thebristolbaytimes

Teleconference celebrates constitution, statehood

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:21:00 -0900

On Jan. 9, the University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center, American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska and the University of Alaska Eight Stars of Gold Project will come together to offer an evening event to celebrate 50 years of Alaska’s statehood and the Alaska Constitution.

The celebration will take place from 7-9 p.m. in the UAA Fine Arts Building, Room 150.
Simultaneous teleconference connections with Barrow, Bethel, Dillingham, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kotzebue, Nome and Sitka will allow audience participation from around the state.

The program includes a keynote address by Bruce Botelho, Juneau mayor and former Alaska attorney general, and a panel presentation, “At the Constitutional Convention,” with Vic Fischer, Katie Hurley, Arliss Sturgulewski and Douglas Pope.

Rhonda McBride will moderate the event.

The event will also feature performances by the Anchorage Concert Chorus, Lepquinm Gumilgit Gagoadim Tsimshian Dancers and readings from the Constitutional Convention by Bartlett High School students.

Locations for each teleconference site are as follows:
• Barrow: Location TBA

• Bethel: University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kuskokwim Campus, Room 135

• Dillingham: University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bristol Bay Campus, Room TBA

• Fairbanks: University of Alaska Fairbanks, Butrovich Building, Room 109

• Homer: University of Alaska Anchorage, Kachemak Bay Campus, Room 212

• Juneau: University of Alaska Southeast, Glacier View Room

• Ketchikan: University of Alaska Southeast, Ketchikan Campus, Room TBA

• Kotzebue: University of Alaska Fairbanks, Chukchi Campus, Room 112

• Nome: University of Alaska Fairbanks, Northwest Campus, Room 101

• Sitka: University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka Campus, Room 214

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.uaa.
alaska.edu/advancement/Alaska50th.

Film Society of Lincoln Center to screen ‘Red Gold’

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:13:00 -0900

Bristol Bay fishermen, captured on film in summer 2007, will be seen in New York City this month. Well, their words and images, anyway, will appear when the Film Society of Lincoln Center screens the award-winning film “Red Gold” at Walter Reader Theater on Jan. 6. The showing is part of the film society’s year-round Green Screens and Independents Night programs.

The documentary looks at the self-sustaining sockeye salmon runs in Bristol Bay, following the fish as they swim to their spawning grounds; and it examines the tensions between local fisherman and the mining officials who want to extract the gold and copper buried at the headwaters of the watershed.

“Red Gold” premiered in May at Colorado’s Telluride Mountain Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation, according to the filmmaker’s Web site. The film won the festival’s Audience Choice award and the festival best director’s award. It also earned an Audience Choice award at the 2008 Banff Mountain Film Festival.

After the screening, the film directors Ben Knight and Travis Rummel, co-producer and Trout Unlimited conservationist Lauren Oakes and the Film Society’s curator Marian Masone will discuss issues of watershed conservation and the impact of big business on the environment with the audience members. Samples of Bristol Bay salmon will be served during a reception afterward.

Hardy nature lovers don eagle eyes for Audubon tally

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:58:00 -0900

They call it citizen science, and it’s been happening annually for more than 100 years.

Citizen scientists from King Salmon carried on the tradition when they went about taking a local tally of birds on Dec. 20 for the Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count. Dillingham volunteers counted birds on Dec. 27.

This year the Audubon annual Christmas Bird Count started Dec. 14 and runs through Jan. 5. Volunteers around the country pick a date for their community to participate in a one-day census of birds. The statistics are then compiled and offers helpful information to scientists to learn more about how birds are faring throughout North America.

According to Matt Kirchhoff, director of bird conservation for Audubon Alaska, scientists rely on Christmas Bird Count data to assess bird numbers and distribution and to identify birds in need of conservation action.

“Every Christmas Bird Count participants play a critical role in helping us monitor bird distribution and abundance in Alaska,” Kirchhoff said. “The count is also helpful in developing Audubon Alaska’s watch list, which identifies declining and vulnerable species in Alaska in need of conservation help.”

In King Salmon, biologist Susan Savage joined volunteers who braved temperatures that hovered around freezing to look for birds. The partly cloudy day and light wind didn’t deter the group of five adults and two children from taking their counts but may have kept some birds hunkered down in the tundra and out of sight.

“The wind might have reduced some of the bird activity,” Savage said.

The volunteers broke into two or three teams. They started at sunrise, which was about 10:15 a.m., and the last team in the field was out until 4:30 p.m., Savage said. The group counted more than 1,300 birds and 15 species, including one the King Salmon group had never counted before.

Savage, a wildlife biologist with the Alaska Peninsula-Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, said she’s been leading the count in King Salmon for 11 years, since she began working at the refuge. But she’s helped with counts annually since around 1991, with only a couple exceptions. King Salmon has been participating in the bird count since 1986.

The group also held a week tally from Dec. 15 through 21 noting rarer species, such as raptors, which they may not see on the day of the count.

“We saw a gyrfalcon, northern hawk owl and willow ptarmigan during count week.” Savage said.

The most abundant bird her group saw on count day was a common merganser. The species with fewest sightings were a spruce grouse, and a bufflehead.

“This is the first count we have observed bufflehead,” Savage said. “We had never tallied one of them before.”

Michael Swaim, a bird biologist with the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, was gearing up for Dillingham’s count scheduled for this past weekend.

Swaim is also a veteran of the bird counts. He said he’s been participating for about 15 years in various communities. He’s only done a few bird counts with the refuge and this year is coordinating the count.

Dillingham has been participating in the Christmas Bird Count since around 1993, Swaim said.

He said his volunteers would cover a radius between five to 10 miles. After an early morning meeting to coordinate who’ll go where, the volunteers would disperse at daybreak to count birds at feeders, some volunteers will likely ski as they gather their counts.

He was anticipating about 15 volunteers for the count, but he said in past years, especially when they first got started with counts in the early ’90s, they’ve had as many as 65 participants.

Swaim wasn’t expecting anything different in terms of birds found.

“Nothing seems unusual, but you never know, though. You get some interesting birds that held over during migration. Last year we had a real interesting bird that showed up around count day that we haven’t seen before. It wasn’t on the refuge list. Probably came out of Interior and was here for some reason. We thought it might over-winter but it didn’t,” Swain said.

He said on average Dillingham counts about 15 species and 900 birds.

“You never know what you’re going to get,” Swaim said.

Taldi Walter, a communications and education specialist from Audubon Alaska, said last year Alaska ranked 23rd in number of volunteers for all of North America. That seemed shocking since Alaska is one of the coldest locations. “We have hardy nature lovers who come out for the bird count,” Walter said.

Tammy Judd can be reached at 907-348-2438 or 800-770-9830 ext. 438.

Moments to remember from life in Bristol Bay

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:56:00 -0900

The Bristol Bay region has drawn the attention of Alaskans from its active youth, persistent concerns about the effects of mining on the environment and search more efficient energy. As the past year comes to a close, the BayTimes compiled highlights of 2008, which appear in no specific order.

Edgmon defeats Bowers
State Rep. Bryce Edgmon soundly defeated Republican candidate Ron Bowers for the House District 37 seat, winning about 63 percent of the votes in a region that includes Bristol Bay, the Aleutians and Pribilof Islands.
This will be the Dillingham legislator’s second two-year term in the state House of Representatives. It’s also the second time that Edgmon and Bowers faced off — Edgmon won the office in the 2006 general election, a run that is remembered for his historic win against long-standing incumbent Carl Moses in the Democratic primaries. That year, Moses and Edgmon tied with 767 votes in the primary and Edgmon was determined the winner by a coin toss (Moses called heads).

Village’s new energy course
Ugashik’s solar tracker follows the path of the sun to maximize energy production.
To decrease its dependence on oil, people in the tiny village of Ugashik have begun to move away from a current setup relying on individual generators for power. Ugashik is in a unique situation: It does not have a public energy utility.
Tired of trying to keep up with increasing fuel costs, Ugashik Traditional Village applied for a grant for a renewable energy project with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA granted $148,000 to build two wind turbines, a solar panel system and a large battery bank. The Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp. then granted it $57,601 to finish the project.
The project was not only meant to alleviate Ugashik’s energy situation but also serve as a demonstration project for villages facing similar circumstances.

Wassily’s record at NYO
Dillingham High sophomore Michael Wassily, 16, crushed the previous Native Youth Olympics wrist-carry record at the competition at Sullivan Arena on April 24 in Anchorage. Wassily muscled up and dangled continuously around the Sullivan floor from a 48-inch stick carried by teammates Cody Meryfield and Matthew Askoak. Wassily traveled 606 feet, 7 inches, besting the previous record by more than 15 feet.
Like all NYO events, the wrist carry pays tribute to Native Alaskans’ culture. According to NYO officials, the wrist carry showcases the significance of a successful hunt, the strength and endurance of hunters and appreciation for the animal giving its life.

Igiugig greenhouse grows on AFN
The Bristol Bay village of Igiugig, home to 50 residents, is ahead of the pack when it comes to putting sustainable living into practice. The village recycles aluminum cans, batteries and used oil, and is working on getting a glass crusher so it can recycle glass. Every day, its residents bring their leftover food scraps from home to feed the village council’s chickens and pick up fresh eggs for their families in exchange.
This year, the village’s latest project, the Igiugig village greenhouse, captured the attention of Alaska Native Federation Alaska Marketplace competition judges.
AlexAnna Salmon, administrator for the village council, submitted the project on behalf of the village to the annual competition, which awards money to individuals with proposals for innovative small business ideas that benefit rural Alaska.
The entry was a finalist, and later garnered a $36,900 award for a project that would provide fresh, affordable, organic, locally-grown produce and flowers for Igiugig residents year-round. Eventually the project would be self-sustaining, saving energy by capturing waste heat from nearby buildings and making money by selling in-demand fresh produce and herbs to area lodges.

Dillingham snowboarder’s success
Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, an 18-year-old snowboarder originally from Dillingham, had a year of successes, with promise of more to come. She was among five Alaska athletes invited to compete at the winter games in Aspen, Colo. Chythlook-Sifsof, who trains in Girdwood, joined more than 250 athletes from around the world at the 12th annual winter action sports competition. She also finished third in the Brazilian National Championship Continental Cup, and late in the year became a member of the U.S. Olympic team for the Winter Games in 2010.

Banishing a police chief
On April 8, the Togiak tribal court handed down an order of banishment against Togiak Police Department Chief Aaron Parker, giving him 30 days to leave town. The order’s deadline, May 8, came and went but Parker stayed.
Parker said he was just trying to do his job and that the banishment order was an effort mounted by a handful of people who didn’t want to be held accountable to the law.
The tribal court accused Parker of using excessive force and enforcing laws broken by juveniles in instances when the tribal court says it has jurisdiction.
Parker said the Togiak Police Department has had success since he was hired in August 2006 in combating bootlegging in the village, which is dry, and reducing the village’s incidence of domestic violence. He said the tribal court’s order of banishment is based on false allegations of police misconduct and that the ordeal has been a hardship.
After reviewing the Togiak Tribal Court’s April 8 order of banishment, Attorney General Talis Colberg responded in a letter April 9: “We have reviewed that order in light of relevant federal and state law. It is our view that there is no legal basis for the order.”
“It’s a communications issue between tribal council and city government,” Monegan said. “We hope they would be able to get together and get involved in meaningful dialog, to try to resolve it to the satisfaction of both parties.”

Igiugig’s Salmon dies in plane
Lake and Peninsula Borough Assemblyman Daniel Salmon of Igiugig was the pilot and sole occupant of a single-engine aircraft that crashed the afternoon of Feb. 27, near Granite Point, about eight miles west of Tyonek.
The Bristol Bay “community hero” was on his way home to Igiugig from Anchorage when he died, doing what he loved most — flying.

BLM plans for lands
The Bureau of Land Management made public its record of decision for finalizing land conveyances and managing retained federal lands in the Goodnews Bay and Bristol Bay areas as promised in November.
The plan drew criticism from environmental, fishing, subsistence and other groups for creating a framework that allows industrial activity on lands that had previously been closed to development. Many of them voiced concerned about potential mining activities on land that provides spawning areas for salmon, but habitat for plants and other animals are also at issue.
But BLM district manager for the Anchorage district office Gary Reimer cautions that just because a record of decision has been entered doesn’t mean that people can start staking mining claims immediately.
It would take a public land order issued by Dirk Kempthorne, the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, to actually implement the plan, Reimer said. He called it very likely to happen, but declined to speculate as to when.
Meanwhile, activist groups opposed to the decision have said they will fight to keep the plan from going into action.

Begich engages rural mayors on money

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:53:00 -0900

Alaska Sen.-elect Mark Begich met telephonically with about 30 mayors and other city leaders from around the state recently in an effort to best gain from an expected national economic stimulus package.

But more than the proposed projects or how to file the proper paperwork, at least one leader was impressed with the end-of-the-year teleconference in total.

“I think it was innovative, it was beneficial to all of us and I hope it continues,” said Tiffany Zulkosky, Bethel’s 24-year-old mayor. “I hope (Begich) continues to move forward in being directly involved in local government.”

During the teleconference, Begich said that many in Congress want to move rapidly on an economic recovery bill that could total more than $800 billion. The bill will likely cover transportation and energy infrastructure funding as well as programs such as extended unemployment and food stamp benefits.

“We don’t know if the package will be formula driven, a project list or a hybrid of the two,” Begich said. “But we want to make sure Alaska’s priorities are part of the discussion when a final bill is passed.”

Begich said projects should be “shovel ready” this summer, create jobs, be sustainable with indentified operating money and have other committed sources of funding, either public or private. He asked mayors and city leaders to return their lists, with projects prioritized, by Dec. 29.

Unrealistic expectations
Aleknagik Mayor Carolyn Smith felt the requirements set forth by Begich weren’t ideally suited for remote rural villages.

“He asked for projects dirt-ready, permitted, ready to go, planning, design, environmental engineering done, ready to stick the shovel in the ground, ready to do the project. We don’t have a lot of projects sitting around meeting those criteria.”

The Wood River bridge, which had been Aleknagik’s No. 1 project, got funded by a state bond proposition in November. The community moved its No. 2 project to No. 1, but it is not anywhere near “shovel ready,” Smith said.

That project involves construction of a floatplane road between the top of a hill and a mile west toward property the city owns.

Mayor Smith said she got on the phone to the state Department of Transportation to see if there was any way that project could be ready soon enough, but the project engineer told her it wasn’t anywhere near “shovel ready.”

Both the project engineer for the road and Jim Amundsen, the DOT project engineer for the bridge, told Smith that there are a lot of state projects that are ready to go that will likely get the majority of the funding.

“The requirements that Begich gave are going to represent a challenge to a lot of communities,” Smith said. “Currently we have a request for a building at the airport to house a tractor at the runway. We need a grader, but none of those things really meet the criteria that Begich set out.”

She said he’s asking for projects with local employment, local matching funding, and that benefit more of the population, the elderly or young people or disabled or economically disadvantaged, she said.

“We don’t have a senior center or Head Start building in mind,” Smith said.

She’s sent out e-mail appeals asking community leaders to suggest ideas of what they could include on a project list, but many are on vacation.

“The Dec. 29 deadline doesn’t give us much time,” Smith said. “The other thing he wanted was projects that could be started in 120 days. Nothing we have is shovel-ready,” she said.

The 120 days would fall in April. For construction projects in her area, the first barge can’t get there until April. Construction supplies and equipment couldn’t be brought to her community until then.

Dillingham harbor
In Dillingham, Mayor Alice Ruby said by e-mail that the city recently completed a list of projects and prioritized them.

“Our priority, of course, is the boat harbor erosion projects. We received funds from the Corps of Engineers and the State of Alaska for the harbor entrance but not enough to deal with the erosion issues inside the harbor that are still threatening improvements that are integral to the commercial fishing fleet’s activities,” Ruby wrote.

She said she was pleased with Begich’s obvious effort to establish lines of communication at the community level.

“It was great to be oriented to his staff and hear his plans for the next few months. At one point he said that he plans to work closely with Sen. Murkowski on methods for receiving information from communities. I was really pleased to hear him talk about our legislators working together — we all benefit,” Ruby said.

Buckland Mayor Floyd Herman Tickett said he was happy to have the chance to talk with Begich, and he’ll happily put together a project lists, starting with the village’s longtime need for running water and a sewer system. He said his is one of two Northwest Arctic Borough villages without running water.

“We’ve been working on it for almost 12 years and there are always new problems,” Tickett said. “Now it’s funding. We need about $9 million for the project.

“Hopefully, we’ll (now) move forward.”

Zulkosky, who was named Bethel’s mayor in October, said most of the teleconference focused on the process — getting individual project lists ready, filling out the forms correctly and getting a better understanding of how the federal government works.

She said the City of Bethel will ask for assistance in two of the town’s well-publicized projects — a public safety building and a multi-use recreational facility.

Zulkosky said each individual city leader was allotted teleconference time to ask Begich questions. She asked for clarification on the Dec. 29 deadline.

“Then our great staff at City Hall got started working on it,” Zulkosky said.

Matt Nevala can be reached at 907-348-2480 or 800-770-9830, ext. 480. News editors Tamar Ben-Yosef and Tammy Judd contributed to this report.

Council passes ordinance waiving portion of fuel tax

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:13:00 -0900

Dillingham residents will get a bit of a break on the heating oil they purchase between Jan. 1 and April 30 thanks to an ordinance passed by Dillingham City Council last week.

The City Council met for a special session Dec. 18 to consider several action items, including Ordinance 2008-12, which is a temporarily waives 3 percent of the city’s 6 percent sales tax on heating oil.

Dillingham residents had an opportunity to offer comments about the proposal, but according to city clerk Lori Goodell, no public comments were offered.

“The council appeared to be very pleased to pass the ordinance that waives a portion of the sales tax,” Mayor Alice Ruby said. “The only discussion was that we wish we could do more for our residents.”

The council met for about 35 minutes and passed all action items on their agenda. In addition to adopting the sales tax waiver on heating oil, the council passed three resolutions.

Resolution 2008-54 — A resolution in which the Dillingham City Council accepts grant funds from Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp. in the amount of $30,612 for the Dillingham boat harbor crane project and authorizes the city manager or the mayor to sign documents on behalf of the city.

Resolution 2008-55 — A resolution in which the Dillingham City Council approves and authorizes the submittal of a grant under the terms of the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp. community block grant program for fiscal year 2008. The grant, if awarded, would provide funding of $159,000 for project improvements to the Dillingham boat harbor.

Resolution 2008-56 — A resolution of the Dillingham City Council commended and offered thanks to the volunteers and staff of the Dillingham Police Department, the Dillingham Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad and the staff of Kanakanak Hospital.

The mayor said during discussion of Resolution 2008-56, all council members expressed how appreciative they were to the volunteers referenced in the resolution.

Each of the council members took an opportunity during the comments portion of the meeting to thank the city staff for the work they do and wished them, and the entire community, a very merry Christmas.

Tammy Judd can be reached at 907-348-2438 or 800-770-9830, ext. 438.

Losing Tanner to a Conibear on the skijoring trail

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:10:00 -0900

I hope to accomplish three things from this article. Increase public awareness of the dangers of close set traps and snares, change state trapping regulations to mandate that all traps and snares have owner identification and are prohibited from being set within a reasonable distance from public roads and trails, and tell the tale of an extraordinary dog.

I first met Tanner toward the end of January 2007. I awoke one morning to find him on the porch of the empty cabin across from me. A very large male yellow lab, he was extremely emaciated with a wolf snare deeply embedded around his flanks and a large penetrating wound on his hip. Shortly after removing the snare his skin retracted from the site exposing the underlying muscle. At first I thought the most humane thing to do was put him down, but he had a terrific appetite and acted as though he were uninjured.

I contacted an Anchorage veterinarian who assured me the dog would survive his injuries and who promptly sent me medicine. Tanner quickly gained weight and continued to act as if he were uninjured. It took four months for the skin to completely grow back over the muscle.

It was a miracle to me that Tanner avoided having the snare tighten around his neck, was able to free himself, and find his way to me, the only resident within at least 10 miles. I have three dogs buried here along Snake Lake Road who each died over the years from old age. It was as if their bodies were seeds that sprouted and Tanner was the result. Though I know he yearned for the freedom to roam, I kept him and my other dog, a female husky mix named Tulik, staked out and walked them on a lead telling myself I was keeping them safe.

All nose
Being a lab, Tanner was all nose and wanted to investigate every scent and object he came across. Whenever we came upon a grouse while walking the road in the summer, I would leave drag marks in the dirt from him pulling me with my heels dug in. Tanner was a poor candidate for a sled dog, but skiing is my greatest love. I have been skijoring with dogs, and once competitively with a horse, for almost 30 years.

I started putting Tanner in harness last winter. At first, I used him as my wheel dog since my husky was good at keeping the line tight. At times, this didn’t work very well because he would head off trail, and with his massive size and strength, pull the other dog sideways.

When I gave Tanner the lead-dog position, things improved. He still occasionally wanted to follow his nose off trail; but whenever we were passed by a vehicle heading in our direction, he would pick up the pace and we would rapidly cover the next few miles. I figured if I could keep a sno-go in front of us I would have a world-class team.

This summer I ordered a new extra-extra-extra-large racing harness and booties for Tanner. Since about the middle of October, when there was barely enough snow to cover the road, we’ve been out every day covering at least eight miles. I still occasionally had to chide Tanner for wanting to follow his nose, but things were improving, and we were getting faster. I was really looking forward to more snow so we could cover the longer distances and get off the road.

Unhappy birthday
On Saturday, Nov. 8, the day before my birthday, my world fell apart. Still two miles from returning to the cabin, Tanner darted out about a foot from the road to stick his head in a small culvert. He quickly backed out with a muffled whine, and I at first thought he had an angry mink biting down on the end of his nose. In reality, it was a Conibear 330 trap completely enclosing his head. Tulik ran in to help, and I frantically shed skis to follow the 15-foot towline to him.

Tanner quickly became still, but never having seen a trap before, I was at first unable to even budge it open. The sun had just set and the increasing darkness along with an oncoming storm made it even more difficult. I finally figured out how to open the trap, but with all my strength and the tight area to work in, I couldn’t quite open one side enough to secure it to be able to open the other side.

By this time, blood was oozing out of Tanner’s mouth and nose and his eyes were glazing over. With a final scream and rush of adrenalin, I opened and secured one side, then the other, and removed the trap from his head, but he was gone. My beautiful, scarred yellow lab lying there in his new black harness still tied to me by the towline. He looked like he could have been sleeping, except for the blood and his open sightless eyes.

I contacted Alaska Wildlife Trooper Justin Rogers who “sno-goed” out to investigate the following Tuesday. Prior to his arrival, the trap had been reset. Trooper Rogers informed me that by state law, if the trap was set for beaver by a licensed trapper, it was a legal set as beaver had been in season since Oct. 10. Furthermore, the trapping season for all legally trappable game started Nov. 10, and baited traps could now legally be placed anywhere along the road. Trooper Rogers was very sympathetic and explained he himself was a trapper.

My hope is that the trapper who killed my dog was young, inexperienced, and very, very naïve. I can believe people can be that naive. I once assisted a young out-of-state Air Force woman who had just totaled her car hitting a moose. She told me she thought the moose would move out of the way. I don’t think she even slowed down. If this trapper were to approach me with regret for having killed my dog and promise to never again trap close to public road or trails, I could forgive him. Unfortunately, I may never know who the trapper is since traps aren’t required to have owner identification.

I feel I have to turn this tragic event into something positive. We need state law to require trapping not be allowed within a reasonable distance of public roads and trails, and require that all traps and snares have owner identification. I hope this tragedy will help prevent another pet, or child, from being injured or killed by a trap.

Trapping is an old and honorable profession in Alaska. I believe most trappers are highly ethical, I know a few. The increasing public scorn toward trapping is, mostly, resultant from the few unethical trappers. I challenge all trapping organizations to push for passage of the regulations I have proposed and improve the image of trapping in the public eye. I challenge all trappers to police their own ranks and weed out the unethical amongst them. I would hope to have the support of dog mushers and all outdoor enthusiasts.

I couldn’t bury Tanner since the ground was frozen and covered with a foot of snow. I took him out about five miles and placed him under a tree. He looked like he was just sleeping. Some seeds will sprout on top of the ground.

Addendum
The Thursday after I completed this article, I received a phone call. The voice on the phone told me he was the trapper who had trapped my dog. He sounded sincere when he apologized and told me all his traps along the road had been removed. He said he was relatively new to the area and didn’t know anyone lived here or ran dogs along the road. All my questions were freely answered, but he asked me to not use his name in this article. The trapper stated he had misread the trapping regulations and thought the full season opened Nov. 1. He asked me if I could forgive him. It had snowed last week, possibly obscuring the tracks from our runs. I told him yes.

This person has been charged with trapping out of season.

Democrats join with GOP in House majority caucus

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:08:00 -0900

Rep. Bryce Edgmon, a Dillingham Democrat from Alaska House District 37, talked regularly with both Democrats and Republicans attempting to form an organization for the upcoming legislative session.

He gave a lot of thought and consideration to the pros and cons of the decision to join the Republican-heavy House majority caucus along with veteran lawmaker Reggie Joule of Kotzebue and newly-elected representative Bob Herron of Bethel, two more Democrats.

“Clearly there will be Democrats who are not going to be happy with us in the Legislature, but also a lot will understand that rural legislators are badly outnumbered and oftentimes you’re put in a position of making difficult decisions in order to best represent your district,” Edgmon said. “My first goal was to organize with the Democrats in a majority caucus, that was my first preference, but it was clear after several weeks of negotiation that to make that happen, the numbers weren’t there.”

After weighing the options of serving the next two years in the minority or majority, Edgmon, Joule and Herron decided it was in the best interest of their districts to be in a position to help shape the agenda and outcomes in the House majority.

“I think the timing was right for us to move over into the coalition in terms of what we can bring to the majority,” said Joule, who was first elected in 1996.

Nome Democrat Richard Foster is already part of the House majority.

“For years, (Foster) has been in the majority and generally someone from Southeast. That left quite a big missing part of the state,” Joule said. “Now we can bring the kind of leadership to issues that may not have been vetted in the past.”

With Edgmon, Herron and Joule, the House majority will hold a 26-14 advantage when the 26th Alaska Legislature gavels in Jan. 20.

“What’s exciting about the opportunity is the Bush caucus is united in one organization. We’re pleased about the prospect of representing a united front on issues important to rural Alaska, including energy, problems of rural out-migration, issues of education, health and social services, and the village public safety officer program,” Edgmon said.

Herron, Bethel’s former city manager and a former state legislative aide, said he based his decision on the idea of giving rural Alaska a greater voice in Juneau.

“It’s based upon what we can do to help our (constituents), our No. 1 concern,” Herron said.

But at least one of Herron’s constituents wasn’t thrilled with the idea.

Bethel’s Tony Vaska, a legislator in the 1980s and a member of the Alaska Democratic Party’s executive council, ran unsuccessfully against Herron in August’s Democratic primary. He didn’t think he could make a similar move to the majority if he had been elected.

“I make a commitment and I stick to it,” Vaska said. “If you ran as a Democrat, the people of the district expect you to be a Democrat.”

Vaska somewhat understood the thinking behind the three current Democratic representatives’ decision, noting the political game in Juneau involves a lot of give and take.

“It means working with others, it means compromise,” Vaska said. “But one thing you can’t compromise is your ethics and trust. When you join a coalition it can put a strain on you personally.”

Herron asked Democrats in his district to keep an open mind.

“I hope they would give me the benefit of the doubt,” Herron said. “We’ll see how it works out.”

Joule said he ran the decision past his constituency, including leadership officials at many of his district’s regional organizations, and found support.

“We have had some pretty sensitive discussions and there hasn’t been any backlash,” Joule said.

Edgmon said House Speaker Mike Chanault, a Republican from Nikiski, who also has a rural background, and influential members of the majority caucus will make a push to make rural issues a priority in the upcoming session.

“The question came down to — did I want to be part of that team, or a team with smaller numbers and less direct influence on the events in the Legislature?” he said.

As part of the majority, Edgmon said he will have a seat at the table of important discussions, hold an important role on energy and a key role on fisheries issues. He will become co-chairman of the House Special Committee on Energy, chairman of the Fisheries Committee, and he’ll sit on the Resources Committee and possibly other committees, he said.

Joule will join the House Finance Committee. Herron will become the co-chairman of the House Health and Social Services Committee.

Herron said joining the majority means the trio promises to vote with it on all procedural votes and on the final version of the state budget.

“On any other policy issues, you still vote your conscience,” he said.

Edgmon said he is most looking forward to working on the energy issue.

“I think that finding both a short-term and long-term solution is unquestioningly a top priority. And it’s also a priority for the new caucus,” Edgmon said.

But once in Juneau, run-ins with other Democratic lawmakers could be a little awkward — at least for a while.

“I kept the Democratic leadership apprised of what I was doing,” Joule said. “(They) didn’t agree with it. But we’ve been longtime friends. At times it will be difficult, but I expect our friendships to hold fast.”

News editors Tammy Judd and Tamar Ben-Yosef contributed to this report.

Tracking the year’s big stories in the Bush

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:07:00 -0900

Rural Alaska, once isolated from the rest of the world, wasn’t immune to big national events in 2008.

Fuel prices swung violently leave rural residents with sticker shock, and pushing up the cost of living. Gov. Sarah Palin tense relationships with Alaska Natives seemed to grow after she joined John McCain on the Republican presidential ticket. And the jury is still out on what the loss of Sen. Ted Stevens will mean for the Bush.

At least 2008 wasn’t boring. Here some of the news that mattered most in rural Alaska, presented in no particular order.

Rural-to-urban migration
It’s happened for years, for several reasons. But the number of families leaving villages for bigger cities gained speed this year, as many complained that the cost of living in rural Alaska made life there unbearable.
School enrollment numbers offered key evidence, with Anchorage schools growing while many rural schools shrunk. But efforts are under way to better track the numbers, with state researchers and other groups, like First Alaskans Institute, on the case.
A big shift would challenge social service agencies and public institutions in the city, which have scrambled to help with housing, transportation and jobs for the newcomers.

Fuel costs
Rocketing petroleum prices shook the nation this year, then plummeted to earth after the global economy collapsed.
But in rural Alaska, fuel prices stayed high, since villages typically buy a year’s supply of fuel in the summer when river barges arrive. As a result, the cost of stove oil and gas exceeded $7 a gallon in many villages this fall. Relief won’t come until at least May.
On the plus side, each Alaskan got a $1,200 energy rebate courtesy of the Legislature and the governor, but it didn’t go as far in rural Alaska as it did in the city. And while state legislators provided more than $100 million to create a renewable energy fund — sparking a rush of applications for new projects — the benefits likely won’t be felt for years.

Begich wins Senate seat
Rural Alaska voters rallied around Mark Begich on Nov. 4, propelling him to narrow victory over Sen. Ted Stevens shortly after the Hulk of Alaska politics was found guilty on seven counts of lying on financial disclosure forms.
The change of power raises big questions. Stevens’ role as Alaska’s pipeline for federal money was especially important in the villages. Many worry that millions will be lost for everything from vital water and sewer projects to bypass mail.
The good news is that Begich, like Stevens, has a special interest in rural Alaska. He might prove just as adept at educating his Senate colleagues about its challenges and opportunities.

Walt Monegan
Native leaders weren’t happy when Gov. Palin canned Walt Monegan, the Alaska Native formerly in charge of the Department of Public Safety. On top of that, she faulted his performance with what was perceived as weak explanations for the firing.
In Monegan, rural residents felt they had an ally. His priorities included improving rural law enforcement and slashing alcohol-related deaths, domestic violence and child sexual abuse, big problems in the Bush.
On the plus side, replacement Joe Masters shows promise on rural Alaska issues. He was raised in the Bush, started his career above the Arctic Circle and has seen rural problems firsthand.

Sarah Palin
The governor’s decision to fire Monegan was just one move that didn’t sit well with Native leaders. Earlier in the year, Palin’s picks to fill three open seats on the Board of Game would have left the board without a Native for the first time. After a public outcry, she backed down and appointed Craig Fleener, an Athabascan from Fort Yukon.
The criticism picked up after Palin joined John McCain on the Republican presidential ticket and the spotlight on her record shined brighter. Key Native figures blasted her for not listening to tribes, and for continuing legal efforts they say could erode federal protections for subsistence and tribal adoptions.

Ballot Measure 4
Sponsors said the initiative was designed to limit pollution at the Pebble gold and copper prospect to protect Bristol Bay salmon. Opponents said it would have shut down several mines across the state. The measure was defeated handily, except in some rural areas such as around Dillingham and Bethel. But the state’s mining industry did a nosedive anyway, as metal prices plummeted following the economic collapse. The coming year doesn’t look rosy, with some companies struggling to survive in Alaska and others facing big cutbacks.

Woody and Wilcox
Anchorage radio hosts Greg Wood and Chris Wilcox sparked a hailstorm of criticism when one of them twisted an old Alaska saying that was disparaging of Native women.
The racial slur on KBFX 100.5 the Fox was considered especially vulgar in light of the high rates of sexual violence suffered by Native women. Some advertisers canceled, people picketed, and the remark made headlines around the country.
But both sides found common ground. Native leaders, including Rep. Mary Nelson, D-Bethel, saw the remark as an educational opportunity — for the hosts and the public — about attitudes that Native people face all too often. They said the men should keep their jobs — once they learned their lesson.
The duo underwent sensitivity training, which included apologetic visits with Nelson and others. They also said sorry on the Web and during a four-hour call-in radio show on the topic.

Caribou slaughter
Alaska State Troopers say more than 50 caribou were left to rot on the tundra outside Point Hope. They’ve identified suspects in the Northwest Alaska village. But residents say troopers are exaggerating. They question whether Point Hope residents were involved and have refused to cooperate with the investigation, claiming troopers have tainted the villagers’ reputation as responsible hunters. The caribou were shot in July, but the investigation drags on.

Native language lost
Marie Smith Jones died on Jan. 21 at age 89. She took the Eyak language with her.
The last fluent speaker of the Native language, Jones’ passing marked the first time an Alaska Native language went extinct. The loss of Eyak — once heard in the Prince William Sound area — prompted warnings that other Native languages might follow.

Yup’ik at the polls
Bethel residents and several Kuskokwim river villages won a court fight, forcing the state to step up the help it provides Yup’ik speakers at the polls. Following an order by U.S. District Judge Timothy Burgess, the state provided bilingual training to poll workers in Yup’ik-speaking areas. The workers were also given handbooks with Yup’ik translations of ballot terms that they read to Native elders who speak little English.

Council may change levy on heating oil

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:05:00 -0900

The Dillingham City Council, which met Dec. 4, introduced a ordinance proposing that the council temporarily waive 3 percent of its 6 percent sales tax on heating oil.

Dillingham residents will have an opportunity to offer comments about the proposal at a special meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. today. If adopted, the ordinance would offer a tax waiver for heating oil sold between Jan. 1 and April 30 next year.

Mayor Alice Ruby said the City Council started talking about the idea of a fuel sales tax waiver earlier this year during its fiscal year 2009 budgeting process, as members watched energy prices continue to climb.

“We discussed the fact that energy prices were still climbing and the city would like to be able to give some relief to residents. At that point we didn’t actually know how high fuel prices would be, but we knew that it was going to be a critical issue,” Ruby said.

Council members wanted to be able to offer relief to residents, at least seasonally, so decided not to budget for an increase in sales tax revenue.

The city, however, was not immune to the increased cost of fuel itself and now it cannot afford to offer a complete waiver of fuel taxes as it had hoped. Instead, it’s proposing waving half the sales tax on heating oil, but none on gasoline tax.

The mayor said this tax waiver would benefit individual residents as well as businesses that are also affected from the high cost of energy.

She said the members who spoke up in the meeting seemed supportive of the waiver as a way of offering relief and acknowledging resident’s struggles with energy.

“I did get the impression that a couple of them were reserving their comments for the next meeting. I suspect that there may be discussion on whether we can afford a larger waiver or if we can afford other types of tax breaks. It is a healthy discussion. The problem is that we have to maintain some revenue in order to keep operations at the city intact,” she said.

Although discussion about a tax waiver is what’s currently on the council’s table, Ruby said they will want to see a long-term fix.

In addition to introducing the tax waiver ordinance, the council passed three resolutions. Resolution 2008-53 authorizes participation in the community development block grant program, resolving that the city manager can handle documents and any adjustments or amendments regarding a grant application with the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development which, if awarded, would be used to provide a Senior Center. And, because of personnel changes, two resolutions changing authorized signatures – Resolution 2008-51 amended the bank signature card to include two new council members and removing an outgoing member, and Resolution 2008-52, which amended the bank signature card for the city safety deposit box.

Tammy Judd can be reached at 907-348-2438 or 800-770-9830 ext. 438.

Bristol Bay area doctor named to state Medical Board

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:04:00 -0900

Dillingham physician David Powers received an honor recently when Gov. Sarah Palin announced his appointment to the state Medical Board.

Powers is a board-certified family practitioner who works as a staff physician at the Kanakanak Hospital in Dillingham, a news release said. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Northwest Nazarene College of Nampo, Idaho, in 1978, and his medical degree is from Oral Roberts University School of Medicine in 1983.

Before settling in Dillingham, he’d worked in hospitals and emergency rooms in Boise, Idaho, from 1987-94, and in general practice for the Indian Health Service in Juneau and Anchorage from 1984-87. He interned at the University of Colorado’s family practice program from 1983-84, and was a resident of the family practice residency in Boise from 1987-89.

Lawmakers had forwarded Powers name to the state’s Boards and Commissions. His name was also suggested by the Medical Board, according to Frank Bailey, director of Boards and Commissions. After receiving those recommendations, Boards and Commissions contacted Powers, who agreed to apply for the seat.

According to Bailey, Powers was among three doctors up for consideration for Medical Board seat. His experience in rural Alaska played a role in his appointment, as did his experience with Indian Health Service.

“Dr. Powers has practiced in a variety of locations such as Juneau, Nome, Barrow, St. Paul and most recently, 15 years in Dillingham. He has a wealth of background on issues related to medicine in rural Alaska,” Bailey said.

According to a news release, the eight-member board establishes rules and regulations governing the practice of physicians, osteopaths, paramedics, podiatrists and physician assistants in Alaska. It tests and licenses applicants for state medical licenses, and it disciplines violators of state licensing laws. The board consists of five physicians, one physician assistant, and two public members.

Powers appointment was effective Dec. 2. The board meets at least four times per year and a board term runs for four years.

“We are honored that Dr. Powers is willing to share his rural experience with the State in his new role on this very important Board,” Bailey said.

Tammy Judd can be reached at 907-348-2438 or 800-770-9830, ext. 438.

In Aleut Christmas album, language takes a holiday

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:39:00 -0900

Local composer, performer and teacher Lynda Lybeck Robinson will release “Aleutian Noel” this week, a collection of Christmas songs in Unangan (Aleut), Russian and English. The album is a follow-up to the 2007 album “An Aleut Lullaby” and the second in a planned series of six albums that will feature the Unangan language.

Lybeck Robinson said that teaching the Unangan language through song was a driving force behind the music series.

“The whole reason I’m doing this is that I’m the mother of two Aleut boys. … I feel responsibility as a mother to teach the language of their ancestors as best I can, and my way is music,” Lybeck Robinson said. “The songs are familiar. They draw you in but are sung in Aleut so that you hear the Aleut language in words that are familiar to you.”

The series is called “Aleutian Siga-x” (pronounced “see-gah”) after the Unangan word for “gift,” or something that is handmade. Five albums will feature at least two songs that are sung in Unangan and a sixth, “The Gift – ‘Siga-x’” will be a collection of those 10 songs.

For “Aleutian Noel,” Lybeck Robinson sings traditional Christmas songs “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells” in Unangan, following a translation by Paul Merculief. Lybeck Robinson said that her sister-in-law, Piama Oleyer, acted as her Unangan mentor in learning the songs (Galena Roraback provided coaching for the two Russian selections on the album).

Lybeck Robinson has a small studio in her living room where she recorded the album using a digital computer program. She sent the recordings to her producer, Scott Hybl of Northstar Studios in Portland, Ore., in the mail.

Lybeck Robinson said that her experience as a recording artist and promotions manager in the music industry helped her put together a professional quality album that can “walk alongside the big boys.”

“I’ve been in business 20 years, so it is really fortunate to have many friends in the business and it’s all matter of networking . Also, we artists support each other, and when we have a door that we know how to open we open it for each other. So that’s been very helpful,” said Lybeck Robinson.

But Lybeck Robinson noted that what ultimately made the project possible was the ability to market the CD through the music Web site, www.cdbaby.com, which features professional productions from independent artists.

Lybeck Robinson said that she has already had strong public and corporate responses to the album along airtime on local radio and TV stations. She said that she believes that the positive feedback is due to the Unangan component of the CD.

“Hearing your language sung in a professionally produced format is kind of cool. … It’s validating as to the importance of embracing the language of your people,” said Lybeck Robinson.

The community of Unalaska plays a big role in the album. Lybeck Robinson’s original composition “Aleutian Noel” is a musical picture of the city at Christmas that encompasses the children playing in the snow and the fisherman plying the chilly seas. Local children sing the chorus on “Jingle Bells ‘Kuluklaadan.’” Unalaska artist and author Ray Hudson contributed the cover art, and Sabarina Wilt created the music booklet and cover. Alyssa McDonald partners with Lybeck on two songs.

Lybeck Robinson said that producing the CD has been a enormous undertaking in a busy year, one in which she was heavily involved in community events, welcomed two foster children into her family and acted as the primary organizer of the Medicine Dream concert. It took many nights of staying up to record until 3 a.m., but Lybeck Robinson said she’s proud of the finished product.

“It almost akin to the feeling of holding your own newborn, it’s joy it’s relief it’s awe, it’s a beautiful feeling when you know you’ve done really good work,” said Lybeck Robinson. “What’s really amazing about this CD is that out of every CD I’ve done it has the most obstacles but it’s my best so far.”

Victoria Barber can be reached at 907-348-2424 or 800-770-9830, ext. 424.

Aleknagik’s two shores will finally meet at Wood River

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0900

Aleknagik residents have cause to celebrate. They’ve been waiting and working for years to get a bridge built that will not only connect the village’s north and south shores but could also save lives.

The Aleknagik Wood River bridge project has been a No. 1 priority with the City of Aleknagik for years, but the construction funds were not available. Alaska voters changed that when they passed a bond proposition Nov. 4 that allocated $20 million to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for the construction of the bridge.

“We are thrilled that the people of Alaska passed the bond,” Aleknagik Mayor Carolyn Smith said. “We’re planning a Jan. 4 community meeting, potluck and celebration and everyone’s invited.”

The mayor recollected the project has been a priority for the village since sometime in the ’80s and all through the ’90s.

Having a town separated by a body of water has unique issues, but safety is paramount.

In a 2004 resolution requesting support from the federal and state government, which was jointly passed by Aleknagik City Council, Aleknagik Traditional Council and the Aleknagik Natives Ltd., 12 deaths were attributed to lake crossings.

A little more than half of Aleknagik’s population lives on the north shore of Lake Aleknagik, according to Smith. At one time that number was closer to two-thirds. South Aleknagik has road access to Dillingham, which is about 18 miles away. Some people from Dillingham have moved to the area and are building homes on the south shore, raising the population.

The elementary school is located on the north side of the lake. School kids from South Aleknagik have to take a boat, or snowmachine, to go to school. According to the mayor, most families on the south shore opt to send their kids on a bus to Dillingham rather than risk a daily crossing. High school students attend Dillingham High School, so north shore kids cross the lake to catch the bus.

“It’s really not safe to get around the lake in November and April when crossing is dangerous,” the mayor said. “It’s been an exceptionally bad November.

This winter, someone walking across the lake fell through the ice. It was a cold day, according to the mayor, between 5 degrees below to 5 above. The woman, who was with someone else, was able to get out of the water, but it was a dangerous experience, the mayor said.

Arduous process
Jim Amundsen, an engineer with the state, knows the lake crossing can get really nasty when the wind picks up, or in the spring when the ice gets rotten. He doesn’t want to see any people die on his watch; and as the project manager, he is working to keep the bridge project moving.

Amundsen said the agency’s been working on this project with the City of Aleknagik for about 15 years.

“It’s been a long process, it’s been very slow,” Amundsen said. “Sen. (Lyman) Hoffman, from out there (Bethel/Dillingham), played a major role in getting the construction funding in the bond package. Many kudos to him.

“We’ve been trying to figure out how to get the money to build it. So now they have the construction money needed to move forward,” Amundsen said.

According to Amundsen, the $20 million from the bond package provides for construction. Up until now the state was able to get the design done, thanks to a federal earmark that was pushed through by Rep. Don Young and Sen. Ted Stevens, several years ago. That $3 million earmark paid for environmental assessments, design and right-of-way acquisitions.

“Where we’re at now is we’ve got the design about 60 percent. As part of the federal process, at that point, we have to do a re-evaluation. A fed requirement,” Amundsen said.

They’re in the middle of the re-evaluation process, which Amundsen hopes to wrap up by the end of January; but the department ran into a speed bump.

In the process of re-evaluation, they learned they had to figure out whether or not an old Fish and Game counting station, located about a quarter-mile downstream from the bridge site, qualified for eligibility as a historical landmark.

“In the original evaluation, we didn’t consider that it may be old enough for eligibility under historical preservation statutes, while it might be old enough, it may not be.” Amundsen said.

If it’s eligible under federal or state historical preservation statutes, they’d then have to decide how to mitigate or minimize the impact of the improvements to the site.

“We don’t want the impact of a visible bridge to affect the character of the site,” Amundsen said. Although, he admitted, the site has lost its connection to what it originally was, and it is being used for storage by the current property owner.

But since some of the project is paid for with federal money, it’s a process. And historical preservation is part of the process.

“Once sorted out, we can move forward for purchasing right of way for the project,” Amundsen said.

“The right of way acquisition is its own process that will take from one year to 18 months. It’s a fairly drawn-out process,” he said.

The process is one set in place by the uniform act to protect residents and see to it that the state doesn’t take advantage of residents, and that they are paid fair market value for property and to minimize impact and help with relocation costs, according to Amundsen.

After acquisition, the state will put the job out for bid. He expects construction of the bridge to take two full summers and a winter in between. The project includes improvements to existing Suravak Road, which will be widened with shoulders, straightened, paved and extended to the bridge site. An approach roadway will also be built on the north side of the bridge.

Good outweighs fears
Although the economic benefits of the bridge to the community seem to outweigh the negatives, not all residents support the idea.

Mayor Smith said there is a group, maybe about 15 percent to 20 percent of the residents, who oppose the bridge.

There are some fears that the road to the north shore will get more people coming up into hunting areas, which could impact summer activities such as berry picking and hunting of caribou and moose for subsistence, the mayor said.

“I respect and understand their opposition, but for the greater good it’s always gone forward,” the mayor said.

“There is a lot of privately held land on north shore that will likely be developed. People in Dillingham will be able to have houses along the river. Likely, development will occur as a result of road access to the north shore,” the mayor said.

Mayor Smith lives on the south shore, so personally she doesn’t need the bridge, but she said she supports it because she sees it as being good overall.

There would be an increase of economic benefits to the community and more people will be able to seek employment in Dillingham, she said.

From the city’s perspective, Aleknagik has many duplicate services, two landfills, two city maintenance shops, and at one time, two clinics. With the bridge, these services can be consolidated, decreasing costs, and the schoolchildren would be together in their own village school.

And Aleknagik’s one village public safety officer, who now must cross the lake to carry out his patrols, will have easier access to both areas. Currently, he has a six-wheel all-terrain vehicle on the north shore that he uses to respond to emergencies, a couple boats, and on the south shore he has a regular police van and snowmachine, the mayor said.

Tammy Judd can be reached at 907-348-2438 or 800-770-9830 ext. 438.

Renewable energy is pushed statewide

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:27:00 -0900

The state’s energy czar says his new energy initiative could put Alaska entirely on clean, renewable power.

That is, if someone’s willing to pay for it.

Such an effort could reach into the billions of dollars.

The main feature of the initiative — scheduled to be released Dec. 17 — will include a database that could help some 350 Alaska communities decide whether they should build renewable energy projects in their area, such as wind turbines, said Steve Haagenson, executive director of Alaska Energy Authority.

The effort to gather information for the database, launched earlier this year when fuel prices soared, will estimate the money communities can save if they generate electricity and heat from wind, water, wood, fish oil or other sources.

Rural Alaska communities generally rely on diesel fuel to power buildings and heat homes. In part because the communities are so remote, their diesel and gas prices often double or triple what the rest of the country pays.

The initiative doesn’t address the state’s Railbelt communities from Fairbanks to Homer, Haagenson said. That study will be released in 2009.

Haagenson, speaking Dec. 8 to business leaders at a luncheon sponsored by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, offered an example of how the database will benefit an anonymous town in Alaska.

The amount saved, of course, would depend on the cost of diesel fuel.

The example — projected onto large screen — showed that the town might see little to no savings with crude oil at its current global price, which was around $40 a barrel last week.

But if the cost of oil rises, the community could save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, even millions, depending on the renewable energy project a community builds. The savings could come despite capital costs that could reach into the tens of millions of dollars, according to the example.

Crude oil prices will likely rise, and fast, Haagenson said.

“I’m not a petroleum predictor, but my gut’s telling me you have a very short window of time to get your act together and get off diesel,” he said.

The database will also estimate the amount of power each community will get from its renewable energy project. A community might decide to pursue hydropower instead of wind power because it will produce more electricity than the community needs. That excess power might be useful if a community plans to attract industry, such as a seafood processing plant.

Who will pay to build the projects?

Haagenson made no recommendations. He said the state should not pay operating costs.

It will be up to the communities to seek funding. They might decide to pool resources and provide power regionally, he said.

Reactions to the initiative were mixed.

Kate Troll, executive director of the Alaska Conservation Alliance, said it offers promise to increase the state’s green footprint. But she’d rather see a firm goal set rather than a “smorgasbord of options.”

Several other states, such as California, have benefitted economically by setting such goals, attracting investment from renewable energy companies, she said.

Alaska, which receives 24 percent of its power from renewable energy if you count dams in Southeast, should shoot for 50 percent by 2025, she said.

Helping villages break their oil addiction could make them sustainable, she said. High energy prices in villages and the higher cost of living that result are said to be factors in why villages are losing residents to larger cities.

“If we want our villages to survive, we have to be steadfast,” she said.

Meera Kohler, president of Alaska Village Electric Cooperative representing 53 villages, said the information about local power resources will be helpful.

But she’s worried that much of the renewable energy technology will be less dependable than diesel fuel. During an Alaska winter, that could mean the difference between life and death.

“I would be very loath to move to what I know to be a predictable and reliable energy source, diesel fuel, to something that’s not been tested in a mainstream scenario,” she said.

The new systems might also cost billions to create, but could be so technically sophisticated that experts may have to fly into remote communities to repair them.

The state could reduce its carbon footprint most significantly by creating a statewide power grid that connects every village, with regional transmission networks getting power from a combination of diesel and reliable renewable energy, she said.

AVEC’s board has set goals to reduce its diesel fuel use by 25 percent and to cut the number of power plants by 50 percent by connecting villages with electric ties, she said.

She has no idea what it would cost to build a statewide power grid, but said it should be part of the discussion.

Like Troll, Kohler also wants to see a plan, not just a list of options.

Now that the energy authority understands the potential power near many communities, the policy will be developed later with help from the Legislature and governor, Haagenson said.

Gov. Sarah Palin appointed Haagenson, former president and CEO of Golden Valley Electric Association in Fairbanks, as statewide energy coordinator in March.

Haagenson said he was initially asked to develop a policy, but wanted to get a better idea of the state’s energy potential. He also wanted to create a process that would engage Alaskans, so the initiative wouldn’t end up on a shelf like so many other plans.

This summer, he and others visited 28 communities, seeking input from around the state.

Palin wasn’t ready to comment on the initiative last week, said spokeswoman Sharon Leighow.

“The governor will hold off commenting on the energy plan until it’s released later this month,” she said.

At the luncheon, Haagenson answered a question from the audience about why the state hasn’t set renewable energy goals.

He said if the room of business leaders wants to make it happen, Alaska’s power could be 100 percent renewable — with no carbon dioxide emissions — in the near future.

“The question is, do you have the money to do it and do you have the fortitude to stay the course on that one?” he said.

Alex DeMarban can be reached at 907-348-2444 or 800-770-9830, ext. 444.

AARP tells Alaskans health care is ripe for reform

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:35:00 -0900

Health care providers and advocates who attended the 2008 Alaska Public Health Association Health Summit in Anchorage on Dec. 2 were given a message of hope.

In less than two months a new administration will walk through the White House halls in Washington. To JoAnn Lamphere, AARP director of state-government relations, health and long-term care, this means changes in the health care system are inevitable. The time is ripe for reform.

Lamphere, in a keynote speech, told conference attendees that the combination of the new administration’s vision and experience, current realities and more willingness and understanding from the side of health insurers are the reasons that this reform is more likely now than they have been for the past 15 years.

Lamphere noted increasing bi-partisan support, unsustainable coverage costs for employers, stakeholders seeking more value for their buck and a new appreciation of the cost of taking no action as some of the major facts driving reform.

“A third of healthcare delivered has questionable value,” Lamphere said. “Fifty percent of people with prime diseases are getting 50 percent of what they need.”

“Stakeholders are seeking more value for their buck.”

Alaska does not stand apart from these grim statistics. According to the Commonwealth Fund State Scorecard, Alaska is ranked 36th in access to mainstream health care and 49th in the quality of health care provided, putting the state in the bottom average for health care.

A chronic shortage in health professionals is a main contributor to these rankings, combined with the large number of Alaskans without medical insurance, and access by those insured by Medicare, according to Lamphere. Not to mention the physical accessibility to doctors in rural areas.

Reform, however, can only happen if all the parties involved — insurers, legislatures and stakeholders — work together and address the problem as a whole rather than picking individual fights on specific issues, according to Lamphere.

“To think of health care reform comprehensively allows the possibility for political compromise that might not be possible when dealing with single issues,” she said.

Although states can expect to receive help from Washington when such a reform takes place, it is important to continue work on the state-level in order to keep discussion alive in the public’s mind, Lamphere said.

“Health care reform must also address local problems and needs,” she said.

In order for reform to happen statewide a few things must be in place — a committed political leadership, and bi-partisan collaboration. While attention to details is important, perfection of policies can become the enemy of actual change. And along similar lines, Lamphere recommended that those pushing for change keep a close eye on the legislative clock and voting schedules, as those commonly tend to be forgotten.

Tamar Ben-Yosef can be reached at 907-348-2419 or 800-770-9830, ext. 419.

Akelkok flying higher in career

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:34:00 -0900

Audry Carol Akelkok, a 2005 graduate of Dillingham High School, has completed her basic military training. She graduated from the U.S. Air Force’s basic training on Oct. 3 after completing seven and a half vigorous weeks at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Airman 1st Class Akelkok is the daughter of Brenda and Elia Akelkok Jr., of Dillingham. She is the granddaughter of Anuska and the late Elia Akelkok Sr., of Dillingham, and Ben and Carol Davidson, of Bingham, Ill.

She is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force working in health services management. She will be stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, beginning in January. Her future plans include completing a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a minor in Russian, utilizing her military educational benefits.

Medics unable to save hypothermic woman

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:33:00 -0900

A Dillingham woman who was found unconscious in a snowmachine trail has died.

At about 12:45 p.m. on Nov. 26, a local resident who was cross-country skiing reported an unconscious person lying in a snowmachine trail on the Flats near the end of the Wood River Road.

Dillingham Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel and Dillingham police responded to the area and, utilizing a snowmachine supplied by a local resident, drove to the scene.

Other people with snowmachines responded to the area to break trail through soft snow to assist rescue personnel in moving the woman, who appeared to be suffering from severe hypothermia, from the Flats to a waiting ambulance.

Kim McCambley, 21, of Dillingham, was transported to Kanakanak Hospital by ambulance. Hospital personnel and emergency medical technicians worked to support McCambley’s breathing and heart functions and raise her core body temperature for about six and a half hours. McCambley was pronounced dead at about 9 p.m.

The state Medical Examiner’s Office was contacted and advised of the known circumstances of the death. No autopsy was ordered; and while alcohol is suspected as a factor, no foul play is suspected.

Officers of the Dillingham Department of Public Safety are conducting further interviews into the circumstances surrounding McCambley’s death.

Members of the public with information regarding the investigation are urged to contact the Police Department at 842-5354.

Coalition backs online dividend donations

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0900

The Alaska Giving Coalition, a loose affiliation of nonprofits with an aim of increasing philanthropy in the state, has started a statewide effort to promote donations of 2009 Permanent Fund dividends to qualifying nonprofits or to campuses of the University of Alaska.

“This is a safe and secure way to make a donation,” says Jim Caldarola, chair of the Alaska Giving Coalition. “Our hope is that Alaskans use this option to start a tradition of giving or to increase their charitable contributions.”

Caldarola explained that the promotional campaign will use television, radio, print, a Web site, a blog and social media. He said the Rasmuson Foundation, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and Conoco Phillips are helping to underwrite the campaign. Information also will be available in the PFD booklet that is sent to each Alaska home.

“After seeing and hearing the ads and spending time at the new Web site, we believe Alaskans will better understand the PFD charitable contributions program and will be motivated to use it as a way to support organizations they care about,” Caldarola said. “We face huge economic challenges right now and it’s critical that we continue giving to Alaska’s nonprofits — many of whom provide essential lifelines to people in need around the state. Using our PFD checks is an excellent way to do this.”

More than 330 organizations qualified for the 2009 program. Each met a series of criteria laid out in the law establishing the program, which was passed by the Legislature in May. The program is authorized for three years, at which time it will be evaluated and the Legislature will decide whether to continue it. A new application process will occur for years two and three of the project, allowing other organizations the opportunity to become qualified.

The Alaska Giving Coalition is affiliated with the Foraker Group, which has offered support services to strengthen nonprofit entities in the state since 2001.

In addition to the Web site — www.PickClickGive.org — information is available by calling 888-785-4438 or by sending an e-mail to pfdinfo@forakergroup.org.

Grant wishes for better Alaska communities

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:27:00 -0900

As First Alaskans Institute celebrated 11 projects that it funded with community-development grants this year at a dinner in Anchorage, board chairman Willie Hensley noted that the deadline is coming fast for 2009 projects.

“We will have $300,000 available next year,” he said: Applications must be received by mail, fax or e-mail no later than 5 p.m. on Dec. 18.

For the third year, FAI will make $20,000 to $50,000 available to selected pre-school education activities that prepare children for success in school and promote youth leadership development and cultural learning. Successful applicants will “result in long-term measurable outcomes and project sustainability,” Hensley said.

Susan Welch-Smith, who charmed the dinner crowd with a slide show of pre-schoolers dressed as bakers and Alutiiq hunters at the Ninilchik Traditional Council, said children in her program “learned how to share, which is a biggie!” The Ninilchik children learned how to prepare and serve snacks, and they also participated in music and other cultural programs.

Older students were featured in two other presentations.

Twelve high-school students came to the Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak and learned to carve masks in the traditional style. Museum director Sven Haakanson and master carver Perry Eaton, who taught the students, showed a video of the workshop funded by a 2008 community-development grant from FAI.

“It was a phenomenal opportunity for these students to interact with their culture,” Haakanson said, “and to learn more about it from elders who taught them about language and tradition during the workshop.”

High school students and elders also connected in the third grant featured during the dinner program. The Interior Aleutians Campus of UAF used $48,385 to host a three-week camp, called “Elders Academy” at Gaaleeya Spirit Camp.

“It got interesting right away, watching the kids trying to pitch their tents,” said Amelia Ruerup, who also presented a video. “The students got to do a lot of things that they don’t get to do at home in the city.”

Elders at the camp functioned like temporary grandparents, she said, as they taught students everything from traditional dance to making fish nets to making moose soup.

Some students were shy or not too interested in Athabascan dance at first, she said, but after a day or two it was irresistible.

“We had two Athabascan fiddlers there and everybody learned to two-step and jig,” she said. “Even elders who had difficulty walking were up and dancing. Nobody was sitting on the sidelines at the end.”

For application forms and eligibility requirements for 2009 grants, go online at firstalaskans.org or call 907-677-1700.

Mike Peters can be reached at 907-348-2433 or 800-770-9830, ext. 243.

Grant winners

Groups and projects that won community investment grants in 2008:

Kodiak Native Association ($29,123): Helped to prepare children entering kindergarten with a foundation for learning reading, writing, and math with a new outdoor environmental curriculum. Regional affiliation: Koniag Inc.

Ninilchik Village Tribe ($25,000): Enhanced the only early childhood education program available on this 80-mile stretch of the Sterling Highway with age-appropriate educational and group activities. Regional affiliation: Cook Inlet Regional Corp.

Goldbelt Heritage Foundation ($49,000): Enhanced programs on Alaska Native oral history traditions and traditional science activities for youth, including seal bio-sampling lessons, to help students understand science by using both Western and traditional knowledge. Regional affiliation: Sealaska Corp.

Interior Aleutians Campus/UAF ($48,385): Three-week “Elders Academy” combined elder mentoring, cultural activities, academics, outdoor life, gardening and leadership development — helping Alaska Native students, grades 8-12, succeed during the regular academic year. Regional affiliation: Doyon Ltd.

Sealaska Heritage Institute ($32,578): A series of four summer camps integrated Native language instruction with an activity familiar to and popular with Native youth in every rural community: basketball. Regional affiliation: Sealaska Corp.
Alutiiq Heritage Foundation ($25,710): Connect Alutiiq elders and youths in cultural learning with a 10-day mask-carving workshop centered on the Alutiiq Museum’s “Giinaquq: Like a Face Exhibition.” Regional affiliation: Koniag Inc.

Woody Island Tribal Council ($18,405): Teamed elders with an environmental educator to instruct tribal members and the community regarding traditional and new methods of subsistence harvest and processing, providing an educational opportunities for youth. Regional affiliation: Koniag Inc.

Chilkoot Indian Association ($24,902): Provided mentors in a structured program to create the essential cultural identity connection youth need to build confidence. Elders also assisted in the development of a Tlingit dance group. Regional Affiliation: Sealaska Corp.

Native Village of Afognak ($20,000): Four summer youth camps with themes built around the Alutiiq culture, expanding students’ relationships with elders and other local culture bearers. Regional affiliation: Koniag Inc.

RurAL CAP Inc. ($8,900): Created an advisory committee made up of youth leaders from rural communities who helped plan, implement and evaluate the 2008 Rural Providers Conference. Regional affiliation: Ahtna Inc.

Safe & Fear-Free Environment Inc. ($22,000): to establish an elders and youth council to promote community engagement, asset building, and strengthening of the local culture. Regional affiliation: Bristol Bay Native Corp.

Part-time passion for animals brings long-term honor

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:26:00 -0900

Henry Springer, 72, has been interested in birds all his life. At age 10, while growing up in Germany, Springer would help a taxidermist around his shop, and he was able to try his hand at taxidermy.

His interest in birds became a personal passion about 50 years ago, and for more than 40 years, he’s ardently shared his research with the staff at the University of Alaska’s ornithology department.

The university honored Springer’s service last week when the Board of Regents and the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks dedicated the museum’s ornithology laboratory in his name.

Museum bird curator Kevin Winker calls Springer “a classic 19th century naturalist” and considers Springer to be an expert on international permitting as well as an extremely talented taxidermist.

When on the receiving end, Springer still prefers to be giving. That’s why he brought specimens to donate to the museum during the dedication.

“They’re good additions to the university, something for future generations to learn from and see,” Springer said.

Winker noted that Springer’s specimen donations have broadened both the geographic and taxonomic scope of the museum’s collection.

When Springer was a young man going to school, he took some ornithology courses but ultimately chose to study engineering as a profession.

“Ornithology is a highly competitive business, it doesn’t pay all that well, so I had to look to making a living,” Springer said. “Professional ornithologists have to compete for grants, have to be competitive. I feel really fortunate that I don’t have to do that.”

Springer had a long successful career as an engineer in construction circles and with Alaska Department of Transportation. He pursued ornithology on the side.

“Sometimes, during my life, I’ve had real balancing acts between job and that. In construction it was easy to combine, because you’re working on a project out in Mother Nature. So it was easy to combine.”

For lengthier trips, he would occasionally take a sabbatical.

Although a private, international collector, Springer would work closely with the museum.

“It’s worked out good for the university,” he said. If they had trouble doing certain things, he’d do them.

“I’d do several things. I collected worldwide. I’d go into different areas and collect. I would get permits in those countries.”

He collected in countries such as Africa, Asia, Europe and Russia. He has worked and still works with museums in other countries to arrange exchanges and loans. He’s worked with about 20 museums in different countries but has always coordinated with the curator from UAF.

“Universities trade and exchange all the time, and UAF is part of the whole global museum. UAF is definitely a scientific collection of high standing,” Springer said.

“It’s almost impossible for a collection like ours to add historically important research material without contributions like Henry’s,” Winker says. He notes that Springer’s most recent specimen donations will serve as tangible examples of wildlife management mistakes and successes.

“The value to science and education is huge,” Winker said.

Springer, who has retired from engineering, now resides in Anchorage.

He visits the Fairbanks campus every few months but keeps in constant touch with the curator through e-mail, dealing with concerns about paperwork for imports.

“Nowadays, it’s a weird world. It takes over a year to a year and a half to set up a collecting trip, to get all the permits and rights of entry. There are so many (import/export) laws. It’s become complex,” Springer said.

“There are a lot of agencies everywhere, from the exporting country and importing country. It’s involved and complex just to do the logistics,” he said.

Springer usually plans one to two collecting trips a year. He’s planning to go back to Europe in March but right now there are complications.

“It’s difficult to import and export anywhere bird flu has been found,” Springer said.

At the laboratory dedication, Springer donated four specimens including an extinct passenger pigeon, which was given to him by an eccentric millionaire in New York who made Springer promise not to let it get out of the United States; and a Socorro dove, which came from a breeder in Germany. Socorro doves are extinct in the wild. By breeding in captivity, scientists hope in 20 years or so, they may have enough to introduce them back in the wild. He also donated two common doves: a mourning dove and an eared dove.

Springer said ornithology gives added meaning to his retirement.

“It’s an interesting subject matter, and it’s rewarding whenever you can contribute knowledge. It’s quite fulfilling to feel you can do something that has some meaning.”

“Ornithology is a good way to keep my spirit and soul intact,” Springer said.

Tammy Judd can be reached at 907-348-2438 or 800-770-9830, ext. 438.