S numb nu mbberrs list m listed edd are r subject ct to previous revious ou sale. Ph Photo mayy vary v from actual actua vehicle. eh e.. D eh Deale eale aaleer-in r sta stal alled led le ed ed accessories i andd DMV fees additional. dditi l DOC fees f included. i l d d MSRP may not ot reflflect ect regional selling reg elli price. pricee. All prices es after manufacturer an er rebates and an incenntiv ntitives, tiv tive ives finnanc ncingg nc rate iss offered o with wit $0-down, ow O.A.C. C. Subject S to vehicle insurance in e, aavailabillity e, ity. y In addition to lunch and dinner on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Seven Glaciers will now be serving dinner starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday evenings. The last day of service for the 2011/12 ski season will be Sunday, April 22.Seven Glaciers will resume summer hours on May 25 and will be open daily for dinner at 5 p.m. through early October. The popular Seven Glaciers Wine Dinner series offer guests a custom chef’s tasting menu paired with a featured winery. The dinner on March 25 will feature Duckhorn from Napa Valley. Dinner will start at 7 p.m. and seatings are $165 per person. For restaurant reservations call 754-2237 or go online at OpenTable.com. J Mascis+The Fog J Mascis is founder of altrock band Dinosaur Jr. and creator of some of the modern rock era’s most signature chops. Do not miss J and his band The Fog for two nights on March 30 and 31 in the Daylodge. Doors open at 7 p.m. and Eric McFadden takes the stage at 8 p.m. Eric McFadden will also perform at the afterparty at the Sitzmark following the Daylodge show for $5. Tickets cost $20 advanced and $25 day of show. 21 & over only, please. Northface Vertical Challenge Results This year’s Northface Vertical Challenge was held Feb. 24. The women’s and men’s Alpine winners were: Danielle Shannon, 42 laps and John Love, 47 laps. Justin Grebe was the Snowboard winner with 42 laps and Gavin Ramsey was the Telemark winner with 41 laps. Visit www.turnagaintimes.com for complete results. March 1, 2012 Turnagain Times Page 9 TROOPER REPORT The Alaska State Troopers reported the following incidents. Any charges reported are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Motor Vehicle Collision MILE 96.8 SEWARD HWY—Feb. 13 at approximately 2:46 p.m., Troopers arrived at a single vehicle crash near mile 96.8 of the Seward Highway. An investigation revealed Scottie Lackie, age 17 of Anchorage, was traveling North in a green Ford Escape. Lackie lost control of the vehicle on slush-covered roads, slid off the highway, and struck a sign. Lackie reported wearing his safety belt and received no injuries. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000. Alcohol was not a factor. Motor Vehicle Crash, Damage GIRDWOOD—Feb. 13 at 3:47 p.m., Troopers responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicle at the intersection of the Alyeska Highway and Alyeska View in Girdwood. This crash was reported as a damage only crash. The crash investigation revealed Matthew Edward Malecha, age 17 of Girdwood, was operating a late ‘90s pickup truck traveling southbound on Alyeska View. Valerie Anne Delaune, age 52 of Homer, was operating a late ‘80’s station wagon type vehicle traveling westbound on the Alyeska Highway. Malecha failed to stop for a posted stop on Alyeska View at the Alyeska Highway. Delaune was not able to stop or avoid a collision with Malecha’s vehicle. Delaune’s vehicle clipped the back end of Malecha’s vehicle. Malecha’s vehicle sustained minor damage. Delaune’s vehicle sustained more than $500 damage. Both vehicles were drivable. Both drivers were using seat belts, and there were no injuries. Driving While License Revoked, DUI Felony MILE 97 SEWARD HWY—Feb. 13 at 2:40 p.m., Troopers responded to 97 mile of the Seward Highway for a report of a vehicle that had driven off the highway and was stuck in a snowberm. Troopers arrived and contacted Fotinia Kuznetsoff, age 41 of Willow, the driver of the vehicle. The subsequent investigation revealed that Kuznetsoff had been driving her vehicle while her license was revoked for 2 prior DUI convictions. Kuznetsoff was arrested for Driving While Licensed Revoked. Kuznetsoff was transported to the Girdwood Trooper post where she was found to be impaired by alcohol. Kuznetsoff was subsequently charged with felony DUI and remanded to the Anchorage Jail. Bail was set at $12, 500. own recognizance with a future court date. Motor Vehicle Collision Motor Vehicle Collision MILE 70 SEWARD HWY—Feb. 13 at around 4:58 p.m., Troopers were providing traffic control for a 2007 black semi pulling doubles stuck in the southbound lane near mile 70 of the Seward Highway. Michael M. Benedicto, age 33 of Anchorage, was driving a green 1995 Chevrolet SUV traveling northbound. Benedicto lost control of his vehicle after seeing the semi stuck on the highway. Benedicto was unable to regain control of his vehicle and struck the semi. The semi was operated by Robert J. Phillips, age 61 of Wasilla. Both drivers reported having no injuries. Benedicto was wearing his seatbelt. Phillips was not wearing his seatbelt because he had just got into the vehicle before the collision. Both vehicles sustained over $2,500 in damages. INDIAN—Feb. 22 at 6:48 p.m., Troopers responded to a single vehicle rollover at mile 106 of the Seward Highway. Troopers contacted Natalie Hamilton, age 25 of Hope. Hamilton was northbound on the Seward Highway when she lost control of her vehicle and drove off the side of the road. Hamilton was uninjured and was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the collision. No improper driving was detected and Hamilton was released from the scene. Weather and road conditions were factors in the collision. DUI GIRDWOOD—Feb. 19 at about 12:30 a.m., Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a red Jeep SUV for an equipment violation at 0.5 mile of the Alyeska Highway in Girdwood. An investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle, Shaun A. Champion, age 34 of Girdwood, was driving while impaired by alcohol. Champion was arrested and transported to the Anchorage Jail. Bail was set at $500. Driving While License Revoked GIRDWOOD—Feb. 21 at about 7:20 p.m., Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a gray 2011 Ford SUV for a moving violation near mile 2.5 of the Alyeska Highway. The driver was identified as John M. Puffer, age 38 of Sugar Land, Texas. An investigation revealed Puffer was driving with a revoked driver’s license. Puffer was issued a Misdemeanor Citation for DWLR and a Minor Offense Citation for the moving violation. The vehicle was released to a licensed driver. Driving While License Revoked MILE 93 SEWARD HWY—Feb. 22 at around 3:13 p.m., Troopers contacted Regina Nieuwenhuis, age 24 of Anchorage, for a moving violation near mile 93 of the Seward Highway. A records check revealed Nieuwenhuis’ driver’s license was currently revoked. Nieuwenhuis was arrested and transported to the Girdwood Trooper post. Nieuwenhuis was charged with one count of DWLR and given Minor Offense Citations for the moving violations. Nieuwenhuis was released on her Motor Vehicle Collision INDIAN—Feb. 22 at 5:51 p.m., Troopers responded to a damage only, two-vehicle collision at mile 103 of the Seward Highway. Troopers contacted Breta Brown, age 38 of Nikiski and Sze Pang, age 35 of Anchorage. The two drivers were northbound on the Seward Highway when both vehicles collided. No injuries were reported and all occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. Road surface and weather conditions were factors in the collision. Motor Vehicle Collision MILE 98 SEWARD HWY—Feb. 24 at around noon, Troopers responded to a single vehicle rollover near mile 98 of the Seward Highway. An investigation revealed Joseph Yukiah Nichel, age 38 of Soldotana, was driving a 2006 Toyota Tacoma pickup northbound when he lost control of his vehicle, slid across the southbound lanes sideways and hit the snow embankment causing the truck to roll two times in the ditch. All occupants reported wearing seatbelts and received minor injuries. The motorists refused medical treatment. The vehicle was estimated at a total loss. Water Rescue COOPER LANDING— Feb. 25 at around 10:40 a.m., dispatch received a call of man in water on the river at the bridge in Cooper Landing. Bob Overman, 57 of Cooper Landing, was walking on the ice to get into position for flyfishing. He broke through the ice and went into the water. Overman was able cling to the ice while his fishing companion, who was on the other bank of the river, called for help. The witness stated that Overman had submerged at least once. First on scene was a member of the Cooper Landing Volunteer Fire and Rescue and an Alaska Wildlife Trooper. The two used a parachute cord tied to a backpack to throw out to Overman. After several attempts Overman was still in the water but approximately 10 feet close to shore. A second member of the Cooper Landing Volunteer Fire and Rescue arrived on scene. He was able to put together a makeshift lasso to throw out to Overman. Overman was able to get the lasso wrapped on his arm so he could be pulled out of the water and 25 yards closer to shore where the ice was thick enough to support his weight and the weight of the three rescuers. Overman was loaded onto a rescue sled and pulled to an ambulance waiting at a residence nearby. The ambulance transported Overman to an airstrip and LifeMed flew him to an Anchorage hospital. Overman had been in the water for approximately 18 minutes. Page 10 Turnagain Times March 1, 2012 NEWS BRIEFS ••• NEWS BRIEFS ••• NEW BRIEFS President Obama appoints Girdwood tour operator to National Advisory Board for U.S. Travel and Tourism Girdwood-based tour operator Kirk Hoessle, president of Alaska Wildland Adventures, was appointed by President Obama to the National Visitor Industry Advisory Board for U.S. Travel and Tourism. Hoessle was recommended by U.S. Sen. Mark Begich. “I learned about it in the last week of December and was formerly sworn in Jan. 19 down in Orlando, Florida,” he told the Turnagain Times. “I had been asked by Sen. Begich’s office, and told that they were submitting names to the Secretary of Commerce. I was one of the names being considered, but I didn’t know I’d be at the top of the list or anything. The Secretary of Commerce was interested in getting some of the smaller companies represented.” Alaska Wildland Adventures began operating in Girdwood in 1989. It has 12 yearround employees and 100 seasonal workers. They have a base operation in Cooper Landing where they offer rafting and fishing trips from a renovated historic hunting lodge in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Skilak Lake. Hoessle said the newest operation is a joint venture with the native village corporation of Port Graham in Aialik Bay outside of Seward west of Resurrection Bay. “That’s a 16 cabin totally wilderness lodge built on native lands,” Hoessle said, “and we worked really hard to limit our impact.” The mission of Alaska Wildland Adventures is low impact, small group tours led by naturalist guides to better understand and appreciate Alaska wilderness, he said, “and at the end of the day come back to a comfortable lodge and life’s amenities and do it again the next day.” As for his position on the advisory board, Hoessle said he’s been asked to represent the small business sectors he participates in and the region itself. “I’m a point man for Alaska tourism,” he said, “and I’ve been trying to take a broader Alaska perspective as well as a smaller business perspective.” The time involved on the board is not great, he said, with quarterly meetings, generally short meetings in between committee work and phone conferences. “It’s something I’ve looked at carefully and requires about 20 to 40 hours of work a quarter,” he said, “and we do a lot of reviewing of draft documents for the Secretary of Commerce. As for pay, there is none for the position, he said, and board members are obligated to pay their own travel expenses. “It’s strictly an all volunteer experience,” he said. “For me, I look at it as a continuing education, and you look at the roster of board members and there are CEOs of Visa and U.S. Airways, and other very large corporations, and restaurant owners, boat operators, visitors bureaus. It’s a very diverse group to learn a lot from and form initiatives that will benefit us here in Alaska.” Girdwood skier survives avalanche that kills three Former Girdwood resident Classified Advertising Up to 25 words for $20 • 25¢ each additional word Email: [email protected] Tel: 783-1135 • Fax: 907-783-1136 P.O. Box 1044, Girdwood, AK 99587 and pro freeskier Elyse Saugstad survived an avalanche that killed three in Stevens Pass ski area in Washington state around noon Sunday, Feb. 19. She was part of a group of 13 that were descending down a commonly used backcountry route outside of the boundaries of the ski area, reported ESPN.com. The three people killed were Freeskiing World Tour head judge Jim Jack, Stevens Pass Director of Marketing Chris Rudolph and skier John Brenan – all residents of Leaveworth, Wash. Saugstad, 33, who grew up skiing in Girdwood, credited an air bag device in her backpack that she deployed to saving her life. The avalanche carried her and the three deceased skiers about 2,0003,000 feet. Saugstad’s head and hands were all that could be seen above the snow when rescuers arrived about 10 minutes after the slide. All of the people in her group were experienced in backcountry skiing, and they all had avalanche rescue gear. Girdwood named one of the World’s Best Ski Towns by National Geographic WHITTIER CHRISTIAN CHURCH All church services are held in the basement of the Begich Towers Building. • Sunday Morning Service @ 11:00am • Tuesday Family Bible Study @ 6:30 pm (Childcare provided when requested) • Wednesday Children’s Bible Study @ 6:00 pm • Saturday Men’s Fellowship Group @ 7:00 pm • Self-Defense Club for ages 10 and up Friday @ 5:00-5:30 pm Sunday @ 4:00-4:30 pm The world has discovered Girdwood and Alyeska Resort. National Geographic last month listed it as one of the top 25 World’s Best Ski Towns. It was included as “Best For: Off-the-beatenpath powder hounds with an *Classes are $10 per week and a permission slip is required for every participant. For more information, please call Pastor Kevin Jones at 472-2483 Family First Dentistry The new home of the Girdwood Dental Center The Doctors, “T”, and the rest of our staff are here to welcome you in Dr. Joe’s absence. Thank you Girdwood for a great year! All classified ads must be paid in advance either by including payment when placing the ad or charging it to a VISA or MasterCard. Please mail, email or fax your order with payment. Girdwood Lots for Sale: Located on Tanner Circle. Beautiful mountain views in Alyeska basin. Call Tim at 907632-8467. Alaska Statewide Land Sale: The Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office is holding a competitive sale of parcels throughout Alaska. Lots are approximately 0.65 to 9.76 acres in size. For further information view the Trust Land Office’s website at www.mhtrustland.org or call (907) 2698422. Studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments for rent in Whittier Off-season rates: Studio $800, 1BR $1,000, 2BR $1,300 and 3BR $1,600. Utilities included. Call 472-2398. 40 miles south of Anchorage (and its international airport), life in this humble hamlet of 2,000 revolves around skiing and snowboarding.” Alyeska was also touted as a ski area where “crowds are nonexistent” and it was recommended that visitors come in March when there’s enough sunlight to ski for 12 hours a day. Time will tell how much of an impact the listing will have. We’ll see how the lift lines look in March and April, especially with the exceptional snowfall this year. aversion to glamour.” On the National Geographic website, Girdwood was described as “A former gold-mining town carved out of the forest at the foot of the famed Chugach Mountains, Girdwood has refashioned itself into Alaska’s premier ski town. Hippies and ski bums flocked here in the 1970s and a luxury hotel at the ski area’s base notwithstanding, its laid-back, frontier-style ambience remains intact. Many roads are unpaved and Carhartt clothing is a popular fashion choice. Situated about Ne Pat w & C ients hi We ldren lcom e Total Patient Care 4050 Lake Otis Parkway, Suite 210 Anchorage, AK 99508 www.familyfirstdentistry.com Ph: (907) 562-2820 Fax: (907) 562-6781 Call “T” for an appointment IV Sedation Implants Invisalign Teeth Whitening Smile Design Same Day Crowns Same Day Wisdom Teeth March 1, 2012 Turnagain Times Page 11 Cook Inlet Belugas: Overhunting by northern natives blamed for drastic decline in whal population Continued from page 1 The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) a division of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in charge of managing and protecting marine mammals, including Cook Inlet beluga whales, ever since the Marine Mammals Protection Act (MMPA) was adopted in 1972. Most authorities agree that the beluga population was at least 1,000 animals, probably about 1,300, when the MMPA became law, although Standifer believes there were a lot more than that. By the late 1980s the Cook Inlet beluga population was declining. Based on annual counts since the end of the 1990s, the current population is estimated to be 300 or less (284 belugas were counted in the 2011 survey), and the Cook Inlet beluga faces a very real threat of extinction. “We only took one or two whales a year, only what we needed to eat,” Standifer said. “When they (Alaska natives from the north) came here they took a lot of whales. The meat was sold by George’s meat market. I bought a piece there for $40 a pound. They made a lot of money selling beluga meat.” According to Standifer, a piece of beluga meat bought at the market was tested and found to match Cook Inlet beluga genetically. Standifer was adamant about who traditionally hunted belugas in Cook Inlet before the influx of hunters from the north. “We (Tyoneks) were the only ones hunting beluga in Cook Inlet.” Barbara Mahoney and Kim Shelden of the Protected Resources Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service reported in their research paper, “Harvest History of Belugas, Delphinapterus leucas in Cook Inlet,” that Alaska supports this was true, at least during the 20th century. The population of Tyonek is about 190 people. The hunting methods of the Tyonek, and the hunters from up north were different, according to Standifer. “We always harpooned them first, before we shot them, so we would not lose them when they sank,” he said. “The harpoon points were attached to bladders that would float and show where sunken whales were. They just shot them. Sometimes the whales sink very quickly after they are shot, so if they didn’t get to them fast enough, they sank and were lost. Sometimes they would shoot 50 whales, but only get 25.” NMFS bases much of its beluga mortality computations on the number of carcasses washed ashore. A NOAA Fisheries New Release dated Jan. 9, 2012, contained the following statement by Doug Demaster, Alaska Fisheries Science Center Director: “Only three dead belugas were reported this year, which indicates that large numbers of mortalities did not occur in 2011.” The science behind this statement is not spelled out. There are no studies cited that show the relationship between carcasses washed ashore and the number of whales that actually die. Dead whales that sink may float to the surface as gasses from decomposition increase their buoyancy. No studies of the frequency rate of this happening have been cited. The cause of death may be a factor. A carcass with numerous bullet holes might vent the gasses and remain on the bottom. It would appear that estimating the mortality from the number of carcasses washed ashore is an inexact science. Standifer does not believe the number of carcasses washed ashore is a reliable indicator of actual mortality. “There is a strong rip (tide) running down the middle of Cook Inlet,” he said. Randy Standifer, Frank’s son, who is vice president of Tyonek and is on the Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Commision agrees with Frank, a whale that went down in the rip would be carried out to sea, not washed up on shore. Another factor possibly contributing to the beluga decline is killer whale predation. The NMFS estimates that killer whales take about one whale per year on average. The Standifers feel it is probably higher than that. “Five or six years ago, we saw killer whales chase two belugas up onto shore near our fish camp on the North Forelands,” said Frank. “In recent years, the killer whales seem to be coming further up the inlet.” NMFS biologists have said that the primary means they have for estimating killer whale predation is sightings of killer whale attacks, usually by fishermen, and finding carcasses of beluga washed up on shore that show signs of being attacked by the whales. The percentage of killer whale attacks that result in remains that wash up on shore is unknown. Also unknown is the percentage of observed attacks that is actually reported. There is no data on what percentage of attacks is observed. “The killer whales often do not kill the belugas, they just bite off their flippers so they spiral down to the bottom,” said Randy. There is no data available Jim Magowan/Turnagain Times Frank Standifer, president of the native village of Tyonek along with his grandson Rocky (center) and son Randy (right). Frank and Randy are fighting to preserve traditional hunting of Cook Inlet beluga. on how often this happens and whether it is likely to result in a carcass being washed to shore or carried away in the rip. Poaching, a potential source of mortality, is virtually ignored in NOAA discussions of what is happening to the beluga population. Since poaching is illegal, it may be difficult to detect. Standifer thinks there is very likely some poaching going on because the meat can be sold for $40 to $50 per pound. How much, if any, poaching occurs, is currently a matter area of speculation. “Everything else has poaching, why not beluga?’ said Frank. Randy also commented on the tagging attempts by NMFS. “For a couple of years they went out and only tagged one or two because they didn’t know how to catch them. Then they called on us, and we went out and tagged a lot more.” Frank has another concern. “Part of our culture is being lost,” he said. “It has been so long since we have been able to hunt beluga, our children are losing the taste.” One of those children is his grandson, Rocky, who sat in on the interview. “Randy and I have hunted beluga, but Rocky never has,” said Frank, obviously distressed that his grandson was losing this element of his culture. “We think we (Tyoneks) should be allowed to take one beluga a year,” said Frank, “and this is what we are going to fight for.” NOAA feels differently. The current recovery plan provides that before a whale can be harvested, the population must average 350 for a fiveyear period. The first five-year period ends next year. Unless a whole lot of belugas suddenly show up in the count, the chance of the average hitting 350 is close to zero. Even if the population really rebounds in the next few years, the earliest a whale will be legally taken is 2018. If a harvest is allowed after the next five year period, how will that affect the Tyoneks? NMFS does not recognize individual native groups’ rights to a particular resource. If the beluga population averages 350 for a five-year period, who gets to harvest the one whale allowed? The 190 Tyoneks might be competing with every other Alaska Native who wants to hunt the whale. If there is a drawing, the 190 Tyonek applications could be in the bowl with 20,000 or more other applicants. The chances of a Tyonek getting the permit would be less than one in ten. Testimony found on the NMFS website by Joe Blatchford, a native Alaskan who Standifer says moved to this area from up north, includes statements that Blatchford wants to preserve his rights to hunt Cook Inlet belugas. In the eyes of the Tyonek, those rights were taken from them and given to every other Alaska Native, and the exercise of those rights is what led to the mass killing of the Cook Inlet belugas. Page 12 Turnagain Times March 1, 2012 DOT Orders Signs Moved Continued from page 1 removals. She is now in her third year on the job. “The state has an agreement with the federal government. There was an overwhelming vote against billboards. You can’t have any advertising off a business site advertising the business, no more than you could put your sign on a neighbor’s property; you can’t put it on the right of way.” Reese stressed that the DOT is not trying to be onerous in the process, and they want to work with businesses to make this a painless process. “We’re trying to be as lenient as possible,” she said, “but the impetus is on us to make some effort and that the court can see we’re going in the right direction. We are starting a program of removing signs from encroachments, and we’ve been able to do that in several communities. We’re not telling them that they have to take the signs down, just move them from the right of way.” However, for some businesses, moving signs back further is not an option because they’re too close to the buildings. Diamond Jim’s liquor store sign is one example. The historic sign is about 10 feet from the front door. It survived the 1964 earthquake when it was located in Portage. After the earthquake, it was moved to its current location in Indian. Whittier Clinic Continued from page 1 When they removed the sign from Portage and relocated it to Indian after the earthquake, the DOT told Marylou and her husband that as long as they moved it 50 feet back from the highway, it would be okay. “That’s why we’ve got it where it is,” she said. “It’s 50 feet from the middle of the highway. And that’s why we have it there.” But it appears the sign’s days of illuminating owner Marylou Redmond’s storefront are nearing its end. “Do you really think they’re going to take it down?” Marylou asked. “I don’t think they will, do you?” In the past, when the issue came up to remove her sign, Marylou said she would chain herself to the sign before she’d allow it to be taken down. When asked if she still maintains that position, she answered with quiet laughter, “I don’t know anymore, I just don’t know anymore.” It appears the uncertainty is over for these Indian and Bird businesses, and the fight in them is gone after nearly 8 years of battling the DOT. All that is left now is to comply. Or is it? “They said I have 30 days to respond,” said Marylou. “I’m going to send a letter to Don Young and Mike Hawker. I’m writing that letter now.” two patients per day. In comparison, Anchorage will have 15 patients before lunch at their clinics, Christensen said, and they will see 789 patients per week. The clinic received much needed support from the city in the form of free rent in the Begich Towers as well as other expenses being covered like phone bills. The city is also looking into moving the clinic from the cramped thirdfloor space it currently occupies to a larger space on the first floor. The plan is to move the clinic to a large room where the city council used to hold meetings and renovate it to meet the needs of the clinic. The EAT board said it is willing to continue to operate and fund the clinic so long as it can fund itself. In 2011 alone the clinic lost $183,000. “Our plan is to operate it at break even,” Christensen said. “We’re not concerned about making any money, but we don’t want to lose money.” Cost-cutting measures are being implemented to run the clinic in the black, he said, such as cutting back the days it will be open from five to two days per week; however, a full-time office employee will be available five days a week to answer phone calls and schedule appointments. “We realize that cutting back to two days a week will have a negative impact of some patients,” Christensen said, “and we hope that the city will consider increasing financial assistance. Their commitment will allow us to operate more hours and more days, but the Eastern Aleutian Tribes board has been really clear that they will no longer fund it in the red.” Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc. is a non-profit corporation owned by seven tribes that got together to provide health care in the Aleutian Islands. Assets of the organization total $8 million. Christensen said the organization operates health care clinics in the communities of Adak, Akutan, Cold Bay, King Cove, False Pass, Nelson Lagoon, Sands Point and Whittier, and the Whittier clinic is the only one running in the red. “All the other communities are providing more financial support,” he said. “They’re all fishing villages primarily. They have dock harbor fees, fish fees, all the resources Whittier has, but Whittier has chosen to put their resources in different places. None of these communities has more resources than Whittier, they just have different priorities. But I do appreciate the city making an effort.” Now as a part-time health care facility, the EAT board approved of hiring a mid-level provider for the clinic – a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant from Anchorage with one person on duty at a time. “Our vision is to have the healthiest people in the nation, and we want that for Whittier as well,” Christensen said. Silvertip & Silvertip Freestyle Spring Break Camps 3-Day Camps for All Levels of Skiers & Riders Session A: March 12 - 14 Session B: March 15 - 17 Mountain Learning Center: 754-2280 spring brea ak k camps c am Denali Brewing Co. Beer Dinner Sunday, March 4 at the Sitzmark Featuring Halibut Sliders, Beer Cheese Soup & Braised Short Ribs $39 per person | 5 - 8 pm 30 off weear & erw on outer ms iteem her it he oth ot 9 7754 1111 90 SHOWS START AT 10PM t07&3 * * (&55*$,&540/-*/&03$"--ʰ alyeskaresort.com & Lucero "EWBODFE%BZPG4IPX %)( &$%" # 4BUVSEBZ/JHIU%SFTTVQXJOQSJ[FT & Shannon McNally & Hot Sauce $10 Advanced / $15 Day of Show *************** % Save up to 1 - 3 .............Live at the Sitz: Lucero ~ Southern Rock Theme 5 ...................Military Mondayy | Après Ski with Jared Woods 5 ...................Open Mic Night 7 ...................Absolut™ Trivia Night 8 - 10 ...........Live at the Sitz: Shannon McNally & Hot Sauce 10.................Alyeska Pipeline Masters Superpipe Comp 12.................Open Mic Night 14.................Absolut™ Trivia Night 15 - 17.........Live at the Sitz: Potcheen ~ Irish Theme 19.................Open Mic Night 21.................Absolut Trivia Night 22 - 25.........Alyeska Chugach Open 30 - 31.........Live at the Daylodge: J Mascis+The Fog with Eric McFadden *************** Get Out Sale *************** ©Ha HaageP Photo.c o.com m March Events & Potcheen $10 Advanced / $15 Day of Show &!' # 4BUVSEBZ/JHIU%SFTTVQXJOQSJ[FT
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