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Yuut Yaqungviat
celebrates 3 successes

9-1-10

Johnny Andrew, Kwigillingok
Mr. Johnny Andrew was proud of flying his First Solo at Bethel, AK, on June 30, 2010. His flight instructor, Mr. Roberto Guerrero feels that he is very focused on his training, and it won’t be too long before he gets his Private Pilot Certificate. Shortly after that, Mr. Andrew will be working towards his Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot Certificate. People from the village of Kwigillingok are proud of Mr. Andrew and his accomplishments on his aviation career, and so are his parents Johnny Andrew Sr., and Janet Andrew.
Matthew Joseph
Finally, Mother Nature cooperated a bit, it did not rain for a couple of days, and Mr. Matthew Joseph, was able to take to the skies by himself - First Solo - at Kwethluk, AK. On August 13th, 2010. Mr. Roberto Guerrero, who is his flight instructor, was very happy to see him doing so. His next step is to get his Private Pilot Certificate, followed by his Instrument Rating as well as the Commercial Pilot Certificate. Mr. Joseph is proud to be from Pilot Station, AK, and he is the son of Mr. Mathew Joseph Sr. and Henrietta Joseph.
Jared M. Fitka
On August 24th, 2010, and under overcast skies, Mr. Jared M. Fitka, was able to get his practical Private Pilot check ride done with Mr. Bruce Perry (Flight Examiner), at Bethel, AK. Mr. Fitka’s next goal is to get his Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot Certificate. Jared is the son of John Fitka and Alice Fitka from Tuntutuliak. Mr. Fitka was under the watchful eyes of his instructor, Mr. Roberto Guerrero, who feels very proud and satisfied with Jared’s aviation progress. Roberto said that one of these days Mr. Fitka will be flying commercially for one of the local companies.
The flight school students would like to thank AVCP, CVRF, KNA, YDFDA, State of Alaska Workforce Development Program, United Utilities, Alaska Air Carriers Association, Alaska Airlines, AVEC, Calista, Brown Agency, Lynden Group, and the tribes of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta for making it possible for them to accomplish their training with Yuut Yaqungviat, LLC. The flight school would like to thank Era Alaska for hiring commercial pilots as soon as they are done with their flight training.
If you are interested in pursuing a career as a Professional Pilot, contact Thad Tikiun, Student Services Manager at Yuut Yaqungviat, ph 907-543-7209, or toll free, 1-888-543-7209 to request a student pilot application, or visit the website at www.yuutyaqungviat.org.

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Test scores only tell part of the story

7-27-10

by Mark Biberg

Recently, I had the privilege of teaching summer school in Tuluksak. It was a time of sharing, growth, interaction and learning. On average, 20-30 students per day attended summer school and participated in a variety of activities: making tie-dye T-shirts, constructing model rockets, doing water testing and taking nature walks to learn about the flora and fauna of the village. In addition, we read stories about Yup’ik history and culture as well as creating stories of our own. The students had smiles on their faces and were excited about learning.
During the second week of summer school, we took a group of students out to fish camp to learn about subsistence. The students worked together to set up tents, organize camp and gather wood.
We were able to get out on the river to set net. After a lesson in patience, we worked as a team to bring in the net and get the fish into the boat. Traveling on the river gave us a chance to learn about local geography, river navigation and water safety. Back at camp, we had lessons in cutting fish, hanging them on drying racks and in smokehouses. The students were learning through culture, not just about culture, and they were enthusiastic about learning.
One thing that I will always remember about the community of Tuluksak is the hospitality and generosity of the people. When I got to the village, people welcomed me and invited me to their fish camps to visit. Young people would follow me around asking if I wanted play a game and just share a moment with them. People I had know from previous years offered me salmon strips, dried fish and told me the coffee was always brewing at camp and to be sure to stop over. The young people had smiles on their faces, excitement in their play and always showed the hospitality that is innate among the Yup’ik people of the region.
Much has been said about the test scores and the challenges that the Yupiit School District faces. Those test scores only tell part of the story. During the ‘05-’06 school year, Tuluksak made AYP (adequate yearly progress) in all areas except graduation rate. The students in Tuluksak attend Answer camp, State Close-Up, and are very active in the local Moravian church. Several students have participated in the Rose Rural Urban Exchange program, traveling to Anchorage to study and experience life in the big city. Students have participated in the Junior Iditarod and other sled dog races. I could go on, but the point here is that by looking merely at test scores, we miss the human element. Most of the students come to school every day willing to learn and try their best. They have goals, hopes and dreams and work hard to manifest those aspirations.
Success in rural schools is a complicated formula, but history gives us some help. What works is teachers who stay in a community for more than a year and take time to develop positive relationships with students; what works is having a curriculum relevant to the local culture and history; what works is to get community leaders (and elders) involved in the educational process; what works is to adapt state standards into local grade level expectations that have meaning to the students’ lives; what works is to involve community and students in creating the curriculum.
I know the young people of Tuluksak, and they are perfectly capable of succeeding. All they need is more people to motivate them, believe in them, nurture them and share with them the beauty of teaching and learning.
But the change that needs to occur must come from within. A renaissance is going to happen in Tuluksak, but it will come from the hearts and minds of the intelligent and wonderful Yup’ik people who live there, not from Juneau.
Mark Biberg taught social studies in Tuluksak from 2004 to 2009 and during the summer of 2010. He is an advocate of placed-based learning, local control of curriculum and utilizing the local knowledge of the elders in the learning process.

Kuskokwim Watershed Council Brownfield response program

What is a Watershed?
A watershed is the Region which contributes to the water supply of a river. The Kuskokwim Watershed is the land that drains to the Kuskokwim and its tributaries. Whatever pollutes the air and the land, will pollute the river. Protecting the land and the water is the best way to protect the river and the life that depends upon it.
What is a brownfield?
A brownfield is a piece of industrial or commercial property that is abandoned or underused and often environmentally contaminated, especially one considered as a potential site for redevelopment. (Definition according to the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.)
Any property potentially contaminated, previously contaminated, or perceived by a community to be contaminated with hazardous substances, including petroleum products, may be eligible for assistance from the State of Alaska or the federal government to support reuse and revitalization efforts. This assistance may include environmental assessment, cleanup, and job training. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) assists eligible sites in Alaska in applying for different types of EPA brownfield grants.
Abandoned tank farms are considered possible contaminated sites.
DEC also provides oversight to protect public health in the cleanup and management of brownfield sites. Nearly a decade ago, EPA initiated a program to clean up brownfields. The program focused primarily on properties in urban blighted areas and was designed to empower states, communities, and others with economic redevelopment interests to assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields, as well as to prevent the creation of new brownfields.
As the program has developed, rural land and properties are increasingly eligible for assistance, with reuse for fish and wildlife habitat, subsistence, greenspace, or recreational uses. More details are available on EPA’s website about the formal definition of a brownfield site for the purposes of determining eligibility for federal funding, and what kinds of sites are included or excluded in the definition.
In 2002, Congress expanded the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and increased funding authority for the federal Brownfields Program.
The Kuskokwim River Watershed Council is dedicated to maintaining and promoting traditional subsistence life for the residents of the Kuskokwim River Watershed and to helping people in the Kuskokwim protect their most precious resource. The Executive Board of Directors are Ivan M. Ivan, Chairman; Rose Kalistook, Vice Chairman; Denny Thomas and Elsie Bobby, Members. The staff are Calvin Simeon, Executive Director; and Joey Billy, Brownfield Coordinator.
A list of contaminated sites can be viewed at http://www.dec.state.ak.us/spar/csp/db_search.htm.

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Bethel Council votes down introduction of Toxic Substances ordinance

7-21-10

by K. J. Lincoln

An ordinance to place on the October 5th, 2010 election ballot a referendum advising the City of Bethel of the need to enact regulation of certain toxic substances from being transported through, used, discharged, or generated within the city limits of the City of Bethel was narrowly negated by a vote of 3-3.
Voting in opposition were Mayor Joseph Klejka, and council members Thor Williams and Allen Hippler. Council member Heather Pike did not participate in the voting after declaring a conflict of interest in regards to her day job
The ordinance, had it passed, would have put forth in front of the voting public of Bethel this question: “Should the City of Bethel enact comprehensive regulation of cyanide and other toxic chemicals to ensure to our own standards the health of the people of the region, and to protect the environment and water resources of Bethel and the YK Delta?”
Vice mayor Eric Middlebrook sponsored the introduction of the ordinance.
“As we know cyanide is a very toxic chemical. Just a small amount, one supersac, will probably pollute the whole river and kill every fish from here to Johnson River in a couple hours, it is extremely toxic,” said Middlebrook. “I think that people have a right to weigh in and make their own decisions on whether they want to support the mine and whether they want to be handling these toxic chemicals that are going to be necessary for the mine.”
Middlebrook also stated that the ordinance is not meant to enact regulations to put a tollgate on the river and that the city council does not have the authority to do that.
Council member Rick Robb said that he would support introducing the ordinance but would not vote for it.
“This is kind of a tough one. What it really is is a referendum on the mine. And if we want to have a referendum on the mine, and put it to the voters, we should call it that, ‘Should the city support the mine?’ Yes or no? At this point I would not support passing it,” he said.
Council member Williams said that a municipality cannot impede commerce in any way and that he cannot be in favor of an ordinance just for the sake of introducing it.
“I am not in favor of these types of ordinances until the mine is in the permitting process,” he said.
The only way the city will have any impact on cyanide, said council member Hippler, is if the City of Bethel somehow manages to entice the Donlin Creek Mine to base their logistics in Bethel.
“I am in agreement that we cannot pass ordinances that would restrict the flow of cyanide up and down the river. This would only affect what goes on right here in Bethel. I need to reiterate this is an advisory vote,” said Vice mayor Middlebrook prior to the voting. “We are getting advice from the citizens. We cannot be sued for getting advice from the citizens.”

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Tevyaraq Railway Tram Project

6-16-10

The Western Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration, in providing services to the Denali Commission, will be hosting public meetings regarding the Tevyraq Railway Tram project.
The DOT is in the process of completing environmental compliance activities and developing plans for the design and construction of improvements to the wooden structure that connects two lakes. The tram is a key element in a nearly 100-mile traditional small boat route that traverses lakes, sloughs, and rivers to provide a connection to the Bering Sea.
Why should you attend this meeting?
The meeting will provide information on the project and solicit public comments for consideration during the design phase.
The project purpose is to:
•Make improvements to allow for better function of the existing boat tram system;
•Reduce impacts to the tundra and improving safety by providing a better surface for walking alongside the tram to push boats along the rails;
•Improve the tram termini to allow for an efficient transfer of boats from the water to the tram.
Public Meeting: Thursday, June 17, 2010; 1:00 p.m. Kasigluk (at the Beginning of the Unit 6 Meeting) and 6:30 p.m. in Bethel at the Longhouse Hotel Meeting Room.

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Amending the Duck
Stamp Requirement

6-3-10

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich introduced legislation that would eliminate the law requiring Alaskans to purchase duck stamps for subsistence purposes last week.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has announced that beginning this spring, it will enforce a regulation requiring subsistence hunters to purchase and carry duck stamps when hunting or when gathering the eggs of birds. This requirement presents additional burdens to Alaskans living a subsistence lifestyle. In many small towns and villages, duck stamps may not be readily available. In addition, purchasing stamps may present a hardship for those who live subsistence lifestyles, many of whom depend upon the taking of birds for economic, cultural and dietary reasons. The Murkowski/Begich bill would amend the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 to remove this requirement on Alaskans who take birds or eggs for subsistence purposes.
Under the current law, exemptions are made for hunters under the age of 16, federal and state institutions, taking of birds for propagation, and for landowners and sharecroppers when birds are found to be causing damage to crops or property.
In addition, the requirement that subsistence users obtain stamps for takings is inconsistent with agreements made under the migratory bird treaty between the United States and Canada. In 1996, the treaty was amended requiring that non-wasteful takings of migratory birds and collection of eggs be allowed so long as the takings were done for the traditional and nutritional needs of Alaskan subsistence users.
“Removing the duck stamp requirement for substance purposes will enable many of our first peoples to maintain their subsistence ways of life without unnecessary regulation,” said Murkowski. “If exemptions can be made for crops or population management, then it is only reasonable to make an exception to protect traditional ways of Native life.”
“The duck stamp requirement is costly, overly burdensome for hunters and enforcement officers, and is contrary to subsistence uses,” Sen. Begich said. “Many subsistence users in Alaska have little opportunity to participate in the cash economy and depend on the ability to take migratory birds for their physical, economic and cultural existence.”
The bill has been referred to the Environment and Public Works Committee.

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Invasion of the
Yukon-Kuskokwim Region

5-13-10

by Dave Cannon

Introduced or non-native plants are not a common sight on the Delta or middle Yukon and Kuskokwim Regions, but they are beginning to pop up in several locations. Unfortunately, the more one looks the more likely they’ll be found.
However, just because a plant is not a native species doesn’t mean that it poses a threat. Many introduced species provide all kinds of benefits. It would cost that much more money to live here if we couldn’t grow our own potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, etc. No one could argue that many ornamentals such as wave petunias, begonias and fuschias are a pleasant addition to any household. One of the joys of summer is to encounter the eye catching beauty of a colorful garden when visiting a fish camp or wandering through a village on a gorgeous summer day. As a cheechako, one of my highlights was seeing my first humongous Alaskan head of lettuce in the village of Georgetown.
There are over 300 introduced plants in Alaska, some of which have been here for over 100 years. Unfortunately, some of these non-natives pose serious risks, and those that do are called invasives. The worst of the invasive plants are considered noxious weeds, which are officially designated by the State as injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife or property.
Invasive plants can affect ecosystem processes by altering forage and cover for insects, moose, bear, salmon, waterfowl and other species. Invasive plants generally favor disturbed or developed areas which is why they’re much more common along the road system and larger cities. Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Homer and Kodiak have already experienced the negative impacts of numerous invasive species. Japanese knotweed, for example, has displaced salmon berry patches in the Juneau area. Orange hawkweed has infested remote sections of Kodiak Island and reduced the amount of native vegetation available to various wildlife.
Invasive plants are spread by vectors which transport the seeds or portions of plants that then take hold when given the opportunity. Wind and water (e.g.., rivers) can be vectors, birds and animals can carry the seeds on their fur or feathers or in their scat. Humans, one of the most efficient vectors, transport invasives via vehicles on roadways, via boats, airplanes and by heavy machinery moved around the state. Hikers and hunters on trails traversing the woods scatter seeds as they walk. And floatplanes are the ideal means of transporting invasive aquatic plants.
To give you an idea of just how widespread and burdensome invasive plants can be, it’s estimated that worldwide $1.4 trillion is spent annually in attempts to control them; Idaho annually spends $300 million while Montana spends $14 million each year on spotted knapweed alone, which has been found at over ten sites from Ketchikan to Anchorage. Although it might be safe to say that Alaska will likely never see the widespread infestations that those other states have because of our extreme climatic conditions, we don’t know that for sure…especially with the current climate change trends. Therefore, we must be vigilant and address the situation now – for an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
So please use discretion when contemplating planting a non-native flower or plant, for it could turn out to be the worst thing you ever did. Several local residents wished they’d never planted flowering spirea and yellow toadflax (a.k.a butter and eggs) years ago; now they can’t get rid of them, at least not without using herbicides. Yellow toadflax, also known to occur in Napaimute and McGrath, is a persistent and aggressive invader that can form dense colonies and contains a poisonous glucoside that is moderately poisonous to livestock.
Those two plants were planted intentionally, but others have arrived through different means. Here on the Delta and surrounding area one of the main vectors of unwanted plant species is straw. A recent study conducted by the BLM along the Iditarod Trail found 18 non-native plants, mostly around the checkpoint areas. The Iditarod race committee does its best to use certified weed free straw, but that’s a limited commodity in Alaska. A relatively small amount is produced within the state so it’s often purchased from Washington or Oregon. Unfortunately, what may not be invasive in those states may be a species of concern in Alaska. Hence, there are no guarantees that additional invasives aren’t being perpetuated.
We already know of a substantial hempnettle infestation in Aniak which may have come in via some agricultural activity years ago. Hempnettle creates a dense vegetative layer that reduces the cover of grasses and other plants and consumes soil moisture and limited nutrients; it is considered a noxious weed in Canada and Alaska. One of the reasons that hempnettle is so difficult to control is that their seeds can lay dormant for seven years before sprouting.
So the sad story is that total prevention and elimination of all invasive threats is impossible; we can only do the best we can individually. However, we must make an effort to minimize the potential. If you’re in a known area with an infestation, brush your pant legs and shoes off before leaving. If you have a pet, brush them too. Check your boat and remove any seeds that may have fallen in or on it. The more people are aware of the problem, the less of a chance that we’ll end up with something we don’t want. An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure.
In plant lingo, it’s best to nip this problem in the bud early. We are, however, fortunate here on the Delta in that we can minimize this serious threat if we make a concerted effort to identify invasives early and take action to prevent their spread. Prevention is the best tool and much cheaper than reacting once they establish themselves. But identifying outbreaks early and responding to them quickly is critical.
I’ve taken a one-year position as the Invasive Plant Coordinator for the Mid Yukon-Kuskokwim District, one of 14 positions statewide under the Alaska Association of Conservation Districts funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. I’ll be traveling to many of the villages this summer and fall giving presentations and documenting what invasives are present. If you know of any suspect plants, please call me at 675-4443. An accurate description and location would be helpful.
Dave Cannon is a resident of Aniak, AK.

Rural Alaska Girl
Scout Day Camps 2010

by Amy Von Diest Carlson

Village based Girl Scout day camps will be happening throughout southwest and southeast Alaska starting right after school ends. Over 1,300 girls will be involved in southwest Alaska this summer.
Alaska Job Corps Students from throughout the region will be assisting with camp this summer. Camps dates below may change slightly due to weather delays.
Southwest Based Camps:
Hooper Bay: Tues. May 18 - Sun. May 23
Chevak: Tues. May 25 - Sat. May 29
Chefornak: Tues. May 25 - Sun. May 30
Scammon Bay: Mon. May 31 - Fri. June 4
Tuntutuliak: Tues. June 1 - Sat. June 5
Akiak: Sun. June 6 - Sat. June 10
Kongiganak: Mon. June 7 - Thurs. June 10
Akiachak: Fri. June 11 - Tues. June 15
St. Mary’s: Sat. June 12 - Tues. June 15
Kotlik: Thurs. June 17 - Tues. June 22
Mountain Village: Wed. June 16 - Mon. June 21
Emmonak: Wed. June 23 - Sun. June 27
Marshall: Tues. June 22 - Sun. June 27
Kwethluk: Tues. June 29 - Sat. July 3
Pilot Station: Tues. June 29 - Fri. July 2
Tununak: Tues. July 6 - Sun. July 11
Atmautluak: Mon. July 5 - Sat. July 10
Newtok: Tues. July 13 - Fri. July 16
Kasigluk: Fri. July 11 - Thurs. July 17
Toksook Bay: Sat. July 17 - Wed. July 21
Nunapitchuk: Fri. July 18 - Wed. July 23
Quinhagak: Fri. July 23 - Mon. July 28
Kwigillingok: Sat. July 24 - Tues. July 27
New Stuyahok: Wed. July 28 - Sun. August 1
Kipnuk: Thurs. July 29 - Mon. August 2
Manokotak: Tues. August 3 - Sat. August 7
Napakiak: Tues. August 3 - Sat. August 7
Dillingham: Mon. August 9 - Fri. August 13
Bethel: Mon. August 9 - Fri. August 13
ALL girls ages 5-17 are invited to come to Girl Scout day camp. This year we are asking for donations from families. A suggested donation of $10 per girl or $30 per family would be appreciated. Girls love Girl Scouts! Donate what you can to help us reach girls throughout rural Alaska.
Girl Scout activities can be started any time of year. Many communities often keep a Girl Scout program going for the girls following camp. Any community can start a program and Amy Carlson can help you get started.
For questions regarding upcoming camps or the Girl Scout program please contact Amy by email at acarlson@girlscoutsalaska.org or by phone at 1-800-478-7448.
If you want to have your daughter attend camps on the road system visit our website (www.girlscoutsalaska.org ) or give us a call for more details.
Thank you and see you this summer, Amy.

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Techies on the Tundra:
LKSD Students and their
robots go the distance!

5-5-10

by Marc Leinberger

This past weekend, LKSD hosted its inaugural high school FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competition at BRHS. Students, teachers and judges alike called it huge success! It was the culminating event for a school-year-long series of pilot courses through VTC instruction in LKSD. A total of eight teams from Kwethluk, Napaskiak, Oscarville, Akiuk, Tununak, and Kwigillingok participated.
This year’s challenge was “Hot Shots”, with the object to work as a team to design a robot that would score whiffle balls in either a low, high or off-field goal while incurring as few penalties as possible. Matches consisted of a 30 second autonomous period followed by a 2 minute teleoperated period. Alliances composed of 2 teams with the highest scores win a match. Robots were programmed using National Instruments’ LabView v9.0 language and consisted of a programmable brick, servo and motor controllers, Logitech teleoperated joysticks, Bluetooth connectivity, gears, wheels, motors and servos. Teams were also allowed to use other materials from a supplementary list of parts.
The competition and activities format was as follows:
Mechanical Engineering Inspection
Software Inspection
Pit Area (mechanical and programming stations to fix stuff and receive tech help)
Team Engineering Notebook
Team Interview
Practice Matches and Field Control System software training
Tech Help
7 Qualifying Matches
Alliance Team Selection
Alliance Matches Single Elimination, best 2 out of 3 advances
Multimedia Presentation “Our Journey” by students from Oscarville
Each and every student put in their best effort and had fun with this challenge!!
FTC Awards and comments by judges (numbers refer to official FIRST Tech Challenge registered team number)
Finalist Alliance: This trophy is awarded to the runner-up alliance of teams represented in the final match: 3497B - Kwethluk (Magical Monkeys); 3503 – Oscarville.
Winning Alliance: This award goes to the teams in the winning alliance represented in the final match: 3498B – Kwigillingok; 3496 – Napaskiak.
Connect Award: This award is given to the team that is most connected with their local community and the engineering community. The recipient of this award is recognized for helping the community understand FIRST, the FIRST Tech Challenge, and the team itself. This year’s team demonstrated gracious professionalism throughout the competition – cooperating with other teams and helping where needed: 3499 – “Tununak Coasters”.
Think Award: This award is given to the team that best reflects the “journey” the team took as they experienced the engineering design process during the build season (as demonstrated in their Engineering Notebook.) The engineering notebook for this year’s team was amazing. The notebook showed incredible documentation, good detail, and a sense of humor: 3500 – “The 3 Stoogets” from Akiuk.
Innovate Award: The Innovate Award celebrates a team that not only thinks outside the box, but also has the ingenuity and inventiveness to make their designs come to life. The judges were very impressed with this year’s team’s ability to make innovative modifications to their programming at the competition: 3497B – “The Magical Monkeys” from Kwethluk.
Inspire Award: This is the top award – the Grand Champion. This award honors the team that truly embodies the “challenge” of the FTC program. They are role models in the FIRST community. The team is a top contender for all other judging categories and is a strong competitor on the field. Inspire Award winners are an inspiration to other teams, acting with gracious professionalism both on and off the Playing Field.
This year’s Inspire Award winner was very enthusiastic throughout the tournament and the judging process. They designed a sturdy, well-built robot with many unique functions. They were also the only team that could score in the outer goal. It is a great pleasure to give this year’s Inspire Award to: Team 3503 – “J-Clank” from Oscarville.
Special thanks go to BRHS for hosting the event, and the judges: Amy Wald - Kuskokwim Campus, Brian Rendell - LKSD Career and Technical Education, Agusta Lind - Alaska Statewide Teacher Mentor Network, Matt Cullin - UAA College of Engineering, and Tom Johnson and family - UAF College of Engineering and MInes
Marc Leinberger is the LKSD FLL and FTC Robotics Coordinator.

Bethel post office hit by burglars

Between 8pm on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 and 6:30am on Thursday, April 22, 2010, the Bethel Post Office was burglarized.
At approximately 7:00am on Thursday, Officers responded to the United States Post Office in reference to the burglary. Someone broke in and did damage to the side door, safe, mail and other items within the cargo area of the post office.
Officers found several items on the floor, which appeared to have been used to attempt to break into the vault and snack machine.
Officers conducted an investigation and collected evidence for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. At this time, the investigation is ongoing and several items of evidence have been released to U.S. Postal Inspection Service to be sent to the Federal Crime Lab.
The US Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for this serious federal crime.
Anyone with information about this burglary should call the US Postal Inspection Service at 907-261-6321 (Anchorage), or the Bethel Police Department at 543-3781. All information will be considered confidential.

Alaska Veterans invited
to Town Hall Meetings

The Alaska Veterans Advisory Council will host several upcoming town hall meetings throughout the state to address veterans’ concerns with the goal of improving veteran services in Alaska.
Officials in attendance will provide guidance in the areas of healthcare, home loans, education, benefits, and disability and compensation, as well as address any specific personal issues veterans may be facing. Veterans, military service personnel and family members are encouraged to attend and participate.
After these town hall meetings, the AVAC, a group of 13 veterans from across the state appointed by current and past governors, will relay concerns and questions to the Joint Alaska State Legislative Veterans’ Caucus and the State of Alaska Veterans Affairs office. This information will be used to establish agenda items for the annual Veterans Summit June 24 in Wasilla. The Veterans Summit brings together a large number of key veterans who assist state legislators in establishing changes that affect veterans in Alaska.
A final report will be presented to the Alaska State Legislature Joint Armed Services Committee and the governor in February 2011.
Town hall meetings are currently scheduled for:
May 4: Eagle River, Town Center community room, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
May 10: Fairbanks, Noel Wien Public Library, 4:00 – 7:00 PM
May 14: Bethel, City Council Chambers, 3:00 – 5:00 PM
May 18: Ketchikan, American Legion Post #3, 4:00-6:00 PM
May 22: Mat-Su Valley, Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Meetings for additional communities are in the works. However, if a town hall forum does not take place in a particular community, surveys will be sent to local veteran organizations. Veterans are encouraged to complete the surveys to ensure their concerns are relayed.
At 77,000 veterans, Alaska is home to more veterans per capita than any other state.

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Kickash Dreams

4-9-10

by David LeMaster

Something has been kicking about in Aniak recently. If you happened by the Joe Parent Vocational Education building next to the high school this past February, you might have seen emergency victims of all sorts bleeding and bandaged, staggering down the halls. In different rooms people were going into shock from heart attacks, bee stings, and snow machine wrecks. You would also have noticed that there was an enthusiastic group of teenage emergency responders excitedly dealing with each of these crisis situations. Some of these young men and women were from familiar places such as Kalskag, Chuathbaluk, Stony River, and, Aniak. However, others were farther from home having come from (places like) Shishmaref, Brevig Mission, Tatitlek, and Fairbanks. They were the latest “Kickashers” and they were having a blast!
This recent Camp Kickash was the 13th edition of an idea conceived some 7 years ago by Aniak’s late Fire Chief, Pete Brown. At that time, stories of the success of his Aniak high school emergency responder/fire fighter group, “The Dragon Slayers” were spreading like, well, wildfire over the region. Teenagers from villages up and down the Yukon and the Kuskokwim rivers wanted a piece of this action! Why should the Aniak teens have all the fun? It was Chief Brown’s firm belief that these young people in the villages represented a huge well of untapped potential. He had proven with the Dragon Slayers that, given some direction, training, and leadership, these teenagers could, (and did) save lives. Never one to give up on a dream, Pete worked to find some way to throw a wider net and include teenagers from outlying villages in his training program.
With the financial help from the Alaska Department of Public Safety, the first official Camp Kickash was held in Aniak back in 2003. Since then, there have been a total of 13 camps, in which approximately 120 high school students from all over the state have attended. The majority of the camps have been held on the Yukon in Galena during the summer. However, there have been two camps held up North in Kotzebue, and five in Aniak.
Funding for recent Aniak Camps has come mainly from the Kuspuk School District through an Alaska Native Education Grant, the Denali Youth Training fund, and the district itself. In recent years, the students have also received three tuition free college credits through a tech prep partnership of Kuspuk School District with the University of Alaska Fairbanks for this week of intensive training.
Up until this last camp in Aniak, the focus of Kickash camps has been a week of Emergency Trauma training and a week of fire/rescue training. Students who pass the 40 plus hour ETT class the first week receive a CPR card and State Emergency Trauma certification. During the second week, the teenagers learn the basics of fire fighting which includes setting up water pumps, laying hose, ladders use, building ventilation, and the emergency rescue and exit of burning buildings.
Teamwork and safety are the main themes throughout the camps. Three to four groups of students are set up at the beginning of camp and each group then responds as a team to various emergency scenarios throughout the two weeks. Just as in a real ambulance service, at times there are even “calls” in the middle of the night for accidents or illnesses. A literal “high point” for the camps is the rappelling activity. Depending upon the location, the teens learn how to use rope systems to rappel from 10 to 30 feet down a structure.
Over the years the University of Alaska Fairbanks jumped upon the Kickash wagon in a big way and has provided tremendous support to the program. Through their efforts the last two groups of “Kickashers” have even traveled to Fairbanks at the end of camp to train with various fire fighting and emergency medical agencies there. Students visited the state’s smoke jumper’s facility, Fort Wainwright’s and the University firefighting teams, as well as checked out the University’s Paramedic program. The coordination of these tours, simulations and hands-on activities were done with the help of Erich Kuball from the Kuspuk School District, and John George, Annie Hopper, and Elizabeth Belknap of UAF.
This latest Kickash camp in Aniak was also the fulfillment of a long time dream of Pete Brown’s in another way. He wanted to eventually raise the bar up a level and have a Kickash II program that would take select graduates from former camps and train them to become State certified EMTs. Instead of the 40 hours of training for the ETT level, EMT certification requires a minimum of an additional 80 hours (provided students already have their ETT rating). This is a much more difficult and intensive program and there were some doubts if the teens could meet the challenge.
The students worked very hard putting in long days with some even giving up playing basketball their senior year to attend. All made personal sacrifices to be in the program but a few decided it was too much and returned home. However, eleven decided to stay and eventually took both the state written EMT exam and the practical skills testing. All of these students passed their skills tests and now are waiting to hear the results of the written exam from Juneau.
Chief Brown would be very proud of these young people for they returned to their villages with both the skills and confidence, which will literally save lives. It is also assured that a number of them will go on and build careers within the medical field, yet another dream of Pete’s.
David LeMaster is a resident of Aniak, Alaska and an EMT III, ETT/EMT I Instructor.

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2010 Cama-i Dedications
Agnes Aguchak

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Chefornak student pilot flies solo

3-2-10

by Mike Lucas

Bob Tunuchuk, 24, of Chefornak, successfully navigated the Federal Airspace in and around Bethel, Alaska on Tuesday, February11 , 2010. Sounds formal, doesn’t it? It is formal and it is a big deal.
I suppose you could say Bob flew around “the patch” a couple times by himself after his teacher showed him how.
What really has to happen, however, is for Mr. Tunuchuk to study the Pilot’s Operating Handbook and pass a thirty six question test on the operation of a CE-172 M Skyhawk II corrected to 100%. I addition to that, a separate test on the rules and regulations of operating an airplane under the authority of a control tower, visibility in clouds, use of seat belts, fuel reserves, paperwork required, safe altitudes, engine failures, recommended fuels, take-off distances, traffic patterns, and Special VFR operations, to name a fraction of the items.
Bob had a lot of fun learning crosswind landings at our airport; it is especially daunting during busy times of the day, as there are parallel runways now and the tower controller is put to task manipulating numerous flying vehicles. You should tune in to hear the performance right before noon and at about 3 to 4 o’clock, it is non-stop “65 Delta cleared to land runway 1 Right-76 November traffic on right base a Cessna report 2 miles-35 Mike cleared for take off traffic 5 miles northeast-45624 taxi to the end taxiway Gulf hold short of runway 1 left-Maule 73 Victor not in sight traffic is inbound from the south a Cessna”. By the way, you have to fly the ‘plane too.
Hats off to Bob and the serious snow shower he got after returning from his first solo flight.
Does it sound interesting to you? Call Thad Tikiun at 1-888-543-7209 or 543-7209. Bob would like to thank one or more of the following organizations for their help, Alaska Airlines, AVCP, CVRF, State of Alaska, The Delta Discovery, Hageland Aviation, Calista, and the Tribes of the YK Delta.

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Salsa dance craze sweeps the tundra

2-11-10

by Maria Offer

Beginning this Friday at 8 pm in the Blueberry Ballroom at 199 Alex Hately, people in Bethel have the opportunity to have fun and learn the basic moves of one of the most popular dances in the world: Salsa! Bethelites can join salseros from all over the world in dancing this exciting dance, with it origins in the Caribbean.
Wherever you travel in the world of salsa, from Puerto Rico, New York, San Francisco, Caracas, Venezuela; Zurich, Switzerland; Greece, and even to China and Japan, you will hear the expression, “Todo bien” among the dancers at salsa classes, clubs and concerts. “Todo bien,” which means “All is well” in Spanish, emanates like a mantra reflecting the positive, happy energy of the salsa music. Salseros forget the daily troubles of life and have fun, responding with the affirmation, “Todo bien” with a smile.
Here on the western edge of Alaska, locals are fortunate that dance maestro, Chester Mark (and also a Physician Assistant for YK Health Consortium) is here to share his love for Latin rhythms with the people of Bethel. In the weekly salsa dance classes, there is an atmosphere “Todo bien” that recreates the sense of fun and “All is well” with the world.
Salsa dancing is great exercise; not only does it develop a sense of rhythm and coordination, but it also develops flexibility in muscle groups that are not often used in many other exercises.
Salsa has a quick, quick, slow pattern, with three steps in a four count beat. This is the heartbeat of the music that provides the structure as dance partners make the fun turns and spins look easy. Occasionally dancers will open up and begin freestyle moves while maintaining the three steps in four beats of the music. As the speed of the music increases, the fourth beat becomes a short pause, leaving a distinctive pattern to salsa music. The Latin orchestration adds complexity and beauty to the rhythm of the music. A variety a percussion instruments can be heard along with a mix of horns, wind and string instruments.
Salsa began in the 1920s and 30s, mixing Latin rhythms, including mambo, charanga and rumba, with Afro Cuban beats a big band sound. The tropical salsa beat captures the essence of these Caribbean flavors so clearly that you can almost hear the waves crash on the Malecon and see the palm trees sway in the wind as you listen to the music.
Coming to Salsa class in Bethel is like entering another world, where you can hear these beats and learn new steps in expression to the music. Mark plays a variety of music during the classes, including bands and salsa artists, such as Celia Cruz, Max Ruiz, Juan Lebron, Charango Habanera, Los Van Van, Havana NRG, Maraca, bands which continue to demonstrate that the rhythm of salsa continues to emanate from the Caribbean. Yet the salsa dance craze has spread across the globe and it clearly has found its way to Bethel, Alaska.
So if you are looking for a rhythm that echoes from the palm trees, beaches, and crashing waves along the Malecon of Havana, come down to the “Blueberry Ballroom” for lessons in this rhythmic Caribbean dance, that will definitely help you forget the cold for awhile and discover that feeling of “Todo bien,” -- All is well in Bethel -- in spite of the cold.

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Stockdale sprints
to Holiday Classic crown

2-3-10

by Tommy Wells

Casie Stockdale proved she is one of the top sprint mushers in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta on Saturday. And she did it with relative ease.
Stockdale guided her 8-dog team over the finish line at the Bethel Boat Harbor at 3:12 p.m. and finished more than 14 minutes ahead of her nearest competition en route to winning the 2010 Holiday Classic Sled Dog Race. Her final time in the 50-mile event was 4 hours and 12 minutes.
Kuskokwim 300 veteran Pete Kaiser finished second in the final standings. He checked in at 3:26 p.m. with a time of 4 hours and 26 minutes.
Richie Diehl edged out Mike Williams Jr. for third in the Holiday Race standings. Diehl beat Williams to the finish line by two minutes, finishing at 4 hours and 24 minutes.
Williams edged out John Simon by a mere 23 seconds. Simon checked in with a time of 4 hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds.
Johnnie Evan, Jim Napoka and Bill Eisenhart finished sixth, seventh and eight, respectively, while Lewis Pavilla and Jeffrey Chingliak rounded out the top 10.
In all 19 mushers completed the Holiday Classic, which had been postponed since December due to unfavorable race conditions. The 8-dog limit race started at 11 am. The trail started out following the same route as the Akiak Dash trail but turned back four miles below Akiak, returning through the Kuskokuak Slough and then back to the Bethel small boat harbor.
The Race Committee is pleased to announce it will pay a $10,300 purse for this year’s Holiday Classic.
2010 Holiday Classic Results
1. Casie Stockdale 4:12:00
2. Pete Kaiser 4:24:00
3. Richie Diehl 4:26:00
4. Mike Williams Jr. 4:28:00
5. John Simon 4:28:23
6. Johnnie Evan 4:30:00
7. Jim Napoka 4:36:00
8. Bill Eisenbart 4:43:00
9. Lewis Pavilla 4:43:30
10. Jeffrey Chingliak 4:45:00
11. Mike Parker 4:49:00
12. Issac Underwood 4:50:00
13. Brandon Williams 4:50:14
14. Alex Chaney 4:53:00
15. Jeremiah Klejka 4:55:00
16. Herman Phillip 4:55:06
17. Anthony Olick 5:03:00
18. Carl Noes 5:20:00
19. Oscar Jacob 5:49:00

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Evan streaks to
Akiak Dash crown

1-29-10

by Tommy Wells

Nothing was going to stop Johnnie Evans from earning a place in history. Not having to wait two extra days. Not anything.
Evan added his name to the list of winners of the Akiak Dash on last Tuesday by powering his way to an impressive win in the third race of the Kuskokwim 300 series. He finished the event in seven hours and 35.47 minutes – more than 12 minutes ahead of runner-up Schouveller Wassillie Sr.
A fresh coating of snow was on the once-barren Kuskokwim river trail to Akiak – giving the mushers some snow cover.
Evan got off to a quick start in the race. His seven-dog team bolted from the starting line in Bethel and built a two-minute lead heading into the race’s first checkpoint in Kwethluk.
Holding the lead turned out to be a chore, however. Three-time Akiak Dash winner Ryan Housler managed to pass Evan on the trail to Akiak, entering the race’s midway point at 2:57 p.m. Evan checked in seven minutes later, at 3:04 p.m.
Evan’s team dominated the final half of the race. His team covered the second half of the race in a time of 3 hours and 31 minutes.
Defending Akiak Dash champion Byron Pasitnak finished seventh in the final standings, checking in with a time of 8:54.48.
Jim Napoka and Alexie Jacobs finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
2010 Akiak Dash
1. Johnnie Evan 7:35.47
2. Schouviller Wassillie Sr. 7:48.21
3. Ryan Housler 7:48.33
4. Jim Napoka 7:51.28
5. Alexie Jacobs 7:54.00
6. George Pasitnak 8:02.58
7. Byron Pasitnak 8:54.48
8. James Guy Jr. 9:04.45
9. Robert Snyder 9:28.51
10. Carl Nose 9:28.51
11. Jesse Nickolie 10:12.19

K300, Bogus Creek 150,
and Akiak Dash Awards

The 2010 K300, Bogus Creek 150, and Akiak Dash are now complete. The K300 Banquet and Awards Ceremony was held Monday, January 19th. The K300 Awards and Prizes were presented to the K300 and Bogus Creek 150 finishers.
2010 K300 Awards
2010 K300 Champion: John Baker of Kotzebue, Traditional Drum Trophy by Jerry Lieb and Framed Champion Photograph by Iain Foulds and printed by Nili Sundown
Walter Williams “Best in the West Award”: Mike Williams Jr. of Akiak, 2- round trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies, sponsored by Alaska Airlines.
Humanitarian Award: (Voted by Race Vets): Lance Mackey of Two Rivers, Gold Pan Award plus 2- round trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies, sponsored by Alaska Airlines.
Sportsman Award: (Voted by Mushers): Pete Kaiser of Bethel, Sportsmanship Certificate
Red Lantern: William “Middy” Johnson of Unalakleet, K300 hat with blinking red light
2010 Bogus Creek 150 Awards
2010 Bogus Creek 150 Champion: Lewis Pavilla of Kwethluk, Painted Trophy by John Oscar and Framed Champion Photograph by Iain Foulds printed by Nili Sundown
Top Rookie: Mike Parker, $150 prize
Red Lantern: Nathan Underwood, Bogus Creek 150 hat with blinking red light
The top three finishers received Sonicare Toothbrushs and tee shirts donated by YK Dental Mushing for Brushing.
2010 Akiak Dash Awards
2010 Akiak Dash Champion: Johnnie Evan of Napaskiak,Carved Trophy by Marie Alfred, Framed Champion Photograph by Iain Foulds printed by Nili Sundown.
Top Rookie: Jim Napoka, $75
Red Lantern: Jesse Nickolie, Akiak Dash hat with blinking red light

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Pavilla repeats as
Bogus Creek 150 Champion

1-21-10

by Tommy Wells

Lewis Pavilla etched his name into Bogus Creek 150 history on Saturday afternoon. He survived exteme wind-chill conditions en route to winning the race for the second straight year, and becoming only the second musher to ever win the race multiple times.
Pavilla joined Bill Eisenbart as the only two-time winners of the Bogus Creek 150 event. Eisenbart won the Bogus Creek 150 title in 1990 and again in 1995.
“Assirtua,” he said after crossing the finish line. “I’m good.”
A resident of Kwethluk, Pavilla was just one of seven mushers to complete the race. He mushed his team of dogs across the finish line at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, finishing with an elapsed timed of 19 hours, seven minutes and 56 seconds.
Pavilla dropped 2 dogs – one at the Bogus Creek checkpoint and one in Kwethluk.
His final time was more than two hours better than second-place finisher Mike Parker, who checked in at 21:21:48. Parker outran Herman Phillip to the finish line to net second. Phillip, 2009’s third place finisher, had entered the race’s final checkpoint in second. Phillip finished the race at 21:55.
Pavilla said he may try running the Kuskokwim 300 next year.
Perhaps the biggest race came in the battle for fifth place. Richie Diehl of Aniak, who was originally planning on running the K300, held off a strong push from 19 yr. old Jessica Klejka over the second-half of the race to take fifth. He finished just 1 minute and five seconds ahead of Klejka.
Klejka, the youngest musher in the race and also the 2009 Jr. Iditarod Champion, pulled into Bethel at 3:01pm.
Rookie racer Alex Chaney and Nathan Underwood were the only two other mushers to finish the race. In all, six of the 13 mushers slated to participate in the Bogus Creek 150 either scratched due to weather conditions or moved to the Akiak Dash race.
2010 Bogus Creek Race Results
1st Lewis Pavilla, Kwethluk 19:15:56
2nd Mike Parker, Bethel 21:25:48
3rd Herman Phillip, Kwethluk 21:55:00
4th Richie Diehl, Aniak 22:00:11
5th Jessica Klejka, Bethel 22:01:06
6th Alex Chaney, Napaskiak 23:20:10
7th Nathan Underwood, Aniak 25:10:18

Baker weathers icy course
to claim first K300 crown

by Tommy Wells

John Baker didn’t know where the two mushers who had trailed him all the way from Napaimute were as he approached Bethel and the finish of the Kuskokwim 300.
He only knew he couldn’t slow down. After more than 40 hours of bone-chilling cold and a rough trail, he figured someone, anyone, could be close enough to run his team down.
In the end, the Kotzebue musher need not have worried at all. Baker mushed his team of 10 dogs under the finish line banner at 6:46 p.m. Sunday night and etched his name into the history books. His team finished more than an hour ahead of Martin Buser, and pocketed the race’s $20,000 first-place prize.
“This is one of the best racing events in the world,” said the 15-year sled dog racing veteran after surviving 64-below wind chill temperatures en route to winning his first K300 crown. “Winning this race nowadays is not that easy to do. It’s a real sense of accomplishment for me.”
With his win, Baker ended Mitch Seavey’s two-year hold on the Kuskokwim 300 title. Seavey was forced to scratch early in the race due to medical concerns caused by extreme cold temperatures.
Baker, who trailed the leaders by more than 45 minutes at the halfway point of the race, completed the 300-mile race in a time of 47 hours and 56.22 minutes. Buser, the 2007 K-300 winner and three-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey finished second and third, respectively.
“Coming across the finish line, I looked back thinking I would see someone,” he said. “When you are racing against people like Lance and Martin, you never know.”
Despite wind-chill temperatures that forced many of the 13 mushers competing in the event to hunker down along the trail, Baker, Buser and Mackey built a huge advantage over the first part of the race.
Mackey was the first to reach the race’s halfway point, driving his team into Napaimute at 5:19 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Buser checked in 23 minutes later at 5:42 p.m. Baker mushed in to checkpoint at 6:07 p.m.
With the wind at their backs on the return trip, Baker turned his team free. Three checkpoints later, Baker’s team had passed both Mackey and Buser on the trail.
Baker left the Tuluksak checkpoint at 12:35 p.m. – an hour ahead of Buser. Four hours later, he breezed through the checkpoint at Kwethluk with the race well in hand.
Buser finished second for the second straight year – and third time overall. He slid into Bethel with a final time of 49 hours, 23.16 minutes.
Here’s a note from the Buser family website: “Just got a quick call from Martin. He was very happy to be in Bethel, sounded a little beat up, said he took a few falls out on the ice, a little chest pain, said everybody did. No major problems with dogs, very proud of their stoic performance. Finishers included Angel in single lead, Goose in swing, Badger and Roy, Collar and Orion, Lionel and young Batman!!! 2nd place two years in a row! We are thrilled. He’ll be home Tuesday. Congratulations to JOHN BAKER!!!”
2009 Iditarod champion Lance Mackey of Fairbanks was third at 49:57.03.
Dallas Seavey was fourth in the standings heading out of the Tuluksak checkpoint. He held a lead over Paul Gebhardt of more than four hours.
Weather conditions hampered the K300 race from the start. High winds and a lack of snow on the trail between Bethel and Tuluksak forced teams to battle the elements as much as one another. In all, five mushers withdrew from the race.
The two-time defending champion Seavey lost several hours early in the race when he took a wrong trail. He later scratched in Kalskag after suffering eye problems.
Several local mushers remained on the trail Sunday evening, including Akiak’s Mike Williams Jr. and Mike Williams Sr., Napaskiak’s Jackie Larson and Bethel’s Pete Kaiser.
Kaiser was the first person to reach Kalskag, but fell to 10th overall in the second-half of the race.
2010 K300 Champion John Baker is married to Iva. They have two children, Alex and Tahayla. He has a long K300 history, placing 5th in 1996, 8th in 1997, 5th in 1998, 4th in 2001, 7th in 2006, and 5th in 2009. Baker is also the 2009 Kobuk 440 champion. His lead dogs are Velvet and Snickers, who led all the way to the finish line in this year’s K300. Baker, who has placed in the top 10 ten times in the Iditarod, will be running in the 2010 race this coming March.
2010 Kuskokwim Race Results (as of Sunday night)
1st John Baker, Kotzebue 47:56:22
2nd Martin Buser, Big Lake 49:23:16
3rd Lance Mackey, Fairbanks 49:57:06
4th Dallas Seavey, Willow 52:18:17

Kuskokwim 300 Race Champions

1980 - Rick Swenson
1981 - Jerry Austin
1982 - Jerry Austin
1983 - Myron Angstman
1984 - Rick Swenson
1985 - Rick Mackey
1986 -Myron Angstman
1987 - Rick Mackey
1988 - Susan Butcher
1989 - Sonny Russell
1990 - Sonny Russell
1991 - Jeff King
1992 - Jeff King
1993 - Jeff King
1994 - Martin Buser
1995 - Ramey Smyth
1996 - Charlie Boulding
1997 - Jeff King
1998 - Greg Swingley
1999 - Doug Swingley
2000 - Charlie Boulding
2001 - Jeff King
2002 - Jeff King
2003 - Jeff King
2004 - Ed Iten
2005 - Mitch Seavey
2006 - Jeff King
2007 - Martin Buser
2008 - Mitch Seavey
2009 - Mitch Seavey

Akiak Dash Race Champions

1992 - James Tikiun
1993 - Eila Wassillie
1994 - Huey Larson
1995 - Casaba Horvath
1996 - Schouviller Wassillie
1997 - Norman Black
1998 - Walter George
1999 - Raymond Egoak
2000 - Jim George
2001 - John Riley
2002 - John Simon
2003 - Vernon Chase
2004 - Greg Larson
2005 - Pete Kaiser
2006 - Ryan Housler
2007 - Ryan Housler
2008 - Ryan Housler
2009 - Byron Pasitnak

Bogus Creek 150 Race Champions

1989 - John Riley
1990 - Bill Eisenbart
1991 - William McCarr
1992 - Rick Townsend
1993 - Willie Francis
1994 - Eli Wassillie
1995 - Bill Eisenbart
1996 - Andrew Lesh
1997 - Ira Jackson
1998 - George Manutolie
1999 - Norman Black
2000 - Ramond Egoak
2001 - Andy Angstman
2002 - John George
2003 - Willie Ekamark
2004 - Huey Larson
2005 - Tomas Israelsson
2006 - Michael Williams Jr.
2007 - Jackie Larson
2008 - Pete Kaiser
2009 - Lewis Pavilla

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Robotics teams star at Lego League Robotics Competition

12-9-09

by K.J. Lincoln

Students participating in this year’s robotics program took on the “Smart Move Challenge: Transforming Transportation.”
The 2009 Southwest Alaska Regional FIRST Lego League robotics competition was held at the Gladys Jung Elementary School in Bethel last Friday and Saturday.
“We’re here to do one thing only, and that is to have fun!” said Master of Ceremonies Dave Patterson, President of the Alaska Robotics Education Association while addressing the teams at the beginning of the Robot Performance segment of the meet. Parents and community members packed the bleachers to cheer on their favorite teams on Friday and Saturday morning.
Sixteen teams competed in the event: Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Kidbots; Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Kuskimos; Gladys Jung Elementary Lego Crane Mushers; Gladys Jung Elementary Mobile Kids; Gladys Jung Elementary Tundra Techs; BRHS TechnoWarriors; BRHS Crash Test Warriors; Napaskiak Robohawks; Akiuk RoboGrizzlies; Tununak Elite Iron Robots; Tununak MiBob; Kipnuk Aangayucauraat Qipnermi; Newtok Yungaqs; Kwigillingok Ciuqliq Qayaq Atulleq; Kwigilliingok Night Riders; and the Toksook Bay Transbots.
In this year’s challenge, teams looked at ways to transform transportation by accessing people, places, goods and services in the safest, most efficient way possible, by considering many modes of transportation beyond their daily routine, and by making smart moves to streamline their options.
Akiuk RoboGrizzly team member Amanda Andrew spoke about being in robotics. She is in 8th grade and the longest standing team member from Akiuk.
“It is getting more challenging,” she said. “But it is fun.”
Amanda said that they presented their transportation project before the Kasigluk Traditional Council, who were very impressed.
“We want a bridge built from Akiuk to the little village on the other side,” she said. “The council said that no one ever came to their meeting to present about a bridge before.”
The council asked them to return in January for another report on how they did during their robotics competitions, said Andrew.
Amanda’s team, the Akiuk RoboGrizzlies coached by Vicki Nechodomu and the Newtok Yungaqs coached by Naomi Olson, were selected to represent the Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) at the 2010 Anchorage Robot Rendezvous State Championship Tournament in Anchorage on January 16, 2010 at Dimond High School.
The two teams were awarded the “Spirit of Innovation” grade school division award by a panel of judges for their outstanding performances in 4 categories: Robot Performance, Project, Design & Programming, and Teamwork.
Akiuk Vicki Nechodomu was also selected as the LKSD Robotics Coach of the Year.
“Thanks to the Juneau Economic Development Council and Springboard for providing medals and plaques, Dave Patterson’s travel, shirts for volunteers and judges and competition playing field sets. Special thanks to judges because without sharing your time, knowledge and enthusiasm we would not be able to have this competition. Each team appreciates the feedback you have given them!” said Marc Leinberger, LKSD Robotics Program Coordinator. “Thanks also to the BRHS JROTC Team and the BRHS Cross Country Team for providing great meals for all of the teams. In addition, thank you to Gerry Kimsey and the staff at Gladys Jung Elementary School for hosting this year.”
Awards were as follows:
Robot Performance:
3rd: GJES Tundra Techs
2nd: BRHS TechnoWarriors
1st: BRHS Crash Test Warriors
Project:
3rd: GJES Mobile Kids
2nd: Tununak Elite Iron Robots
1st: BRHS TechnoWarriors
Design & Programming:
3rd: Kwigillingok Night Riders
2nd: BRHS Crash Test Warriors
1st: GJES Tundra Techs
Teamwork:
3rd: Napaskiak RoboHawks
2nd: Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Kuskimos
1st: GJES Lego Crane Mushers
LKSD Rookie Robotics Team of the Year: Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Kidbots
LKSD Robotics Coach of the Year: Vicki Nechodomu Akiuk RoboGrizzlies
Robotics Business Partner Award: US Fish & Wildlife Service
Spirit of Innovation Awards:
Grade School: Akiuk RoboGrizzlies and the Newtok Yungaqs
High School: Kipnuk Aangayucuaraat Qipnermi
Thank you one and all for competing in/attending the 2009 Southwest Alaska Regional FIRST Lego League robotics competition and helping out,” said Leinberger. “Each and every student and coach was a model of gracious professionalism!”

10-15-09 Pete Brown of Aniak, founder and mentor of the "Dragon Slayers" - the volunteer firefighters and rescue squad made up of teenagers - gives a hug to Juliana Peterson during the party the folks in Aniak threw for him last Saturday. Pete, who is 64, has stage 4 cancer. Hundreds of his friends attended the event which featured music, fiddle dancing, and a feast. Jodie Hettrick from the State Fire Marshall's Office presented Pete with a meritorious award for his many years of service. photo by Dave Cannon

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Nearly $6.9 Million in Spring Floods/Ice Jam Recovery Funds

9-30-09

Although the August 10th registration deadline for individuals in the Alaska Gateway Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA), Yukon Flats REAA, Yukon-Koyukuk REAA, Lower Yukon REAA, Kuspuk REAA, and Yupiit REAA has passed, federal and state governments continue funding programs that help residents recover from the spring 2009 flooding and ice jams.
Nearly $6.9 million has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Businesses Administration (SBA) to assist in the recovery efforts.
Currently, 764 Alaska homeowners and renters have applied for disaster-related individual assistance. Funds awarded to date total $6,872,717 which includes:
•$2,674,904 in Housing Assistance to cover temporary rentals, home repairs and replacement;
•$3,068,012 in Other Needs Assistance (ONA) to cover essential personal property losses, subsistence items, medical, transportation or serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance; and
•$1,129,800 in Small Business Administration loans to pay for the repair or replacement of homes, businesses, or personal property not fully covered by insurance or other compensation.
The State of Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management contributes 25 percent of the cost of Other Needs Assistance, to supplement FEMA’s 75 percent. “FEMA approved 389 residents for Housing Assistance; 439 were approved for Other Needs Assistance. This Other Needs Assistance is particularly important in this disaster recovery,” remarked State Coordinating Officer Dave Andrews. “It helps cover items unique to the needs of rural Alaska residents, such as fish wheels or four-wheelers.”
The FEMA office in Eagle closed September 15 and the Tanana office will close shortly. Disaster recovery management continues to operate from the FEMA/State Joint Field Office in Anchorage.
“This disaster recovery has been an intense, collaborative effort between FEMA, state, tribal and volunteer organizations,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Doug Mayne. “Everyone understood the goal of providing safe functional housing before the winter cold sets in, and worked hard toward accomplishing that goal.”
“With the help of our volunteer partners, we’ve rebuilt 13 homes in Eagle and repaired 8; and repaired 21 homes in Tanana and 10 in Stevens Village. We’re rebuilding one in Akiak; that work is progressing well. And even though Housing Assistance is nearly complete, it’s important for people to realize that recovery work continues. Our specialists will support individual disaster survivors, even as we accelerate our Public Assistance program to repair or replace disaster-damaged public buildings and infrastructure.”
FEMA and state officials remind all Alaska residents in the federally declared REAAs that FEMA’s toll-free Helpline telephone number at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585 operates seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Alaska time. Residents can call to update personal information like changes of address or phone number; to notify FEMA about insurance settlements; or to ask questions about the status of an application.
The SBA continues to offer Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to business owners in the federally declared REAAs in Alaska. These are working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster.
These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period. The law limits EIDL(s) to $2,000,000 for alleviating economic injury caused by the disaster. The actual amount of each loan is limited to the economic injury determined by SBA, less business interruption insurance and other recoveries up to the administrative lending limit. SBA also considers potential contributions that are available from the business and/or its owner(s) or affiliates. The application filing deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is March 11, 2010.

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Boots tells of his
visions in the wilderness

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New St. Sophia Orthodox Church building underway

8-21-09

After years of fundraising by the efforts of many, the St. Sophia Orthodox Church community is currently in the process of building a new church in Bethel.
The new church will be located at 600 Manignaq next to the Owl Street Cemetery.
The supplies were ordered in the month of April 2009 to ensure delivery in the summer. The supplies arrived in July and construction is currently underway.
Frank (Tun’aq) Nicholai is the lead volunteer construction foreman at the site. Tun’aq is very well known in the community of Bethel and surrounding villages for making coffins, cover boxes, and crosses for our loved ones that have passed on. He said, “I am very excited that we are building our new community church for the people of Bethel and for those that come to our community from the villages to tend to hospital, state, and federal governmental matters or just visiting.”
In anticipation of the completion of the project, he said, “When you are flying into Bethel on the east to west approach to the airport, you will be able to look down from the left side of the cabin and see the three gold cupolas stand out in the Bethel skyline.”
Sharing the excitement is the whole Orthodox community of Bethel and the region. The Archpriest, Father Daniel Charles is the official rector for the church.
Fr. Daniel said, “In most of our church communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, the churches are built by volunteers. It is very important that the community supports, builds and takes pride in the construction of our churches.”
Tun’aq is a volunteer and we need volunteers like him with the zeal and motivation to help the entire Christian community to carry forward the commandment of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our Lord commanded us in Matthew, Chapter 28 v. 19: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
The church, when completed, will be a major landmark for the community of Bethel and the region. Its dimensions are 28’ by 64’ with a large onion dome cupola reaching into the sky and the signature of the Orthodox Church, a three-barred cross on top will be a beacon to lost souls physically and spiritually.
Perhaps you desire to leave a lasting footprint in our community and have the skills, the zeal, the motivation to serve? If so, WE NEED YOUR HELP. Whatever you contribute, whether it is food for the volunteers, your skills (as a carpenter, welder, plumber, electrician, etc.) your assistance in any manner, you are welcome and remembered in our church services.
According to Fr. Daniel, “In all of our services, our litanies always include – For the founders, builders, beautifiers, and benefactors of this Holy Temple, we pray to the Lord.”
In this prayer, we include all those that have volunteered, in whatever capacity with the construction of our church.
If you or your organization wish to volunteer, please see Tun’aq at the construction site weekdays after 4:00 PM and throughout the day on weekends. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to this project, please see Ana Hoffman or Tim Andrew. Your donation and volunteerism is greatly appreciated. We thank you for your kind and generous support. We especially thank the Bethel Moravian Church for allowing us to use their education facility at 541 3rd Ave. as our temporary church location.
In closing, we leave you this verse: Matthew, Chapter 16 v. 18: And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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Quinhagak archaeological
project preserves Yup’ik artifacts and culture

8-13-09

by K.J. Lincoln

Climate change, rising waters, and erosion are threatening to eradicate a millennium of Yup’ik cultural history in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta, but a few miles south of Quinhagak, there is a unique project underway that will preserve and catalog the priceless artifacts found at one historical site – the old Arolik village.
The project is made possible through Kanektok River Adventures (KRA) of Quinhagak, which won a $40,000 award through the Alaska Marketplace competition this year.
KRA provides a full-service base camp for international archaeologists and offers a wide range of eco-tourism experiences for visitors to Western Alaska. The primary customers of KRA are archaeology students in university programs, such as the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. This summer, between 2,000 and 3,000 artifacts were found and rescued at the site.
“People all over Alaska and the YK Delta find artifacts on the beaches,” said Dr. Richard Knecht, the excavation supervisor at the site and also a senior lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. “Global warming is causing that and we are out rescue those things before they are all washed out to sea.”
Knecht said that the village corporation of Quinhagak purchased a high-tech GPS unit to use in recording the rate of erosion in their area.
“We expect that most of the area we dug this past summer will be eroded into the sea this coming year,” he said. “Fortunately, we were able to rescue between 2,000-3,000 artifacts this year but that’s only a small fraction of the total that will be lost as this site and others continue to erode.”
Here are a few questions from our interview with Dr. Knecht:
Can you tell us about the excavation site?
We found a big site that was eroding which is what we call a “wet site” in which wood and other rarely seen prehistoric materials have been preserved. It had been previously frozen and the permafrost had melted. We found and rescued between 2,000 and 3,000 artifacts that are many centuries old. Artwork, weapons, carved dolls, toys - all kinds of things were found - some even with the surface paint still intact. All that would have been lost had we not been there this season. Next year we’re hoping to come back with a bigger crew to rescue more things. It is our hope to help other villages in preserving their heritage and in training local people in how to recover it. We work a lot with the elders - combining traditional and local knowledge and with western science is a powerful combination and important to restoring cultural landscapes like these.
Where is the excavation site located?
The Arolik site is located on the eroding shoreline of the Bering Sea several miles south of Quinhagak.
How is the community support for the project?
Support from the village corporation and tribe was strong and in writing, but beyond that the people of Quinhagak were very warmly supportive and helped in our day to day operations in numerous ways. Many volunteered in screening and excavating at the archaeological site itself.
What were the dig conditions like?
The conditions were challenging with rainy and windy weather along with lots of biting insects as well as the difficulties of digging in frozen permafrost. The excavation was a race against time because the Bering Sea coast is eroding rapidly with sea level rise, and more exposure to wave action as ice coverage decreases and as the permafrost melts. The site was chosen for excavation because it contains a great deal of information about the prehistory of the Yup’ik people and because it is directly threatened by erosion. This scenario is being repeated up and down the Y-K Delta and for that matter in many other northern coastal areas. We are particularly eager to record what we can in the YK region because its prehistory is so poorly known and the archaeological record now being threatened is so very rich.
What is the most striking or most incredible piece that was found?
We recovered what is probably the largest collection of prehistoric artifacts from the Y-K Delta. Most of the artifacts were made of wood, bark, grass and other rarely preserved organic materials that were protected until recently by permafrost and wet soil conditions. We found wood carvings, bentwood bowl pieces, weapons, a model kayak, ground slate ulus with carved wooden handles, pieces of fish traps, labrets or lip plugs, tool handles and many other objects.
Who do the artifacts belong to?
The artifacts belong to the landowner, in this case Qanirtuuq, Inc. They have loaned them to the University of Aberdeen for the coming year so they can be processed, cataloged and reported on before being returned to the village for use in educational and cultural programs. We hope that many of the items will soon be on display in existing and future museums in the YK Delta.
How many folks did you have working at the site?
We had four archaeologists from the University of Aberdeen, Dr. Rick Davis from Bryn Mawr College, archaeologist Steve Street from AVCP as well as volunteers from the village of Quinhagak, including John Roberts, Michael Smith, Harold Smith, Lynn Church and others.
What are the entities involved in the preservation project?
The Quinhagak Archaeological Project is a cooperative effort between the Native Village of Kwinhagak, Qanirtuuq Inc., The University of Alaska Fairbanks Marine Advisory Program, UAF’s Department of Alaska Native and Rural Development and the Department of Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Warren Jones of Qanirtuuq, Inc. was a key supporter in every way. Terry Reeve of the Marine Advisory Program also worked on the logistics with the help of VISTA volunteers and I supervised the excavation and will direct the lab work back in Scotland this year.
Quyana!
Dr. Knecht would like to hear from other villages that might be concerned about losing their archaeological heritage to global warming. He can be reached through The Delta Discovery or at his e-mail at r.knecht@abdn.ac.uk.

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Update on Polk road negotiations

8-06-09

by K.J. Lincoln

The Bethel City Council heard a statement from the State of Alaska Department of Transportation regarding the status of the H-Marker Lake Road negotiations between the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Polk family native allotment property owners, and the State of Alaska.
Presenting on behalf of the state was Terri Breckberg, Right-of-Way Agent for the DOT during the July 28, 2009 City Council meeting who spoke under Special Order of Business.
According to Breckberg, the State of Alaska has to survey the property and meet BIA’s requirements for the surveys, which is the process that is currently happening. Once the requirements have been met for the surveys the BIA will send an appraiser, per the property owners request.
“The property has already been appraised previously but there have been some areas where the property owner had concerns,” said Breckberg. “They didn’t feel the appraisal met those concerns.”
Once the appraisal is completed, the negotiations will begin regarding an easement for the road with the property owners.
“So, at this point, the property owners are in complete cooperation,” she said. “But it is their choice whether or not to accept that offer.”
Council members were interested in the timeline on how soon the BIA would act, but Breckberg said that dealing with the federal government is a “slow, procedural event”. However she did say that the BIA has moved this issue to the top of their pile, giving it priority over other matters.
Council member Dan Leinberger asked if the State would have any problems if the City contacted Senators Begich and Murkowski to see if they could push the BIA to move a little quicker on this transaction.
“One of the sticky points we’ve had in the last year or two on this situation was the City has been told by the State at various times to stay out of this transaction,” he said. “I understand the relationship of the State and the BIA and the property owners through all this, but when it comes down to the use of the road, it really is a City issue.”
Council member Dyment commented that he would ask the property owners first if they would like them to contact the Senators.
“I’m not opposed to that but we should be careful,” he said. “I personally wouldn’t do it until I talk to the property owners to see if they want us to make a call to Begich’s and Murkowski’s offices to ask them to speed this along.”
The council was also concerned that when the BIA finally proceeds, that they might find themselves in the same situation if the parties do not come to an agreement – and that they would like to start pursuing an alternative route but did not want to do so if it would hinder the current plan.
Breckberg said that it would not detract from or disrupt the current plan if the City was to pursue an alternate route – concurrently with the current negotiations - but that an alternative route would be considered a new project and so would be near the bottom of the list of road projects receiving state funding.

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Moose Moratorium lifted

7-30-09

by Phillip Perry

Summer is not quite done, but fall is right around the corner. For the last five falls, the residents of the lower Kuskokwim River have sacrificed a favorite ritual, the hunting of fall moose. The closed season, or “moratorium” is now passed and now is the time to reap the rewards.
In January of 2008 the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the US Fish and Wildlife service conducted a population estimate on the mainstem of the Kuskokwim River in Unit 18. The midpoint of the estimate is about 660 moose. The estimate before this was only 69 moose, so the increase has been dramatic. By this fall we are estimating that there will be nearly 1000 moose in the area that the new hunt is taking place.
The new hunt is really what I want to talk about. Before the moratorium we had few moose and a long season. Hunting pressure was not that high because of the low moose numbers and much better moose hunting opportunities upriver in Unit 19. Gas prices were also lower so it was easier for people to travel farther to harvest a moose. That is not the case now. Moose numbers are down upriver and opportunities for hunters are much reduced. The Holitna and Hoholitna Rivers have been closed for several years and other parts of Unit 19 now restrict the number of hunters by Tier 2 permits.
I think all of the above factors are going to contribute to a large demand for the opportunity to harvest a moose close to home. This year, for the first time in five years, hunters can hunt on the Kuskokwim River in Unit 18. The season is short, from Sept 1 -10, and it takes a little planning ahead. Hunters need a valid hunting license and the RM615 noose permit. The permits are available only in the hunt area and only from August 1 to August 25.
Permits will be available in Bethel and we are trying to make them available in all the villages within the hunt area (basically from Tuntutuliak and Eek upriver to Tuluksak). These are a little different than the green colored Harvest Tickets people were able to use in the past. The most obvious difference is they are gray and they are larger. Why the difference? A Registration permit is a tool that allows wildlife managers to keep track of hunters and their success better than the green Harvest Tickets. When hunters get a registration permit they sign a portion of it that tells them of the conditions or restrictions of this hunt.
One of the hunt conditions that is printed in bold type is that this hunt is on State managed lands only. State managed lands are mostly corporation lands that have been conveyed to the corporations. For hunters this means that can hunt all of the mainstem of the Kuskokwim, but there are areas on the tributaries that are closed. In the next week or so I would like to write another article with more details about the boundaries on each tributary.
Another requirement is that if a hunter is successful they must notify us in person, by phone, or by dropping the harvest report section off at our office with 2 days. We are hoping to harvest about 75 bull moose. If we harvest that many in the first few days we can close the season early, so I encourage hunters to listen to the radio during the season.
Unlike the green harvest tickets, unsuccessful hunters must also report within 15 days after the end of the season. If hunters do not report, they can be put on a “Failure to Report” list. People on the list are subject to fines and are not eligible to hunt in any permit hunts the next year.
If you have any questions about the hunt or any other wildlife related question, you can call me, Phillip Perry, or Patrick Jones at 543-2979 or 1 (800) 425-2979.